Hey, welcome back to one of the most packed episodes of the daily Bible podcast that you've ever experienced. The first 55 minute podcast episode comes at you right now. Is it only our first, I feel like we've had a few. Not a 55 minute or. We've gotten pretty close. It's fair, but it's a, this one. Th th this one could break, break records. We'll see. Yeah, cause it's all the first and second Thessalonians, but man, again, I just, I, I know sound like a broken record, but this chronological plan is helping so much. Because we just saw Paul in acts 17 in Thessalonica. In fact reading through, especially first Thessalonians, I wrote acts 17 in the margin multiple times in my Bible, just because of what's going on there. And knowing acts 17 gives us the background of that. And you appreciate the content of the book so much more because you have a better understanding of it. Uh, which is good, which is good. So it's a great plan. I'm grateful for it. Although when it comes to the plan, if I did have a few quibbles, I do not like reading this much in one sitting. I just, I wish they broke it up a little bit more and maybe add maybe at first Thessalonians to acts 17. I feel like that could have been a good, could have been. A good connection. Good parents. Uh, but anyway, Besides that. I love it too. In fact, reading through a whole epistle or two, it is a great practice because you, you get the greater sense of it a little more easily than reading a chapter or two a day. So I think that's valuable. Yeah. It feels like a rabbit. Pace is all. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I would agree it. I think this is one of the last large chunks that we have were in books and reading three or four chapters in a book at a time, but we're not covering. Two full books. I don't think in any of our, well, I guess that's not true. Colassians and finally, and I think those two. You're put together, but those are. I mean, it's a much shorter book, but still. It's a lot. It's a lot. I'm reading all the second, John and third John two at some point. Yes. All at one time. Yeah. That's going to take all of like 15 minutes. And if you're reading slow three minutes, maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Well, let's jump in because we do have two books to cover first and second Thessalonians. And they're thick. Yeah, they are. There's. I mean. Yeah, there's so much here. Just do it. So he opens up in first that's one. Paul Sylvain is, and Timothy now. If you've been tracking with us, you've been you'll remember that the one that, that came with Paul and Timothy on the second missionary journey here was not Sylvain us as we've heard him at least, but Silas. And so who is Sylvain is will Savina's is Silas one in the same? So, this is just a different name for Silas here, but that's who it is. So. Uh, when we read that pastor, rod, these three, as they're listed here. The greeting. Should we understand because we've all heard. This is Paul's letter. Uh, is it Paul's letter or is it the three of them writing together? Is it they're working in concert on this? Because we see this multiple times. In fact, we're going to see it in second Thessalonians as well. The same three names. They're introduced as the ones writing to the church, but who's really behind this. Yeah. W we, we would believe that Paul's behind it, that they're his ministry companions. And so he's writing it on, on his behalf as well as theirs and he's representing himself and the, and the missionary party as a whole, but primarily we're looking at Paul's writings. Yeah. Yeah. I would agree. In fact, Paul ends the epistle by saying, look, I'm the one writing to you. Look at the big letter. Look how big my letters are. Um, yeah. Uh, chapter one, he's greeting them. He's talking to them. Remember this is a personal letter because he's been in Thessalonica. We've read about that in acts 17. In fact, in verse six, notice it says you became imitators of us and the Lord you received the word in much affliction. You remember the persecution that came in acts 17. So when we read in much. Affliction because of, of having acts 17 in our rear view mirror, we're able to no longer sit here and try to conjure up. Okay. What was that affliction? What did that look like? Who was doing the afflicting? We know that we know that it was the Jews that were looking to, to, to quench the, the preaching of the gospel that were stirring up opposition against Paul. Against, uh, Timothy and Silas there. So that that's, what's going on verse 16 or verse six there, he's saying you received this in much affliction, acts 17 is going to give us that, uh, that understanding, but they're grateful because in this church caught fire, your faith in God has gone forth. Everywhere. Uh, so we don't even need to say anything about you. I mean, that's, that's amazing. That, that would be true. And would that, that would be true of us as a church that people would say, we talked about turning the world upside down. Would that people would look at compass Bible church in north Texas and be like, man, Their faith in God. Is reputable. That's what that church is known for. They're known for having a robust faith in God. That would be amazing. Uh, chapter two, then we get into some of the descriptions of what Paul has been doing with them and among them. And he's appealing back to his time with them. And he says in verse two, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi. So go back to acts 16 for that. Right. So again, we're, we've got the background here. They were arrested, they were in prison. Remember they made the magistrates come and let them out of jail. That's the shamefully treated there. As you know, we had the boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. Again, acts 17 gives the background to that conflict there, the persecution from the Jewish people. Uh, he goes on and it says basically, We were there to refute some of the charges made by the Jews against us. So we've been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. So we speak not to please, man, but please God. Who tests our hearts. We didn't come with words of flattery, so forth and so on. I love the description that Paul gives of himself in and the others here in, in first. That's too, because he compares himself to a nursing mother. And then later in chapter two to a father with his children. So these familial titles here and he's expressing his love and care and compassion that he feels towards the people in the church here. The titles are just picture ask and they help us understand his concern and love for them. Yeah, I've always really appreciated verse eight. And he says, so being affectionately, desirous of even the, the, those two words together, affectionately desirous, there's a deep affection for them desires to be with them. He says we were ready to share with you. Not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. And I think that's the, as a heart of a shepherd, right there cares about his people. He wants to share, not only the preaching ministry, not only the word of God, but he wants to share life with them. Here's my life. Here's everything, the good, bad, and the ugly. Uh, but to your point, pastor PJ, I also resonated with those, uh, Those analogies that he used. Like my love for you is like a mother. My love for he's like a father. Uh, some of uses to talk about. The fact that Paul was in fact transgender. What do you say to that? Yeah, I don't see there there's any. Validity to that. Jesus himself said I, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. I would have gathered you as a mother hen gathers its chicks to her. And, and really he's just using a word picture here. And Paul is trying to convey two different things there. He's trying to con convey his compassion of the mother to her children. He's. His approachability, his affection for them. He's going to care for them. He's going to be that source of, of, of nourishment to them and in feeding them the word and then the father with their children, which has a different role. So Paul's just saying, look, I've. I've had different roles, different voices in your life. And so this isn't about his gender. This isn't about his biology. This is about the way he interacted with them. So I think that's a stretch at, at, at minimum. It's a stretch. It's. Uh, T to try to say that this is Paul. Acknowledging some sort of gender confusion. Yeah, he'd be stretching beyond recognition at that point. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, loving in the chapter two verse, uh, what verses at 13 there, when he says that you accepted it, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, which is the word of God, which is at work in you believers. And that's, uh, just. Uh, another reminder that, that this was what they were preaching, what they're proclaiming it, Paul's reminding them. This is new, but this is not, we're not making this up. Remember Galatians, we talked about that. This is God's word coming to you and you received it that way. Hey, good job. In that we see some more of his affection in verse 17, we were torn away from you remember again, acts 17. They were driven away. They had to leave Thessalonica because of the persecution. We were torn away from you. And that's that emotional concern and care there. Uh, from the brothers there. Uh, Paul loved these people. This is a different letter than Galatians. Uh, not that he didn't love the believers in Galicia, but in Thessaloniki, he loved these people and you see that all over verse 20, you are our glory and our joy. Um, And so he sends Timothy. Uh, back to in encourage them there from Athens. Uh, Timothy comes back to them and comforts them with, with a report of how well they're doing versa. Chapter three verse. Uh, verse seven, that verse, yeah, verse seven. We've been comforted about you through your faith. And so Paul's just, again, this personal note, but then in chapter four, he turns. In chapter four, chapter five, kind of pivot to more of the instruction and in teaching. And it begins with some instruction on avoiding sexual immorality. And he talks about that in chapter four, he says, this is the will of God, which is your sanctification. Which the word sanctification means to be made more holy. And then he goes on to say that you abstain from sexual immorality. So what's going on here? My thought pastor, I'd love to get your PSU is. This is something that running to a group of, of, uh, some Gentile Christians as well. He's writing about, Hey, this what you used to be characterized by in your past life. Be characterized by those things no longer. Uh, there's a transition. There's a turn now. So it's not necessarily that they were struggling with this. Particular issue, but that he was warning them against, uh, going back to something that perhaps they would have been. Uh, thought less big deal when, when they were Gentile. Uh, unbelievers at that point. Yeah, I think it'd be asking too much of the Texas say, this is, this, is this what they were struggling with? Maybe. I mean, maybe, but, uh, given, given their recent exposure to the gospel and what Paul was trying to do for them, I mean, you'll notice that this whole thing he's trying to Edify them. He's trying to comfort them. He's trying to help them. Uh, frame the Christian life in a way that is biblical. And of course he's writing scripture. And the process. So that's helpful. But yeah, I would agree. I think he's encouraging them to live the way that they've been called. And that's a really common refrain in Paul's letters to live worthy of the gospel, to walk worthy of the call to what you've received. I think he's doing the same thing here. I'm just in a slightly different. And a slightly, slightly different way. In fact, there's one thing I want to point out here and, and I'm sure you're going to bring this up at verse one. Uh, he says, look, you guys are doing a great job. Um, you're, you're, you're walking in the Lord, but we ask an urge you in the Lord, Jesus, that as you've received from us, how you ought to walk into, please God. Hey, do it more and more like, don't be satisfied with the status quo. Don't be okay with where you're at, keep going. And he says it later on in verse 10, he says, look, yeah, you guys concerning. Brotherly love. You guys are doing a great job of that. Uh, for indeed, it is what you're doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia, but we urge you brothers don't rest on your laurels, do this more and more. So I love that. I love Paul's heart man. And it encourages me to keep on pursuing greater depth and greater knowledge and greater brotherly love and the Christian life. And Paul just crushes it. I love his, I love this whole section. Yeah. Yeah, I would agree. Yeah. Excel still more love that phrase. Uh, it's convicting to, we got to keep going. Yeah, you're right. We're never done. Verses 13 then through 18, this is where. Talking about controversy. Uh, how do we handle this? We don't have time to dive deep into this. So just fair warning ahead of time. We'll just tell you this. Uh, this is the passage. This is the key texts that most dispensationalist of which we are of whom we are, I guess. Um, Would we turn to, to appeal to the, the doctrine for the rapture, the word rapture you'll hear from a lot of people doesn't appear anywhere in the text, but I think we get the concept here. He turns to talk about, okay, what do we do with those that have died, then? What, what, what happens there? And he's talking about not grieving as those who have no hope because he's alluding to a future reunion with them when we are caught up together with them. Well, He goes on to say this. He says, and it begins in verse 16. He says the dead in Christ will rise first. So the Lord himself is going to descend from heaven with a cry of command, the voice of an Archangel, the sound of the trumpet, the dead and Christ will rise first. Okay. Those are the ones that have died and have their souls have gone to be with the Lord, but the bodies had been buried. Those bodies are going to be raised. There's going to be resurrected to meet their souls again. Then we who are alive, who are left. Meaning we haven't died yet. We will be in here's the word caught up. And that, that's the word that we refer to. That's the phrase that we refer to referring to the event of the rapture. So we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. So this is where we get the doctrine of the rapture. There's other passages. But this is the key one here. Yeah, and it's worth noting too. That verse 17 caught up. Or the word heart Pozzo. Uh, it doesn't sound like rapture, but the word wrap Turo, which is where we get the word rapture from ease. In fact, in the Bible, it's the Latin Vulgate. So Latin rep Turo rapture as well. We get the common vernacular. Uh, but there, isn't a word that you're going to find in scripture that says, oh, and the rapture is going to happen at this place in this time. Some people call it the secret rapture. Um, I don't think dispensationalist tend to call it that that's not how we've described it, but this is where we get it from primarily. Uh, but this is one piece of the puzzle. So if you're only looking at this and saying, this is exactly. Uh, this is describing left behind is exactly as I know it. You're not going to see it there. Uh, because we, we don't depend on this verse alone. We're trying to put the whole Corpus of scripture together to say what's the most consistent cogent way to put the, the eschatology in context. And we think this is part of it. And this tells us, we think that God is going to come and get his people. And we believe that there is a. The way that we're compiling is the most consistent way to look at eschatology. Yeah, a hundred percent in, and I don't think it's going to be secret at all. In fact, I think. You think about the Christian pilots, the Christian people behind the wheel of a car, the Christian people that are on that are doing surgery on an operating table that are all of a sudden gone. Th there's not going to be anything secret about it. It's going to be a horrible day. And he goes on to talking in chapter five, about the day of the Lord. Um, being the, the day of judgment that's coming, any differentiates, he says, this is going to be a day of sudden destruction. And there's a lot of things you've probably heard in here. Lines that you've heard. Let us not sleep as others do, but keep awake. Uh, but then he goes on and he says, but you know, we don't need to fear this for goddess, not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord. Jesus Christ. And so he's differentiating here and saying that this is going to be a terrifying day for some, but we have better hopes for, for you because God has not destined us for this wrath. That's coming on the day of the Lord. But for salvation that comes through through Christ. Uh, one more verse to, to point out here in first S and then maybe we can jump over to the second test, but verse 14, as he's encouraging the church there, this is so important for us. It's important for pastoral ministry. At the top, but it's also important for every believer. He says, we urge you brothers admonish the idol. Okay. So that's the person that's not doing anything. They're, they're, they're passive in their, their professed walk with Christ, admonish them, exhort them, spur them on, get them going. Encourage the faint-hearted. And so that, that person that is, is growing weary or, or struggling to bear up under their burdens, help the weak. Uh, we can fate the weak physically the weak spiritually, and then he says this be patient with them. All that needs to be our approach to everybody within the church. It's such a good paradigm and model for us to hold onto. As far as what it looks like for us to, to love one another. Well, within the church. Man and I'd be remissed if I didn't help. Underline verse 12, man, we ask you brothers, this is talking to the church that desolate, Thessalonica, respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. And to esteem them very highly in love because of their work in love. Uh, and you can add onto this Hebrews 13, 17, where you're called to obey, uh, the leaders who labor among you. Uh, so important scripture calls us to have a high regard for the authority that he's placed in our lives. And so that, that definitely means whatever church you belong to, whether it's ours or to another man, this is, this is our call as the sheep. And of course, all of us are sheep to varying degrees. Some of us have different shepherds. Uh, but just know this is the call that's grifter has to all of us who have shepherds overs. If you have a good shepherd, man, thank him. Pray for him. Let him know that you care about him. Encourage him. This is part of what it looks like to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. They were going to give an account for you. Any shepherd worth his salt and his weight in salt knows what that feels. The pressure is enormous and it's a good pressure. He should have that. But because of that, if he's doing his job well, please do yourself a favor and courage your shepherd. Let them know that you're thinking about him, praying for him and that you care about them. All right. Let's flip over to second Thessalonians. The second letter written, um, by the way, if we didn't hit your favorite verse in first, this. I'm sorry. You just have so much ground to. So much good stuff. Again, you get Paul Silvina son, Timothy Paul Silas intimidate here in second Thessalonians. This is obviously the second letter, but the background is still their time and acts 17, verse four. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness in faith, in all your persecutions in the afflictions, you are enduring. Again, at the hands of the Jews at the hand of the Gentiles. Uh, we get some of that background there in acts chapter 17. Uh, what about the, the judgment of God that we had talked about that in the first letter, he's writing again, to help explain some more about this and we get into this in chapter one right away. Uh, he talks about those who inflaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the enemies of God what's going to happen. Verse nine, they will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might. So a couple of things that we get the eternality of, uh, of eternal conscious torment is our view on the doctrine of hell. And I think we see that here. Um, but then also we get this idea of being away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his mind. I think there's a qualification there. It at least. I believe there is in that. It's not a way from the completely, from the presence of the Lord, but away from the presence of his goodness, his mercy, his kindness, his love, his compassion, his patients as long suffering. You know, all of those good characteristics. Uh, th th what is present in hell is the full wrath of God. It's his justice. It's his holiness. And that is present there in hell. So when he's talking about being away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his mind, it's the goodness. It's all the good blessings of God that we're going to experience in eternity in heaven. Those are not there in the presence of those who are suffering in hell. Amen to that in verse eight here, notice that the gospel. Is a call to be obeyed. It's not only an invitation. It is a call to be obeyed, which is why he says it's the vengeance of God is for those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord. Jesus. So you're dragging your feet and repentance notice. This is not a wish. It's an invitation. Yes, but it's also a command. It's chapter two, then he gets into the return of Christ and he says, Hey, you know what? Some may have said. He's already come back or something like that. And he says, let no one deceive you verse three in any way for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first in the man of lawlessness, who is the man of lawlessness. This is the antichrist. And he will be revealed the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship. He's going to proclaim himself to be God. So this is the introduction of some of the end times things in, in pulsing. Hey, don't, don't let anyone think that that you've missed the boat because the, the man of lawlessness is going to be revealed. And this is the one verse eight that the Lord Jesus is going to kill with the breath of his mouth. Okay. Cross-reference write down revelation 1911 through 21. That's what this is alluding to in talking about that final battle between Jesus and the antichrist, which is not much of a battle at all, because he does, he kills him with a sort of, is that. Proceeds from his mouth. And that's the word? Um, we sing it in the grade. Him one little word shall fell him. Now that's talking about the ultimate enemy Satan, but, but it's true of the antichrist as well. Uh, the coming along, this one is, he says in verse nine, by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders that's revelation 13, one through four. So go there and you'll see that the antichrist is going to receive. Power from Satan to do these things and be enabled even to do these signs and miracles. And that's going to come from the enemy from Satan and there's a denial of truth. There's a refusal to believe truth. And so his followers. Are going to be even diluted even further verse 11, unless you think that this is unfair. Notice that therefore in verse 11, they're being diluted by God, because they've already rejected the truth previously. So, so God is further hardening. This is a little bit like Pharaoh. Uh, got us further hardening this, this group that they may continue to believe that error that's coming from the antichrist. And not believe the truth that that God is, has called them to believe instead. One thing I noticed here. Uh, just cause we're about to get to verse 13. Uh, verse 13 in verse three, sound a lot alike. Uh, verse three, he says we ought always to give thanks for you, brothers as is right. Verse 13, but we got always to give thanks to God for you brothers beloved by the Lord. And if you're a member and first Thessalonians, he started out very similar verse two, we give thanks to God, always for all of you constantly mentioning you in our prayers. Uh, as you mentioned how strategic he loves these people. Uh, and he's thankful for them. And talk about a week of Thanksgiving where we want to be a thankful people. And one of the things that we ought to be most thankful for in addition to God himself and the gospel that he's given us. As the people he's put in her lives. Now the people around your table this year may not be there next year. Not to. You're not to think that they're always going to be there. You gotta be thankful for people. And one of the things that should characterize our church is a love for people that issues forth and Thanksgiving. And we have to verbalize that. So let me encourage you. I do a Paul does and give thanks for the people that he's put in your life. Yes. Yeah, absolutely. Amen to that. He's also contrasting in verse 13 when he says, but we ought to give thanks for you. Cause he's saying, Hey, look, these are the people in the end that are going to be in a bad way. But, but we have, we feel better about you. It's almost like Hebrews six, where he talks about. Those that have fallen away, but he says, but we have better things concerning you. We believe better things concerning you, things concerning salvation. And so he's contrasting, which is a comfort to the. Uh, the Thessalonians. In fact, he even contrast that when he says that you're going to be saved through sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth. So notice if you back up to verse 12, they did not believe the truth. Uh, they refuse to believe the truth. The contrast you with. Thessalonians, they did believe the truth. And so that's good. And like pastor rod pointed out. Being obedient to that truth in, in the obedience to the gospel there. Uh, but, but we are being saved here as well. It's worth noting through sanctification. Uh, that, that God shows you as the first fruits to be saved. Notice through sanctification by the spirit and belief in truth. That the spirit is, is going to deliver you all the way into, to glorification. And so there's that sense in which we are still being saved as believers? Yes. Positionally we're saved, but we're in that process still until we stand before the Lord. We're ultimately finally delivered and saved. And then he concludes in chapter three with an admonition encouragement plea to pray for them. Uh, to pray that, that as. They served the church in Thessaloniki there and had such success there. Paul says, pray that that would happen more and more. And, and that, that would be true everywhere they go. And we would echo that too. I mean, pastor Ron, I would love and, and desire your prayers for us. As pastors as we leave the church, as we meet with people, as we please lead ministries. Yeah. We need that desperately. Um, And then he concludes with some specific warnings for people within the church there. Again, like we talked about in first this morning, he gets idleness. He talks about that here. Uh, and, and what's important here is, is in verse 10. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. This is not. Paul saying you should never help somebody in need, but this is, Hey, when somebody says I don't want to work. I just want the free handout pulsing. That's not what the money of the churches to be used for. Uh, you're doing Monish that person and, uh, and encourage them not to grow weary in doing good, but, but to apply themselves and to discipline themselves, to work for their food. So. Uh, some specific church matters that he concludes in, in second Thessalonians three with, yeah, just on the note to, uh, you know, churches are one of the places people will go when they're having a hard time and, you know, churches saved money for just such an occasion. Uh, but notice that scripture calls us not to just give. I mean handle. It's a hard, hard word, but you get the point. We're not just giving money away or we're not frivolous with the Lord's money. We take it seriously, which means that if, uh, if someone were to ask what we're going to say, okay. Tell us about your work efforts. What are you trying to do right now? What are you doing? Um, Scripture has a lot of helpful guidelines about how the churches to disperse. Uh, charity. Uh, money benevolence. And this is one of those areas and I hope you pay close attention to that because the church is where we're stewarding God's resources. And we take that very seriously. And you should too, because you're stewarding God's resources just in a different way. Uh, so working as good all work is great. It's noble, no matter what your profession is, as long as it's legal. And doesn't in any way, violate scripture work is good and you ought to take delight in the work of your hands, whatever that is, whether you're mothering at home or whether you're working at the factory or you're sitting in the C-level suite, whatever you're doing. If it's, if it's. If it's a godly work, if it's not sinful work, it's noble work. And therefore, yet to take delight in that. And, and this is part of what God has designed us for. So with that said, pay close attention to those things. We'll talk more about them as we get into the other pastoral epistles. Yeah. And that's, you're dead on, on that in. Our desires were always going to say, we want to start with, with the household, with the local church here. And so with that in mind, let us encourage you to church. If you do have needs, let them be known to us. We want to come alongside you, whether that's to help you figure out other ways to, to meet some of those needs or. If we have the means and ability to do that. But, um, that's part of our concern is we want to, uh, to be able to serve our body and help our body in that regard. So we pray and then we'll be done with a long episode, but thanks for sticking with us during. Got we, we do want to give, thanks as Paul did for the church in Thessalonica for our church, we are grateful for those that are, that make up compass north, Texas. And that have said, Hey, we, we love this church. And we want to submit to these pastors as our leaders, we're grateful for them. So many in our church make our job truly a joy. And it's a, it's a privilege for us to be able to serve in that regard. But we continue to be able to, to do so faithfully. And we do ask that as Paul said, Hey, pray for us. We want that mentality, not just for our pastors, but for all of our leaders and in for everybody's individuals to, to be fruitful in pursuing the lost around us and, and to do the work in the ministry and just to be a healthy body of Christ. We want to be a church that. If Paul were to visit us, he would say, Hey Excel, still more. That that would be awesome if he could come in and see that in us at compass and say Excel Stillmore. And so God give us that, that aim, that target. Uh, that mentality that we would Excel still more. And we are certainly thankful people this week, especially, but all the time we need to be thankful. And we pray this all in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. All right. Y'all keep, bring your Bibles and tune in again tomorrow for another edition of the daily Bible podcast. We'll see you then.