Pastor Nam Park.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
A minister: Someone that SERVES the body of Christ. A Servant.
YOU have a ministry, as much as any minster does too. v.14-15.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
- Command (by way of GENTLE REQUEST) to acknowledge our own ministers.
- "appreciate" having the meaning of "knowledge"
- The Thessalonians are beloved and cherished believers by Paul.
Three descriptions (for one group of individuals)...
(1) Diligently Labor: strenuous labor. Spiritual labor.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father
- Every Christian work is connected to labor.
- Ministers are characterized by diligently working, AMONG YOU. Ministry with people. The task of engagement.
(2) Have Charge over you, in the Lord.
- They have been given leadership over you (not forcefully taking leadership over you).
- Leadership: for good and benefit of you.
- Greatness comes in service within the body of Christ.
- Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many
(3) Give Instruction.
- Also means to "correct"; "admonishment"
- Word designed to correct while not provoking and not embittering them.
- Helping those in the wrong to find the right path.
- Every parent struggles to admonish their children well.
- Kindness; A kindness that encourages obedience.
Look upon your leaders and acknowledge them and give them appreciation b/c of the task they have for this congregation.
"The Best of Men are still Men at Best" - JC Ryles....
This is true of every spiritual leader. They are regular men.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
- "esteem": think much of them
- "very highly": degree of the abundance
- And the reason to esteem them is "their work". They care for and shepherd the flock of God.
- "in love": with affection; thankfulness.
- "Live in peace with one another.": This command is given on the heals of appreciating your ministers. The church is at need of wise following. Battles not won with wise leaders alone. Encouraging those ministering among you.
Understanding your own ministry (Corporate leadership).
1 Thessalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
- Approaches different to everyone in these groups.
v.14 admonish the unruly: instruction not to embitter others; truthful and accurate. Those who rebelliously crossed the line. It's their attitude issue. We are not to bully them. Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
- The process is to "win back" these. The idea is not to be mean, but rather to help...
v.14 encourage the fainthearted: demonstrate tenderness towards these.
John 4:15 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”16 He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” 19 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
v.14 help the weak: support them, help them build their knowledge.
- Weakness has to do with lacking spiritual knowledge; weak to areas that are not necessarily sin.
- They need discipleship and direction to learn convictions of their own.
v.14 be patient with everyone
- Patient is a great word; "long suffering"; endurance; taking something when others would have given up long before.
- Be tender-hearted, but tough-skinned (patience)in ministry. These types of people can transform ministries. They esteem Jesus Christ more highly than their self-pride.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
- Avoid giving bad back for bad...
- Matthew 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (The default for humanity. The Christian standard is different.)
(It goes on to say) Matthew 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
- Seeking good for all is Distinctly Christian.
- To prove out that the goodness of the gospel is worth it.
We are to be distinct. We, Christians, are not to be the default setting; we believe that we have the truth that transforms. Appreciate our ministers and minister well ourselves. To well represent the grace and truth; from the Father, to the Cross of Christ, down to us.
- "appreciate" having the meaning of "knowledge"
- The Thessalonians are beloved and cherished believers by Paul.
Three descriptions (for one group of individuals)...
(1) Diligently Labor: strenuous labor. Spiritual labor.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father
- Every Christian work is connected to labor.
- Ministers are characterized by diligently working, AMONG YOU. Ministry with people. The task of engagement.
(2) Have Charge over you, in the Lord.
- They have been given leadership over you (not forcefully taking leadership over you).
- Leadership: for good and benefit of you.
- Greatness comes in service within the body of Christ.
- Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many
(3) Give Instruction.
- Also means to "correct"; "admonishment"
- Word designed to correct while not provoking and not embittering them.
- Helping those in the wrong to find the right path.
- Every parent struggles to admonish their children well.
- Kindness; A kindness that encourages obedience.
Look upon your leaders and acknowledge them and give them appreciation b/c of the task they have for this congregation.
"The Best of Men are still Men at Best" - JC Ryles....
This is true of every spiritual leader. They are regular men.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
- "esteem": think much of them
- "very highly": degree of the abundance
- And the reason to esteem them is "their work". They care for and shepherd the flock of God.
- "in love": with affection; thankfulness.
- "Live in peace with one another.": This command is given on the heals of appreciating your ministers. The church is at need of wise following. Battles not won with wise leaders alone. Encouraging those ministering among you.
Understanding your own ministry (Corporate leadership).
1 Thessalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
- Approaches different to everyone in these groups.
v.14 admonish the unruly: instruction not to embitter others; truthful and accurate. Those who rebelliously crossed the line. It's their attitude issue. We are not to bully them. Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
- The process is to "win back" these. The idea is not to be mean, but rather to help...
v.14 encourage the fainthearted: demonstrate tenderness towards these.
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
- The idea is that those who are delicate, the Messiah doesn't extinguish.
- Gentleness, Truth, Consolation that comes by way of His ministry (like that to the Samaritan woman... She is battered and bruised, but Jesus still speaks the truth.John 4:15 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”16 He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” 19 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
v.14 help the weak: support them, help them build their knowledge.
- Weakness has to do with lacking spiritual knowledge; weak to areas that are not necessarily sin.
- They need discipleship and direction to learn convictions of their own.
v.14 be patient with everyone
- Patient is a great word; "long suffering"; endurance; taking something when others would have given up long before.
- Be tender-hearted, but tough-skinned (patience)in ministry. These types of people can transform ministries. They esteem Jesus Christ more highly than their self-pride.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
- Avoid giving bad back for bad...
- Matthew 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (The default for humanity. The Christian standard is different.)
(It goes on to say) Matthew 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
- Seeking good for all is Distinctly Christian.
- To prove out that the goodness of the gospel is worth it.
We are to be distinct. We, Christians, are not to be the default setting; we believe that we have the truth that transforms. Appreciate our ministers and minister well ourselves. To well represent the grace and truth; from the Father, to the Cross of Christ, down to us.
