The Man of Lawlessness Will Be Revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Stand Firm and Hold Fast Because You Are Chosen for Salvation
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
- At what stage in life were you "rebellious"? What memory (painful or humorous) is associated with those times of conflict?
- What must have been happening in Thessalonica to lead Paul to write this?
- How much time was Paul able to spend with the Thessalonians (Acts 17:2)? How would this affect their willingness to believe rumors about Christ's return (2 Thessalonians 2:2)?
- Whom do you think is the restrainer of this lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)? How do you think this "restraining order" is enforced?
- What is God's ultimate purpose in allowing the "man of lawlessness" to deceive people? What signs mark his appearing?
- How will those who refuse Christ respond to this "man"? How does the "powerful delusion" sent by God differ from the deceptive evil of this "man" (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)?
- How and why will God save his people (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14)? In response to God's initiative and Paul's ministry, what are the people to do?
- How does this passage on Christ's Second Coming, and what will precede it, make you feel? Afraid? Relieved? Rather not think about it? Why? How do you think Paul would have wanted you to feel?
- What encouragement do verses 13-14 give you as you face hard times? Where do you need encouragement and strength from God now?
- Put this prayer (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) in your own words and pray it for one another this week.
Devotional
IS THERE SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU SMILE?
“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you….” — 2 Thessalonians 2:13
This morning, I was thinking about different things I had survived throughout my ministry. It started out as a positive reflection, but before I realized what was happening, I had slipped into thinking of all the people who had wronged me over the years.
I felt myself sinking mentally and emotionally into the sticky mire of those negative thoughts. I realized my thoughts were going in the wrong direction and swiftly put on the brakes. I shifted into reverse to escape that mode of thinking and began mentally compiling a list of everyone who had been a blessing to me over the years.
The number of individuals who had been a blessing to me was so long that I couldn’t stop listing them! In comparison, the sheer number of these blessed connections swallowed the names of those who had become negative memories in my life.
One brother’s name in particular literally made me smile. Just the mention of his name puts a smile on my face. I decided I would say his name to several other people who knew him to see how his name affected them — and every person, without exception, smiled when I mentioned his name. I thought, what a blessing that the mere mention of a person’s name would make people smile!
This must have been how Paul felt about the Thessalonian believers, because when he wrote to them, he said, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
The word “bound” is the Greek word opheilo, which describes an obligation. Whenever Paul began to ponder the great things God had done in the lives of the Thessalonian congregation, he felt obligated to stop what he was doing and give thanks to God for that group of believers. The mere thought of the Thessalonians put a smile on his face! They had been such a blessing to Paul that he felt an overwhelming sense of obligation to stop whatever he was doing to thank God for them. This is the way I feel about my friend, and I hope you have someone who does that for you.
Thought of the Day: We, too, must learn to stop and thank God for what He has done in our lives — especially for those who have been a blessing to us and who cause us to smile at the mere thought of their name! We have an obligation to stop and remember all that God has done and to give Him thanks.
THE ONE THING CONSTANT IN CHANGE
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17
My Aunt Virginia was almost a dinosaur when she retired from her job a few years ago. She was past retirement age, but her job longevity was what seems so out of place in today’s culture. She worked at the same place, doing the same job, for 50 years! Such job stability seems as strange to us as dinosaurs would be in your backyard.
When she was employed at the Hunter Fan Company in Memphis, Tennessee, she was only seeking a temporary job, and she was just 18 years old. However, what she found was a long career winding fan motors, and when she retired she was the employee that has served the company longer than any other employee. She was given a frozen turkey on her last day of employment.
We are frequently told that employees of the 21st century will have to continually upgrade their skills and even change careers several times because of rapidly changing technology. However, just because technology and skills are changing at an exponential rate that doesn’t mean that everything in life should follow suit. It is unlikely there will be many people who can hold a job for 50 years in the future. This will be increasingly rare and even more of an exception to the norm than it is now.
In the midst of a tumultuous living and work environment, we can still find stability. Even though we may have to move from one state to another, or one company to another, we can still have stability in our lives. Our spiritual stability hinges upon one thing—our relationship with Jesus Christ. God does not change, and He is the same today as He was yesterday, and as He will be tomorrow.
To have stability in the midst of change, we must remember to put Christ first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). To have stability and the accompanying peace that it brings in the midst of the storm of change, we must look to God to provide what only He can give us (Philippians 4:6-7).
In my lifetime, I have had to move from one place to another, and I have had several employers, including those in my teenage years. In the midst of change and uncertainty, God has given me the stability of peace beyond human understanding. This does not mean that I have not experienced stress, fear, doubt, and depression, just as you have. It does mean that God has walked with me and carried me through it each step of the way. He will do the same for you!
Thought of the Day: Maybe it is time to let go of a job, a position, or a habit that you have held for ever. Maybe it is time to say, “God what do you have for me next. I'm ready.”
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