We resume our study of the epistles to the church at Thessalonica. We begin this Lord's Day with the first four verses of the second epistle, 2 Thessalonians chapter one, and we'll read verses one through four. This is God's holy, inspired, and inerrant word. Paul, 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 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you brothers, as is right. because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. And therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. Father, we ask as we do each Lord's Day that you would grant your spirit to us, because we know he's written these words. We know he indwells our hearts. But we recognize that oftentimes we are slow to hear and even slower, perhaps, to act upon what we hear. So would you please grant us the ability to hear and understand and apply your word so that Jesus will be glorified more and more in our lives. We pray in his name. Amen. Please be seated. There's little doubt in my mind that most of us would readily attest to the fact that scripture is very clear that the arrogant are condemned along with their wicked boasting. Psalm 75 verse 4 quotes the Lord himself saying, I say to the boastful, do not boast. And to the wicked, do not lift up your horn. James 4.16 reminds us that those who in this life are arrogantly presuming that they will live in the future are condemned. And in the verse we even read that such boasting is evil. All of us who are God's people would attest that there's no place for self-boasting in our lives. We recognize that our salvation is based solely on what Christ has done. And so we know, Ephesians 2.8 and 9, For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of our own works, lest any of us should boast. But we have just read, there is such a thing as godly boasting. We read that from the prophet Jeremiah, we read that from the apostle Paul. Remember in Jeremiah 9, 24, let him who boasts, boasts that he understands, that he knows me. And then Paul, in his apostolic boasting, his holy bragging, if you will, says, let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. Some have counted the times that Paul uses this word, boast, and it's interesting that it's more than perhaps we would have at first realized. Eight times in his epistles, at some point, he boasts in the Lord. In 17 other occasions, he's boasting in what others have accomplished doing the Lord's work. I share all that with you because one of those 17 times is in the passage before us this morning. We've just read from verse 4, therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God. And so our sermon outlined two very simple points this Lord's Day. One is that Paul's boasting is proper rejoicing in the Lord. This is not wicked arrogance or self-centered promotion on Paul's part. And the second point, very simply, Paul's boasting focused on the spiritual growth of the church. So let's consider those two points this morning. As Paul opens this epistle, he opens it with very similar wording to that which we found in the first letter. Paul is still with Silas and Timothy as they're both begin that way and So most believe that Paul is still in Corinth, just wrote this letter a few months after his first letter. His traveling companions remain the same. Corinth, you may remember, is in the southern region of Achaia in Greece, Thessalonica in the northern region of Macedonia in Greece. There's one difference that's worth noting, however, in the first introductory material. Because when we read in chapter 1, verse 1 of the first epistle, The Father is identified as God the Father. But in our second epistle, not once, but twice, at least in some Greek manuscripts, in verses one and two, God is not listed as the Father, but he's listed as our Father. Paul perhaps then is emphasizing a more intimate relationship with God. He's not just the father, he is our father. And he says to the church at Thessalonica, he is the one who along with the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed you as his adopted children, if you will, since the emphasis is on our father, with peace and with grace, verse two. in the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians. Well, with that family and relationship firmly established, Paul then writes, as he begins verse three, we ought always to give thanks to God for you brothers, as is right. Paul makes it clear, he must, he ought, it is his apostolic duty to not do so would be wrong to give thanks to God for what he has seen happen in the saints and in their lives in Thessalonica. And then Paul also adds, this is the right thing to do. Could be translated, this is the worthy thing to do. And so indeed, our first point very clearly is that we should give thanks to the God who is worthy of that thanksgiving. Our God is indeed worthy to be praised. And it's proper for Paul to thank God for how well the church is doing in Thessalonica. Their faith and their love is continuing to grow. You probably are aware this is a frequent opening for Paul in his letters to thank God for his readers, for their life, for their testimony, for Paul's part in it. We could turn to many of those other epistles, but let me just, for emphasis sake, remind you of what Paul says to the church at Philippi. In Philippians chapter 1, verses 3 and 4, when he does give thanks to God for them, he says this. Philippians 1, 3 and 4, I thank my God. in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, all making my prayer with joy. It is appropriate, as God's people reflect on brothers and sisters in Christ who are growing in their faith and in their love, it is appropriate for us to give thanks to God for that growth, for that love, for that faith. And that's why Paul says he must give thanks. It is the worthy, it is the right thing And I would encourage all of us as brothers and sisters in the Lord to recognize it is the right thing for you to do to thank God for your brothers and sisters here at Grace and even beyond our local congregation that you know who are faithful servants of the Lord. Yes, do what Paul did, rejoice in your prayer life for these individuals, but go ahead and tell these individuals how grateful you are. for their walk in the Lord. It's appropriate and it's encouraging to hear that from one another. And let me tell you, as elders, it's very clear to me that we, as those who lead you, should follow Paul's example. Remember, Paul established many churches. Paul gives that gratitude to lots of saints across the Roman Empire. And so I'm privileged this Lord's Day to tell each and every one of you, my dear brothers and sisters, it is a joy to see how the Lord works in your lives. It is a joy to see your love and your faith increase. It is a joy to be your pastor. But closely connected to that rejoicing is the boasting that we've already read about in verse four, but let me read that opening phrase in verse four again. Therefore, we boast ourselves about you in the churches of God. Proper boasting like Paul's boasting for all the saints at Thessalonica really is based on glorifying in what is righteous, and that's why it's a proper thing to do, to glory in what is righteous. There's a very clear connection, isn't there, between the rejoicing which Paul was duty-bound to give to God, who's worthy to receive praise in verse 3, and the apostolic boasting that we read of in verse four. See, the saints of Thessalonica had just received grace and peace from their father and from his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and they're now living righteously for him. Therefore, for Paul to boast about the Thessalonians is really to boast in the Lord. And that's what Jeremiah was telling us in the Old Testament reading that we read this Lord's Day. In Jeremiah 9.23, we read, and I'll read again, don't let the wise man boast in his wisdom. Don't let the mighty man boast in his might. Let not the rich man boast in his riches. That's the arrogant boasting that scripture on an ongoing basis regularly condemns. We don't rejoice in the fact that we're wise in and of ourselves. We don't rejoice in the fact that we're powerful in and of ourselves. And we don't rejoice if we're so blessed to be rich that we've done this in and of ourselves. Rather, Jeremiah says, let him who boasts boast in this. He understands and He knows me. You want something to boast about? You want something to brag about in this world? Tell everybody that you love God. Tell everybody that you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That is worth sharing, that is worth rejoicing, and to use Paul's word and Jeremiah's word, that is indeed worth boasting about to a world that is so desperately in need of the saving grace that we've been given in our Christ. Let him boast that he knows me, he understands me, and he knows that I'm the Lord who practices steadfast love and justice and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord. Since God delights in these things, steadfast love, justice, righteousness. His apostle Paul rejoices in those things, and he boasts that God's people in Thessalonica are putting these things on display as God's people as well. It's really interesting because when we read 1 Corinthians 1, We read that there was not much in that church to brag about in and of themselves, right? And Paul even uses almost the same terminology that Jeremiah uses. Here again, 1 Corinthians 1.26, consider your calling. Not many of you are wise according to worldly standards. Jeremiah just said, don't brag about your wisdom. Not many of you are powerful. Jeremiah said, don't brag about your strength. Not many of you are of noble birth. Jeremiah just said, don't brag about your riches. And the Corinthians aren't going to do that because they recognize that that's not who they are. Paul says, God chose what's foolish in this world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. And God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. It's from Him. who are in Christ Jesus, because Christ Jesus became to us the wisdom from God. Jesus was wisdom incarnate. Jesus is indeed the all-knowing and all-wise God. And as Jesus is our righteousness, we would never ever declare that we are made right before God because of anything we have said, thought, or done. We acknowledge quite readily that we're dressed in the righteousness of Christ. We are standing with him. is because of what he has done on our behalf. Our ongoing sanctification as well, Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 1.30, is because of what Christ has done for us. We are made holy because he is holy. And our redemption was accomplished on the cross because of what Christ has done for us. That's why Paul would say in Galatians 6.14, far be it for me to boast except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so in sum, then, let no one who boasts, let the one who boasts, rather, boast not in themselves, but in the Lord. And I would ask all of you this Lord's Day, are there any of you who are counting on your own wisdom, your own power, your own might, your own righteousness to be made right with God? Because as we've just read in scripture, God would proclaim to you that you are a fool who thinks such things. We all would acknowledge as God's people, we are fools, but we've been made wise because Jesus has come and shed his blood for us. And we've turned our lives over to him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts have been changed. If that's not true for you listening on the live stream or with us this morning, I exhort you to see that there is no hope and such boasting is foolishness. before the Lord. But what's fascinating to me is after Paul basically says to the Corinthians, you're really not much to boast about, you guys, in and of yourself. And he really spends a lot of time in 1 Corinthians showing them all the things that they've done wrong. But what's really fascinating is in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 14, when he talks to them about his relationship with them, and he says, Titus has given good report of you, notice what he then says in 2 Corinthians 7, 14. For whatever boast I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you is true, so also our boasting before Titus, and that's boasting about the Corinthians, has proved true. See, Paul had exhorted them to repent, Paul had exhorted them to turn away from a lot of their wicked behavior, and so in that second letter, he rejoices, and he says, essentially, I'm proud of you. I'm boasting in you. And that's what he does with the church at Thessalonica as well, in the passage that we've read as well. I'm proud of you as you perform the Lord's work. And may I also remind you of something. It is worth noting this. When Paul writes to the church, he does write to the church. He doesn't write to individuals like he does with Timothy and Titus and Philemon later on. He's not speaking to individuals on their own, he's speaking to a local body of Christ manifested in Thessalonica. And he is speaking to them and says to them, as a church, as a whole entity of God's people, you are worth boasting about. And when he boasts, he boasts, according to verse four, to other churches of God about the Thessalonicans. Remember, he's in southern Greece at this point, so no doubt he's telling the church at Corinth. Look at the Thessalonians. They've got a great example for you to follow. He's saying to those who've been converted in Athens and other nearby places, follow the Thessalonians' example. And Paul, remember, the apostle could have been writing to other churches at this point, too, and bragging about the faith, the love, the steadfastness that the church in Thessalonica is exhibiting. Well, you know what? I was reflecting on that, and I was thinking, Presbyterian. Presbyterian oftentimes has pastors boasting about their churches. And you know, at first I was kind of bothered and ticked off by some of the pastors who went around. But it's proper to give thanks to God and to say, you know what? My congregation has grown in the Lord by his grace, and I thank God for that. That is appropriate. And I will tell you that I have heard, in our Presbytery, churches so divided over COVID-related issues just by one way of example. And I want you to know, I thank God for you. And I have boasted, and I've said, we at Grace have said, we're not going to let that separate us. And thanks be to God for that wonderful example that we have. Many other churches have suffered in attendance. That's not been true for us during our COVID time. And so I commend you. I boast in the Lord about you. And yes, I've done so in the presence of pastors of other churches. And I think that's appropriate. for us to do. We need to be encouraged when we do what is right before the Lord, when God is using us in mighty ways. Well, let's notice also, though, that Paul's boasting, even while we can readily see it was proper, notice what it was focused on. It was focused on the spiritual growth of the churches. Paul does not brag about their new building project, and of course they couldn't get a new building project. We all know they had to meet in homes. But he doesn't even brag about their larger number increase in size. He doesn't brag about their beautiful choir. What matters most to the apostle is the spiritual condition of the church. He acknowledges great growth of the saints in Thessalonica in three very important areas. The first one, they continue to grow in faith. Notice verse 3, your faith is growing abundantly. And that word abundantly is very interesting. It's never used in the New Testament any other time. It's a compound word which really means super abounded in race. And the New American Standard, I think, does as well as any other translation, trying to give us a good understanding of that, says your faith is greatly enlarged. But in Greek literature of the day, when this word abundantly is used, it's used in reference to the growth of a tree. And so think of it this way. When you became converted, maybe you had the faith of a sapling, but now you're growing to this beautiful, if you will. And so it is appropriate to phrase it along these ways. Your faith is flourishing. And Paul knows it's flourishing so much so he rejoices in their faith in verse three, but then he mentions their faith again when he starts boasting in verse four. Well, let this be a clear reminder to us that true followers of Christ don't exhibit faith in Christ only when they're converted. It's not just a one-time thing. True believers have an ongoing trust in the Lord, and that's part of their sanctification. We sometimes say perhaps keep the faith, perhaps it would be better to even say increase the faith, keep growing in that faith. Remember in 2 Peter 1, Peter wants to encourage the growth of the saints throughout the Roman Empire who have been scattered because of persecution. And it's no surprise that when he begins to list Christian virtues, right at the very beginning, he lists where it all starts. In chapter 1, verse 5, he says, for this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith. with virtue, and we'll read through the rest of the virtues, but please know that I want us to emphasize faith this morning since it's a starting point, and virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. But notice now verse 8, for if these qualities, and it all starts with faith, are yours, and they are increasing, they keep you from becoming ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah said, let him who boasts boast in the Lord, let him boast that he knows me. Well now Peter says, your faith needs to continue to increase as your relationship with the Lord continues to increase. increase. We cannot have a stagnant faith. Our faith must be ongoing, daily, trusting. And that's why the hymn, "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," just to take him at his word, just to rest upon his promise, just to know, thus saith the Lord, Jesus, Jesus, how I've trusted him, how I've proved him, o'er and o'er, again and again. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for grace to trust you even more. And Peter then goes on to say, whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted, he's blind, he's forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent. Confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fail. We are indeed those who believe that the Lord has sovereignly in his grace chosen us to be his own. But we also recognize we are called as his own to endure and to demonstrate faith upon And so we recognize then, Paul was right in boasting about the faith of those in Thessalonica. I suppose it doesn't surprise you when Peter ends his list, he ends with brotherly affection or love, the climax of Christian virtues, if you will. We're reminded of Paul's own words in 1 Corinthians 13. So now faith, hope, love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love. And notice in our text, the love that Paul is specifying is not the love for God that all true believers, of course, must have, and that begins a relationship with him and with one another. Remember, the great commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, but the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. In 1 John 4.20, John reminds us, if you don't love the brother who you have seen, how can you say that you've loved your father in heaven, whom you have not? And it's interesting to note here that this is an all-inclusive phrase in verse four. It's not some or even most of you, I'm sorry, verse three, have learned to love one another. Notice this, the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Paul can say corporately, as a church, they have done exactly what he exhorted them to do in 1 Thessalonians 4, verses nine and 10. Concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you. You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more. It's really fascinating to me. Paul can say, you guys are really good at loving each other, but I'm still going to exhort you. Increase. Keep doing it. Keep doing it. And he's so thrilled to hear, apparently, as he writes the second epistle, that that has been the case. He continues to rejoice in the love that they have for one another. The word increasing is an indication that it's going on an ongoing basis. Some have translated this with multiplying. Their love is multiplied to one another. See, these brothers and sisters in Christ were kind to one another. They didn't envy one another. They didn't arrogantly boast to one another. They weren't rude. They were not irritable. They weren't resentful of one another. They didn't rejoice when others did wrong, but they rejoiced in the truth. And these brothers and sisters bore one another's burdens." And yes, that's right, directly from 1 Corinthians 13, 4 through 7. What a testimony that must have been to those outside of the church in Thessalonica. We know from historical accounts that phrases like this, behold how they love one another, were often uttered by non-believers throughout the Roman Empire. They had never seen such self-sacrifice, such love as God's people had for one another. That's why Paul must give thanks to God for such a display of love by the Thessalonian saints. And I too want you to know it's my great privilege to thank God for the way you demonstrate love for one another here at Grace. But I would also tell you we can do it better. We can keep increasing. and keep increasing and keep increasing. Multiply that love. Demonstrate your kindness, your affections for one another, and then we can all rejoice together in that love that's displayed in our midst. And may it be so true of us that those outside of our congregation would look and say in amazement, behold how they love one another as a congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, Paul rejoices and he boasts in their faith, in their love, but the third area of growth that prompts Paul to rejoice, we read it in our list of 2 Peter 1 as well, is the word steadfastness. He is able to say, I boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness. And some of you have a perseverance, connected with enduring, and indeed, he mentions enduring at the end of the verse. And he says that steadfastness continues in spite of persecutions and afflictions. And those words are very similar. I'm not even gonna try to parse a big difference between a persecution and an affliction. Some have trials, perhaps, or tribulation for afflictions. I think what's happened here, Paul doubles up the word to really identify and intensify the fact and emphasize the fact that these Saints have indeed done well even in the midst of the persecution and the outside opposition they're facing. You may recall we've looked at Acts 17 so often in the past. That's when Paul first went to Thessalonica and he had to leave because the Jews were opposed to him. to what he was doing. And in 1 Thessalonians, you may recall those first three chapters emphasize the ongoing persecution that was continuing. And Paul says about that in 1 Thessalonians 1, 6, and 7, you became imitators of us and of the Lord. For you received the word with much affliction, same word we just read in verse 4 of chapter 1 of 2 Thessalonians, with the joy of the Holy Spirit. So you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia. and in Achaia, the northern region, the southern region. This was the Jewish opposition. It started with Paul, it continued even when Paul left, but that's not all. The Gentiles also bring opposition to the church in Thessalonica. We read that in verse 14 of chapter two of 1 Thessalonians. You brothers became indicators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. You suffered the same thing from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews. So Jewish opposition, Gentile opposition facing the Thessalonians. But Paul can rejoice in their steadfastness, their perseverance in the midst of all of that. Paul continues to hear that the saints continue to thrive in spite of what were no doubt verbal, emotional, economic, physical threats. Paul's proud of their steadfastness, and he boasts about them in the Lord before other churches. By demonstrating godliness, even in the midst of that great opposition, they are demonstrating that they are true followers of Christ. They are members of his kingdom. Notice verse five, and we'll have much more to say about verse five next week, Lord willing. This is evidence, though, of the righteous judgment of God, you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are also suffering. See that suffering, that affliction happens, you endure, you demonstrate, you have a place in God's kingdom, you demonstrate that your faith is real. And Paul then connects that endurance and that steadfastness with their faith, he's not just boasting about their steadfastness. He's boasting also, he tells us in verse 4, about their faith. The saints of Thessalonica were remaining steadfast, and they were persevering, and they were enduring through persecution and afflictions. Why? Because they were trusting in the Lord Jesus, even in those difficult situations. Paul's boasting then not only in their steadfastness, but in their faith. as well. And I think we can see very clearly a connection between trials and faith and steadfastness. Frankly, if there were no trials or tests of our faith, there'd be no need to be steadfast. How hard is it to be trusting and faithful when all things are going well? And we'd be unable to demonstrate steadfastness and perseverance in the midst of trials without a real, genuine, increasing faith. So we need to recognize that steadfastness Trials, faith, are all interconnected. And they're not just interconnected in this text. This is a common theme throughout the New Testament. There are so many passages I could turn to, but since Paul puts the three of them together, I thought it would be good for us to read three other portions of the New Testament that remind us of the connection between genuine faith, true saving faith that endures, steadfastness, but also the trials that come to demonstrate that faith and to exhibit that steadfastness. And the first of those three passages is when our Lord speaks to his disciples in the Olivet Discourse shortly before his death on the cross. And Jesus is warning his disciples of the impending persecution that they and other believers are going to face once he's no longer with them in heaven with his ascension. And so in chapter 24, verse 9, he begins, we'll begin this morning, then they, that is the enemies of the gospel, wicked men, will deliver you up to tribulation, and they'll even put you to death. And you'll be hated by nations, for my name's sake. See, there's no love being displayed by the wicked men around them. The love that God's people have for one another is in great opposition or great contrast to the wicked men and the hatred that they have for God's people. And then what happens? Many will fall away. They'll stumble, they'll apostatize, they'll reject the faith because they had no true, genuine faith. When opposition comes, those with no faith then flee. Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. Again, those led astray are those who did not have true faith. But notice, lawlessness will be increased and the love of many will grow cold. that love that's supposed to increase, and the love that does increase in Thessalonica grows cold on the part of those who are not true believers, those who are not truly trusting. And they're demonstrating that when opposition comes. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. We need, beloved, to have faith and steadfastness and to continue to increase in these graces when opposition comes. Well, James reminds us as well, and perhaps these words are even more familiar to us as we read the first few verses in the beginning of James' epistle. While Paul is talking to the church as a whole, James individualizes things a bit, and he also broadens things a little bit. When we read in verse 2, count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. See, it may not just be opposition from outside. You can have all kinds of conflict. from within, and I really think this is basically what James is telling us throughout the book, and that is many trials will come. We read in chapter one the temptation to sin. We read in chapter two the temptation not to treat poor people properly. We can go on with other examples through the book of James, but just know there will be various trials. There will be various tests of your faith, whether it's from outside persecution or otherwise, but what is our response when those things happen? We count it all Joy. What are you thinking of, James? Well, James is thinking of the same thing Paul thought of, and that is that when you have genuine faith, you will endure. And when you endure, you will be steadfast and thereby demonstrate that you belong to Christ, and that's a cause for great rejoicing. And that's what verse two tells us. You know that the testing of your faith produces, here's our other word, steadfastness. You will endure because your faith is real. And that's why you rejoice. So let steadfastness then have its full effect, that you may be perfect, not sinless, but mature and complete, lacking in sin. Nothing. And so James then individualizes for us what Paul has said to the church at Thessalonica as a whole. But I want to emphasize with one other verse, when John has his vision, his revelation, Jesus tells him to write various things to the seven different churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. And when he gets to the church at Thyatira, Interestingly, we read almost identical words to what Paul wrote for us in 2 Thessalonians. I know your works, your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. There's that steadfastness again, really emphasized with the word patient in front of it. Paul can say to the church at Thessalonica, you've grown, you're spiritually mature in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. John can write, because Jesus told him to write to the church at Thyatira, you've grown in your love, you've grown in your service for one another, in your patience, in your faith, and your latter works exceed the first, thereby demonstrating true spiritual growth. Well, we spent several weeks Earlier, in the spring of last year, considering 1 Thessalonians 1, 1 through 3, when we talked specifically about Paul's exhorting and encouraging the Thessalonicans to remain steadfast in their faith and in their love, even in the midst of persecution. And that's why Paul then, having done that, he must rejoice now. It's proper apostolic boasting to thank God for the increase of faith. love, and steadfastness that was the proper response to Paul's apostolic teaching. And so, too, we recognize that throughout that sermon series and more recently, frequently, I've encouraged and exhorted you all to increase in faith, to remain steadfast, because we are seeing more and more opposition to the gospel of Christ in our country today. And it may not be long. before we, before you as individuals encounter emotional, verbal, yes, possibly even economic and physical persecution because of your stand for Jesus. So what's the proper response? The proper response is to keep increasing in your love for one another, remain steadfast, and endure to the end. Never let go of Christ. Trust only in Him. And then we can all collectively rejoice, and we can boast together in the Lord who gives us faith, love, and steadfastness. Well, for the past several years, we've been tracking, at least I have, and I think many of you have, the faith, the steadfastness, the love of Veronelle Studsman. If that name's not familiar to you, she's a Washington florist who had been threatened, and still is being threatened, with the loss of her entire livelihood because she refused to compromise on using her services for same-sex weddings. Baron Monell's testimony, though, is full of love for God, and it's full of love for other believers, and even for those apart from Christ. And Baron Monell, we know, is not alone. We could mention many others, but I just bring her up because we've mentioned her often in the past. And as we reflect on what Paul said in his teaching in our text, we ought all to thank God for people like Barronelle Stutzman, whose love and faith and steadfastness is a demonstration of how we ought to live. It is right to be proud of our sister, Barronelle, and it's right to boast in the Lord. for the work that she has done, not because we worship Barronelle, but we thank the God of Barronelle, who is our God as well. And may God grant to all of us such faith, such love, such steadfastness, so that others will rejoice and boast in the Lord because of our ongoing growth and grace, both as individuals and as a local body of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, right here in Costa Mesa. Amen. Let's pray together. Father, first of all, help us to refrain ever from being so foolish as to boast in our own accomplishments. We know that but for the grace of God, we would do nothing good. And all that we have is because of your good kindness to us. So Father, we pray that the sins of pride and arrogance would be removed from us. And if there are those with hearts of arrogance and pride who have not bent their knee humbly before the Lord Jesus, would you soften their hearts and cause them to see that they ought to boast only in the Lord. But Father, we also would cry out to you that we would be those who encourage one another, rejoice in one another, and pray in thanksgiving for one another. And Father, how we pray that all of us would be those that do grow in love, in faith, in steadfastness. We don't know what you have in store for us in the future. here on earth, but we do know ultimately that he who endures to the end will be saved. Would you grant us saving faith that endures, that is steadfast throughout this life. We want to hear the words of our Savior. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. And so we ask that you would indeed help us to grow more and more to be like our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.