November 14, 2010
25th Sunday after Pentecost
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Disciples - Under Construction
Grace mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
A lot of people are fascinated by end time predictions. Some Christians even dangerously seek information from non- Biblical --that is worldly or demonic sources. Some Christians read things in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Daniel, and Revelation that, quite frankly, aren’t there. Last summer we presented a CD series on the book of Revelation by professor Louis Brighton from Concordia Seminary St. Louis. His presentation gave the clear message that God is in charge --trust Him -- our salvation comes from Christ not us. God is in control of the universe -- you can not change the wind but you can adjust your sails. We can seek God’s will and follow in obedience.
End times preaching and study seems to fascinate people who often are amazingly some what illiterate when it comes to the rest of the Bible, in general, and the Gospel message in particular. Many people focus on end times rather than on our Savior.
Some of the same people find fascination with Mayan calendars and Nostradamus.
Paul got dragged into this mindset, it appears, by accident, when he tried to comfort the Thessalonians in his first letter. He states clearly, “ For God has not destined us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live for Him. (1 Thess. 5:9-10)
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul resolved the question. He said in Chapter 5 verse 2 the last day will come quickly, as a thief in the night. Jesus says essentially the same thing in Matthew 24:36 “no one knows the day or the hour.” -- scripture interprets scripture - not the Mayans - not Nostradamus.
The Thessalonians became convinced that the end was imminent and why do anything. Why work? They thought that the last day was right around the next corner..
Paul in chapter 3 admonishes them for idleness. (v 6) and by his apostolic authority commands them to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. He calls on his readers to imitate him because he imitates Jesus.
In addition to warning them about idleness he admonishes them about one of the results of idleness- becoming a busybody. Those “experts” who concern themselves with the business of others, gossips, yentas, newsmongers etc. Sadly, guys just like me, some days, at the McDonald’s morning “think tank”
I was fortunate when I turned 16 in that my grandmother retired and wanted to get rid of her car. She graciously gave it to me and I quickly learned that it was easier to have the oil changed than to change the oil so I took it to the neighbor hood service station back when every other corner had a gas station that could actually change oil and do some other work. However, the owner of the station had one rule. He would not work on a car that had a dirty engine. In order to get my oil changed, I had to get the engine cleaned first. Once clean he would keep it clean henceforth.
Fortunately Jesus is not like this. He saved us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8 ).
He didn’t ask us to clean up first. He cleansed us with His blood. He keeps us clean with His blood. His entrance requirement is our faith in His sacrifice.
I have never been much of an athlete but I do know that to hit a home run you have to keep your eye on the ball not the ball park fence. To hit a good golf shot you have to keep your eye on the ball and not the green. To split firewood you have to focus on the wedge not the wood pile. To live a sanctified life you have to focus on the Lord Jesus and the Good News of Salvation.
The Thessalonians had salvation. They weren’t all sure what to do next. The transformation that Paul speaks about in Romans 12, and I spoke about here on September 5, was yet to follow. The transformation is our response to the mercies of God. We become followers of Christ -- imperfect imitators of Christ -- still falling short -- but growing. Evermore keeping our eyes on Christ and less and less on the world. This work started with our Baptisms and continues through the power of the Holy Spirit. A response to the Gospel and not the Law.
The prophet Jeremiah says it more eloquently. ““This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.(Jer. 31:33)
Paul in Philippians 1:5 talks about a partnership in the Gospel. Think about it --
Partnership ------ what a great concept ----- The very idea of a good partnership exudes warmth. Two or more people, working together towards mutually desirable goals. Two or more people with different perspectives and abilities respecting the views, talents, dreams and abilities of other partners. Even the synonyms for partner sound good: associate, colleague, confederate, sharer, companion, spouse. Partners -- united in a common goal, not out of fear or force, but in grateful response to the Gospel - the Good News about Jesus Christ.
Paul in his letter to the Philippians feels the joy of a partnership in the Gospel -- a partnership that is centered around Christ Jesus and nurtured by the Holy Spirit.
In the business and professional world, achieving the rank of partner is a sought after goal. More important than the trappings of rank -- corner offices, private restrooms and fancy conference rooms-- is the level of involvement and commitment in achieving the goals of the business -- a sense of satisfaction for a job well done with the cooperation of others..
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Employees of a firm are involved in the business, customers of the business are involved but, partners are committed.
I often think of an illustration about commitment. When we order ham and eggs in a restaurant for breakfast, we can think of the chicken as being involved in the project and the pig as being committed to the project.
True partnership means commitment. Partners stick together and stay committed -- customers will jump ship when the going gets rough or when there is a better deal someplace else. Employees will also abandon ship in stormy seas. Partners in the Gospel share a common Biblical vision. A passion for the Lord, a passion for the great commission and a passion for ministry. Partners in the church realize that we all have gifts given for works of service so that the body of Christ will be built up. All of the gifts are important -- some are more visible -- but all are important. Partners realize that an extremely important task is the training and equipping of others for ministry. Partners know that they must mature in the faith and facilitate others to also grow in faith by teaching and/or mentoring. Partners minister to the needs of other partners, employees, customers and potential customers.
For our partnership in the Gospel to function we need to treat our partners as God would want us to treat them. Sounds simple enough until we let sin enter the picture. Satan starts the process. We start to think only of ourselves and not others We start to keep score -- “I do more than he does -- I should have more to say.” “ I give a lot of ‘my money’ to this church and I am determined to tell the church what they can do with it.” “I work in the background and he works in the limelight.” Instead of employing Matthew 18:15-18 when a brother or sister sins against us, we talk to others and become busybodies like the Thessalonians.
In the business world only some employees get to be partners. In the business world most customers do not become partners. In the Church of Christ ALL are invited to partnership.
In the church we have customers, involvement is present at various levels, but commitment is often lacking. In the business world we are thankful for customers. In the Church we also need to thank God for customers. All customers are invited to become partners. The invitation is always open. For some, becoming a partner happens fast. The Holy Spirit finds prepared soil and goes to work. For others it is a slower process. We all know of Saul’s ( a.k.a. St. Paul ) dramatic encounter with our Lord on the road to Damascus. Although he was full of the Holy Spirit, circumstances prevented him from active public ministry for several years. When the time was right he vigorously pursued his ministry as apostle to the gentiles. We know from 1 Cor. 9:24-26 that Paul did not run aimlessly, he ran to get the prize. I ask, do you think he sat in the desert of Arabia for three years feeling sorry for himself or did he prepare for his eventual partnership in the Gospel? Should we sit in the pews as customers on a weekly or twice a year basis or should we train for partnership?
Training requires sacrifice. Training requires denying oneself. A senior partner has had his eye on the prize for a long time. Our salvation is a gift from God -- it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith - we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advanced for us to do. Without the Holy Spirit we can not even say that Jesus is Lord. The Holy Spirit prepares us for partnership.
Daily we can seek God’s will in our lives through scripture reading and prayer. One day at a time we can open ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power. Then, whether it is our last day on Earth or the return of Christ, it will be a day of joy for the elect.
