God will do it… (4 things)

• 1^st – Instructions regarding pastors… vs. 12-13 (2 points)
  • We URGE and EXHORT you…
  • As Paul wraps up this short epistle to the church in Thessalonica…
  • He reiterates the purpose stated back in I Thessalonians 4:1 – we URGE and EXORT…
  • He is going to give his final APPLICATIONS – on how to WALK and PLEASE God…
  • He will do so in four parts – instructions regarding PASTORS / commands for EACH OTHER…
  • Commands regarding GOD / and finally he will show us HOW to obey these commands!
  • 1^ST – RECOGNIZE those who labor… vs. 12
  • RECOGNIZE – eido – most often translated to KNOW or to SEE…
    • Who do we RECOGNIZE – those who LABOR – the word means to WORK to exhaustion…
    • Those who are OVER – 8x in NT the word means to PROTECT or ESTABLISH…
    • Those who ADMONISH – 8x in NT the word means to WARN or ENCOURAGE…
  • The idea is we are to RECOGNIZE – the PASTORS God has given to us…
    • We will KNOW them because of what they do – WORK / PROTECT / ENCOURAGE…
    • I know a lot of men who have the DEGREE – who are not pastors…
    • A piece of paper on a wall – not matter how pretty – is still just a piece of paper…
    • And I know a lot of men who have no DEGREE – no diplomas – who are pastors!
    • The calling of God – is SEEN through the WORK of God in their life!
  • 2^nd – ESTEEM them very highly in Love… vs. 13
  • ESTEEM – a word that means to be the LEADER – to RULE or COMMAND…
  • VERY HIGHLY – hyper perissos – very exceedingly – beyond measure…
  • In LOVE – agape – the instruction is to REALY LOVE those who LEAD us to Jesus!
  • I have met pastors who were only looking out for their own interests…
  • And when times get tough – when people do not show – when there is no money…
  • They leave – without any thought for the sheep – only caring about themselves!
  •  John 10:13 – “The hireling flees because he… does not care about the sheep.”
  • A godly pastor is not looking out for his own needs – but the needs of his sheep…
  • A good pastor is the one who lives his life – gives his life for the people!
  • John 10:11 – “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

• 2^nd – Commands for each other… vs. 13-15 (7 commands)
  • Paul gives 7 COMMANDS (present/imperative) regarding our relationships with each other!
  • 1^st – Be at PEACE among yourselves… vs. 13
    • PEACE – the verb form of eirene – we are to live peacefully – in harmony – with each other…
    • Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
    • God does not promise that everyone will always be at peace with us…
    • But for our part we are not to seek revenge – not to stir up trouble – forgive in love!
  • 2^nd – WARN those who are unruly… vs. 14
    • WARN – 8x in NT a word that means to reprove gently – this is NOT a rebuke…
    • UNRULY (only here NT) – meaning they are acting irregularly – we GENTLY reprove them…
    • For example – if someone was standing up and walking around in the middle of the service…
    • They are acting UNRULY – and we would GENTLY reprove them and ask they sit down
    • I Corinthians 14:40 – “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
  • 3^rd – COMFORT the fainthearted… vs. 14
    • COMFORT – 4x in NT used to describe helping those who have lost a loved one – John 11:19
    • Fainthearted – oligopsychos – only here NT a compound word that means little mind…
    • I knew a couple who lost their child – two pastors came to encourage them…
    • One gave them the right verses / the other wrapped his arms around them and cried!
    • Loving with compassion – meeting people where they are at!
    • Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
  • 4^th – UPHOLD the weak… vs. 14
    • UPHOLD – we might say support – the WEAK – those who are physically sick…
    • If we know a brother or sister who are in the hospital – or suffering from ongoing sickness…
    • We are called to UPHOLD them – take care of them – provide for their needs…
    • Because when we do – we are actually doing it to Jesus!
    • Matthew 25:39-40 – “‘[Lord] when did we see You sick… and come to You? And the King will answer… inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
  • 5^th – Be PATIENT with all… vs. 14
    • PATIENT – to be longsuffering – slow to anger – we might say to have a LONG FUSE…
    • Who are we to be slow to anger towards – ALL / EVERYONE – believers and unbelievers…
    • That is not hard when it is someone we like – but it is also for those who irritate us!
    • HOW can we be PATIENT – I Corinthians 13:4 – “Love suffers long [same word]…”
    • WHY should we be PATIENT – because God was VERY PATIENT towards us!
    • I Peter 3:9 – “The Lord … is longsuffering [same word] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
  • 6^th – SEE than no one render evil for evil… vs. 15
    • SEE – or BEWARE that no one RENDER / PAY BACK evil for evil…
    • We call it VENGENCE – we are NOT allowed to seek revenge (evil) on those who hurt us (evil)!
    • We naturally want to get back – take revenge – on those who attack us!
    • Even after they apologize – we want to hold onto our hurt – we want JUSTICE!
    • But we are called to forgive – no matter what anyone has done to us – Luke 17:1-10
    • We need to remember who our enemy is – we are fighting against satan for the lost!
    • Romans 12:19 – “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
  • 7^th – PURSUE what is good… vs. 15
    • ALWAYS – without exception / PURSUE – to RUN or chase after…
      • THE (definite article) GOOD – agathos – one of two words translated as GOOD in NT…
      • Agathos emphasizes the moral goodness of something or someone…
      • THE GOOD empathizes the ONLY one who is MORALLY perfect!
      •  Mark 10:18 – “No one is good [same word] but One, that is, God.”
    • We are to at all times be pursuing THE Good – Jesus Christ…
      • We are to be pursuing Jesus when we are with the believers – at church…
      • We are ALSO to be pursuing Jesus when we are NOT at church (among all men)!
      • We all know people who act one way on Sunday mornings – when people are watching…
      • Then the other 6 days and 22 hours of the week – act just like the world…
      • We are to have integrity – at all times in all places – by pursuing Jesus Christ in all things!

• 3^rd – Commands regarding God… vs.  16-22 (8 commands)
  • Paul gives 8 COMMANDS (present/imperative) regarding our relationships with God!
  • 1^st – REJOICE always… vs. 16
    • REJOICE at ALL times – we would say we need to have JOY in all circumstances…
    • Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. Again I will say, rejoice!”
    • Happiness is not the same thing as JOY – happiness depends on our circumstances…
    • JOY is far deeper – it is not based on your circumstances – it is based on Jesus…
    • Jesus never changes – the same Yesterday / Today / and Forever – Hebrews 13:8…
    • So no matter what our circumstances – we can ALWAYS have JOY because of Jesus!
    • In fact – the only way to have JOY in life is through knowing Jesus and knowing His Word…
    • If we want a JOY filled life – get into the Word – get into the presence of Jesus – Psalm 16:11
  • 2^nd – PRAY without ceasing…. vs. 17
    • Without ceasing – uninterrupted / without a break – would might say NON-STOP!
    • Prayer is often treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
    • As if somehow if we recite some words to God once or twice a day – it is enough…
    • But prayer should be a CONSTANT conversation with our Father in heaven…
    • How can we have a relationship with God – if we never take the time to talk to Him…
    • Telling Him about our day – getting to know the God who created us…
    • Prayer is not something we do – it is the definition of how we live our life!
  • 3^rd – In everything give THANKS… vs. 18
    • We are to give THANKS in ALL things – because it is the WILL of GOD…
      • There are two ways we can KNOW the WILL of God – SPECIFIC / GENERAL…
      • The SPECIFIC will of God speaks of individual choices we have in life – go left or right…
      • We know the SPECIFIC WILL of God for our WALK by being transformed – Romans 12:2 
    • The GENERAL WILL of God speaks of principals that should guide our lives…
      • The phrase – the WILL of God – is used 23 times in the New Testament…
      • Of those – four occurrences HINT at what the GENERAL WILL of God for us…
      • I Peter 2:15 – it is the WILL of God we silence ignorant men by doing good…
      • I Peter 3:17 – it is the WILL of God we SUFFER for going good…
      • I Thessalonians 4:3 – this is the WILL of God – our SANCTIFICATION…
    • It is the WILL of God that we give THANKS in everything…
      • So often in life – we forget to be thankful for all God has done for us – given to us…
      • We tend to think about all we do not have we think we need – but really just want…
      • If it is a need God would provide – Luke 12:31 – if we do not have it – do not need it!
      • God calls us to be thankful for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
      • Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need!
  • 4^th – Do not QUENCH THE (definite article) Spirit… vs. 19
    • Do not QUENCH – 8x in NT meaning to extinguish (as in a fire) or suppress…
    • It is the same word used in Matthew 25:8 – the virgins whose lamps had GONE OUT…
    • Imagine if we had a cell phone – brand new – but would only turn on when it felt like it!
    • A tool is only effective when it submits itself to the command of the master…
    • If we only follow the Lord when we want to – we are not much use to the Lord…
    • God does not want us to be part time Christians – He wants us to be on fire for Him!
    • If we want to be used by the Lord – we need to be on fire for the Lord!
    • Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”
  • 5^th – Do not DESPISE prophecies…vs. 20
    • DESPISE – to think something of little importance – consider insignificant…
    • We are NOT to DESPISE the prophecies of the Bible – they are IMPORTANT!
    • Much like what we have looked at over the past 2 weeks – and again in II Thessalonians!
    • God gave us prophecy not because He wanted us to know what the future held…
    • But so that when the future comes – we see God knew in advance…
    • Because only the Lord is outside of time – only he sees the end from the beginning…
    • The prophecies in the Bible are His fingerprint proving He is the author of the Word!
    • Isaiah 46:9-10 – “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.”
  • 6^th – TEST all things… vs. 21

• TEST – verb form of dokimos –to test to see if something in genuine…
  • In Bible times there was no paper currency – all the money was precious metals…
  • As a result – people would shave / steal the edges of a gold / silver coins…
  • But there were honest men who would make sure their coins were full weight…
  • They were called dokimos – they proved they were doing what was right!
• Just because a pastor tells you sometime – does not mean it is correct…
  • Every Sunday when you get home / even while I am still teaching – check it out…
  • If what I am saying does not agree with the Word – reject it – it is not true!
  • Too often men believe what they are told – because they are looking to a person…
  • We should not just accept the words of pastor – no matter who is teaching…
  • If we only know what the teacher has told us – then our faith is in his words…
  • But if we seek the Bible for the answers – then our faith is in THE Word!
  • Acts 17:11 – “Searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

• 7^th – HOLD fast to what is good… vs. 21
  • HOLD FAST – do not let go of / what is THE GOOD…
    • THE (definite article) GOOD – kalos – the other word translated as GOOD in NT…
    • Kalos emphasizes the outward appearance of the goodness of something or someone…
    • THE GOOD – speaks of the works that come from us abiding in Christ!
    • Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
  • We are to HOLD FAST our GOOD works so people will glorify God!
    • God uses us to reveal Himself to others who otherwise do not know Him!
    • Why does God need us in order to magnify Himself… 
    • God is huge – but lost sinners are very far from Jesus…
    • It is though our GOOD works we magnify Christ so people can see His love!
    • Psalm 34:3 – “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
• 8^th – ABSTAIN from every form of evil… vs. 22
  • ABSTAIN – to stay away from / every FORM – we would say appearance / of EVIL…
  • It is not enough just to STAY AWAY from EVIL – even the APPEARANCE of EVIL!
  • I often see young men and women alone together – and it is not wise…
  • Even if they were just talking – other people do not know that…
  • Or sitting down at the drinking table to talk to friends – even if we do not drink…
  • We need to be so careful not ONLY of what we do – but also the APPEARANCE of our actions!

• 4^th – The POWER to obey…. vs. 23-24 (2 points)
  • 1^st – May the God of peace SANCTIFY you WHOLLY… vs. 23
    • SANCTIFY – hagiazo – to be set apart or holy (active / optative) …
    • WHOLLY – to be completely perfect in EVERY way…
    • Paul prayed that our WHOLE spirit / soul / and body be preserved…
    • PRESERVED – to be guarded or protected (passive / optative) …
    • BLAMELESS – 5x in NT to be without ANY fault / at the coming of Jesus Christ (Rapture)!
    • I was talking with a gentleman this week – discussing resource verses result…
    • There was no question on the results – we are to live a HOLY life – obey the commands…
    • The question comes down to what / who our resource is to live a HOLY life!
    • The Prayer and desire of Paul was that we would be HOLY till that day of the RAPTURE…
    • In other words – we would be found doing all 15 commands we just looked at – and more!
    • But DO NOT MISS what HE gives as the RESOURCE for HOW to live a HOLY life!
  • 2^nd – He who called you – will also DO it… vs. 24
    • The one who CALLED us is faithful – He never makes a mistake and never fails…
    • He will also be the one who will DO it – God is the one who makes us HOLY…
    • Philippians 2:13 – “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
    • So often we get this backwards in our Christian walk – thinking the more we do for God…
    • The more we read our Bible / go to church / pray / give – we will become HOLY…
    • But that is backwards – leads to legalism and defeat – and misses the POINT…
    • Not that reading / praying / church are bad things – but they are the result of what God does…
    • It is not that we HAVE to read / pray / give – to be HOLY…
    • Because God makes us HOLY – we want to do those things – we are His WORKMANSHIP!
    • Ephesians 2:10 – “We are His workmanship [same root], created in Christ for good works…”

AMEN – from the HEBREW – simply means let it be so!

Conclusion…. vs.  25-28 (4 points)

1^st – PRAY for us… vs. 25

Paul wraps up this incredible epistle with four final thoughts…

Brethren PRAY (imperative) for us – because we should pray for our pastors…

They are on the FRONT LINES – and we need to pray they stand strong in Jesus!

2^nd – GREET one another… vs. 26

Brethren GREET (imperative) all the brethren with a holy kiss…

In Israel it is still a custom to great one another with a kiss on the cheek…

It was meant to be a sign of the love within the church – a since of family!

Today we would say GREET one another with a HOLY elbow bump!

3^rd – Read the WORD… vs. 27

I CHARGE by the Lord – to take an oath – read this epistle to all the HOLY brethren…

Because it was important that EVERYONE hear the WORD of God!

Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

4^th – Grace be with you… vs. 28

The conclusion of the letter – THE GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all…