WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.160 Thessalonians, I hear that it's been going very, very well and we look forward now to 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:19.039 Paul who's going to come and speak in just a moment, but we're going to read that first. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:32.439 First Thessalonians chapter 5, which is on page 1188, on page 1188, First Thessalonians 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:43.120 chapter 5, verses 12 to 28, it's perhaps, probably reads a little bit higgledy-piggledy, it's 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:47.500 kind of like a whole load of things thrown together, but Paul's going to make sense of 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:48.159 it all, aren't you Paul? 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:51.780 Good man, we look forward to it. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:58.640 So let's read from First Thessalonians chapter 5, starting at verse 12, it's on page 1188. 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:10.000 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.620 you in the Lord and who admonish you. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:18.079 Hold them in the highest regard, in love, because of their work. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.420 Live in peace with each other. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:26.879 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:29.480 Encourage the timid. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:30.719 Help the weak. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:33.019 Be patient with everyone. 00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:38.659 Make sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong. 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:44.039 But always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 00:01:45.039 --> 00:01:46.939 Be joyful always. 00:01:47.759 --> 00:01:49.159 Pray continually. 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:55.000 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.640 Do not put out the Spirit's fire. 00:01:59.579 --> 00:02:02.239 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:04.319 Test everything. 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:06.879 Hold on to the good. 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:09.819 Avoid every kind of evil. 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:17.620 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. 00:02:18.579 --> 00:02:24.719 May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:28.879 The one who called you is faithful. 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:31.699 And he will do it. 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:36.659 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 00:02:38.239 --> 00:02:40.659 Greet all the family with a holy kiss. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:47.119 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the family. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.819 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 00:02:51.819 --> 00:02:55.579 Paul, I'm going to come up and I'm going to pray for you. 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:58.879 I'm going to ask you a couple of questions first. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.319 Some of you know Paul, some of you might not. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:05.379 Paul McFarland? 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:06.579 That's correct. 00:03:07.019 --> 00:03:07.699 That's right. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:11.680 Tell us your relationship with the lady you've brought with you today. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:14.039 This is my betrothed on the second row. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:16.500 We'll be getting married at the end of September. 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:20.459 So I think Kate cooked at the Cargilline Church weekend before. 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:21.860 So you probably all know her. 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:25.439 Well, we're all still alive, so that was okay. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.700 And just tell us what you're doing at the minute. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.860 And as far as you can tell, what the next year will be for you. 00:03:34.140 --> 00:03:39.200 Well, I've been down since September, I suppose, full time in Middleton Evangelical Church. 00:03:39.540 --> 00:03:42.680 And I've been working as assistant and youth pastor there. 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:45.560 So it kind of varies. 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:47.439 I suppose there's different things to do in the role. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.000 Some preaching, a lot of youth work. 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:51.980 Some evangelism work as well. 00:03:52.480 --> 00:03:56.420 And for the next year, I suppose I'm going to be down for sure until September 2013. 00:03:57.260 --> 00:03:58.460 The end of September 2013. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:02.700 And then after that, I suppose, just see what God has in store. 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:04.360 And just take it from there. 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:06.120 And when you say down? 00:04:06.640 --> 00:04:07.760 Down from the north. 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:08.400 Oh, right. 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:09.439 It just depends. 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:12.300 Well, if you hold the map, it looks kind of down, you see. 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:12.879 Oh, okay. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:13.500 Yeah. 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:13.900 All right. 00:04:14.100 --> 00:04:15.540 You don't look down on us, though, do you? 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:16.800 Oh, the fancy is going. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:20.560 Anyway, it's good to have you here today. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:24.959 I'm going to pray for you and for us and then pass over. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:30.939 Father, thanks so much for Paul and Kate being with us here today. 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:38.519 And just as we prayed for Graham and Justy, we pray the same for Paul and Kate later on in September. 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:39.740 Bless them, we pray. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:44.219 Equip them as they seek to serve you together. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:47.519 And we pray for Paul now as he speaks. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:50.479 Fill him, fill us with your spirit. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:05:01.259 Speak to us afresh through him that we may be encouraged, built up, and brought closer to the kind of people that you call us to be. 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:02.959 In Jesus' name. 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:03.819 Amen. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:04.199 Amen. 00:05:04.659 --> 00:05:05.819 Thanks very much, Paul. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:14.139 Well, if you want to just keep your Bibles open there, as Johnny says, the passage has got lots of different things in it. 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:19.379 So it's really important that you're just following through as we go through it, because otherwise you probably will get lost. 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:23.000 It's most likely my fault, but I'll just blame it in the passage. 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:27.300 So anyway, it's 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 12 to 28. 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:28.420 What page number was it? 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:30.699 1-188. 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:31.759 So if you keep that open. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:41.399 Now, I think originally it was supposed to be someone else who was speaking today, but they made some sort of lame excuse about having a 50th wedding anniversary and all this kind of thing. 00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:43.959 Even though I'll be peeling the spuds for his dinner. 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:47.159 But no, then I was told what the passage was on. 00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:48.920 It was all about holy kisses and that kind of stuff. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:53.640 So I think I maybe drew the short straw, but I'll give it a go anyway. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:02.259 So anyway, whenever you look closer at this passage, you actually find out it's really full of important instructions and guidance. 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:13.060 The temptation as we read it is to just skim through and see as if it's just Paul trying to give some kind of a few things to wind down so that the ending isn't so abrupt. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:21.420 But really suppose that you get so much here in such a short section because most of it doesn't really need much explaining. 00:06:22.099 --> 00:06:24.620 It's just a series of statements one after the other. 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:33.560 Now, earlier Paul has talked about the day of the Lord and other topics, giving explanation and reassurance and encouragement where it was needed. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:38.379 And here it's basically just like, this is how you should act. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:44.060 I'm reminding you, you should know it, but now just do it. 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:50.800 And also why he puts these instructions at the end is because it's the ending really that leaves the flavor, isn't it? 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.600 That's why a dessert is sweet and not bitter. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:00.699 You don't want to be walking out of the restaurant with your face all screwed up because it's not going to be the best advertisement to whoever's walking in. 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:06.040 Or that's why whenever you have a coffee, they usually leave a little sweet, just a little note for the kitchen. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:13.560 They usually leave a little sweet or a little mint so that the fragrance afterwards is nice and sweet and not coffee breath. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:18.519 Now, the flavor of the letter, as it finishes here, is almost rushed. 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:23.299 It's like, don't slow up. Keep going. Follow my instructions. 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:27.459 The day of the Lord is coming, so press on. 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:35.459 Now, it might be helpful to divide the section into three as we go through it and just look at it, you know, as we follow through the verses. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:36.959 So, I just split it up like this. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:39.959 Verses 12 to 15 is corporate life. 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:42.240 It's instructions for the church. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.500 Verses 16 to 22, personal devotion. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.500 And 23 to the 8 then is closing blessings. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.079 Now, there's going to be a good bit of overlap. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:55.980 Those aren't strictly all just what the verses are made of, but it's probably easier to divide them up that way just to look at it. 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:00.379 So, firstly then, verses 12 to 15, we'll look at that and call it corporate life. 00:08:01.660 --> 00:08:09.500 Now, there's going to be a bit of overlap, but how believers act individually is going to have a huge effect on how the fellowship acts 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:13.259 acts and how the fellowship gets on the corporate health of the community. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:18.699 But Paul's focus here is definitely to build up the church as a group. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:21.980 It's a bit like a rally cry before a battle. 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:27.899 It's like he's rousing the troops to be united and to be strong under their leadership. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:30.000 And that's how he starts. 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:31.879 He starts with the leadership. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:37.259 Notice how, though, whenever we look at it, he doesn't actually say anything to the leaders themselves. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:39.179 He just says it to the church. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:43.059 Now, these Thessalonians, they didn't have any problem with Paul. 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:46.399 They clearly respected him and they held him in the highest regard. 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:51.200 Some commentators even think that the people maybe even have held Paul in too high a regard. 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.980 They were very dependent on him. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:56.879 In chapter 3, verses 6 to 10, you probably looked at it another time. 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:01.000 We read of Timothy's report back to Paul and how they couldn't wait to see him. 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:05.019 They maybe even, some people say, they maybe even idolized him a little bit. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:10.980 That's why he writes, whenever he writes, he writes the whole letter pretty much from the first person plural. 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:12.919 He writes we all the time. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.860 Paul, Silas and Timothy. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:18.639 And he only uses the word I three times in the letter. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:22.659 Twice to assure them that he personally wanted to see them. 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:27.379 And then once at the end of the letter here, to hold them to an oath to read the letter to everyone. 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:31.460 But in other words, really, even though he personally longs to see them, 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:36.799 the reality is that the whole Christian church shouldn't be dependent on just one man. 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:41.779 Thessalonica had its own leaders and its own elders. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:46.799 And Paul is saying that in the midst of idleness and some false teaching about end times, 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:51.639 these people, your leaders, continue to work hard among you. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:58.319 Now, it's pretty typical, I suppose, whenever we think of, you know, maybe we've heard in the news or throughout history, 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:00.620 different doomsday cults and different cults. 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.939 Now, sometimes the leaders can be very lazy. 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:08.019 They just expect to live in everyone else's generosity and they just talk about what's going to come. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:11.299 Now, Paul says your leaders work very hard. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:15.059 And they make it their effort to admonish you. 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:20.500 Admonish means to give a pretty firm kind of instruction or a bit of a rebuke or a warning. 00:10:21.359 --> 00:10:26.439 And they admonish them, and Paul says, to hold them in the highest regard because of their work. 00:10:27.579 --> 00:10:33.019 Now, you can see how they might have found it kind of easy to love and respect Paul 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:35.339 because he's something of a hero to them. 00:10:35.459 --> 00:10:36.879 You know, he's somewhere far off. 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:38.579 He's doing the missionary thing. 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:42.980 He's away in Corinth or traveling throughout the known world, preaching the good news. 00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:48.520 But their own leaders were just very much like real, down-to-earth, normal people. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.660 And they were the ones that had the hard part of working hard with the people 00:10:52.660 --> 00:10:58.440 and rebuking them and counseling them and breaking their backs to try and get rid of this false teaching. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.440 And Paul says it's all hard work. 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:04.740 So make it your effort to love them, he says. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:07.140 Accept their admonition. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:14.799 In other words, if your leaders tell some part of your life or your behavior or your attitude isn't what it should be, 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:18.600 then respect them for having the guts to say it, he said, because it isn't easy. 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:23.419 It can be an emotional as well as a physical drain and sometimes a spiritual drain also. 00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:25.939 Leaders carry burdens. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:28.379 They work hard, Paul says. 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:30.100 So hold them in high regard. 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:36.240 And at the end of verse 13 he says, live at peace with one another, if you just keep your eyes in the passage. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.420 Live at peace with one another. 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:41.700 Now when leadership, I suppose this follows all naturally, because when leadership doesn't exist, 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:45.680 or where it gets undermined, people just get lost, don't they? 00:11:46.540 --> 00:11:51.700 Now this is a, maybe can be seen as a very negative view of humanity, but it's biblical. 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:58.160 In the world system, different ideologists like Noam Chomsky, if you read about politics or anything else, 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.920 they promote views like anarchy. 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:01.920 I see somebody chuckling now. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:02.840 So anarchy. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:08.500 Now anarchy is defined as the absence of government or authority and the absolute freedom of the individual 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:10.860 regarded as a political ideal. 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:14.240 Now perhaps your understanding of anarchy, a little bit like mine, 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.480 was just to think that it's another word for disorder or chaos, 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.740 but it's actually a view that people hold, 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.399 and many people think it's a nice way that the human race can operate. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:26.740 Without authority, we can just have freedom, and we can all get along together. 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:30.940 But in reality, it doesn't work. 00:12:31.800 --> 00:12:34.500 It doesn't work, because humans are sinful, 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:39.759 and when there is no state authority, there is state chaos, isn't there? 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.120 And where there is no church authority, there is also chaos and disorder. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:50.039 Now the way to have freedom and peace isn't to throw off the yoke of leadership. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.539 It's the opposite. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.919 It's submission and respect and love for leadership. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.659 There was people in the church in Thessalonica, 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:01.940 I'm sure you read about it and heard about it in the different sermons, 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:04.279 but they were very much anti-authority. 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.620 They weren't respecting the views. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:09.500 And Paul deals with these people even more strongly in the next letter, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.039 these anti-authority people. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.179 But what they were demonstrating, 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.799 they were demonstrating that they didn't just want to get rid of the church authority, 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:19.740 they were actually rejecting God's authority. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:21.899 Verse 12 says, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:26.959 Paul describes them as these leaders who are over you in the Lord. 00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:33.759 The concept of church humanity without church authority isn't a Christian concept. 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:36.120 Now healthy relationships in church can happen 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:40.879 unless people have a healthy view of church itself, including its leadership. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:44.299 So in verses 14 to 15 then, 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:48.480 Paul moves on in the passage very naturally from relationships with the leaderships 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.779 to relationships with one another. 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:54.299 Now the first group Paul mentions is the idol. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:58.299 They're in deliberate contrast to the leaders who are hardworking. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.320 The idol in the church here, 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.580 we know that they had a bad theology. 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:06.280 Their different end times view was causing them to give up their jobs 00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:11.840 and be sponging off the more generous and wealthy believers in the church. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:12.980 But Paul says here, 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:14.060 he says, 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.600 that the church is to warn them. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.160 Final chance. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:21.680 We get the impression here even from the last few verses 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:25.380 that the leaders had already been warning these people 00:14:25.380 --> 00:14:26.720 and admonishing them. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.200 They had been admonishing them and warning them in the church 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.360 from the leadership perspective. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.379 But Paul says here, 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.420 part of your respect for your leaders 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:37.779 and part of your holding them in a high regard 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.360 is to basically, 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.700 you to warn them as well. 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.740 Is to repeat 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.360 what the leaders teach 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.720 among the fellowship. 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:48.500 To teach it 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.360 and repeat it 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.320 to each other. 00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.920 To warn what the leaders warn 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:54.100 and to teach 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:55.180 what the leaders teach. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:58.039 a really cute story 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:58.299 was 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.959 one of the youth 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:00.899 was telling me one time 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:01.939 that they were thinking of 00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.459 downloading a film 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:04.739 without paying for the copyright 00:15:04.739 --> 00:15:06.500 and one of the other ones said to them, 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.279 they said, 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.739 remember what Paul said 00:15:08.739 --> 00:15:10.779 because a week or two ago 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.500 before that 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.099 I had just given a talk on music 00:15:13.099 --> 00:15:14.979 and mentioned very briefly 00:15:14.979 --> 00:15:16.759 about copyright and piracy 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.559 and that kind of thing. 00:15:18.599 --> 00:15:19.219 And so 00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:20.699 the challenge for me, 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.079 I suppose, 00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.719 was that sometimes people actually take 00:15:22.719 --> 00:15:23.959 some of the things I say seriously. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:26.320 But it's also nice to see that 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.820 in their context 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.100 they were respecting 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.980 what their youth leader was telling them 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.740 and they were teaching it to each other. 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.519 They were teaching what their leaders taught. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.500 Now Paul says here, 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.200 you, 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.780 as a church member, 00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:42.300 following the teaching of your teachers, 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.160 teach it to one another. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.480 Repeat it to one another. 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:47.920 You see, 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.879 I actually got to the point 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.639 in the next letter, 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.800 chapter 3, 00:15:51.900 --> 00:15:52.379 that Paul says, 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.559 don't even eat with these people. 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:54.059 But you see, 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.740 if they had have been 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.080 rebuking each other 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.100 and warning each other 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.659 in the community, 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.399 it might not have got to that stage. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.179 You see, 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:02.679 I suppose 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:04.139 whenever we think of authority, 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.820 in the state context, 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:06.779 political authority, 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.460 they use this force 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.439 to respect the law. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.679 The church authority, 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.419 there is no police, 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.220 there is no force. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:15.059 But it's basically, 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.100 it's our responsibility 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.039 as church members 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.720 to encourage one another 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.120 and rebuke one another 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.660 and make sure, 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.500 just as we were doing 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:22.379 before the prayer time, 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.040 to see each other, 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.240 how each other is doing 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.660 in our own walks 00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.660 and in our own fellowship 00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:29.139 and make sure that we 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.040 encourage one another 00:16:30.040 --> 00:16:30.720 from week to week. 00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:32.500 Now that doesn't mean 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.440 that we're being judgmental. 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.379 It's about being sensitive 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.639 to each other's weaknesses 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.560 and building each other up 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.220 for the growth 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.300 of Christ's church. 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.139 Because right after 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.060 this very warning 00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:44.620 to the idol, 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.519 what does he say next? 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.039 Paul says, 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.279 encourage the timid, 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.519 help the weak, 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:52.319 be patient with everyone. 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.539 Now it's a difficult balance. 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.559 But as we seek to live 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.659 in love with one another 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:00.299 and grow as a church 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:02.179 or as local churches, 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.799 it can't be ignored 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.759 that our relationships 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.920 with each other 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.660 as believers 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:08.259 are incredibly important. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.759 We're to look out 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.579 for each other's health 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.539 out of genuine concern 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:14.259 and genuine kindness 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.859 for each other 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.679 and the other person. 00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:17.279 It is like a family. 00:17:18.199 --> 00:17:18.839 It might sound like 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.099 a bit of a cliche sometimes, 00:17:20.719 --> 00:17:22.019 but we have to see each other 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.599 as brothers and sisters 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.159 and as part of the family 00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:26.919 who all need our help 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:28.019 and encouragement 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.599 and most of all, 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.139 lots and lots 00:17:31.139 --> 00:17:32.259 and lots of patience. 00:17:33.439 --> 00:17:34.379 When we're patient 00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:34.939 with each other, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:36.819 what we're saying is 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.399 that basically, 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.559 in spite of all our faults 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.059 and all of our feelings, 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.879 I'm not giving up on you 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:43.379 because I love you. 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:44.860 That's what we're saying 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.500 when we're patient. 00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.120 And that means 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.720 when we get hurt, 00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.540 whether it's when we're insulted 00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:50.320 or ignored 00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.880 or sidelined 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.860 or we just think 00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:53.580 that someone's being 00:17:53.580 --> 00:17:54.380 a little intrusive 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:55.160 or disrespectful 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.820 or doesn't understand it, 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.800 then give them the benefit 00:17:57.800 --> 00:17:58.880 of the doubt 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.640 and instead of trying 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.520 to vindicate ourselves 00:18:01.520 --> 00:18:02.240 like we like to do 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.860 as human beings, 00:18:03.020 --> 00:18:04.240 Paul says in verse 15, 00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:06.140 always try to be kind 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.680 to one another 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.260 inside the church 00:18:08.260 --> 00:18:10.120 and even outside the church 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.000 and work 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.859 or whatever environment 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.819 we find ourselves in. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.679 That's the instructions 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:16.179 that he leaves 00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:17.199 the church community with 00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:18.159 as he finishes his letter. 00:18:19.659 --> 00:18:20.099 So then, 00:18:20.219 --> 00:18:21.459 verses 16 to 22. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.119 Now the second section 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.439 in verses 16 to 22, 00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.659 you could say, 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:28.139 concerns personal devotion 00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:30.119 or the individual's 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.259 relationship with God. 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:33.219 Now it's going to have 00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:34.319 a huge effect 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.599 on the community 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.659 or the church life 00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.559 as well, obviously. 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.139 How we are 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.279 in our personal walk 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.819 with Christ 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.539 is going to affect 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.559 the church community. 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.119 Now just previously 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.079 in verse 14, 00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:48.319 Paul has said 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.720 that the weak and timid 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.059 aren't to be abandoned. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.200 I suppose in a work context 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.639 sometimes 00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:54.339 or in a teamwork, 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.940 sometimes it's all about 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.359 trying to get 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.440 the strongest group forward 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:57.879 or whatever else. 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.039 The church is completely different. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.019 You look at it 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.700 more like a family. 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.240 The weaker to be encouraged, 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.019 they're to be helped. 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.240 And I suppose 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.339 but really, 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.900 as we try to encourage 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.359 one another 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.880 and try to help one another 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.120 in the church context, 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.000 ultimately, 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:14.920 to some degree, 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.799 it still comes down 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.440 to the individual, 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:17.839 doesn't it? 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.000 You see, 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:19.720 someone could try 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.339 and encourage you 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:20.880 all day long 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.539 but they can't force you 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.000 to be joyful, 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:23.599 can they? 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.640 If you don't cheer up, 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.059 you'll just force 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.740 whoever it is 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.700 that's caring for you 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.279 to just be 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.240 completely exhausted. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.620 Eventually, 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.240 they're going to run 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.099 out of encouragements 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.500 or helpful comments 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.440 or even 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:37.539 Paddy the Irishman jokes 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:39.420 and they're going to give up 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.259 trying to cheer you up 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.160 because they'll be exhausted. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.220 Paul says, 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.839 be joyful. 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:48.019 It's a decision. 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.160 It's a decision 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.119 when you get up in the morning 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.019 that you're not going to focus 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.960 on all the consequences 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.460 of sin 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.720 in your life 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:56.019 and in the world around us 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.420 but instead, 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.980 going to focus on God, 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.259 on Jesus, 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.200 on the forgiveness 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.599 and the redemption 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.220 that we've had 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.779 through Jesus, 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.400 the adoption, 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.160 the acceptance, 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.240 the eternal life 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.819 and everything else 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.859 that we have received 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.879 because of trusting 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:14.440 in Jesus' death 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.440 for us. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.839 Be joyful always. 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.339 All the time, 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:19.799 Paul says. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.379 It's a decision. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:22.900 Now, 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.319 you might think 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.640 it's easy to say that. 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.900 It's easy to just 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.940 turn out the words 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.480 be joyful, 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.019 be happy. 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.980 Especially for me, 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.359 I suppose, 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.220 as a stand at the front 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.480 but, 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.299 you know, 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:32.720 I don't know 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.819 what people are going through. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.220 Maybe I get it easy 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.200 but ultimately, 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.099 it's God that's saying it. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.220 Just as Jesus says, 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:40.859 don't worry. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.400 Don't let your hearts 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.900 be troubled. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.519 Even though he knew 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.559 he was going to be crucified, 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.480 go to the cross 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.980 and suffer 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.660 and die for the sins, 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.379 our sins, 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.400 he could say, 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.379 don't worry. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.839 Don't let your hearts 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.299 be troubled. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.220 Now, 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.519 Paul, 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:56.000 he certainly didn't get it easy either. 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.920 He suffered so much 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.100 and he didn't just think 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.500 it was just some kind of ideal 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.539 that people should aspire to 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.580 try and be joyful. 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.000 He's telling them 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.900 it's the way it should be. 00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.620 Make a decision 00:21:09.620 --> 00:21:11.519 to be joyful always 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.200 because it is a decision. 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:14.539 Now, 00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:15.500 it's the same as the decision 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.080 which he says 00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:17.000 in the very next breath. 00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:17.340 He says, 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.320 pray continually. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.420 Now, 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.420 God knows where we're headed. 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.900 He knows where we're going. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.960 He knows what we need 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.480 for the journey. 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.300 He knows it all. 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.340 Now, 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.380 without constant communication 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.600 communication with him, 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:29.160 we just get lost 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:31.220 in our own personal lives. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.080 Now, 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.780 the church body 00:21:32.780 --> 00:21:33.760 is going in a direction. 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.380 God knows the future 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.360 of each local church. 00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:37.440 He knows the future 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.080 of his universal church. 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:41.160 But just as he knows 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.860 the future of that 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.880 and the church prays 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.420 as a body, 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.940 so we also have to pray 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.540 individually. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.580 We have to make it 00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:48.080 our habit 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:49.080 to pray continually 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:50.340 in our own lives 00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:51.620 so that we can be sure 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.540 that our own personal 00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:53.640 and private lives 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:55.200 aren't going further 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.940 and further away 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.880 from where they should be 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:58.080 and aren't going further 00:21:58.080 --> 00:21:58.700 and further away 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.059 from the way 00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.960 it should be in church. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.000 Sometimes we can find 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.920 ourselves going to church 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.779 but we're in a completely 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.539 different place 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:07.279 in our own personal lives 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.539 from where we should be 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.140 or where we feel 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.640 we're kind of putting on 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.200 where we are 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.620 in the church community. 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.279 Within the church community, 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.259 sometimes it can seem 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.920 all very good. 00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:17.940 Privately, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.580 in our own hearts, 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.519 we know the reality is 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.220 that we can get cold, 00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:20.620 can't we? 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:23.399 And really then 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.179 when it comes to it, 00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.479 when it comes to contributing 00:22:25.479 --> 00:22:26.579 to what other people need 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.299 to helping them, 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.879 to trying to build them up, 00:22:29.719 --> 00:22:30.519 we don't have so much 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.099 to contribute. 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.519 We don't have so much 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.079 that we can say 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.639 to help them 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.639 because inside 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.899 we're not the place 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.739 where we should be either. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.439 Now our prayer lives 00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:41.039 form the heart 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.439 of our spiritual lives. 00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:43.959 Now the very most 00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:44.699 fundamental thing 00:22:44.699 --> 00:22:45.379 that shows someone 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.199 believes in God 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.079 is that they pray to him. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.500 Isn't that right? 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.419 Now if you're not praying 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.120 it's either because 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.800 we don't believe 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:51.880 that God is really there 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:53.779 or else underneath it all 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.360 we believe that 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.259 there's no point in praying 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.360 because God is powerless 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.519 to do anything about it. 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.519 We say that there's no point. 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.340 Well without giving 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.700 an in-depth discussion 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.820 or explanation 00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.740 about how or why 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.380 prayer works 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.320 or why we should pray, 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.600 Paul just says here, 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.140 he says, 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.759 pray 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.720 and don't stop praying. 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.460 Keep on praying 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.640 all the time. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.539 And if you can't think 00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.620 of what you can pray for, 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.700 Paul even gives us 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.140 an example 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.800 in the next statement. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.259 He says, 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.400 to give thanks 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:21.960 in all circumstances. 00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:23.380 We don't need 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.320 a lot of wisdom for that. 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.660 Sometimes we complain even. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.220 We even make a complaint 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.680 that we don't know 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.600 what we should pray for. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.920 Well instead of complaining 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.100 we should just be giving thanks 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.279 for everything 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.340 that comes into our heads. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.160 Every good gift 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.200 that comes down from God 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.420 we can give thanks to him for. 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:40.500 Every conceivable thing 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.259 that's good in life 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:44.180 is worth giving thanks for. 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.240 Sometimes we try 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.539 and make it our purpose 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.340 to try and seek out 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.639 some kind of magic plan 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.599 that God has for us 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.779 or somehow somewhere 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.339 in the future 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.859 that's going to be 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.539 the consummation 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.339 of all our dreams 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.599 and it's going to be 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.699 the answer to all our problems. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.220 But really 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.659 what we should be just doing 00:23:58.659 --> 00:23:59.919 is giving thanks 00:23:59.919 --> 00:24:00.599 for the way things 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.359 really are 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.259 right now. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.659 And we can do that 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:06.879 because we pray to a God 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.039 that we really believe in. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:10.059 A God who is in control. 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.819 A God who knows 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.019 what his will is for us. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.500 That's not someplace 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.459 somewhere down the line 00:24:15.459 --> 00:24:15.879 where somehow 00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.639 we'll get fulfillment. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:18.400 It's knowing that God 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.040 has us 00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:20.520 where he wants us 00:24:20.520 --> 00:24:21.980 and he has placed us 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.440 in churches 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:24.000 where we can love him 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.500 and serve one another. 00:24:26.540 --> 00:24:27.560 God's will for us 00:24:27.560 --> 00:24:29.259 is to live lives 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.100 of devotion to him 00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:33.020 to be living worshippers. 00:24:34.020 --> 00:24:35.259 And the next statement 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.640 actually 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:37.000 it just follows on 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.400 from that. 00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.660 It's a statement 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:40.500 about having a heart 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:42.000 of devotion and worship. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.580 Do not put out 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.500 the spirit's fire 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.900 or do not quench 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.359 the spirit. 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.859 And this relates back 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.359 to the image 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.119 of God's presence 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.440 in the Old Testament 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.519 just as at Pentecost 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.839 to God's presence 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.640 being represented 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.720 by fire. 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.779 Now in the Old Testament 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:58.619 in the tabernacle 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.779 or in the temple 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.960 the fire 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.579 on the altar 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.279 just burns 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:02.819 continually 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.819 24 hours a day 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:05.039 7 days a week 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.299 all year round. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.019 Leviticus 6 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.740 verse 13 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.180 says 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.339 God says this 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:10.740 he says 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.660 the fire 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.720 must be kept burning 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.339 continually 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.160 on the altar. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.740 It must not 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.680 go out. 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.940 What does verse 16 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.599 to 18 say? 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:21.279 Be joyful always 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.799 pray continually 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.940 give thanks 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:25.180 in all circumstances 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.859 for this is God's will 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.180 for you 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:27.859 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:30.220 Whenever we refuse 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.799 to be joyful 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.480 when we ignore 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.000 to pray 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.480 when we're ungrateful 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.960 to God 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.599 it has a smothering 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:36.960 effect. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.559 It's smothering 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.619 to other people 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.379 and it's definitely 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.000 smothering 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.460 the reality 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.539 of God's spirit 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.379 in our lives 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.919 God's presence 00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.659 in our lives. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.759 Don't put out 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.299 the spirit's fire 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.759 in your life. 00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:54.019 Don't refuse God 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.139 the worship 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.240 that he is due. 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.740 Verse 20 then 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.919 do not treat 00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:00.559 prophecies 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.179 with contempt. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.480 Now it seems 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.119 kind of strange 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:03.779 in the context 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.639 of false teaching 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.759 but a common 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.579 in a lot of the churches 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.359 particularly here 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.039 in the New Testament 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.119 was this idea 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.700 that I suppose 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.180 tongues was a superior gift 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.759 and prophesying 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.460 and plain old 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.079 boring teaching 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.700 from the Bible 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.379 could get a little 00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.019 bit drab. 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.579 Prophesying 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.159 now whenever we 00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:19.000 think of prophesying 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.559 prophesying 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.319 has two elements 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.899 there's forth telling 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:23.720 and there's foretelling 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.659 now prophesying 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.579 always has the first aspect 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.779 every prophet 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.839 throughout the Old Testament 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.619 throughout them all 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:32.639 always forth tells 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.420 now that's the primary 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.440 meaning of what it is 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.079 to be a prophet 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.899 or to prophecy 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:38.140 now foretelling 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.320 is to tell 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:40.019 God's truth 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.980 to the people 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.580 who are present 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.440 that hear it 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.320 they're saying 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:44.380 this is what God's saying 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.680 they're prophesying 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.420 or they're preaching 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.400 now foretelling 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.019 on the other hand 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.040 is more about the future 00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:50.620 for example 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.500 whenever I say 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:53.040 Jesus is coming again 00:26:53.040 --> 00:26:54.620 I'm foretelling 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:56.720 I'm not saying 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.900 that whenever Paul 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.920 talks about prophesying 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.200 here 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.560 he's simply 00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.740 just talking about this 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.900 but certainly 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.980 in the context 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.360 this is certainly 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:06.299 what he has in mind 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:08.299 the prophecies 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.299 of Christ's return 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:11.079 he has been talking about 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.099 and prophesying about 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.140 through the entire letter 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:15.759 both in foretelling 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.559 about the future 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.599 and foretelling 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.720 about how God 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.360 wants the believers 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.819 to live 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.460 this is what he's 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.940 talking about 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.960 he says 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.120 don't treat it 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.740 with contempt 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.819 these false teachers 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.480 were ignoring 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.460 the teaching 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.380 and the prophecies 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.400 about Christ's return 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:31.040 Paul says 00:27:31.040 --> 00:27:32.080 instead 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.240 hold on to what is good 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.759 and reject 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.920 what is evil 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.620 likewise 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.840 we should be 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.860 continually reminding 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.440 ourselves 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.259 of the reality 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.240 of the prophecy 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.300 that Jesus 00:27:43.300 --> 00:27:44.540 is going to return 00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:46.440 and we must live 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.620 in light of that 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:50.040 now moving on then 00:27:50.040 --> 00:27:50.440 finally 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.080 and briefly 00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.360 just to the last few verses 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.860 verses 23 to 28 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:55.780 now Paul ends his letter 00:27:55.780 --> 00:27:56.480 thinking about 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.080 that prophecy 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.080 that we're just talking about 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.419 of Jesus' return 00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:01.539 and he adds a final prayer 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.599 for the Thessalonians 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:04.519 that they would be ready 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.720 for that day 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.740 and then whenever we think 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.179 of prophecy 00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:09.439 one of the biggest tragedies 00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:11.439 is that people get so caught up 00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.419 in what will happen 00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:13.319 or what might happen 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.659 is that they ignore 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:15.359 or they reject 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.179 the whole purpose 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:17.819 why the prophecy was given 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:20.599 the prophecy was given 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.359 so that we might be prepared 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:23.579 individually 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:25.179 and as a church community 00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:26.960 not by buying 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.980 tin beans 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.240 and dried fruit 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.220 and gold and guns 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.819 and storing it up 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.640 in a basement somewhere 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:33.400 that's well off 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:35.500 but that we might be holy 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.200 Paul says 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:38.180 so that we might be sanctified 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.559 made holy 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.420 through and through 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.180 thoroughly holy 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.000 basically he's saying 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.799 and that our whole spirit 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.620 soul 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.740 and body 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.620 would be kept blameless 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.759 for when he comes 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.799 that every aspect 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.779 of our being 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.860 would be focused 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.799 on being ready 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.119 and not be ashamed 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:57.259 when Jesus Christ returns 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:59.680 may seem like a big ask 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.859 but the encouraging thing is 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:03.200 that we're not on our own 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.339 verse 24 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:06.359 the one who calls you 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.519 is faithful 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.980 and he will do it 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.960 we began the journey 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.460 with grace 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.899 and we're going to finish 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.460 with grace 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.399 Jesus is the alpha 00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:16.180 and the omega 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:17.240 the beginning 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.859 and the end 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.539 the author 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.819 and the completer 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.659 of our faith 00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:23.079 so just as we keep reading 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.179 and praying 00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:25.759 and seeking to have 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.819 an attitude like Jesus 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.399 one that gives the father 00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:29.539 the glory that he has due 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:31.259 by living lives of worship 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:33.159 we can be certain 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.740 that he'll bring us 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.179 to the end 00:29:34.179 --> 00:29:36.079 and we'll be ready 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.679 to meet him 00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:38.139 whenever he comes 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:40.299 we all need grace 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.759 none of us 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.019 will ever get to the point 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.460 in our lives 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.379 where we don't need grace 00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:46.559 that's why in the next breath 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.119 Paul says 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:48.659 brothers pray for us 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:51.100 he's no specific 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.860 and the reason is 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.759 probably that he has 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.540 all the same problems 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:54.620 and all the same concerns 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:56.019 that everyone else has 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.900 with a few more added in 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.620 as well we know 00:29:58.620 --> 00:30:00.759 but he needs grace too 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:02.759 earlier in the chapter 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:04.320 he expressed his concern for them 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:06.840 and his desire 00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:07.580 to see them 00:30:07.580 --> 00:30:09.120 to come and to see them 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:11.340 and he's not above loneliness either 00:30:11.340 --> 00:30:13.400 and this is where 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.460 the most awkward bit 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.340 of the passage comes in 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:16.060 verse 26 00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:17.540 greet all the brothers 00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:18.420 with a holy kiss 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:20.480 no I'm joking 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.940 for us really 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.380 I suppose 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:24.759 whenever we're missing folk 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.759 we might even write 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.940 say at the end of the letter 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.259 or something 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.539 give so and so a hug for me 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.320 or something like that 00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:31.240 it's the same thing really 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.880 he misses them 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.800 and he cares for them 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:34.060 and the holy kiss 00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:35.259 doesn't mean a kiss 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.140 that's not sleazy 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:38.360 or a kiss that's not impure 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.060 or that kind of thing 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.779 he's not saying 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.600 give them a pure kiss 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:42.080 like the one on the forehead 00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.480 or something 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.680 he's basically just saying 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.340 give them a kiss 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.200 for me 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.580 and make it a holy one 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.379 because they're my brothers 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.419 in Christ 00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:49.960 who I love very much 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:51.759 J.B. Phillips 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:53.079 he comes up with 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:54.259 some nice paraphrases 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.339 and he translates this one 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.819 as he says 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.379 give a handshake all round 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.279 to all the brotherhood 00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.819 brothers pray for us 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:02.379 greet all the brothers 00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:03.179 with a holy kiss 00:31:03.179 --> 00:31:04.619 I charge you 00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:05.339 before the Lord 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.519 to have this letter read 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.220 to all the brothers 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.980 or to all the families 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.419 sorry I've got 00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:09.220 I think I've got 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.319 the 1984 edition 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:12.480 no one is to be left out 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:14.740 either by sparing them 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.259 the difficulty 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.279 of hearing the hard parts 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.659 of the letter 00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:18.579 or by denying them 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.399 the encouragement 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.220 that it would be 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.960 to hear a letter 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.679 from their dear friend Paul 00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:24.799 but the way he says it 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.000 is just really affectionate 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.359 promise me 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.639 that you'll have this letter 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.319 read to everyone 00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:29.759 won't you 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.319 would you promise me that 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:33.319 and then he closes 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.220 his letter by saying 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.700 the grace of our Lord 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.419 Jesus Christ 00:31:36.419 --> 00:31:37.519 be with you 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:39.240 and can I just take 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.899 the liberty of saying 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:41.480 then as 1 Thessalonians 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.280 comes to a close 00:31:42.280 --> 00:31:43.820 the grace of the Lord 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.500 Jesus Christ 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.540 be with you too 00:31:45.540 --> 00:31:46.640 Amen 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:49.920 Thanks Johnny 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:59.900 Thanks very much Paul 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:01.280 and please do talk 00:32:01.280 --> 00:32:02.019 to him afterwards 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.500 if there's anything 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:04.200 you want to follow up 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.540 with him 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:06.519 but that's encouraging 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.500 our final song 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.519 of the time 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:09.920 and really 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.599 to beめ 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:12.099 the way 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.240 entrust 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.420 the way 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.180 it gets 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.680 and I'll 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.480 adjust 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:30.079 our Auft 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.259 it's Christmas 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.880 and finishes 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.480 when you lean up 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.079 your father 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.559 and 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.299 it 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.880 män 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.619 like