THE PASTOR’S POINTS
sermon ministry of
CEDAR LODGE BAPTIST CHURCH
Thomasville, NC
November 9, 2003
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit. 9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
1Thessalonians 4:1-12
Church life presents interesting slices of human nature; it also produces some pretty funny circumstances. An elderly woman exited from the worship service and was greeted by the Pastor at the door. “Oh, Pastor,” she gushed, “you don’t know how much your sermons have meant to my husband since he lost his mind.” [1]
A paramedic was interviewed by the news after some excitement at the downtown brick church. He told the reporter that had been the most frustrating call he’d ever answered. The reporter asked him to explain. “Well, we were called by the head usher because one of the worshippers had keeled over in the pew. He didn’t seem to be breathing and they couldn’t get a pulse, so they figured he was dead. They were right, he was a goner before we got to him.”
The interviewer questioned, “That’s too bad, but what was so strange about it?” Said the paramedic, “Well, we carried six guys out of there before we found out which one was dead.”[2]
Health is a major issue.
People go to great lengths to make sure they get healthy and stay healthy.
One of the largest industries in America is providing health care.
Food and vitamin producers vie for their share of the public’s money.
Advertisers say their products will make you healthy, and will also make you look and smell better.
Self-help books by the truckload claim you can be healthy if you just buy their program, process or machine. I have a wonderful exercise machine we purchased last December. I have pulled the cords on that intricate mechanism exactly twice – the first time was to make certain my son-in-law put it together right. The second time was just before I decided there’s gotta be an easier way!
Paul had a different approach to a healthy life. He did use athletic metaphors, such as running the race, so I suppose Paul did believe in eating right and exercising. (I’m quite certain he didn’t have that machine I got at Wal-Mart, though!). But, Paul’s approach is seen in the two ends of our text this morning, verse 1…
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more…
…and the last half of verse 12…
…and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Let me get right to the center of it this morning, Paul was telling us that a life which lacked nothing – a life which abounded more and more, is a life which is growing in relationship to God. It seems living a healthy life is found as we grow in our relationship to God. Often it is possible to see one of two things happening to people as they age.
1. Sometimes the events and circumstances of our life make us soft and gracious – that shows a person who is growing in learning how to please God. It shows a humility that gets more supportive and cooperative as the years go by.
2. Sometimes we allow events and circumstances to make us hard as nails and hard to be around. This shows the character of the person who has stopped leaning on God and is simply cursing the darkness; angry that life did not turn out the way they planned.
You know examples of both!
Paul’s phrase, to please God is the key. We can stay humble and pliable in the hands of the Master Potter if our daily goal is to please God. Paul pointed us in two directions, which actually are parallel roads, and can be traveled at the same time.
Direction #1. Live in Purity
Paul told the believers he didn’t have to remind them about how to choose right from wrong…God did that in their hearts. Paul’s letter was to remind them of what they already knew and exhort, even command them to do it…to live in sexual purity.
To review all the aspects of this would be exhaustive, and for another sermon. Suffice to say that any sexual activity outside of Christian marriage is dragging purity through the mud. It is also an empty rat race.
Paul used the word “concupiscence” – wow! (When is the last time THAT one came up in your vocabulary?) The word means the passion of lust. It is that drive which takes away the beauty of sex that God gave for a woman and man married to each other, and makes sexual activity fornication, adultery or homosexuality.
Living in purity means we will be healthier – both physically and emotionally. People who stay married and have a Christian commitment to fidelity, not cheating on their spouse actually live longer, healthier lives. People who slip-in and out of marriages and affairs find it harder and harder to adjust. The excitement of an affair fades rapidly, compared with the long-lasting benefits of love within marriage.
Chuck Colson had a recent article [Florida Baptist Witness] about homosexual behavior having an incredibly significant effect on health…
“But homosexual behavior is also hazardous to your health. More dangerous than smoking, it lowers the life expectancy dramatically. And yet we celebrate it – all part of so-called diversity. And now activists want to legalize same-sex ‘marriage,’ which is sanctioning behavior known to be dangerous….The truth is that same-sex relationships have just the opposite effect [of the benefits of heterosexual marriage]. We know that AIDS is one of the worst threats to homosexuals, but it’s far from the only one. Sexually transmitted diseases are running rampant in the homosexual community. According to the International Journal of Epidemiology, the life expectancy of a homosexual male is twenty years less than that of a heterosexual male. Homosexual acts are inherently unhealthy, and when you add the fact that promiscuity is widespread among homosexuals, you have a recipe for disaster. [3]
The opposite of this kind of disaster is living in purity. Paul told the Roman church,
…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God… Romans 12:1b
A person who wants to walk the pathway of a healthy life will first of all make a commitment to living in purity.
Direction #2. Love with Purpose
Paul told the church that love was the bottom line in the health business. In our text Paul echoed Jesus’ words to the disciples in the upper room the night he was betrayed.
FIRST HE GAVE THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE GOD AND EACH OTHER
Abide in me…John 15:4a
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
Most of us won’t put up much of a fight over loving God; that other thing is harder:
To love God up above, Oh that is our glory.
To love down below with these turkeys we know…
Lord that’s another story.
It takes work to love each other and our neighbors, acquaintances, and all the other human heroes and zeroes of the world. For the sake of time, allow me to sum up what we must do to love each other, care, prayer and share. We should attempt to care for one another. Jesus did that. There were those who were closer to Jesus, Peter, James and John. On the other hand Jesus didn’t forget the other 9, or the crowds he also fed. Prayer should be natural, and to share means we share our lives with everyone who has need. Sharing can be a kind word, financial resources or time – it all depends on how much Jesus has shared with you.
Beside the commandment to love, Paul also showed us…
THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVING GOD AND EACH OTHER
Paul said we would abound, and lack nothing. A life lived in purity and in the purpose of loving yields fruit. It leads to trust and respect, and also provides everything needed for a full and satisfying life, spiritually, physically, emotionally and in relationships. Jesus taught this principle in his Mountain Sermon:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
The pathway to a healthy life is paved with purity and purpose; a life lived in love. You might be thinking, “I’ve blown that purity thing…and love, well I do love God and I want to be obedient enough to love others, but sometimes I just don’t do very well at it. I wish I could, but sometimes I just don’t see it getting better.”
Friends, I assure you that, with God, there is never a wrong time to make things right. The only things God ever demands of us that which He has already demonstrated He is willing to do for us…
God would never have told his children to forgive one another if He wasn’t willing to forgive us the moment we come to him in repentance and confession.
God never would have told His children to strengthen one another if He wasn’t willing to strengthen you, and put you on a pathway that will help you make changes so you can live in purity.
God never would have commanded us to love one another if that wasn’t available in unlimited measure…only a prayer away.
Standing here in front of the table of Christ’s body and blood, we have the perfect evidence that Jesus was willing to back all that up with everything he had…for us! Come to this table…come to the Lord of this table…taste and see…the Lord is good!
Paul told this to the church back then in Thessalonica;
God knew we would need to hear it today in Thomasville.
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ENDNOTES
[1] Cal and Rose Samra, Holy Humor, (1996, Mastermedia Ltd, New York), 6
[2] Ibid., 4
[3] Copyright © 2003 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Used with permission
