anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 May 2023 – The Day Of The Lord

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TOPIC: The Day Of The Lord

READ: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-17 (NKJV)

  1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
  2. not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
  3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
  4. who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
  5. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
  6. And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
  7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way.
  8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
  9. The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
  10. and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
  11. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
  12. that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
  13. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
  14. to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
  16. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
  17. comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

THE MESSAGE:

The Day of the Lord refers to when Jesus will come to gather the Saints to Himself (verse 1). This day will be preceded by significant events such as:

1, The revelation of the man of lawlessness who will seek to be worshipped as God (verses 3-4).

  1. Great manifestations of lawlessness, accompanied by power, signs and lying wonders to deceive people (verse 9).
    3, Falling away of people into error and increased pleasure in sinful lifestyles or unrighteousness (verse 3, verse 12b).
  2. Strong delusion sent by God upon those who chose to believe the lying wonders of the enemy rather that the simple truth of the Gospel (verses 10-11).

Many of these events such as wanton lawlessness, robbery, sexual promiscuity, murder, kidnapping, etc., are happening in the world today with impunity. These events can make believers to be troubled and shaken in their faith. Hence, the Bible warns us to stand firm, love the truth, and guard against any form of deceit (verses 2-3, 10, 15). In the Lord Jesus Christ, we have consolation, good hope by grace, so let us be comforted, strengthened and committed to doing good works and speaking edifying words to uplift each other (verse 17). Jesus will surely come to redeem His own onto glory from this corruptible world.

PRAYER: Use verses 16 to 17 for your prayer today.