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You can turn again to 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. We read all of chapter 2 this 
morning. We'll read from verse 13 to verse 17 this evening as 
we now look at verses 15, 16, and 17. So let's read 2 Thessalonians 
2 beginning at verse 13. But we are bound to give thanks 
to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because 
God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification 
by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which he called you 
by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast 
and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word 
or our epistle. 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. Amen. Let us pray again. Heavenly Father, 
we thank you again that we can now engage in this act of worship, 
the preaching of your holy word. We do ask again, Lord God, that 
you would bring aid to us, both preacher and hearer. We require 
the divine illumination, the Holy Spirit, to guide us and 
sanctify us by the truth. And we just ask, Lord God, that 
you would do that divine work, that you would help us now as 
we do this. You would be with us, that you 
would comfort and strengthen the hearts of your people and 
cause those who are sinners, unbelievers gathered here, to 
know you by grace. And it's in Christ's name that 
we pray. Amen. So this morning what we did is 
we looked at verses 13 and 14. And we specifically looked at 
three things. We looked at the identification 
of the people in this Thanksgiving. We noted that they are brethren 
beloved by the Lord. We noted that that, of course, 
is simply a way of Paul identifying the fact that Those identified 
in this Thanksgiving, those addressed, are Christians. That Paul is 
identifying Christians here. We noted the theological content 
of the Thanksgiving, actually before that, the trajectory or 
the godwardness of the Thanksgiving. It is not men who are ultimately 
and finally to be thanked in the goings forth of Christianity, 
but it is godward that our Thanksgivings are to be rendered. And we noted 
the the theological content of the Thanksgiving. The triune 
God, salvation by Him, salvation by the triune God is in view 
from choosing in election to glorification, that final great 
truth that we will enter into the bliss of eternity with our 
Maker, our Keeper and our Redeemer. Tonight what we're going to do 
is continue with this text looking at verses 15, 16 and 17. simply under two headings, the 
exhortation and the benediction, because that's what we have here, 
an exhortation followed by a benediction. We noted that this morning when 
we said that these five verses are like a condensed epistle, 
a condensed letter. Remember, the recipients of the 
letter addressed, identified. We have a rehearsal of theology 
followed by an exhortation based on that, and then closing out 
with a benediction. we're going to look at the exhortation 
and the benediction. First off, the exhortation. And the first thing to notice 
here is the general command. Notice at verse 15, Therefore, 
brethren, stand fast. Therefore, brethren, stand fast. This is the general command that 
Paul gives on the heels of rehearsing that glorious truth of salvation 
by the triune God. Therefore, stand fast. This is 
a statement. This is a command and an exhortation 
that is very often repeated throughout the New Testament, isn't it? 
Stand fast, therefore, in the Lord. We see this in the book 
of Hebrews. We see this in 1 Corinthians. 
We see this in Philippians. We see this in Jude. We'll look 
at a couple of those passages in a moment. But it is apostolic 
pattern to set forth theology and then to follow that up with 
a therefore. or a since then, and that sort 
of thing. An exhortation, a command, admonishment, 
apostolic admonishing that follows up theology given. Stand fast, 
and we are to see in this, we are to get in this, the language 
of military, the language of army, the language of a brave 
and courageous army, a military number standing before an opposition 
unwavering. in lockstep, if you will, in 
arm-link, if you will. There is no wavering, there is 
no retreating, there is no trembling before the enemy, but rather 
the soldiers of Christianity, if you'll allow that language, 
are to stand fast, like an army before an oncoming opponent. We see language of athletic conquest 
in other portions of Holy Scripture, that are very similar to this. 
Turn with me just to see, again, the harmony of scripture and 
this theme throughout the apostolic letters. Turn with me to the 
book of Jude. To the book of Jude. When we 
consider certain doctrines and certain sure concepts, that truths 
that the scriptures set forth, it's good to know their addresses 
and to be able to navigate to them in Holy Scripture. So on 
this idea of standing fast, we have in Jude 3 something very 
similar. Beloved, while I was very diligent 
to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it 
necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for 
the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 
That same exhortation given, or a very similar exhortation, 
contend earnestly. earnestly, and turn with me to 
Philippians for a moment. Similar language in the book 
of Philippians. It is very common, because the 
truth is at stake, for the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ to exhort 
believers to stand fast, to strive, to earnestly contend. In fact, 
in this verse we have two terms used to enforce Needful reality 
verse 27 of Philippians 1 we read this this morning Only let 
your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether 
I come and see you or am absent I may hear of your affairs that 
you stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together 
for the faith of the gospel It is to be an unrelenting, a relentless, 
a resolute march that Christians are engaged in, a resolute defense 
as well. We do not drop the linking of 
arms, we do not interrupt the lockstep, we do not retreat, 
and we do not abandon our posts, but rather standing fast together, 
striving fast together, we are to be like a military army, standing 
with the strength that God provides. We are to stand fast. I've used this language before. 
You see, the reason these exhortations are given is because it is characteristic 
of the human heart to tremble. It's characteristic of the human 
heart to be marked by a fear, to have the natural disposition 
to retreat when trial comes. Even in redeemed believers, We 
need apostolic exhortation that is connected or joined by divine 
grace in order to stand fast, lest we stumble, lest we retreat, 
and lest we abandon our posts. I've used this imagery before, 
though. I remember when I was actually driving to church a 
number of years ago, and I was to preach on Philippians 127 
that morning, actually, if I'm remembering correctly. striving 
together for the faith of the gospel, and I was driving behind 
a bunch of traffic on the freeway on the way to church, and I could 
see, I don't know, it was so small, but it caught my eye, 
a little mouse on the left-hand side of the highway. The cars 
were driving, trucks, everything. This mouse runs up to the side, 
stops, and then runs right underneath the car, but makes it under the 
left tires of the first car, makes it under the right tires 
of that car, stops, Another car comes, it goes underneath that 
car, gets blown and tumbles, and then runs across the shoulder 
into the field. An amazing thing. But you see, 
that's an animal kingdom example of striving for something. You 
see, with this massive truck coming at a mouse, knowing our 
natural hearts and That sort of thing. Okay, we might go through 
the first set of tires, but you know what? This is just, this 
is too hard. I'm too scared. I'm just going 
to stop in front of this tire and let the thing run over me, 
because I have a trembling heart. But you see, the mouse continues, 
and it runs, and it runs, and it runs. Whatever is coming at 
it, a Mack truck, or one of those stupid little electronic cars, 
whatever it might be, is coming at the mouse. It still strives, 
it still contends, it's still steadfast. And you see, the Christian 
is to be marked by that striving, that earnestly contending for 
a much more important thing than our physical well-being or getting 
to a piece of cheese. It is the truth of Holy Scripture, 
the gospel of the living and true God. the blessed realities 
and verities of justification by faith, sola scriptura, the 
deity of Christ, all of these things, we are to stand fast. And the reason, as we get our 
way back to 2 Thessalonians 2, I apologize for saying that electronic 
cars are stupid. They're very economical and that 
sort of thing. I probably should have picked 
a better word. Forgive me. If you have one, drive it well, 
drive it safe, and don't hit a mouse. Turning back to 2 Thessalonians 
2 then. 2 Thessalonians 2. The reason 
for the command to stand fast is twofold, but with a general 
third item to be sure. But in the context of the Thessalonian 
problem, there are two reasons why this command was needed. 
And we see these two reasons in verses 1 to 12. The first 
reason is there were eschatological deceptions plaguing the church. That is, bad doctrine concerning 
last things, or the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ specifically. Notice 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 
1, Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 
and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon 
shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, 
as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come." There 
were eschatological deceptions plaguing the Church, and so in 
light of that, they were to stand fast in the truth. They were 
to reject any word or letter that came from false apostles, 
some even posing as true apostles, that would say something about 
the Lord Christ having already returned. Eschatological deceptions 
plaguing the church. The second is the fact of Jewish 
unbelievers plaguing the church. Jewish unbelievers. It might 
be less clear from these verses but we'll add Acts 17 to it because 
there isn't specific language of persecution here, but notice 
in verses 10 to 12, speaking of unbelievers, and with all 
unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did 
not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And 
for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they 
should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who 
did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 
So there are those there Primarily in view, although of course Gentiles 
were in their midst, but primarily in view is probably unbelieving 
Jews who are persecuting the Church. Turn with me to Acts 
17 for a moment, Acts 17. We read this in the last two 
Sundays. The ministry of the Apostle Paul, 
see him coming to Thessalonica, and we see that there are Jewish 
unbelievers plaguing the Church. First in Acts 17 at verse 1, 
just to see the context and the geography. Now when they had 
passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica 
where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Verse 11, these were 
more noble, these were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica in 
that they received the word with all readiness and searched the 
scriptures daily. to find out whether these things 
were so. So we're dealing with Thessalonica here. Notice verse 
13, though. But when the Jews from Thessalonica 
learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, 
they came there also and stirred up the crowds. You see, it was 
common for the Jews to incite opposition to these Christians 
because they are preaching Christ and salvation by Him. Because 
they are preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And 
it is an offense, a scandal to them. Can a Jew endure a crucified 
Messiah? No, he cannot. Not without divine 
grace conquering his heart to cause him to behold with glory 
and with great understanding that in the crucified Messiah 
is the wisdom of God. So we have Jewish opposition 
to the Thessalonian Christians as well as eschatological deception 
plaguing the church. So it was most necessary that 
the Apostle Paul gives the command, stand fast. And of course, the 
necessity of defending the truth is in view, but we'll get to 
that in a moment. So the reason the command was 
needed, now the foundation for the command, in 2 Thessalonians 
2, the foundation for the command is simply what preceded it. The 
foundation for the command is what preceded it, because the 
therefore transitions from the rehearsal of theology to the 
exhortation based upon that rehearsal of theology. Again, God from 
the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the 
Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our 
gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, brethren, stand fast. You see, by virtue of the knowledge 
that they had and the reality concerning them of the Triune 
God saving them from first to last, midst and throughout, by 
conquering victorious grace, they could, or that was the foundation 
that they could heed the command, stand fast. The foundation for 
the command is seen in the reality, the certainty of the perfection 
of the saving work of the Triune God. Secondly, under the exhortation, 
we see the specific activity commanded. The specific activity 
commanded, notice again verse 15, Therefore, brethren, stand 
fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether 
by word or our epistle. So we have the general command, 
stand fast. There is a posture that the Christian 
needs to take, and it is one like a military army of remaining 
steadfast, standing fast before the enemy and before opposition. 
And the specific activity commanded is Hold the traditions which 
you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. What does this 
mean, hold the traditions? You see, in the scriptures, we 
actually have, in the gospels for example, commands to not 
follow tradition. So, what's going on here? The 
apostle Paul is saying, hold the traditions. Well, of course, 
we know that there are bad traditions and that there are good traditions. 
The bad traditions that Jesus deals with in the gospel accounts 
are the traditions of men, which nullify, which make void the 
commandments of God. You remember the events, for 
example, of Jesus sitting with his disciples and eating food 
with unwashed hands. The Jews were very famous for 
adding to the law of God. When they don't accept with believing 
exclusivity the summary of God's law in the Ten Commandments, 
they will heap to themselves multitudinous commandments in 
order to pacify their sinful hearts. And so that's what they 
do, and Jesus condemns man-made tradition because it nullifies 
the Word of God and makes the Word of God void, of no effect. good traditions. And what we 
mean here, what Paul means here when he says, hold the traditions, 
very simply, hold Christian doctrine. Hold the gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Hold revealed truths as it comes 
in Holy Scripture. Hold true to or hold on to the 
traditions that is apostolic doctrine. Remember, we see that 
in Acts 2.42. You may turn there. And this 
is another passage of scripture that is most surely familiar, 
but we see the early Christians on the day of Pentecost characterized 
by this very reality. In verse 41 of Acts 2, You see, 
hold the traditions means that apostolic doctrine. that deposit of divine truths 
given by God to his church for preaching, for propagation, for 
proclamation, for defense. The objective content of Christianity 
is in view when Paul says, hold the traditions which you were 
taught, whether by word or our epistle. And this is to be in 
contrast to what we read in 2 Thessalonians 2, 1-3. There were those who 
were deceiving in verse 1, and in verse 2 we see this exhortation, 
not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit 
or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of 
Christ had come. We see here the word and letter 
and view are those ones that truly come from the apostles, 
that carry with it true and proper Christian doctrine as it is revealed 
by God So when we read hold the traditions we see the teachings 
of scripture at the scripture apostolic Doctrine, and what 
does it mean the specific activity hold the traditions? What does 
it entail rather? What does it entail when we are 
to hold the traditions well first off? We are to know the truth 
aren't we? What does hold the traditions 
entail first off it entails we are to know the truth? Jesus 
said, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make 
you free. Knowledge of the truth is an 
absolute imperative. In Christianity, we don't set 
our minds aside and experience an emote. We, with the use of 
our minds, know the truth and seek after an acquisition of 
knowledge so that we might rightly lay hold of the truths as God 
has revealed them. And not just as babes with the 
milk of the word, as those who are seeking to mature, seeking 
the meat of the Word. We don't just rest upon ABCs 
as glorious as they are, but we seek to learn and know the 
entire alphabet of God's whole counsel. We are to know the truth. We are to tell the truth. And 
yes, we are to be honest, but that's not what I mean by telling 
the truth. We are to proclaim. We are to 
preach. We are to tell others of the 
truth. How do we hold the traditions? 
We know it, and we tell it, and we guard it. We guard the truth. To hold the traditions means 
that Christians are to have a vigorous, apologetic specificity when defending 
the truth of Holy Scripture. We don't grip it with that limp 
wrist. We grip it with that tight fist, vigorously, because God's 
revelation and the truth of our triune God and salvation by Him 
is in view when we are to defend or is in danger if we do not 
grip it rightly to defend, to earnestly contend, to strive 
for the faith of the Gospel. We are to know it, to tell it, 
that is proclaim it. We are to guard the truth and 
what else does it entail? We are to be united in the truth. It is horrible that churches 
can be united around so many non-essentials, or that members 
can demand to be united around so many non-essentials and things 
inconsequential to eternal life, when what they should be doing 
is seeking to hold on solely and alone to the sureties and 
verities of gospel truth, those things that are to be earnestly 
contended for. We are to be united for the sake 
of the gospel, as Paul's point in Philippians 1.27. We're to 
stand fast in one spirit, as one man, with one mind, striving 
together for the faith of the gospel. A team will not be victorious 
if it is a team of individuals, if it is not united in purpose. 
An army will not be victorious if everyone, you know, shows 
up at different times and has their own agenda to, you know, 
inflict pain on the opposition. Or maybe, or whatever, to have 
victory over the opposition. The army is to be united in their 
conquest or in their defense. They are to be united. We are 
to know the truth, to tell the truth, to guard the truth, and 
we are to be united in truth when we hold the traditions as 
Paul exhorts us to here. Calvin writes with regards to 
holding their traditions. We are to hold the traditions, 
or the Thessalonians were, he says, to hold the traditions 
that their faith may remain secure in the midst of a dreadful agitation 
of the Church. You see, so many things, in this 
case, eschatological deception, Jewish unbelievers, false teachings 
infecting the Church, so many things can come and seek to agitate 
the Church, but in holding fast the traditions, that is, gripping 
with apologetic vigor, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and 
the teachings of Scripture, we can remain secure in the midst 
of any agitation of the Church. You see, because things can be 
shaken, temporal things can be shaken and shattered, but the 
truths of Holy Scripture have an eternal unshakableness. They cannot be shaken, they cannot 
be changed, they cannot be defeated, because it is the revealed truth 
of the Triune God. Secondly then, we have the exhortation, 
firstly, We have now the benediction. Now the benediction. Notice in 
verse 16, the good word rendered by Paul for the Thessalonians 
unto God. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ 
himself, 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. First off, we 
want to note the identification of the one who blesses. Now we 
know obviously who it is because the language is explicit. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself 
and our God and Father. But what I mean by the identification 
of the one who blesses is this. Very often when benedictions 
are given or when God identifies himself, there is an attribute 
given in that identification or in that self-disclosure such 
as we have here. For example, when God gives the 
Ten Commandments to Moses and to Israel, he says, I am the 
Lord your God. That's an identification explicit. 
It's the Lord our God who is talking and giving these commandments. 
But he adds and he qualifies, adds to the identification by 
saying, who brought you from out of bondage in Egypt. There's 
a self-disclosure of one of the perfections of God or one of 
the redemptive activities of God in encouraging, and in commanding. We see this actually in the book 
of Hebrews as well. Hebrews 13, just turn there for 
a moment. This was our benediction as we 
closed the service this morning, but notice exactly what we're 
talking about here. In Hebrews 13 at verse 20, we 
read this, Now may the God of peace, who brought up our Lord 
Jesus from the dead. See, the benediction being given 
here is, Now may the God of peace, first off, of peace, is an extra 
qualifying identifier there. Now may the God of peace, who 
brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, make you complete in 
every good work to do his will, etc. So you see, it adds to the 
identification, to the benediction, to say, to introduce an attribute 
or an act or a redemptive perfection of the God that brings the blessing. 
In our case in 2 Thessalonians 2, it is, 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. You see, 
it would have been fine for the Apostle Paul to write and say, 
may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and our God and Father comfort 
your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 
That's fine. Because the Thessalonians were Christians, they were instructed 
in doctrine, they knew of whom Paul spoke if Paul did not include 
the rest of verse 16. But you see, it adds to the weight, 
it adds to the importance, and it adds to the gaining of comfort 
on the part of the Christian to include in the identification 
who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good 
hope by grace. wonderful identification of our 
God and our Lord Jesus Christ. So we have the identification 
of the one who blesses and we have the expected blessing given. The expected blessing given. Notice what that blessing is. 
Verse 17. Well, let's just read it entirely 
again. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and our God and 
Father who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and 
hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good 
word and work." So the specific good word, what is the expected 
blessing for this God to give? It is to comfort the hearts of 
the Thessalonians and establish them in every good word and work. Not only the Thessalonians, but 
to be sure, the Chilliwackians as well, because we are the blessed 
beneficiaries of the reality that God's Word is an eternal 
and abiding and a living and true Word. Its efficacy didn't 
expire with the end of the Thessalonian Church, but rather by God's guidance 
and providence we have this Word and we can read and we can avail 
of this, that the Lord Jesus Christ and our God and Father 
are active in comforting the hearts of His people and establishing 
them in every good word and work. So the expected blessing, first 
off we hear comfort of heart. Or we see, we read, comfort of 
heart. That is the first blessing that 
Paul expects here God to give to the Thessalonian Christians. What does this mean, comfort 
of heart? How do we, how are our hearts 
comforted? Well, I think an answer, a clear 
answer we can find in John 14. Turn there with me. John 14. I mean, not to say the 
answer isn't clear in the context here, but we're going to go outside 
of 2 Thessalonians to see something here connected with heart and 
with the remedy for a trembling heart. John 14. John 14 and verse 
1. See, the simple answer to how our hearts are comforted 
is believe. And it's not just that initial 
act of believing when God comes in victorious grace and gives 
us the gift of faith, and we believe that Jesus is the Christ, 
the Son of the living God, believe that He died for our sins according 
to the Scriptures, and that He rose again the third day according 
to the Scriptures, but throughout the life of a Christian, We are 
marked by believing. We are those who believe. Let 
not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also 
in me. You see, on the resurrection 
day, on that great resurrection day, the problem with those two 
disciples on the road to Emmaus was that they were troubled in 
heart. And what does Jesus say to them? Oh, you foolish ones 
and small in faith. They are to believe. They are 
not to have their hearts troubled, but rather to believe what God 
says. Because in believing what God 
says, our hearts are comforted. What are some examples of this? 
Or how can we see this? Well, with some examples and 
with some biblical answers. For example, when trials assail 
us, when trials assail us, how can we gain comfort of heart? 
We can gain comfort of heart by Romans 8.28, can't we? And we know that all things work 
together for good to those who love God, to those who are the 
called according to His purpose. So when trials assail us, we 
don't need an emotional fluffing by some thing. We need to plant 
our eyes in the Scriptures to read the truths that it reveals 
with regards to God, man, Christ and salvation and have our hearts 
comforted. You see, very often we seek to 
have our hearts comforted by the reconciliation or resolving 
of earthly turmoil and troubles and problems. We seek temporal 
answers to our troubled hearts. Our hearts are only going to 
be comforted, and our hearts are only going to be strengthened, 
and our hearts are only going to be complete by the truths 
of the Holy Scriptures. When trials assail us, we go 
to Romans 8.28, and multitudinous other places that say, let your 
heart be still. Meditate upon my truths and be 
still. Actually, we read that in Psalm 
4.4. We read that in Psalm 4.4. Meditate. upon these things. Meditate in your heart and be 
still. When we sin, when we sin, how 
do we find comfort of heart? When we sin, how do we find comfort 
of heart? We find it in many other places, 
but for example, in 1 John 1, 8 and 9. If we say that we have 
no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If 
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You see, when we sin and our 
hearts are troubled and we want to go on a three-month journey 
into the mountains with a sack of tree stumps in order to atone 
for our sins, We need to drop the sack and drop our troubled 
hearts and confused hearts and unbelieving hearts and plant 
our eyes in the scriptures where we read, if we confess our sins, 
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness. How do we gain comfort of heart 
when we sin? We believe. We read the scriptures 
and we believe what God says. When we fear men or when human 
help is nowhere in sight, When we fear men, or when human help 
is nowhere in sight, among many other places in Scripture, we 
can turn to Deuteronomy 31, 6. Deuteronomy 31 and verse 6. Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear nor be afraid of 
them. For the Lord your God, He is 
the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake 
you." You see, when metaphorical Amorites assail us, when metaphorical 
Gentiles of Canaan assail us and seek to put us down and seek 
to engage in any iniquity against us, our answer isn't to try and 
meticulously resolve the issue, but it is to resolve ourselves 
unto the truth that God is the one who goes with us, he will 
not leave us nor forsake us. In the face of trial and affliction, 
in the face of trial of heart, when our hearts are vexed, how 
do we gain comfort of heart? We gain comfort of heart by believing 
the truth. That comforts our hearts. What 
is very remarkable in Christianity or with many Christians is that, 
if I can put it this way, they want the bread of Tiberius instead 
of the bread of Capernaum. What I mean by that, remember 
the unbelieving Jews in Tiberius in John 6. Jesus feeds the 5,000 
there. He feeds the multitude and he 
feeds them physical bread. Later on he travels over the 
Sea of Galilee to Capernaum and there he uses that feeding, which 
was miraculous, yes, but he uses the example of that feeding that 
had just taken place to stress the greater and infinitely more 
important reality that I, Jesus, am the bread of life. He who 
believes in me shall never hunger. He who comes to me shall never 
thirst. But you see, as fleshly and carnal 
beings, we always want to seek after the bread of Tiberius. 
Whatever will alleviate our physical travails, if we're even in the 
spiritual realm, if we're troubled in our Christianity, we're looking 
for something that will satisfy our senses, whatever it might 
be, whether it's, you know, whether it's, you know, music with a 
good beat or flashing lights or, you know, whatever, the ethereal 
music that the keyboardist plays when the pastor calls everybody 
up to bow their heads and to close their eyes. We seek an 
emotional return, something that will fluff up our hearts and 
fill us like physical bread fills us. And then when trial comes 
again, We don't have that, so we seek after it, either in the 
same way or another way. But when our hearts are troubled, 
what do we do? We do not seek after an emotional 
return, engaging in some sort of activity. We seek the truth. Believe in God, believe also 
in me. Your heart is troubled? Believe in God, believe also 
in me. What do we see, or sorry, so 
comfort of heart. What is comfort of heart, or 
how do we gain comfort of heart, the Thessalonians were to reflect 
upon what Paul had already written with regards to their standing 
before God. They were chosen from the beginning 
for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the 
truth, to which they were called by apostolic gospel. They were to believe the truths 
pertaining to triune and perfect salvation and they were to gain 
comfort of heart by reflecting on those truths. Secondly, not 
only do we have comfort of heart prayed for and that blessing 
expected, but we also have the establishing in every good word 
and work. Paul again here, that God would, 
that our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father would comfort 
your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. What does that mean? Well, I 
think simply it means that God would give them strength in believing 
and strength in doing. Very simply, strength in believing, 
that is, establish you in every good word, and strength in doing 
or working. In the face of eschatological 
deception, in the face of Jewish unbelief, God would give them 
the strength to believe rightly and to hold fast the traditions 
which were given by word or epistle, and to engage themselves in conduct 
worthy of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. So the expected 
blessing is that God would, the triune God, would strengthen 
them in believing and would strengthen them in doing. And this is in 
contrast to verse 12 of 2 Thessalonians 2. What the unbelievers are marked 
by, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, 
but had pleasure in unrighteousness. You see, the double strike against 
an unbeliever, if we can use that language, is ungodliness 
of thought and unrighteousness of conduct. Their conduct follows 
what they profess. They reject God even though they 
know He's there, and they live in a manner consistent with that 
epistemology, with that knowledge, with that philosophy. And so, 
contrary to the unbelievers in Thessalonica plaguing the church, 
the believers were to be strengthened by God, they were to have their 
hearts comforted, they were to be established in every good 
word and work. So brethren, hopefully we can 
gain something from this condensed epistle, if you will, in 2 Thessalonians 
chapter 2. We can We can be those who, by 
God's grace, own this exhortation by the Apostle Paul to stand 
fast and hold the traditions. Stand fast and hold the traditions. Again, with that apologetic vigor. 
This is the truth that God reveals. Why would we play games with 
it? Why would we dance with it? Why would we doubt it? Why would 
we hold it loosely and concede to the enemies of the gospel? 
We grip it tight. We earnestly contend. We stand 
fast and we do not waver. I was thinking with this trembling 
of heart, maybe it's just because it's always fresh in my mind 
when I preach sometimes, but the analogy of David and Goliath 
is applicable in so many realms. Trembling of heart, the analogy 
may fall apart at some point, chronology and that sort of thing, 
but bear with me for a moment. Our hearts can tremble with so 
many things, men, events, Problems sins in our life sins of others 
whatever it might be financial hardship spiritual hardship physical 
hardship But you see our hearts are not to tremble I see I see 
sometimes that we can imbibe the ungodly ethic of Israel before 
Goliath that giant of Gath You know what happens there? There's 
a there's a clear shift in the narrative with the nation of 
Israel In 1st Samuel 17, what do we see is this giant Goliath 
is coming and he's blaspheming the God of Israel and he's calling 
upon someone brave enough and courageous enough to come out. 
We see the hearts here of Israel described in verse 11. When Saul 
and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were 
dismayed and greatly afraid. But you see, when they had the 
knowledge Not just the knowledge, but the visual confirmation because 
they were there that David had slain, had killed the giant who 
was standing before them. He dents his head with the stone. He falls to the ground and he 
severs his head with Goliath's own sword. When Israel saw the 
victory and when they knew that the enemy is most certainly defeated, 
what do we read in the narrative after that? And when the Philistines 
saw that their champion was dead, they fled. But verse 52, now 
the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines 
as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. 
You see, we can sometimes navigate our own Christianity and our 
own lives in this lower world in the fear like these Israelites 
had before a giant. I don't want to metaphoricize 
or make metaphorical Goliath like so many bad preachers can. 
So hopefully you don't see that in this. But we can be approached 
in our lives by metaphorical giants that seek to assail us, 
that seek to frighten us, that seek to steal away our courage 
in Christ Jesus, defending the truth and being steadfast in 
the faith. But we have a greater-than-David that has slain the giant, killed 
the giant. We have the greater-than-David 
who has conquered the enemy. That is the devil, death and 
hell, and the condemnation that comes with transgressing God's 
holy law. Christ has gained the victory, 
so we are to be like these Israelites who saw who arose and shouted 
and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley 
and to the gates of Ekron. Let's stand fast and hold the 
traditions, and when our hearts are troubled, when our hearts 
are vexed, we don't seek temporal answers to spiritual questions, 
but rather we believe the truth. We lay hold of the sureties, 
the verities, the perfections, the promises of Holy Scripture 
that cannot be shaken, and we find our solid ground in the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, 
we thank you so much for your word. We thank you for what it 
discloses to us concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation 
by him. We thank you that it shows who 
you are, that it shows who we are before you, and that it shows 
who we are now in Christ Jesus. And we just pray, Lord God, that 
you would help us with 2 Thessalonians 2 and view the reality of salvation 
by a triune God the eternal love that you pour out, the unchangeable 
love that you pour out upon us in salvation by Christ. We just 
pray that we would daily avail of that, that our hearts would 
not be assaulted, that our hearts would not tremble, but rather 
we would hear Christ's Word, that we would believe in God, 
that we would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we 
would find comfort of heart in the Holy Scriptures, in your 
unshakable promises, and in your irrevocable truths. We just pray 
that you'd go with us into this week, help us to order our lives 
after your word. We do pray that you would help 
us, having been saved by amazing grace, to live in light of that 
amazing grace, that we would conduct ourselves in a manner 
worthy of the gospel, and that we would daily find our everything 
in a triune God who saves without a helper. We pray that you would 
go with us now in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.