190, 1,190, 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, and we're going to read the whole chapter.
2 Thessalonians 3, starting at verse 1, on page 1190.
So, let's hear God's word to us.
Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly
and be honoured, just as it was with you.
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle
and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.
We were not idle when we were idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.
On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
We did this not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
For when we were with you, we gave you this rule, if a man will not work, he shall not eat.
We hear that some among you are idle.
They are not busy.
They are busy bodies.
Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of them.
Do not associate with them.
In order that they may feel ashamed.
Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as a brother or sister.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,
which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters.
This is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Tom.
Good morning.
It's great to be here in Caragline with you all.
So, just before we start, I'm very conscious that this is God's word.
It's what he says.
And we need his help to understand this.
Who are we just to look at it flippantly and think we can understand all that it says.
So we're going to pray and ask for his help in understanding what it says today.
Father, we thank you for giving us your word, the Bible, that you have shown us who you are through the words of these pages.
And ultimately through your son Jesus.
And now as we look at this very specific passage, written in a very specific point in time,
help us to understand it.
Lord, I need your help as I explain it.
I pray that we would understand what it means and how that applies to us today.
Amen.
It has to be done.
It pays the bills.
I love what I do.
I wish I had a better job.
I'm always so bored.
What's our attitude towards work?
Is it something that we despise having to do?
Are we obsessed with it?
Are we earnestly trying to find it?
Are we physically not able for it?
Have we finished with work?
Are we retired?
Should we even bother working?
Well, Paul has a lot to say about work in this passage.
And we'll be looking how he finishes off the letter to the Thessalonians.
We looked back in July at the first chapter.
And now we're going to look how he finishes this letter.
But as we think about work today, please don't just think employment.
As Google put it nicely, work is an activity involving mental or physical efforts done in order to achieve a result.
Not necessarily you need to be paid for it.
It's not employment.
We're thinking about work in general.
So we need to remember who he's writing to.
So Paul's writing a letter.
It's not just a book that he wrote.
He's actually writing to a group of people, a church like this, in a place called Thessalonica.
So these people have been facing a lot of trouble, as you might remember, both externally and internally.
But at the very start of the letter, he reminds them that they are being kept in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is writing to encourage them and instruct them as God's people.
So they face fierce persecution from outside themselves, as we heard in chapter 1.
And they face conflict and trouble from within, as there were some who had very bad attitudes towards work and working.
So a quick overview.
Paul in chapter 1 speaks of God's justice and Christ's revelation.
In chapter 2, we see him reassure the church about what must happen before Jesus comes back.
We see a man called the man of lawlessness.
And he encourages the church to stand firm.
And now in chapter 3, Paul gets practical and provides very helpful teaching for the church.
And it's not just for Thessalonica, not for just that place in the ancient world.
But with God's help, we can understand what it means for us in Cargilline, in County Cork, in Ireland today.
Okay, so the first thing that Paul talks about, we're stuck, is one, prayer for work.
So in the first five verses, we see the first thing in this last chapter is Paul's request for them to pray.
But to pray for what?
Prayer that God would work through Paul and his team of workers.
And there are three main things that he mentions in these first few verses.
So in verse 1, what does it say?
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.
So Paul's main concern is that the message of the Lord, that is the gospel, would spread and be honoured.
So the image that Paul uses here is literally that the message of the Lord would run.
It's an image that the hearers at the time would be very familiar with.
And it's one he used in a similar letter to the Corinthian church, which when he was talking about an athlete.
But not just that this message would spread and would go far, but that it would be honoured.
Not just in how the people explained it, but that it would be believed and accepted.
Paul is wanting people to hear and believe the message of the Lord.
But what is the message?
It's the message that God has provided a way to be forgiven for rebellion against God.
If you know the story of the Bible, it starts back at the beginning of time, and mankind rebelled against God.
And ever since, man has been living, men and women, humankind, has been living in a way that goes against the way that God wants us to live.
And that causes separation.
But this message is that there's a way to be forgiven for this rebellion.
And to be in the presence of God forever.
And because we don't live in this way that he wants us to live, we're separated.
And without his help, we'd be destined for much worse.
So with him, we can be forgiven.
Without him, look at chapter 1, verses 8 and 9.
We're going to do some flicking.
We're all used to flicking a lot.
Flicking around the TV, flicking through magazines, flicking around the internet.
So it's no exception, we'll flick a lot today as well.
Verses 8 and 9 in chapter 1.
Listen to this.
He will punish those who do not know God,
and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction,
and shut out from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his might.
That's a serious, serious message.
But the message of the Lord,
is that the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross,
taking the punishment for sin, for this rebellion that we deserve,
which is separation from God.
And we know that the good news,
Jesus was raised to life in victory over sin and death,
and simply through faith in him,
that he did that to save me,
we can be forgiven,
and enjoy being in the presence of God for all eternity.
Think about that, that our lives now,
have consequences.
What we see isn't all that there is to life.
What we do with life now,
has consequences in the life to come.
And what does come next?
Eternity.
And the Bible tells us,
this isn't just a spiritual experience.
If we're people who believe in Jesus,
we're not just going to go and live in the clouds,
we're not just going to be ethereal beings,
with no form or matter,
we're going to be very tactile,
earthy people,
living in a new world,
this earth remade,
and perfect.
And that's wonderful,
that we can live there forever.
So we will either be with the Lord,
or we'll be separated.
And it's only through Jesus,
that we can be with him forever.
So Paul, he asks for prayer,
for the spread of this wonderful message.
Prayer for this work.
That's the first thing.
And then verse 2,
prayer for deliverance,
from wicked and evil people.
For not everyone has faith.
So he's asking for prayer,
for the Lord to work in delivering Paul and his team,
because he's working with a group of people,
from those opposed to God and his message.
And he uses the same word here that Jesus uses,
when he says in the Lord's Prayer,
deliver us from evil.
So if Paul firstly is asking,
that the Lord would work in spreading the gospel,
this message,
here he's asking for prayer,
that the Lord would help those,
who are doing the spreading.
So Paul is dependent,
and his team,
on God's help,
in opening doors,
providing opportunities,
bringing people to them,
even though they were being persecuted by people,
opposed to God and his message.
Flick back to Acts.
So this is a letter to the Thessalonians.
Acts is like a history book,
which gives us a story,
and explains what happened in different places.
So in chapter 17,
it talks about Thessalonica.
And we're just going to read from verse 5 to 9.
So Acts chapter 17,
verse 5 to 9.
So Paul visited this city.
He preached this message of the Lord,
the gospel.
Some people accepted it and believed.
But verse 5.
But other Jews were jealous.
So they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace,
formed a mob,
and started a riot in the city.
They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas,
in order to bring them out to the crowd.
But when they did not find them,
they dragged Jason and some other believers
before the city officials,
shouting,
These men, who have caused trouble all over the world,
have now come here,
and Jason has welcomed them into his house.
They are all defying Caesar's decrees,
saying that there is another king,
one called Jesus.
When they heard this,
the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
Then they made Jason and the others postpone and let them go.
So there was this fierce persecution,
and Paul is praying for work,
that God would work in helping those spreading the gospel.
So it's worth mentioning here at this point,
about who these gospel spreaders are,
or who they should be.
Is there an elite, super spiritual team of gospel spreaders in this church,
who we need to pray for?
Or in any church?
No, not at all.
We're going to look at Paul's instructions for work in the verses that follow,
but this work of spreading the gospel,
of telling other people about Jesus,
is not just for a few,
it's for everyone.
I'm paraphrasing our principal in our college in Dublin,
in IBI,
but he has suggested
that the Great Commission,
the last words of Jesus to his disciples,
may have been better named
the Everyday Commission,
for everyday Christians.
It's for everybody.
Jesus' command to go and make disciples of all nations,
is for all of us.
Whether we're people who work in Christian jobs,
secular jobs,
whether we're job seekers,
stay-at-home parents,
volunteers,
students going back to school,
college,
if we're retired,
whatever we're working at,
it's our responsibility
to be gospel spreaders.
And we need the Lord's help with this.
We need to be praying for each other
and encouraging each other to this end.
So, just before Paul goes on to encourage the believers,
or sorry, to pray for the believers,
he takes a moment to encourage them
in verses 3 and 4.
What does he say?
But the Lord is faithful,
and he will strengthen you
and protect you from the evil one.
We have confidence in the Lord
that you are doing
and will continue to do the things we command.
So, verse 4 then goes on to show
how Paul has confidence
in those he's writing to,
that they are
and will continue to do
what Paul and his team commanded.
He's encouraging these believers.
And then the final prayer for work
is that the Lord would direct the believers' hearts.
Look at verse 5.
May the Lord direct your hearts
into God's love
and Christ's perseverance.
So, God's love
and Christ's perseverance.
We now, today,
just as they did then,
need the Lord to be directing our hearts
to his love
and looking to our Saviour Jesus
for our example of perseverance.
Our personal relationship with the Lord
is of utmost importance
when serving him
and doing his work
and spreading his gospel.
We need to be people
who always rely on God's love
and care in all we do,
big or small,
and we need to be looking to Jesus
and following him
in all our actions and thoughts.
Our personal relationship
with the Lord Jesus
is the foundation
for everything else we do.
Without that,
we're lost.
As some of you might know,
I work for Amazon
and they have an amazing policy
for some of their workers
in the United States.
They have massive warehouses.
I don't know if you've seen
some of the newspaper articles.
They have massive warehouses.
You click on Amazon
and say,
I want to buy this book.
It goes to a system
and this big warehouse
finds it,
puts it in a box
and sends it to you.
And there are naturally
people in this warehouse
who need to work
and fulfill the orders.
And Amazon has this amazing policy
that they say,
if you want to leave Amazon,
we'll give you $5,000
and you can be on your way.
Thank you very much.
You can get up and leave
and you can have $5,000
find a new job.
So Amazon is trying
to create this culture
of keeping people
who love working for Amazon.
They're not going to take
the $5,000
if they want to keep
their jobs with them.
And it's the same
with the Lord.
If we're going to be workers
for him,
we need to love Jesus.
If we're to be effective,
we need to be people
who love the Lord
and as a result,
we will love working for him.
We need to first and foremost
love the Lord
with all our heart,
soul, strength and mind
and then loving others
and serving them
will follow.
So we need to be looking
to God's love
and Christ's perseverance,
his example
as we go about our lives.
So that's one,
prayer for work.
The second thing,
instructions for work.
We move on to some
very practical
down-to-earth instructions
that Paul is giving
to the Thessalonian church.
But first,
why on earth
would they listen to Paul?
What authority
does he have?
Who's this Paul anyway?
Why does he write
so many letters?
So listen to the start
of verse 6.
I'm sorry,
back in chapter 1.
So in verse 2,
in chapter 1,
grace and peace to you
from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He's writing
on behalf of someone.
Look at verse 6,
back in chapter 3.
In the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
we command you.
Paul was an apostle
of Jesus Christ.
That is,
one who was sent
by Jesus
and God the Father
with unique authority
and power.
Now,
we don't have people
like this today.
I can't write you all
a letter
and say,
from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
with such power
and authority
that Paul did.
but we have
Paul's words.
We have the same
words he wrote
and he tells us
where this authority
comes from.
It's not his own.
It's from Jesus.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
So before we look
at these practical
instructions,
we need to understand
the context
and we need to understand
what Paul and his team
had previously commanded.
So in case anyone
in the church
had forgotten
and very helpfully
for us,
Paul reminds us
of the teaching
that he gave.
Look in verse 10.
Skip on a little bit.
Chapter 3, verse 10.
For even when we were
with you,
we gave you this rule.
The one who is
unwilling to work
shall not eat.
The one who is
unwilling to work
shall not eat.
Seems a bit drastic, Paul.
Unwilling workers
don't get to eat.
Well, this is very similar
to some of the sayings
in Proverbs.
So we're going to do
some more flicking.
Turn in your Bibles
back to Proverbs.
So we're halfway through
your book,
Proverbs.
It's after Psalms.
And the first one
we're going to
is Proverbs chapter 10.
They're all very short.
Now Proverbs is amazing
because there are
these nuggets of wisdom.
Now, it's worth mentioning
they're not promises.
They're principles.
Okay?
So I think that's worth
remembering.
Look at Proverbs chapter 10,
verse 4.
Lazy hands
make for poverty,
but diligent hands
bring wealth.
Move forward to chapter 12,
verse 11.
Those who work their land
will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies
have no sense.
And the last one,
chapter 14,
verse 23.
All hard work
brings a profit,
but mere talk
leads only
to poverty.
So in a similar way,
Paul had given them
this instruction
that those who are
unwilling to work
shall not eat.
these Proverbs
would have been known
by God's people
at the time.
And I think
what Paul is saying here,
these people
didn't have
social welfare.
They didn't have
a government
who would give them
benefits
if they didn't
have a job.
So without work,
it was very practical,
they wouldn't eat.
They wouldn't have money,
they couldn't buy food,
they couldn't grow food,
unless someone
shared with them.
So Paul is saying
those who don't work
don't eat,
it's those who are
unwilling to work
who don't eat.
So,
it was a common practice
in the early church
for believers
who were more wealthy
to look after
those in need
and could not make
a living for themselves
a sort of social welfare
within the church.
So it should not
be the case
that those who
were able to work
but not willing
to do so
should benefit
from the hard work
and fruit
of others' labour.
But this is
the exact problem.
There were people
in Thessalonica
who were doing
exactly this.
So Paul's teaching
in this matter
is that God's people
need to be
a working people.
So,
we mentioned
the very beginning
of the story
at the start.
We're going to go
back to Genesis,
right to the very beginning.
Genesis chapter 2.
This is the easiest
book to find.
It's the first one.
Genesis chapter 2.
Okay,
so the story
of this world,
the history
of this world
is that God
created
all things.
And listen
what he did
in the beginning.
It's chapter 2
and verse 8
to 9.
Now the Lord God
had planted
a garden
in the east,
in Eden,
and there
he put the man
he had formed.
The Lord God
made all kinds
of trees
go out of the ground,
trees that were
pleasing to the eye
and good for food.
In the middle
of the garden
were the tree
of life
and the tree
of the knowledge
of good and evil.
And look at verse 15.
The Lord God
took the man
and put him
in the garden
of Eden
to work it
and take care
of it.
So if you know
the story,
this is before
man rebelled.
This is before
sin came into
the world.
So God
created us
to work.
But let's continue.
Chapter 3
in Genesis.
Man rebelled.
Man went against
what God had said.
Look in verse 17.
Look what he says
to Adam.
Chapter 3, 17.
To Adam he said,
Because you listened
to your wife
and ate fruit
from the tree
about which I
commanded you,
you must not
eat from it.
Cursed is the ground
because of you.
Through painful toil
you will eat food
from it
all the days
of your life.
It will produce
thorns and thistles
for you
and you will eat
the plants
of the field.
By the sweat
of your brow
you will eat
your food
until you return
to the ground
since from it
you are taken.
For dust you are
and to dust
you will return.
So God created us
to work
but the result
of sin
is that this work
became difficult
and painful.
The work itself
is good and right
and it's what
we're to do
being workers
but it's because
of sin
that this work
is hard.
So we're not
to be people
who sponge off
others
wasting our time
doing nothing
wasting our lives
on Facebook
Twitter
watching TV
endlessly
playing video games
reading useless
magazines
wasting our time
we're to be people
who are workers
first and foremost
because that's
what we're created
to be.
We're going to be
workers in this
new earth
that God gives us
if we have faith
in him
and that's what
we need to be now.
he's going to
remove the pain
and the hardness
of the work
which I can't
wait for
but we need
to be workers
now
and again
not that we
need to be
employees
but we're
to be workers
if you're a
student
then you need
to be a good
worker in that
if you don't
have a job
maybe you're
looking for one
or you're
retired
or maybe
for some reason
you're on
sick leave
you're unable
to work
what could
you do
there are
many things
that we can
do
in terms of
voluntary work
we can be
involved in
things without
having to
necessarily be
employed
what about
stay at home
parents
it is good
and right
to be working
and it is
hard work
in that role
and I just
want to say
at this point
it's really
important to
remember this
we talked
about having
faith in
Jesus
but we're
not to
work for
the Lord
to earn
or even
maintain
his favour
and salvation
that is
impossible
and can't
be done
our lives
in this world
is not about
how good we
are or how
much we
work
it's about
faith in
Jesus
we work
for the
Lord
as he's
calling us
to live
like this
because
he has
already
shown us
his favour
and given
us his
salvation
we need
to get
the order
right
or we're
going to
have a
very unhappy
life
and a
very
hard
life
ok so
on to
Paul's
instructions
he's
very
practical
the first
instruction
to the
church
from
Paul
is that
they're
to keep
away
from the
idle
believer
Paul
commands
the
believers
in
Thessalonica
to stay
away
from the
believer
who's
idle
and
disruptive
who doesn't
live
according to
the teaching
they received
the teaching
that they need
to be people
who work
he says
in verse
six
so he says
we command
you
brothers and
sisters
to keep
away from
every believer
who is idle
and disruptive
and does
not live
according
to the
teaching
you receive
from us
but what's
this
idleness
about
the word
does not
necessarily
mean
physically
doing
nothing
sitting
down
resting
because that's
a good
thing to
do
it's more
of an
active word
that he's
talking about
the following
word
is helpful
in understanding
the idleness
and that is
disruptive
they were
idle
disruptors
Paul very
helpfully
explains it
in verse
11
look at
verse 11
we hear
that some
among you
are idle
and disruptive
they're not
busy
they're busy
bodies
they were
being busy
bodies
they were
interfering
with other
people's
business
other people's
work
they were
sponging
off the
generosity
of others
and these
idle
disruptors
were living
in a way
that was
causing
hassle
in the
church
and it
was not
according
to the
way
Paul
had
previously
instructed
them
they were
claiming
to be
in need
so were
benefiting
from this
social
welfare
in the
church
but that
was what
was available
for truly
needy
people
do we
find ourselves
to be
idle
people
are we
busy
bodies
do we
skip out
on work
or responsibilities
that we
have
employment
or otherwise
in the
home
with family
just knowing
that someone
else will
look after
it
or if we
don't do
it
someone else
will finish
the job
if we
do no
work
someone else
will provide
for me
are we
quick to
interfere
in other
people's
business
are we
busy
bodies
it's
tempting
isn't
it
it's
usually
the
easier
option
sin
makes
work
hard
so the
other
option
for now
seems
easier
but that's
not how
the Lord
wants us
to live
in Ireland
I don't
know about
some guys
in the
UK
we have
this
culture
of social
welfare
we have
a social
welfare
culture
where people
say
I'm not
going to
bother
working
because the
government
is going
to pay
my wage
we have
this attitude
that it's
okay to
be lazy
we have
a calling
in sick
culture
I don't
feel like
working
today
I work
for Amazon
I work
from home
and the
way I
call in
sick
I don't
go and
see any
managers
all I have
to do
is I
call this
number
it's an
automated
voice
and I
have to
say my
name
and why
I'm not
coming into
work
say it's
Tom
I'm
sick
I'll be
in tomorrow
that's it
it's so
easy
it's tempting
isn't it
you're
very tired
but no
that's not
what the
Lord has
asked us
to do
and let's
look at
Paul's
example
he gives
us an
example
in his
instructions
for work
Paul reminds
them
about having
to follow
their
example
what does
it say
verse 7
the later
part of
verse 7
and 8
to 9
we were
not idle
when we
were with
you
nor did
we eat
anyone's
food
without
paying
for it
on the
contrary
we worked
night and
day
laboring
and toiling
so that we
would not be a
burden to
any of you
we did this
not because we do
not have the right
to such help
but in order to
offer ourselves
as a model
or example
for you to
imitate
they set an
example of
working hard
to earn their
living
so as not to be
a burden to
anyone
they were
with the
thessalonians
with the
intention of
spreading this
gospel
this message
which we
remember is
all of our
responsibility
but yet they
worked hard
so as to
provide for
themselves
during this
time
they wouldn't
be a
burden
and if you
remember in
Acts
Acts was
written by a
guy called
Luke
and Luke
tells us
that Paul
was a
tent maker
he made
tents
and this
may very
well have
been what
Paul was
doing with
the
thessalonians
by day
he made
tents
by evening
and night
he spread
this message
because he
would be an
example of a
hard worker
and so he
wouldn't be a
burden
in verse 9
Paul mentions
here and he
further elaborates
to another
church in
Corinth
that the
apostles actually
had a right
to be
supported
in verse 9
we did this
not because we
do not have
the right to
such help
but in order
to offer
ourselves as
a model
for you to
imitate
he gives up
this right
in earning
his own
living
to be an
example
so this is a
helpful example
for us
isn't it
seeing how
this work
of gospel
spreading
of spreading
this message
can be done
regardless of
whether you
have a secular
job
or a job
specific to
Christians
things
or you
don't have
a job
that you're
paid for
in your
involuntary
work
you're at
home
you're a
student
we don't
need to be
a Christian
worker
or a
foreign
missionary
to be
gospel spreaders
or even
a youth
worker
even Paul
did it
he made
tents
in fact
we need
people who
are tent
makers
people who
have jobs
as well
so they
can provide
for their
family
and also
for others
who are
in need
so don't
think what
you do
what you
work at
your job
is not
doing God's
work
it is
or think
that I'll
be doing
God's
work as
soon as
I work
for a
church
or in
a mission
or a
Christian
organization
we are
doing God's
work
because he
called us
to be his
workers in
the places
that we
are
spreading
the gospel
as we
go
the everyday
commission
for everyday
Christians
so and we
remember what
we said
earlier
we're all
to be
gospel
spreaders
everywhere
we work
regardless
of whether
it's a
job or
employment
we're called
to spread
the Lord's
message
so Paul's
final instruction
for work
in verses
11 to 12
is aimed
at the
idlers
so this
before it's
been to the
church
now it's
aimed at
the idlers
these loafers
these busy
bodies
in the
church
what does
it say
we hear
that some
among you
are idle
and disruptive
they're not
busy
they're busy
bodies
such people
we command
and urge
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
to settle
down
and earn
the food
they eat
Paul's
very clear
and straight
to the
point
settle
down
earn
the food
you eat
or some
translations
say earn
the bread
you eat
if you're
someone who's
a sponger
a loafer
an idle
disruptor
a busy
body
then you
need to get
your act
together
because you're
not living
in the way
that you
were created
to live
and if you're
not someone
who follows
Jesus
this still
applies
you were
created
to work
but that
work isn't
what will
save you
it's only
through faith
not to earn
his favour
but if you're
one of God's
people
in response
to what
he's done
so Paul
talks about
prayer for
work
his instructions
for work
and thirdly
this motivation
for work
why do all
of this
in these last
few verses
of the letter
we can see
the reasons
to be
motivated
to be
workers
firstly
Paul
puts in
an encouragement
in verse
13
and as for
you brothers
and sisters
never tire
of doing
what is
good
we need
to be
encouraged
like this
sometimes
don't we
have you
ever continued
to do
what is
good
what is
right
and it
becomes
difficult
and frustrating
is there
someone awkward
at work
is there
a family
member
you don't
get on
with
is one
of your
kids
driving you
mad
this week
is there
someone
that you
always tell
the gospel
to share
your faith
with
but they
don't
care
but Paul
encourages
you
don't
tire
of doing
what is
good
keep
going
we need
to keep
going
in it
and Paul
elaborates
slightly
more
in another
letter
to the
Galatians
in chapter
6
quickly
flick to
Galatians
it's a
couple of
books back
chapter 6
in verse
9
so to
the
Thessalonians
he says
never
tire
of doing
what is
good
to the
Galatians
another
church
another
group of
people
chapter 6
verse 9
he says
let us
not become
weary
in doing
good
for at
the proper
time
we will
reap a
harvest
if we
do not
give up
at the
right time
we will
reap
a reward
as we
continue
to do
what is
good
the Lord
is in
control
and he
knows
that as
we work
for him
he will
bless
maybe not
in the way
that we
would think
or imagine
but we
will reap
a reward
have you
ever been
motivated
as we
move on
to the
end of
the chapter
by something
because of
the negative
consequences
of not
doing it
or paying
your bills
you want
electricity
in your
house
don't you
so you
pay your
bills
or else
you live
in
darkness
now we
know
that as
Christians
we should
pay our
bills
because we
use what
we need
in our
house
we don't
have gas
we have
electricity
but our
central heating
is done
with oil
we don't
have oil
on tap
and we
have to
buy oil
and put it
in a big
tank
behind our
house
and oil
is really
expensive
but if we
don't buy
oil
what happens
we freeze
we're coming
up
it's the end
of September
we're kind
of pushing
it now
we need
to start
buying oil
turn on
the central
heating
or else
we'll freeze
so the
negative
consequence
is we'll
be freezing
without the
oil
and naturally
part of our
motivation to
do something
will happen
because we
don't do it
what about you
guys at
home
if you
don't clean
your room
no pocket
money this
month
don't do
the dishes
no TV
tonight
naturally
we're motivated
and Paul
has a warning
for those
who don't
obey
let's look
at these
next two
verses
in verse
14 and
15
take special
note of
anyone who
does not
obey our
instructions in
this letter
do not
associate with
them
in order
that they
may feel
ashamed
yet do
not regard
them as
an enemy
but warn
them as
a fellow
believer
Paul has
this warning
for those
who are
ignoring
what he
says
he speaks
about
discipline
within the
church
a huge
topic
we can't
cover today
but there
are a couple
of things
we can
learn
briefly
so the
Thessalonian
church
are not
to associate
with those
who don't
obey his
instructions
in this
letter
so this
is not
just for
all those
everywhere
who don't
obey
inside the
church and
out
because then
there will
be an awful
lot of
people not
to associate
with
but Paul
is saying
not to
associate
those within
the church
who don't
listen to
him
but why
so they
might feel
ashamed
so they
would see
that what
they're
doing
their
disobedience
has
consequences
and that
they would
feel ashamed
of how
they're
living
and not
just for
the laugh
so they'd
feel bad
but so that
they would
be brought
back
into that
fellowship
of believers
the purpose
of discipline
is not
to punish
for wrong
doing
but to
bring about
restoration
verse 15
do not
regard them
as an
enemy
but warn
them
as a
fellow
believer
and we
can learn
from this
attitude
of discipline
and as
grace and
I one
day
god willing
go on
to have
children
I hope
that our
attitude
to our
kids
in terms
of discipline
is not
simply to
punish them
for doing
wrong
because
they broke
a rule
punishment
but to
use discipline
to bring
them to a
place of
conviction
and restoration
that's the
point of
discipline
and god's
discipline to
us
to bring
us back
this is the
attitude we
need to have
as a church
family
as well as
our natural
families
or else
if there's
no gentleness
and love
we're in
danger
from moving
as john
calvin
puts it
from
discipline
to
butchery
just for
the sake
of it
discipline
needs to
be sprinkled
with love
and the
final
motivation
here
and our
ultimate
motivation
is the
lord jesus
himself
look at
verse 16
and 18
now may the
lord of
peace
himself
give you
peace
at all
times
and in
every
way
the
lord be
with
all of
you
verse 18
the
grace
of our
lord jesus
christ
be with
you all
the lord jesus
is the
enabler
as well
as the
reason
why we
do any
of this
work
if you
remember
back at
the beginning
of this
letter
paul begins
it thoroughly
focused on
jesus
and ends
it in a
similar way
our lives
are given
us
by him
johnny
prayed earlier
the very
breaths that
we have
are given
to us
by him
and we
can have
peace with
god
and each
other
through
jesus
and it's
only by
grace
through
faith in
him
and it's
this grace
that we
continually
need
as we
seek to
serve him
and do
his work
in this
world
so in
closing
i want to
read something
you don't need
to look it
up
we've heard
paul talk
about
this work
work is
so worthwhile
because we're
created for
it
and paul
prays that
there would
be this
work
he gives
us very
practical
instructions
as well
as a
motivation
so listen
to what he
says in
colossians
chapter 3
whatever you
do
work at
it with
all your
heart
as working
for the
lord
not for
human
masters
since you
know that
you will
receive an
inheritance
from the
lord
as a
reward
it is
the lord
christ
you are
serving
let's
pray
you are
here
you