Dear Church - 2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2 – We Win!

          2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

 Paul commended the Christians because they were growing in their faith and love.

You are growing in your faith because you are taking the time to read this devotion. Great!
Let’s keep growing together.

It is easy to do well for a while, then get busy, and not focus on growing in your faith. Two steps forward and one step back is still progress. Don’t let Satan deceive you and discourage you.

Paul said the same thing in his first letter to these Christians.

            1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith, Hope, and Love

            1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Faith will become sight when Jesus comes.
Hope will be fulfilled when Jesus comes.
Love will be fully realized and shared for eternity in Heaven.

While we live in this world, we need to continue growing in faith, hope, and love.

How are you actively striving to grow in your faith?

Faith comes down to trusting God.
Do you trust God is in control? Do you trust God knows best? Do you trust that God loves you?

Trust is submitting to God.
Trust is putting your dependence in God. Do you rely on God? Do you have confidence in God?

How do you submit to God?
           
            James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
If we are going to grow in our faith, we need to submit, resist, and come near to God.

            1. Submit your will to God’s will – Read God’s word to learn His will.
            2. Resist Satan’s temptations – Know God’s will for your life and how to live a holy life (Colossians 3).
            3. Come near to God – Take time to pray and worship daily and corporately weekly.

It is easier to grow in faith when you walk with fellow believers.
Join a Life Group - https://minierchristian.org/adult-groups
Be a servant and volunteer - https://minierchristian.org/volunteer

Studying and serving with others help us grow and support us when we struggle.
We win, so let’s run across the finish line together.

            2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

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Extra study:

Take up the shield of faith.

           Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Kenneth L. Boles, The College Press NIV Commentary, Ephesians 6:16.
            “The word for “shield” (θυρεόν, thyreon) is closely related to the Greek word for “door” (θύρα, thyra). While some armies used a small, round shield, the Romans used a large, rectangular one which “covers the whole man like a door.” The shield was as wide as a man’s body and up to four feet in length. More than just a piece of personal protection, the shields formed a “portable wall” for the protection of the whole army, when soldiers stood side by side.”

           “The Roman shield was made of a wooden frame with as much as seven layers of oxhide, which could easily deflect and extinguish the flaming arrows shot by the enemy. These arrows, dipped in pitch and set ablaze, could strike terror and destruction to an army without such shields. Satan is called “the evil one” only here in Paul’s writings.”

          “The Christian soldier is defended by the shield of his faith. Whatever Satan throws at us can be successfully deflected by complete trust in God. Whether the onslaught comes in a heavy barrage of temptation or as an isolated dart of discouragement, depression, or despair, faith is our victory (1 John 5:4). Though Satan would have us throw down our shields and flee in panic, we can have utter confidence that God is able to protect and provide in all circumstances.”