2️⃣ Short 🩳

 Life is too short to spend hoping that the perfectly arched eyebrow or hottest new lip shade will mask an ugly heart.  Kevyn Aucoin

2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Last time we wrote about knowing God. Also about disciplining our children for doing what we asked them not to. We didn’t talk about what kind or punishment nor how long. I remember when I was in my teens and I spoke to a man in a way I should have never spoken. That man went to my Dad and told him how I acted and what I said. Now my Dad disciplined me very sternly. I remember I couldn’t do anything but go to school; not going out on the weekends, no phone calls, no one visiting. I was cut off from everything but going to school. After about 3 or 4 weeks my Dad said if I were to apologize to that man he would remove the punishment. I refused to do so and continued with what punishment my Dad had placed on me. Know why I did that? Because my punishment had an end to it. Now this punishment of God for disobeying has no end. We are told it’s “flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God” oh my but it goes on.  

2 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; It goes on and on and on and on “everlasting destruction.” No one will ever hear God say “are you now willing to obey me now?” I wish that were so but when I read these words “everlasting destruction”I got interested in that word “everlasting” . Here it is used as “everlasting destruction”; the word “everlasting” is mentioned 26 times in the New Testament. The first time is in the book of Matthew and we read of “everlasting fire”

Matthew 18:8 (KJV) Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

The second time is also in the book of Matthew but this time it speaks of  “everlasting life.”

Matthew 19:29 (KJV) And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. One speaks of being cast into, the other speaks of being inherited.  In the day of Adam and Eve it was don’t eat of the tree of good and evil. In our day it’s come to Jesus.

John 7:37 (KJV) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

“If any man thirst”not if anyone is WORTHY, QUAlIFIED, TRAINED or MATURE. “If any man thirst” not if anyone has the right SKIN CALOR,INCOME LEVEL, no background checks will be made, there is only one QUALIFICATION “If any man thirst” Are You THIRST? The Offer “let him come unto me” His direction is Clear “come unto me” not SIP, TASTE, SAMPLE but GULP. To drink to receive Jesus into the driest parts of our lives.

Why were they cast into “everlasting fire?” We are told “that know not God” because they knew not God they “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” What is the Gospel? Well we know it’s the Death, Burial and the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the book of the Revelation we read this  Revelation 14:6 (KJV) And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Revelation 14:7 (KJV) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The Gospel being preached. Who is it being preached to? “unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” What’s being preached? The Gospel! Better “Fear God” also “give glory to him” that’s not all “worship him” Bottom line can’t do any of those without first Knowing God personally. Are you certain that you know what 2+2 is? That’s how certain it is to know God. This life is too short and eternity is too long for one to be wrong. 

🙆🏻‍♂️Is it no🙅🏻‍♂️ or know?🙋‍♂️

 No means not any when used as a determiner. Know means to perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;        

2 Thessalonians 1:7 (KJV) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

I read of “trouble” and not knowing God and not obeying the gospel. I hope I'm wrong but it looks to me that God our Heavenly Father will deal with those that cause trouble to His Children. The main problem that causes the trouble is, not knowing God. Oh I know I might be standing off in a field with just a few but I just can’t get away from the way it is worded here “them that know not God” Webster says this about the word “know”  To perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; To be informed of; to be taught. To recognize by recollection, remembrance, representation or description.   Would this be a refusal of the knowledge of God? How could this be?  Many say they know God but do they really? Which brings me to my next question: do I know God? What would we do if we had a child that kept disobeying us as a parent? Would we discipline that child for his or her disobedience or would we look the other way? I think most would say yes I would have no other choice than to discipline. If you agree that you would as a parent then I think that would also be true as far as our Heavenly Father is concerned. So if I continue to use bad language, I continue to lie to increase my profit margins, I continue to have wrongful sexual relationships, I don’t honor the God I say I know. When asked if you were to die today, where do you think you would go? You say it would be heaven. When asked how you know that’s  when the answers get a little more cloudy. Remember one of the meanings of “know” is “to understand clearly.” Let me give an example of understanding clearly 2+2= what? Did you come up with 4? Why did you come up with 4? Because you understood clearly. I know my wife, like no one else does. What is her favorite color? What is the color of her eyes? What is her favorite restaurant? Where is her favorite vacationing spot? Those are just simple things and if you answered any of those you were only guessing because you have no idea  because you don’t know her. When I was in the military she would write me letters and I would get to a place where I was alone and read her letter and then later I would read it again and then later I would read it again. Why would I do such a thing? Because whatever she wrote in that letter was important to me. I couldn’t see her, I couldn’t call her that was all I had to learn what was going on back in her world. Most folks have a Bible, it's God’s letter to mankind, it's how we know our Heavenly Father. Oh excuse me, it's how we “understand clearly” our Heavenly Father. If I never read it then I will never learn to know Him or obey Him “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Take no time to know our Heavenly Father and you may think He’s magical. So the only time you call on Him is in times of trouble. Have you ever heard or maybe even said something like this “Lord I’m not a praying person but I need your help.” My question is why aren’t you a praying person? On a night when you are looking for something to do, go to a major hospital and sit in the ER waiting room. Why? Because you will hear a lot of people calling out to God they never took the time to know for help.

👨‍🏫I cannot accept the defeat--I want to get even🥷

 2 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Remember why they were suffering? Because of their stand against evil which brought them persecution and tribulation. Remember why God allowed these problems to come into their lives? That's right to build patience. If we never suffer we will never grow. Our oldest son was told by me and his mother not to play with the receptacle many times. One day he got behind the chair and hid himself; know why he hid himself? The same reason Adam and Eve did. He did so because he knew what he was fixing to do; he knew he had been told not to. So he sticks a Jim clip in the receptacle and a flash and a quick shock went through his little body. What good came from that? He learned that mom and dad were right he shouldn’t play with the receptacle. Because of what he experienced we never had to tell him not to play with the receptacles ever again.  When we suffer because of something someone said or did to hurt us what is our first response? Mine is to get even. I had to learn not to do that. So when I read this verse I was reminded that my Heavenly Father if needs be will take care of it. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; Don’t you think that God will do a better job than you or I? We all have had others who have tried to hurt us in one way or another. The sad thing is they did succeed. I remember a time when things were being said about me that wasn’t true. You know what I did about it. Nothing! A friend of mine came to me and asked me if I was going to do anything? I simply told him what am I going to do? If I try to defend myself then I will look guilty when I’m not. I did nothing to defend myself and left that up to God. What did I learn! Keep my mouth shut and if need be God will handle it.  Getting even is not the answer. 

✋Say The Name Jesus. Oh I Would Watch That👀

The time is always right to do right.

 2 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Did I read of “your patience” “A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.” I would say that not many are born with patiences. Well how does one get patiences? The answer may surprise you. Romans 5:3 (KJV) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

TRIBULATIONS!! Wait this is not just any tribulation it’s not just any persecution that these good people are facing. Why do I say such? Well in this life that we are all living there will be Persecution and Tribulation, things we have no control over. Here these tribulations and persecutions are coming because of who they have placed their eternal trust in. Well I didn’t live back in those days but I am living in these days. Here is what I am seeing and if you are looking you are seeing the same things. Removal of the 10 commandments in places and buildings all over. If one doesn’t believe the Bible is really the Word of God what difference does it make? Why spend the money to remove something you don’t think is true? Let’s celebrate Christmas but let’s not call it Christmas, let's call it Holidays. So we won’t hurt someone’s feelings; then why keep Christmas at all? Have you ever heard the phrase follow the money? Doing away with Christmas would not be good business. Business? What’s that got to do with Christmas? Money! Read this In 2023, the value of holiday (Christmas) shopping in the US is predicted to reach almost $1 trillion – $30 billion more than in 2022. Now if you put too much Christ in Christmas you might get some persecution and for goodness sakes don’t mention the name of Jesus. Oh by the way don’t forget to spend your money with us. We have a lot, call it Christmas, Jesus’s Birthday, holidays we really don’t care but bring us your cash or card we want your business. If we stand and voice our opinion and what we believe to be true or right because of Biblical teaching then look out the Tribulation is coming your way. Why is that? Because of sin. Did you know that the 10 commandments said lying was a sin? That stealing was? That having sexual relationships outside of marriage was too? Using God’s name in vain, oh if we were to stop that the movie industry would crash. You mean going to see a movie at the theater and no sex, sealing, killing, using God’s name in vain. No advertising how to use drugs, drink alcohol, lure others into sinful acts. That’s why people suffer persecution and tribulation because you are not in agreement with evil. Think I’m wrong? Oh you don’t have to be a Christian just stand up against evil and see what happens. Patients are made strong by your Faith in Christ Jesus and by tribulation that comes our way. 

😍Exceeding Growth🤗

Growth is the only evidence of life.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

As I read that verse the words groweth and exceedingly jumped out at me. Who doesn’t want growth and who does want what is growing to do so fast. That is what exceeding means “Going beyond; surpassing; excelling; outdoing. ” Think about what faith Noah had as he built a ship trusting in what God had said. Then when it was finished going inside with the door staying open for others to come aboard. This went on for 7 days at the end of 7 days God shut the door. What is sad are those that had the opportunity to come aboard and didn’t; no not one. When the time came for the water it was too late, those who were not on the ark perished. Oh you say that’s awful. It is, but did they not have the opportunity? Sure they did but let it pass by? The same is true today the doors of Heaven's opportunity are open and whosoever will can be saved but if they refuse what Christ has done, the same will happen to them; the door of opportunity will slam shut. 😳💥🚪Paul as he writes to the Thessalonians believers he is telling what he has noticed. He writes, your faith in Christ Jesus is growing; it is excelling beyond my  expectations. What is faith?  Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is something not seen. It’s easy to place confidence in something that is growing. In other words you see the end from the beginning. I trusted Christ a long time ago. I place my faith in what the Bible says. Now the Bible doesn’t really say much about heaven. The Bible doesn’t go into great detail about what it looks like. It does tell us about the things we can identify with. Like streets, walls, gates, water, gold, light, dimensions and a few other things we can understand. But Heaven has things we know nothing about, so it takes faith to believe in a place called Heaven. There should be no doubt that a man named Jesus Christ lived. But it is going to take faith to believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, your Savior. If one believes in those two things then they will want to know more and more about what they put their trust in.  That’s faith growing. Sad to say too many check the growth of their 401K more than the growth of their faith. Which one is growing exceedingly? 

👨🏻‍💼👋That’s Wonderful Carl 🙇🏻‍♂️

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

—William James

2 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul begins his second letter to the Thessalonians as he did his first letter. With greetings, but this letter will be different. The first letter was about their faith, this second letter will be about encouragement during persecution because of their faith.

I remember the day I trusted in Christ Jesus as my savior. Oh what a day that was. I was so excited and I wanted others to have what I had just received myself. It was so simple just believe that Jesus Christ paid your sin debt. So I began telling my family, my friends and others I came in contact with. I remember standing in line at a drug story to pay for whatever I went there to get. I heard this lady tell the cashier about something and she said these words “I would sell my soul for that! I then told her about what the Lord had done for me and she too could be made free if she only trusted in Christ. Well that didn’t go over to good. She didn’t trust Christ at that time so my only hope is she thought about what was said and trusted Christ later. I was young in my faith and believed the whole world could be saved. My theology was right: the whole world can be saved, the Bible says so but one must believe and this is where the problem arises. It’s not in what Christ Jesus has done for us. It is where we as a people will believe and trust in what has already been done for everyone that has ever been born into this world. Many believed in their good behavior and their faithfulness in helping others. While all that is wonderful it’s just not enough. That’s what Carl at the ER in Monroe Georgia had placed his trust in. Carl was asked if he knew Christ as his personal savior to which he replied yes. Then Carl heard these words. That's great Carl, tell me about it. Carl said that he went to Church as much as his job would let him because he worked a lot of Sundays. He went on and said he was kind and helpful to others. He said that he gave money to organizations that were helping children and vets. He said he loved his wife and has been faithful to her. Then he said I consider myself to be a good person. Then he received a great smiling admiration, that’s wonderful Carl. Then Carl was asked if that was all it takes to go to heaven and your sin be forgiven then why do you think Jesus Christ died on the cross? I mean Carl, if you could do it yourself then why did Christ come into this world and then died? I don’t know said Carl. Then Carl was given this answer 

1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

To save who?  Sinners! The simple message is we were all born into a world full of sin and our nature is to sin and that makes us sinners. There is none good and the Bible tells us that.

Mark 10:18 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Carl, it didn’t say we didn’t do good things but it did say good things don’t make us good. Why?

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

It wasn’t long before Carl bowed his head and asked Christ to come into his heart. Then the excitement flooded his face and he was grateful for what Christ had done for him. As life goes on the way our excitement is expressed is not the same. The day your son or daughter was born oh what a day of excitement for you and your wife. You are a proud dad, excitement is all over your face. Why you’re even passing out cigars; can you still do that any more? You know that may be taboo and you might be asked to leave the hospital. I’m not talking about cigars, I'm talking about the excitement. But as time goes on the excitement settles down but the memory of the moment doesn’t. You never forget the day that child was born and there will be many more days of excitement that will come. That’s the way it is about the day you were saved from your sins. It's a day you’ll never forget, that's for sure.  But just as the day your child was born, you still remember the excitement you felt but that same excitement isn’t an everyday event. The one thing you know is that you remember that day you were forgiven of your sins. Since that day there have been many more days of excitement you have enjoyed. Why? Because of the change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Just as that new born child will make mistakes and will disappoint you at times. The question is what will you do? Stop loving them? Throw them out? Course not you will correct them for their benefit you will keep loving them and working with them. That is what our Heavenly Father does with His children. You might think God does not care nor love you anymore because of the things you have done, places you have been or the things you have said. You are wrong! What would you do if your child came to you and said I’m sorry? Why don’t you do the same thing with your Heavenly Father? Father I’m sorry!

💲Counterfeit 💵

We must lay before him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.  C.S. Lewis

Paul, as he closes his letter he asked these good people to not just pray for him but those that are also with him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:25 (KJV) Brethren, pray for us.

The Apostle Paul didn’t think he was beyond needing prayer, he realized he too needs prayer. One of the tricks of our enemy is to get us to think that if I ask for prayer it will show I’m weak. NO! We must pray one for another, it’s our duty and privilege to do so. As I have said I have a good friend that prays for me everyday. I have told him how much I appreciate it but those words seem so cheap in the magnitude of what he does. I mean here’s a man who cares enough about me that everyday he spends part of his day lifting me up before the Lord. There is no way you can buy such faithfulness. He never says “I prayed for you today, how about taking me to lunch or sending me a few bucks or even praying for me please.” No he just shows his Christ like attitude and the only thing he ever does is text me a number 7 to let me know he has prayed for me. When I look at his name all I see are 7’s. Eternity will show me and him both how much his prayers really meant. It’s not a weakness to ask others to pray for you, it's a weakness not to ask them to.  Paul also says continue in being faithful unto the coming of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because  1 Thessalonians 5:24 (KJV) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Oh by the way don’t forget to read this epistle to all the brethren.

1 Thessalonians 5:27 (KJV) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

We need to read God's Holy Word so that we might know ourselves what it says. I remember the story of the young man who was in classes so he could become an expert in detecting counterfeit money. He was asked one night by another man what a counterfeit bill looked like? To which the young man replied I have no idea I have never seen one. How then do you expect to be able to know if it is counterfeit? He then said that I look at and study real money so that when I see a counterfeit bill I will know it immediately. If you and I would see and understand that principle, if we were to read and study God’s Word daily we too would catch the counterfeits. 

😇A Nice Man☺️🤝

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting others up.

In verse 12 the Apostle Paul writes telling the 

Thessalonian believers know those that labor among them. In verse 13 Paul says that they were to think very highly of those who are laboring among them, Paul says in verse 14 that those that have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are to encourage each other. Those who are strong in the Lord are to comfort and support those that are weaker as well as be patient toward all men. Then Paul tells them to not get so upset that you lower yourselves to the level of rendering evil for evil.

Now Paul goes on naming qualities we all should support. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV) Rejoice evermore. Are we?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing. Do we?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Are we giving thanks? 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (KJV) Quench not the Spirit. Do we?

1 Thessalonians 5:20 (KJV) Despise not prophesyings. Do we despise what God has revealed?

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Just test the things of and see.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil. Are we?

Paul covered a bunch of things that if we were to learn to do them, oh what a better world this would be.  In Matthew chapter 5 just above verse 3 there is a caption that reads “The Beatitudes” the 

be- attitudes, does this mean that these are the attitudes that need to be? From verse 3 to verse 11 each one of those verses start off with “Blessed are that word blessed carries the meaning of happy. What would it be like in this world if we just changed our attitude on somethings? Have you ever gotten a phone call and the caller is hiding behind the premise of wanting to help you? Then they began asking questions, when you fail to answer a question that doesn’t fit in with their program they hang up on you. Yeah, no I’m sorry you don’t qualify or any other reason they just hang up. Remember that those who care don’t just cut you off, that is being rude and that is an attitude that needs to be changed, it’s just not acceptable. I was in a restaurant with my wife not long ago and we met a very nice man. He greeted us and said a few kind words. Then he told us that the people who work here in this restaurant are wonderful people. Then he spoke to another man then to another man and woman. I noticed it didn’t matter what they looked like, how they were dressed he spoke to everyone in the restaurant. When he left he said this to everyone that he passed by “have a good day” as he smiled. After he was gone my wife said to me “what a nice man.” I noticed something else about that nice man. He didn't say much about himself and you know what? I don’t know if anyone asked him his name. It is sad to say, you don’t see people like that everyday. Why did I write about that nice man? Well he was doing exactly what the Apostle Paul was writing about. We need to understand that we don’t always have to know what others are going through to comfort and encourage them. We can do that by being, as my wife said, a nice man. As I tell my special needs grandson “everybody needs a Pat on the back.  

😎Words Of Comfort 🤗

1 Thessalonians 5:7 (KJV) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I have noticed that two kinds of people are being written about. There are the people of the night and people of the day.  There are also distinctions between the two. In verse 5 we read of children of light and of the day. In verse 7 we read of others who sleep in the night and are drunk in the night.

We are living in dark times with those who are bold. We have come a long way from the preaching of the Apostle Paul with the power of God upon him. We still read and hear of preachers being locked up but it’s not usually for preaching the gospel. I’ll not waste time writing about all of that you already know. Paul is writing about those who live in light and those who live in darkness. Those in the light are sober and those in the night are drunk. He warns  in verse 6 that those of the day not to go to sleep. When one is asleep they are not aware of the things going on around them. Paul says be alert, be aware and then in verse 10 Paul says do something about it. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. The first thing Paul tells them to do is to be “sober”, clear minded, know what you know, don't be slurred in your talk. Let those around you see your “faith” and also your “love” for others especially those who are living in the night of the day. Paul goes on and says live in the certainty and surety of your salvation. Why is that Paul?

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Don’t walk around being unsure, doubting for you will never convince others you are of the day. We read of no people of the afternoon. Afternoon is between day and night and we read of no such thing. Therefore be and walk as God’s children of the day in the light be sure. Who are the people of the day? What do they believe? Who have they placed their trust and confidence in? 

1 Thessalonians 5:10 (KJV) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. They believe that Jesus died for them to pay their sin debt. They believe and trust so much in Jesus that it doesn’t matter whether they are asleep or awake we as God’s children will all live together. Now that you have trusted Christ Jesus for your salvation you should not just live so others will see but;  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

When is the last time you have received words of comfort from another believer? I hope often but then on the other hand how often have we ourselves given out words of comfort to others. Do we not believe it is possible? Go encourage someone today, give them a pat on the back 👋