Studies in 1Thessalonians

Studies in 1Thessalonians Presentation 08

The Church In Action Chapter 5v12-17 Presentation 08

Introduction From time to time one hears this criticism made of Christians, “They are all talk and no action”. But the whole point of Biblical Christianity is to radically transform lives so that the unbelieving world sits up and takes notice. Now Paul has been addressing a particular issue at Thessalonica - the second coming of the Lord Jesus. A doctrine that should give great impetus to our action. In these verses Paul provides the instruction that should govern that action. This instruction is as applicable to the church today as it was then. Presentation 08

Attitude To Spiritual Leadership Paul begins with the church’s attitude to its leadership. It is thought that the church leaders had rebuked some members, who had given up work, and as they sat around waiting for the return of the Lord, they expected other believers to provide for their needs. The elders’ rebukes had been dismissed. However, the church is not a democracy, nor is anarchy where, ‘everyone does what is right in their own eyes’, an option. We are the body of Christ and spiritual leadership is gifted to some within the body for the good of the whole church. Resisting godly leadership and pushing against the authority he has established is unwise. Presentation 08

Attitude To Spiritual Leadership And so we have the appeal of v12 esteem elders ‘for their work’s sake’. Paul is saying, ‘Look at their work, and see if it merits the criticism and resentment you mete out to them’. In practice, respect for the church elder means welcoming them into our homes when they come to visit rather than keeping them standing on the doorstep like an unwanted double glazing salesman. If the elder gives of their time to express their pastoral concern we should not only open our home but our heart to them, ‘for their works sake’! Presentation 08

Attitude Towards One Another This teaching is followed by an emphasis upon mutual exhortation, comfort, support and patience towards one another within the fellowship. People sometimes ask, what they can do in the church. Generally they are thinking of special ‘tasks’, rather than the kinds of things highlighted here. We are to ‘warn those who are idle’ v14. It is a Greek military term, for ‘those who leave their place in the ranks’. When the people of God stop standing shoulder to shoulder then advantage is given to the enemy. Presentation 08

Attitude Towards One Another Those who are out of place, or out of step in a fellowship, can have a disruptive influence and need to be warned of the harm they may do to the whole work of God. When we contract out of Christian service we are not simply impoverishing our own lives we are playing into the hands of the enemy whose goal is the destruction of the church. Think of the graphic apocalyptic language used in Rev.12v4 “The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born”. Presentation 08

Attitude Towards One Another Next we are to ‘encourage the timid’. This applies to the spiritually despondent, those who sometimes seem to go to pieces, the fearful, and those who have fallen and failed in time of temptation. We do not ride roughshod over such people! How did Jesus model his ministry. We read, ‘A bruised reed he will not break, and the smoking flax he will not quench’ Isa. 42v3. We are to help the ‘weak’ that is those who are those weak in the faith. Such people are easily led away by new ideas, new companions, and they often need a steadying hand. Do not underestimate the blessing of having a friend who is strong and steady in the faith. Presentation 08

Attitude Towards One Another Now to fulfil these urgent and necessary tasks the church requires much ‘patience’ v14, for there will be many setbacks and disappointments. Character-building is not accomplished overnight! The natural bias in our hearts is to payback those who have wronged us. But the new Jesus-life transforms that response into one of ‘kindness’ v15. What caused a hardened Roman centurion to grasp the uniqueness of Jesus? As his execution squad drove nails into Jesus’ hands and feet, Jesus said, “Father forgive.” Presentation 08

Attitude Towards One Another Gordon Wilson and daughter Marie were taking part in the Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland market town of Enniskillen when a terrorist bomb exploded. When the dust finally settled, Marie lay dying. Interviewed on TV, Gordon Wilson expressed a faith that shone out in bright contrast to the acrimony and recrimination that filled the airwaves: ‘I do not feel any bitterness’, he said, ‘I pray for the terrorists who planted the bomb.’ Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer Against the background of the wrongs others do us we are to be constantly ‘joyful’ v16. Paul is not talking about temperamental cheeriness. Some people are born with a smile on their face! Paul is talking of a joy that the gospel creates and no combination of circumstances can alter it. Why? Because nothing in heaven, earth or hell can rob the believer of the knowledge that his sins are forgiven and his place in God’s family is eternally secure. Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer The extremes of language in these verses is particularly striking. ‘Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything’. Is that not excessive? No! these responses have a theological bedrock. All things - whether good or bad - work together for good to them that love God. Evil does not have the last word in the lives of believers. God uses our darkest experiences to work out his blessing. Jesus said, “You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand” Jn 13.7. This places the Christian in an invincible position; nothing is able to separate him from the love of God. Hence he can give thanks in everything. Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer Now it is easy for a certain type of Christian to think that they have God pigeon-holed. As a result they tend to be critical of unfamiliar expressions of the Spirit at work. Hence the exhortation not to ‘put out the Spirit’s fire’. We have preconceived notions of how the Spirit can work. And if a ministry appears to ‘breaks our rules’ we question whether it can have the seal of God upon it. But God delights in stepping outside of the boxes we often try to put him in. Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer And it is clear from v20 that treating prophecy with contempt may have been viewed as an example of putting out the Spirit’s fire. Of course this does not mean that the church is encouraged to accept uncritically everything that particular teachers tell us comes from God. The apostle John writes, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God”. 1Jn. 4v1 And Jesus warned against. “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” Matt.7.15 Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer Some of Paul’s language comes from the banking world. Paul is saying, “Show yourselves skilful money-changers; do not blindly trust all the spiritual currency in circulation; put it all to the test; rub it on the touchstone of truth; keep hold of what is genuine, but every spurious coin decline”. The man who cannot tell good money from bad is unlikely to succeed in business, so too the Christian who is unable distinguish between, the real and the counterfeit in spiritual circulation is unlikely to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Presentation 08

Heart Attitude Of The Believer Now Paul’s great objective is that his readers might be sanctified, ‘through and through’. Every part of our being; our mind, heart, will, emotions, affections, conscience, imagination, memory, body, has been affected by the virus of sin - it needs to be touched by the invigorating, rejuvenating grace of God in Christ. Only the Spirit of God makes us truly human by dealing with all that is warped and twisted. Sanctification is progress towards a true humanity. The gospel is not a passive but an active thing, it makes men whole. Presentation 08

Conclusion If each of us were seriously to co-operate with the Spirit of God by responding to the exhortations found would our lives be significantly different from what they are now and would others sit up and take notice? Would they continue to say that Christianity is all talk and no action? When President Obama was ran for office with the promise of change, the optimistic response of his supporters was “Yes we a can”. Since coming to power his administration has been overtaken by circumstances beyond their control - and as a result they have failed to deliver significant change. Presentation 08

Conclusion In sharp contrast, when Jesus campaigns for your mind and heart, and speaks of the changes he can bring about, his are not optimistic dreams. He knows that his death and resurrection have secured for man all of the resources necessary for change. He is able to transform the lives of fallen men and women who put their trust in him. His campaign was indeed costly but he has guaranteed with a covenant promise to do for man and in man what he cannot do for himself. We for our part are called upon to trust in him to do a glorious work of transformation. Presentation 08

Studies in 1Thessalonians