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I Thessalonians 2 "Preaching the Gospel, and the Manner Received" This Bible Study is
written by Roger Christopherson, and made available with written
permission by http://www.theseason.org I Thessalonians 2:1 "For themselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain" Another words, we were not windbags, but we came to you with the power of God. I Thessalonians 2:2 "But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention." They were so mad with Paul at Philippi that they put him in jail. We can read about the details of this event in Acts 16:22. Remember, when the great earthquake came, it was when they were locked up and put in chains. God simply shook the place and opened the doors. This is an example to us today of how God will protect you and I when we do it God's way. I Thessalonians 2:3 "For our exhortation was not of deceit [error], nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:" The words Paul spoke were the gospel of God, the good news of Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God [have been approved] to be put in trust [entrusted] with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." The men and women speaking "of God" in this generation are becoming men pleasers. They do not present the good news of the gospel, which convicts men of sin, causes repentance, and builds faith; but the trot of the world doctrines that kills the conscience, blinds a person to his sins, and will lead them shortly to the Antichrist. God wants you to please Him, and by that, cause people to repent of their sins. God desires discipline in our lives, and our living according to the Word of God. I Thessalonians 2:5 "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:" Paul taught them as it is written, with no flatteries or false doctrine, but as Christ taught. Paul says, God is a witness to this. I Thessalonians 2:6 "Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ." We didn't seek your praise, or your offerings, nor to be a burden to you, Paul said, we paid our own way. I Thessalonians 2:7 "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:" I Thessalonians 2:8 "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." When a mother nurses a child, she loves and teaches that child, as well as feeding it. Directly, she tells the truth in instruction, and correcting when necessary. This is the true form of the expression, love and caring. Paul not only thought, but showed God's love through his own life. He did this by reaching out in his actions, and demonstrating God's Words being taught; through the gentleness of his words, and commitment. I Thessalonians 2:9 "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preach unto you the gospel of God." Paul, Silas, and Timothy were beaten when they first came to preach, and while preaching they paid their own way. They did not want to be a burden to those they came to preach to. I Thessalonians 2:10 "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believed:" I Thessalonians 2:11 "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children," Paul used analogies between the teacher and the student, as between God and himself. God is our Father, who made us, and cares for us. Even our earthly father can not care for his children, as God cares for you. Though our earthy father sired our physical body, our Heavenly father created our very soul and spirit. He wants to give you eternal life, for He loves you, His child. When you please God, you will please those that matter. The others just do not matter. I Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." "Who hath called you", is how you will know and understand. If your calling is not of God, it will not succeed. When God sends one, He equips that servant with the power of the Holy Spirit, to direct His Word to fertile soil, and God makes the ministry fruitful. Paul states, "ye walked worthily", because Paul's fruit was from the fruit of the Church in Thessalonica that their worth to God is shown. We must walk worthy of our calling by God. I Thessalonians 2:13 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." They believed it came from God, and had faith. They knew it wasn't just words from Paul and Timothy; but the words Paul spoke came direct from God to them. What is the Subject in this chapter? It is the "works" in our lives. The Word of God gives first the foundation to build our entire lives on. It will give us direction, and stability when the way gets rough. In fact, in these last days when false doctrine and false prophets are everywhere, God's Word gives us peace by helping us understand the signs of the end times. When you study and read it in God's Word, the Holy Spirit will make that Word effective in your life. The Holy Spirit of God works within you, and your mind, and your Spirit. The true Word of God if taught line upon line, verse by verse, and chapter by chapter will give continuity, and will come alive in your life. It works, and will produce good works in you. The traditions of men build false hope in your life, and blind your mind from truths that we are told by Jesus Christ to know, and to be prepared for these end days. However, the truths in the Scriptures build in us as we put those words into actions. A "Faith" without action [works] is dead; faith is Action, it is based on your Belief that God will do what His word says He will do; and it is sustained by your Confidence that what God has started in you, He will see to the end. That is the ABC's of your faith. The answers to all your problems are within God's Holy Word. I Thessalonians 2:14 "For ye, brethren, became followers [imitators] of the churches of God which in Ju-dea'-a are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:" The "Jews" that are mentioned here are those "Kenites", who have been mixed within the Jewish population, who have taken over much of the duties of priests and scribes since the captivity by Babylon [see I Chronicles 2:55, and Ezra 2:43-65]. These "Kenites" who lie and call themselves "Jews" are the "synagogue of Satan" as well as all those who preach their perverted doctrines. I Thessalonians 2:15 "Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted [drove out] us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:" Paul is taking the term "Jews" and clearing up any misunderstanding we might have as to who he is talking about. The word "Jews" in the manuscripts has two meanings. The first meaning pertains to the "sons of Judah". These are the people of the tribe of Judah by blood relationship, also called the offspring of Judah. The second meaning for the term "Jews", are simply those who are a resident of Judea, which is in the land of Palestine. In the 35th chapter of Jeremiah, many centuries before Paul's writing, the "Kenites" [or sons of Satan through Cain] became Judean for their own protection. This did not make them offspring of Judah, or the son of Jacob, but by the confusion of understanding of God's Word, most Christians assume the Kenite and the Jew to be the same, when written in the Scriptures. This misunderstanding has allowed Satan many victories in transferring blame, as they carries out his mischief. "Kenites" mean the "sons of Cain" [see Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, word #7014, "Qayin, kah'-yn; Kajin, the name of the first son, and of an oriental tribe [not Judah]: Cain, Kenite." Then go to #7017, "a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin:-Kenite" . The Kenites are the negative part of God's Plan. Jesus addressed them in Revelation 2:9; "...and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue [family, church] of Satan." This is repeated again in Revelation 3:9 to the church at Philadelphia. I Chronicles 2:55 records when and how the three families of Kenites took over the duties of the scribes, for it was done while in captivity in Babylon. The keeping and recording of God's Holy Word, through the prophets, had been taken over by this tribe and inflicted many new sets of laws on our true brother Judah. Then in Ezra and Nehemiah, the Scriptures tell us how the Levites left all the duties of the priesthood, and the Kenites took them over completely. In fact in Ezra 2:63, there was not one Levite priest around to wear the urim and thummim before the altar of God. Both the Scribes and the Pharisees were completely saturated and controlled with these offspring of Satan, through Cain. Paul tells it like it is; The Kenite, not the offspring of the tribe of Judah, who killed both Jesus, and the prophets of God. Paul's mission was to spread this Word to all three levels of his ministry, as recorded in Acts 9:15. These three levels are the Gentiles, the kings [those in charge], and the Children of Israel [not the Jews as the whole], but the ten tribes of the "House of Israel", who were scattered in 745-722 B.C. by the Assyrians, and are known as the Christian nations of today. Most preachers of today have no idea in the world who these Kenites are, or even what they do. How can anyone rely on their understanding of God's Word, or their interpretation of the signs and seasons of these end times, when they can't understand the most basic thing Jesus told us to learn; "The parable of the fig tree [The origin of the Kenites, and how they work]. I Thessalonians 2:16 "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." It is these Kenites that have hindered the true teaching of God's word from going forth. Just as they stoned the prophets, and killed Jesus; they have infiltrated the ranks of all the denominations, to lead their thinking and doctrines to become "traditions of men". They have made a substitute for the guilt and conviction of sin, which leads to repentance for their sin. It is these Kenites [who did lie and call themselves Jews] who are the ones who blocked Paul and Timothy from preaching, and caused them to be whipped and beaten. Until you understand who they are, and where they came from, much of the Bible will remain a mystery to you. I Thessalonians 2:17 "But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire." It would be about five years before Paul would see them again. Paul was very proud of these Christians, who had only been taught a short time before spreading out, and spreading the Word of God [ the Gospel of Jesus Christ]. I Thessalonians 2:18 "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." Satan was on Paul's back continually, trying to prevent his ministry. It's no difference today, we must be wise enough to fight off the attacks of Satan, and the Kenites [Satan's children] wherever they come from. This is only done by using the power and the authority of God, for through His Word we have that might behind us. I Thessalonians 2:19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing [glorifying]? Are not even ye in the presence of [before] our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Our "crown of rejoicing" is to be given to those who are of His elect, who stood against Satan, and in applying this to us today; it will be those who do not follow the Antichrist, and remain the pure bride of Christ. This crown of rejoicing is given at the sounding of the Seventh trumpet, when Christ returns to earth, and Satan goes to the pit. It is at this time that all people will be changed to our incorruptible bodies [not fly away], as recorded in I Corinthians 15:50-52. Then, death will have no sting, and we will live victoriously with Christ in His Kingdom on this earth, not in space. The joy of the ministry of God is planting the seeds of truth, that souls will be saved for the Kingdom of God, then having those souls reproduce more souls into the ministry. When they are knowledgeable and skilled enough to stand against Satan's attacks at any time, then there are no limits to the spreading of the Gospel of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Whether in Paul's day, or in these end times, the true man of God will know the signs and seasons of the times. It is necessary in our spiritual battle with Satan. I Thessalonians 2:20 "For ye are our glory and joy." The church in Thessalonica were Paul's joy in the Lord. Are you giving out the seed of God's Word, that others are your glory and joy to the Lord? The subject is still the same; our working for the Lord, and presenting the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His coming. When Paul wrote, and lived the life he wrote about as an example to us; we can have the strength today to stand up for Jesus Christ. Paul overcame the spiritual battles that Satan put before him, and we can be overcomers today also.
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