Shalom,
Scripture references are from,
the SET (Stone Edition Tanach) or the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) for the OT
and the PNT (Power New Testament ) for the NT unless otherwise specified.
1 Thes 2:13. And because of this in fact we on our part, just as you do, give thanks to God constantly, because when you learned a message of divine preaching, you received it from us not as a doctrine of men but, as it truly is, a doctrine of God, Who is working among you who believe. 14. For you became imitators, brothers, of the called out ones of God, those who are in Messiah Jesus in Judea, because you suffered these things even under your own countrymen just as they under the Jewish people, 15. and those who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets also persecuted us severely and since they were not pleasing to God and because they were hostile to all men, 16. when they hindered us from speaking to the heathens so that they could be saved. In this manner they always fill up their sins to overflowing. But the wrath of God came upon them unexpectedly at last.
2:17. And we, brothers, since we have been made orphans by separation from you for a season of time, in person not heart, we are all the more eager with great desire to see you in person. 18. Because we have wanted to come to you, indeed I, Paul, did again and again, but Satan has hindered us. 19. Indeed what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at His coming - is it not you? 20. For you are our glory and joy.
There is a difference!
A difference between the preaching of men and the divine preaching or preaching from YHVH...
1 Thes 2:13. And because of this in fact we on our part, just as you do, give thanks to God constantly, because when you learned a message of divine preaching, you received it from us not as a doctrine of men but, as it truly is, a doctrine of God, Who is working among you who believe.
Preacher be warned! A word from YHVH does not generally remain a word from YHVH when applied at your will or in your time.
At a time or in a season YHVH may have given you or someone else a word. It was a word in due season but it may not be such a word today!
Pro 15:23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season -- how good!
Pro 15:24 A path of life [is] on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath. YLT (Young’s Literal Translation
That word which was perfectly timed by YHVH as just the word that was needed "then" may be of nearly no value when applied today. You personally may gain something from it but it may not be where your congregation is at all. Rather than speaking a word out of season it would be better for you and your congregation to take time to seek YHVH’s face.
2 Chr 7:14 then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.
Sheep without a sheep dog tend to wander. They go here or there, to the left or the right or not at all. A congregation, without a word in due season will wander as well. They may all sit prim and proper before you and they may all respond as you think they should, yet their hearts may be off wandering all over the place. A word from a commentary or a collection of sermons from a denomination should be seen as little more than "good reading" material. Instead of seeking the words of these men you need to be seeking YHVH’s face. If you don’t have time then you need to stop doing so much that is not YHVH’s gifting for your life or you need to find your gifting that is not in the pulpit! I know, "If I don’t do it then who will?"
Rom 12.1. Therefore I urge you, brothers, through the compassion of God, to present your bodies holy, living offerings, pleasing to God, your spiritual service: 2. and stop being conformed to this age, but you must from the inside continually be changed into another form, by the renovation of your mind, to prove what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God for you.
12:3. For I say, through the grace that has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think too highly of yourselves beyond which it is necessary to think, but to think to put a moderate estimate of yourself, in the same manner as God divided to each a measure of faith.
Don’t allow the way and the will of others to direct your path, your ways! You are to seek the perfect will of YHVH and thereby also to lead others to do the same. YHVH has divided to each a measure of faith. When you consider yourself to be of more importance than you ought you will actually prevent others from ever finding their gifting in YHVH.
Ask yourself, when Paul died did the congregations that he started die as well?
How often have you seen that when a "Preacher" dies that the ministry that he had dies with him? That man was doing more than he was gifted to do! That ministry was based or focused more on that man then it was upon YHVH.
Here is a very simple litmus test that any "preacher" can use to see if he is a "preacher" or a Pastor!
Do the number of people in the congregation drop off when it is known that you will not be in the pulpit during a particular service?
If they do then the sheep are following you, the "preacher" rather than seeking YHVH’s face!
They are following you rather than YHVH.
They know your voice but they do not know the voice of YHVH.
If you have meetings three days a week, then without announcing a thing you should be able to be somewhere else without anyone taking note. Any person gifted to preach from YHVH should be able to herd those sheep under the watchful direction of The GREAT SHEPHERD.
As an admonition to ALL that are gifted by YHVH to bring forth HIS Word, Paul wrote to Timothy...
2 Tim 4.1. I am charging you before God and Messiah Jesus, the One Who is going to judge the living and the dead, at His appearance and in His kingdom: 2. you must now preach the Word, you must now be ready in season out of season, you must now correct, you must now rebuke, you must now encourage, with great patience and every kind of instruction. 3. For there will be a time when sound teaching will not be listened to but they will heap up teachings according to their own desires in themselves, what their ears are itching to hear 4. and indeed they will turn their ears from the truth, and they will turn aside to myths. 5. But you must continually be sober in everything, you must now bear hardship patiently, you must now do the work of an evangelist, you must now fulfill your ministry.
"Now", at this time and moment, continuously, currently, at all times, presently be ready, be in season and out. At any time, in any place that YHVH has led them or you to be, they/you are to have a Word from YHVH waiting to come forth. With that in mind any time they/you walk into the presence of a congregation of one or one hundred thousand they/you should have a Word from YHVH ready to be delivered. A Word from YHVH, not some other man, not from the denominational headquarters!
As the Senior Pastor (Senior Under-Shepherd) of your local congregation, you should be able, before or during any service to tell one of your Under-Shepherds that they are to be presenting the message and they should be ready to do so. Not only should they be ready to do so but the congregation should be ready to receive it as if it were coming forth face to face, directly from the mouth of YHVH. There should be no difference noted when you are there or not for they are being led by YHVH and not coming to see or hear you!
1 Thes 2:13. And because of this in fact we on our part, just as you do, give thanks to God constantly, because when you learned a message of divine preaching, you received it from us not as a doctrine of men but, as it truly is, a doctrine of God, Who is working among you who believe.
When an Under-Shepherd is bringing forth Divine Words rather than their own then the sheep will be hearing from YHVH and not from men. They will be seeking HIS face rather than the face of the "preacher". The Under-Shepherd will be promoted or given more responsibility from YHVH regardless of what the "denomination" does, thinks or wants. There is no specific measure of how that responsibility is manifest but there is a peace or a rest found in it. When the Word coming to the congregation is from YHVH it will be received and received as from YHVH. It may not always be liked but it will be received. Liked or not it will then become known that YHVH is working amongst you (your congregation the other Under-Shepherds and you individually). When it is "known" that YHVH is working amongst you others will come to hear and to see what HE is doing.
1 Thes 2:14. For you became imitators, brothers, of the called out ones of God, those who are in Messiah Jesus in Judea, because you suffered these things even under your own countrymen just as they under the Jewish people, 15. and those who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets also persecuted us severely and since they were not pleasing to God and because they were hostile to all men, 16. when they hindered us from speaking to the heathens so that they could be saved. In this manner they always fill up their sins to overflowing. But the wrath of God came upon them unexpectedly at last.
When you become imitators or brothers of Y’SHUA (Rom 8:29) some will come to persecute you, to crucify you just as they did Him!
Their reward awaits them and will be distributed to them by YHVH, in HIS way and in HIS timing.
When we talk of "instant" today it is not uncommon to think of "just add water". In YHVH’s economy, if you will add to any opportunity the anointing of The HOLY SPIRIT (YHVH’s water) you will have instant results! Some will instantly turn from "their" ways to seek the face of YHVH and yet others will instantly seek to block, hinder or turn from the face of YHVH.
1 Thes 2:14. For you became imitators, brothers, of the called out ones of God, those who are in Messiah Jesus in Judea, because you suffered these things even under your own countrymen just as they under the Jewish people, 15. and those who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets also persecuted us severely and since they were not pleasing to God and because they were hostile to all men, 16. when they hindered us from speaking to the heathens so that they could be saved. In this manner they always fill up their sins to overflowing. But the wrath of God came upon them unexpectedly at last.
You are called to be an imitator of Y’SHUA and thus to do and speak nothing that is not from YHVH (Jn 5:19; 30). As Y’SHUA did you are to yield your self to totally serve the will of YHVH regardless of what is in store for you (Lk 22:42).
You are to be the expressed, spoken forth image of the ONE who created you, of YHVH (Gen 1:26; Hbr 1:3).
You are not called to condemn the world (Jn 3:17) but to be imitators of The CHRIST.
When you do what Y’SHUA did and bring forth the divine Word of YHVH you will suffer persecution from this world and they will receive from YHVH unexpectedly. At the same time you will see results for the Kingdom of YHVH. You will see others becoming the Brothers of Y’SHUA.
1 Thes 2:13. And because of this in fact we on our part, just as you do, give thanks to God constantly, because when you learned a message of divine preaching, you received it from us not as a doctrine of men but, as it truly is, a doctrine of God, Who is working among you who believe. 14. For you became imitators, brothers, of the called out ones of God, those who are in Messiah Jesus in Judea,...
Are you being conformed into the image of your brother, the Firstborn among many brethern?
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. KJV
Imitation is the highest form of flattery!
Do you represent, look like, "imitate" a "preacher" or a denomination; or do you look like your brother, Y’SHUA?
Who do you imitate?
