Please read the entire passage prior to the sermon presentation to set the stage.
This week we start the second oldest book in the New Testament as recorded in its publishing. We began with James on our year-long journey chronological study of the New Testament. Hence the reason we are calling this message series Chronos. It's a word that means “time.” We will be journeying through time back to the start of the early church. For the next few months we will be walking through the books written to those in Thessalonica.
Today, we open to the second chapter of this amazing letter to the church plant in one of the main travel junctions in all the Roman empire. A city of around 300,000 with some upper class but a great deal more working class people. The city was made up of Romans, Greeks and a powerful group of Greek speaking Jews.
The leadership collective (paul, silas and timothy), who had a relationship with this new church plant, were together reviewing the Christian movement and were sending this letter to the new church plant in Greece as encouragement and to correct some issues that had arisen.. Although Paul had only spent three to four weeks at this house church, he was impressed with the willingness of Thessalonians to live the mission when others would not.
Last week, we discovered that a witness for Christ must try everyday to express the hope we have within our hearts
We read the entire passage at the beginning to get everyone thinking about the words Paul is writing to this new church plant. I want to pick up the five questions proposed by this final portion of 1 Thessalonians we heard earlier.
Verse 14 - And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone
idle and disruptive… Is it a sin to idle?
I was brought up in a family where moving and doing was important. One of my dad’s favorite says was, “we’ve gotta go. We've Really really gotta go.” To be idle was considered bad. However, Paul is not talking about taking a rest or a sabbath, after all planning a sabbath actually demonstrates faith. Trust that God is in control and active even when we take a breather is faith.
When Paul is condemning those who are idle. He is speaking to a few bad actors. They were not willing to work because they justified that if the end of the world was coming what's the point of working. Paul understood these people were causing problems within the new collection of believers. It would have been like that group project in school or at work when one or two people don’t pull their weight but your paycheck or grade depends on them joining the process. Someone from the outside needed to address the situation. Living in service as a group involves sensitivity: sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropriate remedy for each situation. In this case, Paul was calling them out by going public with his comments. He then offers a little more leadership advice.
In Verse 16 -18, Paul says - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I can’t tell you how many coffee mugs or t-shirts I have seen these words on but it begs the question,
Is Paul telling us, or demanding, that we be happy always, live on our knees and act like a group of pollyannas (excessively and irrationally cheerful) and if you don’t, you’re not a “real” Christian?
Paul is highlighting a Christian's attitude. Christian attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing the hope his presence within us offers and determining to obey him fully. As a result of this obedience, it becomes natural to pray all the time. God always hears us and always answers us. Praying and waiting humbles us before God as well as teaches us to rely on his will over our own.
So when that wacked out Christian tells you to be cheerful and give thanks on the worst day of your life, remind them that you already have and you look forward to the moment God either miraculously intervenes or uses this experience to bring about an outcome we cannot fathom.
Verse 19 - Do not quench the Spirit
Can a human stop God’s Spirit from moving in this world?
I will never forget being in a prayer gathering in Africa. The day of teaching and worship was amazing. You could literally feel the presence of the Holy Spirit growing among the participants. As we came closer to the end of the day, one of our leaders opened up a divisive topic among those present. One statement led to another and eventually the entire conference was shouting at one another. You could literally feel the Spirit leave the room, like air from a flat tire.
Quenching the Spirit happens in three ways.
We quench the spirit by not acknowledging the Spirit’s power
When you feel His presence, it is unmistakable. In this sanctuary, a gentleman told me it felt like a shock of electricity coming up from the floor through his body. Another woman told me her entire body and mind felt like they supercharged. I know both people were experiencing the Holy Spirit because they were having a hard time describing what was happening. If you have never felt His power, repent to Him and then ask to receive.
Another way we quench the Spirit is not accepting the Spirits freedom
When the Spirit is upon you, we all have a choice. God never removes your free will. He created you with free will so when override your free will ( your selfish, self centered, worldly desires) for His glory, His gifts shine even brighter within you.
Unfortunately, our justifying minds can, and do, become arrogant. At which point, we begin to believe there are limits to the power of the Holy Spirit. For example, He won't help you in your time of need because of some sin from the past. God doesn't hold grudges. He will come to everyone who believes, repents and calls upon His name.
The third way we quench the Holy Spirit is by attempting to do the Spirits work in human strength instead of relying on Him
Let’s just admit the truth, we all fall short of having faith in God at times and this limits the power of our faith. We prefer the pride of our own worldly prowess over the humility of admitting our limitations. We quench the Spirit every time this takes place. We elevate ourselves to God’s throne or God’s place in the eternal in an effort to get what we desire versus God’s desires for the best gift.
Verse 20 - Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all;
When I read these verses, I ask myself “What was happening in this small group of believers that Paul would suggest testing prophecies?”
After all, Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit moving all believers to have prophetic dreams, see visions and give prophecy. Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17-21 confirm this and that we are living the last days before His return.
If you wonder about this, scripture describes the last days in Hebrews 1:1-2, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Cor 10:1, 1 John 2:18, Mark 4:11. For those keeping track that’s Luke, Paul, Peter, John and Mark who believe we are in the last days.
The issue arises when people believe everything shared supernaturally is from God. The evil one works in the supernatural realm as well as God. Some experiences are the evil one trying to confuse people. Remember, the evil one seeks to discourage and disenfranchise believers. By providing an experience that seems to be a supernatural event, the evil one and his minions can destroy individuals, small groups, ministries and even churches. Don’t be naïve. The best way for evil to steal, kill and destroy a faith is by convincing a believer they have a unique connection with God for good. This pride is dangerous because it can slowly make the gift a nightmare, often resulting in a person or group turning away from God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. As such, we must always have a spiritual guide to help us discern supernatural moments. As committed Christians, we need each other.
So as we come to the end of Paul’s letter to those in Thessalonica, let us take heed of the reality of our mission individually and collectively, only our relationship with God, His Son and His Spirit will guide us through this life. As we have learned, we should expect - temptation, persecution, trouble, unwarranted hatred, envy, and strife.
Jesus told the disciples in John’s gospel(16:33), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Our God came to earth, lived your life, was unjustly crucified, died and rose again so you could fully rely on Him. As David wrote in Psalm 138
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
