Love's Building Blocks

Last time, we read how Paul wrote some instructions about encouragement, for those worried about brothers and sisters in Christ who had died prior to them. Today’s section, gives some very practical instructions for the living in Christ.

Now to many of us, that might mean that we don't attack and belittle one another. It might also mean that we get involved in providing meals, helping move someone, willingly giving of our time and money, etc. This is all good. But I believe that there is something which is often lacking that could actually cause a revival. We might even be labeled as radical if we began practicing something which Jesus portrayed and the apostles practiced in their ministry. That is something we refer to as intentional love.

As Christians, we need to be intentional in our love for brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love Is More than Building A Right Theology and Works.—5.1-10

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 (NASB95)

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Theologically, we are in agreement with Paul. We would even avoid the idea of someone attempting to predict when the Lord is going to return. We also know that there are people in our world today who are forecasting a sort of utopia; a "New World;” in which mankind works hand in hand, making the world a better place. However, we also know that the Bible tells us that there will be"wars and rumors of wars." Those who believe that the world is getting better, and that peace is right around the corner in for the shock of their lives. The Bible states that "destruction will come on them suddenly…" Even the laws of science tell us that everything is in a state of decay.

The Bible does not promote nor does it encourage the practice of trying to set dates for Christ return. The reality is the scripture teaches that this event will indeed take place. In this passage, Paul is speaking about the day of the Lord, being ushered in with the rapture first, then covering the great tribulation, and then showing Christ’s return to earth to establish his reign. We understand that in the context of these verses, Paul is actually speaking of judgment. The comparison here is to show the unexpectedness and the suddenness of both events. It speaks of the unhappy surprise that is coming for those who are not prepared. Thus, the people being referred to here are unbelievers. They are the ones wrapped up in a self-deceiving sense of security, feeling that everything is safe and secure, causing them to have no reason to change. After all, they think of themselves as too smart to consider that the Bible is absolutely true in all that it teaches. Even the phrase of "labor pain upon a woman with child," speaks about the inevitability that it will take place.

We move on to the next two verses.

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 (NASB95) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

Again, we would be in agreement with Paul, finding general beliefs among those who are genuine believers. We would also say "amen" to the fact that we are "children of the light." We can turn around and shake hands and give pats on the back, recognizing that we are not of the darkness, but rather of the light. Unfortunately, we often take a great deal of our time basking in this marvelous truth. We need to take this even farther.

We see, in these verses, the contrast of unbelievers to believers. Obviously, the believer has nothing to fear, since judgment is only for unbelievers. So what should we do?

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 (NASB95) so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Here, in these verses, we see that sleep refers to indifference or apathy to spiritual things. Just as sleep is natural in the night, spiritual indifference is natural to the unbeliever, since they are spiritually in the night.

We are told, as believers, to live as children of the light. We need to be alert and self-controlled, plus be equipped with the proper armor to fight off the enemies attack, which Paul refers to in greater detail in Ephesians 6.

We would most certainly agree to the need to do something while we are in this evil world. In fact, we are probably the best at doing something. Give us a problem; we'll look for a solution. Need something fixed; we'll try to repair it. Yet, Paul tells us that we need to be "sober, having put on the breast plate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

But you might be thinking that I am overlooking something, unless I read the next two verses. Let’s do that.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (NASB95)

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

The Thessalonians and we are reminded that we are not set aside for wrath, but for salvation. We have already discussed that God's wrath is going to be poured out during the great tribulation upon the unbeliever. This is not God's purpose for the church. We are also reminded in this text that, Christ died willingly in order to purchase us.

You see, it is important to know one's eternal destiny. It is also important that we acknowledge the fact that we are saved. We also remember, that we must show it by our love one for another. It sounds like we should be willing to do whatever it takes to live in such a way that it shows that we are Christians. We may not always like every single person, but we don't have to express that. We might be in total disagreement with somebody, but we don't need to speak ill of them. You and I should want our community and our church to know just how much we love Jesus.

How do we do that? Some might offer the following instructions, which are overly simplistic and end up with the focus being on the outward things we do. Some might think that we must watch our tongues, smile at the appropriate times, sing heartily when the song leader and pastor look at you, give in the offering, volunteer for the right number of jobs at the church, etc. Wow! Doesn’t that checklist sound fantastic? It sounds like love in action really isn't as hard as we may have thought. Sorry my friends, this is not the reality of what God expects of us.

Love Involves Building Others Up.—5.11

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB95)

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

What a powerful verse! Remember, when I stated that if we did something like this that we might cause a revival? We might even be labeled as radical if we actually began practicing that which Jesus portrayed and the apostles practiced in their ministry?

As Christians, we need to be intentional in our love for brothers and sisters in Christ.

You might be wondering what I mean when I say that we need to be intentional in our love for the Saints? How could that actually cause a revival?

Maybe it's our heritage, our upbringing, our society; I'm not certain. Yet, it seems that Christians don't have to difficult a time at being excited at various sporting events. We all know what it's like to cheer a team on victory. We get excited about rooting and cheering for our favorite teams.

However, when some people enter the arena of the church, we can become quite low-key. Sometimes we can portray a soberness and solemnness that is often seen in funeral homes. Sometimes we act as though our gathering together with the bride of Christ, joining together in worship with brothers and sisters in Christ, isn't all that important.

I would tend to believe that, from the reading of God's word, we see that Jesus was not that way. First of all, he wasn't a grouch about his relationship with God. We see that even when children wanted to go up to sit on his lap or to be with him. Not too many people want to go and develop relationships with other people who would always be pointing out faults and problems. In fact, most of us like being around upbeat people.

Not only that, but we also appreciate being affirmed for what we have done. We enjoy hearing someone say, "good job!" "I really enjoyed what you did!" I think that would be very appropriate for believers to do for each other.

Is it possible that Satan has caused many Christians to forget that if we are genuinely in Jesus Christ, we actually have joy? Is it possible that we have bought into the strange thinking that we can cause someone else to be arrogant or prideful if we encourage them and build them up? Frankly, this isn't even logical. The Bible tells us that pride comes from within, not from without. Time and time again, we read about Paul telling believers to “encourage one another, and to build each other up."

I am convinced that if Christians would deliberately, intentionally, consciously show this type of love for the brother or sister in Christ, a renewal and revival could indeed sweep this land. Instead of looking for lowering peoples value, we should be lifting others up. Instead of using verbal attacks and negative innuendos to break people down, we should spend our time building each other up.

You see, we will always have to deal with the issue of sin in an erring brother or sister. We will always have the need to be theologically and doctrinally, correct and accurate. We must also allow our works and words to show others that we indeed belong to Jesus.

However, for us to actually practice encouraging and building others up; that can become a bit of a challenge.

Love Building In Action

This morning, I want to give you the opportunity to practice doing just that. I want to encourage you to write a note of encouragement to the person on your right and on your left. If you don't know them, find out their name. Then, address it to them and sign your name. Make sure this is a genuine note of encouragement or something which is meant to build them up. That means you might actually have to ask them a question about themselves and their lives.

When you are done with that, write out two more notes of encouragement, or build someone up; then address it to them and sign your name. These will probably be people that you actually know well. They might not even be here. They could be many miles away.

I realize it would be quite simple to just do this anonymously, or to simply slide this into their mailbox here at the church. However, we need to get into the practice of actively and intentionally showing love in action to our brothers and sisters in Christ. That means we each get to personally give this note to those individuals.

Please understand that this exercise is not intended to embarrass anybody, but rather to cause us to be intentional in our love relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I am convinced that if this is done on a regular basis, either verbal or written, and done from the heart, you will begin to experience revival as the Spirit of God has the freedom to work in our hearts.

As Christians, we need to be intentional in our love for brothers and sisters in Christ.