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And we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, …(1Th 5:14). Fr. Isaac Ibrahim. Definition of Warning.
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And we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, …(1Th 5:14) Fr. Isaac Ibrahim
Definition of Warning • And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Gen 2:16 • I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luk 13:3 • Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Mat 24:4
Reaction • To listen (obey) • Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Luk 8:18 • Not to listen (disobey) • This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Deu 30:19
Elements of Warning • Who warns • Who receives warning • Words of Warning
Who should warn • The True person who warns is God • On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 1Th 2:4 • I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. Jhn 12:46-48
Warning can be delegated to: • All kinds of servants beginning from the priests & prophets to all kinds of servants In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, Hbr 1:1 God Moses Pharaoh
Types of servants • Honest Servants (Isaiah, Zachariah, Peter and Paul) • Dishonest Servants (Balaam, Gehazi, Demas)
Servant could fall at any time, therefore he/she needs 1. Continuous self examination, repentance & confession 2. Humility 3. Obedience & Guidance
Danger of service 1. Spiritual void 2. Ignorance of God’s word 3. Lack of discipleship 4. Commitment 24/7 5. Being a teacher not a servant 6. Bad example 7. Two- faced
Servant commitment to his/her service Servant commitment to whom you serve
Why are you serving? • Socialisation • Prestige • Killing time? • Emotional or physical satisfaction • Quantity & Quality • And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Rom13:11
The Recipient • Mat 13:1-9, Mr 4:2-9, Lu 8:4-8
Jesus the ultimate role model • How he was serving? • Serving all kinds of people • More effort is offered to the most difficult • So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1Co 3:7-9 • Servants should follow Jesus’ steps . • Servants should not only plant, water but also follow up. • Servants need to believe that God is the one Who does everything. • Servants should have complete faith that God is capable to change anyone
Words of Warning Direct warning Indirect warning God is talking through the servant God Himself is talking • God Adam • God Saul Isaiah People Paul People
Discipline God’s words = The Commandment Definition • Life style • Life management • Life in Jesus
Meaning of Spiritual Discipline ? • Life style ll. Life Management a. Faith [1Pet2:6, 1Jo 5:9-12, Hbr 11:6] b. Baptism [2:14, Jo 3:5, Mar16:16] c. Holy communion [Jo 6:51,Mat 26:26-28] d. Repentance & confession [Lu 3:13, Hbr 5:16] e. Good deeds [Hbr 2:20] f. Perseverance {spiritually, against sin, in your service} [Hbr 12:4] lll. Life with Jesus [Gal 2:20]
Who is the unruly person? • Someone who misunderstands God’s commandment • Ignorant & resistant • Has his/her own rules and teach it What to do In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 2Th 3:6,7 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2Jo 1:10,11
Conclusion "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.
Cont. "But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself." Eze 3:17-21
Hbr 6:10 For God [is] not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, [in that] you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.