Count You Worthy II Thes. 1:11 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
While we are not worthy of God’s blessings in salvation, Paul prayed that God would count you worthy of this calling [2 Thes 1:11]. Paul also prayed that God would “fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you…” In other words, there are a few things that you can do for God to count you worthy. To be able to fulfill 2 Thes 1:11 requires:
A Sword – Matt 10:34-37 – a follower of Jesus who is worthy of Jesus is a person who loves the Lord so much that when there is division in his family over the Lord, he stands with Jesus rather than with his family. He’ll stand with Jesus against his wife, his children, his parents or anybody that tries to pull him away from the direction the Lord is leading him. Just be absolutely sure that it’s the Lord leading you and not the devil or an evil spirit or your own ambition.
Suffering – Acts 5:41 – see also 2 Thes 1:5. If you stand with Jesus, you are going to suffer. You don’t have to go out looking for some suffering. “Yea, all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” [2 Tim 3:12]. The apostles didn’t shrink from the threats or the beatings. They served the Lord in spite of the persecution and reproach and so should we. If you will, the Lord will count you worthy.
Spiritual Walk – Eph 4:1-3 – it takes a spiritual walk for the Lord to count you worthy. Notice that all the characteristics of a spiritual walk are characteristics of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. You are to walk in lowliness [esteeming others better than yourself, as a servant ministering to others], meekness [like Jesus, clay in the Potter’s hands, so that he can do anything that he wants with you], longsuffering [suffering long with others the way the Lord has suffered long with you until they come around], forbearing one another in love [putting up with their differences, which are never going to change because you love them], endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace [there is only one body and one God and so forth and you walk so as to keep divisions from tearing it apart; you put yourself aside for the Spirit, the body and the Lord].
Conclusion: when you let the sword divide you from anyone you love for the Lord’s sake, he’ll count you worthy. When you suffer for the Lord’s sake, he’ll count you worthy. When you walk with a spiritual walk for the Lord’s sake, he’ll count you worthy.