A Prayer for Stability
Bob Yandian
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
This prayer from Paul is for all believers who are living in the end times. We are not only in the last days, but in the last of the last days. The last days began on the Day of Pentecost and brought on a whole new meaning to Peter’s sermon quoting Joel’s prophecy, “it shall come to pass in the last days” (Acts 2:17,18). We are over two thousand years from the day of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring and the beginning of the Church Age. We can see from world events that the times are shaping up for the return of Jesus to the earth to rule and reign. Today, if there is anything the world needs, is not just Christians, but stable Christians, disciples, mature believers. The process of discipleship has existed since the Old Testament and is the same today. To become a mature believer, the convert must study and apply the word of God to the circumstances of life (John 8:31,32). Intake of the word of God produces knowledge. But output, or application of the word of God produces wisdom. Both working together produce stability in the believer during the worst of personal and world circumstances. It also produces an assurance of salvation leaving no doubt they are saved. Salvation is the greatest possession to be sought for by the sinner. Then the Word of God is the greatest possession to be sought after for the believer. “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and strength of salvation. The fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6).
The Background of the Prayer
Paul has just told of end-time events, the coming of the Antichrist. He told us the Church is withholding him from being revealed. But when he is revealed, he will cause great havoc.
“The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist -whose coming is after) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying (counterfeit) wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Satan will have a man on earth to imitate the rulership of Jesus. The good news is he will finally be destroyed by Jesus at His return to rule the earth. Just as Jesus was the offspring of God and a woman, Antichrist will be the offspring of Satan and a woman. This false world ruler will also have power to imitate the works of Jesus. Jesus was anointed by God’s power. Antichrist will be anointed by Satan’s power. Jesus announced his ministry in the synagogue, Antichrist will be in the temple.
Many Will Reject God’s Love and Receive Delusion
“And with all unrighteous deception (delusion) among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (vs. 10)
This is not temporary delusion, but continual, causing a hardened heart in the sinner toward the gospel. Despite the greatest outpouring of revival and evangelism in the world’s history, many will reject the need for salvation and become more bitter. Delusion will escalate in the Tribulation, but it begins as the Church Age is ending.
Signs to Look for Today
1. “The mystery of iniquity is already at work” (vs. 7). We see this mystery today in liberal, socialistic society, media and all forms of communications around the world. The message is clear, man is the answer, not God. We can solve our own problems; we don’t need God or Christianity. The world fails to realize our problems are not from man, but two fallen beings, Satan and Adam. Only the coming of the Son of God to rule can undo the curse on the earth. Only a supernatural Savior can rid the world of supernatural problems. No matter how much you speak of truth, the gospel, and liberating mankind, the world cries out against all forms of righteousness. Mankind as a whole loves unrighteousness. It is as the days of Noah. The good news is we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the message of God’s power to redeem anyone who will heed and accept the gospel. The Great Commission is still powerful today because we still preach it in God’s power, not ours.
2. “And for this reason (strong rejection) God will send them strong (powerful) delusion, (with result) that they should believe the lie (vs.11). “Strong delusion” has both an Old and New Testament meaning. The first example is Pharaoh’s hardened heart. Despite the miracles God performed in Egypt to free the Israelites, Pharaoh hardened his heart against God’s warnings. After several times of hardening his own heart, God then began to harden his heart. God removed all restraints when it was obvious to all that Pharaoh would not change his attitude. The second example is Paul’s description of a person who has heard the gospel and rejected many times. He is said to have a “reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28). This is God’s reaction to a long period of rejection in those who have heard the gospel and turned against God’s plan for salvation and righteousness. God removes all restraints for inevitable destruction to occur. Today we see what is more than a rejection of Jesus in the world, it is an evil and Satanic rejection of the message of God’s grace. God is seen as evil and unjust and Satan is seen as good.
3. “…that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (vs. 12). This person was approached in their life by the gospel and were convicted but rejected and continued to reject. They not only continue in sin but now take pleasure in sin. When it is apparent repentance will not come, God removes the restraints. He resists the proud (Proverbs 3:34). Today this number is growing and during the tribulation, their numbers will be greatly multiplied. Their end will be damnation in hell and later the Lake of Fire for eternity.
4. “But we are bound (obligated) to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose(elected) you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (vs. 13). But if there is anyone who should have a good attitude during this time of world evil and unrighteousness, it should be the believer whose joy and fulfillment comes from the Holy Spirit and the word of God. We can become so wrapped up with the unrighteousness in the world, that we can easily forget the righteous ones and the righteousness that surrounds us each day. We also lose sight of the coming of Jesus to rid the world of the increasing problems. We are obligated to give thanks for our relationship with Jesus Christ and also give thanks for each other in a world filled with darkness and outspoken hatred. We too can rejoice with the angels in heaven over every person who accepts Jesus. Our numbers are growing each day despite the efforts of Satan, demons and those of the world who speak evil of us daily.
5. “…to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 14). God not only called us to salvation, but to the obtaining of glory. Glory is the daily life of faith by which we give glory to God. It is our life of praise and worship in response to the gospel we have received and the unfailing promises of God we walk by each day. We too, like Abraham, can became strong in faith and give glory to God (Romans 4:20).
6. “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of our epistle” (vs. 15). The traditions are not things outside the word we have been taught only by man, but teachings from the word and in line with the word that have been handed down from generations before us. Personal altars, morning prayers and personal times of worship are all “traditions”, not necessarily instructed in a scripture but important none the less. What is taught can become a good tradition in our lives and should not be thrown out because our mothers and grandmothers taught us to do them. Many times, people throw out teaching and instruction from past generations as “old.” They are always looking for something new. These believers can be easily overthrown in their faith. We should adhere to the word taught by godly men and women from years gone by as well as those who continue to teach the word today. These things bring stability into our Christian life. It is our own personal way to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Study of the scriptures, though we already know them, is like clinching a nail on the other side of the wood. “For this reason, I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12).
The Prayer for Stability in an Unstable World
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort (encourage) your hearts and establish (stabilize) you in every good word and work” (vs 16, 17). The “hope” in this verse anticipates the coming of Jesus for His Church (1 John 3:3). No matter how many trials and troubles we come through, our great hope of Jesus’ return cannot be removed. The rapture is as much God’s grace as the new birth, the life of maturity and the gift of His word to us. Only God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ can bring us encouragement and stability through the voice of the Holy Spirit and the entrance of the word. In a world of instability and fear, you as a believer should stand out in your words and deeds as you are filled with the Holy Spirit and with the word of God.
