“Final Instructions” • 1.4.15 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Paul has just completed a very thorough description of end times
theology and has perhaps a little more scroll left than he originally imagined.
- Not being one to waste such an opportunity,
Paul, in rapid fire succession, sprays the congregation with vital information
that they needed to hear regarding how to live with that in mind.
- What could be said about how to behave between
now and when the Lord comes? What do they need to attend to? Paul quickly
identifies six areas that required their continued attention.
- We'll break them down like this. Paul writes
to them
I. Regarding Leadership (12,13a)
II. Regarding Relationships (13b-15)
III. Regarding Circumstances (v.16,17)
IV. Regarding The Holy Spirit (v.18-22)
V. Regarding Sanctification (v.23,24)
VI. Regarding Apostolic Authority (v.25-28)
Intro.
I. Regarding Leadership (12,13a)
• I Thessalonians 5:12,13a : "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among
you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in
love for their work’s sake." : The
Apostles urge the Thessalonians to acknowledge, honor and appreciate those who
are leaders amongst them.
- Notice that he doesn't assign a
title or delineate an office, as we might be prone to do.
- They aren't even named! He simply
describes their activity, which is the only proof of a call.
- Nobody in ministry is appointed
to an office and then begins a work. They work and that defines their office!
- Today, it's not rare to find
those who have ordained themselves through the internet! True ordination occurs
when a person starts to serve where their passion is and the church recognizes
it!
- These people labor, the word
referring to a work that led to exhaustion. In that day especially, it's likely
that most of the church, including the leadership, were Roman slaves.
- Imagine the exhausting weeks of
regular labor, combined with the mental energy needed to organize scriptural
thoughts and honor an agenda for meeting together!
- This work wasn't a simple quick presentation,
given at their meeting time.
- It was an intensive, involved
process of response to the Lord, as well as response to circumstances.
- Recall also to mind that being a
Christian in that first century meant a possible death sentence! Indeed, those
with spiritual authority carried great responsibility in their own life.
- But they are also acted as superintendents
and guardians in the Lord, admonishing, exhorting or warning in the Lord. One
commentator notes that this is the warning of an older brother.
- It's firm, but gentle. It's
strong, but understanding. It's wise and time tested. It's done with their very
best interest in mind, entirely for their growth and maturity in the Lord!
- Their proper response in the Lord
is to esteem them very highly. The NLT puts it this way: "Show them great respect and
wholehearted love."
- Were they to respect and love
them for themselves? To the same degree you would do so with any other
believer. But, even if they are not your "type of person," they
deserve this for the work!
- The work of teaching, facilitating,
exemplifying Christ deserves our respect and love! How you do that is up to
you, but do consider how much it would mean to the teachers in this church.
II. Regarding Relationships (13b-15)
• I Thessalonians 5:13b-15 : "Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn
those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient
with all. See
that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good
both for yourselves and for all." : Be at peace with each other or "Keep the peace between each
other." This is an interesting comment.
- Was there a tense or strained
understanding of the roles between the leaders and the people. Certainly, as we
walk with the Lord, there are many things that could disturb our peace.
- Paul will tell the Roman
believers that they were, as much as it depended upon them, to be at peace with
each other. (Romans 12:18)
- This was written in the chapter
where Paul speaks of ministry gifts! Many gifted people exist in the same area,
men and women who are being sanctified by Christ. They need to pursue peace.
- That's the goal over the entirety
of the community, but the church is not an atmosphere where peace happens
without working on our relationships. Paul is speaking to everyone!
- Every member of the body shoulders
the responsibility of maintaining the peace. They are to start with warning
those that are unruly. We use this word to describe a disruptive person.
- When this word was used by the
Roman military, the unruly soldier had broken ranks and walked outside of their
orders. In the market place, this was a person who did not show up for work.
- Paul is telling them to make sure
that the church is accounted for and that people are aware of their
responsibility to the body.
- There is a need to be stern with
those who call themselves members, but refuse to submit to the scriptural
standard of the whole. When such things become clear, they are to be warned.
- The church is to warn solemnly,
but they are also to encourage tenderly. Uphold the weak or faint hearted! Come
alongside and calm the one who is about to faint from their struggle!
- There are times when the world
and our circumstances wear us down and we're ready to quit. Others have taken
hits that have left them wounded. We're to stand in support of them!
- The church has to discern between
motivations! Are they rebelling against God's Word or are they just so hurt
that they cannot properly live?
- We don't get to exercise stern
rebukes without also considering soft encouragement!
- You might be thinking, "Get over it already! Don't they
know the truth of God's word! Haven't they listened to enough godly wisdom!"
- That's why Paul has to add,
"Be patient with all!" Patience contains the concept of being long
spirited. Don't lose heart with anyone! God is working in their life!
- We need to take the long view
with each other, understanding that God's sanctifying process is not
homogenous. There will be times when we wonder about another person's
salvation.
- Trust me: They are wondering
about yours as well! Believe it or not, they might even treat you in an evil
way, which is why Paul says, "See that no one renders evil for evil to
anyone!"
- Paul commands them to be sure
that this isn't a practice among their fellowship. "They did this to me,
so I'm going to do that to them. Eye for an eye. Isn't that the law?"
- It sure is. But as Christians
rememeber that ours is a law of love. It's never justifiable to treat someone
in an evil manner because they have treated you that way.
- It's natural, it's fleshly and it's even
satisfying in a temporal way. But the love way that Paul commands on behalf of
the Lord is to always follow the best possible scenario for all!
III. Regarding Circumstances (v.16,17)
• I Thessalonians 5:16,17 : "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." : Always be glad! Be filled always with
joy! This is easy to say, but only easy to do when we have perspective.
- When one knows that God has saved them from
sin and hell and for love and Heaven, what is there to be downcast about?
- Certainly, we'd be living in a fantasy if we
didn't let circumstances depress us momentarily!
- But it's the Christian's duty to rise from
those ashes with a smile in defiance to that which might crush another human
being! Rejoice always and pray without ceasing!
- Those imperitives are separated only by a
comma, but not in practice. We are to rejoice as we pray and pray that we might
also rejoice!
- Paul commands them to direct their thoughts
and desires toward the Lord constantly. This speaks to us much about the nature
of prayer.
- Prayer isn't an event and it isn't a way to manipulate
God. It's a signal of a relationship.
- We pray to engage with our Lord and Savior.
We pray to enter into deeper communion with the Lord. We pray because He hears
us. We pray in every season, regardless of posture.
- In every circumstance, give the Lord His due!
Thank Him. Notice the vital distinction: We are not to thank Him FOR
everything, but IN everything!
- Thank Him when you understand what has
happened, but even better, thank Him when you don't because you know that He
does and it will turn out for your good!
- Thank Him when things are good and thank Him
when things are bad, recognizing that you only know bad because of how good you
have it! That's God's desire, His will for you!
- He wants a joyous, engaged, thankful people
who delight themselves in Him! That is a strong testimony to the world at
large.
- In a very real sense, Paul commands this of
them, but no so much so that they attempt to generate these feelings. Rather,
he simply wants them to display what they feel freely!
- Let the world see what joy you have in Christ
and what peace you have through prayer, and how gracious you are in giving Him
the credit that He deserves!
- That kind of life is attractive to the
unbelieving world, who will demand to know the reason.
IV. Regarding The Holy Spirit (v.18-22)
• I Thessalonians 5:18-22 : "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is
good. Abstain
from every form of evil." :
Paul incredibly has to tell the Thessalonians not to seek to extinguish or
suppress the Spirit. This is a fascinating concept. The church has to be
commanded not to allow this to happen.
- The Holy Spirit has a role that can be
resisted and by the strength of this word, can even put out in the church! Paul
doesn't explain immediately how this occurs, but the reality is plain to see.
- We must operate our church and our lives in
concert with the Holy Spirit's influence.
- We do not seek to quench his powerful
presence. Quite the opposite, we call upon Him to reign and to lead us into all
the truth that we need to live this life in the likeness of Christ!
- But what would it look like to quench His Spirit?
- Paul's instructions may hold the key to what
he means. He begins by saying, "Do not despise prophecies."
- Paul speaks emphatically that we are not to
hold prophecies with contempt. The Thessalonians were not to look down or to
scoff at the presentation of God's word.
- Prophecies in New Testament times refer
primarily to speaking forth God's Word, though one would also include a
"foretelling" aspect on certain occasions.
- When foretelling occurred, it was an act of
God's sovereignty and would happen at His will.
- The leadership wouldn't plan prophetic
meetings and they might not even know what they had predicted until after the
fact!
- God has placed prophecy, the speaking forth
of God's written word, in the primary place of importance within the church! We
quench the Spirit when we fail to heed and honor His voice!
- We quench the Spirit when we dismiss it as
relevant for another or when we disregard it as someone's opinion. Let us not
quench the Spirit in that manner!
- On the other side of that coin, don't simply
be taken in! We are not to foolishly check our brains at the door and open
ourselves to possible charlatans without discernment.
- Paul tells us to test, to scrutinise and
examine something, proving it to be genuine. "Is this word consistent with
the rest of scripture or does it contradict what has already been spoken?"
- When you discover what is good and right,
take possession of it! That's the nature of our practice of studying scripture
together.
- When you compare the Thessalonians with the
Bereans, the church that Paul established after being kicked out of
Thessalonica, you hear this line come across clearly.
• Acts 17:11 : "These were more fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and
searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." : The Thessalonians received the word
with all readiness, but they did not search the scriptures daily! That's the
difference and we need both!
- It is incumbent upon each member to take
ownership of the fact that God is speaking to His church through the agency of
His Word. We cannot afford to be taken in a false direction!
- That requires that we test the word and when
we find it to be good or genuine, we grab a hold of it tightly. On the other
hand, whatever is evil, in whatever form, we are to abstain from.
- One might even translate this verse like
this: Keep away from anything that even appears to be evil! There are things
even of a religious nature that would fall under this category!
- How many things have been done as a result of
eisegesis, the reading of a meaning into scripture? How many are handling
snakes today in obedience to Mark 16:18?
- Indeed the worst kinds of evil that this
world has ever seen have come from the pulpits of men who have hoisted their
ideas upon God's people, sprinkled with a veil of scriptural authority!
- Whatever evil there is, whether it be known
or scripturally prescribed may our hearts consider it as the Lord does and
abstain from it!
V. Regarding Sanctification (v.23,24)
• I Thessalonians 5:23,24 : "Now may the God of peace Himself
sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who
also will do it." : Paul
completes his letter with a prayer for God's continuing work among them. He is
the God of the believer's peace, extending peace to them and through them to the
world!
- It is God's job and His desire to sanctify,
to set you apart for Himself, completely! That job will never be done until you
are with Him. We are ever being sanctified in this life!
- Whether you are a first year believer or a
forty year veteran, God is working on you daily, lovingly crafting a character
that resembles His own. Don't resist Him!
- In God's work, our spirit, soul and body are
in view. Paul mentions three parts to each Christian being. I'm not sure that
he knew the trouble he would cause with this statement!
- At the same time, since he does not
elaborate, I will also decline, except to say that whatever we are, we are to
be sanctified in this manner and order: Spirit first, soul second, and body
third!
- You will always be at odds with God if you
reverse or reject that order! What is best for your Spirit? What benefits the
Lord's work most? That's needs to take priority in your decision making!
- Paul prays that the entirety of their being
would be kept and be found spotless, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
- Folks, recognize that in each of the 5
chapters of I Thessalonians, there has been at least one mention of the
Lord's coming! You might think, "I'm not sure I can hold out that
long!"
- Thankfully, your sanctification doesn't hinge
upon your success or faithfulness! He who calls you. That is the Holy Spirit,
calling upon you to receive His life. He is reliable to bring it to pass!
- God begins a work for you by saving you,
pulling you out from the ranks of the unbelieving world. He begins a work in
you by consistently molding your character to that of our Savior Jesus.
- He finishes the work despite you, as your
failings and faithlessness could never be worthy of Him. He finishes what He
starts because He is faithful! He will do it!
- This doesn't give us license to live in some
unbiblical manner and just chalk up our sanctification to Him! Let it never be!
A person who would think such a thing has no place in God!
- This is a comfort to those who would not
believe it possible. It is because He is faithful!
VI. Regarding Apostolic Authority (v.25-28)
• I Thessalonians 5:25-28 : "Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy
kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this
epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." : Paul doesn't believe that their
prayers are less effective for their inexperience.
- He needed their prayers greatly, as he and
his crew were involved in a difficult season of ministry in Corinth.
- They could not aid him personally or
physically, but they could extend their prayers toward the Lord and cover him!
We must constantly give ourselves to praying for our leaders.
- He extends his greeting to all which came
with a holy kiss! The principle is one of warmth and love. That's how we are to
greet one another. They were extensions of his Apostolic heart.
- Be warm with one another. Love each other in
Jesus, for His sake or on His behalf!
- He then completes his letter letting them
know that this was to be read by all, every brother and sister in Christ! Some
have wondered about this charge. He does this "by the Lord."
- In other words, in the name of Jesus, by His
authority, they were to be sure to read this epistle to all the church,
signaling a few possible reasons.
- Most likely, this being early in church
history, the church may not have known what to do with this letter. It was to
be read.
- And because there are always some within the
church that seem to want to cherry pick that which is "most relevant"
to them, Paul makes sure that it's read to all at one time.
- How incredible is it that we have taken the
time to read every line of a letter written to a long dead group of people, and
yet, the words have been completely relevant to us!
- That's because the Apostle's words are the
very words of God Himself! God wrote through Paul and has touched every age!
- Finally, he ends as he began: May the grace
of our Lord be with you! Amen indeed!
Conclusion
Let's pray.
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