March 25, 2024 • 25 mins
As we brought our exploration of 2 Thessalonians chapter three to a close, our conversation took a deep dive into the intersection of faith and action. Paul's timeless message to the Thessalonian church echoed through the ages, challenging us to shun idleness while embracing the sanctity of work. He offered a blueprint for spiritual fortitude, urging the faithful to support each other through prayer and to remain vigilant against the forces of evil. Our discussion reflected on Paul's own metamorphosis from adversary to advocate, casting his teachings in a new light that underscored the transformative power of faith and the protection it affords.
Tackling the Christian ethos of work, Nick and Aaron unpacked the delicate dance between community support and the promotion of self-reliance. We traversed through scripture to remind ourselves that while the anticipation of Christ's return is vital, it should not deter us from daily toil and contribution to our communities. Our discourse reaffirmed that to work quietly and earn our keep is to live out Biblical principles, a testament to the depth of our conviction and the embodiment of our dedication to the tenets of our faith. Join us on this profound journey, and let's carry these teachings into our lives, letting them shape the way we interact with the world and with the divine.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome back to the two fish podcast.
My name is Nick, I'm Aaron andthis week we're finishing up
second Thessalonians, chapterthree, and as Paul told us not
to be lazy, that's right to fishcommunity.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are not to be lazy so good luck to you this week?
Is you listen into this anddecide that you can't be lazy?
Because that's what Paul'sgoing to tell us?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, he's rewriting the church of Thessalonians and
saying, hey, you're getting acouple things that I would when
I said you're getting it wrong,let's correct these things, be
careful about the thing peoplethat are telling you the wrong
things.
And here he's going to end it.
And then he's going to say, hey, also be more like us.
And he's going to break it downhere.
(00:52):
Let's start.
Let's just get right into it.
Let's start chapter three,verse number one.
Finally, brothers, pray for usthat the word of the Lord may
speed ahead and be honored, ashappened among you, and that we
may be delivered from wicked andevil men, for not all have
faith, but the Lord is faithful.
He will establish you and guardyou against the evil one.
(01:14):
And we have confidence in theLord, about you, that you are
doing and will do the thingsthat we command.
May the Lord direct your heartsto the love of God and to the
steadfastness stead and to thesteadfastness of Christ.
Okay, those big chunk there,five verses five really good.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
first, yeah, there is quite a bit in this, it's
another one of, like Paul's,just very bold and to the point
prayers for this community.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, and and it's not just this community version
number one pray for us.
That the word of the Lord we'vesaid this multiple times in
different episodes and differentbooks of that we studied.
He always turns it back toChrist.
It's not about Paul, it's notabout Timothy, it's not about
Silas, it's a constant hey, I'mfinishing this up, make sure you
pray.
He doesn't say pray for us.
(02:04):
Well, he does say I'm sorry.
He does say pray for us, butwhy that the word of the Lord?
Pray for us so that we cancontinue to spread this word.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Mine reads pray first that the Lord's message will
spread rapidly and be honoredwherever it goes.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Okay, that doesn't have him in it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And it says I will the beginning verses I asked you
to pray for us.
Okay, pray first, pray firstthat the Lord's message will be
spread rapidly and honor andwill be honored wherever it goes
.
So, yeah, he wants prayer, buthe wants that prayer.
He's taking Christ's messageand and wherever it goes, that
(02:48):
spreads rapidly.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, verse number two and that we may be delivered
from wicked and evil men, fornot all have faith.
Everywhere Paul and Timothy andSilas and Peter, everywhere
they go, they're met withopposition, and even we're met
with opposition today.
Now again, us in the Westernworld, we're not persecuted like
the rest of the world is.
But we know how Paul story ends.
(03:11):
He gets thrown into prison.
He writes a lot of these booksfrom a prison cell and in those
books he says and I still havemy joy because he knows this is
just temporary, life's justtemporary.
He understands and he's sayingmay we be delivered from that.
And I think he partners it withthat first verse, because
that's the goal.
The goal is we need to continueto spread this.
(03:31):
So please help us to bedelivered from these guys so
that we can continue our mission.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, and that that same mission, like this same
first two verses here are stillvery prevalent today.
Yeah there are still people thatdo not believe and people that
need to hear us, the two fishcommunity, share the word of
Christ and and share ourexperiences so they can hear
(04:02):
that and see the change we wentthrough since we've accepted
Christ.
And that was a big part of whatPaul is doing when he's going
from community to community.
As we know, Paul was one of thepeople that was actively
seeking Christians originally tobasically to kill him.
(04:23):
Yeah, he was hunting them downlike no, we're not going to do
this.
He was met on the road toDamascus and Jesus blinded him
and sent him into communitywhere another guy they met up
and it all it all changed Paul'slife and which is how it got
his name.
Yeah, when he got insane Paul,he was it was Saul.
(04:44):
What is?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
yours?
Does your version use the wordwicked and evil men?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yes, wicked and evil people, Okay so.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I think, as you're saying that story, it made me
the reminder me of yes, he wasthat wicked and evil men or
people, so he knew firsthandwhat these people are like,
which I'm sure in the back ofhis mind that probably puts a
little more to his prayer.
Hey, help deliver us from thesesouls that I used to be, so that
(05:16):
probably has a lot morepersonal meaning there.
Verse three but the Lord isfaithful.
Again he turns it to the Lordhe was and again he will
establish you and guard youagainst the evil one.
And we have confidence in theLord about you.
He again takes the time to givethem an uplifting.
They make sure you continue topray to be guarded.
But you guys have done so well.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I think I like a word , and yours better than I do
mine.
Mine reads but the Lord isfaithful and he will make you
strong and guard you from theevil one.
I believe you said he willestablish you.
Did you?
Does your say establish?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yes, he will establish you and guard you
against the evil one.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I think that a lot better.
Like that that just reminds meof.
It's often talked about likeyou're gonna have a change,
you're gonna be born again,right, like we're told over and
over you're born again.
And that word Establish to meis more significant because
there's a.
There's like a before and thena Christ entered and he
(06:20):
establishes you as this newperson.
Like you have a change of heart.
The way you see thingsdifferent, the way you Interpret
the world becomes different.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
There's a new foundation, yeah like I really
like that.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I would.
You should highlight that wordin your bible Um it's more than
just, more than just make youstrong.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah like.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
it's not just gonna make you strong, he's going to
Give you a new foundation thatyou can stand on to fight the
evil one.
That's good and he's gonnaguard you from that evil one.
But you gotta have hisfoundation first.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, may the Lord and direct your hearts to the
love of God and to thesteadfastness of Christ.
Keep, continue to keep youryour eyes on the prize there.
Verse number six, moving on.
Now we commend you, brothers,in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
So pause there, he's.
Hey, pray for us, pray for ourvision, pray for the ministry.
That the word can go on.
(07:18):
Your guys are doing a good job.
Make sure you continue to dothat good job and stay
Established, like to staygrounded there.
Now he's gonna say, but there'smore.
You know what I mean.
So now verse number six.
Now we command you, brothers,in the name of the Lord Jesus,
that you keep away from anybrother who is walking in
idleness and not in accord withthe tradition that you received
(07:41):
from us.
Let's pause right there.
The word idleness is not whichwe were kind of talking
beforehand.
It's not like an idol, likewe're idol worshiper or
something.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
This is idol hands.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, like lazy lazy, let's keep going.
Verse number seven for youyourselves.
No, you ought to Imitate us,because we were not idle when we
were with you.
He's using their themselves asan example.
Nor did we eat anyone's breadwithout paying for it, but we
toil and labor.
We worked night and day.
That we might not be a burdento you.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, so verse seven and mine.
Once again I'm in the NLTversion for every man.
Bible Verse seven for me read alittle different, for you know
that you ought to follow ourexample.
We were never lazy.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
No, yours uses the word.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Uses the word lazy when we were with you.
But once again, though youcan't like I'm sitting here
reading this, like we can't mixthis up with your.
Your works.
Gain your faith.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Oh yeah correct like.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
But when you receive that faith and you, when you are
Established by Christ, go backto that word established when he
establishes you.
That does not mean that youcould sit on your hands and be
idle.
Yeah, he's still got work foryou to do and you can go back to
that beginning prayer.
Brothers and sisters, I ask youto pray for us.
(09:06):
Pray first of the Lord'smessage will spread rapidly.
Be honored wherever it goes.
Well, you have been establishedby Christ.
You received his word and nowyou have a responsibility of
taking it elsewhere.
Yeah and taking it to yourfriends and your family.
It isn't that.
Oh, I'm saved, I don't have todo anything now.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, I don't think he's talking at all about
Salvation or about.
I think he's literally sayingdon't be lazy.
Oh and I like how yours sayslazy, there and again.
That's what I want to reiterate.
This is not a salvation issuewhere, hey, you need to work for
your salvation, or pass thatearlier.
He says, for not all have faith.
(09:48):
That's those people I'm talkingnow about you people and, like
you said and I think we've saidit before, like Christian being
in Christ, follower was not thecheck the box.
Now life is free and easy.
It gets harder because ourstandards are the higher.
So he's saying and he gives theexample, it's a physical example
we didn't eat anyone's bread,that thing you worked for, we
(10:12):
didn't take any of it withoutpaying for it.
Now, I'm sure people helpedthem out as they went, and in
other books he does they.
You know, people put him up andstay with them and they're
generous to them.
But he says we, we work nightand day that we may not be a
burden.
They did not come into thistown to say, hey, we're mess or
I'm an apostle of Jesus, nowfeed me.
(10:35):
I don't know exactly what bookit's in, but I believe Paul said
he was a tent maker.
So they would come into a townand they would make tents to
sell, to make money to providefor themselves.
Wow, they were doing their mainjob, which was spreading the
word.
He had to get a side gig tohelp pay fund the main work.
He didn't ask for donations.
(10:55):
He didn't cut they didn't comeinto a town to be a burden on
people, for them to take care ofhim.
I'm gonna work for myself to beable to do this and he's and
he's telling Thessalonians belike us, not like the lazy
people.
What do you got to say?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I think of this and Paul Paul was the preacher of
the time and he's saying don'tlive off the church.
No like, don't live off ofhandouts, and so much of our
Society now Expects a handout.
Yeah and they don't.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
They don't want to work for it now there is a
specific view where God saystake care of these people.
But he it's, but it's also tothe church.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
But I don't.
I also I don't think that'sever meant to be a lifetime
commitment of taking care ofthose.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
The orphans in the widows is what I was
specifically thinking of.
But yes, you're right, I dothink that orphan needs to grow
up and not be Well.
He's always gonna be an orphan,but not be a.
Dependent dependent forever inthe widow.
It could be a season whileshe's getting back on her feet,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
I think it's meant to be something the church steps
in.
You're in the midst of atragedy and life is a struggle.
Yeah, there's a responsibilityto help those people get back on
their feet, but not topermanently allow them to be
idle and a burden and a burdenbecause Paul and Timothy and
(12:22):
Silas, they are bringingsomething to the table.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
They're doing the work.
They're doing the Lord's work,but they're also working to
provide for that.
You read verses like that andyou wonder yes, we need to love
people, yes, we need to takecare of people, we need to be
generous, we need to do anything.
But there's clear verses,clearly says and it uses the
word, my Bible uses the wordpoil and labor.
(12:46):
That's not, I don't know,that's that's.
You're working for your money.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And I'm not saying you need to swing hammer or you
need to dig in the ground to bea farmer.
That's not what I'm saying.
You can.
You can sell insurance.
You can be a real estate.
You can be a real estate.
That's not what I'm saying.
But they're working for theirmoney.
It's not laziness.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, I have a in my Bible.
There's like these little sidenotes or pictures and like
additional whatever key points Iguess.
Mine says what is the point ofsecond Thessalonians Question
mark and under it says whileyou're waiting for the second
coming, get to work.
Ooh, like, and I and I thinkthat's both physically and
(13:35):
spiritually probably spirituallyand physically would be the
correct order of that Like youhave work to do for the Lord and
you need to be providing foryour family and taking care of
your family.
Like it is not just sitting onyour hands waiting for the
second coming.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Oh yeah, there you go .
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're to look forward to it and continue to
live a life to be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, but there's still work to do.
Yep, that's good.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Verse nine.
Here, it wasn't that we didn'thave the right to ask you to
feed us, but we wanted to giveyou an example to follow.
Even while we were with you, wegave you this rule Whoever does
not work should not eat.
So Paul rolled into town andwas like you're not working, you
(14:21):
don't deserve to eat.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
I feel like we were kind of not rubbing the border
of what we wanted to say.
But now I wanted to be harshand Paul just says straight up
look, you don't fish, you don'teat.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Right, you know what I mean.
What does that teach a man tofish?
He can eat forever.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Yeah, if you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day
.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.
Or don't teach a man to fish,it's not that hard.
I think that's the parks andwreck how it finishes.
Yeah, it's to that or don'tteach him because it's not that
hard.
Yeah, but yeah, it's, it'sstraight up.
Hey, this is the example andhere's how we're going to do it.
(15:01):
If you're not willing to work,let him not eat.
Here's the other thing.
He's not telling it to theperson.
Hey, if you don't work, you arenot going to be able to eat.
He's saying this to the wholechurch about that person, for
even with you we were.
If anyone is not willing to eat, let him not eat.
Oh yeah, if anyone is notwilling to work, let him not eat
(15:23):
.
There's he's saying to thecommunity hey, if he's
struggling in a season, yes,let's take care of him, let's
live life together.
But if he's purposely justsitting around, let him sit
around.
He's not going to eat, allow it.
I mean, that feels harsh to saythat sounds harsh, and I and I
(15:43):
give that little room there tosay, hey, in a season of life,
we need to be community, we needto take care of each other, but
if you're not willing to do,try, nah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I think verse 11 here is going to continue to go on
there, but, like the thoughtgoing through my head right now,
up to this point Paul's beenpretty courteous to the
Thessalonians and know thesecond coming to the Lord hasn't
come, and all this and herewe're getting into, like the
Paul, the correction Paul.
(16:16):
Yeah he is ending his letterwith correction.
Verse 11 brought me to this.
Yet yet we hear that some ofyou are living idle lives and
you're living in a placerefusing to work and wasting
time meddling in other people'sbusiness.
And the name of the Lord, jesusChrist, we appeal to such
(16:37):
people, no, we command them.
Settle down and get to work,like Paul is hammering this home
, like he's putting it down.
So apparently not only didThessalonians at this point,
they thought the second comingin, jesus already came, so they
(16:57):
gave up.
Yeah like these people are likeoh, here it came, we missed it.
Yeah, now we're just going tosit back and apparently we're
all going to die and Paul'stelling them no.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Get to work.
We don't appeal to it, wecommand it.
Yeah, get off your butt and goget a job.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Mine.
Mine reads the end there ofverse 12 to do their work
quietly and to earn their ownliving.
Like you say, not only are youto work, but do it quietly.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I left.
I left that out.
Earn your own living.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yeah, earn your own living yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I'm just excited about the get to work.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, Well and, but don't make a scene about it.
Yeah, just do it.
There's no, you don't need apraise for it, just do the job.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
You don't need to be boasting in your work, yeah, or?
Speaker 1 (17:52):
demand hey, look at me, look what I'm doing.
I should be my thoughtprocesses.
Look at me, look what I'm doing.
I need, I should, I deservemore Is get your head down and
do your job.
Now, if God chooses to blessyou, if that's in his plan to
give you more, then by all meanstake that blessing.
Be generous with the blessing,but understand where it comes
(18:12):
from.
But it says put your head down,do it quietly and do your own
work.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I think that flows right into verse 13.
And I say to the rest of you,dear brothers and sisters, never
get tired of doing good.
While you're doing your work,yeah, make sure you're you're
doing good work.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
And you're, and you're sharing the message like
he starts this out with let itspread rapidly, as you're doing
your work, it should be goodwork, so your physical work
should be good, but I would alsosay, in the midst of doing that
good work, you should besharing generous yeah, being
generous with the blessing Againhe's going to get harsh.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I feel like, just for a second, he was first 14.
If anyone does not obey what wesay in this letter again we're
talking about this particularchapter putting your head down
and working, working for aliving, taking note of that
person and have nothing to dowith him, that he may be ashamed
to not regard him as an enemy,but warn him as a brother.
(19:19):
So he said don't just write himoff.
You need to.
You need to put his name downand have nothing to do with him.
But he's not an enemy, he's abrother.
And I feel like that's thaterror.
That's that room.
Then, to come alongside and docommunity, to warn him.
Hey, this is what you're doing.
This is why you've been setaside here.
(19:40):
I'm keeping you at a distance.
There are some people in ourlives we really just need to
keep out of distance.
You know what I mean.
It's hard.
Yeah, but yeah, and so farenough that they're not going to
affect you.
Far enough that they're goingto learn because you don't, you
don't work yet, don't eat.
You're not coming over to myhouse and eat my free food.
You know what I mean.
You're not trying, but closeenough that we can say, hey, man
(20:03):
, this is why Let me, let me dolife with you, let me help you
to be better, and maybe that'sthat season we're talking about.
We need to come alongsidesomeone.
But if it's not, hey, you'rejust far enough.
Just far enough where you'renot going to affect me, but
hopefully you can see, as Pauland Timothy and Silas were
saying, use us an example.
(20:24):
You're over here, but I wantyou close enough that I can warn
you and you can see me as anexample.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, my verse 15, don't think of them as enemies,
but speak to them in a way.
But speak to them as you wouldto a Christian who needs to be
warned.
Yeah, so he's kind of pointingto these people as being non
believers.
I think earlier he was sayingstay away from Christian
brothers who are lazy, and nowhe's kind of pointing to maybe
(20:53):
these aren't even Christiansbecause they're that lazy.
Yeah, but that doesn't mean youwrite like you were saying you
don't, you can't write them offcompletely.
You're making note of them,yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
You're keeping them out of distance, but you're,
you're in community and you'retrying to help them, which,
again, I feel like there's a lotof Christians today that say,
oh, we can't judge them.
Oh, we can't judge people, wedon't want to judge people.
There is a level of judgmentright here, in this circumstance
, hey, they're not your enemy,but they need to be warned that
what they're doing is wrong.
(21:24):
They need, they need to be toldhey, look, you don't fish, you
don't eat.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yeah, you don't fish.
No, I don't fish, I can't standthe taste of fish, but you eat.
I don't eat the fish.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
I cook chicken.
But yeah, no, you're right.
I think this can be applied,probably applied to both, but
for nonbelievers, you're not myenemy, I want to help be able to
do it by yourself.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Once again, you can't get it confused with your works
.
Earn your faith.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, this is not faith, this is life.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
This is life.
This is not being lazy, as I'mgoing to go back to is Christ
establishes you.
That does not mean that you getto sit on your hands and do
nothing.
Yeah, for the rest of your life.
That is not the point ofChristianity.
That is not the point of beinga Christ follower.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, we said this a bunch to.
I feel like I've said that likeeight times this episode.
But you're you're.
Our lives as Christians shouldbe testimonies.
What is different that shouldalways be pointing to Jesus.
Is that hard?
Yes, Are we always perfect?
Absolutely not, but thereshould always be room there and
our lives should be a testimonyto hey, why you?
(22:35):
I knew you, You're not like youwere.
What happened?
What happened?
Oh, I'm glad you asked.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah, I remember you see you at the bar every Friday
night.
Well, I haven't seen you inmonths.
What's up with out?
Why ain't coming?
What bar you going to now?
Yeah, well, let me tell you I'mnot going to bar, going to
church on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I can't stay out late on Saturdays because I got to
get up early on Sundays.
It's good finishing out here,finishing the letter.
The second letter, first,number 16, now made the Lord of
peace himself.
Give you peace at all times, inevery way.
The Lord be with you all.
I, paul, write this greetingwith my own hand.
(23:19):
This is the sign of, this isthe sign of genuineness in every
letter of mine.
It is the way I write the graceof our Lord, jesus Christ.
Be with you all.
This is, I feel like it's asmoother way To say what he says
in the beginning a lot of hisbooks I'm the apostle of Jesus,
you can trust this.
(23:39):
Here.
He's doing it a little morekindly here.
I think, hey, you can, you can,you can.
This is guaranteed because Iwrote this myself.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Yeah, I think it also Points back to I think it was
in chapter one, where there washe kind of warned them of people
that are maybe writing otherletters pretending to be Paul.
Hmm, and he's saying no, look,here's how I sign my name.
This is how I sign my letters.
Yeah, these are the words I use.
(24:11):
That's how I wrap it up.
This is my signature.
This is the official letter ofPaul.
This is authentic if you getanything else, it's not.
It's kind of like getting thoseups text, hmm, that are
fraudulent, and if you click onyou lose like thousand dollars
on bank account.
Well, if you follow anincorrect letter from Paul, you
(24:33):
think the second coming of Jesusalready came.
Yeah and Paul saying this is mylogo.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, that's good logo.
I like that for again.
Verse 18 the grace of the Lord,jesus Christ, be with you all.
It's not.
You're not gonna be perfect.
You're not gonna get it right ahundred percent of the time.
You might go through seasons oflaziness.
Hopefully you're in community,there for people to come around
side you.
Luckily, we have God's gracethere for when we do come up
short.
I love it.
(24:59):
This is gonna great, greatchapter.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, the second, the second, look yeah it's been a
good book and one of the the funthings to this Bible, I have
the beginning of every book.
There's like key concepts, sothe key concepts of second
Thessalonians Thanks, sufferingprayer, second coming.
Work hard so give thanks, youare gonna suffer prayer.
(25:22):
There will be a second comingthat hasn't came yet.
While you're waiting for thatgiga butt to work.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
That's good to fish community.
That's the challenge.
Those five things are youhitting those?
If you're not hitting them hard, well, level, are you hitting
maybe?
Which ones you need to work on?
And I think I'll go ahead hereat the end of this chapter and
add one more to that.
Let's the sixth one make sureyou're subscribed, make sure you
follow and share these episodesso that we can continue our
(25:51):
mission to spread God's wordthrough the To fish community
and through the to fish podcast.
We'll see you next week.
You.
Welcome back to the two fish podcast.
My name is Nick, I'm Aaron andthis week we're finishing up
second Thessalonians, chapterthree, and as Paul told us not
to be lazy, that's right to fishcommunity.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are not to be lazy so good luck to you this week?
Is you listen into this anddecide that you can't be lazy?
Because that's what Paul'sgoing to tell us?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, he's rewriting the church of Thessalonians and
saying, hey, you're getting acouple things that I would when
I said you're getting it wrong,let's correct these things, be
careful about the thing peoplethat are telling you the wrong
things.
And here he's going to end it.
And then he's going to say, hey, also be more like us.
And he's going to break it downhere.
(00:52):
Let's start.
Let's just get right into it.
Let's start chapter three,verse number one.
Finally, brothers, pray for usthat the word of the Lord may
speed ahead and be honored, ashappened among you, and that we
may be delivered from wicked andevil men, for not all have
faith, but the Lord is faithful.
He will establish you and guardyou against the evil one.
(01:14):
And we have confidence in theLord, about you, that you are
doing and will do the thingsthat we command.
May the Lord direct your heartsto the love of God and to the
steadfastness stead and to thesteadfastness of Christ.
Okay, those big chunk there,five verses five really good.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
first, yeah, there is quite a bit in this, it's
another one of, like Paul's,just very bold and to the point
prayers for this community.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, and and it's not just this community version
number one pray for us.
That the word of the Lord we'vesaid this multiple times in
different episodes and differentbooks of that we studied.
He always turns it back toChrist.
It's not about Paul, it's notabout Timothy, it's not about
Silas, it's a constant hey, I'mfinishing this up, make sure you
pray.
He doesn't say pray for us.
(02:04):
Well, he does say I'm sorry.
He does say pray for us, butwhy that the word of the Lord?
Pray for us so that we cancontinue to spread this word.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Mine reads pray first that the Lord's message will
spread rapidly and be honoredwherever it goes.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Okay, that doesn't have him in it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And it says I will the beginning verses I asked you
to pray for us.
Okay, pray first, pray firstthat the Lord's message will be
spread rapidly and honor andwill be honored wherever it goes
.
So, yeah, he wants prayer, buthe wants that prayer.
He's taking Christ's messageand and wherever it goes, that
(02:48):
spreads rapidly.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, verse number two and that we may be delivered
from wicked and evil men, fornot all have faith.
Everywhere Paul and Timothy andSilas and Peter, everywhere
they go, they're met withopposition, and even we're met
with opposition today.
Now again, us in the Westernworld, we're not persecuted like
the rest of the world is.
But we know how Paul story ends.
(03:11):
He gets thrown into prison.
He writes a lot of these booksfrom a prison cell and in those
books he says and I still havemy joy because he knows this is
just temporary, life's justtemporary.
He understands and he's sayingmay we be delivered from that.
And I think he partners it withthat first verse, because
that's the goal.
The goal is we need to continueto spread this.
(03:31):
So please help us to bedelivered from these guys so
that we can continue our mission.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, and that that same mission, like this same
first two verses here are stillvery prevalent today.
Yeah there are still people thatdo not believe and people that
need to hear us, the two fishcommunity, share the word of
Christ and and share ourexperiences so they can hear
(04:02):
that and see the change we wentthrough since we've accepted
Christ.
And that was a big part of whatPaul is doing when he's going
from community to community.
As we know, Paul was one of thepeople that was actively
seeking Christians originally tobasically to kill him.
(04:23):
Yeah, he was hunting them downlike no, we're not going to do
this.
He was met on the road toDamascus and Jesus blinded him
and sent him into communitywhere another guy they met up
and it all it all changed Paul'slife and which is how it got
his name.
Yeah, when he got insane Paul,he was it was Saul.
(04:44):
What is?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
yours?
Does your version use the wordwicked and evil men?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yes, wicked and evil people, Okay so.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I think, as you're saying that story, it made me
the reminder me of yes, he wasthat wicked and evil men or
people, so he knew firsthandwhat these people are like,
which I'm sure in the back ofhis mind that probably puts a
little more to his prayer.
Hey, help deliver us from thesesouls that I used to be, so that
(05:16):
probably has a lot morepersonal meaning there.
Verse three but the Lord isfaithful.
Again he turns it to the Lordhe was and again he will
establish you and guard youagainst the evil one.
And we have confidence in theLord about you.
He again takes the time to givethem an uplifting.
They make sure you continue topray to be guarded.
But you guys have done so well.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I think I like a word , and yours better than I do
mine.
Mine reads but the Lord isfaithful and he will make you
strong and guard you from theevil one.
I believe you said he willestablish you.
Did you?
Does your say establish?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yes, he will establish you and guard you
against the evil one.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I think that a lot better.
Like that that just reminds meof.
It's often talked about likeyou're gonna have a change,
you're gonna be born again,right, like we're told over and
over you're born again.
And that word Establish to meis more significant because
there's a.
There's like a before and thena Christ entered and he
(06:20):
establishes you as this newperson.
Like you have a change of heart.
The way you see thingsdifferent, the way you Interpret
the world becomes different.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
There's a new foundation, yeah like I really
like that.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I would.
You should highlight that wordin your bible Um it's more than
just, more than just make youstrong.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah like.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
it's not just gonna make you strong, he's going to
Give you a new foundation thatyou can stand on to fight the
evil one.
That's good and he's gonnaguard you from that evil one.
But you gotta have hisfoundation first.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, may the Lord and direct your hearts to the
love of God and to thesteadfastness of Christ.
Keep, continue to keep youryour eyes on the prize there.
Verse number six, moving on.
Now we commend you, brothers,in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
So pause there, he's.
Hey, pray for us, pray for ourvision, pray for the ministry.
That the word can go on.
(07:18):
Your guys are doing a good job.
Make sure you continue to dothat good job and stay
Established, like to staygrounded there.
Now he's gonna say, but there'smore.
You know what I mean.
So now verse number six.
Now we command you, brothers,in the name of the Lord Jesus,
that you keep away from anybrother who is walking in
idleness and not in accord withthe tradition that you received
(07:41):
from us.
Let's pause right there.
The word idleness is not whichwe were kind of talking
beforehand.
It's not like an idol, likewe're idol worshiper or
something.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
This is idol hands.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, like lazy lazy, let's keep going.
Verse number seven for youyourselves.
No, you ought to Imitate us,because we were not idle when we
were with you.
He's using their themselves asan example.
Nor did we eat anyone's breadwithout paying for it, but we
toil and labor.
We worked night and day.
That we might not be a burdento you.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, so verse seven and mine.
Once again I'm in the NLTversion for every man.
Bible Verse seven for me read alittle different, for you know
that you ought to follow ourexample.
We were never lazy.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
No, yours uses the word.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Uses the word lazy when we were with you.
But once again, though youcan't like I'm sitting here
reading this, like we can't mixthis up with your.
Your works.
Gain your faith.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Oh yeah correct like.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
But when you receive that faith and you, when you are
Established by Christ, go backto that word established when he
establishes you.
That does not mean that youcould sit on your hands and be
idle.
Yeah, he's still got work foryou to do and you can go back to
that beginning prayer.
Brothers and sisters, I ask youto pray for us.
(09:06):
Pray first of the Lord'smessage will spread rapidly.
Be honored wherever it goes.
Well, you have been establishedby Christ.
You received his word and nowyou have a responsibility of
taking it elsewhere.
Yeah and taking it to yourfriends and your family.
It isn't that.
Oh, I'm saved, I don't have todo anything now.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, I don't think he's talking at all about
Salvation or about.
I think he's literally sayingdon't be lazy.
Oh and I like how yours sayslazy, there and again.
That's what I want to reiterate.
This is not a salvation issuewhere, hey, you need to work for
your salvation, or pass thatearlier.
He says, for not all have faith.
(09:48):
That's those people I'm talkingnow about you people and, like
you said and I think we've saidit before, like Christian being
in Christ, follower was not thecheck the box.
Now life is free and easy.
It gets harder because ourstandards are the higher.
So he's saying and he gives theexample, it's a physical example
we didn't eat anyone's bread,that thing you worked for, we
(10:12):
didn't take any of it withoutpaying for it.
Now, I'm sure people helpedthem out as they went, and in
other books he does they.
You know, people put him up andstay with them and they're
generous to them.
But he says we, we work nightand day that we may not be a
burden.
They did not come into thistown to say, hey, we're mess or
I'm an apostle of Jesus, nowfeed me.
(10:35):
I don't know exactly what bookit's in, but I believe Paul said
he was a tent maker.
So they would come into a townand they would make tents to
sell, to make money to providefor themselves.
Wow, they were doing their mainjob, which was spreading the
word.
He had to get a side gig tohelp pay fund the main work.
He didn't ask for donations.
(10:55):
He didn't cut they didn't comeinto a town to be a burden on
people, for them to take care ofhim.
I'm gonna work for myself to beable to do this and he's and
he's telling Thessalonians belike us, not like the lazy
people.
What do you got to say?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I think of this and Paul Paul was the preacher of
the time and he's saying don'tlive off the church.
No like, don't live off ofhandouts, and so much of our
Society now Expects a handout.
Yeah and they don't.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
They don't want to work for it now there is a
specific view where God saystake care of these people.
But he it's, but it's also tothe church.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
But I don't.
I also I don't think that'sever meant to be a lifetime
commitment of taking care ofthose.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
The orphans in the widows is what I was
specifically thinking of.
But yes, you're right, I dothink that orphan needs to grow
up and not be Well.
He's always gonna be an orphan,but not be a.
Dependent dependent forever inthe widow.
It could be a season whileshe's getting back on her feet,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
I think it's meant to be something the church steps
in.
You're in the midst of atragedy and life is a struggle.
Yeah, there's a responsibilityto help those people get back on
their feet, but not topermanently allow them to be
idle and a burden and a burdenbecause Paul and Timothy and
(12:22):
Silas, they are bringingsomething to the table.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
They're doing the work.
They're doing the Lord's work,but they're also working to
provide for that.
You read verses like that andyou wonder yes, we need to love
people, yes, we need to takecare of people, we need to be
generous, we need to do anything.
But there's clear verses,clearly says and it uses the
word, my Bible uses the wordpoil and labor.
(12:46):
That's not, I don't know,that's that's.
You're working for your money.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And I'm not saying you need to swing hammer or you
need to dig in the ground to bea farmer.
That's not what I'm saying.
You can.
You can sell insurance.
You can be a real estate.
You can be a real estate.
That's not what I'm saying.
But they're working for theirmoney.
It's not laziness.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, I have a in my Bible.
There's like these little sidenotes or pictures and like
additional whatever key points Iguess.
Mine says what is the point ofsecond Thessalonians Question
mark and under it says whileyou're waiting for the second
coming, get to work.
Ooh, like, and I and I thinkthat's both physically and
(13:35):
spiritually probably spirituallyand physically would be the
correct order of that Like youhave work to do for the Lord and
you need to be providing foryour family and taking care of
your family.
Like it is not just sitting onyour hands waiting for the
second coming.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Oh yeah, there you go .
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're to look forward to it and continue to
live a life to be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, but there's still work to do.
Yep, that's good.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Verse nine.
Here, it wasn't that we didn'thave the right to ask you to
feed us, but we wanted to giveyou an example to follow.
Even while we were with you, wegave you this rule Whoever does
not work should not eat.
So Paul rolled into town andwas like you're not working, you
(14:21):
don't deserve to eat.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
I feel like we were kind of not rubbing the border
of what we wanted to say.
But now I wanted to be harshand Paul just says straight up
look, you don't fish, you don'teat.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Right, you know what I mean.
What does that teach a man tofish?
He can eat forever.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Yeah, if you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day
.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.
Or don't teach a man to fish,it's not that hard.
I think that's the parks andwreck how it finishes.
Yeah, it's to that or don'tteach him because it's not that
hard.
Yeah, but yeah, it's, it'sstraight up.
Hey, this is the example andhere's how we're going to do it.
(15:01):
If you're not willing to work,let him not eat.
Here's the other thing.
He's not telling it to theperson.
Hey, if you don't work, you arenot going to be able to eat.
He's saying this to the wholechurch about that person, for
even with you we were.
If anyone is not willing to eat, let him not eat.
Oh yeah, if anyone is notwilling to work, let him not eat
(15:23):
.
There's he's saying to thecommunity hey, if he's
struggling in a season, yes,let's take care of him, let's
live life together.
But if he's purposely justsitting around, let him sit
around.
He's not going to eat, allow it.
I mean, that feels harsh to saythat sounds harsh, and I and I
(15:43):
give that little room there tosay, hey, in a season of life,
we need to be community, we needto take care of each other, but
if you're not willing to do,try, nah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I think verse 11 here is going to continue to go on
there, but, like the thoughtgoing through my head right now,
up to this point Paul's beenpretty courteous to the
Thessalonians and know thesecond coming to the Lord hasn't
come, and all this and herewe're getting into, like the
Paul, the correction Paul.
(16:16):
Yeah he is ending his letterwith correction.
Verse 11 brought me to this.
Yet yet we hear that some ofyou are living idle lives and
you're living in a placerefusing to work and wasting
time meddling in other people'sbusiness.
And the name of the Lord, jesusChrist, we appeal to such
(16:37):
people, no, we command them.
Settle down and get to work,like Paul is hammering this home
, like he's putting it down.
So apparently not only didThessalonians at this point,
they thought the second comingin, jesus already came, so they
(16:57):
gave up.
Yeah like these people are likeoh, here it came, we missed it.
Yeah, now we're just going tosit back and apparently we're
all going to die and Paul'stelling them no.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Get to work.
We don't appeal to it, wecommand it.
Yeah, get off your butt and goget a job.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Mine.
Mine reads the end there ofverse 12 to do their work
quietly and to earn their ownliving.
Like you say, not only are youto work, but do it quietly.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I left.
I left that out.
Earn your own living.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yeah, earn your own living yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I'm just excited about the get to work.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, Well and, but don't make a scene about it.
Yeah, just do it.
There's no, you don't need apraise for it, just do the job.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
You don't need to be boasting in your work, yeah, or?
Speaker 1 (17:52):
demand hey, look at me, look what I'm doing.
I should be my thoughtprocesses.
Look at me, look what I'm doing.
I need, I should, I deservemore Is get your head down and
do your job.
Now, if God chooses to blessyou, if that's in his plan to
give you more, then by all meanstake that blessing.
Be generous with the blessing,but understand where it comes
(18:12):
from.
But it says put your head down,do it quietly and do your own
work.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I think that flows right into verse 13.
And I say to the rest of you,dear brothers and sisters, never
get tired of doing good.
While you're doing your work,yeah, make sure you're you're
doing good work.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
And you're, and you're sharing the message like
he starts this out with let itspread rapidly, as you're doing
your work, it should be goodwork, so your physical work
should be good, but I would alsosay, in the midst of doing that
good work, you should besharing generous yeah, being
generous with the blessing Againhe's going to get harsh.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
I feel like, just for a second, he was first 14.
If anyone does not obey what wesay in this letter again we're
talking about this particularchapter putting your head down
and working, working for aliving, taking note of that
person and have nothing to dowith him, that he may be ashamed
to not regard him as an enemy,but warn him as a brother.
(19:19):
So he said don't just write himoff.
You need to.
You need to put his name downand have nothing to do with him.
But he's not an enemy, he's abrother.
And I feel like that's thaterror.
That's that room.
Then, to come alongside and docommunity, to warn him.
Hey, this is what you're doing.
This is why you've been setaside here.
(19:40):
I'm keeping you at a distance.
There are some people in ourlives we really just need to
keep out of distance.
You know what I mean.
It's hard.
Yeah, but yeah, and so farenough that they're not going to
affect you.
Far enough that they're goingto learn because you don't, you
don't work yet, don't eat.
You're not coming over to myhouse and eat my free food.
You know what I mean.
You're not trying, but closeenough that we can say, hey, man
(20:03):
, this is why Let me, let me dolife with you, let me help you
to be better, and maybe that'sthat season we're talking about.
We need to come alongsidesomeone.
But if it's not, hey, you'rejust far enough.
Just far enough where you'renot going to affect me, but
hopefully you can see, as Pauland Timothy and Silas were
saying, use us an example.
(20:24):
You're over here, but I wantyou close enough that I can warn
you and you can see me as anexample.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, my verse 15, don't think of them as enemies,
but speak to them in a way.
But speak to them as you wouldto a Christian who needs to be
warned.
Yeah, so he's kind of pointingto these people as being non
believers.
I think earlier he was sayingstay away from Christian
brothers who are lazy, and nowhe's kind of pointing to maybe
(20:53):
these aren't even Christiansbecause they're that lazy.
Yeah, but that doesn't mean youwrite like you were saying you
don't, you can't write them offcompletely.
You're making note of them,yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
You're keeping them out of distance, but you're,
you're in community and you'retrying to help them, which,
again, I feel like there's a lotof Christians today that say,
oh, we can't judge them.
Oh, we can't judge people, wedon't want to judge people.
There is a level of judgmentright here, in this circumstance
, hey, they're not your enemy,but they need to be warned that
what they're doing is wrong.
(21:24):
They need, they need to be toldhey, look, you don't fish, you
don't eat.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yeah, you don't fish.
No, I don't fish, I can't standthe taste of fish, but you eat.
I don't eat the fish.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
I cook chicken.
But yeah, no, you're right.
I think this can be applied,probably applied to both, but
for nonbelievers, you're not myenemy, I want to help be able to
do it by yourself.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Once again, you can't get it confused with your works
.
Earn your faith.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, this is not faith, this is life.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
This is life.
This is not being lazy, as I'mgoing to go back to is Christ
establishes you.
That does not mean that you getto sit on your hands and do
nothing.
Yeah, for the rest of your life.
That is not the point ofChristianity.
That is not the point of beinga Christ follower.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, we said this a bunch to.
I feel like I've said that likeeight times this episode.
But you're you're.
Our lives as Christians shouldbe testimonies.
What is different that shouldalways be pointing to Jesus.
Is that hard?
Yes, Are we always perfect?
Absolutely not, but thereshould always be room there and
our lives should be a testimonyto hey, why you?
(22:35):
I knew you, You're not like youwere.
What happened?
What happened?
Oh, I'm glad you asked.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah, I remember you see you at the bar every Friday
night.
Well, I haven't seen you inmonths.
What's up with out?
Why ain't coming?
What bar you going to now?
Yeah, well, let me tell you I'mnot going to bar, going to
church on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I can't stay out late on Saturdays because I got to
get up early on Sundays.
It's good finishing out here,finishing the letter.
The second letter, first,number 16, now made the Lord of
peace himself.
Give you peace at all times, inevery way.
The Lord be with you all.
I, paul, write this greetingwith my own hand.
(23:19):
This is the sign of, this isthe sign of genuineness in every
letter of mine.
It is the way I write the graceof our Lord, jesus Christ.
Be with you all.
This is, I feel like it's asmoother way To say what he says
in the beginning a lot of hisbooks I'm the apostle of Jesus,
you can trust this.
(23:39):
Here.
He's doing it a little morekindly here.
I think, hey, you can, you can,you can.
This is guaranteed because Iwrote this myself.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Yeah, I think it also Points back to I think it was
in chapter one, where there washe kind of warned them of people
that are maybe writing otherletters pretending to be Paul.
Hmm, and he's saying no, look,here's how I sign my name.
This is how I sign my letters.
Yeah, these are the words I use.
(24:11):
That's how I wrap it up.
This is my signature.
This is the official letter ofPaul.
This is authentic if you getanything else, it's not.
It's kind of like getting thoseups text, hmm, that are
fraudulent, and if you click onyou lose like thousand dollars
on bank account.
Well, if you follow anincorrect letter from Paul, you
(24:33):
think the second coming of Jesusalready came.
Yeah and Paul saying this is mylogo.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, that's good logo.
I like that for again.
Verse 18 the grace of the Lord,jesus Christ, be with you all.
It's not.
You're not gonna be perfect.
You're not gonna get it right ahundred percent of the time.
You might go through seasons oflaziness.
Hopefully you're in community,there for people to come around
side you.
Luckily, we have God's gracethere for when we do come up
short.
I love it.
(24:59):
This is gonna great, greatchapter.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, the second, the second, look yeah it's been a
good book and one of the the funthings to this Bible, I have
the beginning of every book.
There's like key concepts, sothe key concepts of second
Thessalonians Thanks, sufferingprayer, second coming.
Work hard so give thanks, youare gonna suffer prayer.
(25:22):
There will be a second comingthat hasn't came yet.
While you're waiting for thatgiga butt to work.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
That's good to fish community.
That's the challenge.
Those five things are youhitting those?
If you're not hitting them hard, well, level, are you hitting
maybe?
Which ones you need to work on?
And I think I'll go ahead hereat the end of this chapter and
add one more to that.
Let's the sixth one make sureyou're subscribed, make sure you
follow and share these episodesso that we can continue our
(25:51):
mission to spread God's wordthrough the To fish community
and through the to fish podcast.
We'll see you next week.
You.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!