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It is a special occasion for you and your spouse or you and a friend. You are going to go out to celebrate together.
The sitter has come to watch the kids and you are getting ready to head out the door. All the kids are there to say goodbye and you stop to say good night to them because you will be home late. What do you do just before you head out? You give the kids and the sitter some last minute instructions. Do this and don’t do that.
What are some of the things you would tell them? Some of the do’s and don’ts? It is amazing the things we come up with to pass along when we are just about to head out. Sometimes it feels like these things take longer than all the preparation to be ready for the special event.
Paul has just finished teaching these new believers about what is to come in the future in Christ for the believer and the non-believer. So we can imagine that the people’s heads were all focused on the eschatological future, but they need to be brought back down to the reality of what their responsibilities are now before God. Paul gives them a reality check with a few last minute instructions in order to help them get their heads back to the present and how they should be behaving now.
Vs 12-13 He begins by reminding them and us how a believer should treat those whom God has given spiritual responsibility to for the flock of believers under their care. These are probably elders of the church who work hard to provide spiritual leadership and care for the believers. 2:8-9 They most likely are men who have regular jobs along with the time they put into the care of the church.
Paul says they are over them in the Lord indicating their position of spiritual leadership in the church, responsible before God for those under their care. Heb. 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. The believers should respect the work that these people do and hold them in high regard because of the great responsibility they have taken on. This needs to be done with an attitude of love because of the loving service these folks provide for others. Do what the sitter tells you and don’t give them a hard time. Then Paul instructs them to live at peace with each other, this includes the spiritual leadership. They need to keep the peace between them doing the things they are supposed to and the things they are asked to do.
Vs 14-15 Everyone of them should consider themselves a minister to all the other believers in the body. This means there will be times when we need to say some hard things to others, like warning them not to be idle, doing nothing, neglecting the things that need to be done inside and outside the church.
We need to encourage those who are timid, folks who seem to get discouraged easily and need cheering up and encouragement, helping them to keep on keeping on in the Lord, in their walk with Christ. Help you little brother and sister. Then don’t forget about the weak who need help of all kinds. They have not yet learned to lean on the Lord for all their needs both physical and spiritual. They need to be supported and given examples of how to live by faith in Christ. Hebrews 10:23-25 The only way we can do these things well is by being patient with each other, understanding that each of us is trying to figure out how we are to live in the Lord. Those of us who are farther along in the faith than we should be patient with those who are not. Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, The opposite of patience with others is retaliation of some kind. He hit me so I hit him back! We as believers do not have the option in the Lord to retaliate, to get revenge, no matter how badly we have been hurt by another. Romans 12:17-21 Instead of looking for ways to retaliate we should be kind to each other. Remember what God has done for us in Christ. Matt. 6:14–15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. How can we do this when at times we are hurt so badly by others? That is what vs 24-25 are all about, God will give us what we need to be able to move on without retaliation but with kindness.
Vs 16-18 Paul has told the believers in Thessalonica how to live with each other, inter personal relationships, but what about our personal lives? How should we live daily, what should our attitude be? Reminding the kids about their personal attitude that night. He tells us, be joyful always. We can do this by remembering all God has done for us and how much He loves us. Our joy doesn’t come from our circumstances but from the blessings we have in Christ. We have the power of God at work in our lives, forgiveness of sins, God working in us so to glorify Himself. We are never alone because He is always with us no matter where we are. You can call your friend and talk with them. If we find ourselves loosing our joy then we need to pray. If we stay in touch with God throughout the day we will be able to keep our eyes on Him and who He is and all He has done for us; speaking to Him in the quiet moments or just in our hearts like we would a dear friend. That is how we should spend our time rejoicing in prayer, lifting our concerns before our God. Then to deal with our circumstances give thanks in all of them because God is working something out. Rom. 8:28–29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. We know that God is doing something either in us or for His glory through our circumstances. Suffer for our own good, for the glory of God or as a witness to someone else. Rejoice in that, pray through it and give thanks in it because we are walking in the will of God at that very moment.
Vs 19-22 Now we know what we are supposed to be doing but what about the things we are not supposed to do? Do not disobey the sitter. When the Holy Spirit is speaking to us we need to be paying attention and doing what we are told to do. Not put out His fire by being disobedient, resisting His leading. One way we do this is by poo pooing away the prophetic. God has shown us some wonderful things in His word that are yet to come. We should hold them in high regard instead of disbelieving them.
There will also be times when someone comes and says they have a word from the Lord for us, that it is “Gospel truth”. It is our responsibility to check it out in accordance with God’s word. If it goes against God’s word then disregard it but if it is in line with God’s word then move cautiously forward in it. Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Don’t be afraid to check it out with other believers. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel. So we should not take what is evil, bad, and run with it but hold onto the good, which is what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We should not participate in anything that is evil but avoid it. This can be tricky because this may include things that are offensive to others but no to us or to God. It is their conscience that is offended not ours. 1 Cor. 8:9-13 Romans 14 is another good chapter to study on this for more insight. But I found a quote that might be helpful by a theologian Heibert; “while believers should abstain from actions which will knowingly offend others, it is not always possible to abstain from everything which may appear evil to a narrow and foolish judgment.”
Vs 23-25 Wow, think about all the things we have just covered! All these things we are responsible for before the Lord, it can seem overwhelming. The sitter will help you with your homework. God is a God of peace. He does not want us all twisted up with worry about what we are supposed to be doing. He will be our source of strength so we can accomplish the things we are supposed to be doing. All of these things are part of the sanctifying process He has for us to make us more like Jesus. If we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, being obedient to His leading, we will be blameless, free from accusation of wrongdoing. We will be right with God first and foremost and other believers will see our progress and be encouraged. He does not call us to be His children and then leave us to figure it out all by ourselves. He works with us to become all He wants us to be. Phil. 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Vs 25-28 Don’t forget to wash the dishes and clean up your toys. These are things that Paul wants to remind them to do regularly. Don’t forget to pray for those whose work is getting the Gospel out to others and those who are training up the believers. Make sure everyone knows that he sends his love to them in whatever way is customary. In their culture the men kissed the men on the cheek and the women kissed the women. We shake hands or give hugs.
Then make sure to share the word of God with others. In fact Paul puts them under oath to do so. 2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Lastly; don’t forget that none of this can be accomplished without the grace of God given to us in Christ Jesus for it is through Him that we have forgiveness of sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our helper and guide. In the strength of the Lord nothing is impossible for us.
Benediction: 1 Peter 3:8–9 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
