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/