Calvary Bible Church - Pastor Ken’s Weblog

Passage for Sunday, 2/24/08

I Thessalonians 4:1-12; 5:1-11:  

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…”  

Live it!

My goal this week was to try to wrap up this series on Church Life that we started the first Sunday in January.  We’ve covered a lot of ground, beginning with the importance of making wise choices when given the option of following what the Lord has told us to do and our own inclination, and choosing how to live in a way that honors the Lord and our spouses and our church family by choosing to serve one another in love rather than fulfill the desires of our sin nature. It seems the Christian life is one choice after another, doesn’t it?  Well, that’s because it is!  In fact, one of the key points we need to take away from this series is that life is all about the choices we make, and having a heightened awareness of the consequences of those choices should help us make wise ones! 

One of our primary problems, at least so it seems to me, is that we are too near-sighted.  We do not take the time to evaluate the consequences of the choices we make.  No one in his or her right mind  sets out to be a Cain. But if we are not aware of the Cain potential that lies just beneath the surface in each of our hearts, we can easily find ourselves following in his steps.  In this letter to the Church in Thessalonica, Paul addressed issues that the church still wrestles with today: Christians were raising questions about Jesus’ return to earth and were disagreeing on matters of morality.  We’re going to  skip the  rapture issue this time, and stick closer to our theme of living the life we are called to live, increasingly reflecting Christ as we do.   

Paul’s solution is simple, live to please God.  Let’s take a look:I Thessalonians 4:1-2:  “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.  Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” In many ways, this Thessalonican Church reminds me of our own.  Paul commends them for their obedient walk, and later for their love for each other.  He tells them they know how to live.  These are all strengths of our own church. 

These verses also indicate that Paul probably stayed in Thessalonica longer than just the three Sabbaths he went to the Synagogue and reasoned with them from the scriptures, reported in Acts 17.  His stay was rather brief though, and ended rather abruptly, but according to these verses he did stay long enough to teach them the basic truths and practices of the faith, which probably would have taken longer than three weeks. Our Adult Sunday School class has been following Paul’s ministry through the book of Acts, and learning quite a bit about his style of ministry, and that information is helpful as we look at passages like this. 

Here Paul commends them for living the truth they had been taught, and encourages them to even greater efforts.  He doesn’t go into great detail reiterating all the doctrine they had been taught and were applying in their lives, but goes to the areas where their knowledge was lacking, to where there was disagreement or misunderstanding.  Many of these Christians came from pagan backgrounds, and the moral climate of the culture in which they lived was even worse than our own, if you can imagine that.  Sexual immorality was practiced as part of pagan worship, and the consciences of the people so numbed that they accepted immoral behavior as normal, much like many are trying to push our society toward today. 

Paul was about to straighten that aspect out for them. Verses 3-6a: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.” Paul tells them, and us, that it is God’s will for us to be sanctified:  Set apart for the Lord.  Sanctified can also mean “made holy,” which is done by: (1) being declared holy through faith in Christ’s atoning death on the cross (sometimes called positional sanctification), and (2) being made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians (sometimes called progressive sanctification). 

In these verses, Paul is talking about the latter, progressive sanctification, the process of becoming more Christ-like in the way we conduct our lives, of living holy, set-apart to Him, specifically here in the area of sexuality. This is only possible as we yield control to the indwelt Holy Spirit and live in His power, following His direction and guidance.  As we saw last week in Galatians 5:23, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of self-control in the life of the yielded believer. This Spirit empowered control allows us to choose to resist sexual temptation and avoid sexual immorality. This in turn not only helps separate us from the heathen, the  world around us, but also exhibits brotherly love, rather than the damage a lack of control in this area brings to one’s self and others. 

Sexual sin harms others besides those who engage in it.  In adultery, for example, the spouse is always wronged.Premarital sex wrongs the future partner by robbing him or her of the virginity that ought to be brought to marriage. Our own Society is being destroyed far more rapidly from within through the vehicle of sexual immorality than any threat of our political, religious or social enemies, real as those dangers may be. Rampant sexual immorality is rapidly destroying the traditional family in America, which is and has long been the framework of our society.  And, as a result, the Church is in danger as well. We are at War, don’t be fooled. 

Paul gives another good reason to live a holy life, to be  sanctified in Verses 6b-7: “The Lord will punish men (and women) for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” Paul points out that another reason for chastity before marriage and monogamy after is the holiness God calls us to live.We need to understand that sexual sin is sin against God, who gives the Holy Spirit to believers for their sanctification. To live in sexual immorality is to reject God, and His gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian Christians is worth repeating here.  I Corinthians 6:18-20: “Flee from sexual immorality (remember the example of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife).  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.” 

He continues here in verse 8 with that same thought:  “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”Paul wanted to make sure they understand that this isn’t just Paul talking, this is God’s instruction. Sexual morality is not a matter of  situational ethics, it is the clearly defined standard of the Word of God, and it is not an un-enlightened society or  old fashioned morality that people reject, but God, and, for believers tempted to sexual sin, the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He then commends them for their love of one another and encourages them to greater effort in another section that reminds me of this church:   

Verses 9-10: “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.  Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” How amazing is that. Paul says we are taught by God to love each other! And the Thessalonians had learned this lesson so well that the effect of their love was evidenced throughout Macedonia! Paul explains this teaching ministry of God’s further in I Corinthians 2:6-14: “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”

That, by the way, is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied sections of scripture. Paul is not talking about heaven, which is how most people use these verses, but the Gospel. “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” God teaches us through the indwelt Holy Spirit. John gives us another perspective in I John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God teaches us by example and by influence! God in us loves others through us. Paul continues with more instruction on godly living. 

Verses 11-12:  “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. This is a classic exhortation, at least in my opinion, to lifestyle evangelism. It is also the direct opposite of the Worlds’ idea of living.  What is one of the greatest problems most of us have today?   

Busyness 

We have a desire to use our spiritual gifts, but struggle with finding the time.  We’re just too busy.  Paul says aim for a quiet life, minding your own business, earning your own living. Keeping up with the Joneses isn’t Paul’s notion of living.  Why is it that we seem to have bought into the worlds’ system instead of following the Lord’s?  Don’t let yourself get caught up in the  rat-race - there is no winner!  And you’re wasting your time running around with and trying to impress a bunch of rats!  Reset your priorities.  Aim for a quiet life.   

Skip down to: 5:1-3:   “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  I told you we were going to skip the portion on the rapture.  Here Paul reminds them that Christ’s second-coming, a different occasion than the rapture, was coming, not to get caught up in worrying about dates and times, but that being ready is the key.  People won’t have time to change their mind at the last minute.  They need to choose Christ now. 

He goes on:  Verses 4-8:   “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.  You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”  

In Acts 26:17b-18 Paul records his mission given to him by the Lord:  “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  Here Paul says we need to live differently, not just claim to believe differently. And wear your Spiritual Armor, life is a battle, remember?  We are at War!  Adam Clarke says: “We are not only called to Work, we are called to Fight!”  I like that! 

Paul then goes on with one of the great promises/reminders in scripture. Verses 9-10: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live (walk) together with him.”  Paul points out that the believers, the  sons of the light and  sons of the day were not appointed by God to wrath, but salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The rapture will take believers, dead and living, to  live together with Him before this wrath hits those who live in the darkness.  In the meantime, we are to  live together with Him here and now, living a sanctified life, a holy life, the life we were called to live, the life that points people to the Light!  We close with Paul’s final word of exhortation in this section: 

Verse 11:   “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Because this is true, because we have this assurance and confidence, we should actively encourage and edify one another. This encouraging and edifying is an ongoing effort, not a one-time event. We do it by living a sanctified life, set apart from the world to God, by sharing God’s word of encouragement with each other and the lost, by exercising our spiritual gifts, by loving one another as we are called to. We do it by our example, living the life we are called to live, increasingly reflecting Jesus Christ in our life and actions, individually and as a Church, the body of Christ.

In His grip,

Sunday, February 3, 2008
Scripture passage for today: I Timothy 2:1 – 3:15

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The Church – Part III

Today we look at Paul’s instructions on how we ought to conduct ourselves in the church. In chapters 2-3 of this letter, Paul gives some pretty detailed instructions regarding worship and church organization. When Paul wrote this letter, near the end of his life, churches such this one at Ephesus had been established for many years. Now the time had come for a more formal organization and for instructions governing appropriate and inappropriate behavior in church.

As we look at this section of the letter today, we will continue to keep in mind those two questions we have been considering, individually and corporately;

• Are we doing what Christ has called us to do?
• Do we increasingly reflect Christ in our services, ministries, and actions?

We also want to keep our mission in mind, the task of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping those who respond to that gospel to grow-up in Christ. Let’s take a closer look at today’s passage, and see how we measure up!

I Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Paul’s first priority for this church should be ours as well; we should be a church of prayer.

This is a major theme of Paul’s. We saw it last week in Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” In Philippians 4:6-7 he tells that Church: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That’s powerful motivation for prayer. In Colossians 4:2 he commands: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” And, as a final example, he gives this charge to the church in Thessalonica, in I Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Here, he ties the priority of prayer to the mission of the church. He doesn’t necessarily give details on how to pray, but rather, general guidelines on focused prayer.

He says our prayers should include requests (prayer for God to avert evil, similar to Jesus telling the disciples to pray: “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”), prayers (for obtaining the good things, spiritual and material, which we ourselves need, as in “give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses”), intercessions (which is interceding before God on behalf of others, one aspect of which is our prayer chain), and thanksgiving, remembering to be thankful for mercies already obtained from the Lord, not the least of which is our salvation!

Paul also tells us whom we are to pray for. He says we should pray for everyone, and specifically for kings and all those in authority. This was a pretty amazing command, considering that Nero was in power at the time, and he and those authority figures under him were actively persecuting the church. But there was a practical side to his logic, as well as a spiritual side.

Adam Clarke states: “If the state be not in safety, the individual cannot be secure; self-preservation, therefore, should lead men to pray for the government under which they live. We thus pray for the government, that the public peace may be preserved. Good rulers have power to do much good; we pray that their authority may be ever preserved and well directed. Bad rulers have power to do much evil; we pray that they may be prevented from thus using their power. So that, whether the rulers be good or bad, prayer for them is the positive duty of all Christians; and the answer to their prayers, in either ease, will be the means of their being enabled to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

Our country and her government are in serious need of our prayers. But Paul has a deeper motive than the peaceful and quiet lives of Christians in mind. About a church that prays like this he says: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” That is our mission, remember? Salvation and growth. Prayer changes things, and is often instrumental in the salvation and spiritual growth of all men. Paul encapsulates that truth:
Verses 5-7 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle–I am telling the truth, I am not lying–and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.”

After reiterating his authority to teach, Paul continues with rules of conduct in worship: Verses 8-10 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”

It is very interesting how through the ages conservative scholars have determined that certain instruction in a letter is cultural and other instruction, often immediately following it, is cross-cultural! For example, you seldom see men in our church following Paul’s guidelines for posture in prayer, but we hold pretty strongly to his guidelines in the next paragraph!

I agree that the focal point of his instruction is the attitude, but it does make me wonder. The important thing is that the hands we lift in prayerful worship, figuratively or literally, are holy, not stained with sin, and that are hearts are clean, not harboring anger or expressions of arguing or disputing. We are to clear all that up before we approach the Lord in prayer and worship. Two scriptures come to mind.

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Paul’s instruction to the ladies on dress, jewelry and hair style is along the same line, it’s the attitude, not the items. In the Ephesians society, as sometimes in ours, these were often a display of personal wealth and pride, not simply an expression of style or fashion. Peter agrees, and his advice is very similar. I Peter 3:3-5a: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”

Many “beautiful” people are incredibly shallow. I like Clarke’s response: “When either women or men spend much time, cost, and attention on decorating their persons, it affords a painful proof that within there is little excellence, and that they are endeavoring to supply the want of mind and moral good by the feeble and silly aids of dress and ornament. Were religion out of the question, common sense would say in all these things: Be decent; but be moderate and modest.”

We need to examine our motive in what we wear and how we present ourselves. Keep Paul’s admonition from last week in mind: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold in manners of dress, hairstyle, jewelry etc. We are to portray the image of Christ. The world wants you ladies to adopt immodest clothing styles for yourselves and your daughters. Just say no.

Men, have the courage to help them understand why immodest is wrong. If you need a reminder, listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28: “You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Don’t be the cause of others falling into sin by your immodest dress or behavior. We men have enough trouble without that type of temptation in the church.

Paul goes on: “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” These verses have caused a lot of controversy in the church. The short answer is that Paul did not permit women to teach men or usurp the authority of men in the teaching and preaching ministry of the church. The women’s liberation movement was not an innovation of the 1970’s. The seed of rebellion was planted with the punishment placed on the first woman, Genesis 3:16b: “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Paul explains the basis for his ruling: “For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” It is the created order, not just the result of the fall that places man first. It is not a position of superiority but of position, of authority. About Verse 15 one commentary said: “This is one of the most difficult verses of the New Testament to interpret. “But women will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” We know what it does not mean. Women do not receive salvation from sin by having babies. The most plausible interpretation is that it speaks of the godly woman finding fulfillment in her role as wife and mother in the home, that a woman’s greatest achievement is found in her devotion to her divinely ordained role: to help her husband, to bear children, and to follow a faithful, chaste way of life. My goal today is to stick more closely to Paul’s instruction on church conduct and organization. He talks to us now about the leadership of the local church.

Chapter 3:1 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” Last week I pointed out that just as there is no room for pride regarding our spiritual gifts, there is no room for a false modesty that either denies the existence of gifts or refuses to use them. We are to use them in proportion to our faith, the power given by God to each of us as believers to fulfill the various ministries in the church.

Paul says that seeking to use your gifts in this position is a noble task. This is one of those cases where I prefer the King James translation: “a good work.” Being an Elder in the Church is work. It’s a good work, true, but it is work. The word Overseer here refers to a man who oversees a local congregation. The equivalent word from the Jewish background of Christianity is “elder.” The terms overseer and elder are used interchangeably in the New Testament. The primary duties of an overseer were to teach and preach, to direct the affairs of the church, to shepherd the flock of God and to guard the church from error.

Paul then gives the “qualifications” so to speak in Verses 2-7: “Now the overseer must be above reproach, (not perfect, but not harboring known, unrepentant sin in his life. One commentary said: “a person against whom no evil can be proved.”), the husband of but one wife, (A general principle that applies to any violation of God’s marriage law, whether in the form of polygamy or of marital unfaithfulness. A “one-woman” man.), temperate, (moderate in indulging the appetites; not self-indulgent.), self-controlled, (self-restraint with regard to one’s lusts and desires), respectable, hospitable,( friendly, kind, and solicitous toward guests. 2) favoring the health, growth, comfort, etc. of new arrivals.), able to teach, (speaks of a leaders ability to correctly handle the Scriptures. He must be able to both understand and communicate the truth to others, as well as to refute those who mishandle it.), not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. (Pride was the cause of Satan’s downfall.) He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

Satan likes nothing better than to disgrace God’s work and God’s people by trapping church leaders in sin before a watching world. Paul then gives the “qualifications” of Deacons. In its non-technical usage, the Greek for this word means simply “one who serves.” Generally, their service was meant to free the elders to give full attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

Verses 8-13 “Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, (the King James says “not double-tongued” which is speaking one thing to one person, and another thing to another, on the same subject. This is hypocrisy and deceit. This word might also be translated liars.), not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. (The deacons needed to maintain a good conscience with regard to their life testimony to the local church members and to the unbelievers, the world.) They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. (This is one reason we have a one-year membership requirement for all board members.) In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” The Greek for the phrase translated wives here simply means the women and therefore could refer to deacons’ wives or to deaconesses.

“A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” One of the many benefits of serving the Lord in a leadership position is the growth you experience in your relationship with the Lord. This growth often leads a deacon to become and Elder! We close with Paul’s reasons for writing these instructions!

“Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” So what’s the bottom line here, how should we conduct ourselves in the church? Are we doing what God has called us to do? Are we increasingly reflecting Jesus Christ in our services, ministries and actions?

Well, as Paul said, first of all, we need to be a praying church, and a church of praying people. We need to pray for all people, and we need to pray all kinds of prayers. Requests, prayers, intercessions and Thanksgivings. We pray for the salvation of all people, we pray the mission of the church will be accomplished, the task of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping those who respond to that gospel to “grow-up” in Christ.

We should conduct ourselves according to biblical guidelines, living holy lives devoid of anger and arguing. We make sure that it is the beauty of our inner-self that draws people to us; that we do not get caught up in the “fads” of the world, in immodest and self-centered dress and styles.

We need to adhere to biblical roles and not try to twist scripture to accommodate our selfish desires. We need to do what we can to have strong, healthy marriages and families.

We need to make sure that we chose our leaders based on their spiritual gifts and growth, according to the “qualifications” laid out for us in Scripture, not based on popularity or personal influence. We need to discover and use our spiritual gifts, for the good of the body. We need to die to self, and live for God and our fellow men. In the final analysis, we need to model Christ.

In His grip,