A Warning Against
Idleness
Paul's Epistles - 2
Thessalonians - Part 6
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Thessalonica was the second city in Europe
where Paul established an organized Christian community.
Paul sent his first letter (epistle) to
the church after Timothy returned with good report of the community. His letter
filled with praise to God for them, as well as instruction to continue to do
good, and be mindful of teachers, and preachers. He instructed them to hold
dearly to the teachings of Christ, and not to allow false teachings or beliefs
to pollute the Truth, or they may have troubles as some of the other churches
were experiencing because of influence by the circumcised, the Gnostics, and
other Pagan and false beliefs that had snuck into the churches ranks.
Not long after sending his first letter,
Paul felt it necessary to write to them again. This is 2 Thessalonians. The
reason for this letter was because Paul had received reports that a forged
letter, and a false verbal message had been spread around, supposedly coming
from Paul himself.
These false teachings in Paul’s name made
mention of imaginary revelations of the Spirit given through some member or
members of the Thessalonian Church. The members believed they were passing
through a great tribulation because of this, and were greatly distressed.
Mislead into thinking the Great Day of the
Lord had come. Paul wrote this letter to set their minds at ease. Paul declares
in this epistle that certain events MUST take place before “The Day of the
Lord”.
A) A great falling away from the faith.
B) The coming of Christ for His people (Rapture)
C) The coming into public view of the “Man of Sin”
D) And his open and awful campaign against the Lord
E) Then the coming of the Lord (Second Coming) with His
people in terrible judgment
2 Thessalonians is really broken into four major
themes.
1) Persecution and the
Lord’s Coming
2) The
unrepentant and the Lord’s Coming
3) The Apostasy and
the Lord’s Coming
4) Service and the
Lord’s Coming
a.
The delay of the Lord’s Coming for;
i.
Unique opportunities for service (2
Thessalonians 2:13-17; 3)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is
idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you
received from us.7 For you yourselves know how you ought
to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor
did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we
worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a
burden to any of you.9 We did this, not because we do
not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a
model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were
with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to
work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and
disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such
people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and
earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers
and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey
our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that
they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as
an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
Final Greetings
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give
you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own
hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I
write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you all.
A Warning Against Idleness
I. KEEP
AWAY FROM EVERY IDLE BELIEVER
a. Brothers and
Sisters (the saved)
i. We command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
1. Whenever you see Paul use this phrase in scripture,
he is emphasizing to the readers, this IS the Word of God and it MUST be
heeded.
ii. Keep away from believers who are
1. Idle
2. Disruptive
3. Do not live according to the teachings you received
from us
iii. This is NOT excommunication, but withdrawing of
fellowship
b. For you are to
follow our example
i. We were not disorderly (disruptive) among you
1. They lived a sanctified life, as we all should
2. Meaning sin has no dominion over people
a. Romans 6:14 “For sin
shall no longer be your master, because
you are not under the law, but
under grace.”
ii. We were not idle when we were with you
iii. We did not eat other peoples food without paying
for it
iv. On the contrary, we worked day and night
1. Paul working at his craft of tent making to pay his
way
v. We labored and toiled so that we would not be a burden to you
vi. We did this, not because we do not have a
right to such help from you, but in order to offer ourselves as a model to
imitate.
1. Paul refers to the fact that he is a Preacher of
the Gospel, and by all scriptural rights, should have been supported by the
people.
2. However, he did not avail himself to that privilege
for the fact he wanted to be an example.
vii. At this time people were constantly scheming to get
money from people, sort of like today’s society.
1. Paul wanted nothing in his ministry to resemble
that.
c. For even when
we were with you, we gave you this rule
i. The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.
ii. Basically, if a person is lazy and won’t work, then
let them do without.
iii. In other words, it is wrong to give money to
someone of this nature.
II. WE HEAR
SOME OF YOU ARE IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE
a. They are not
busy, they are busy bodies
i. Meaning they are always scheming to sponge off of others
b. Such people
(busy bodies) we command and urge you
i. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
1. Speaking for the Lord, a command which must be
followed
ii. Settle down
1. Quit being busy bodies
iii. And earn what you eat
c. For the rest of
you, never tire of doing what is good
i. Sometimes doing good is hard
ii. It may seem harsh at times
iii. Sometimes doing good = tough love
1. Keep helping those truly in need
2. Do not give in to the lazy and their wants
III. TAKE
SPECIAL NOTE OF ANYONE WHO DOES NOT OBEY OUR INSTRUCTION IN THIS LETTER
a. Do not
associate with them
i. So they may feel the shame of idleness, laziness, being unwilling to
work, living off others who work hard.
ii. They do not earn what they take, this is wrong
b. Yet, do not
regard them as an enemy
i. But warn them as you would a fellow believer
ii. If after repeated warnings, they were to be “called
out” for their “using of others” and “laziness”
iii. Pointing out his error as a “believer”, not
treating him as someone who is lost.
c. May the Lord of
peace Himself give you peace at all times
i. And in every way
ii. This is “sanctifying peace”, which does not refer
to an absence of problems or troubles, but to a peace in the midst of problems
and troubles
iii. This can only be given by the Lord
CONCLUSION – I, Paul, write this greeting in my own
hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I
write.
Paul encourages
the church to recognize his style of writing, and the fact that “This is how he
writes”, meaning, the letters greetings will always look the same, even when
penned by a scribe, the greetings are always in his hand, and the tone and
teachings will never conflict with his other letters.
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