Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Introduction
A. “Am I worthy of a relationship with my Father?
1. Doubts expressed by 40 year old Chris Sommers as he stood at the door of a father he never knew, a father who left when Chris was just 6 months old?
a. It was a great uncle who told Christ where his father was, and prompted Chris to take the flight from Boston to LA to meet him.
2. In spite of a tough upbringing, Chris did well for himself, College degree, a good job, loving family there were still doubts when it came right down to it.
3. Everyone wants to feel worthy – significance
B. Aylssa Siegel licensed counselor in Portland OR two contributing factors can help answer questions with a “Yes”.
1. Someone of significance affirms our worth
a. Parent for a Child; Boss to employee; spouse to the other
2. When we are given the opportunity to “make a difference” in something that is important – and then doing it.
a. Those engaged in meaningful and purposeful lives have a greater sense of self-worth. They spend time working for something outside of and bigger than themselves….
b. The newest member of a sports team wants to be “counted worthy” of being selected; a newly elected politician with say she hopes to be “counted worthy” of the voter’s wishes
C. In our text today, twice Paul speaks to his audience about being “counted worthy” both these variables come into play
Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Background
Between about A.SD. 49 and 53 Paul and his companions that included Timothy went on a missionary journey to visit previous planted churches and to expand the gospel’s reach to new areas.
A. Travels took them to northern Greece (Macedonia) and the city of Thessalonica.
1. Fruitful beginning as both Jews and Gentiles responded positively to the gospel.
2. Opposition grew, requiring Paul and the others to leave prematurely and go south to Athens and then probably on to Corinth.
B. Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how they are doing.
1. Timothy brings a positive report of their ongoing faith and love in the midst of persecution.
2. Paul writes a letter to encourage them and respond to a couple of issues and concerns that Timothy relayed to him – 1 Thessalonians
3. Timothy is sent back up to Thessalonica, carrying the letter.
C. We believe that Timothy returns with further updates and questions to which Paul feels the need to address ---- 2 Thessalonians
Called this study, Living Today in Light of Tomorrow because we respond to the challenges of faith and opportunity to grow in light of what God will do in future
A Played out in 1 Thessalonians.
1. 1:10
2. 2:16
3. 3:13
4:13-5:11
5:23-24
Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5
A. Central place for Paul in Gratitude and Rejoicing
1. 1 Thess five Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances
a. Paul lived that out
2. “boasts” like a proud parent
a. Never, “look what I’ve done” but “look what God is doing.
3. A pastor tells a story about a husband and wife team who are three-day-a-week volunteers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The wife works at the information desk at the main entrance. Her mission: To welcome and provide information for people entering the hospital for the first time. Her husband oversees a reception area for families and friends of cancer patients who are in surgery. His mission: To ensure that they are comfortable and cared for until the surgeon comes to tell them what has happened in the OR. When asked "Why do you do this? You could be snorkeling in Florida" they said:
Because we are aggressively appreciated. Mass General practices a culture of appreciation. You can hardly go 15 minutes during the day without someone on the MGH staff stopping you (from hospital president to the cleaning staff) and saying thanks and something like "We couldn't do what we do without you." We're made to feel like an important part of a world-class medical team. We've never felt so completely valued in any other organization.
"Are you telling me," the pastor replied, "that you receive more appreciation at the hospital than you got when you once poured yourself into work at our church?" They answered slowly, firmly, maybe even sadly: "There's no comparison."Gordon MacDonald, "The Thankful Exchange,"Leadership Journal(Fall 2013)
B. Faith and love are not static but should be constantly growing.
Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
People of the cross walk with others in growing Dependence upon Devotion to and Delight in Jesus Christ resulting in greater conformity to His Character and commitment to His Cause.
C. All this happening both in spite of and because of the “persecutions and trials you are experiencing.
1. In spite of: Can be a risk to growth- . Parable of sower and sun of persecution
2. Because of.
Friedrich Nietzsche (not Kelly Clarkson) that which does not kill me makes me stronger
b. Romans 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7
Leads us to first statement in verse 5 – “All this is evidence…..”
Your lives of faith and endurance are confirmations that God is justified in calling you His own and welcoming you when “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15b).
Not only is God just for rewarding your faithfulness, He is just in judging those who stand against Christ and his gospel
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10:
A. Much could be said. A lot of discussion on the nature of this judgment, but unity in the sense that if God is just, He can’t just ignore or give a pass to all the evil and injustice we see in the world.
1. Last year Stanford student was convicted of rape and then given 6 months, outrage over injustice.
When we do away with the notion of God as Judge, we are left with a one-dimensional God—a sappy, sanitized deity whom we can easily manage.
Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
He nods and winks at our behavior, much like a kind elderly man who is not seriously invested in our lives. But the evil of our world is much too serious for us to view God as a pandering papa. The Bible's picture of God is much more satisfying. He is angry because he is love. He looks at the world and sees the trafficking of innocent children, the destructive use of drugs, the genocidal atrocities in Africa, the terrorist attacks that keep people in perpetual fear, and he—out of love for the creation that reflects him as Creator—is rightfully and gloriously angry. The god who is truly scary is not the wrathful God of the Bible, but the god who closes his eyes to the evil of this world, shrugs his shoulders, and ignores it in the name of "love." What kind of love is this? A god who is never angered at sin and who lets evil go by unpunished is not worthy of worship.
The problem isn't that the judgmentless god is too loving; it's that he is not loving enough. (Trevin Wax)
B. Jesus established early in his ministry of the two roads and the intersection we all stand at
1. Matthew 7:13-14 (witch doctor’s dream)
Returns to the theme of worthiness as we round out first chapter
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Theme of worthiness 2 questions
A. Am I worthy to be the object of God’s love and the recipient of His salvation?
1. Yes, in that we all are made in God’s image and of significant worth in God’s eyes.
a. No matter who we are, not what we’ve done or haven’t done, we are significant because God says so.
2. No. The sinners that we are and the sin we do has “earned” us God’s righteous judgment, a judgment no amount of human effort can prevent
a. Romans 3:22b-33; Romans 6:23a; Ephesians 2:3b
3. No amount of good works can change that
Am I Worthy? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
a. Warren Buffett after giving to Bill and Linda Gates foundation: There are many ways to heaven, but this is a great one.”
b. Skill as a financier earned him millions; No work with earn him salvation
3. Therefore. God reached out in his mercy and grace in Christ and offered the gift of salvation and eternal life.
Romans 5:8
Romans 3:24; Romans 6:23b; Ephesians 2:4-5
B. What evidence can I point to that demonstrates that I am living a life that is consistent with being a Christ follower; a “person of the cross?” That through God’s power Jesus is glorified because…
1. My faith in Him is growing.
- I am saying “No” to temptation
- I am trusting him in the hard times
- I am “joyful always, I pray continually, I give thanks in all circumstances.”
2. My love for my brothers and sisters is increasing through active service. Ephesians 4:1-3
3. I am standing firm in living out and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, in spite of opposition. - Acts 5:40-41
Earlier metaphor: An athlete wanting to show worthiness, can fail and not produce traded/ cut (Pablo Sandoval; Bill B.). A politician can want to show worthiness and fail and get voted out. Not so for us, but that should not cause us to become lazy.
Deerfield Academy (Deerfield MA) “Be Worthy of your Heritage”