Preventing Revenge in the Church
Notes
Transcript
1 Thessalonians 5:14
ICC’s PM service ( DATE \@ "M/d/yy" 5/28/23)
Introduction
Introduction
Prayers
We have a responsibility towards one another, so we ask your help oh God, show us how to respond with wisdom
Catch- Do you know what chart is used for?
Catch- Do you know what chart is used for?
This is NASA decision flow chart regarding environmental impact
These flow charts help make the decision between alternative courses of action that will lead to and effect how people respond
Procedures can be a little bit stringent at times.
We all know how frustrating the TSA can be with their polices
But we’ve also been confused… what should I do? How can I help?
Well, at times, we just need to open our eyes and look as passages like tonight’s, which tell us how we should respond and while it does not give us all the specifics we’d like, it gives us commands we must follow
Review on the context
Review on the context
We’ve reach the last section of the book
Chapter 1-3 are Paul reminding them of the relationship they have with each other and with Jesus Christ, their savior
Then chapters 4-5 are a series of instructions and commands Paul gives them
Paul has written to correct some of their theology, stating they need to know more about the end times to help them
Here he gets to final commands
Where he addresses respecting leaders, loving difficult members(wv. 14-15);, worshipping correctly 16-18); and testing prophecy(vv. 19-22).
The command, we implore is plural… you all need to do this
The term, brothers, means all those who are the family of God
So, it’s a call, a charge, that says all you average people must participate in the one another ministry as well as the pastors
The same people who need to respect their pastors, also need to love one another
4 ways to TEST how to respond rightly to challenging Christians
4 ways to TEST how to respond rightly to challenging Christians
If they’re out of step, Tell them the danger
If they’re out of step, Tell them the danger
Explanation- He starts off with a challenging one
Admonish is an unusual word that we don’t often use
I asked googled to use it in a sentence and got:
Because my kids were running around the store, knocking over merchandise, I had to admonish them
The Greek word nuthoteo means the rebuke for a wrong done or to warn, advising someone for wrong decision
This is a strong word, but not necessarily a harsh word as Paul used it to describe his deep care and concern for the Corinthians or Ephesians
1 Corinthians 4:14- I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children
Acts 20:31- Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
This is a word of a caring concern
There’s a hurt in it that says, “I don’t want you to keep going in that direction because God will chasten apathy and rebellion.” When you truly love someone, you don’t hesitate to warn him or her.
And it is directed towards
The idle
It is only used here in the New Testament, and some of your bibles may say unruly, or disorderly
The Greek words comes from A- meaning not, and tasso, meaning to set in orderso it literally means one who is against the
so it literally means one who is against the order
Consider someone in the army who is breaking rank… that’s annoying during training.But pastor Yurie, what is the danger of that in an actual battle, not being where they should be?
But pastor Yurie, what is the danger of that in an actual battle, not being where they should be?
See, the person who is idle may be lazy, or prideful, or just absent minded, but they’re not with the program and not following God’s ways
This is someone full of hard-heartedness, lying, open resistance, and evasion.
in some ways it is the easiest sort of counseling because the problems are clear
The solution may not be easy, but you can know what is wrong
Illustration
Those out of step need to be warned of the danger
Love means we do not ignore the danger
A read a helpful analogy of child rearing
If my three-year-old was acting like a three-year-old, I didn’t discipline him for being three, but I tried to help him learn how to behave in a more mature manner.
But when your three-year-old is defiant, you must deal with his rebellion.
If a believer is overcome by a sin, but is repentant and wants help, you help him. But if he says, “I have a right to do as I please,” then he’s defiant and needs stronger confrontation.
Dangers must be warned
Dangers must be warned
Application
This must be a call to action here
It is a face to face interaction that can be awkward
But it’s loving to use bible passages to tell them what God says,
So how do you know you must say something
Kevin Deyoung wrote this helpful list for when to rebuke
The more hurtful the action or error. when someone’s sin is ruining a marriage, killing a church, grinding down your small group, or destroying their own soul, you had better get on the rebuking train.
The more potential there is for the issue to escalate into a bigger problem.
The more the person is blind to it. But if they were blind to their problems, someone needs the courage to confront.
The more habitual the problem is. An errant swear word is bad, but depending on the situation may not require your rebuke. But where there’s a habit of letting the filth fly, reproof is in order.
The more the name of Christ is dishonored. These are especially harmful to our Christian witness and deserve a sterner rebuke.
But there is a second group to run through the test besides the out of liners
If they’re scared of change, gently Encourage them
If they’re scared of change, gently Encourage them
Explanation
The fainthearted are those of little soul
The fainthearted are those of little soul
This is those who are discouraged by life’s events
Consider those who are like dried fruit, all shriveled up from the pressure of life
It seems some were beginning to wither while they grieved the loss of loved ones (1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11), or are exhausted by the persecution
This is someone who is fearful, worried, melancholy, depressed, or despairing,
We are to encourage the fainthearted
We are to encourage the fainthearted
The Greek term pictures speaking to someone side-by-side
it means to speak kindly, to comfort
SO it used of people comforting Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died
John 11:19- and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
But Paul used it to word to give a different idea saying
1 Thessalonians 2:11–12- For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Like a coach- It means to speak kindly in regards to achieving a goal
Fatherly love sometimes is a firm hand. Not harsh, but a firm reminder to strive for something great
Illustration
Come alongside a person whose soul is shriveling
Dehydrating food is a great tool at preservation and also making it lighter for carrying and easier to compact
But the food is not very delicious for eating
But there is a simple method to reconstitute Dehydrated meals generally require equal parts water to food and about 15–25 minutes.
Step 1- put food in pot and add an equal amount of water. Let soak for 5 minutes.step 2-
step 2- Bring water to a boil.
It can be hard at times, but it is worth doing as Mark Twains said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
Application
Hebrews 4:15- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Christ understands our struggles, so we want to enter into our someone’s world and understand their weaknesses.
Sometimes, a newer believer is in sin due to ignorance of God’s Word. He is weak. He needs to see a different way
So ask, does this person even know better? Maybe not.
Think about what may be going on in their life
Spiritual maturity does not mean living a no tears life; rather, it means we grow into becoming good lamenters and thus grow in our need for God.”
But two caveats that I think we sometimes forget in our always affirming culture
Encouragement doesn’t mean saying, you’re great, you’re amazing all the time
We know the greatest encouragement comes from God, often what we’ve seen in our own lives
2 Corinthians 1:3–4- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
We have to know the difference though, because if you encourage the idle person you just insulate them in their sin.. and they will get worse
Trans: We’ve seen the fighters, the dried up ones and now
If they’re afraid, Strengthen them
If they’re afraid, Strengthen them
Explanation
Weak is a word that is without and strength put together
could signify people who lack strength or were physically ill as well as those who were spiritually weak or immature
We should relate as this described all of us before salvation
Romans 5:6- For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
In Thessalonica that may be those who are beat down by the ongoing persecution, or those anxious about the day of the Lord
These are probably believers who are so hypersensitive to sin that they see things as sin that aren’t really sin at all
Help means to support, to keep one’s self directly opposite to another so as to sustain them
It is the same word used in Titus for clinging to faith
Titus 1:9- He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Or is translated devoted in Luke 16:13- No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
So help means to say, the weak person might not be able to hold on to much, so we, the church, will hold onto them
Illustration
These people need to be carried
There have been men and women over the centuries who have been there to hold the burden of a loved one
the great Albert Einstein is one example.
His sister Maja had suffered a stroke in her mid-sixties and remained bedridden for the rest of her life. According to a charming account in the New Yorker, Maja's brilliant older brother would go up to her room in the evenings and sit for an hour or so, reading
In her worry and pain, he was saying simply… I’m here for you… I’m committed to you and you can do this
Application
I think often when we think of help, we only think of physical helps
And for those physically weak, ministry like the meal planning that Barbara Kaye plans are so essential
Spiritual strengthening help
But a lack of faith and obedience stems from spiritual weakness that is the result of poor theology
A diet of milk without meat might keep a sheep alive, but it won’t grow them into the strength of maturity
These sheep need to be helped through sound instruction of God’s word
You can tell them… I’m hear for you, can I read a passage that I think may be a help? And do so
Also, we can help people through prayer
Not just I’ll pray for you… but ask, “can I pray for prayer right now?”
And do so, asking the lord to strengthen
Whatever we do, The key message here is to let people know you are committed to them
If they’re there, Tolerate their pace
If they’re there, Tolerate their pace
Explanation
The word patience is a combination of words long and anger
It means to endure instead of getting angry quickly
We have to be patient with the weak because they need more than most…
they don’t get better right away
If help means holding with them when they can’t hold themselves… then they’re heavy and we get tired
We have to be patient with fainthearted because they get more easily discouraged than most
They often despair of their burdens, struggling to see how life will ever be more bearable. And we all already have our own burdens to bear,
so regularly speaking grace into someone else’s emotional and spiritual needs can feel especially taxing over time
And we have to be patient with the idle or out to step because they’re frustrating
They could do more, help more, carry more, contribute in more significant ways, but they’re content to do just enough (or less), which means someone else has to do more.
They’re not keeping up and acting oblivious to the dangers
Does patience come to an end?
Kinda. The form of our patience changes as our response to the person changes
Go to 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8
2 Thessalonians 3:6–8- Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
Paul tells them to keep away from these idol people
These people that Paul told them to warn have not changed and in his second later he says enough is enough, they need to be separated, they need to be church disciplined
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:17- If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
But look at 3:15
2 Thessalonians 3:15- Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
1 Corinthians 5:5- you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Patience doesn’t really come to an end, it does change forms
Marshall Segal at Desiring God writes, “it probably needs to be said that good rebuke itself is an evidence of patience. It’s easy to give up on sinners. It’s easy to lash out and tear down someone who has sinned against us. Those who rebuke well — who aim to restore someone through honest and gentle confrontation and correction — demonstrate that they haven’t given up”
So there there is still a longing patience for the brother or sister to return… a prayer that even if church discipline is enacted, they
Illustration
We need supernatural patience
Marshall again,
“Patience is a virtue we admire, and even aspire to, from afar. The closer it comes to us, however — the more it invades our schedule, our plans, our comfort — the more uncomfortable it becomes” -Marshall Segal at Desiring God
Impatience grows out of our unwillingness to trust and submit to God’s timing for our lives. Impatience is a war for control. Patience, on the other hand, springs from different soil — from a humble embrace of what we do not know and cannot control, from a deep and abiding trust that God will follow through on all of his promises, from a heart that is profoundly happy to have him.
That means that real patience is not only inconvenient, difficult, and wearying, but, humanly speaking, impossible
So, be patient
Application
To be patient requires a lot of listening
And we need to listen to their answers
Because we need to know what kind of person this is
1 Thessalonians 5:14- And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Which approach do we take
John 3 with Nicodemus being rebuked
John 4 with the Samartian woman at the well being encouraged
Don’t answer any question that can be answered yes or no
Are you angry at your God?
What do you think is missing in your life?
Thus it is important for all of us to listen well
These conversations are not sermon time
You need to engage with discussion now
Therefore
Since we have seen (Cohesion)- Test First, then speak
Since we have seen (Cohesion)- Test First, then speak
Tell them the danger if they’re idol
Encourage them if they fainthearted
Strengthen them if they’re weak
Tolerate their pace if they’re a person
We know we must (Resolution)- Seek to know the person enough to help truly
We know we must (Resolution)- Seek to know the person enough to help truly
We cannot be like the pharisees
Matthew 23:2–4- “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Or like Job’s counselors.. saying you’ve done something wrong!
biblical conception of love is giving practical help to those who need it
We need to listen and then be willing to offer rebuke, encouragement, or help as needed
Closing prayer
Closing prayer
Lord, let us be a patient people, to the glory of your name
Amen