FBC Worship Service November 14, 1999

Date: November 14, 1999 Series: The 2^nd Coming of Jesus Christ Speaker: Ron R. Ritchie

Hoping ... in light of Christ's Second Coming
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

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The Thessalonians were shaken by a rumor that the Day of the Lord had come and they had missed it. Paul encouraged them not to give into rumors. He then reviewed for them the order of events that must occur before the 2nd Visible Coming of Jesus which would be seen by the whole world: (1) The world wide political and religious apostasy will set the stage for (2) the appearance of the "man of sin" who was at that moment and currently (3) being restrained by the Holy Spirit through the Church of Jesus Christ. (4) In the meantime the persecution and affliction they were experiencing was a result of the "mystery of lawlessness" which was already at work in the world. However, a day is coming when (5) the "man of sin" will be revealed to the whole world, and Satan will be set free to use him to deceive all the nations until (6) the Lord Jesus will come and overthrow with the breath of his mouth. (2:5-12) Then Paul reviewed the joy of their salvation and the strength they had been given for good works and words. (2:13-17)

1. God has Chosen us for Salvation - 2 Thess.2:13-15

"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

1. Are you honestly experiencing the "love of God" on a daily base? Explain!

2. Do you believe deep within your heart that you are a born again child of God? Explain!

3. Do you really understand that God has chosen you before the foundation of the world? Comment!

4. Have you ever had the privilege to lead someone to the Lord Jesus? What truths did you share with them so that they felt the need to invite Jesus to become their Lord and Savior?

2. God will Strengthen us for Good works / words - 2:16-17

"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."

1. Do you find yourself praying for other brothers and sister like Paul prayed for his spiritual family? Explain!

2. Do you depend daily on God giving you the power to do good works and fill your mind and lips to speak good words? Give a recent example!

Chosen by God before the foundation of the World "We go back to years gone by, when worlds were made and systems fashioned, but we have not even approached the beginning yet. Until we go to the time when all the universe slept in the mind of God as yet unborn, until we enter the eternity where God the Creator lived alone, everything sleeping within Him, all creation resting in his mighty gigantic thought, we have not guessed the beginning. We may go back, back, back, ages upon ages. We may go back, if we might use such strange words, whole eternities, and yet never arrive at the beginning. Our wing might be tired, our imagination would die away; could it outstrip the lightning flashing in majesty, power, and rapidity, it would soon weary itself if it could get to the beginning. But God from the beginning chose his people; when the unnavigated ether was yet unfanned by the wing of a single angel, when space was shoreless, or else unborn when universal silence reigned, and not a voice or whisper shocked the solemnity of silence, when there was no being, and no motion, no time, and nought but God himself, alone in his eternity; when without the song of an angel, with the attendance of even the cherubim, long ere the living creatures were born, or the wheels of the chariot of Jehovah was fashioned, even then, 'in the beginning was the Word,' and in the beginning God's people were one with the Word, and 'in the beginning he chose them into eternal life.'"

Charles Haddon Spurgeon