WORTHY COUNTED 2 THESSALONIANS 1:3-12

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2 Thessalonians 1:5 THE DEPTHS OF GRACE A CHANGE IN STATUS THE DEPTHS OF GRACE A CHANGE IN STATUS INTRODUCTION

3 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2 Thessalonians 1:5 A CHANGE: PURCHASED BY BLOOD GRANTED BY GRACE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH A CHANGE: PURCHASED BY BLOOD GRANTED BY GRACE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH INTRODUCTION

4 46 …It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46 A CHANGE: MADE POSSIBLE BY GOD REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PART A CHANGE: MADE POSSIBLE BY GOD REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PART INTRODUCTION

5 FAITH THAT “GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY” CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH ENDURE PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS FAITH THAT “GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY” CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH ENDURE PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS INTRODUCTION 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2 Thessalonians 1:5

6 A FLOURISHING FAITH IS AN EDUCATED FAITH FAITH THAT GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. Acts 17:3

7 A FLOURISHING FAITH IS AN EDUCATED FAITH FAITH THAT GROWS ABUNDANTLY IS LIVING AND ACTIVE A FLOURISHING FAITH IS AN EDUCATED FAITH FAITH THAT GROWS ABUNDANTLY IS LIVING AND ACTIVE FAITH THAT GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:19–20

8 A FLOURISHING FAITH IS AN EDUCATED FAITH FAITH THAT GROWS ABUNDANTLY IS LIVING AND ACTIVE WHAT DOES THIS SAY IF YOUR FAITH IS NOT GROWING EXCEEDINGLY? A FLOURISHING FAITH IS AN EDUCATED FAITH FAITH THAT GROWS ABUNDANTLY IS LIVING AND ACTIVE WHAT DOES THIS SAY IF YOUR FAITH IS NOT GROWING EXCEEDINGLY? FAITH THAT GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Hebrews 5:12

9 CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:9–10 A CHANGE WITHIN A CHANGE

10 CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH ABOUND “to become more and more, so as to be in abundance, be/become more or be/become great, be present in abundance, grow, increase” (BDAG) A CHANGE WITHIN A CHANGE LOVE OVERFLOWING A CHANGE WITHIN A CHANGE LOVE OVERFLOWING

11 A CHANGE WITHIN A CHANGE LOVE OVERFLOWING WHAT DOES THIS SAY IF YOUR LOVE OF THE BRETHREN IS NOT ABOUNDING? A CHANGE WITHIN A CHANGE LOVE OVERFLOWING WHAT DOES THIS SAY IF YOUR LOVE OF THE BRETHREN IS NOT ABOUNDING? CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20

12 FAITH BORN IN TRIALS ENDURING IN PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 2 Thessalonians 1:4

13 FAITH BORN IN TRIALS “…THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR WHICH YOU SUFFER” FAITH BORN IN TRIALS “…THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR WHICH YOU SUFFER” ENDURING IN PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2 Thessalonians 1:5

14 FAITH BORN IN TRIALS “…THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR WHICH YOU SUFFER” WILL WE CHANGE WHEN THE TRUTH BECOMES DIFFICULT? FAITH BORN IN TRIALS “…THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR WHICH YOU SUFFER” WILL WE CHANGE WHEN THE TRUTH BECOMES DIFFICULT? ENDURING IN PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20

15 FAITH THAT “GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY” CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH ENDURE PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS FAITH THAT “GROWETH EXCEEDINGLY” CHARITY THAT ABOUNDETH ENDURE PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS WORTHY COUNTED