“Two Nations, Two Blessings” (Jacob and Ishmael)

Scripture: Genesis 21:1-21

During this season of Advent, we will be considering several reasons as to why Jesus had to come to Earth. God had a plan in place, but humanity has never truly cooperated in allowing that plan to play out! The only way that it could possibly succeed was for the Lord Himself to not only create the way for us, but to show us that way. God would, in essence, have to become “the Way” for us.

Today, we look at one of the issues that caused the Lord to put himself in the midst of our problems, as well as to become the solution for our mess. During the next 4 weeks, we will consider the shortcomings of several of Christ’s human ancestors and how their struggles caused such deep divides in our relationships that only God’s direct intervention could bring us through them. Today we consider the issue that arose between Isaac and his half-brother Ishmael.

Read Genesis 21:1-7

The birth of a child in those days, and especially the birth of a son, would be a cause for great rejoicing. It not only meant that there was one who could carry on the name and heritage, it also meant that there was one more who could help with labor around home. But in Abraham’s case, there was another, rather sticky, issue at play.

There was another son involved. In Genesis 16:1-10, we read of the situation surrounding Ishmael’s birth. Sarai, Abram’s wife (this was before the Lord changed their names), had been unable to conceive, so out of love for her husband, she sent her maid Hagar to him, and she got pregnant. The need for a child outweighed every sense of loyalty and commitment to her husband, and Sarai would soon suffer the consequences. The relationship that had previously existed between mistress and servant took a nasty turn, and it would, of course, be jealousy that would begin to reign supreme in the household. The servant Hagar would “lord it” over her mistress, and Sarai would take her anguish out on her husband.

Conflict would begin to plague Abram and his family, just as it does in so many families today.
The author Jim Benedict had this to say about our conflict:

A lot of us want Jesus to be a certain way. We want God to solve our problems as we perceive them, in the way we think is best. We want Jesus to be the champion of our causes, whatever they may be. We want God to take our side in every conflict, from family squabbles to international politics. And when things don't go our way, we are quick to conclude that God or Jesus has let us down.

But the [Christmas] story should remind us that this is not how it works. Jesus will not simply step in to champion our causes any more than he would champion the cause of Jewish independence two thousand years ago. Jesus [in a stable] was a sign and we ought to take heed. Jesus is not interested in our agenda; Jesus has his own agenda.

--Jim Benedict, "Not what we had in mind," Union Bridge Church of the Brethren website, April 1, 2012. cob-net.org.

Sarai would blame everyone but herself for the situation, and both she and Hagar would have to deal with it. Hagar would run away, but the Lord would give her a word and would call her to return to her responsibilities and to live with the situation, at least for a while.

Read Genesis 21:8-14

Not only were the two mothers at each other’s throats, but now the two sons would also have conflicting attitudes. Ishmael was about 14 when this incident took place, and under normal circumstances, it would be Ishmael who would have received his father’s birthright. But now there was another son, and he was by Abraham’s wife, and Ishmael was afraid that he would receive nothing. And his mother felt that, too.

But God had made a promise to Abram years before. In Genesis 15:1-5, the Lord promises Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. The promise indicates that he will have an heir – a blood relative son – and his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Notice that God doesn’t say that it will be a happy situation, he doesn’t mention that there will be two sons who would vie for the honor of his blessing, but he does say, however, that the number of Abram’s descendants will be countless!

But there was a problem – the custom in those days was that any child born of a man, regardless of who the mother was, was to be considered his and his wife’s child. This should have placed Ishmael in direct lineage to Abraham, but that wasn’t going to happen. The “family” would be split, and while his son by Sarah would receive the birthright, Ishmael would also be blessed with many direct descendants. And the conflict was created. And what would come of that conflict?

Ishmael is generally credited as being the patriarch of the Arab nations and, indirectly, of Islam. The Lord’s prophecy to his mother Hagar was that her son would live in constant conflict with others, and that no one would care much for him, either! (Genesis 16:10-12) The Lord certainly got that one right!

Read Genesis 21:15-21

The Lord would never go back on his promise to Hagar, and would even be instrumental in preserving both of their lives. Both boys would be blessed by God, if not by Abraham. Both boys would be the father of great nations. And the descendants of each would be in conflict with each other for thousands of years.

You may be wondering why God didn’t intervene in this family right from the beginning, and it would certainly be a legitimate question. And I believe that the answer is that God did intervene, just not at the beginning. Jesus would be the intervention that can heal all rifts in our relationships!

In our Advent meditation this morning (Isaiah 2:2-3b), we read that many people would come to Jesus, that the Lord would teach his ways to all who would come, and that the masses would “walk in his paths”. Of course, the prophet implies that Messiah would come for the descendants of Isaac and Jacob, and not Ishmael, but the Lord would have us know otherwise. In Matthew 28:16-20, the passage that we know as the Great Commission, Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, and to baptize them, and to teach them to obey his ways! To become a disciple means that we seek to become part of the family of God. To be baptized is to be blessed, to be welcomed, to be committed to the “family”. To obey God’s ways is to set aside every other concept and ideal and moral, and accept the singular and divine truth of Christ.

It was never the Lord’s desire that we should be divided, but he has always recognized the fact that our human differences will be divisive! But Jesus came to earth to be Emmanuel - God among us – simply because we need to know his truth. We have a tendency to live by our own “truth”, whatever that may be, and it is, by its very nature, contentious. We all think that our own brand of truth should prevail, when the fact of the matter is that only God’s Truth is right. Politics, race relations, family finances, managerial styles in the workplace, environmental concerns, international relations – they all are prickly conditions that we have to worm our way through on a daily basis, and it is very possible that the worst of them all is religion! Can you imagine that we actually fight over who knows God and his ways best?

The Lord doesn’t force his ways upon us – he just teaches us the difference between our ways and his, and shows us the way to close the gap. But if we prefer to live within the conflict that we have created, then the Lord will let us try it our own way. That’s what he did with Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and the boys. They didn’t trust God’s promise for their lives, so they went off on their own, trying to ensure that their “truth” and their benefit would rise to the top. And today we are living with the result of that incredible blunder.

What have we learned from this? Is there anything? What is our lesson for today? It is this - trust God, trust his word, and trust and accept every promise that he has ever made. There is no conflict in that!

“True Thankfulness”

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we are called to “Count Our Blessings”, and as the hymn tells us, we are not to just enumerate them, but we are to name them. In the good times and in the bad; in the victories and in the losses; in the midst of the good fortune that others have as well as in the meager fortunes that we receive – the hymn tells us that we should constantly be remembering all that the Lord has done for us, and not all that the world has refused to give!!

That is the message that Paul sends to us this evening.

Read Philippians 4:4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always!” Similar to the advice Paul gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, to always rejoice in the Lord, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks for everything that the Lord brings to our lives! And that, my friends, is the key – it is all about Almighty God, and none of it is about us; it is about the Lord’s extensive blessings, and not what we might hope for in a worldly context.
Paul then offers a series of thoughts that, at first glance, might seem to be disjointed and unconnected. But as we consider these, we need to see them all as means for rejoicing in the Lord, and not as items that lead to a limited earthly joy and happiness.

First, there is “gentleness” – a trait that is rare in society, but is absolutely necessary in Christian community. This isn’t a gift that we use on some occasion when we might be blessed by offering it. It is a gift that we give to every single person, in every single circumstance, under every possible condition. Why? Because Jesus did!

Second, we aren’t to be anxious for anything. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches about worry. He tells us not to worry – not even about the essentials of life, but that we should be focused on the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and when we do, everything else will fall into place.

Third, when we pray, whatever we may be asking for, do it with thanksgiving as if we had already received it (which just may have happened!).

And with our joy and thanksgiving focused on the Lord, we will know that he is near us, that the peace of God, the confidence and trust that we have in him, will fill us, and keep us, and sustain us through all of our lives.

Read Philippians 4:8-9

Paul would have us meditate on these attitudes – not as we experience them in earthly ways, but in Godly ways. There is always the possibility of confusion over these outlooks on life, and some folks would want us to know that none of them even exist – that they are all personal in nature, and that each one is unique for every individual.

As an example - Truth – what is truth? The world would tell us that our own concepts and thoughts are the only “truth” that actually exists! And for the world, that may work, but not in faith. Even Pilate, when Jesus stood before him for judgment, asked the question “What is truth?” And yet, even in his doubt, he was unable to find anything in Christ that was worthy of crucifixion!
Our understanding of what “truth” is, for the most part, falls far short of God’s Truth. Our knowledge is so limited in scope that we are unable to fully comprehend the fullness of Truth.

How about the noble heart? How about what is right and pure? Morality is another one of those earthly versus Godly conflicts. Every ideology has its own concept of right and wrong – that is what makes politics so interesting! The problem is, again, that none of us has even an inkling of what God’s Correctness consists of – or at least we are in the dark without the Bible. And even at that, scholars and theologians can argue a passage of scripture for days, and years (!), without coming to a consensus.

Paul also throws out the ideas of loveliness and admirability. And it still comes back to personal preference.

But if we are looking for the bottom line answer to each of these concepts, God is the only source. Not our thoughts on what the Lord intended, not our interpretations of what the Lord intended, not even our studied and considered understanding of what the Lord intended – it is as simple as living a life that reflects the one that Jesus lived. We will never know joy in living as the world lives! It can only come by living as Christ lives.

We are being told to consider, and ponder, and meditate on what all of this should mean to us as Christians. Can we ever be consistently joy-filled and thankful by living in the ways of earth? No one ever has yet! But can we know the joy of the Lord by living in his way? Only if we are truly dedicated and committed to his way – and his life – and his promise – and his salvation. And when we allow Christ’s life to become our own, it is then that we can experience the nearness of God.

There is no thankfulness without God. Oh, it’s true that we can be humanly satisfied, humanly content, humanly happy, but these things can never last! It is only when we give thanks to God “without ceasing” that we will know his truth, his purity, his loveliness, his contentment, his peace.

Give thanks today, tomorrow, and all the rest of our days, with a grateful heart for all that the Lord has given, and continues to give, to this dark and hurting world.

“No Rest in the Waiting”

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

For the past two weeks, we have been considering how the Lord continues to call on our lives, even as we suffer under the onslaught of “the Lawless One”. Whether it is now, or in those seven years of ordeal after Antichrist is released, a life that is dedicated to Jesus Christ is never an easy one. But by faith, the Holy Spirit will lead and nudge and convict and correct our foolishness, and will get us back on track with Jesus, if we let him.

But the Christian life is one that requires far more than just faith! In Matthew 25:34-46, we discover that faith is only the heart that prepares us for all that the Lord has in store for us. Jesus tells us that we are not to just sit back and revel in the glory – we are to be active in our faith! Serve the hungry and thirsty. Welcome the stranger. Care for the destitute and the sick. Visit the imprisoned. And the Lord makes it very clear that when we do these things in his name, we are doing those very things for him and his glory, and if we don’t, there will never be anything that we can offer to him! We are to heap blessings upon Christ, and not just celebrate the blessings that he brings to us!

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Paul and his followers gave the Thessalonians an example. He didn’t just preach to them, he didn’t demand that they support him and his band - he rejected the old saying “Do as I say, not as I do”! He wanted the people to do as he did! And what better way to teach than by example!

We learn when we see, and we learn again when we do. Not too long ago, I heard that it takes a minimum of 21 days for us to learn a new habit, and, presumably, those same 21 days to break an old one. This time, though, isn’t one of contemplation and reflection! It is a time to be energetic and committed to the newness; it is a time to adjust and reestablish our priorities and desires; it’s a time to put the new way into practice!
Think about a time when you decided to break an old habit. The first thing you had to do was to admit to yourself that it wasn’t doing you any good whatsoever, and if you were being completely honest, that it was actually harming you. That put you on the road to “change”, but it wasn’t the end of the process – it was only the beginning. You had to put your desire into practice.

I had smoked a pipe for about 30 years when I finally decided to stop. It required prayerful commitment and dedication on an almost continuous basis. I had always kept my tobacco pouch in my right shirt pocket or right breast pocket in my suit, and every time I got in my truck to go anywhere, my first reaction was to reach for the pouch and light up. I think it was then that I began offering the Lord “breath prayers” – those short, focused prayers that can be said in the length of a breath.

This began my ending of one habit, and the beginning or another – the ending of my pipe smoking, and the beginning of brief and immediate “breath” prayer for all of the small things of life, as well as for the bigger and more important ones. Those prayers usually go something like “Thank you Jesus”, or “Glory to you”, or sometimes simply “Lord!” It didn’t need to be something grand – just an acknowledgement that whatever the issue, I was either giving the Lord Jesus all the credit, or seeking his help in whatever the situation may be.

It really works. Try it! Don’t just decide to do something – begin doing it! You could be an example for someone else!

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

The full intent of Paul’s letter begins to immerge. Not only hasn’t Christ’s return occurred yet, and not only don’t we know when that day will be, we also can’t sit around twiddling our thumbs, meditating on the fact that the Lord is on his way! In many translations, Paul describes those who aren’t actively serving the Lord as “disruptive”. And you may ask “Disruptive of what?”

I believe that his point is that when we avoid taking our responsibility as a member of Christ’s Church, we are a disruptive influence. Of course, the other side of that coin is that if we don’t allow others to do what they feel called to do, we are also being disruptive. The call on the Church is about everyone working together to further the Kingdom right here and now. If only two or three are doing all the work, whether they like to do it or not, the Church fails in its task of involving every person who calls Jesus “Lord”.

As for the term “busybodies”, these are the gossips, the meddlers, the complainers, the “parking lot committee members”. This is an entirely different kind of disruptive activity, but one that is much more insidious. These “disrupters” work outside of the normal church structure, and by-pass those who should be given the authority and responsibility. They enjoy what they are doing, but stand in direct contrast to what the Church should be about. Paul calls us to do what is right, and not just what is convenient, or expedient, or desirable in our own minds.

Read 2 Thessalonians 14-15

Paul wants us to understand that during this time of waiting for Jesus, we aren’t in some holding pattern. This is a time of activity. It is a time of moving forward! It is a time of doing what is right, not just what is preferable. It is a time of involvement for all who profess Jesus Christ as Savior. This is a time when we begin living that Christ-like life, even though the time of eternal living is still on its way.

What does it mean to live and act like Jesus Christ? In a nutshell, it means that we set ourselves aside, so that we might live for others. The Thessalonians had begun to become too self-absorbed and not enough Christ-absorbed! But putting Christ first in our lives isn’t the easiest thing to do – it takes commitment and practice! And quite honestly, it takes a lot more than 21 days to make Jesus the habit for your life. It takes a lifetime to make him your habit!

We’re all familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-26. It is a listing of attributes of the person who lives a Spirit-filled life. The following are theologian James Packer’s thoughts and descriptions of each of these fruit. He writes:

“Love is the Christ like reaction to people’s malice.
Joy is the Christ like reaction to depressing circumstances.
Peace is the Christ like reaction to troubles, threats and invitations to anxiety.
Patience is the Christ like reaction to all that is maddening.
Kindness is the Christ like reaction to all that are unkind.
Goodness is the Christ like reaction to bad people and bad behavior.
Faithfulness and gentleness are the Christ like reactions to lies and fury.
Self-control is the Christ like reaction to every situation that goads you to lose your cool and [strike] out.”
—J. I. Packer, Knowing and Doing the Will of God (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant, 1995), 293.

When we become complacent to the struggles of others and to the call of Christ, it is then that we enter a very dark place. It is a place where Christ is not welcome. It is a place where the Holy Spirit is ignored. It is a place where earthly standards and behaviors reign. It is a place of great loss.

But there is no completely hopeless situation or condition from which we can never immerge. We can leave those ways behind, if we want to, and if we ask the Lord for his help. That was Paul’s message to the Thessalonians, and it is his message to us today. Set the ways of the world behind, which means that “we” are never the reason or way for doing anything. The reason and way for all that we do must be the Lord.

As we approach Thanksgiving, begin thinking about all that you are truly thankful for. And as we move into Advent next week, consider what the coming of Christ – both the first time 2,000 years ago, as well as the last time at some unknown time in the future – will always mean for you – and how you intend to respond to him.

"Stand Firm in the Word - the Day is Near"

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

In last week’s text, we read that before Christ can return, there will be two issues that must occur. First, there will be a worldwide rebellion against the word of God, the extent of which we don’t yet understand, and second, the “man of lawlessness”, the one known as Antichrist, the one who has been restrained by the Lord, will be loosed upon the earth. Each of these events will herald successive increases in the activity of sin, and the Church will come under increasingly greater opposition and oppression. It will not be a pleasant time for believers.

And even in the midst of all the pain that this time will bring, Paul tells us to remain faithful and hopeful. Lawlessness will, eventually, be overturned by Christ, and all who gave honor to him will also be lost – not only in their delusional obedience, but also in eternity. The only opportunity to be spared from the condemnation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wants us to hold fast to this promise, and to never doubt or waiver in the trust we place in the word of God.

Last week’s lesson was about the time of trial and those who will cause it. Today’s lesson is focused on what the faithful must do as they wait for the Day of Jesus Christ, and - the answer should be of no surprise to anyone - we are to pray and to continue to trust in the word of God that he has given us through Jesus, and the prophets, and the early apostles.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

Be thankful – not over the trials that this life will be bringing (Romans 5:3-5), but in all that the Lord has given and is yet to bring. Be thankful for the faithful church. Be thankful for the gift of faith in Almighty God. Be thankful for the salvation that is ours simply through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Church was set in place to proclaim this very thought – that those who trust and love and live the truth of God will be saved, and that those who will not trust will never know salvation. The Church was chosen to be faithful, but when it isn’t, and when it teaches thoughts and concepts that run counter to scripture, it does an extremely serious disservice to countless millions of people. In that regard, this very creation of God can become a tool of Satan!

But when we are faithful, when we are truly thankful, the future of the Church and all who live within her, are placed directly in the hands of the Lord. In John Wesley’s teaching, there are 4 aspects, known as the “quadrilateral”, to this faithful living.
The first is scripture. We are to trust explicitly in the word of God and all that it teaches. It is to be the basis for all that we do, and without it, we have no hope of knowing God’s will for our lives. There can be no other foundation for our faith.
The second is tradition. Our doctrine, the principles under which we live, and worship, and serve, and testify, is based in our age long orthodoxy. This doesn’t mean that our doctrine can never change, but as we live and learn within the scriptures, our tradition becomes more and more Christ-like.
The third is experience. This doesn’t imply that our own experiences in life should effect our faith in scripture, but rather that our faith must become experiential in nature. Faith is not only a “head knowledge” about Jesus - it is also a life of acting like Jesus.
The fourth is reason. Our ability to understand and comprehend and accept God’s call on our lives helps us to proclaim and testify to our faith with others.
Each must begin with the word of God, and grows from there.

This is one approach that helps us to respond to Paul’s call to “stand firm” in faith and action, which will in turn, strengthen us in our times of trial and oppression.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Paul ends this section that deals with remaining faithful in the face of satanic attacks, with a prayer that calls us to return to foundational faith. Faith in the ways of earth is not scriptural. Faith that condones the false trust in those other gods is no faith at all. Faith in Jesus Christ, and all that he is and was and continues to be, is the only hope. Paul offers hope, and comfort, and strength in the only source of power that we can always rely on – that same power that enables us to live and serve throughout this life in the name of Jesus.

And he lets us know that it is only by God’s grace that we can receive his eternal presence and guidance. We have 2,000 years of experience to draw on, and yes, we have had our ups and downs throughout that entire period.
But our “downs” have always been caused by humanity’s attempts to replace God’s will with their own, to make decisions that make sense to us in our human understanding but never in God’s, to strike out on our own, to say “this is what I think our faith should be about”. And our “downs” can be destructive and divisive.
But our “ups” have always occurred because we have allowed the Lord Jesus to govern our decisions and actions that we offer in the name of Christ. And our “ups” can be mountaintop experiences!

Paul’s prayer is, essentially, a prayer for conviction, a prayer that orients our lives toward the mountaintops.
Henri Nouwen, priest, professor, writer and theologian, wrote:
As you see more clearly that your vocation is to be a witness to God's love in this world, and, as you become more determined to live out that vocation, the attacks of the enemy will increase.

You will hear voices saying, "You are worthless, you have nothing to offer, you are unattractive, undesirable, unlovable." The more you sense God's call, the more you will discover in your own soul the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Do not be afraid. Keep deepening your conviction that God's love for you is enough, that you are in safe hands, and that you are being guided every step of the way. Don't be surprised by the demonic attacks. They will increase, but as you face them without fear, you will discover that they are powerless.

Only when your roots are deep can your fruits be abundant.

--Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom (Doubleday, 1996), 93-94.

That is what Paul’s prayer is asking for – deep roots and abundant fruit.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Paul not only prays for the church in Thessalonica, but he asks that they pray for him and his companions, too! And he asks prayers for 2 issues.

First, he asks that they pray that the message they share would spread rapidly and would be honored. His desire is that the word of God wouldn’t be interrupted or delayed – that it would spread through the world unrestrained, with intentionality, with power and purpose, and that the world’s opposition might never impact it. He also asks that it be “honored” – that the church would accept it as delivered, and not feel that they need to change it to make it more palatable, more politically correct, more acceptable. He wants the word of God to be glorified right here on earth!

May it spread like a raging fire, and may the people rejoice in receiving it.

The second request is that he and his band of believers would be protected from the forces of evil that are at work against the word of God. He fully acknowledges that there are not only many in the world who do not believe, but that the power of Satan is at work trying to prevent the word from being shared and proclaimed!

Since the beginning of time, evil has been doing everything possible to block God’s work and to lead the people away from the truth. And ever since Jesus’ first time on earth, that effort has been increasing. But as powerful as Satan is, and as weak as we are at times, the Spirit of God is always with us in faith, granting us power, filling us with resolve, teaching us to trust him in spite of what is going on around us. And regardless of how deep or shallow our faith may be, it is by trusting in Jesus that we can experience the power of God’s faith at work within us! His faithfulness will strengthen us in confidence and commitment and conviction, and he will direct our every thought and step that is taken in service and witness to the name of Jesus.

The Day of Christ’s return is nearer than any of us can imagine, but until that day arrives, there is no reason whatsoever for us to slacken in faith, and every reason to double and redouble our efforts in Christ – we must continue to study the scriptures, to pray for both the Church and the world, to step out in faith to proclaim the way and truth and life that is only in Jesus Christ, to continue to pray, just as Paul asked us to, that the word will spread throughout the world without interruption or delay, that people will accept it and trust it, and that the faithful would be protected from the world’s ways.

That is how we begin, and it is then we let the Lord lead us to whatever and wherever he needs us.

“Be Patient – It’s Almost Time”

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

So when will Jesus Christ return? When will the Kingdom be released to truly celebrate in Truth? A lot of people think they know, and most are quite vocal in letting everyone else know that they know. Unfortunately, they don’t – and as a matter of fact, no one knows! (Matthew 25:13) In our text for today, Paul tells the Thessalonians that until that day comes, they must remain firm in the faith, and patiently trust that the Lord’s word – the word that the day of his return is on its way – is certain.

Hope is one of those vague things that is so confusing to many believers. Is hope just a desire? A possibility? An unsure promise? Paul tells us in Romans 8:24-25 that hope in Christ is not an iffy thing, even though we know little about this “hope”. He writes that a hope that has come isn’t hope at all, but that hope for that which is coming, hope that is in the Lord, is anticipated will great patience. I know – patience may not be one of your stronger suits, and it definitely isn’t one of mine! But we know that the Lord’s promise is a certainty, and hope in him can never be filled with doubt or ambiguity. It is what it is, and it will, one day, be fulfilled.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Even in the first century church, deceptive thoughts regarding Jesus’ return were circulating throughout the Church. Paul seems to be unsure of the source of the deception, but is quick to point out the fallacy in believing it. The truth is that the Son of God will not be revealed to the nations until the “man of lawlessness” – Antichrist - is revealed first. As a matter of fact, he writes that a “rebellion” must also occur before the “lawless man” can appear. The rebellion, though, isn’t against lawlessness – it is against the word of God! Evil and sinfulness is going to increase before Antichrist even arrives on the scene! Does that mean that neither Christ nor the Antichrist are at work in our world? Of course not! They are both toiling constantly to claim as many souls as possible, and each has no hesitation to use humanity to accomplish their goals. It’s just that neither has arrived on earth, as yet. But soon. Soon.

Satan is known as the great deceiver, and he is quite good at it! We know that he uses doubt and innuendo and half lies, as well as out and out, bold-faced lies to lead souls away from God, but why would he find confusion regarding Christ’s return to be a benefit in his cause? The answer, I believe, is in the first verse of our text – that “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, …”. The point is that if we are confused over when Christ will come, we may inadvertently give our allegiance to a false savior. That is Satan’s only purpose – to pull us away from the truth of God and into his web of lies and death.

Paul’s concern is that the lie could disrupt worship and mission in the Church. When we become embroiled in controversy such as this, distraction becomes the greatest obstacle to ministry. Our energies, our time, our resources are wasted on ungodly matters, and our witness to the world is clouded at best, and destroyed in its worst. No – the Lord has not yet arrived. It will be very obvious when he does, though, and no one is going to miss it. No – don’t let the argument take you away from the Lord’s call on your life. Just denounce it, and proclaim the truth, and persist in your faith.

This book is not some gentle and loving reminder of who Jesus is and why he loves us so dearly. It is a book of clear and intentional warning to the Church Universal and to the entire world – don’t be fooled by Satan’s lies, as well as by those who work for him!

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8

The power of lawlessness, or evil, is at work – it’s just that the one behind the evil hasn’t appeared yet. He is being held in check by some power that isn’t well defined. Could this power be that of faith within the Church? Or is it simply the working of the Holy Spirit? Regardless, that power will soon be withdrawn, and Antichrist will be loosed on the earth, and it is then that the power of sin will abound in ways that we can’t even imagine. If we think that sin is rampant now, wait until the Holy Restraint is lifted!

But why would God allow this to happen? Why would he even give Satan the opportunity? Perhaps it is to show us just how depraved and deprecating sin can truly be! Sin is destructive! Sin is anti-God! Sin perverts our expression of faith! And we don’t get to decide what is evil and what isn’t! In Matthew 15:16-20, Jesus gives us a short list of acts that we all would probably agree are sinful. But these will be minor when compared to the depth that Lawlessness will go! And no one should be looking forward to that time.

Of course, the time during which sin will be allowed to thrive will be limited, and eventually, the Lord will put that evil power in its rightful place. Paul says that by his very breath and glory, the power of sin will be destroyed! God’s breath can work in many ways. In Genesis 2:7, this breath gives life to humanity, but in Isaiah 11:4, we read that the Lord’s breath will abolish evil. But for the majority of people, this destruction of evil will have come too late, for without the life of Christ in our lives, the death of Antichrist will, without question overtake us.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Jesus Christ will be our only hope when this time comes. Without the truth of Christ, we won’t have a chance of recognizing the lies of the Deceiver. We read that this lawless one will perform all kinds of fake miracles and other works. They will certainly appear to be legitimate, seem to be Godly or at least worthy of inciting worship, and many will flock to Lawlessness, believing that they have found the true way. But they will be wrong. They will be lost.

Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t based on his miracles or on his teaching, or in his sense of social justice. It is situated firmly on his work at Calvary – his suffering, his death, his blood that was poured out for the forgiveness of the world. It is based on accepting him, not as a respected teacher, not as a miracle worker, not even as a healer of the sick and the raiser of the dead, but as the Son of the Most High God!

Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t just a nice thing to do; it isn’t one among many expressions that will bring us eternal life; it isn’t a gift that is only available to the weak or poor or some other socially insignificant group. It is a necessity for anyone who would seek life in the glory of Almighty God!
The apostle Paul was justifiably concerned that people were being led astray by false teaching, and they would never know the marvelous presence of Christ in their lives. He knew that he had to set them straight!

How committed are we to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to stand by and let others fall for the lies and deceit that is so prevalent in the world, or will we love our friends and neighbors to the extent that there is nothing that can prevent us from sharing Christ with them? Patiently waiting for the return of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that we get to sit back and relax! It means that we trust in his word – his entire word – and expectantly wait for him without making our own provisions for that day.
Remember Paul’s closing words in this passage – “… all will be condemned who have not believed the truth”. John’s gospel tells us that it was by God’s love that Christ came to be salvation for the sinners of earth, but that without him, we already stand convicted and condemned. (John 3:16-21)

Love and honor Jesus and all that he taught us, and know his life. Ignore Jesus and turn away from his hope, and go the way of the earth. As Joshua told us “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:14-15)