Preparing for the Aftershocks

Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, November 12, 2023

The Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

General Theme:  Living Righteously While Waiting Patiently for Jesus to Return

 Sermon Title:  Preparing for the Aftershocks

 Sermon Text:  Second Thessalonians 3:1-5

 Subject:  Pastoral Desires

 Complement:  When perilous times encompass the church, pastoral desires express the faithfulness of God.

 Big Idea:  Heaven shapes the heart of a church through the heart of its shepherd.

Introduction

The title of this sermon, Preparing for the Aftershocks, is based on 2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5.

Presently, I have just started reading the book, Aftershocks:  Christians Entering A New Era of Global Crisis, written by Jeff Kinley.  Kinley opens the book with this true account of the earthquake that struck Valdez, Alaska, on Good Friday, March 27, 1964—fifty-seven years ago.

“Duane Carriker was finishing up his workday in the little Prince William Sound port city of Valdez, Alaska.  Having moved there a few years earlier with his wife, Bonnie, and their two small children, Duane had found work on the docks as a longshoreman. But driving a forklift wasn’t his real passion. Ministry was. Duane’s calling was to preach the gospel and lead others to Jesus. And he no doubt looked forward to this upcoming weekend, as he would be ringing the church bell at Valdez Gospel Chapel, calling the area townspeople to Good Friday worship. It was March 27, 1964. Tragically, that Friday proved to be anything but good for Duane, as by dinnertime, the 34-year-old pastor would be dead.

“At 5:36 p.m., a colossal earthquake rocked the Alaskan coast. Registering a massive 9.2 on the Richter scale, it would prove to be the most powerful earthquake in US history.  So strong was the colossal quake that it swayed Seattle’s Space Needle 1,200 miles to the south. And its ripple effects disrupted rivers and lakes as far away as Texas and Louisiana.

“Back in Valdez, telephone poles toppled and snapped like toothpicks. Sewer lines ruptured, railroad tracks splintered, and roads split in half. Whole forests suddenly plunged below sea level as the coastline soil liquified and sank. There were hundreds of landslides.

“And then came the tsunamis.

“Footage shot by crew aboard a ship docked in Valdez documents the moment bay waters abruptly receded, nearly draining the bay dry. The ship then rapidly began sinking into a giant crevice on the ocean floor as a 70-foot high wall of water raced toward the shoreline. This just four minutes following the initial quake. The dock on which Carriker was standing simply disappeared into the dark abyss below. There was no time to escape and nowhere to run.  His body was never found.

“Near the Valdez dock, Union oil tanks exploded and burned for nearly two weeks, producing an apocalyptic scene of devastation. In nearby Shoup Bay, a tsunami measuring more than 200 feet high hit land, as did others in Oregon and California. Most of the more than 130 people who perished did so as a result of the tsunamis.

“On the day of the earthquake, there were 11 recorded aftershocks, each of them measuring a magnitude of at least 6.0. Smaller aftershocks continued for more than a year.

“But this is not a book about earthquakes. It’s not about tectonic plates grinding together and wreaking havoc on land or at sea. It’s not about Richter scales and ruined cities. Instead, it’s about something much worse.  And more serious.

“Aftershocks is about God’s prophetic plan for the ages, and your part in it. It’s no secret that recent national and global events have dramatically altered the moral, economic, and geopolitical landscapes of planet Earth. But in doing so, they have also triggered a series of aftershocks, some being immediate and strong, while others linger on the horizon, as if waiting for their cue to bring more seismic upheaval to humanity….

“Undeniably, we are in a prophetic season of global change, and it is imperative for us as Christians to comprehend the perilous times in which we live, to know what we believe, and to live courageously going forward.

“While humanity desperately attempts to steady itself during tumultuous times, we Christians find ourselves standing on the precipice of a historic moment, facing a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. We can still make a difference in our world.  But it has to be now—while it is still “day” for us. Time is running out. There are no do-overs in this brief life. We get one shot, and this is our appointment with destiny. Miss this opportunity, and we may be remembered in heaven’s history books as the most undiscerning and ineffective generation of believers.

“But, if we wake up, wise up, and rise up, then at some point in the future, perhaps at the bema judgment seat of Christ or in the coming millennial kingdom, Jesus Christ will proudly say of us, “This, My bride, was your finest hour!”[1]

Transitional Thoughts

As Jeff Kinley stated, “Undeniably, we are in a prophetic season of global change, and it is imperative for us as Christians to comprehend the perilous times in which we live, to know what we believe, and to live courageously going forward.”

The days in which the apostle Paul lived were just as challenging as they are today.  In light of the coming aftershocks for our world today, here are four “pastoral desires,”[2] along with several responsibilities for the church (3:6-15) to help the body of Christ remain “salt and light” in a sin-darkened world.

I.  First Pastoral Desire:  Pastors desire the prayers of their flock.

Finally, brothers, pray for us,
that the word (message) of the Lord may speed ahead
and be honored, as it happened among you,

and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.
For not all have faith.

 (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-2)

Eschatological matters (end times issues) were the main reasons why the apostle Paul wrote 2nd Thessalonians.  Paul has been peering into the future (with the Spirit’s insight) and has written about the coming of the “man of lawlessness” and the coming of the glorious Lord Jesus Christ Who will destroy the Antichrist and his kingdom.  Therefore, the word, “finally” in verse 1 indicates that while Paul has thoroughly addressed future, apocalyptic events, there is an important area that must be addressed – prayer.

Paul often asked people to pray for him.  Is Paul’s request for prayer a Christian cliché or did Paul really mean it?  I sense that it is the latter because Paul needed God and depended upon God for all things.  Thus, he was in need of prayer.  As for me, I need your prayers, especially when I stand behind this pulpit and all the other times that prepare me to stand behind this pulpit.

What were Paul’s prayer requests?  There are three requests in verses 1-2.

    • First Prayer Request:  That the message of the Lord would spread rapidly.  The “word of the Lord” is the message of the Lord; the gospel of Christ!  Paul sees the Scripture as being alive, vigorous, and powerful, able to accomplish the will of God (Hebrews 4:11).  The psalmist writes, “He sends out His command to the earth; His Word runs swiftly” (Psalm 147:15).There is the sense that Paul was picturing an athlete moving swiftly in the Greek  games.  Paul wanted the saints to pray that the message of the Lord – the gospel – would not be hindered but move ahead swiftly, forcefully, attaining new ground as God’s Spirit would prepare the hearts of the elect to receive the Word and believe and be saved.[3]

      Since God’s Word cannot be bound (2nd Timothy 2:9), let us practice truth and pray, believing that God’s Word is free to accomplish God’s purposes.

    • Second Prayer Request:  That the message of the Lord would be honored.  No, we are not talking about standing in reverence of Scripture when Scripture is read publicly in a worship service (although it’s not a bad idea); rather, when people receive the word of God and their lives are changed, they glorify the word by praising God and thanking God for His work and Word.Luke writes:  “And when the Gentiles heard this (gospel), they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.  And the Word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region” (Acts 13:48-49).Human ingenuity and resources do not accomplish the work of God.  Pastors and spiritual leaders need to preach the Word and to never replace the Word with worldly entertainment.  Warren Wiersbe said, “When the sheep are fed, they will flock together in love, reproduce, follow the shepherd…but when they are hungry, they start biting each other, becoming sick, and wandering away.  When the Word does the work, then God gets the glory.[4]
    • Third Prayer Request:  That the messengers of the Lord would be delivered from “wicked and evil men.”  Paul is not speaking of adversaries in a general sense but referring to a specific group of unbelieving Jews who opposed him and the gospel he preached in Corinth (Acts 18:5-17).  When evil unbelievers reject God, His gospel message, and messengers, they show themselves to be “out of place,” “unreasonable,” “wrong-headed,” “perverse,” “even bigoted” because they do not have the saving faith that comes from God’s Holy Spirit.[5]

II.  Second Pastoral Desire:  Pastors desire their flocks to trust the Lord.

But the Lord is faithful.
He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

 (2nd Thessalonians 3:3)

In contrast to the fact that most sinners lack saving faith in the Lord (verse 2), Paul desires the sheep of his flocks to trust in the Lord.  Why?  Based on the context, God is faithful to “establish” (strengthen) and “guard” (protect) the believer from the evil one.[6]  God does not establish His children only to leave them to be assaulted by the wicked one.  Rather, God provides assurance of their salvation, inner peace, and outer protection.  Remember, there is nothing that can assault us unless God the Father permits it.  Read Jude 24.

III.  Third Pastoral Desire:  Pastors desire their flocks to obey the Lord.

And we have confidence in the Lord about you,
that you are doing and will do the things that we command.

(2nd Thessalonians 3:4)

Paul has confidence in the people of God.  Now, that may sound almost blasphemous to some folks.  But know this, “the faithfulness of the Lord is supplemented by the faithfulness of His people.”[7]  In other words, the work which God began in each believer will be completed at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).  Because Christ lives in union in each believer (no matter their level of maturity), Christ counteracts the weaknesses of the human nature.

Consequently, Paul is correct to express his confidence in the people of God—the church.  Paul can rely on the saints because he believes them to be obedient to Christ and to the Word of God.

IV.  Fourth Pastoral Desire:  Pastors desire their flocks to mature in the Lord.

May the Lord direct your hearts
to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

 (2nd Thessalonians 3:5)

Paul has confidence in God that God will remain faithful to His elect!  Even though Paul complemented the Thessalonian saints, Paul does not believe the saints will gradually turn away and become self-sufficient.  Rather, Paul and the Thessalonians realize that the Lord’s help is always needed.  Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing.

Therefore, with a short prayer, Paul asks God to make straight their paths by removing obstacles and hindrances that impede our intimacy with God and weaken their faith.  You see, “Paul wanted the Thessalonians to increasingly understand how patient Christ was with their sins, problems, and struggles and to understand better His own endurance in trials…so that they would have greater endurance.”[8]

The greatest blessings any pastor could receive from his local congregation (his flock) is that they would…

…pray for him
…trust in the Lord
…obey what is taught from the Word
…and grow spiritually in the Lord.

Conclusion    

The Bible teaches that everyone is born a sinner as we have inherited Adam’s sin and sin nature.  We are spiritual criminals, who are sentenced to death by the Judge of the universe.  Consequently, each of us has been separated from God.  There is no intimate relationship between God and the sinner.  Any attempt on a sinner’s part to earn his way into God’s favor falls short of the righteous standard God demands.

Yet, because of the Father’s love for sinners, He crucified His Son as a sacrifice on the cross to pay our sin debt.  Those who believe that Jesus died for them, rose from the dead, and offered forgiveness of sin, are no longer spiritual criminals but are acquitted and justified [declared not guilty] because Jesus paid the penalty of their sins.  Moreover, they are adopted into the family of God, joint heirs with Jesus.

On the eve of His crucifixion, while Jesus was celebrating the Passover Meal with His disciples, He reminded them for the fourth time that He would be leaving them to return to His heavenly Father by being delivered into the hands of men who would crucify Him.  You see, the cross was all part of God’s plan to save sinners from the penalty of sin.  Because the disciples finally grasped the enormity of the situation and were upset and confused, Jesus spoke these comforting words to them—John 14:1-3.

Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.

Rev. David A. Christensen has excellently summarized the central idea from John’s passage:

The believer’s hope will comfort the troubled heart because…

                  • It is founded in trust (verse 1)
                  • It is focused on heaven (verse 2)
                  • It is fixed on Christ (verse 3).

Questions

Have you placed your trust in the Lord Who sacrificed His life for you so that you may inherit eternal life?

Have you joined the local church where you can serve God and others with the spiritual gifts He has given you?

Will your heart embrace your pastor’s desires to pray, trust, obey, and grow?

Closing Prayer

[1] Kinley, Jeff, Aftershocks:  Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis  (pp.7-10).  Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, (Chicago:  Moody Press, 2002), pp.292-297.

[3] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, (Leicester:  Inter-Varsity Press, 1984), p. 140.

[4] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, (Wheaton:  Victor Books, 1989), p. 203.

[5] John Stott, The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, (Leicester:  Inter-Varsity Press, 2007). p. 185.

[6] Robert L. Thomas, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol. 11, Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1978), p. 332.

[7] Ibid, p. 332.

[8] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, (Chicago:  Moody Press, 2002), p. 298.