2 Thess 1:1-4 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 
As we consider this chapter, let us realize that even though the actual chapter is rather small in comparison to the others, it contains a great many of the truths of our relationship in Christ. The Apostle Paul has delivered his heart before the Lord unto these Thessalonians. He was forced to depart from their presence very rapidly, some believe the very next day after his arrival, due to the riotous behavior of his opponents. Yet, there was that core of believers that the Apostle realized needed the encouragement as to the manner in which they were to live their lives before the Lord. 
As such, despite the brevity of this writing, we have delivered to us, by the Holy Spirit, the very essence of our Christian walk in a very condensed fashion. Let us seek, together, to gain a deeper understanding of what God has accomplished and has created in the body that we call the church.  
    	The central theme of this letter is set in Jesus Christ livingly at work within us, by the Grace of God, for the purpose of being our very peace as we sojourn on this earth. It is the church which is now the living expression of God’s grace and peace in action. This is a very key point in that, as we consider this epistle, it will become very apparent that we are dealing with the work of the Holy Spirit in the prophecy of the glory of Jesus Christ. 
	Many of us have a distinctly distorted view of what is involved with prophecy. We tend to study it for a future time period. We push its weight ahead of us into those things that will happen in the great by and by. What we need to realize is that prophetic works, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, are for the purpose of teaching us, in a very practical manner, the way in which we are to view our life in Christ. The Teacher's Commentary gives a rather apt description of the approach with which we are to consider these prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Quote As we approach this study of a book that emphasizes prophecy, it is important to remember that in Scripture prophetic teaching is practical. That is, the Christian vision of the future is intended to have application to the believer's present experience. Prophetic teaching is not focused on constructing prophetic systems, which link future events in any particular sequence. We are able to fit prophesied events together, to some extent. But the major emphasis of the Bible itself is on seeing the relevance of yet future things to our lives today. End of quote. (from The Teacher's Commentary. Copyright © 1987 by Chariot Victor Publishing. All rights reserved.)
With regard to Christ, Paul writes the following in his introductory remarks of this letter, verse 2, Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is indicative of the work of God that the Apostle begins this letter with the grace and the peace of God. Everything is centered in Him and results because of Him. We have spent much time on grace and peace in our other considerations of the various letters that the Apostle wrote to the other churches. While we will not have time to recount everything that is a part of Grace and peace, it is important to understand that without the grace of God, without His indwelling peace, there would be no church. There would be no salvation. There would be no hope in this world.
	However, in Christ, we are the earnest recipients of God’s grace. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Quote Grace is "God's riches at Christ's expense"; it is God's unmerited favor which He freely bestows on all who accept Jesus Christ's substitutionary work for them on the cross by faith. God gives man the opposite of what he deserves: blessing instead of judgment. This is the grace of God. End of Quote (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.) 
	The importance of peace is as well delineated by the Bible Knowledge Commentary as follows: “Peace" is the cessation of hostility which has resulted from Christ's death; God and people can be reconciled because the debt of human sin has been paid by Christ. Christians have peace with God through the death of Christ. They also experience the peace of God as a result of Christ's work. Christians can be at peace even in the midst of trials and persecution. This was Paul's desire for the Thessalonians. Both grace and peace are gifts of God that come to believers through the Lord Jesus Christ. End of Quote (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)
	This is one of the most important aspects of our walk, as the church, on this earth. As we face trials and tribulations, they are to be met with the peace of God reigning in our lives. Of course, that can only happen by the grace of God, but it is to be constantly in evidence, moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day, month to month, and year to year as the very substance of our life. We do not rejoice in the pain and the suffering, but we do rejoice in the fact that God has counted us worthy to bring that pain and suffering into our lives for the purpose of further establishing our faith in Him. 
	As we well know, from Brother James, trials and tribulations work within us to bring forth that which is pleasing to God. James 1:2-4, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. He, too, emphasizes the fact that we are to consider it all joy to have our faith tested, strengthened, and perfected through the various ways in which God uses great difficulties to cultivate and to draw forth the greater measure of our faith.
	Our Lord brings this to the forefront in Luke 21:16-19, as He tells us very plainly that we will experience the very hatred of this world, if we follow Him. He goes on to state that it will all work to the greater establishment of our relationship of life in Him. "But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all on account of My name. "Yet not a hair of your head will perish. "By your endurance you will gain your lives.  
	Again, listen to the Apostle Paul as he writes the following to the Church in Rome. Rom 5:1-5, Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 
	God uses tribulation to bring forth His glory in the growing faith evidenced as we trust Him in every situation. That is the basis of our thanksgiving, of our peace, after all. We know that we can trust God to deal effectively in our lives and in the lives of those we have committed unto Him, to establish His glory on this earth. It is on this basis of God’s effective work that the Apostle Paul prayed for the Thessalonians to have their faith increased. 1 Thess 3:9+10, For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? God has worked to answer that prayer of their increase in faith, and the Apostle reminds them of this truth. He mentions the fact that it is because of their growth in faith that he can talk of them often, in terms of a church with a growing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He states that he uses them as an example for the other churches, and does so with the admonition that they continue in that growth for the sake of the glory of Christ Jesus.
	The writer to the Hebrews, as well, encourages his readers in the work of God that is accomplished as they steadfastly endure all that this world casts upon them. Heb 10:36-39 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. 
	The writer then proceeds to explain how that faith was established in the prophets and patriarchs of old. He begins Chapter 11 of Hebrews with the following definition of faith. Heb 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Then, throughout the rest of Chapter 11, he illustrates, for his readers, the very effective work of faith throughout the Old Testament, pointing them ever onward to Jesus Christ. His use of the phrase, “By faith” runs the full length of that chapter as he recounts how much was suffered, and yet how those faithful ones never gave up, but always pushed onward toward that prophetic promise of God’s blessing. 
In Hebrews 11, we have a very clear picture of how prophesy of a future work of God had its effect on the daily lives of those patriarchs. Thus should be the truth of the glory of Jesus Christ to us, today. We are to live our lives in the faith of the promise of God, in the assurance of His Word, and with the peace of God enveloping our lives. The Apostle Paul writes the following to the church at Philippi, Phil 4:6-9 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. 
	That peace of God, worked through His active grace, should be the true characteristic of our lives in Christ. This world cannot understand the result of that which God establishes in the midst of tribulation. This world, rather, runs from and tries to avoid trials with its pain and suffering. There is no manner in which this age can see fit to thank God for that which He is bringing into our lives through hardships and times of distress and disorder. This age questions God, demands to know how a loving God can allow terrible things to good people. This age seeks to demand His justification for the actions of others and of nature. It has no other recourse, don’t you see? In Isa. 48:22 we read, “There is no peace for the wicked”, says the Lord. It cannot know the peace of God that sustains and holds our lives firmly in place, no matter what happens. The reason is that this world can only focus on what it sees and experiences today. 
We, however, through the effective work of the Holy Spirit, see beyond the temporal, into the eternal truth of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our vision is not veiled and clouded with self-justification and self-indulgence. Rather, we see the hand of God in every situation and know that He works justly, in all His holiness and lovingkindness, to bring spiritual life to those in whom the suffering and strife causes the furtherance and continued establishment of faith. It is only as we look to Christ, to His Glory, that His peace will reign in our hearts, and minds and souls, no matter what we are encountering. This is the focus of our joy in the Lord. This is the reason for our thanksgiving. We know that God loves us and is at work in these trials which He brings into our homes and lives. 
Of course the trials are not easy; they can’t be if we truly want to grow in our faith in Christ. It is in the most severe hardships that God cultivates that tremendous and living faith, a complete trust in Him to do all things to His perfect will. For that, we need to live our lives in complete thanksgiving as we consider and live in the Great Love of God expressed in and through the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.     
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. Amen

Guests
Announcements: Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting
			Women’s Meeting
			Young People’s Meetings
			Men’s Meeting – Tomorrow
			Dupar’s 6 AM
			Dad’s Memorial Service, Oct. 10 – Wed. @ 7 PM
Other announcements?
Birthdays:		Tuesday		Aisling Lexutt
			Thursday		Karen Anderson
			Saturday		Kenna Stallings
						Madison Maples
						Madison Detlaff

Anniversaries:	Wednesday		David and Christie Raftery
	This morning’s benediction is  1 Cor 15:51-57, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen