Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Statement Of Faith

End Times Part 3

INTRO:
Heb. 10:25  'let us not forsake the gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.'

     Do we really see the church as a place to come and be encouraged?

     Tony Compollo tells the story of a prostitute who struggled with life. She needed to change and didn't know how or where to get help. A friend suggested that she try going to church. Her response: Church, I already feel bad enough about myself. I wonder how many people feel the way she does.

EXP: Paul has said that the focus of the end times is not a study of time, date and manner of Christ's return. It is a recognition of who you are in Christ; one who has not been appointed to wrath but to life, eternal life in Christ. When Christ returns, you will be with the Lord and with your departed loved ones who were Christians for all eternity. So encourage one another with these words.

     Paul says that the focus of the end times is not a study of time, date and manner of Christ's return. It is a call to encourage one another in how to live knowing that Christ's return is imminent. Specifically, to encourage one another to live for Christ in the community of the church.

     In 1 Thess. 4:1 Paul writes, 'Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk) that you may excel still more.'

     Paul said, you're beginning to get it, now keep it up and build on what you are already doing well. You see, Paul's concern is for how we live together in the church, in light of Jesus' promised return.

     It is in our text these next few weeks, that Paul focuses on the Christian community. As we patiently wait for our Lord's return, Paul give us much needed counsel on the responsibilities we all share as the members of the local fellowship of Believers called the church.

Background: Timothy had been sent to the church at Thessalonica by Paul to see how it was doing. Timothy returned with many questions from the new Believers at the church and a few observations of his own, I believe. Paul not only addresses the questions but also Timothy's observations in this letter.

    From out test it seems that there were problems in the church at Thessalonica. It seems there were some in the church who were not showing proper respect for their leaders, others who were living carelessly, some who were abusing their leadership positions, there was a general lack of joy, prayer and thankfulness in the fellowship and there was an overall need for love and harmony among the believers.

     Paul writes to tell the church how to live in harmony while they together look for the return of the Lord.

TRANS: Open your Bibles to 1 Thess. 5:12 where we will see Paul gives...

III. A Call for Respect (vs 12-15)
Read: 1 Thess. 5:12-13

     If it indeed was true that the leaders in the Thessalonian church had confronted some individuals, it is likely that their actions were met with some resistance and rejection.   No one likes to be corrected. No one likes to be told to stop what they are doing because they are being divisive to church unity. This is America, no one tells us what to do...no one.

     That is why biblical discipline is nonexistent in most churches today. No leader likes having to correct or discipline someone in the church. No leader wants to be the object of retaliation by critical and abusive words and actions against him. But the health of a church depends on certain standards of doctrine and practice being upheld.

     I believe, Paul is trying to unite what had become divided in the church. And he speaks to both parties. First to the followers and then the leaders in the church.

    A. The Followers
         To the Believers at Thessalonica, especially those in opposition to the leaders there, Paul makes three requests.

 1. Appreciate/Respect
     Paul wants the church to respect the leaders that God gives them. And that is the point we need to stress here. God gives leaders to the church. God gifts them and empowers them to lead.

Eph. 4:11 'And He (God) gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers.'

Rom. 12:6 'And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us each exercise them accordingly'

Rom. 12:8 '...he who leads, lead with diligence'

     Paul says that each Believer  in the fellowship is to appreciate or respect their leaders. This means to recognize their position and treat them with reverence. Why? Because they are attractive, well spoken, a good dresser? NO!

     -Because of their work among you
         Key here is diligently labor among you. Those who work hard for the fellowship and the Lord should garner your respect.

     -Because of their authority over you
         This authority is not an arbitrary authority, not bossing people around .But instead by leading with the authority and presence of the Holy Spirit. An authority given to leaders by God Himself. For this leaders should garner your respect.

     -Because of their instruction to you
         Leaders are the primary ones who feed the sheep in the local church. They labor diligently to study and teach the whole counsel of God as found in His Word. For this leaders should garner your respect.

SIDEBAR: Note the plural 'those' who diligently labor among you. Leadership is plural in Scripture but there is never a requirement for how many ought to lead. I am grateful that the Lord has given a small church like CBC two elders and we pray that He will raise up even more in His time.

     Leaders are charged by God  with guiding and guarding the congregation and each person in the church is to submit to their leadership.

Heb. 13:17: 'Obey your leaders and submit to them for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief for this would be unprofitable for you.'

     I believe that leadership burnout in the church and the reason most Baptist pastors only stay in a church 4 years,  is not usually the result of being over worked but being under appreciated, disrespected and constantly criticized.  When that happens, the joy of ministry is lost and Pastors and other leaders serve defeated and w/o joy. Paul says that not only does the leader suffer, but the people suffer as well if because they have contributed to the stealing of the leaders joy.

     Paul says to appreciate and respect your leaders as you await the return of Christ.

 2. Highly Esteem/Love
     This means to be held in highest regard in love. No reservations are allowable. Leaders in the local assembly must be held in the highest regard and supported in a spirit of love. Why?

     -Because of their work
         Again, the reason for this high esteem, of this love is because of the leaders work among and for you. Leaders work to edify and build up the church, help conform believers to the image of Christ and to prepare them for the Kingdom of God. Leaders are to labor, unto weariness if need be. For this they should garner your love.

     Paul says to highly esteem and love your leaders as you await the return of Christ.

 3. Live in Peace
     This is more than 'let's all just get along'. He says it in the same breath as 'respect your leaders'. There is a natural tendency to complain about leaders. We do it in the work place, in our clubs and organizations we belong to and even in our church. And it is just that, natural...it is not a spiritual trait.

     If you want the church to be unified, stop criticizing your leaders, get behind and support them. It doesn't mean you will always agree, but it does mean you always be at peace with them.

     We need wise, strong and godly leaders in our churches today. But even more we need wise, strong and godly followers in our churches as well. An army of generals never won a war.

APP: If you are interested in God's work, then respect, love and be at peace those who do it, you r leaders. You might disagree with leadership, but respect what they do.  And God will be honored. Submitting to leaders is a sign of Christian maturity as you seek to live in obedience to God and His Word.

Trans: Paul now addresses the 2nd group, those in leadership in the local church.

    B. The Leaders
     To the leaders at Thessalonica, the Pastor/Elders, Paul makes 6 even stronger requests. You see, leadership always has the greater responsibility for maintaining unity in the community of the church.

Read: 1 Thess. 5:14-15

     1. Leaders are to Admonish the Unruly
         To admonish means to warn or reprove. Those who are unruly has two meanings;

         First it means idle, to loaf around when one ought to be working, busying themselves with matters that are not their own. In Paul's day there were those who would not serve in any ministry capacity because they were obsessed with the return of the Lord. Today, people are obsessed with any number of things that keeps them from active church ministry.

         Second, it means disorderly, as one who steps out of ranks in the army. Perhaps Paul is making reference to those who showed disrespect to the leaders by steeping out of their rank as follower and criticizing how the church ought to be led.

        In either case, Paul tells leaders to rebuke them and exhort them to take their place in active ministry and service in the church, to abide by and support the decisions of  leadership.

 2. Leaders are to Encourage the Fainthearted
     These are people who are easily discouraged, who need cheering up, and encouragement to continue on with the Lord. Perhaps these are the people who were discouraged about their friends and loved ones who had died in Christ  and were confused about how that would effect their participation in the Lord's return. Leaders are to encourage and comfort them.

 3. Leaders are to Help the Weak
     There is always a place for the strong in the church , but the weak, whether it be moral or spiritual weakness are often criticized, left out or passed by. The church is to be the place where the weak are welcomed and upheld. To uphold means to stand with. Leaders are to stand with those who are weak so that they will become strong.

 4. Leaders are to Be Patient with all
     Leaders must be long-suffering and patient toward all. Even when confronted with untruths concerning their character or ministry, even when shown disrespect by those in the congregation, leaders are not to retaliate but be patient.

5. Leaders are to see that Revenge is not taken
     The opposite of patience is retaliation in some form. And retaliation is not an option for the Believer. Even if the wrong done is by another Believer. When tempers run short among God's people, leaders are to step in and mediate peace. Leaders teach, by word and deed, that nonretaliation for personal wrongs is strong evidence of maturity in Christ.

 6. Leaders are to seek Good for all
     It is not enough to abstain from evil, leaders must do good, show kindness to others in the congregation. Leaders are to seek that which is good for others even if it means more work or discomfort for them. Leaders work not for their own good but for the good of the body of Christ.

Conclusion
     What all this comes down to is everyone needs to be encouraged as we wait for the Lord's return. Leaders and followers alike need to experience mutual love and respect if any local church is to truly be a fellowship and is to make an impact for Christ in  and on it's community.

     When leaders follows Paul's directives and when the followers obey Paul's words, there will be peace in the midst of the community of the saints, in the church.

    When this pattern is not followed, there will not be peace. This peace is not one without disagreements but the giving of mutual respect between leaders and people.

     Whenever a church is not united it is often because the Pastor or other leaders have not taken their leadership responsibility seriously OR the people have not allowed the Pastor or other leaders to lead effectively because they have not shown then proper and Christ like respect and support.

     It is not enough to have just leaders in the church, there must be partnership. Each member doing his or her own work for the  building up of the ministry in the local church.

     This has not been an easy sermon to preach, being the pastor and one in leadership. It would have been easy to toot my own horn and say what would benefit me. It is my prayer that the holy Spirit has kept me from doing that and has instead helped me to focus on the truth of God's Word alone.

     And this message may not have been easy to hear for those who have a critical attitude toward leadership. And I have tried not to use this message as a soapbox to correct you.

The simple truth is this.

     We, like the Thessalonians are working to be a church that encourages one another, leader and follower alike as we eagerly await the return of our Lord.

     We, like the Thessalonians are working to be a church that respects it's leaders and the leaders seek to respect and serve the people.

But, also like the Thessalonians, we can do better. We can excel all the more. And as we all walk in step with the Spirit of God, we will.