QT 08/10/2024 Tue. 2Thessalonians 1. A Healthy Growth Process. 健康的成长。

QT 08/10/2024 Tue. 2Thessalonians 1. A Healthy Growth Process.
http://www.esvbible.org/2thes1

Paul thanks the young Thessalonian church for their growing faith. It has encouraged Paul very much and made him thank God too. He writes to them again to clarify the 2nd coming's prior events (2Th 2:1-12) and deals with the destiny of those who are disobedient.

As both Paul and the Thessalonians are facing INCREASING persecution and suffering, Paul asks for prayers for himself. The Thessalonian church, a beautiful end product, seems to have undergone a growth process.

(1) It starts from God's CALLING (2Th 1:11);

(2) Which is accompanied by PRAYER (2Th 1:11);

(3) To present the GOSPEL (2Th 1:8);

(4) Believed by FAITH (2Th 1:10);

(5) LIVED OUT by fulfilling "every good purpose" God intended in them (2Th 1:11);

(6) CONSCRIPTED into "the kingdom of God" (2Th 1:5);

(7) ACCOMPANIED by "suffering" (2Th 1:5), "trouble" (2Th 1:6), "persecutions and trials" (2Th 1:4);

(8) But PERFUMED by "grace", "peace", "love", "perseverance", "faith", "glory", "marvel", "worthiness" (2Th 1:2,3,4,10,11,12).

(9) To GLORIFY "our Lord Jesus" (2Th 1:12).

REFLECTION: Which of 1-9 above is/are missing in your life?

APPLICATION: Pray to God to bring you through problems. Cultivate the kingdom of God mentality and refocus your personal calendar as you redirect time and resources to matters which ULTIMATELY glorify God.

星期二 2024年10月8日 帖撒罗尼迦后书1章。 健康的成长。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/2Ts/1/

保罗感谢年轻的帖撒罗尼迦教会不断增长的信心。这给了保罗很大的鼓励，也使他感谢上帝。他再次写信给他们，澄清第二次来临之前的事件（帖后 2:1-12），并论述那些不顺服的人的命运。

由于保罗和帖撒罗尼迦人都面临着越来越多的逼迫和苦难，保罗请求为自己祷告。帖撒罗尼迦教会是一个美丽的最终产物，似乎经历了一个成长的过程。

(1) 它始于神的呼召（帖后 1:11）；

(2) 伴随着祷告（帖后 1:11）；

(3) 传讲福音（帖后 1:8）；

(4) 因信而信（帖后 1:10）；

(5) 通过实现神在他们身上的 “一切所羡慕的良善 ”而活出来（帖后 1:11）；

(6) 被领进 “神的国”（帖后 1:5）；

(7) 与 “受苦”（帖后 1:5）、“患难”（帖后 1:6）、“逼迫患难”（帖后 1:4）相伴；

(8）但因 “恩典”、“平安”、“慈爱”、“坚忍”、“信心”、“荣耀”、“奇妙”、“配得 ” 被赞赏（帖后 1：2、3、4、10、11、12）。

(9）荣耀 “我们的主耶稣”（帖后 1：12）。

反思：你的生命中缺少上述 1-9 中的哪一项？

应用：向神祷告，求他带你度过难关。培养神的国度的心态，调整个人日程表的重点，将时间和资源重新分配到能够最大限度地荣耀神的事情上。