PAUL’S IMPERATIVES

Sunday Morning:  November 12, 2000

Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5  "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do (now) and will do (when you know) the things which we command you. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

IMPERATIVES IN 1 THESSALONIANS

1 Thessalonians 4:18  5:11,13 – 22, 25, 26 (16 imperatives).

IMPERATIVES IN 2 THESSALONIANS

2 Thessalonians 2:15  3:1, 10, 14, 15 (7 imperatives)

AS, STAND FAST!

2 Thessalonians 2:15  "Therefore, brethren, stand fast [present active imperative], and hold the traditions [life style] which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

IN THE FAITH

1 Corinthians 16:13  "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

IN THE LIBERTY

Galatians 5:1  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

IN ONE SPIRIT, ONE MIND, ONE GOAL

Philippians 1:27  "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

AS, HOLD FAST

2 Thessalonians 2:15  "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold [present active imperative] the traditions [life style] which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

OUR CONFESSION

Hebrews 4:14  "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [confession]."

OUR CROWN

Revelation 3:11  "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

LOOK TO YOURSELVES

2 John 1:8  "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

AS, PRAY

2 Thessalonians 3:1  "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:"

FROM THE HEART

2 Thessalonians 3:5  "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

THE HEART

Job 23:16  "For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:"

WE ERR IN OUR HEARTS

Hebrews 3:10  "Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways."

WE HARDEN OUR HEART

Hebrews 3:15  "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

LOVE OF GOD

2 Thessalonians 3:5  "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD

1 John 5: 3  "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

John 14:15  "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

LOVE CAN GROW COLD

Matthew 24:12-14  "And because iniquity [lawlessness] shall abound, the love (obedience) of many (called unto His kingdom and glory) shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall endure [patience] unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world . . ."

PATIENT WAITING

2 Thessalonians 3:5  "And the Lord direct your hearts into [leading to] the love of God, and into [leading to] the patient waiting for Christ."

IT TAKES GRACE

Colossians 1:11  "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power (grace), unto all patience [enduring] and longsuffering [fortitude] with joyfulness;"

REWARD? ENDURANCE REQUIRED

Hebrews 10:35-36  "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36. For ye have need of patience [endurance], that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

ENDURANCE

Romans 2:7  "To them who by patient continuance [one word, endurance] in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [incorruption], eternal life:"

TESTING PERFECTS US

James 1:3-4  "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience [endurance]. 4. But let patience [endurance] have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

 

 

A CROWN PROMISED

James 1:12  "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (obedient)."

IF WE ENDURE

2 Timothy 2:12  "If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"

CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE

Hebrews 12:1-3  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience [endurance] the race that is set before us, 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD

2 Thessalonians 3:4  "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do (now) and will do (when you know) the things which we command you.”

HE WILL PERFORM IT

Philippians 1:6  "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"