Great Reasons for Gratitude (Part 3): 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13–17

About this sermon

In the 1540s, when Cornelis Aertz de Man was fifteen, he heard his first gospel sermon from an Anabaptist preacher who was chained to a stake to be burned for his faith in Christ. The man had an expression of peace and joy on his face. It was Cornelis’ first sermon to hear, and this preacher’s last sermon to preach. It was a doozy. Nobody was sleeping through this one. With a clear voice, he told the crowd that Jesus was his Lord and had committed his life to serve Him, to walk with God, and to live in love and obedience to God’s Word. He said, “This is the reason I die today. It is for the witness of Christ and His Word, for no other cause, of which you are now witnesses.” As the flames began to kindle, he could hear the wood crackle and pop. Hot embers began to float upward. The smoke began to cause him to cough and his eyes began to water and burn. His skin began to itch from the flames and then it blistered. He prayed out to the Lord, “O Father and Lord, endue me with thy Spirit for this trial. Do not punish these who mistreat me today, but bring them also to the faith in Christ. Accept me now in thy grace.” His body became taut and rigid with pain as the flames licked his flesh, and then suddenly he slumped over in death like a rose deprived of water. This preacher stood fast for Christ. The message of this martyr for Christ burned in the heart of Cornelius who was hungry to know more about Christ. After attending Bible studies in the homes of Anabaptists, he felt he had discovered the meaning of life. Life is all about Jesus and he was right! Cornelius trusted Christ as his Savior and became an outstanding Christian. In this passage, Paul charged and challenged the Thessalonians to stand fast. The words “stand fast” are from the word steko {stay'-ko} which means “to stand firm; to persevere or persist.” They were to be steadfast in their faith and dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in the present, active, imperative tense which means that they were commanded to be consistent and to keep on standing firm for the Lord. They were to keep on keeping on whether it is in pain, persecution, pressure, poverty, or times of panic. We are, too! The questions that arise are, “How do we do that? How do we remain steadfast for Christ and stand firm for Him?” This 33-minute message provides around fifteen principles to put into practice. It was preached on Sunday morning, July 31, 2022, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Gratitude
• Thanksgiving