2 Thessalonians 3:3 - "But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." 

Chapter 3 of 2 Thessalonians begins with Paul's prayer that the "...Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified..." 

Why did he pray such a prayer? Who or what would hinder the Word from going forth? 

Verse 2 gives the answer, "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men..." 

Who were these "unreasonable and wicked men" that Paul was referring to? They were those who were wicked and disorderly. More specifically, they were those who acted amiss or improperly. They were those who did not have the right view of things. They gave undue importance to certain things and less importance to those which definitely were deserving of attention. 

The Scriptures warn us in Isaiah 5:20 - "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" 

2 Thessalonians 3:2 - Then the Apostle Paul made the statement - "...for all men have not faith." 

Naturally, we would conclude that Paul was talking about men being in unbelief since he mentioned the word "faith." However, the word "faith" used in this Scripture means fidelity or trustworthiness. To say "for all men have not faith" is to say that all men are not faithful or trustworthy. They cannot be trusted or confided in. They are irregular at times and appear unbelieving, perverse, unkind, and even disposed to do us wrong. 

Though man is so fickle, God is not. 

In verse 3 the Apostle Paul presents a distinct contrast  - "But the Lord is faithful..." Though man cannot be trusted to always keep his Word, "the Lord is faithful" to His Promises and His purposes. He is trustworthy. He is sure. He is true. He can be relied on at all times. He will never, ever, ever go back on His promises. 

"But the Lord is faithful..." 

These have to be five of the most powerful words ever spoken. No matter which situation or dilemma we face in life, we must always hold on to those pertinent words of reminder - "but the Lord is faithful..." He is constant. He will never deceive us. He never starts something without ever intending to finish it. He does not promise anything without intending to fulfill it. 

"But the Lord is faithful..."

1 Corinthians 1:9 tells us, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord."  1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "...God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able..."  2 Timothy 2:13 says, "If we believe not...He abideth faithful..."  In other words, even though we may deny the faith and apostatize, the Lord will always remain the same - faithful and trustworthy. He cannot deny Himself or act contrary to Himself. 

Hebrews 10:23 admonishes us, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised;)" We are to firmly and securely keep the confession of our faith without inclining or wavering, knowing with all certainty that the Lord will be Faithful to administer His grace to see us through to the end. 

Lastly, 1 Thessalonians 5:24 assures us that the God of Peace will most definitely sanctify us and preserve us blameless unto the end - "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it."  Philippians 1:6 - "...He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." He will do it because He is faithful!

Besides God's faithfulness, in 1 Thessalonians 3:3, the Apostle Paul emphasized God's strengthening of the Saints - "...Who shall stablish you..." 

As we examine Christianity today, we have to admit that there is a great need for establishment in the walk of every believer. The Apostle Paul recognized this need for the Christians to be made stable and firm; to be strengthened; to be rendered constant; to be valid, enduring, and securely determined in their walk with God.

In Romans 1:11 Paul spoke to the Roman believers, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established."  In Romans 16:25 he added, "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel..." 1 Corinthians 1:8 - To the
Corinthian believers he said of the Lord Jesus, "...Who shall also confirm you unto the end..." 2 Corinthians 1:21 - Also, "Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ...is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:17 - To the Thessalonian believers he prayed that the Lord Jesus Christ would "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." 

In the midst of every effort of the world, the flesh, and the devil to shake our faith, we desperately need to be made firm and sure in our beliefs. We need to be made firm and stedfast in every true doctrine and in the works of righteous living. 

Deuteronomy 28:9 - May the Lord establish us a holy people unto Himself. May all our ways - our manners, habits, direction, course of life, and our moral character - all be established - securely determined and directed aright - according to God's Holy Word. 

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 - In the presence of "unreasonable and wicked men" who "have not faith", the Apostle Paul boldly declared - "But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." God strengthens His people to be able to resist and overcome the evil influences surrounding them. 

Throughout the Scriptures, we find one instance after another of prayers offered, asking for God's preservation or rescue from all that is evil - hardships, afflictions, adversity, as well as wickedness and the temptation to sin. 

In 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez prayed, "...and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil..."  In Psalm 19:13 David prayed, "Keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me..." In Matthew 6:13 the Lord Jesus taught us to pray saying, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..." John 17:15 - Also, in His High Priestly prayer to the Father, the Lord Jesus prayed, "...that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil." 

In Psalm 121:7 the Psalmist gave us a wonderful Promise to claim as our own, "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil..." 2 Peter 2:9 - The Apostle Peter most assuredly encouraged all believers with his words, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations..." 2 Timothy 4:18 - Lastly, at the end of his life and ministry, the Apostle Paul steadfastly and firmly declared, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work..." 

What is God speaking to us through this message? 

First of all, though man be fickle, unfaithful, and inconsistent, always remember - "But the Lord is faithful..." In the midst of such wavering behavior among men, God desires a people who are established in every good word and work. God wants us stable, firm, upright, constant, enduring, determined, steadfastly set, valid, and proven. In order to accomplish this end, God promises through His Holy Word to keep, guard, protect, rescue, and deliver His people from all evil in answer to their heartfelt cry.

"But the Lord is faithful..." 

May we never forget it!