“WHAT TO DO UNTIL JESUS COMES”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
What would you do if you knew for sure that Jesus was coming back tonight?
That question was posed to the noted Bible teacher, the late Dr. Harry Ironside. He had finished speaking to a group of students preparing for ministry when one asked, “Dr. Ironside, what would you do if you knew for sure that the Lord was coming back tonight?” Ironside answered, “I’d have something warm to drink in about an hour or so, and then I’d go to bed.” The young man was shocked and Ironside added, “Gentlemen, I try to live every day in light and hope of His coming. I would see no reason to change my usual routine.”
Could that be said of us?
Paul had been challenging the Thessalonians to live in that hope. He closes with some final words. Here’s what to do until Jesus comes:
1. HONOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH (v.12-13) One important way to prepare for that day is to begin to submit to authority—to be accountable to church leaders. We do so:
. BY LISTENING (v.12) All who labor in the Word of God and serve the church are worthy of honor. They have an authority as God’s spokesmen. Note “in the Lord”—His Lordship underlies our leadership. The church is not a dictatorship, where a pastor is the church boss. It is not a democracy, where majority rules. It is a theocracy—the Holy Spirit calls and sets people apart for leadership. We need to listen to them as ambassadors of Christ.
They earn respect by their leadership (over you—the idea of guidance in wisdom). When church leaders make sound decisions that move the church forward in her mission, they are worthy of respect.
They earn respect by their lessons (admonish). Yet, we live in a culture where people don’t like to be told what to do. Since Eden we have been in rebellion against authority. One day we’ll answer for how we treated our leaders.
· BY LOVING (v.13) “very highly” is a double compound superlative adverb, abundantly beyond measure, as in “God is able to exceeding, abundantly above all…” (Eph.3:20). It means to have a deep love for the person that overflows respect for a position. The work they are doing merits recognition. That's why we recognize a Minister(s) of the Month. These are church leaders who are making a difference for the Kingdom and the Bible tells us to recognize them! While the major thrust of this text seems to be dealing with those we call the ordained pastors--the elders of the church--it would apply be extension to all leaders of the church, male or female, ordained or not.
Paul connects this issue of respect with being at peace among ourselves. The leaders and laity are to be at peace to impact a lost world. Many churches are crippled because of conflict between those who are in the pulpit and those in the pew. God calls us to love each other.
2. HELP THE LAITY AS THE CHURCH (v.14-15) Even the best leaders can’t do it all. Every member has a duty to help. When we speak of "laity" we mean the members of the church who are not ordained pastors. All of us have a responsibility to engage in ministry--not just the "paid professionals."
· OUR ACTIONS (v.14a) We are to be actively involved in the lives of church members. Three specific types need our help.
1) The disorderly: “unruly” is a military term for not staying in the ranks. They need to be confronted.
2) The discouraged. They need to be encouraged.
3) The dependent. They need to be assisted.
· OUR ATTITUDE (v.14b) Lit. “long-tempered” meaning to bear with, to put up with—not having a short fuse. Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight. We must not be impatient with others.
· OUR AIM (v.15) These Christians were suffering persecution. Yet, Paul challenges them not to retaliate. Contrast that with Islam where followers have rioted over cartoons published about Mohammed.
Jesus will get the last word, however. “Vengence is mine,” says the Lord. “I will repay.”
We are to overcome evil with good. This is our aim.
3. HALLOW THE LORD IN THE CHURCH (v.16-22) To hallow is to reverence the Lord, and we do it in the church through:
· PRAISE (v.16) This is not happiness for that depends on happenings. If outward stimuli are positive then I feel happy. But this is something deeper and better. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. We choose to rejoice. While I cannot always control things around me, I can control what is within me and I can choose to rejoice. The Thessalonians may have struggled with this for they were suffering persecution. They might have argued, "Paul, that's easy for you to say. You're not here and going through what we're facing." But Paul could have reminded them of his scars when he first came to them, still tender from the beating he received in the Philippian jail and reminded them how he lifted his hands, rattling with the chains attached to his wrists, and sand praises to God at midnight.
· PRAYER (v.17) Obviously, we cannot be on our knees 24/7 and cannot walk around with our eyes closed and mouth open in prayer. This is a river of fellowship with God flowing beneath the surface of our lives that gushes forth continually as need and opportunity arises in articulated prayer. I'll give you an example. As I was preaching this very message--in the very act of delivering it, I sensed a spiritual conflict--frankly, I was struggling. You didn't know it perhaps. But it was real to me and so was the prayer I offered several times on the nature of, "Lord, help me." "God speak through me." You didn't hear it, but I offered it in my mind--that's praying without ceasing.
· PERCEPTION (v.18) When we perceive things as God sees them we learn to be thankful in all situations. Paul doesn't say be thankful FOR everything, but be thankful IN everything. In good and bad, prosperity and adversity, we can always find something to be thankful for--if we believe Romans 8:28. One of my favorite Bible teachers, now in Glory, Alan Redpath told a story of a friend of his who read this verse and determined to apply it. He boarded a bus from Mobile, Alabama on a hot summer day for a day long trip. These were the days before air-conditioning was common. He arrived early and got on the Greyhound bus, securing a window seat. He remembered the verse and prayed, "Thank you, Lord, for letting me get a window seat where I can feel the breeze on this hot day!" The seat beside him remained unoccupied, even though the rest of the bus filled up and he prayed, "Thank you, Lord, for letting this seat be vacant so I can stretch out and relax on this trip." The door of the bus was closed and they were getting ready to pull out when a knock was heard. A passenger was arriving late--a very large woman with a four-year old in tow. She got on the bus, perspiring profusely, red hot as a blast furnace and took the seat beside the man and part of his as well! The child wasn't happy and began to kick and scream on the woman's lap--several kicks finding the man as well. Things got worse, when she lit a cigarette to calm her nerves, smoke enveloping the poor fellow, mingling with the body odor, making him nauseated. Then the kid calmed down, the cigarette smoldered and she fell asleep, leaning over on him, crushing him against the side of the bus. He tried to push her off, but she wouldn't budge and so there he was. He remembered the verse and his commitment, but thought, "Lord, what in the world in this situation could I possibly be thankful for?" Then it struck him--"Thank the Lord that you are not married to her!" We can always find a reason to be thankful!
· POWER (v.19) Fire is one of the emblems of the Spirit. We are not to smother the flame, but fuel it. In many the fire has gone out. How do we fuel the fire? Rejoice, pray, be thankful and by:
· PROCLAMATION (v.20) We need to hear and submit to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. This fuels the flame of the Spirit's work in us.
· PURITY (v.21-22) But don’t just swallow everything you hear. There will be an increase of false prophets in these last days before Jesus comes. Test them. When you find good hold it as a drowning man to a life preserver. Then get cleaned up for the impending wedding—abstain from every form of evil. The church is to be robed in spotless white looking for the Bridegroom's appearance.
4. HUMBLE YOUR LIFE FOR THE CHURCH (v.23-28) In the final analysis, we need grace and that comes to the humble.
· IN SANCTIFICATION (v.23-24) The word means, "set apart." Those who hold back nothing from God find He holds back nothing from us. We are to be yielded to Him entirely.
· IN INTERCESSION (v.25) If a great champion of faith like Paul needed prayers, how much do we need them!
· IN EDIFICATION (v.26-28) The word edify means to build up. The church is built on:
1) true fellowship (v.26). In that culture a holy kiss was a standard greeting of friendship. In some parts of our world today, it still is--but not so much in America. Let me give you the Baptist version, "Hearty handshakes all around!" Pats on the back and a few hugs are OK too. If you insist on being totally literal just make sure it is a "holy kiss." Hey guys, if you come at me to kiss me, all it's going to do is make me very nervous! Here's the point: people need friends. We need human affection and attention. This is what the Bible calls fellowship and it is crucial.
2) discipleship (v.27). That builds the believer and as they mature the church grows. There is no substitute for Scripture.
By these means, God imparts grace (v.28).
Paul began this letter in 1:1 by referring to grace and now he concludes with it.
There is a grace that saves us. It comes to the humble--those who admit they are sinners and that Jesus is the only Savior. Have you received that amazing, saving grace?
There is a grace that sustains us. It comes to the humble--those who admit their weakness and that Jesus is their only source of strength. Have you rested in that amazing, sustaining grace?
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