2Thessalonians 1:11-12
The Least Desired Ministry
I. \\#1:1-12\\ Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution
A. \\#1:1-2\\ Introduction
B. \\#1:3-4\\ Encouragement by Prayer and Spiritual Bragging
C. \\#1:5-10\\ Encouragement by Describing The End of Their Persecution
D. \\#1:11, 12\\ Encouragement with An Offer of Spiritual Blessing
II. \\#2:1-17\\ Paul’s Explanation of the Day of the Lord
A. \\#2:1-2\\ The Comfort of Truth
B. \\#2:3-12\\ The Events Preceding the Day of the Lord
C. \\#2:13-17\\ The Comfort of the Believer on the Day of the Lord
III. \\#3:1-18\\ Paul’s Exhortation to the Church
A. \\#3:1-5\\ Wait Patiently for Christ
B. \\#3:6-15\\ Withdraw from the Disorderly
C. \\#3:16-18\\ Conclusion
Adapted from Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1996). Nelson’s complete book of Bible
maps & charts: Old and New Testaments. "Completely revised and updated comfort
print edition"; Includes indexes. (Rev. and updated ed.). Nashville, Tenn.:
Thomas Nelson.
I. \\#1:1-12\\ Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution
D. \\#1:11-12\\ Encouragement with A Spiritual Blessing - Paul encourages
these people by seeking a spiritual blessing for them.
1. Paul sought that…
a. \\#11\\ "God would count them worthy of THIS CALLING"
(1) Which calling is it that God wants them to walk worthy of?
(a) It could be salvation, but not likely here.
(b) Most likely, it is the call of suffering.
i. That is the context of the verse \\#4\\.
ii. If so, Paul is referring to suffering as a "calling,"
a ministry, or a service.
iii. If that is the case, then suffering is a ministry
that God calls some to just like He calls some to
being a missionary or being a preacher.
(2) It may be time for us to reconsider suffering.
(a) Let me say, I am not qualified to speak on this topic.
i. I have never suffered.
ii. However, I have to note that God never apologizes for
suffering.
iii. I also note that God could eliminate suffering for
the Christian if He wanted.
iv. I have to conclude that God wants some to suffer.
(b) It may be time for us…
i. …to think of suffering as a privilege instead of a
punishment.
ii. …to concentrate more on suffering well than ending
suffering.
(3) The Apostle Paul had this kind of ministry.
1Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he
counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained
mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is
in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might
shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter
believe on him to life everlasting.
(a) \\#16\\ Paul was to "shew forth" or demonstrate
longsuffering.
i. Longsuffering is the ability to suffer a long time.
ii. How was he to demonstrate this characteristic?
aa. There is only one way to demonstrate
longsuffering.
bb. You must suffer a long time.
cc. \\#2Cor 11:23-28\\
(b) Paul says in that verse that…
i. …he was to do this FIRST.
ii. …that this is why he received MERCY to begin with.
iii. …and that he was to be the PATTERN to those of
us who would come HEREAFTER.
b. In suffering, we would "fulfill all the good pleasure of his
goodness"
(1) This verse is speaking of God’s goodness and His pleasure.
(a) No one things of God being good when He allows suffering,
but this verse seems to say He is.
(b) How can that be? What pleasure can God get from our
suffering?
(2) The pleasure for God does not come in our suffering.
(a) God is not an evil, malicious, or sadistic God.
(b) If the pleasure does not come in suffering, in what
does God take pleasure?
(3) I believe God’s goodness and pleasure are seen in the reward
God gives when we suffer well.
(a) We are talking about a calling, a ministry, a service
rendered to God.
(b) Is it not typical of God to reward those who serve Him?
Mt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ro 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also
will deny us:
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling
of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an
enduring substance.
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Re 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(4) I know the context of these verses is persecution.
(a) However, when one suffers, does it really matter what the
cause was?
i. Does it really matter whether the pain is caused from
a fist or a disease?
ii. Does it hurt any less if were caused by a sword
instead of a scalpel?
(b) Is all suffering not of God’s discretion?
(c) Is all suffering not part of God’s calling?
(d) Are they not all battles of longsuffering, obedience to
Christ, and faith?
(5) I believe God, in His goodness, is allowing an earthly
battle so that we might receive of His goodness on a scale
that we can not imagine.
(6) Christian, chances are that no matter whether we suffer from
persecution or sickness, we are going to end this life with
some measure of pain. We might as well determine now how
we are going to meet it.
2. How does one suffer well? It is a short list.
a. To suffer well we must bring glory to Christ.
2Thess 2:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1) There is no question that one of the toughest things a person
can do is suffer.
(2) Yet, it should be the mindset of the Christian to do so
for God’s glory.
(3) We do not want to run the race well and then fail crossing
the finish line.
(4) I remember Bro. W.W.Burns, a preacher and man of God, who in
his last years had medical problems requiring surgery and
eventual care. After a surgery, he told me that the first
thing he asked his doctor was, "Did I say or do anything that
might dishonor the Lord?" He did not want to drop the ball
on the goal line.
(5) That verse also makes reference to the fact that in suffering
well, we bring some measure of glory to ourselves.
a. Like with the spiritual bragging mentioned earlier, this
is not for our vanity.
b. When we suffer well, others will marvel at what God’s
grace can do with a person who is willing to be wholly
used of God.
b. \\#11\\ To suffer well will be a "work of faith with power."
(1) To suffer well, we must have faith.
(2) Three questions arise when we start to discuss faith.
(a) How do I get more faith? The answer is not in the
quantity of faith you have, but in the quality of your
faith.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I
say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you.
(b) What am I to do with this faith?
i. Just trust God.
aa. You don’t have to believe in miracles.
bb. You don’t have understand.
cc. You don’t even have to like what is going on.
dd. Just trust Him.
ii. Trust God because you know He is good.
iii. Trust God because you know He has a plan.
iv. Trust God because you know there is a reward at
the end of the tunnel.
(c) Where do I get this kind of faith? This kind of faith
cannot be purchased, it must be grown by learning to
trust God in the every day battles of life.
c. To suffer well we must have patience.
(1) To suffer well we must not give up.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him….
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
(2) This may well be the hardest part, and I know that I am not
qualified to speak about it; but be strong.
(a) Let God make the decisions.
(b) Trust God to give you the strength.
3. We who are not suffering must help those who are.
a. There are many reasons that God calls the church a body.
b. I think one is because one member hurts, all hurt—at least all
should hurt and all should care.
c. There may not be much we can do, but we can…
(1) …pray for them.
(2) …visit with them.
(3) …remind them that God loves them, has a plan for them, and
will reward them one day for their faithfulness.
(4) …just encourage them.
d. It may not seem like much and it may not be much, but when our day
comes, we will appreciate the fact that someone does those things
for us.
That is what Paul is doing for this church. He is encouraging them.
What the persecutions that this church was going through, God had their best
interest in mind. Through their suffering, He was doing a work in them, was
going to do an even great work for them, and was manifesting yet another reason to
to judge this wicked world. Sometimes, He chooses to do that with a church,
sometimes with an individual. We must be careful not to deprive ourselves of the
great reward which can be ours.
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