2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Good morning, I hope everybody had an enjoyable week that was full of joy and thanksgiving and I hope some moniker of rest.

!

Well, on the one hand, we will only be another day into another journey around the sun.

On the other hand, there is something seemingly significant about passing from one year and into another.

Doesn't it always feel like we are turning a page in a book, closing the chapter that we call 2024

at opening the chapter we call 2025.

I was born in 1980, and I can remember the openings of movies

that were set in the future being set to 2025.

And here we are in the future.

Doesn't it feel like an opportunity for a fresh start?

Because of the grace of God to us in Jesus Christ,

we always have the opportunity to start afresh.

Isn't that wonderful?

But our minds are often drawn to make new commitments

at the beginning of the year that we most often call resolutions.

We are surrounded by people making resolutions.

If you've not already heard this language, it's coming this coming week,

and you're going to see lots of suggestions for resolutions,

and many of them are good things.

But this morning, my prayer for us is that we can look to God's Word together

and consider how we can make resolutions that please the Lord.

Some have asked if resolutions are biblical.

Should we make promises to change?

And I say to you, absolutely yes.

Yes, we most certainly should.

To believe in change is Christian.

We are a people who have been changed from enemies of God into friends,

from dead to alive,

because we have placed our faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Further, we have set for us a pattern in the Bible

of God's people making promises that are pleasing to God.

Let me just give you two examples,

one from the Old Testament and one from the New,

and then we will turn our attention to today's text.

First, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself

with the Babylonian king's food or wine.

Daniel chapter 1 and verse 8.

Daniel 1 · chapter mention

Secondly, Paul resolved to make his way to Jerusalem

to fulfill a Nazarite vow that he had made.

Acts chapter 19 and verse 21.

Acts 19 · chapter mention

So we have some examples set for us of this type of behavior.

So, let us resolve to change,

believing that change is really possible.

May we do so not just at the first of the year,

but may we do so at the first of the year,

and may we do so in a way that pleases our God.

So our text today is 2 Thessalonians chapter 1,

2 Thessalonians 1:11

verse 11 and 12.

Before I read it, let me remind you,

Beloved, this is God's word to us,

written for his glory and our good,

and so we would all do well to listen to it

in order to believe its promises

and to obey its commands.

Paul here writes to the Thessalonian believers,

To this end, we always pray for you

that our God may make you worthy of his calling

and may fulfill every resolve for good

and every work of faith by his power,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you

and you in him according to the grace of our God

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The outline for this morning's text is as follows.

Number one, resolve to be holy.

Number two, resolve dependently.

And number three, resolve for the glory of Christ.

At the age of 19 and across some time,

a young follower of Jesus Christ

penned 70 resolutions,

promises aimed at God's glory and his good.

The first resolution reads,

and this quotation is on the back of your bulletin this morning,

quote,

resolved that I will do whatsoever I think

to be most to God's glory and my own good,

profit and pleasure in the whole of my duration

without any consideration of the time,

whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence.

Resolve to do whatever I think to be my duty

and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.

Resolve to do this,

whatever difficulties I meet with,

how many and how great so ever.

Nineteen years old.

Boy, have we come a long way in our writing, haven't we?

This young man's name was Jonathan Edwards.

In the preamble to his resolutions,

he wrote the following,

which is found in the sermon note section of your bulletin today.

He said,

being sensible,

that I am unable to do anything without God's help,

I do humbly entreat him by his grace

to enable me to keep these resolutions

so far as they are agreeable to his will

for Christ's sake.

Now, it is my intention this morning

to weave Edwards' poignant preamble

through our text

to set for us an example of application

for how it is that we should be making resolutions.

So the first point,

resolve to be holy.

If you make resolutions

that are not aimed at your holiness,

those resolutions, again,

not altogether bad,

but if that's it,

then you are setting your sights

far too low.

If conformity to Jesus Christ

is not the end goal

of all that we do as Christians,

then we are falling miserably short

of that which God has called us to.

Holiness is our high calling

in Christ Jesus.

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1,

1 Peter 1:13

verse 13 and following,

Therefore, preparing your minds for action

and being sober-minded,

set your hope fully on the grace

that were brought to you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children,

do not be conformed

to the passions

of your former ignorance,

but as He who called you is holy,

you also be holy

in all your conduct.

Since it is written

in Leviticus 11.44,

You shall be holy

for I am holy.

Be set apart.

Be transformed.

Different from this world.

Live lives that are righteous

and pleasing to God

because you are found in Him.

In our text,

I first want to draw your attention

to the specific what

that Paul's pray for,

the Thessalonian believers.

Verse 11, he says,

To this end,

we always pray for you.

What is that end?

What is he aiming at?

That God would make them

worthy of His calling

and may fulfill every resolve

or see desire for good

and every work of faith.

It's not an aimless prayer

that Paul is praying.

He is not primarily concerned,

notice,

about their circumstances.

That they would have jobs

or find houses

or be in good health.

All good things to pray for.

But rather,

his concern here

is about their holiness.

Their greatest,

their highest good.

Paul prays, notice,

for two specific things.

That they would be made worthy

of God's calling.

Some translations say there,

count you worthy.

Paul's prayer is that

they are in fact

counted worthy

of God's saving call.

Which is just to say

that the evidence

of their call

is the practice

of their faith.

That they would show themselves

to be in Christ.

And that their desires,

their resolves

for good and works of faith

would be realized.

This was a consistent concern

of Paul's

for those who claim

to follow Jesus Christ.

Because the fervent pursuit

of holiness

is a marker

of those

who are truly

converted.

You hear me say this

all the time.

We cannot,

we are not saved

by our works.

We're saved

through faith.

But if we have

this faith,

this conversion faith,

and it is going

itself to work.

It's going to show itself.

It's going to evidence

itself in the way

that we live

our lives.

Now I don't want you

to lose sight

of our text

in 2 Thessalonians,

but let me show you

how concerned

Paul was

with the holiness

of those who profess

to follow Christ

by looking at the prayers

he mentions

in four other epistles.

His prayers

for the saints

are constantly full

of this holiness

language.

In 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13,

the first part

of verse 7,

he says,

but we pray to God

that you may

not do wrong.

And in the same chapter

in verse 9,

that their restoration

is what is being

prayed for.

In Philippians

Philippians 1:9

chapter 1,

verse 9 and 10,

there Paul says,

it is my prayer

that your love

may abound

more and more

with knowledge

and all discernment

so that you may

approve what is excellent

and so be pure

and blameless

for the day of Christ.

In Colossians chapter 1,

Colossians 1:9

verse 9 and following,

there he says,

and so,

from the day we heard,

we have not ceased

to pray for you,

asking that you may be

filled with the knowledge

of his will

and all spiritual wisdom

and understanding

so as to walk

in a manner

worthy of the Lord,

fully pleasing to him,

bearing fruit

in every good work

and increasing

in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened

with all power

according to his glorious might

for all endurance

and patience

with joy.

And then lastly,

1 Thessalonians chapter 3,

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13

verse 11 through 13,

now may our God

and Father himself

and our Lord Jesus

direct our way to you

and may the Lord

make you increase

and abound in love

for one another

and for all

as we do for you

so that he may establish

your hearts blameless

in holiness

before our God

and Father

at the coming

of our Lord Jesus

with all his saints.

And then chapter 5

and verse 23

of 1 Thessalonians,

now may the God

of peace himself

sanctify you completely

and may your whole spirit

and soul and body

be kept blameless

at the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

biblical sanctification

is progressive.

We are from one degree

of glory to another

being made to look

more like Christ.

And so it's good for us

at the beginning

of a new year

to set our gazes

in that direction.

Back to the Edwards quote,

he says,

being sensible

that I am unable

to do anything

without God's help,

I do humbly entreat him

by his grace

to enable me

to keep these resolutions

so far as they are agreeable

to his will.

There's his concern, right?

He's looking toward

what is it that God

would have me do?

How am I to live?

Edwards resolves,

and I just greatly encourage you

to look up.

I think you'll be

prodded on by them.

All of his resolves,

those 70 of them,

were aimed at

his character,

his personal habits,

his relationships,

and his service.

Now I'm going to give you

just three examples

of my own

for this year.

And at the end of this,

I'll ask you some questions

to help kind of guide

your thinking,

and I'll put those

in your sermon note section

as well.

You can go ahead

and be looking at them

if you would like to.

So, in addition to my resolve

to not make any errors

in the bulletin in 2025,

resolved to spend more time

praying for and with my family.

I find that I often pray

too little for

and too little with my family.

And I want to be better at that

this year for the glory of God.

Secondly,

resolved to create

more margin

in my schedule

for reflection.

And by margin,

I mean times that are unplanned,

times that are not packed

to the very brim,

which so often seems

to be the case,

just to slow down

and to think.

And of course,

I want to think about good things.

I don't want to think about

just anything.

I want to think about

good things,

the things that God is doing

in my life

and the things that God intends for me.

I want more space

this year

for reflection.

And then thirdly,

resolved.

This is a long-standing one

many of you have heard.

To read 50 books this year,

I normally do that.

I regularly get into

the mid to high 30s.

I haven't yet reached 50.

I'm kind of sad to say.

But,

I set a goal

and I work toward

that goal.

This past year,

I did an abysmal job at it.

Many of you know

I've been building a house.

I'm in the low to high teens

from this past year,

depending on how you want

to count audiobooks.

So,

read 50 books

and I typically set

some direction

for that reading.

And this year,

I want to read 50 books

that increase my affection

for Christ.

So,

those are three examples.

Three examples

of resolves

for me.

And there are other things

that I'd like to do

to change.

They're practical things.

Goals for this next year.

This is the kind of resolution

that I'm talking about.

I think these are the kinds

of things

we should be committing

ourselves to.

Right?

Aimed

the same way Edwards did

at character

and personal habits

and relationships

and service.

So,

let us resolve

to be holy.

But as we do that,

let us resolve

to be holy

dependently.

You are

powerless

to change yourself

in any

meaningful way,

but God is

all-powerful

and desires

to change you

into the image

of His Son.

God supplies

for all of those

changes

that He asks

of us.

And we need

to make resolutions

dependent on Him

to work

in our

efforts.

This is why Paul

so readily

prays

for the church.

Right?

All of those examples

that I give you,

he's asking that God

would do

this work

because he knows

that only God

brings about

these types

of meaningful

changes.

We cannot

just stay

on our heels.

It requires

effort on our part,

but it must be

God-empowered.

It must be

imbued

by Him

for it to

accomplish

its end goal.

So again,

notice our text.

2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

Paul says,

To this end

we always pray

for you

that our God

make make you.

And he launches

into it.

It's worthy

of his calling.

And notice

at the end

of verse 11,

By His

power.

And verse 12,

According to the

grace of our God

and the Lord

Jesus Christ.

Most of the words

in these two verses

are about God's

power working

in the lives

of believers.

Paul wrote

in Philippians

Philippians 2:12

chapter 2

verse 12 and 13,

Therefore,

my beloved,

as you have

always obeyed,

so now,

not only as

in my presence

but much more

in my absence,

work out your own

salvation with fear

and trembling

for it is God

who works in you

both to will

and to work

for His good

pleasure.

Meaningful change

takes effort

on our part.

We should think.

We should make plans.

We should apply.

We should jump

over hurdles.

We should kick

down doors.

It takes effort.

Too many people,

too many people

want to change

and want to make

no effort

to change

at all.

But,

here,

it also takes,

it takes

the grace

of God.

If we resolve

to be holy,

we can have

confidence

that God

will work

in our

working

toward that

great end.

If you are

in Christ

this morning,

God loves

you

immeasurably.

It's difficult

to even comprehend

how much

God

loves you.

And He loves

you so much

that He is working

to conform you

to be like

His Son

who had

no sin,

no baggage

of it,

didn't carry

around the

guilt of it,

had no separation

of fellowship

with the Father.

God loves you

so much

that He's working

to give you

Himself

by making you

look more

like Christ.

Great

high end

for you

to the praise

of His name.

So,

if we aim

ourselves

in this direction,

if we're

looking to grow

in our holiness

to look

more like

Jesus,

we can have

the confidence

that God

will help us

to that end.

And,

oh,

do we need

His help.

remember

Edwards'

preamble.

He says,

being sensible,

being reasonable,

being sensible,

that I am unable

to do anything

without

God's

help.

I do

humbly

entreat Him

by His grace

to enable me

to keep

these resolutions.

So,

we should

resolve to be

holy,

we should

resolve

dependently

and

we should

also

resolve

for the

glory

of Christ.

The third

point.

Why did

Paul want

to see

the Thessalonian

believers

grow in

holiness?

Why does

Paul desire

that we

would grow

in holiness?

Look at the

beginning of

verse 12.

So that

the name

of our

Lord Jesus

may be

glorified

in you.

not just

about us.

Our good

is a good

thing to

aim at,

but it's

more than

that.

It's also

for the

glory

of Christ.

Resolutions

aimed at

making you

a better

you

miss the

mark.

When your

end goal

is your

glory

and not

the glory

of Christ,

in your

intention,

you have

made

yourself

a god

and you

have

vowed

before a

paltry

throne.

A

resolution

to be

more

healthy.

For

example,

fall

short if

it is

merely

for your

image.

Is it

bad to be

more healthy?

Of course

it's not.

But if

the aim

of it

is that

you

would

look

good

to

others,

then it's

falling

too

short.

If it

is aimed

properly

to be

healthy

in order

to give

yourself

and service

to others,

then it's

a good

thing to

resolve

to.

Samuel

Rutherford,

Puritan

preacher,

once said,

build your

nest upon

no tree

here,

for you

see,

God

has sold

the forest

to death.

We should

invest in

that kingdom

that is

coming.

And that

means good

things happen

here.

Paul wrote

in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 10:31

chapter 10

verse 31,

so whether

you eat

or drink

or whatever

you do,

do all

to the

glory

of God.

And in

Colossians 3

Colossians 3:17

verse 17,

and whatever

you do

in word

or deed,

do everything

in the name

of the

Lord Jesus,

representing

Him,

giving thanks

to God

the Father

through Him.

It is the

high calling

and the

greatest joy

of the

Christian

to know

God

and to

make Him

known.

A chosen race,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

a people

for His

own

possession.

Why?

Why do we

belong to

God?

Peter doesn't

leave us

guessing

that you

may

proclaim

the excellencies

of Him

who called

you out

of darkness

into

His

marvelous

light.

Once you

were not

a people,

but now

you are

God's

people,

changed.

Once you

had not

received

mercy,

but now

you

have

received

mercy.

Beloved,

I urge

you as

sojourners

and exiles

to abstain

from the

passions of

the flesh

which wage

war against

your soul.

Keep your

conduct among

the Gentiles

honorable,

so that when

they speak

of you

as evildoers,

they may

see your

good deeds

and glorify

God on

the day

of

visitation.

Our

resolutions

should be

for holiness

and they

should be

dependent on

God to

work in

them and

they should

be for

the glory

of Christ.

Again,

Edwards

preamble,

being sensible

that I am

unable to do

anything without

God's help,

I do humbly

!

Entreat

Him by

His grace

to enable

me to

keep these

resolutions

so far

as they

are agreeable

to His

will

for

Christ.

sake.

So let's

resolve to

be holy,

let's do it

dependently,

and let's

do it

for the

glory of

Christ.

So in

conclusion,

I want you

to think,

and I want

to help you

do that by

asking you

seven

questions

with some

follow-ups,

and these are

again in your

notes.

What about

you most

needs

to change?

What sins

seem to

ensnare

you?

What habits

do you

neglect?

Do you

read your

Bible enough?

Do you

pray enough?

Are you

regularly

sharing the

gospel?

Do you

work hard?

Do you

rest

well?

All just

examples,

all just

thoughts.

What about

you most

needs

to change?

I gave you

some examples

for myself.

things that

pop in to

change?

What are the

motivations that

come up

underneath those

things that

pop in to

your mind?

Is your

desire for

change for

God's glory?

That way,

you need to

go back to

number one.

What about

you most

needs to

change?

What should

be motivating

that change?

change?

Thirdly,

how are you

going to

change?

What is

the plan?

Beloved,

most of the

biblical

counseling we

do here as

a church is

helping people

come up with

a good plan

for change.

They typically

know what

needs to

change.

They know

the goal.

They know

where they're

trying to

go.

They just

need help

making a

plan to

get there.

What's the

plan?

What are the

steps you're

going to

take to

change?

God has

given us

so many

tools at

our disposal

and he

works in

those

tools.

Scripture

reading and

prayer and

gathering with

the church.

Just some

examples.

Fourth,

what is

most likely

to prevent

your change?

You know

the obstacles.

The things

that most

need to

change about

you are

probably

things that

you've

tried to

change

before and

you've

bumped

your head.

You've

fallen

over

the

hurdle.

What

circumstances

need to

change in

order for

you to

change?

Your

schedule?

Your

friends?

Maybe

some

influences

in your

life that

are not

conducive

to change?

Have you

failed to

change so

many times

in the

past that

you are

afraid

to

even

try?

Fifth,

what

truth or

truths do

you need

to believe

in order

to change?

Paul says

a nation

for those

who are

in Christ

Jesus.

When I

fail to

change,

I need

to be

reminded

of this.

I need

to be

reminded

that God

loves me

in Christ

and I

am not

condemned

because of

my failures

but I'm

set free

from them.

I'm

liberated

from them.

This is

such a

motivation

to change,

to pick

up and

to keep

moving

on.

Or how

about

Philippians

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

and verse

6 where

Paul says

I am

sure of

this,

that he

who began

a good

work in

you will

bring it

to

completion

at the

day of

Christ.

I need

to be

reminded

sometimes

of

Paul's

confidence

in the

saving

work

of

God

to

give

me

the

courage

to

press

on

and

to

change.

So what

truths

do you

need

to

believe

in

order

to

change?

Six,

are you

committed

to

change?

Are you

a half-hearted

attempter

at change

or do you

believe

God

intends

for you

to?

He's

got good

plans

for you.

He's

going to

empower

the

work

because it

will

take

work

on your

part.

Are you

committed

to

change?

Are you

ready?

And lastly,

how can the

church

help you?

How can

those people

sitting to

your left

and to

your right,

how can

the elders

of our

church,

how can

we

help

you

change?

To help

you think

about those

things you

need to

put to

death,

those

things you

need to

be

putting

on

for

your

good

and

for

the

glory

of

Christ?

So let

us resolve

to be

holy.

Let us

resolve to

do so

dependently

and let

us do

it

for the

glory

of our

Savior

and Lord.

Let's

pray.

as