We may work together for the truth 3 John

 3 John 1-15

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 

Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Why?

Love others even we do not know the traveler or stranger is obeying the truth from the Lord.

Gaius is a good servant of the Lord so John mentioned him.

But there are opposite people Diotrephes, who loves to be first in the church, and he reguse to treat others even did not welcome John.

We serve others who do not know the gospel is our mission. Because of the Love, Jesus has given to us, so we should love others. 

To be a leader of the church should walk on the truth and be a model of others, so let us do what is good and this is from the Lord. 

How?

Working together for the truth is to show the love, mercy, and peace to others for we have received from Jesus Christ.

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ

 2 John 1-13

 I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:  Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 

I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.  Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Why?

The Truth and love is come from Jesus Christ and we are walking in it forever.

The truth is Jesus came in flesh and he is the son of the Lord. Because Jesus Christ loves us, so we have to love each other.

We should be walking in the truth, and in love.

God gives us the treasures are Grace, mercy, and peace, which be with us in truth and love.

How?

Let me walk in love and truth, Jesus is the son of God, and love each other in the church.

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin

 1 John 5:13-21

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. 

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 

 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Why?
When we are in Jesus Christ, we know what is a delight to the Lord, the Lord will listen to our prayers.

Anyone born of God does not continue to sin. Even when we became Christian, sometimes we may have sinned, but because the Spirit of the Lord is in us, we will not continue to sin. The Holy Spirit will remind us.

Keeping from idols is the best way to away from sins. For this world may attract our attention to the way of evil.

Brothers or sisters have sins we should pray for them, And it does not criticize them. For God is love.

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重要的信徒的信仰，寫信的目的1)在於堅固信徒的信心。你們是有永生的。我們是否有永生的確據，永生的把握?我們不是看自己現在如何? 2)今生的依靠在那裏?就是對主的信心，可以坦然無懼的，不是因為沒有狀況，知道神聽我們禱告、祈求，這是照著神的旨意祈求。3)不要只顧到自己是否得永生?而要去愛教會中軟弱的弟兄姊妹。至於當死的罪的人，是指硬著心，故意抗拒神的人，抗拒聖靈的人。我們要為所有的人禱告！三個保證：1)從神生的必蒙神保護，2)我們都是屬於神的，不要走世界的道路，3)神會帶領我們一步一步認識祂。我們的責任，要要持守的是「遠離一切偶像」，以免取代神。

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How?

The basis of our believing is Jesus Christ is the son of God and when we walk in God's way the Lord listens to our prayers.

The Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement

1 John 5:3-12

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Why?

Through the Holy Spirit, water, and Jesus' blood we accept this testimony. These three are in agreement.

We are born of God overcomes the world, so only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God may get this.

We got eternal life through the life of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit reminds us. Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. It is not from any work in the world.

How?

Faith and eternal life are easy to get just need to believe in Jesus Christ. But many in the world reject this treasure in their life.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear

1 John 4:13=5:2

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

Why?

God is love, whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them. Love is the symbol and actions of all Christians.

Because God first loved us, so we should love our brother and sister, whom we have seen, If we can't how to love God we can't see.

Acknowledge the Jesus is the son of God is the necessary condition to know God live in us and we are in God.

There is no fear in love. for perfect love drives our fear.

In Spirit, we are connecting with Jesus so we can have the love to love others.

How?

There is no fear in love, be strong and rely on the love of Jesus Christ we can love our brothers and sisters.

錯誤的服事-死獅之蜜 **

 林義順長老  蘭雅禮拜堂   2022/12/11

士14:5-9

對罪無感，無所謂的生活態度

參孫好像沒有朋友。Why?因為恩賜太強，無需別人協助。
恩賜太高，以致變成單人服事，沒有團隊
參孫的朋友有盟約的關係，所以娶了參孫沒娶的妻子
恩賜不能掩蓋生命的問題，

摩西有亞倫、約書亞。大衛有許多大臣，從伯利恆城門旁的井裡打水，拿來奉給大衛，水好像他們的血一般，我斷不敢喝。如此，大衛不肯喝。這是三個勇士所做的事，洗魯雅的兒子、約押的兄弟亞比篩 撒下23:17

耶穌完成神蹟，退到曠野禱告
參孫只有兩次禱告，一次因為自己口渴，一次為復仇，報失去雙眼的仇，精神的渴
參孫一生因為打破那細耳人的律 ，神沒有和他說話。
神一直沒有離開參孫，一直到他的頭髮被剃，即他的三個戒命都破了
一個人恩賜太大，就有這種錯誤的自信的驕傲。保羅有這種體會，他身上刺，更愛誇自己的軟弱，好讓自己謙卑，蒙神賜福。
參孫致命錯誤的弱點，沉溺於情感，明知不可信，他常被情所害，三個女人 。情感的勒索
要堅定真理，才能勝過情感。
參孫的三個謎語，說明了弱點在情感上，三次繩索都是軟弱的1)七條未乾的青繩子。2)沒有使過的新繩, 3)七條髮綹，與緯線同織。如何勝過情感也是我們今天服事的考驗

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us

 1 John 4:7-12

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Why?
The source of the Love is Jesus loves us. Jesus Christ loves us through his life as atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

The action of love to us is to love one another. For love comes from God.

No one has ever seen God; but it we love one another, God lives ins us and we may show the love of the Lord to others.

The love of people is always for the benefit of their own, but the love of Jesus is a love of sacrifice, this love comes from our hearts and from the love of Jesus Christ.

How?

How to show my love to others, take care and listen to the needed person.  

Recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood

 1 John 4:1-6

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Why?

There are many spirits, but only the spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. This our basic in our beliefs.

Whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from GOd does not listen to us. for they are from the world. 

How?

Jesus Christ is our salvation who came from the Lord. Keep my faith in the Jesus Christ.

The message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another

1 John 3:11-24

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Why?

Love is the basic action to every Christian, if we have faith but do not have the love action, all this faith is in vain.

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for out brothers and sisters.

If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, this heart comes from the Lord, the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about this condemnation, then we will fall in the way of evil.

How?

Love everyone besides me, for I belong to the Lord, love each other, especially love brothers and sisters.

The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

1 John 2:29-3:10

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.  No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who it does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Why?

When we belong to the Lord we still may sin and do something wrong, but the Holy Spirit will remind us to return from the evil things.

Belonging to Jesus is not depend on what we said but depend on what we do. No one who is born of God will continue to sin.

If you know that God is righteous, we know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

How?

Do the right things and keep away from sin. This world do not know Him, the Christ!

As you have heard that the antichrist is coming

 1 John 2:18-28

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Why?

 The antichrist is coming, they went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. 

Who is the liar? it is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist.

What we heard from the beginning remains in us, we remain in the Son, and in the Father, we have eternal life.

When we know the truth then we will know the liar. Jesus Christ is my savior.

How?

Confirm what I believe and hold the truth in Jesus Christ and the Lord!

If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them

1 John 2:12-17

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Why?

John emphasizes God and the world, but there is a different consequence. 

John wrote to the young children, fathers, and youngmen for they have been forgiven on account of Jesus' name and overcome the evil one. But be aware of the talk about spirit and flesh body.

If anyone loves the world, the love of Father is not in him. We can identify who is belong to Jesus from their behavior and their talk.

Because John loves them so wrote this letter to them to remind them to keep their faith in Jesus, and be strong in the truth.

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對三種年齡的人說話，不是身體年齡，可是屬靈生命的年齡。

少年人容易有多種誘惑，要靠神的話，神的道勝過。

父老： 認識那從起初就有的。不僅知道而且經歷過，不會被新奇的說法所引誘。認識到神才是生命之道。信仰上比較成熟。要做教會的守望者

世界上的事： 肉體情慾，眼目的情慾。順著情慾撒種的收敗壞。情慾管理人的思想、理智，且情慾已經受到罪的影響。雖然惰欲也是神給的。

愛世界： 對這個世界委身，愛世界勝過愛神。神與人的關係比擬為夫妻關係，這之間不容第三者存在，不允許一粒砂子存在。要完全的愛神。

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How?

Don't love this world but doing the will of God may live forever.

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did

1 John 2:3-11

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

Why?

Knowing Jesus is obeying his command, it is claimed to live in Him through their love and action.

If anyone is still in the darkness, he doesn't know the love, for they are blinded by the darkness.

John called them dear children, fathers, and young men as his family.  For John loved them as his family.

Darkness and light are not walking together.

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道是神的永恆性，卻真實的生活在社會中，我們所聽見，看見的，可以摸到的那一位。主要針對諾斯底主義及當時有人認為耶穌只是幻影。我們一樣生活在人群中要行出光來，弟兄姊妹要彼此相交，建立緊密的關係。如何知道這人是否與神有關係，就是行出耶穌的樣式。忠心就是順服。我們和神有關係才有辦法活出神的誡命。順服是因為愛的關係，不是因為命令！真誠的，願意的愛主，從愛弟兄當中表現出來。

彼此相愛是新的也是舊的命令，在舊約已經有，耶穌來了之後賦予新的意義，要愛仇敵。彼此相愛的心也是新的，彼此可以體會到新的經歷到。黑暗漸漸過去，還沒有過去。神的國已經來了，現在處在一個重疊的狀態。

我們已經是光明之子，當行在光中，不可像過去行在黑暗中。

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How?

Do the right things and let our desire dead and live out the life of love from Jesus Christ.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all, 1 John

 1 John 1:1-2:2

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Why?

This message has come from the beginning, it is what John really knew and experienced. So John preached it and wrote to them.

God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. So we should walk in the light either. If we lie and do not live out the truth we can't proclaim we have fellowship with Him.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purity us from all unrighteousness. This is the great salvation from Jesus Christ, the Good News.

(一)主耶穌絕不是虛構人物，因為祂確實被人的耳、目、手所查證過；也絕不是受造之物，因為祂從起初就已存在。

          (二)主耶穌基督是神而人──是完全的神，因祂是那從起初就原有的；又是完全的人，因祂是那能聽、能看、能摸的。

          (三)「言為心聲」，生命之道說出主耶穌降世，為要將人所不能看見的神表明出來(約一18)，帶著恩典和真理，來住在我們中間(約一14)。

          (四)祂是「生命之道」，所以祂的話裏面有生命；我們查考聖經，是為著到主面前來，聽祂的話，得著生命

我們若要行在光中，與神相交，有兩個條件：(1)寶血洗淨我們的罪(1:7）(2)要認罪( 1:8-10)

信徒重生時所得的生命有兩個特點：(1)是和神同在並相關的；(2)是永遠的。

How?

Listen and obey God's word and live out the life of Jesus as light to shine on all people around me. Be a good witness through the strength of the Lord.

Never tire of doing what is good

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.

We worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Why?

Keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive. Not only we should keep away from any kind of idleness but also keep away those who are closer to the idle.

Paul has the right to get the offer from brothers and sisters, but he likes to be a model and he doesn't become a burden to any one of them. This is the love of Paul for his followers. This is our model to being a Christian either.

About the brothers who did the ashamed things, we do not regard them as an enemy but warn them as we would a fellow believer. Only love can turn our brothers back to the right way.

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老師和弟兄姊妹一樣有軟弱，保羅也毫保留的請弟兄姊妹為他禱告。在弟兄姊妹面前表現出剛強、傑出……，毫無保留、反而不隱藏自己的軟弱。

教會整體是完美的，整體在信仰上是榜樣，教會中仍然有軟弱的人，可能是在主的話語中沒有站立的穩，容易受到外在逼迫者的影響。愛沒有做足夠的時候，然而不管我們做多少永遠沒有足夠的時候。彼此相愛要以為虧欠，繼續愛神、愛人。

忍耐： 一般在逼迫中的，另外一種是否如耶穌一樣，環境是我們不喜歡的，耶穌還是忍耐生活在充滿罪的環境中。

等候主再來，不是什麼都不用做，不如說我們期盼主再來，所以我們還是繼續工作。教會的原則是付出愈多，得賞賜愈多。

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How?

Can I be a model before my brothers in church and in my living environment? Do my best and rely on the strength from the Lord.

Pray and Pray, Our Lord is faithful

 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Why?

Pray is the right of a Christian, we need to pray for the gospel and for us to be delivered from wicked and evil people.

For not everyone has faith so even there are many evil men. But our God is faithful, he will strengthen us and protect us from the evil one. So we need to pray for us either.

Christ's perseverance, for Jesus, knew all that would happen and he suffer his life as a sacrifice to save all who trust Him.

How?

Learn perseverance from Jesus and pray for the church and for my life may walk in the way like Paul. 

Stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you

 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

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

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Why?

We are saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. It is not by our ability or our effort, it is the grace of the Lord that gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.

Nothing I can boast about or be proud of, so we should stand firm and hold fast to the word of the Lord.

How?

Be humble, and stand firm for our hope and strength come from the Holy Spirit and God's grace.

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 

And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Why?

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. And the secret power of lawlessness is already at work.

They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. Refuse Jesus Christ and refuse to believe the truth will be swept out at the time of the Lord.

How?

Satan is always working on the unbelieved people, and the Lord allows them a while when the day comes all of this wickedness will be revealed and removed by the Lord.

Perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why?

Suffering and trouble are mentioned four times, so the persecutions and trials we need to endure. Perseverance and faith are existing at the same time.

And the glory of the Lord on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people. So our faith is in the future, the everlasting glory. Each life in this world is short. 

Our prayer is according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not for our ability or our effort.

How?

Rejoice in every circumstance for the grace of the Lord is my comfort. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Why?

A holy brotherly kiss was standard family practice: the practices of the family became the practices o the church, which met as family and in homes.

Among the church respect anyone who work hard and care for us in the Lord, they are the servant of the Lord.

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone, for we are a family, and we should love each for Jesus loves us.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; This is God's will for us in Chris Jesus.

How?

May my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Children of the light and children of the day, rejoice, love pray and holy

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 

Why?

Paul encouraged the brothers and sisters to love each other, rejoice and always pray and live in holiness.

We are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or darkness, so we do not like others, always let us be awake and sober.

How?

Love, rejoice, pray, awake and sober aways!