Rose Petals for Our Path (Part 2): 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5

About this sermon

* 2 Thessalonians 3:2- And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. Early on the morning of May 27, 2001, missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were celebrating their wedding anniversary at an island resort of Palawan in the Philippines. This was considered to be a safe area in the region. Little did they realize that their celebration would be turned into a nightmare. On that day, the pirate Islamic group Abu Sayyaf raided the resort and kidnapped at gunpoint about 20 people that day who were held for ransom. These group says it is fighting to carve a Muslim state out of the southern Philippines. A third American, Guillermo Sobero was also captured and beheaded by these terrorists. The number of hostages waxed and waned as some were ransomed and released, as new ones were taken and others were beheaded. For 377 days, Martin and Gracia were captives of these unreasonable and wicked men. On June 7, 2002, hundreds of elite troops equipped with night vision goggles and backed by U.S. surveillance technology, launched an attack to rescue and free the missionaries. Martin Burnham was shot and killed by the terrorists and Gracia was wounded in the leg. She was a grieving widow, but she was alive and able to return to her children who were staying with family. Gracia said, "I used to have this concept of what God is like, and how life's supposed to be because of that. But in the jungle, I learned I don't know as much about God as I thought I did. I don't have him in a theological box anymore. What I do know is that God is God—and I'm not. The world's in a mess because of sin, not God. Some awful things may happen to me, but God does what is right. And he makes good out of bad situations." It was also Paul’s desire that he and his team be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. The persecution that Paul had faced was intense, harsh, abusive, as well as violent. The city of Thessalonica was filled with people which caused Paul to get out of town after three short weeks of ministry (Acts 17:1-10). They acted this way because they had no faith in Christ. Paul sought prayer to be delivered from them. In spite of the hardships and persecution, Paul found solace in the fact that the Lord was faithful. The Lord is faithful which means He is dependable, trustworthy, unwavering, and can be relied upon each day. The faithfulness of God is like a bouquet of beautiful roses. His faithfulness never ends. Thomas Chisholm penned these popular words about God’s faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. Many of you have been around the block through the years. You have been through trials but you and I are able to say to the Lord, “Great is Thy Faithfulness!” * Great is Thy Faithfulness.... * Failing health may leave me weakened like an old, frayed rope that is ready to break, yet, great is thy faithfulness. * Fear may melt and crack my courage and confidence in God's promises like frozen ice that is doused with hot water, yet, great is thy faithfulness. * Fierce words may slander and slash me like sharpened swords and stings like a scorpion, yet, great is thy faithfulness. * The folly of the wicked may hinder my desire and service for Christ like fallen boulders on a mountain pass, yet, great is thy faithfulness. * Fickle friends may prove to be false and fake like counterfeit money, and dump you like an old, tattered shirt in a dumpster, yet, great is thy faithfulness. * My finances may flounder, leaving my cabinets clear and my billfold barren like a drought-stricken desert, yet, great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is faithful. He has always been and always will be faithful. In this 29-minute message we examine ten ways the Lord is faithful to the Christian. This message was preached on Sunday morning, August 14, 2022, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.