Paul’s second letter to Thessalonica was a reminder and a comfort to them of God’s promises as all prophecy seeks to do. If we know what God has said, we are that much more equipped to recognize and remove the counterfeits that come along.

1. Biblical literacy is the best defense against false doctrine.

2. The nature of the demonic is in distraction and deception.

3. In an uncertain world, the promises of God are something we should hold onto with both hands.

Gideon's first act after verifying God was calling him to deliver Israel was to first obey Him regarding his own household. He destroyed the family idol. While it wasn't done courageously or in broad daylight, even the smallest act of obedience to God paid off.

1. People are more comfortable with the misery they are used to than the stress of changing for the better.

2. The Peace of God isn't a lack of conflict, but the promise of God's presence in the midst of conflict.

3. If we want to draw closer to God, we need to get rid of the things that are between us and Him.

Northern Israel is reminded of their family history as much as their own to show they were heading the wrong direction spiritually. They only had something to lose by ignoring the centuries of warnings they were given. Yet if they were going to go the direction of Egypt and Canaan, they’d see the judgment of God just like they did.

1. Failure to learn means you’ll repeat the course.

2. God calls people, especially His people, to account a lot sooner than Judgment Day.

3. Ignoring God’s Warnings are not wise.

It is always good to learn from our mistakes. We all make them, and some have more catastrophic consequences then others. The Bible gives us great principles to guide and guard us from making fatal errors in this life. Jesus teaches on a man who became so self absorbed, so self reliant & selfish, that he lost eternal life. He chose wrong. We can learn a lot from this parable of the rich fool, and pray we do not follow his path.

Northern Israel was repeating the mistakes of their patriarch Jacob. However, they could also learn from the things he got right when he came to the end of his resources and stopped trying to manage his life in his own strength.

1. Exchanging God for anything is always trading down.

2. The only walk with God you can control is your own.

3. People consigned to their identities apart from God can always exchange them for a new identity in Christ.

The motivation for a relationship with God isn't based on the promises we make to ourselves, but to live in light of what Jesus has done and has promised us in the future.

1. The Promises of God do not disappoint.

2. In terms of salvation, nothing we do or have done makes any difference apart from faith in Jesus.

3. The Christian life is motivated by what God has done and has in store for us.

Paul continues reminding Thessalonica regarding what He taught them about Christian ethics and the hope of the Rapture of the Church as motivation for Godly living today.

1. Christian ethics are centered around Jesus’ character and nature.

2. Love is the ongoing command of every Christian who claims to follow Christ.

3. Live for Jesus today, because He hasn’t promised us a tomorrow.

Paul's letter to Thessalonica continues with a reminder of the promises God has actually made to us and what we should hope for rather than to confuse them with the things we want.

1. God promised that we would suffer for His sake in this world.

2. God promised that He will finish the work He started.

3. God promised to never leave us or forsake us.