Sermon Tone Analysis

Thessalonians Series #8

*A Shepherd's Prayer*

*2 Thessalonians 3:1-5*

 

We have such a *sweet* *closing* to this and many of Paul's letters.

Here it is as if thinking ahead, he realizes he is about to close this letter and he doesn't want to close it.

He loves these people and he doesn't want to let go.

His Pastor's heart comes out in these first 5 verses of Chapter 3

*Read 3:1-5*

> Reviewing from Last week ... <

*1.

Request for Prayer*

* *

  *A.*

*Needed*

*Ephesians 6:19,20* - says "/Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."/

* *

*  B.*

Prayer For the *Gospel*

    1.

that the *gospel* may *spread* rapidly

      a.

pray with *urgency*

*- Because Satan is a Liar John 8:43-44* /" … for he is a liar and the father of lies,"/

 

*Hebrews 4:12 - */"the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."/

*  C.*

Prayer for *Intercession*

    For deliverance from wicked and evil men

 

Then Paul *shifts* *from* *Concern* to *Confidence* -

 

<and continuing now> 

 

*2.

Resounding Confidence*

 

*  A.*

Confidence *In* the *Lord*

- *Proverbs 3:26* /for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared/

    1.

the Lord is *faithful* - I'm *NOT* counting on *YOUR* faithfulness I'm *counting* on the faithfulness of the *Lord* who lives with*in* you

    a.

His *Nature* - His *Glory* is to be *Faithful* to His People

*Isaiah 49:7 *- /Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you/

*1 Cor 1:9 - */God who has called you … Is Faithful/

*1 Thes 5:24*/ The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it/

*Lam 3:23* - /… Great is your Faithfulness/

*Ps 89:2, 8, 33 - */…established your faithfulness in heaven/

/… who is like you … your faithfulness surrounds you/

/… not … ever betray my faithfulness/

      b.

It is the *Source* of all of his *wondrous* *deeds* toward us

*Isa 25:1* /O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago/

- He *does* *not* DO *marvelous* things in order *to* *remain* *faithful*, no *he* *IS* *faithful* *therefore* he does *marvelous* things

    c.

*If* he IS *faithful*, *then* *why* would we have *trouble*, *why* would he *allow* "wicked and *evil* men" into our lives - *Sometimes* it *IS* his *faithfulness* that *Afflicts* US!  What?

*Ps 119:75*/ I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous and *in* *faithfulness* you have *afflicted* me/

*Remember* that *Suffering* is the *Refiner's* Fire that makes us *FIT* for the *Kingdom*

If he is *IN* *control*, then even *difficulty* that comes our way does *NOT* *escape* his *Faithfulness*.

He may *NOT* *cause* everything but he *IS* *Sovereign* and he *allows* and is *aware* of all things and he *won't* *allow* *more* than we can *bear* or deal with *through* him according to 1 cor 10:13

 

*God* is *FAITHFUL* and …

 

    2. he will *strengthen* you

*2 Chronicles 16:9* tells me that the Lord will *strengthen* those whose *hearts* are fully *committed* to him

/ /*Isaiah 45:5 -*/"I am the Lord, there is no other apart from me there is no God I will strengthen You"/

 

*1 Samuel 15:29 * /He who is the GLORY OF ISRAEL does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind./

LET *ME* *CHASE* A but *Meaty* *Rabbit* for a minute

The *Hebrew* *Word* translated "*GLORY*" in the NIV is *also* translate "*STRENGTH*" in the King James - but while those *words* are *different* the *Word* itself *carries* NOT an either or but a *BOTH* ~/ *AND* meaning - The Hebrew word - /"Nes--ãh"/ (*/nay'Atsakh/*) carried both the meaning of /Brilliance/ AND /Endurance/

Like the Sun for the Earth is BOTH LIGHT and Durability for Life  - So for his People *God* is *BOTH* *Brilliance* and *Endurance* -

So Paul says that he has *Resounding* *Confidence* as *Pastor* in the *Lord* because he by *Nature* will *STRENGTHEN* and *Enlighten* His People because it is *WHO* he is and *WHAT* he said he is and will do and *GOD* *cannot* *LIE* or change his mind.

God will *strengthen* you - let me *go* a *step* further and say that he *HAS* *strengthened* you, *get* *up* and *live* *in* the strength he has *already* *provided* for you

 

*1 Chr 29:12* - /… in your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all/

*Ps 68:5 */you are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary, the God of Isreal gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!/

He will *strengthen* *you* and …

    3. he will *protect* you

*Psalm 91:14* - '/Because he loves me,' says the Lord 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name./'

*1 Peter 1:5 */who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time/ -

You are *shielded* by *God* - We *know* already from reading these letters from Paul, that in the *last* days, God's *salvation* of us *from* the *wrath* to come will release and remove us, *but* *UNTIL* THEN you are *shielded* by God's Power - that *means* you have the *strength* to handle what he lets through

 

      a.

*indispensable* - I don't know what your protection is but *mine* is *in* *God* - If you are *constructing* your *own* *protection*, you are *wasting* your time if God is not in it

*Ps 127:1 */unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."/

*Dt 31:6* - /be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you/

      b.

Grace is ENOUGH

*2 Cor 12:9 */my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness/

Sometimes his protection for us is the invisible, inexplicable, unstoppable, untouchable, incomparable Grace of God that is ALL SUFFICIENT

      c. is always available

*Ps 121:3* /… he who watches over you will not slumber/

     

Oh I *could* GO *On* and ON about the *Wondrous* *Sufficiency* of God but *let* me *move* on to a *Shepherd's*

 

*  B.*

Confidence *In* His *Work* Among the *Faithful*

    1.

You are *right*, right *now*

    2.

you will *continue* to do the *right* thing - /"what we command"/

      a.

to *do* what *God's* inspiration of *scripture* *demands* -

      b. to *join* in the *vision* of *God's* *Leader* ~/ Shepherd

 

 

*3.

Resonant Direction*

* *

*A.  **Resonate*

    1.

*sympathetic* *vibrations*

    2.

we are *staying* *close* to God and our *heartstrings* are *resonating* with the *melody* of heaven

    3.

as you *stay* *close* to *us* and *we* to *God*, your *heartstrings* will *resonate* as well

 

    4.

To *Resonate* you have to *HEAR* - *FEEL* God - *Be* Close -

But Paul *isn't* *telling* them that they *need* to "*get* *with* it and get *closer* to God" *NO* - the *under*-*shepherd*, Paul makes a *gentle* *prayer* to The *Good* *Shepherd*, *knowing* the plight of the *sheep* and the *heart* of the *Shepherd*.

While the *Sheep,* *left* to their own devises, *tend* to *wander*, sometimes *alone*, other times in *bunches* with none *knowing* where they *should* go but *following* fast in the *wrong* direction Paul prays … */May the Lord direct your hearts/ … * 

 

Let's *talk* about this *direction*

 

*B.

**Direction*