What if, that mind is idle, in the ways of God?

1 Thessalonians 5:14

I assume you have heard the statement, “An idle mind, is the devils workshop?”  What if, that mind is idle, in the ways of God?  What if the person with the idle mind is very busy, at both home, job, and at church, but is idle in the ways of God; my friend Bill Gilliam calls that performance flesh.   Often this person is a high achiever and may be well thought of in both the church and in the community, but is a zero in the kingdom of God.  So what do we do in the church to encourage such a performer, often we make them deacons, or put them in some other roll that they are not equipped to handle, but because of their performance flesh, and their standing in the community they will want to be involved, but with no understanding of letting God do it all for them, in His timing and His way.  This person looks so good to us that often we are blinded to their lack of spiritual understanding.  In fact this person will be involved in Bible studies and all the activity at the local church, because looking good and doing good is who they are.

Now if you’re a pastor, you may say fill my church up with those Christians with the performance flesh, that is what we need is more workers, but they are idle in the ways of God.  If your in charge of the Lions club, they are great, but if you hope to be a kingdom minded church led by the Spirit, they are and will be a source of discontent and disruption.  The flesh, all flesh, cannot please God.  I believe this type of Christian does more harm to the local church than any other kind of flesh because they perform so well, and are often put in roles where they will bring all their resources and talents to the project, but are void of the Holy Spirit.  They remind me of my friend Pete Peterson who had performance flesh, and gave this account of his actions; “I was like a man with a vacuum cleaner, I was very busy pushing it all over the church, but I had never plugged into the power supply.”  I witnessed Pete’s life after he plugged into the power supply, and He was greatly used by God.

This is what verse 14 states; “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all.”  And this is why the performance type of flesh looks so good, they see the problem as how do we get the idle pew sitters, the Sunday only Christian to go to work, that lazy, idle group that is the majority of the membership of most churches.  They do not get the part about being an encourager to the fainthearted, helping the weak, and being patient, you have got to be kidding me.   Their attitude is; we need workers so we can do great things for God that is the mind-set of the Christian with the mind idle to the ways of God.  But what we need are Joshua’s who understand that only God can move the hearts of His people just as God only could take a ragged-band of jug carriers to bring down the walls of Jericho.  Yes, we need to encourage these men and women to look to, to learn, and to obey the God of Joshua, the only God, and the one who does the impossible.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Respect

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Has respect gone the way of the 8-track tape player?  Do we even understand what it means to show respect?  In the dictionary the word “Respect” is defined in this way: esteem, admire, think highly of, have a high opinion of, hold in high regard, hold in (high) esteem, look up to, revere, reverence, honor.  How things have changed since I was a small boy, if someone was an adult and that may have been some one in their early twenties, they were addressed as sir or ma’am and it usually was preceded by yes or no.  If I had ever wanted to die young, all it would have taken was to call one of my adult neighbors or a friend of the family by anything other than Mr. or Mrs.  

We have become a culture that shows little respect for adults, for authority, for titles, and by becoming that kind of society we have become the losers.  But that was never God’s plan and when the people showed disrespect for Moses, God was very displeased and often in Scripture we are told to respect authority because God ordains all authority.  That being true, it is no surprise that our society is not in-step with our Father in heaven. 

Now the apostle Paul is giving us this admonishment: “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)  My dear friend and prayer partner for many years reminded me the other day that the art of communication is to say it once, and then to repeat it and then to say it one more time.  That is what the Holy Spirit has done in the Scriptures, in Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  Now I can hear you saying, what if their faith is not worthy of imitation, and God has addressed that in 1 Timothy 5:17, but before going there, may I ask you a question; why are you still under such a pastor or teacher? 

Now let us look at 1Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”  I personally have been under those who were leaders and those who were not, and I can testify that to rule well is to be a man who has a kingdom mind.   Such a man has no deception on his ability to lead a church and is more interested in God’s kingdom than in his golf game, he loves the things of God and looks to the Spirit for leadership.  Today is Thanksgiving, and I am so thankful for my pastor, Ray Still, and the other pastors serving under his leadership, they are men who have the mind of Christ, they are about His kingdom, and New Braunfels is a better place because of their leadership.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are you an Encourager?

1 Thessalonians 5: 8-11

Are you an encourager? If you are it is a good thing because this old world has a way of destroying our hope.  But to be an encourager requires that we set our mind on Christ and not on self.  When we become self-absorbed it is impossible to let our light shine and bring glory to our Father in heaven. 

With all the uncertainty of life in 2011, I need an encourager in my life, I need to know that if the dollar loses it’s value and I find that my savings will no longer meet the requirements to live in a manner that we have grown to expect.  If the very worst comes, and my pension goes the way of US Steel or Braniff Air Lines, I will need someone to be an encourager, someone to remind me, to keep me focused on the source of my joy.  Who will be that one?  Others find themselves in the same fix?  Will I be so entwined in self that I no longer let my light shine?  These are real questions, and like any small child, I need to know that my Father will supply my needs.

Now the apostle Paul gives us this instruction: “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  My simple understanding of these verses is; you and I who are in Christ, have moved from the control of darkness to the light.  We are to prepare our minds and our hearts with faith and love, always remembering that our mighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ has brought us out of the control of sin and death.  It is so important to set our minds on the same attitude as the apostle Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

T W Hunt is one of my hero’s in the faith, he is also a dear friend and brother in Christ.  His name could easily be exchanged with the word encourager, for he has often been used of God to renew my spirit.  His life has spoken much louder than his words, and he has led me to find rest in the Word of God.  Psalm 16 is very special to T.W. and it begins in this way; “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”  (Psalm 16:1-2)  Now I pray this also encourages you as it has many; “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.  I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”  (Psalm 16:7-8)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

We have a measurement of darkness

 

1Thessalonians 5:4-11

Darkness is an interesting word, it is the absence or lack of light, and it is referred to as wickedness or evil: the forces of darkness.  In my home are what we call night lights, they are not very bright but when all other sources of light are removed they guide you to   bathroom and back to the bed.  I read that it is impossible to measure darkness, but is that really true?  I have a feeling that each of us somewhere in our mind has a measurement of the darkness we live around everyday.  Yes, you have a measurement for what you call evil, and yours may be different from your neighbors, but we all have one, even the worst of criminals have a code of what is wrong and right.  It may be distorted but it is still a measurement of the darkness.

As we look at these verses, we observe that the apostle is addressing people who are no longer in the darkness, and he refers to them as children of the light.  So we must ask what does that mean?  Is it referred to elsewhere in the Bible, and the answer is yes, we have these words from our Lord: “So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer.  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.  The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may becomes sons of light.” (John 12:35-36)  As one who has been a teacher, it is always nice to have a Thomas who asks the questions that the others will not ask.  Thomas ask Jesus to give some clarity as to where he was going, and how they would know the way, this is Jesus reply; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  We must understand that Jesus did not leave us in the dark, in John 8:12b, Jesus spoke these words; “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Is our problem with interpretation and application of 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 derived from our lack of understanding or our poor memory?  Have we forgotten the truth found in Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light.”  You and I were once in darkness, we have come into the light, but often I do not live as a child of the light.  In fact if you attend most Baptist churches on any Sunday, you would believe that all of us were mega lights in our neighborhoods.  That is until you tried to exit the parking lot.  And that is why the apostle Paul said in so many words, it’s all about application, in Ephesians 5:15-17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

So wake-up and quit coning yourself, your light source is found only in Christ!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Why would anyone want to know you?

 

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Why would anyone want what you have?  Now I am not referring to your stuff, but the real you, not the person who tries to say the right things to impress someone, with the hope of deriving some benefit from the exchange.  What is it about you that would make someone want to know you?  You may have read the classic; “How to win friends and influence People,” it has some good points, it will help you in your people skills, but it will not come close to the answer that is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.

Verse 10b-12, “But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”  What are they being urged to do more and more, something they were already doing: something they were doing very well, showing brotherly love? 

Now, I must ask some questions; how does living quietly add to a person showing brotherly love?  Is it because a quiet life allows us to hear the quiet voice of our God, is it because in being quiet and still we become listeners, and we hear the pain of those who we come into contact with each day?  The prophet Isaiah has such a way with words, “And the effect of righteousness, will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

Is Paul teaching us to mind our own affairs, is that an instruction to focus only on self and to ignore the ones that we come into contact with each day?  If that is what you take from this you miss the mark, for he is referring to excelling at your occupation and it matters not what that is.  It maybe flipping burgers to running a large business, but stay focused, keep on growing in those skills you have been given, and be open to the people God puts into your circle of influence. 

It is commonplace in the church today to give money to meet a need, and that is a good act, but when Paul instructs us to work with our own hands, is he not telling you and I to be involved not just with our resources, but also our lives.  Brotherly love shows up best when one life touches another life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is the Church in Denial?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Can you imagine God calling or sending you to minister to a culture that is self-absorbed?  We all hear about such cultures, they are full of self, self-centered, self-regarding, and some are just in love with themselves and the word for them is narcissistic.  This type of culture has little time for a higher authority, they want to be the rule makers, they do not want anyone setting a moral authority over them, they want to live for what brings them pleasure, and when it does not fill that purpose, they have no problem breaking those bonds.

You may be saying, I know some people like that but I cannot imagine a culture or nation that would be self-absorbed.  Let me introduce you to Romans 1:18-20, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.”  Paul gives us a record of what the Gentile culture looks like, it had many gods but was a society void of God, and it wanted only gods that would not restrict or convict it of sin.  This was why the apostles needed to instruct the Gentile church on living a life pleasing to God.  God had not only redeemed them, (bought then out of sin, paid the debt that God required) but has called them and us to purity, not impurity, to be holy as He is holy.  Paul is telling them and us that we have authority over our bodies and our flesh to abstain from sexual immorality, that we have the ability to control our passions and our body.

I hope you are living a victorious Christian life and if you are, it may come as no surprise that we live in a culture just like the early Church was absorbed in.  And like many of the early Churches we have brought that life-style or culture into our churches.  We do not need to report to you the numerous sexual immoralities that are brought forth on a weekly basis in the news, but those only cover politicians, Hollywood, and the pastors and staff at our local churches.  It is not a new thing, Paul confronted the Church at Corinth in chapter 5:1-2, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.  And you are arrogant!  Ought you not rather to mourn?  Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”  He is not calling the sexual immoral person arrogant, no God is calling us, you and me, His Church, we are the arrogant, we are not in mourning, but in denial.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Reflecting

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Do you like to reflect on the place you are in life, and how you got to that point?  It may be a very good place, or it may be an empty place and you just wonder, what happened?  I find that reflecting makes me aware of how God’s hand has made me, now you may like the word guided me, but to be guided requires a person to be willing, and in my case often I was not open to follow.  So reflection exposes the hand of God working in my life and so often He arranged, set the stage, opened doors, answered prayer of others who were praying for me, but at that time I was blind to His hand.  In fact I often took credit for what seemed to be success, and looked for someone or a situation to blame when doors were closed, someone else got the promotion, or relationships were broken, and so on.

This morning I read these verses to Jan and ask her if anything jumped off the page at her and she said, “The word make and establish” the word make was what had gotten my attention.  As we were reflecting on how that had happened in our life situations, the name Annie Everett, came into my mind.  Now that is somewhat strange in that I never met Annie, but she became a very special person to Jan, when we were in our twenties.  I said, Jan do you remember Annie Everett, and what a blessing she was to you?  Her reply was, “do you recall how I met Annie,” and I didn’t, so she began telling me the rest of the story.  We were brand-new, I do mean little babies in Christ and Jan was working with teenage girls at Church and someone came up with a project to visit the old dears at the nursing home in Robstown, Texas.  To say that Jan was looking forward to this project was like saying Jan wanted all her teeth pulled, it was something she was very fearful of.

But God, yes God was going to make Jan, once more you may like the word set the stage or arrange circumstances to meet Annie Everett, who at that time was at 96 a very southern lady who was very sharp and very lonely.  Annie also had some great stories and a few secrets; one was that she dipped snuff, and did not want this young lady to know that she did such things.  Annie lived to be 102 as we recall, and she became a priority in my wife’s life, but not only Annie, many others at that nursing home became so special to my young bride.  But as Jan reflected this morning, she has no misgivings that it was God who made her go; so that out of her fears came a ministry of blessing, both to her and others.

Look and reflect on verse 12 & 13, “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”   

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice my blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/

A Good Report

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

It is always great to receive a good report about people you love, and that is what is taking place in verses 6-9.  Today I would like to examine or look deeper into verse ten, “as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”  Have you ever given thought to someone other than God being used to supply what is lacking in your faith?  Your first thought may be, God is the giver of faith and how true that is, God is the giver of faith.  But how does faith increase in a Christian’s life?  Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  So the teaching and preaching of the word of God can supply faith, and yet the apostle James states, faith without works is empty faith (James 2:17) I do believe that is the message from St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words” is appropriate. 

You and I have been given a clear understanding of what faith is in Hebrews 11:1, and we also have been told in Hebrews 11:6, that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Yes, we have been instructed by the prophet Habakkuk that the righteous shall live by faith, and in Romans 5:1 that our justification by our faith in Christ and it has brought us peace with God.  I find great peace in my soul from these words Jesus spoke to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  Wow, Jesus has a way of cutting to the chase.

But in the verse 10, Paul is telling us that we are to be part of building up of believers, that is referred to as and edification.  Paul in his letters often instructs us to be encouragers, to build up the faith of other Christians by our words, and by our actions, you may want to read Romans 14:13-19.  How are you doing in this area of building or as Paul states, “supply what is lacking in your faith?”  First at home, and then as you go about living in your neighborhood, and at work.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Does SBC understand the word Illegal?

Does the Southern Baptist Convention understand the laws of this land?  Illegal is defined as: “forbidden by law” and in this case someone who has entered our country illegally. We have laws on this subject that are being ignored, and if they were not being broken, there would be no reason to endorse a legal status for illegal immigrants.  So some might come to this conclusion; that The Southern Baptist Convention supports the breaking of laws they do not like or that they are no different than politicians, they do whatever, to earn the praises of men.  We either are people who keep the laws of the land, or we are a mob that has an agenda.  It leaves this writer wondering if the people leading this Convention are in step with the Manufacture’s handbook.  The grace of God is always extended, but it comes after confession, and repentance, that is not the actions I’ve seen from the majority of illegal immigrants who have no regard for the laws of the United States of America.  They have no desire to assimilate into our culture; in fact most want to hold to their native language and customs.  They are lawbreakers, our jails are full of them, our schools are full of them, and they are a drain on the public funds.  Saying all of that as a follower of Christ, we should always treat them with respect, we should always share the good news of the gospel but to encourage law breakers is wrong, and I believe the SBC has by it actions entered into wrong, no matter what spin they try to put on it.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

"Also during their annual gathering, SBC "messengers" passed a resolution advocating a path to legal status for illegal immigrants. The resolution was passed on Wednesday at the annual meeting of the nation's largest protestant denomination in Phoenix. It also calls on Southern Baptists to reject bigotry and to minister to all people, regardless of immigration status."

The Big Schemer

 

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

The big Schemer, the one Jesus calls the father of lies, if he were graded for his deceptive abilities it would be an A+.  This I believe is one of his accomplishments, when we read the Scriptures the Schemer tells you, “you are sure not a Paul, look he is special, he was an apostle of Christ.  And look at you at best your _________ “and by the time he is finished with you, you’re going back and reading John 3:16, needing to be reassured that God could love someone like you.  For years I’ve taken the approach that you cannot con me, but he can and it seems as if we are easy targets.

If the big Schemer can place our thinking on the title and not the man, we will not identify with what is being said.  If you examine this verse you will see that Paul was more like you and I than we can ever imagine. This may come as a surprise, but you and Paul have something in common, you both have the Spirit of the living God, and you both have flesh.  It was Paul who said, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be make known to God” (Philippians 4:5b-6) Paul is walking in the Spirit, and at this state is in total understanding that his flesh wants to be anxious.  It may be helpful to read Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit, are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”  Your flesh did not get redeemed when you invited Christ into your heart, it is still the same flesh that you showed up on planet earth with, and it is still doing what flesh does, trying to get its needs met outside of the authority of God.  Paul the apostle is a guy you can identify with.

When my wife tells me she will be home at a certain time and I look at the clock and she is an hour later then she said, I feel a concern, but if she does not answer her cell phone, the concern goes to my being anxious, I begin to worry, fear begins to fill my mind.  What just happened to me, I let the flesh kick into high gear, I did not remember that God is at hand, I did not pray and thank Him for His mighty hand of protection, I like Paul am a Spiritual man, yet at that moment I was totally defeated.  You may not understand that example, but what about a child that has moved to another area, or a dear friend and they keep coming into your mind.  You call the house and no answer and then you call the cell and once more nothing, if that goes on for days you’re just not normal if you are not a little concerned.

As you read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, we see that Paul is having a melt-down, he tells us he could not bear to know how this church was handling the affliction, he may be talking of his, or their afflictions, but he assures them that they had already discussed the subject of suffering.  Verse five is I need to know, and now I understand, yes Paul, I get it the big Schemer has done a number on you, as he so often does on me.  Verse five, “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter (big Schemer) had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

It is the battle with our flesh, the old man is dead, and that is what God states.  It’s a war, but not of two spirits, that would be a house divided and Jesus said that house could not stand.  You and I must be like Paul; we must put no confidence in our flesh.  Run to the Father and thank Him for watching over your soul!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Thank You

1 Thessalonians 2:17-19

As I was reading this passage in 1 Thessalonians, many memories filled my mind with past relationships, many dear friends are no longer in this world, and many have just moved, some to new areas and our move to the Texas Hill country have also caused separation.  We often look back on these separations and refer to it as life, it just happens, people we love die, get new jobs in another area of the world, change churches or move to the Texas hills.  But their investment in your life has had an influence on you, and if that investment was of a Spiritual nature it has an eternal influence.

I have said more than once this truth; I’m uncomplicated, not a deep thinker, and many mornings before writing, I remind God that He is the Creator and I am needy, that I am simple in the ways of God and His kingdom.  Now, I must say that does not come as a shock to God, but because of the kind of flesh I have, it is a good confession.  Saying that, this morning Ray Boltz song came into my mind and it is titled, “Thank you for giving to the Lord.” 

Ray’s song moves something very deep within my spirit, it brings back a time when a group of young men most in their late twenties met with me to see what the Lord would show us from a book called “Wild at Heart”.  We began with about 22 men and the numbers soon dropped to about ten faithful seekers of truth.  The time we spend was so special, I looked forward to those Saturday mornings, and those ten men stated, we became a “band of brothers,” our lives were intertwined.  Those men may not understand until they stand before the Lord, what their investment in that group meant to not only my life, but to so many others who have been blessed from what God taught us on those Saturday mornings.

The song goes like this, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed and I am so glad you came.”  Ray goes on in the song to share these thoughts; this person dreams he went to heaven and someone called his name.  The young person said, you may not recall who I am, but I was part of the Sunday school class at the age of eight, and one day as you prayed, I ask Jesus in my heart.  And then back to, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed and I am so glad you came.” 

Many of us often feel unnoticed on this earth, but Jesus will take the gift you gave and   change someone, and someday they may say thank you for giving to the Lord, it was the gift you gave, that gift is why I’m in heaven today.  1 Thessalonians 2:19, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?  Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice my blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/

Imitation

 

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

Have you ever heard that imitation is the height of flattery?   I was blessed to work for one of the great R & D companies of our time, and its products were often copied as the Patten expired.  Now that kind of flattery is often seen in the drug business, they call it a generic, and in our business it was called a knock-off, or a Me-too product.  And it is not flattery; it is bringing down the value of someone else’s investment in R&D. 

That is not what is happing in verse 14, “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.”  It only makes sense that the model that was imitated by the Thessalonian church would be the model of the churches in Judea.  It all began in Jerusalem and it was the persecution of the apostles and the death of Stephen; that very day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem and all but the apostles were scattered through out Judea.   Where did they go and what did they do?  They went to all parts of Judea and they preached the word wherever they went.  We have the account of Philip in Samaria, and in Azotus and in Caesarea, and churches were being started all over Judea.  They all had one thing in common; the religious Jews were making life hell on earth for these new churches. 

These brothers in Thessalonica knew about the persecution that the high priest brought on the churches in Judea, and that same persecution broke out against them from their own countrymen, and yet they were true to the word of God and modeled or imitated those churches in Judea.

What is required to be an imitator, you must know the subject you are going to imitate, and it will require that you study the minute details.  That is why we as the church are called to be imitators of Christ, not copies of some other churches program, but to study to show ourselves approved, workmen who need not be ashamed.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What if

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Have you ever played the game “What if”?  I bet you have, I have often and it can be a very dangerous place to go in you mind.  The game goes something like this; What if I had been born to someone else, what if I had been bigger, or smaller, smarter, or had gone to a better University, what if I had married ________ and if you played the game you know who goes into the blank.  The “what if” game happens most often and is played when life is not going well, we are discouraged, and we are looking for someone to blame. The game is played out in the mind, and most of the time it is never shared with anyone. 

But this morning, will you play the game once more with me, and this is the question: “What-if” you and I accepted the word of God, the Bible, for what it really is, “The word of God”?   What-if we obeyed its teaching?  How would your life and those around you be changed? 

To play the game correctly we must begin with ourselves, what-if you believed that you were forgiven and the debt that stood against us with its legal demands had been canceled, as stated in Colossians 2:13-15.  What-if you believed 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  If you and I believed that, then our actions would be very different, because if we believed 1 Peter 2:9, we would have this attitude, bring it on world; World do you have any understanding of whose I am, do you understand that the Creator has chosen me, I am His, and so give it your best shot, because I’m dead to your darkness, I now live in His marvelous light.

What-if you believed 2 Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sins desire.”  How would our lives be changed if we believed that we were at this moment partakers of His divine nature, and no longer had sins control over us.

What-if you believed Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  If you and I believed that we would charge hell with a water pistol, if the Spirit of God so led us to do so. 

What-if we did what these Thessalonian believers did in verse 13, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”  We would be a light in this present darkness, as they were to the lost world that encompasses them.

Some day, and no one knows that day but God the Father, we will stand in His presence and we will no longer play games in our minds, but we will understand totally the value God placed on us.  We will full understand the love the Father has for us, and for a moment we may ever understand “What-if”.  Yes for a fleeting moment, never to be recalled, you and I may understand the “What-if” of our unbelief.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Workplace - A High Calling

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

The call to the workplace is a high calling of our Lord Jesus it is not a call to a pew.  Few who answer this call will find themselves speaking to the masses, but just to ordinary people whose title in the workplace may be, owner, manager, laborer, salesperson, plumber, doctor, and the list just keeps going, but it is not the title, it is the assignment.  Paul had a cool title, an apostle of Christ Jesus, but his line of work was tent maker, that is how he made his living. 

His title sometimes clouds my thinking, how can a salesperson like myself identify with a Paul?  In the same way that I identify with my dear friend John Davis who held the title of CEO for many years of his business life, or my doctor and friend Tony Tsen, or Scott Baird who is a dear brother and friend and was one of the owners of a large bakery.  Our responsibilities were not the same in the workplace and I can assure you that our pay was not the same, but we have the same calling.  All workplace believers, who by faith have invited Christ into our lives, are called to be ambassadors of Christ to our area of influence.  

Never allow anyone to imply that your “vocation,” from Latin vocātiō which means “a calling,” is of less importance than a preacher or anyone else who has a title of  “I’m in fulltime ministry,” what a bunch of garbage; an Ambassador’s job is not a part time job, it is fulltime, to your vocation.  The “big Schemer,” the one our Father calls a liar and the father of lies has done a number on each of us who listen to the lie that they are called to “fulltime ministry” and I’m much lower in the food chain of God’s calling, I’m only a _______ and put your occupation in the blank.

You may need an example of how to let Christ live in and through you in your workplace calling; I believe Paul can help us, this tentmaker.  As you read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, do not let the enemy of your soul steal the application of these verses from your mind, your power to be an Ambassador of Christ does not come from your title, it comes from the Spirit of God who indwells you. 

So, taking the tentmaker example, work diligently at your calling, never be a burden to anyone, not your boss, or your employees, and never to the one who called you to be His ambassador, or the ones who He is sending you to help.  I believe we all need a fellow workplace believer to exhort and encourage us, to do as the tentmaker is doing to these Thessalonians as he gives them and us this charge to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls us into his own kingdom and glory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice my blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/

Paul's defines pastor/teacher

1 Thessalonians 2:4-8

Have you ever known anyone who fit the definition of a pastor/teacher that Paul is describing in these four verses.  Paul is sure of his calling, he understands that he was entrusted with the gospel, and his desire is to please God and not men.  He goes on to state that greed and flattery were not part of his desires and in these areas he had a clear heart before God.  He also states they were not people pleasers and discouraged people who tried to hold them above what God and they knew to be true.  They understood the demands they could have made on the people in their office as apostles of Christ, but instead chose to serve rather than to be served.

All of that is stated in verses 4-5, but let us look at the actions of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy in how they approached the role of pastor.  “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.  So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”  As a man, I have little information on the actions of a nursing mother, but Jan has told me that it can be painful to the mother at first but that the bond between child and mother is amazing.  The baby is totally dependent on it’s nursing mother for the nourishment of life.  It seems to me almost one sided, the mother puts the child first to make sure all of its needs are met, and the child has no regard for the mother’s schedule, they have one thought, number one has a problem, come take care of it.  Often we as a church play out the role of the child and not the nursing mother.  I cannot imagine anyone who would not want a pastor to have these qualities, can you?

But these men did not stop at being caregivers; they made sure that the good news of Jesus Christ was shared; that He was the door to God, the peace of God, that in Christ was life and it was a life lived in the now, not later in heaven.  You may find some who hold the role of pastor/teacher willing to do the above, but it is rare.  If you have been blessed, as I have to have live under men, both mentors, and pastor/teachers with this heart attitude, do not stay a nursing child.  For like the nursing mother, she looks forward to the day her child begins to eat solid food.  Have you become dear to someone, have you shared the good news of the gospel with a friend, do they know, can they testify that you would put their needs above your own?  If so you, learned this mystery; Christ in you is the hope of glory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

My blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/

Boldness in Suffering

Bo1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.  But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

I believe two things happen to most of us when we come to a passage like the one above; first, we may be ignorant of what Paul is referring to, and second, we may not be able to assimilate the information into our culture.  The ignorant part of the equation is easily dealt with if a person desires understanding by getting a good reference Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the passage.  The second part is not that easy, it will require you to stop what you are doing, to be still and ask God to reveal how this passage is playing out in your life or those who you come in contact with.

In the verses above you can go to Acts 16:6-40 and come away with an understanding of what Paul and Silas were experiencing in Philippi.  I found it of interest that Paul had a vision to go to Macedonia to share the gospel, and because he was faithful to obey that call he experienced some shameful treatment and at the same time a new church was born.  That flies in the face of many of the teachings of the TV preachers of our day.  I do understand that many in today’s church have no desire to identify with Christ in His suffering, but that is what our Lord said we must do.  Could our lack of power in the Church equate to our misunderstanding of Matthew 16:25, and the promised life Christ is offering?

In 2011, in your job, in your community and sadly even in your family and Church, you may suffer for doing good, it is almost guaranteed, you will pay for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  People may make fun of you, it may cost you some so called friends, it may cost you a promotion at work, but today you will not be publicly beaten as was Paul and Silas.  If we come to an understanding of Matthew 16:25, we will join Paul and Silas in song and praise to our God, that He has found us worthy to suffer.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Crossroad Encounter

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

What’s coming!!!  Going out of our subdivision, most of the time I go left on Rebecca Creek Road, and it runs into FM 311, if Jan is in the car with me, I always ask if anything is coming.  The way the road comes at an angle it’s very difficult to see what is coming, and it would be foolish to go forward without making sure all is clear.  A mistake at this crossroad could cost you your life.  I’m not sure about many things and the older I get the more I understand how much I need help to navigate the crossroads that life is throwing at me; crossroads like putting my trust in a political party, or who really knows in this market what to do with your investments, or when it is time to stop acquiring and to let someone else enjoy the stuff you no longer need.  I’ve only listed a few of the many crossroads that face us each day, but what about the eternal?  Are you giving any thought to a time when time will be no more, but you will be very much alive. 

In James 4:14, the Bible compares this life to a mist, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  Every one of us is coming to that crossroad, we have no understanding of when, but death of our earthsuit is certain.  Living in the hill country of Texas we have flash floods, and at all low water crossings there are signs telling people not to enter, or not to cross when water is running over the road, yet many ignore the signs, and some take down the road barriers and many have died.  That is what Jesus has delivered us from, not the physical death, but the wrath of God that is coming.

In 2 Samuel 14:14, I came across a real jewel, “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.  But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.”  God in His great love for you was not able because of His holiness and justice to give you a pass on sin, and sin brings about death, but as Samuel said so well, God sent His only Son to take your place, to pay a debt for your sins.  So if you are reading this, understand that God does not grade on a curve, your sins will bring separation in hell from God for eternity.  You are at a crossroad, but God has made a way so that you will not be estranged from him, go to the Bible, and ask God to give you the faith to believe Romans 10:9, “Because, if you confess (agree with God that you are a sinner) with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Added)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Gut check time

1Thessalonians 1:8

“For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.”

My dad, Sam Rice enjoyed history, and often made this statement, “The only thing we learn about history is how to repeat it.”  In my studies of the early church, I believe we are more like the church at Corinth, we are repeating the history of that early church.  That church was proud of their knowledge and philosophy, but at the same time was grossly immoral.  They, like us, were drawn to the silver tongue oratory, and they, like us, put stock in physical appearance, over substance.  In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13 and verse five, we have this final warning; “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test.”

For me this morning is gut check time, Jan will say, Bob, can you use another word to express that thought, but folks, that is the only way I know how to say it’s time to examine myself, to see whether I am in the faith.  We, like the church at Corinth, have been sold a bill of garbage, we have pollution of the teaching of Christ everywhere, and many are being lead to churches or preachers who say what they want to hear.  It matters not what your preacher or teachers are saying, unless it lines up with the truth of Scripture.  God will hold you accountable, you and I are to examine ourselves, and it is easy to become polluted, the deck is stacked against us, the world system, our government, our schools, our universities of higher learning are all teaching a gospel of independence from God’s control over your life.

This morning I’m asking myself, are my words stacking up with my faith, is my faith going forth everywhere, so that my life is being talked about?  Do I realize that Christ Jesus is in me?  Why am I still letting the fears of uncertainty fill my mind and heart?  Do I foolishly believe that a Republican victory on November 2, 2010, will change the hearts of this country, if so, I’ve failed the test.  Only in my understanding of this truth, “Christ in me the hope of glory,” only then will my faith show forth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

My blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/

Is this happening at your Church?

 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Is this happening in your church?  As you read the first seven verses ask yourself that question, and if the answer is no, why is it no?  In verse one Paul is not grabbing the headlines, in fact he is making sure that all who read this understands it’s a team effort, it is Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, being used by God to bring the gospel to the church at Thessalonica.  These men spent more time in prayer for this church than they did trying to come up with some program to awaken the church or community for Christ.  Were they smarter than we are today or did they have an understanding of God’s power that we have lost?  When the church prays and waits on the Lord, the same Lord that parted the Red Sea will show Himself strong in that church.  And that is what is happening at the Thessalonians Church.

Wow, verses 4-7, “For we know brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”  It might be helpful to explain that Paul’s statement of being imitators of us is because they were imitators of Christ.  This is not a new theme, it may be what is missing in our churches today.  In 1Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” and in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

If we are going to be called followers of Christ, should we not then take it to heart and make it our hearts desire to be imitators of Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice