AMC, 16.01.2022
Theme: Hold on to the Good
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Greetings:
Introduction:
We began this year with the theme: Do well in everything and every place (1 Kings 2:3), then the monthly theme is Do Good (Deuteronomy 12:28). We had meditated on the theme: Always Go Well (Deuteronomy 12:26-32), Do not weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9-10).
Today I would like to share with you Holding on to the Good. My meditation is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 at the end of the epistle, Paul puts certain things to hold on to:
Three good things to hold on to in our lives:
1. Hold pastors in the highest respect
2. Hold on to God’s will
3. Hold on to the Good
1. Hold Pastors in the highest respect (1 Thessalonians 12-15)
Paul urged the believers at Thessalonica to appreciate, value, and esteem Pastors who serve them. Appreciate means being acquainted with your shepherd and their prayer life, understanding their preaching, teaching and noting their exemplary life of sacrifice, humility, care and love of the congregation. Servant of God is appointed to oversee the congregation in spiritual matters. The ministers of God are organisers managers of the corporate affairs of their Church, also spiritual guides to give practical advice to individual Christians. (Ellicott) .
“Labouring,” “presiding,” and “admonishing” are the threefold calling of the Pastoral ministry. (Cambridge Bible for Schools and College). Benson observes there are three duties of a Minister. He labours, presides over, and admonishes the whole flock. Labour by preaching, teaching, catechising, visiting the sick, administering the ordinances. Presiding over and preventing all irregularities, and keeping order in their assemblies, and taking care that everyone, and give admonitions and reproofs necessary to amend the ways of the faulting brethren. Matthew Henry Puts that pastors must bear and forbear, be long-suffering, keep down anger, and must do good to others. John Gill says that the Congregations must love their shepherds exceedingly. The love not out of fear, nor in hypocrisy and dissimulation, not in word and tongue only, but from the heart and real affection.
According to Vincent, the ecclesiastical jargon of the Pauline Epistles is unsettled. The primitive Pauline church was not a homogeneous institution throughout Christendom. They were separate fraternities and were self-governing. The recognition of those who ministered to the congregations depended on the free choice of their members in the early centuries. (Vincent’s Word Studies). But one thing is clear that there existed orders in the Church, such as Clergy and laity with specific duties and authority. (Cambridge Bible for Schools and College).
We need to respect the kingdom workers because they are sent by God (Matthew 9:38). The elders or the presbyters who involve in preaching and teaching, due for respect and love. To recognize their office (1 Corinthians 16:18), and treat them accordingly with reverence and with liberality in supplying their needs (1 Timothy 5:17). Because they are soul winners as wise workers (Proverbs 11:30), kingdom builders, and lead many to righteousness (Daniel 12:3). Paul had the vision, aim and purpose to win as many as possible (1 Corinthians 9:19).
Paul tells them that they should honour in love the one who admonishes them. Servants of God admonish believers to live in peace with each other, warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Teach not to be revengeful and be kind to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15). Paul simply meant the spiritual discipline of the believers. Follow their faith life. Honour them in whatever way you can. You will receive the award from the Lord. This is true with us even today. How we respect and regard those who work among us for the Lord. The full-time ministers, evangelists, Pastors?
2. Hold on to God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18)
Illustration:
The stranger approached the pastor after service and said, “I’d like you to pray for my hearing.”
The pastor placed his hands on the man’s ears and said a passionate, earnest prayer.
“How’s your hearing now?” the pastor asked.
Looking surprised, the man said, “Pastor I asked for a court hearing which is on tomorrow.” (Court Hearing)
Paul continued to write and exhort the believers at Thessalonica to be Joyful always, Pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. These three precepts are easy when things are favourable and if everything goes well.
Disciples of Christ must cultivate the practice of the presence of God which leads to an overflow of joy. A wicked man rejoices in his wickedness, a hypocrite in his profession of religion, and the reputation he gains by it; and a legalist in his morality, civility, negative holiness, and obedience to the rituals of the law; for such rejoice in their boastings which are evil.
But rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the greatness, fitness, fulness, and glory of his person, in his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice. Rejoice not in the things of this life, such as for a fitting physical body, for intellectual property, for owning plots and flats, and having riches. But for that, your name is written in heaven, and you are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and called by his grace, and shall be glorified together with him, and shall live eternally (John Gill).
Maclaren says that there are two sources from which gladness may come, the one is circumstances of a pleasant and gladdening character, and the other is communion with God. Pray continually not mechanically, not unworthy but meaningful and profitable manners. Sometimes the deepest and truest communion with God is voiceless and wordless. To maintain and improve holy joy, be always in a spirit of prayer. Pray privately and publicly at all proper seasons. Hold hands together in prayer with your family, believing friends, and spiritual congregations to the throne of grace at all opportunities (Benson).
Matthew Henry says truly religious life is a life of constant joy. Our rejoicing integrated with our prayer and praise. Prayer helps to take forward all lawful business and every good work. Give thanks for prospering and preventing; for common and uncommon, past and present, temporal and spiritual mercies. God designs all for our good. Prayer demands and calls perseverance in prayer, praying with strength (Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2)
The obligation of gratitude is a spiritual virtue. An average Christian does not recognise the importance of it. True believers should not forget the blessings of the past, yielding of old golden days. Think and praise God for the blessings of the children, the success of the business and fruitfulness. The prospered things and turnings of the impossibilities in your life career. Praise God for all because of the love and grace of God. The unmerited favour is flown day after day. Think of the loving purposes of God and their fulfilments while you were passing through them. Give thanks for everything of the Past including failures, disappointments and defeats. God does everything perfectly in our lives, which is the will of God.
For almost three to four years, I lived with my failures, I could not pursue my studies successfully. I was kept shifting from one organisation to another but neither satisfied with what I was doing nor successful. I became a laughing stock. I desired to be a theological teacher but God put me back to Pastoral ministry. So, I learned to give thanks to the LORD for all my life struggles. Now when I look back all of my failures were good for me. They turned into blessings.
Remember all that God has done in your life, in your children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents. Today who you are all because of who he is in your life. Rejoice, pray and praise him without ceasing.
3. Hold on to the Good (1 Thessalonians 5:19-24)
According to the Dictionary of the Bible, the English word good comes from Tobh, Tube, yaTabh of the Hebrew, and agathos, Agathon, Kalos, kalon of the Greek.
Good is defined as possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, and agreeable. Good is the opposite of whatever is Bad. There is Good food (Genesis 2:9), and good news (Isaiah 52:7). Good is moral excellence, and piety ( Genesis 3:22, 1 Kings 3:9). Good means kind, and benevolent (men were kind to us - 1 Samuel 25:15, Yahweh is good - Psalm 73:1). Good means serviceable, adequate, and sufficient. In NT good is quality, physical or moral (Matthew 7:11), and beautiful, pleasing, useful, noble, worthy in a moral sense (Matthew 5:16).
David says trust in the Lord and he does good (Psalm 37:3). Jesus told us to love our enemies and do good to them (Luke 6:35). They may see your good deeds and praise your father (Matthew 5:16). Peter in his Epistle wrote believers to live such a good life among the pagans, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12). Paul urged believers to be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6:18). We should spur one another towards good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Doing good in everything God has given to us, through responsibilities, you must set an example to others (2 Timothy 2:7).
John Gill says that holdfast that which are good, honest, pleasant, profitable, and agreeable to sound doctrine, to the analogy of faith, and the Scriptures of truth, and is useful and edifying, instructive both as to principle and practice. Hold fast to the good even though a majority may be against it, for the multitude is not always on the side of truth, though it may be rejected by men of learning and wealth. Christ and his doctrines were rejected by the Scribes and Pharisees, and rulers of the people, yet truth never changed. Hold fast to the truth.
The best examples of good deeds are feeding the hungry, quenching the thirst, clothing the naked (Matthew 25:35-36). Tabitha who was also called Dorcas, the Old lady in Joppa, was always doing good and helping the Poor (Acts 9:36).
People hold grudges against one another. Holding anger, jealousy, enmity leads to sickness and death. Paul urges the readers to hold on or retain what is good. Leave aside everything else. Good is fine in quality. Good is mentally acceptable and peaceful and pleasing to the heart and mind, soothing to the soul. Throw away all this is suitable to you to hold your grudges, justifications of your attitudes.
Illustration:
A preacher was completing a temperance sermon:
with great expression, he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."
With even greater emphasis, he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."
And then, finally, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." He sat down.
The song leader announced with a pleasant smile, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #365: 'Shall We Gather At the River.’
Conclusion:
Hold on to your both hands which are worthy to be praised. Leave aside all sorts of untruthful teachings, preaching and suitable to itching ears. Hold fast the fellowship with believers, hold fast your love to all. We can tailor the teachings according to our suitability. Truth cannot be altered and modified.
