Epistles of Paul 06

Good evening, brethren. In the previous sets of studies on the book of Thessalonians, we started and we went up to chapter 2, verse 7. And today we're going to continue from there. However, we're just going to very briefly summarize the first chapter and what we cover up to now. Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians was written about 20 years after Christ's death, and it was basically intended to encourage the brethren in Thessalonika, and therefore also to strengthen them, because they were under quite a bit of persecution. And then, later, after the first two introductory chapters, he addresses some misunderstandings and errors, mainly prophetic, about Jesus Christ's return, and also some concerns that some of the brethren at that time had already died. And they were thinking that Christ was coming in their time, and therefore some of the brethren were concerned that those people had missed in the joy of seeing Christ's return.

So he addresses that. He also addresses an issue that some people were not working. They were thinking time was so short that they might as well not work. And those were basically some people that Paul calls them as disordinate and basically lazy, and they were living off others. So he encourages people to work, and in the second epistle of Thessalonians, he's even more straight about that subject. And also he addresses a point of they were allowing some pagan practices, getting back into the church, through basically allowing some old habits to repeat. So he addresses those points. And so in the first chapter, he basically starts by encouraging the Thessalonians, and basically about their example under great persecution. You see that in verse 8 of chapter 7 and 8 of chapter 1. He says, So that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia, who believed, for from you, because of your example, because of the light that was shining through them, from you, the word of the Lord has sounded forth. And I mentioned how that was like the sound of a trumpet, that sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place in that society that they reached. And therefore that faith, that example that they had in God, was so strong, such a good light, that always says we don't need to mention more about that. So it was a very powerful example. And then in verse 9 and 10, he says that how that example was by turning from idols to serve the living and true God, whilst the impatient waiting for Jesus Christ's Second Coming. Then in chapter 2, Paul highlights how his trip to Thessalonika was not in vain. You see that in verse 1 of chapter 2. And he said, look at that trip, as we can read in verses 3-6 of chapter 2, was not in any self-exhortation or for any wrong motive. So you can see how he addresses that from verses 3-6. But he also says it was not, as I mentioned in self-exhortation, but it was because, we read that in verse 4, Paul and those that were with him, had been chosen by God for this role. So he says, but as we have been approved by God, so they were chosen by God, they were approved by God, and he says to be entrusted with the gospel. Now, this is a very powerful statement which I addressed in the previous study. I covered how the ministry is a calling by God. And that obviously is in addition to the calling to be in God's church now. You see, there are some people that think that they were called before they were in the church, and because they called, their job is to be a minister. But yeah, we can see that there are two levels of calling. One, you are called, and the other one, you were approved by God or entrusted by God with the gospel. So there is an additional calling or ordination to be a minister of Jesus Christ. And so Paul is also saying it was not anything we self-appointed ourselves. So the noteworthy statement that I could mention here in this verse is that God's ministers have received God's trust. Well, let's call it God's sacred trust to preach the gospel. And that is a very responsible position that every minister of Jesus Christ takes very seriously or should take very seriously. Now conversely, our responsibility as members in the church is to respect that position that God has entrusted with his ministry. Now, this is sadly missing today by no means. By no means am I saying that ministers are to be dictators. No, I'm not saying that. But ministers have been entrusted by God to preach God's word, the truth. And granted, they have been in the past some ministers that have broken that trust.

But that does not justify us to now not trust God's ministry. So continuing then in verse 6, the latter part, he also says in chapter 2, verse 6, he says we might have made demands as apostles of Christ, but he didn't make any demands in this entrusted role. And then in verse 7, but we were gentle among you just as a nursing mother cherishes around children. So he was gentle. He was caring. And this is a responsibility that we as ministers of Jesus Christ have to think very carefully that we have the same spirit of love and care as a nursing mother for the brethren. Now, we see that Paul did go through a lot of trials. I just want to look at 2 Corinthians 11, verse 28. In 2 Corinthians 11, verse 28, in fact, verses before, starting from verse 22, he's saying, well, are these people, are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am all. So because, you know, and he says, I have been beaten up. He says, I'm from the Jews. Five times I received 40 stripes, minus one. And he goes on. That is in verse 24. And then in verse 28, he says, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily is my concern for all the churches.

One thing that was foremost in Paul's mind was his deep concern for all the churches. So besides the trials, not withstanding trials, he had a deep concern for all the brethren. If we just look at one chapter earlier, that 2 Corinthians chapter 10, in verse 8, we read, for even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us, you see, so the ministry does have an authority given by Jesus Christ.

But he says, which the Lord gave us, two or four edification. It was to build. God has given us responsibility and authority to build. And not for your destruction. You see, we don't have authority from Christ to destroy the brethren, to be detiters, to be hard on the brethren, to cause the vision amongst the brethren.

We, as God's ministers, have a responsibility to end a fight.

And that's what he was doing. That's what he says, I shall not be ashamed, using that authority to edify. So God's ministry does have an authority that is too bold to encourage to edify God's people. Let's then continue in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 8. That's where we stopped the previous time, and so we'll now continue with verse 8. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

So Paul was serving not only by showing them the gospel of God. Now, it is interesting, he's talking about the gospel of God, because the gospel of the kingdom of God is the message that God wants us to preach, which is the gospel of God. And the message of the kingdom of God includes the message about who is the king in the kingdom of God that will be ruling the king of kings, which is Christ.

So it includes the gospel, or the good news, of who Christ is. But there's only one gospel. It's God's gospel. It's God's message. And that is a message that we are to be sons and daughters of God in the family of God. And that is the message about the kingdom of God which will rule on earth. And we'll talk a little more about the kingdom of God in a moment.

And continuing now in our essays, but also our own lives. So he didn't just preach the gospel, but he gave his own life, his own time, his own everything for the brethren, for the church. He was dedicated to serve the church, for what purpose? To edify, to bold, to edify. Verse 9, for you remember brethren, our labor and our toil.

For laboring night and day, through a might not be a burden to any of you, we preach to you the gospel of God. So we, that's Paul, Timothy, and Silas, or Sylvanas, they labor, they work. Not to charge you, not to put a burden in you. The gospel is preached to you freely. So the gospel is preached to them through service, through giving of their time and service freely, just as it is done today.

The gospel is today also preached freely. Now, continue now in verse 10. You are witnesses, and God also held devoutly and justly and blamelessly. We behaved ourselves among you who believe. So you are witnesses. You can see how we have acted, how we have behaved. And he says devoutly, because he says, verse 10, you are witnesses, that we behaved ourselves as later amongst you believe. How? First, devoutly. He was observing all religious commandments and instructions towards God. The devoutly, second, justly, they did no wrong towards men. So they were faithful and making sure they did not hurt other people.

And thirdly, blamelessly, that every duty was faithfully performed. That means, not necessarily that they were perfect, but they were consistent in character. They were striving to do what was right, and they did it with a clean heart, blamelessly. And that's how he says we behaved ourselves among you who believed. It was all practiced what he preached. He lived that example. And basically what he's saying, it's good for us human beings to have other people that we can look up to.

Now, obviously, our standard, who we really look up to, is God. Or, let's put it this way, Christ, because he came and lived a physical life like to be an example to us. He is, basically, Christ is the end purpose, the final achievement of our final fulfillment of the law. That's why it says Christ is the end of the law. It does not mean that the law is endled, not that Christ is young.

It means that Christ's full fold, exemplified, gave the ultimate example of what the law is all about, which is love towards God and love towards fellow men. And so, what Paul is saying, I set an example, and elsewhere we know Paul said, imitate me as I imitate Christ. So, there's nothing wrong in for us for us to have human examples, but our standard, who we really look up to, is Christ, not any man.

Anyway, let's continue in verse 11. So, he's basically saying, in the context, if you read, if we start here from verse 7, he says how we were gentle amongst you, just as a nursing mother, but now in verse 11, he says, as you know, how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father. So, now he uses the example of a dad, of a father.

So, you were cherishing and caring like a mother does its nursing children. That's what he says, her own children. But now, in verse 11, he uses three, let's call, action words, verbs, which exemplify what actions a dad should have.

And he says exaltation, comfort, and charging. So, let's look at those three verbs, three actions of a dad, because he says how we exhorted as a father. So, how does a father exalt? What is the word exalt in Greek? Isparakalaiō, Greek 3870. Basically, you need to call to one side, to speak to, to admonish, to exhort, to beg, to entreat, to beseech, to instruct, to encourage.

And so, the Holy Spirit, for instance, we know from John, we've got to remember correctly, John 16, he is our parakletos, 3875, which basically is our helper. He helps, God's Holy Spirit helps us to understand what's true. And God's Holy Spirit is God's power in us that strengthens us to overcome trials and persecutions. So, as a dad, we exhort, we call to one side, to admonish, we exhort, we entreat, we beseech, we instruct, we encourage. So, it's this positive, positive approach, encouragement, strengthening of people when they go through trials and difficulties that a dad should do for his children. And Paul is saying, we have exhorted you, we exhorted you. Then he says, we comforted you, because you know how we exhorted. As you know, how we comforted you. Comfort is from the Greek word paramousay, paramousayamai, Greek 3888, which is to speak, to call, console, to comfort. It's like to calm the situation, speak with a calming vibe, let's call it. They just give certain degree of peace and calm, comforting. It's a comfort. And so, you know how we comforted you. So, there is that consoling, speaking, to call somebody. And then he says, and charged every one of you as a father. Charge is from the Greek martureo 3114, which means to bear witness, to be a witness, to give testimony, to give evidence. To charge, therefore, is to affirm what was seen. It's a word that comes from giving evidence, being a witness of what was seen.

Affirm what was seen, it was seen. See, that's what it was. And yeah, in my Bible, in verse 11, used the word implored as well in the majority of texts, changing that to implored. So, it's just different words trying to show how a dad, how Paul was to the church, this type of person that, you know, admonished, exhausted them, that gave them help, that calmed them down, that spoke in a calming way, that comforted them, and that said, this is it. This is what happened. This is a fact. In other words, I'm a witness of what has happened. So, like a father does to his own children. So, a father has this authority that says, this is what it is. This is correct, but he also does it in a consoling, and a calming, and an admonishing way. And then in verse 12 says, that you should walk worthy of God.

You see, the desired outcome, the desired outcome of a father to have these characteristics, and in this case, Paul or God's ministers, that we as God's ministers need to have, the desired outcome is what? Is that you would walk worthy of God.

The desired outcome is that we walk in a way that is pleasing to God.

Turn with me to the third epistle of John chapter 1 verse 4. Okay, I can only read this only one chapter, but anyway. The third epistle of John chapter 1 verse 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. You see, a dad's joy is that to see the children walking in the truth.

As a Christian dad, when you see your children falling in God's way, it gives you a real true inner joy. He says, that's why he says, but no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. So that's what, in a sense, that's what Paul was saying in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 12 in the first section. Let's also look at Philippians.

Philippians chapter 2, Philippians chapter 2, and now we're going to start reading in verse 19. He says, for our trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state. It was he saying, I don't have an enemy minister that I know that is so caring for the brethren as Timothy. What a wonderful compliment to an enemy minister. What a wonderful compliment. And then he says, for all seek the own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character. You know Timothy's proven character, that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel. So to me, he was a son, and that was Paul is saying. And I'm a well pleased dad with the behavior of Timothy. And what I mean, well pleased dad, I mean that between inverted comments, because really physically speaking, Paul was not Timothy's dad, but inverted comments, right? A spiritual parent, let's call it, that's that way. And but on the other side, Timothy returned that to Paul because he says, just as a son to his dad, he served me in the gospel. And in a way, is what we need to be to our Heavenly Father. We need to serve him and obey him according to the gospel of God. What is the gospel of God? The kingdom of God, to be in the family of God. And so according to that purpose, we as children of God, we need to return that favor, a reciprocal favor. A reciprocal favor, in a sense, it's grace. Think about it. Grace requires a reciprocal favor. Just between brackets here, or as a footnote, if you read our booklet, the Church's booklet, on grace, there is a section that explains this point that I'm referring to, of reciprocal favor. God has given us favors, grace, and we, our responsibility, as a form of gratitude, of thank you, is to return that favor to him by the obedient and doing the things that are pleasingly signed. So now we have an example. That is a son to his father. He served me in the gospel. And so I just divert a little bit by drawing your attention to a very important subject that is discussed in our booklet of grace, entitled, Grace. And it is this subject that is not very well understood what is grace, and particularly the meaning of reciprocate to God the grace that he gives us as showing the same grace towards him by doing the things that are pleasing, by his commandments and doing the things that are pleasingly signed. So anyway, let's continue now with the latter part of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 12. We read the first part of verse 12. It says that you should walk worthy of God. So we need to walk worthy of God. How do we walk worthy of God? By reciprocating the grace that he gives us. That's what it's meant elsewhere when it says, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to grow in that reciprocity of returning to God the grace that is given to us by us doing what's pleasingly signed. So let's continue. That you should walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. Who calls you into Greek Ais, E-I-S, into. It implies a movement, a direction into God's kingdom. So it says that you should walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. Now, we're not yet in the kingdom of God.

We are not yet in the kingdom of God, but you and I should be already practicing obeying the kingdom's laws. Right? That's what it is. We shouldn't be living that respect for God as our king, our supreme king, and obeying his laws. So when he says, yeah, who calls you into his own kingdom, you could read that into his own sovereignty, his own, let's call it realm of respect and sovereignty. That is sovereign, and we are subject to him into that sovereignty, into that kingdom. Go on to the kingdom of God. God is not here yet, but we need to be practicing today that kingdom's laws, those kingdom's laws, we need to live that. So, in other words, we are under the jurisdiction of God's government. You and I should be under the jurisdiction of God's government, and that's why elsewhere says we are Christ's ambassadors. In other words, we represent, we should represent that standard, that respect of sovereignty of God's kingdom. Now, look at another interesting structure, which is in Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13. He says, he has delivered us from the power of darkness. In other words, Satan's world, which is the power of darkness, and conveyed us, or transferred us, as in my margin, puts it as a different translation to the word, conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of Islam. So, he has transferred us from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom, but understand that we're not yet literally in God's kingdom, but we are from that sovereignty of Satan, we should now be in the sovereignty, or under the full authority of God. And that is, in a sense, we are transferred from that kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. Granted, we're not yet in the kingdom of God, but we must be in that spirit and sovereignty under that.

So, for another words, we should be under the rulership of God. Now, typically, we should understand there are two distinct meanings of kingdom. One is territorial. Territorial, like we normally say, a kingdom is a territory and a king, and they're subjects, and there's rulers, but it's kind of related to a territorial kingdom, something that we, in this physical environment, we understand. But there is another meaning to the word kingdom. That is, that sovereign realm, that area of sovereignty of respect. So, there are two distinct meanings of kingdom, but when we talk about the kingdom of God, I would dare to say that there's probably three distinct meanings of the word kingdom, because when we talk about the kingdom of God, we are talking about the royal family of God as well. So, therefore, following the chain of that we are under the rulership of God, in the sovereignty of God, we also need to understand that we are being prepared to be sons and daughters of God in reality, although we are now already sons and daughters of God. What do I mean by that? Well, let's turn to 1 John chapter 3. We must start reading in verse 1. 1 John chapter 3, and 1 John chapter 3, and we're going to read in verse 1. It says, Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God? You see, now, as physical human beings, once we are repentant, and we believe, we've been baptized, and we have received God's Holy Spirit, and therefore God's Holy Spirit, that divine seed is in us. We are now begotten as sons and daughters of God. Like in an analogy, the children are begotten when the human father's seed impregnates the ovum. So, that growing baby in a mother's womb is already the son or the daughter of that dad. Likewise, spiritually speaking, an analogy granted, analogies, not every little detail in analogy, is matched from physical to spiritual, but it is an analogy. It helps us to understand our company and a little bit better. So, in an analogy, once we receive God's early Spirit, after baptism and the laying on our hands, upon repenting faith, and then obviously the prayer of Jesus Christ's minister asking God to fulfill his promise to give us his Spirit, we then are begotten. That means we are, it says here, that we, what a blessing it is, that we should be called children of God. That's now. Now, after baptism, after we receive God's early Spirit, therefore the wall does not know us because it does not know him. The wall doesn't know God. Oh yeah, they say they do, but they don't. Verse 2, Beloved, now we are children of God. And yet, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. In other words, we are children of God in this analogy in the womb, but it has not been yet revealed what we'll be like when we be, or truly a new being, a spirit being, as the Bible defines it as, born again, as a spirit being. So we're not yet a spirit being. And he says, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be.

When shall we be a spirit being? At the resurrection, at Christ's coming, right? At the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15 verse 52-53. Right, and so he says, but we know that when he is revealed, we know that when Christ comes, we shall be like him. In other words, our body will not be flesh and blood like it is today, will not be corruptible, but it will be transformed or changed into an incorruptible body like Christ's, which now is not flesh and blood. You see, because flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 50. So continue reading up. But we know that when he is revealed, that's when Christ comes, we shall be like him, like Christ. A spirit being, like Christ, is with Christ's type of being, which is the same type of being as God the Father, that family of beings of the God family. Right? Be like him, for we shall see him as he is. At that time, you and I will be able to see Christ as he is. Today you can't, and I can't. Why? Because that glory will destroy us. Moses could not see you, and Abram could not see how God was. So, continue now, when we sleep. And everyone who has the soul in him purifies himself just as he is pure. Brethren, it is so important that we keep this in mind. Because when you and I are discouraged, when you and I are down, and we will be down, because we have an enemy that is trying to destroy us time and time and time again. But when we are down, when we are discouraged, we need to keep this in mind that we will have a brand new body, spiritual body, like God's, we'll see God as he is, we'll be incorruptible, and if you have this hope, you will strive to keep yourself pure. That's why it says, purifies himself just as he is pure. And that's what it means in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 12, we need to walk worthy of God. So, let's just go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 12 says that you should walk worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom. We cover that, but look at that, and glory. He calls us into his glory.

You see, we are being called to be glorious like Christ is. Now, obviously, much inferior, you know, the father is higher than Christ always said the father is greater than I am, and then we will say Christ is greater than where we are, and the father is even greater, but we'll have be of the same kind. Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 10. 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 10, and it says, But may the God of all grace who called us to his what? 2 Peter chapter 5 verse 10. Paul does to his eternal glory through or by Christ Jesus. You see, Christ delegated everything to Christ, and through Christ, that's what God is achieving, but it's achieving it through Christ. Christ is, let's call it, is the executive officer, the chief executive officer, and the father that is doing everything, including God the father is calling us to his glory by Christ, through Christ. You see, we ought to have the same type of glory as God the father has and as the son has, because it's the glory of the family of God.

But he does not have a full stop. It's going to come, and he says, by Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a while.

Brethren, after we have suffered a while, then God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and centerly settle. You see, brethren, God has called us to his glory, to his eternal glory, by Christ, but it's after we all have gone through some suffering for a while.

Now, turn a few chapters back, still in 1 Peter, but chapter 2, verse 21. He says, to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow his steps.

What steps? Suffer like he suffered.

To this we were called.

Christ suffered, and we're called to suffer as well, for us to be able to be amongst the first fruits, not at the top ruling echelon of God's Government. To this we were called. So, let's go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. We finished reading verse 12.

Okay, so now let's read verse 13. For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you receive the Word of God, which you heard from us, you will come that not as the Word of man, as the teasing truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you to believe. You see, you received the Word of God, which you heard.

See, for this reason, we thank God without ceasing, because when you receive the Word of God, which you heard from us, the Word of God has to be preached. It requires a preaching. You're reading another place. How blessing it is, him that brings good tidings in our beautiful eyes' feet. You see, yes, we have God's Word. We have the Bible. We have to read it. But we also need to hear God's minister's explanation. That's what he says, which you heard from us. You will come that.

You accepted it. You listened to it, and you responded. And you didn't treat it as if it was the Word of Man, but as it is in truth the Word of God.

The Word, the preaching, the explanation, those sermons and messages from God's ministers is not the Word of Man. It's the Word of God inspired by God, inspired by a servant, inspired by God, and given to us through Christ, through a servant of Christ.

So when a minister of God preaches the Word of God, and it is correct according to the Bible, you can't just say, oh well, it's his opinion.

We have to be very careful, because we need to welcome it, not as the Word of Man, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe these sermons, these messages from God's ministers work effectively in us.

For what? To produce fruits? You see, you read in Isaiah 55 verse 11. Turn with me to Isaiah 55 verse 11.

55 verse 11.

So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth?

So the word goes from God's mouth. Obviously, it's written in the Bible, but also goes through Christ and inspiration of his Spirit, through God's ministers, and he says, and it shall not return to me for it, that it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

God's word will prosper, will grow, will help you to grow. So God's word will not return to God empty because it produces fruit, encouragement. It produces people that are converted that are living God's way. And so we have to be very careful of God's word, that we are edifying, that we are being gentle and kind and loving to edify, to build. And we read places in Psalm 19, starting from verse 7 through verse 11, various outcomes of God's law in us.

I'm not going to read it now, but you read how God's law, Psalm 19 verse 7 through 11. Also, Psalm 119 speaks a lot about God's law, but there it is. God's law in us is God's sovereignty in us.

It's God's sovereignty. It's that worship of God's kingdom in us today. So let's continue now in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 14. I'll be apart of verse 14 and 15. For you, brethren, become imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. So imitate other congregations that are obeying God, that are being an example. For you also suffer the same things from your own countrymen. You know, the churches in Judea had sufferings from people in Judea, and it says you, in Thessalonians, also had sufferings from people in your own country, just as they did with Judeans. Because Judeans who killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us. Those Judeans, those parapsychotype people that were opposed to what Paul was doing, they persecuted them and he says, and they do not please God.

And are contrary to all men. You see, let's translate that into today's society. Today's society, we have Christianity, which claim to be Christians. But you know what? They give us pressures and persecution.

Some people criticize God's people. All those people saying they're doing the right thing. They're good people. But they give us trials.

They give us trials and trials because they are contrary to all men. What do you mean contrary to all men? You know, salvation is to all men. We read that in turn to Matthew 2 verse 4. Salvation is for the Jew and the Greek. And God wants all men to repent. Jews and Greeks, everybody. But people that are hindering the truth as we are preaching, they are hindering. They are contrary to the well-being of all men. You see, we know this. I don't know other man, but Jesus, are we to be saved? And you know, people say, oh, well, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. But Christ will say, get away from them. You will practice lawlessness, will practice iniquity. You see, we have to learn God's way. We have to learn under the sovereign rulership, under that kingdom law, we have to be under that kingdom law now. We have been transported, transferred from the world of darkness to the kingdom of God. Now, understand, I'm not saying that we are now in the kingdom of God, but we have been transferred to that sovereign rule of God. You see, and then it continues. Forburding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved. Oh, yes, people today cause problems to the church and impact the effectiveness of the church, which impacts basically the effectiveness of us preaching gospel to the whole world. Because God's intent is that all should be saved, including Gentiles. And so, as always, to fill up the measure of their sins. So he's talking about those Judeans that did that. And because of that, their sins are being filled up. But wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. Now, in the context Paul was talking about the Judeans, how they persecuted the church in Judea, and how they killed Christ and the prophets, and they put pressure in Christians. And Paul himself knows what it is because he was one of those. But he repented. But he knows those people are bringing wrath upon them to the uttermost. Do you remember when Pilate washed his hands and said, I find no fault in Jesus? You read that in Matthew 27, verse 24 and 25.

And then all the people, and we know by reading verse 20 of Matthew 27, he says that was the priests and the elders that motivated the multitude to say that. So all the people said, his blood be upon us and our children.

All those Jewish people that were there said to Pilate, Christ's blood be upon us and our children.

I wonder if that's the reason why it has been so much suffering on the Jewish nation. Because they said, his blood be upon us and our children. We've got to be careful what we say, brethren. Very careful what we say. And I'll continue. Verse 17, but we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time, and we're not with you, Thessalonians, we're away from you for a short time, in presence, but not in heart. Our heart is with you.

We endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Yes, we desire to see you.

Therefore, we wanted to come and see you. Even I, Paul, time and again, I wanted to come and see you. But Satan hindered us. Circumstances, difficulties, etc., would not allow us to come and see you. Satan hindered us. But it's very similar to the situation when we read the Archangel Gabriel in Daniel 10, verse 13. He says, he was held back for 21 days by these powers of these demon powers. You see, brethren, they are spiritual battles.

And we must not underestimate what is happening in the spirit world around us.

We see only some effects.

Paul said he was hindered to visit the Romans. He'll be back in Romans 1, verse 13. In Romans 15, verse 22, he says he was often hindered. You see, Satan tries to stop the work of God. He has done so in the past, and he'll keep doing it.

Satan has continually been creating troubles in the church from inside, and then, later on, he executes like a master stroller from outside using political governments and pressures. Think about it. There's two ways. The first waves are things inside, within us. The second wave that comes later, which is like the master final stroke, is from outside, from governments.

And this has been the case all along. During the time of Paul's, there were from inside, there were these problems. Either they came from because he was preaching Christ, and therefore, the ones are more devout Judaism-type people. I'm not speaking the Jews are bad, but they were more related to that. They put pressure about being justified by acts of the law, ceremonial acts, in the words of self-righteousness. And then there was the other side, which people are taming from the world, from paganism. They brought with them, they pagan ideas to infiltrate into the church, and they brought in what we would call libertarianism, like liberty and whatever. And that is still today in today's society. They are either a right-wing, let's call it, extremist, very self-righteous, putting a lot of do's and don'ts on the law. And then there's the others. There are very left-wing-ish libertarians. Oh well, all you need to do is just believe, and you don't have to do anything. So there's these two extremes. And these extremes have caused a war-blown problem throughout the ages in the church.

And we know how the apostasy in 95 happened was basically that extreme, saying, oh well, it's just grace, and you don't have to keep the Sabbath, you don't have to keep the full laws of cleaning and cleaning, etc. It was that extreme, and trying to put another against another extreme on the right. And we've got to be careful, because we've got to be balanced. We've got to be of a sound mind. As Paul says, God's Holy Spirit is not a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love, and of a sound mind. So those were pressures inside. And then there is pressures outside. Now, indeed, pressures outside could come from masses of people, riots, and or government intervention. In a sense, think about it, the mark of the beast is government pressure on God's people to disobey God.

Okay, we know the market of beast is standing observance, but when you are or breaking God's sabbatical laws and God's laws and disobeying God, but looking at, generally speaking, what it really is, is government pressure to disobey God.

In the old primitive Christianity, the apostasy also came in two waves. The first wave was phrenositic Christianity with internal issues and narcissism and all that, and the second bang, killer stroke was the government Roman influence through what it was the Roman Church, and caused basically that dark age and those years to the Middle Ages, where it was just come very great darkness, and the Church of God was just a little trickle hidden throughout those years.

And this will, I suspect, that really is what's going to happen today in our society. We have had the first wave of apostasy, which I would say was 1995, and a second wave of apostasy would come, which is that government enforcing on God's people that they can't obey God. And in a sense, we can see that happening already in a moment. You can see that government, under the auspices of freedom of religion, they now prohibiting and the penalty of disobedience for God's people to gather. And the danger is that should that continue after a certain time, they will start putting people in jail, ministers in God's Church, in jail, in Angola. It happened already to one minister about two years ago, and it would very easily start happening again, probably early next year. I hope not, I pray not, but that's how Satan works.

That's how it enders. And it is going to come to a point, as we read in Daniel 12 verse 7, when it says, there'll come a time when it talks about three and a half years, when the power of the holy people will be utterly or completely shattered. In other words, democracy will be wiped out, and then he can strongly attempt to destroy God's Church. And so, continuing now and concluding in verse 19 and 20, because after 18 says, but Satan has injured us, and Satan will continue doing that in the future. But then we read in verse 19 and 20, For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ this coming? For you are our glory and joy. What is a minister's joy?

To see you receiving the crown of glory and to be in the kingdom of God.