Faithfully Edify and Encourage One Another (pt. B)

Date: May 1, 2022

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Theme: Faithfully Edify and Encourage One Another

Introduction: Last week we focused on the importance of faithfully encouraging and edifying one another concerning the Day of the Lord’s wrath in judgment, reminding ourselves that Christ has suffered God’s wrath that we deserve and, when Jesus comes, we will live together with Him. Therefore, we must put on the breastplate of faith and love - our trust in the Lord and serve one another in love along with protecting our minds with the truth of the hope of salvation.

Transition: The question that we face today concerns, what does it look like practically speaking to faithfully edify and encourage one another as we wait for the Lord’s return? First, it’s going to require us to approach our church leadership in a way that pleases the Lord.

Faithfully edify and encourage one another concerning spiritual servant-leadership (vv. 12-13a).

Who is it that Paul is speaking to?

The Thessalonians, specifically, members of God’s family.

Thus, Paul’s instruction here goes beyond merely the Thessalonian church and is applicable to all churches.

What does it mean to appreciate?

The term employed here comes from a root meaning to know.

In other words, there is recognition that is associated with this idea.

Who are the Thessalonians to appreciate and recognize?

Those who diligently labor among them.

The idea of diligence comes from the present tense for the word translated in the phrase “diligently labor” and gives the idea of an ongoing activity.

In reviewing the use of this phrase across the NT, most of the references associate this term with laboring in the ministry to serve others.

Thus, in light of the other referents, this is someone within the church in an official leadership capacity that labors to serve others.

Have charge over them in the Lord.

“Charge” is translated elsewhere as “management”.

Esssentially, this is referring to leadership.

When we connect the idea of “in the Lord” with “have charge”, what topic is implied here?

Spiritual leadership

Thus, Who is the source of their leadership position?

The Lord

Hence there’s implied an accountability that they have before the Lord.

Plus, the Lord gives spiritual leadership within His Church.

Therefore, Paul is discussing specific spiritual, servant-leadership within the Church.

Let’s connect this concept of spiritual leadership with the previous idea of “diligently labor among you”.

This is a spiritual leader whose priority is to labor diligently.

What kind of spiritual leader makes it a priority of diligently laboring among others?

A servant-leader

What then is the priority of these spiritual leaders?

To serve those that they are among

These leaders, then, are accountable before the Lord to serve those that they are among.

Transition: How is it that they are to serve?/What is the measure of their diligent, spiritual servant-leadership?

Give instruction to believers.

What’s fascinating is how this term is uniquely connected to or used by Paul.

Acts 20:31 references Paul’s testimony to the Ephesian church about his diligence to impart instruction to them.

Romans 15:14 pairs this term with knowledge and thus alludes to the importance of study so as to give instruction from God’s Word.

Paul uses this term in Colossians 1:28 in reference with the goal of becoming complete in Christ or becoming like Christ.

Paul employs this term in Colossians 3:16 in reference to the manners in which we can have Christ’s Word dwell in us.

Finally, 1 Corinthians 4:14, this verse and 2 Thessalonians 3:15 give the motivation for such instruction: we are God’s family and thus implying love for the brethren.

In summary, these are individuals who give themselves to the diligent study of God’s Word so that they might share its instructions with God’s family for each member’s growth to be like Christ or sanctification.

Not only are we appreciate these spiritual servant-leaders but we are also to esteem them in love (v. 13a).

When we esteem something, what part of ourselves are we using?

Our minds.

It’s what we think about something.

What Paul has identified here is what one thinks of their spiritual, servant-leaders

What was to be their manner/attitude associated with this esteem?

“very highly”; “quite beyond all measure (highest form of comparison imaginable)” (BDAG).

In other words, to think very highly of them.

Keep in mind that such high estimation is not without qualification.

They are spiritual, servant-leaders.

They are to diligently be studying God’s Word so as to be able to share God’s Word with God’s family.

What sort of motivation was to undergird this esteem?

Love

You see, as spiritual, servant-leaders studying God’s Word to share with you as God’s family, there’s an implicit understanding of love on our part also.

Thus, We love you and share God’s Word that we have studied and, Lord-willing, the Lord produces love in you for your spiritual, servant-leadership and you think highly of them/us in return for the service rendered.

Transition: If we’re going to please the Lord by appreciating and esteeming our spiritual, servant-leaders in the church, then we must also consider how we can please the Lord in our relationships to one another in the church. Therefore, let’s consider next …

Faithfully edify and encourage one another in peace (vv. 13b-22).

It’s only reasonable that Paul would discuss our relationships with our fellow church members since he just addressed our relationship to church leadership.

Why does Paul need to give this instruction at all?

Because we’re tempted to not live at peace with one another.

The question is, what is peace?

Lack of conflict, thus brining rest and calm to our circumstances (Matthew 10:34)

Lack of personal turmoil, thus bringing emotional calm (Mark 5:34)

What’s fascinating is that we can be in difficult circumstances around us in this world and still have peace.

Because only Christ can bring peace (cf. John 16:33).

Hence, peace does not come through circumstances but through a person, Jesus.

What is the basis for Paul’s instruction?

We are God’s family.

By implication, then, this transformed relationship supplies for us the resources that we need to live at peace with one another.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 includes Paul’s statement wishing for Grace and peace for the Thessalonians just following his reference that the Thessalonian church is in God and Jesus.

Hence, he implies that Grace and peace flow from one’s relationship with God.

Thus, if we’re going to pursue peace with one another, we must seek the Lord for peace since He is the One who truly provides peace.

This makes sense for if the Lord’s sacrifice and resurrection brings peace with God, then this same life-giving power can also produce peace in our other relationships.

If we’re going to follow this instruction, what does this look like practically?

We use God’s Word to address unruly behavior (v. 14).

What does it look like to live ‘unruly’?

You’re not subject to anyone but to your own wishes

You are your own authority

How might this disturb the peace in the Church?

Living according to our wishes is not necessarily living according to God’s Word.

The term admonish is the term used earlier ‘instruction’.

Thus, we are to take God’s Word and help these unruly individuals to obey it.

We also seek to encourage those brothers and sisters who are discouraged (v. 14).

The term encourage is used in three other contexts that I believe are helpful to survey.

It was used in John 11:19, 31 concerning consolation for Mary and Martha following the death of Lazarus.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 references Paul’s manner of encouragement - like a father.

These are people who, on account of circumstances that can even involve death, need loving encouragement from God’s family.

What is the temptation here that needs to be addressed?

That we, on account of circumstances, would lose hope.

What does it look like when we’ve lost hope?

We can become bitter and depressed and this will influence the word choices that we make.

However, Paul has already addressed this in 1 Thessalonians 4.

The promise of Christ’s return.

Wherein we will be saved from God’s wrath to live together with our Savior provides us with enduring hope.

Thus, we can still grieve loss but we do so in the hope of Christ’s return.

Moreover, we also help the weak (v. 14).

According to Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13 and Titus 1:9, the idea of help implies the commitment of the one giving aid to use their resources.

The word ‘weak’ has a range of meaning from physical sickness, actual physical inability, and even sin.

Being weak implies that you need someone stronger than yourself to help you in time of need

The temptation here concerns the fact that if you’re not getting the help that you need, you might be tempted to complain, thus disturbing the peace.

At this point, you might be thinking, “what if they refuse my help?”; that’s where the next statement concerning patience comes in.

According to 1 Corinthians 13, true Biblical love is patient.

Thus, patience springs from our love for one another.

Further, God demonstrates patience with us according to 1 Peter 3:9.

Hence, as patience is a quality of God so we also must seek the Lord to help us in demonstrating patience with others.

What is the temptation here?

Getting irritated.

What would prompt someone about the other’s behavior to become irritated and angry?

Might be that they’re not acting in accordance with your expectations.

We can understand how this would disturb the peace - many people blow up in anger!

What’s fascinating is how Paul gets personal with this last admonition.

He’s identifying that the temptation is in our own hearts.

We could become impatient with someone because we expect for them to respond to our instruction but, instead, they reject it and live in an unruly, disobedient manner.

We could try to encourage the fainthearted but instead they hold on to hopelessness and that does not meet our expectations.

We could try to help someone that we think is in need but they reject our efforts and we’re tempted to think, “Well that’s the last time I’ll go out of my way for them!”

Instead, what should be our expectation when seeking to undertake Paul’s instruction here?

We’re going to seek the Lord to help us demonstrate true biblical love in each of these circumstances.

We need the Lord!

Verse 15 then expands our perspective beyond the church walls when we’ve been mistreated.

What does it mean to repay evil for evil?

Retaliation.

This does not have to be physical violence.

This could mean withholding something from someone on account of the evil that they have rendered to you.

What is the importance of this instruction to the Thessalonians?

Paul already addressed how they were experiencing persecution (1:6).

However, in the midst of this persecution, they were demonstrating joy that only the Holy Spirit could produce.

What’s fascinating is how Paul uses a term here that can be translated elsewhere as persecution - ‘seek’!

What’s implied, then, is that instead of plotting how you’re going to get someone back for the evil that they may have committed against you, you instead consider how you can demonstrate good to them.

This is so contrary to our natural thinking that only the Lord could produce something like this.

Hence implying our need to rely on the Lord to give us wisdom to know what good to render to others when they give us something different.

As we look at verse 16, I want for us to consider the context so far.

The goal is to promote peace.

There are things that threaten peace.

It’s no wonder that Paul at this point tells us to rejoice!

You see, Paul is admonishing the Thessalonians and all Christians to rejoice when the circumstances would otherwise not produce rejoicing.

What is the opposite of rejoicing?

Complaining.

Despairing on account of difficult circumstances

What would prompt us to rejoice always?

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, through His death has taken God’s wrath that we deserve and will save us from God’s wrath that we deserve on the Day of the Lord, where He will take us to live together with him, permanently.

This hope far exceeds the circumstances of this life.

This does not mean that the circumstances of this life are not great and are not a burden.

Jesus referred to the circumstances of this life as tribulation (cf. John 16:33).

The hope of eternal salvation is far greater.

Paul then implores us in verse 17 concerning prayer.

Paul likes this word translated ‘without ceasing’.

Using it in 1 Thessalonians alone 3 times and then once in Romans.

Always associated with prayer.

The other 3 instances specifically reference Paul’s prayer for others.

Generally a context of thanksgiving

By implication, then, Paul is encouraging us to pray for one another, finding ways to consider the welfare of each other in referencing what we can thank the Lord for in others.

What’s the temptation to challenge peace here?

That instead of thanking the Lord for others in prayer, we would talk negatively about others to others.

Paul’s own example demonstrates that there’s something to pray for in others, even to be thankful for.

Paul then gives us another clear indication of God’s will for our lives in verse 18.

By implication, we as believers always have something to be thankful for.

This does not deny the existence of really difficult times.

However, Paul’s words demonstrate for us that we can be grateful in and through difficult circumstances because of a reality that goes beyond this life.

Another way of stating this is we as believers need to have an attitude of gratitude.

This is not artificial; something that we develop arbitrarily.

This flows out of God’s will for us as secured through Jesus Christ.

In other words, Jesus Christ through His life, sacrifice for our sins and resurrection makes it possible to realize God’s plan that we would be grateful.

Relatedly, since this is God’s Will, the implication is that God will make resources available to us to actualize gratitude in our lives.

Paul follows this instruction concerning gratitude with an important reminder about the role of the Spirit in our lives (v. 19-22).

The term ‘quench’ is most often used in reference to a fire.

Either that it’s about to be quenched.

Or, in the case of God’s wrath in hell, that the fire is unquenchable.

To quench something refers to putting out its influence.

Hence, by implication, failure to heed these instructions would diminish the influence of the Spirit in our lives.

In turn, this would lead to diminishing peace in the church.

Unfortunately, we can diminish the Spirit’s influence in our lives by despising the ministry of God’s Word (v. 20).

What comes to mind when we consider the word ‘despise’?

BDAG: have no use for something; beneath consideration.

This term was used in Acts 4:11 concerning how the Scribes and Pharisees treated Jesus (BDAG).

When we think about how awful they treated Him, they treated Him with such contempt that they put Him to death.

Hence, this is something where you have such disdain that the only thing that it’s good for is to be rejected.

What is it that ‘prophetic utterances’ refers to?

This term is most often used in conjunction with other portions of the Bible that are considered to be authoritative Scripture that comes uniquely from the Lord.

Hence, this refers to God’s Word, even the proclamation of God’s Word.

We’re essentially talking about treating God’s Word as if it were no account or meaning to our lives.

When we set aside God’s Word, we’re also denying the power behind it, God’s Holy Spirit.

The sobering reality of this instruction concerns the fact that Paul is speaking to Christians!

In other words, he’s discussing a real temptation that we all can, will and likely have faced!

Why do we examine things? (v. 21)

To determine their validity.

I believe that verse 21 is associated with the previous statement about prophetic utterances, encouraging us to test what is said.

Why would we need this?

Because people can attempt to say something under the guise of God’s Word but it’s not God’s Word at all.

This would qualify under Paul’s admonition to abstain from every form of evil (v. 22).

Thus, Paul is encouraging us to exercise Spirit-empowered discernment when God’s Word is proclaimed.

If it’s good, it will agree with God’s Word and encourage us in ways that we have considered from 1 Thessalonians already and beyond.

If it’s evil, it will contradict God’s Word and only serve the selfish interests of the one making the message.

Transition: If God’s Spirit works through the Word that we are to receive and use to determine whether or not the message agrees or is evil, what will a good, faithful message from God’s Word produce in our lives?

Faithfully edify and encourage one another towards holiness (vv. 23-24).

Paul’s prayer concerns sanctification: growing in thought, word and action to please God through obedience to His Word.

This process is something that God is faithfully at work to produce in us when Christ comes.

Until then, our desire for ourselves and for other believers is that God would faithfully produce this in us that He is committed to doing.

This is such an encouraging truth to me that the God who raised Jesus from the dead uses this same power to produce spiritual life in all believers and myself.

Faithfully edify and encourage one another in prayer (v. 25).

Paul gives us a clear motivation for all our prayers for one another.

We are all God’s family.

Therefore, out of our implicit love for one another as God’s family, we pray for one another.

Faithfully edify and encourage one another as you have opportunity (v. 26).

While there may have been an actual kiss involved, the emphasis is not on the physical act but the motive behind this greeting.

That is, Paul’s encouragement is that we would go out of our way to greet one another in a welcoming way that is encouraging to the other (NBBC ex.).

Faithfully edify and encourage one another through God’s Word (v. 27).

How do we see this instruction playing out even this morning?

Here we are fellowshipping over this letter that Paul wrote over 2,000 years ago.

Faithfully edify and encourage one another through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 28).

This is a fairly standard way to conclude a letter.

It also implies the need for Christ’s grace that we have each day, particularly to implement the instructions just outlined.

Conclusion: I hope that as we have journeyed through this letter together, you have seen the importance of faithfulness to the Lord but also how much we need Him to help us to be faithful. May His grace sustain us to implement what we have learned so that we would please Him.