1 and 2 Thessalonians

2nd Thessalonians 3

• 2Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

I was reading Dake's comments on this chapter where he pointed out a fact I never noticed before and that was that Paul was the only one recorded in the bible that ever asked for others to pray for him and others with him as they journeyed or preached the word of God.

• Romans 15:30  Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 

He believed in agreeing with others in prayer for the ministry. He probably realized that there would be hinderances and other things that try to stop the word of God from going forth. He knew he needed to be backed by the prayers of other believers. 

• Colossians 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 

At times Paul was in jail and suffered much persecution. He recognized the need for others to intercede so the word of God is not bound even when he was bound at times. 

• Philemon 1:22  But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 

He needed their prayers that he might be able to return to them.

• Philippians 1:19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

Our fervent sincere prayers carry power when we are praying in the will of the Lord for the gospel to go forth unhindered. Why God uses our prayers like that, I do not fully understand but He does. 

• Ephesians 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 
  19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  

We are to pray in the Spirit, keeping a spiritual watch for all fellow believers. We are to pray for those that God sends forth to preach, teach and do the work He has called them to do. This is more imporatant that we sometimes realize. 

• 2Thessalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

The word keeps us from being fooled by deceivers and wicked persons who like to uproot and destroy the true work of God. Paul admonishes them to pray so they will be delivered from unreasonable troublemakers that want to stop the gospel from going forth. Wicked unbelieving people do not have faith and think it strange when they hear the gospel. 

• 2Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

The Holy Spirit is always among us working out this among us, but we have to yield to His leading and not allow seducing spirits or counterfeits to over take us.

I believe Smith Wigglesworth once told of a lady who thought she heard the voice of the Lord speaking to her. The voice said, "If you obey me, I will make you the greatest missionary that ever lived."

It was commendable that this lady desired to be a missionary and she did later become one but at this time, she was not ready and this voice was not God. How do we know? Does God promise that we will be greater than others in the body of Christ? The voice promised something that was self-exalting. Serving the Lord should be humbling, not self-exalting. Wigglesworth pointed that out to her.

I know we hear the opposite today but God has not changed and when Jesus told us the story of the proud Pharisee and the publican to show us the danger of pride and being exalted in one's self, it showed us what really pleases God. We are to have faith and confidence, but the confidence should be in the power of God, not our own selves. Paul also warned us not to think more highly than we ought to think. This may shock some of us, but the bible never teaches self confidence, it teaches trusting the Lord and having confidence in Him. The flesh profits nothing, we must not have confidence in our own fleshly ways.

• 2Thessalonians 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Naturally any commands coming from men must line up with the word of God or else we cannot obey them and God too. The commandments that Paul made though always lined up with what Jesus taught.

• 2Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

We do not hear too much of the coming of the Lord anymore so we must be careful that we don't think in our hearts that He delays his coming and begin to smite our fellow believers. When we forget the message of the kingdom of God, the message of salvation through faith and when we forget part of the message is love toward the brethren, we may start to look inward and find fault with those that do not line up with our own thinking. Our own thinking may not be according to God's word but may just be tradition so much prayer and study of the word is needed focusing on asking God for the mind of Christ and the love of God within us.

• Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
• 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
• 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
• 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
• 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
• 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
• 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I insert that warning here because it happens all the time and did happen all throughout church history. If our main focus is not on spreading the gospel and being mindful of the Lord's return, it's easy to start looking inward and becoming focused on self or us four and no more.

• 2Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Again I believe Paul was talking of the tradition according to truth and the example of the other apostles and the teaching of Jesus. Not all church tradition is necessarily the truth. However, Paul is speaking of real troublemakers who walked disorderly and rebelled against the truth, that we are to withdraw from. We are not to disfellowship with someone who just disagrees in doctrine on minor points.

The tradition that he tells us to follow is that which is in the scripture, not a man-made tradition that is not found in scripture. If a church leader or any type of leader departs from the correct understanding of the scripture, mostly the New Testament scriptures, we are commanded to keep following God, not the wayward leader.

The people in Germany did not have to follow the commands of Hitler because he sometimes used supposed teaching in the bible. They may have had to obey to save their lives and the lives of their families but God never commands us to obey evil leaders who order us to kill the innocent.

• 2Thessalonians 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
• 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargable to any of you:

Paul worked for his own living instead of taking from the church. He didn't want anyone saying that he was after their money or perhaps he just didn't want to be dependent upon them for his support.

• 2Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

They had a right to receive support from the church for their labors but refused in order to set a good example for others to follow. If a pastor chooses to give himself completely to the duties of a minister and not have a secular job, it is really the best thing for the church for he has more time to pray and study the word. I believe in giving local church pastors support so they do not have to work outside the church. However, I don't believe in the clergy/laity division. A good church will have people who work, teach, prophesy, preach and be helpers and not try to be a church that depends upon the pastor alone.

In saying all that above, if a pastor doesn't have enough support...perhaps he has a poor congregation or some other reason, they should never be criticized for getting a job outside of their leadership in the church. It is better if they don't have too but Paul worked as a tent maker to keep from burdening the church so different circumstances may require us to do things different than the norm. Let us not be critical of those kind of choices but keep our eyes on the Lord and obey our own calling. 

• 2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Paul was against freeloading it appears. He expected those who lived among them to do their share of work. There are people who attend meetings for the sole purpose of disrupting and causing trouble. Those types usually wouldn't lift a finger to help work or labor in the spreading of the gospel.

• 2Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
• 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
• 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
• 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

We can go to them in order to restore and correct but we are not to run around with in their company thereby identifying ourselves with their rebellion. This doesn't mean that we refuse to speak, greet or give them something to eat if they are hungry, we are just supposed to avoid their company in general so as not to appear that we are in agreement in their choice to be troublemakers and rebellious.

• 2Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

This is the part many of us tend to forget. Those that disagree, fume and fuss are still our brethren in the Lord. We do not have to burn people at the stake who cause trouble.

• 2Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
• 17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
• 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

We should always remember the grace and mercy of God when we strive to get along with other believers. If not for His grace where would any of us be? DC

• Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: