Appreciate and Respect Your Godly Leaders

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Good Morning, Take your Bibles and turn with me to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5. Today we will be looking at 2 verses… verses 12 and 13. Have you ever wondered how you should treat your Godly leaders? That is those that labor for us in the Word of God and in the Church. Well today, from the Word of God, you are going to see how you are to appreciate and respect your Godly leaders. In our passage this morning Paul is addressing the believers in Thesslonica telling them to honor and value those that lead them in faith. Spiritual leadership is important and we should not take these leaders for granted. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to address this and we are blessed to have the Word of God in front of us today for our study. Lets read the text

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 NKJV

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Now we know that a Church MUST have spiritual leadership. This leadership is made up of pastors and deacons. But we know and understand that the pastor must lead the flock as God directs. Verse 12 tells us that you must recognize him. There is not a pastor in this world that does not need the prayers and support of God’s people. Notice Paul says to recognize him and he reminds us that the leader is “over you in the Lord”. This is not like someone you may work with that is simply your supervisor, while yes you should respect and honor that person to, so that you may be a faithful blameless witness for Christ, this is a whole other level of appreciation and respect you should show to your Godly leader. Now lets talk a little more about this recognition… This is the idea to know and to accept. As a Christian you need to accept your leaders… Paul told the Ephesians

Ephesians 4:7–11 NKJV

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

So Paul is saying recognize those as appointed by Christ.

Now notice Paul says your Spiritual leaders “Labor among you”. I think it is important that we recognize that. Sunday in the pulpit is just a culmination of the weeks work… we should not be misinformed to think that that is the extent of the work of our pastors and teachers… sure some have cecular jobs as well but remember we are talking spiritual here. Spiritual leaders face strong opposition from Satan on a daily basis.

Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 2:11 “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Not to let Satan take advantage of us and in Ephesians he said

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

So this is serious work… Serious work of prayer, of showing care and love for the flock of God.

Paul calls us to look beyond the external and honor those who work faithfully in their calling, even when it’s not visible to everyone. You must not take for granted the efforts of those who serve the body of Christ.

Ask yourself, How can I be more intentional about recognizing and appreciating the Godly leaders around me. Let us remember that their work is for the glory of Christ.

At the end of verse 12 notice Paul says to recognize those that “admonish you”. That is recognize those that warn and advise you in the truth of God. That is valuable and worthy of Appreciation and Respect right? How valuable is the Word of God to you? How valuable is understanding the Word of God to you? Pretty valuable right… for me it is one of the most valuable things in my life, and it should be for all of us. It is way more valuable than the steak I get on Saturday night every week… and I really show and reiterate my appreciation to the restraunt I go to… so as it should be to our leaders who faithfully warn and instruct us on the Word of God.

Look at verse 13 again with me:

1 Thessalonians 5:13 NKJV

and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

So Paul goes a step further here and says you are not only to honor your leader but that you are to think of them in a special way. You are to Love them for their work. This very highly is “exceedingly abundantly” in the Greek. This speaks to a deep sincere respect… an unparalleld Appreciation and Respect. Now this is not about worshiping them or recognizing them as perfect because we are all from perfect, but this is about recognizing the value of their work and the responsibily the bare. It is about appreciating their calling and loving them because their service often requires great personal sacrifice. Now Paul is not saying just respect them in a formal way but he is calling for a deeper love and respect. A complete love and respect.

In Hebrews 13:17 Paul said

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

When You show appreciation and respect to your spiritual leaders that can bring them great joy. Any of you who work in the service industry, and this is not just limited to the service industry, You understand how a appreciative and respectful customer can make or break your job… a rude unappreciative customer can in a sense ruin your day and make your job misserable… it can make you question why or if you should go the extra mile… same with spiritual leaders. Paul appreciate and respect them so that they can not only endure their work with joy, in the absence of grief but he says that it is unprofitable for us for them to feel grieved.… the old saying, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar comes to mind.

Lastly Notice the end of verse 13… Paul says to be at peace among yourselves… This is the idea that this is the results from obeying the prior instructions. The Church in Thesslonica was peaceful… this we know so we can conclude that Paul wanted to exhort them to continue in peace. Many problems in today’s Churches that disrupt peace are traceable to members not following these teachings and commands. Peace among a local New Testament Church is a crucial mark of a healthy assembly. When leaders are mutually Appreciated and Respected peace can abound in the congregation. While conflict is inevitable among sinners, and that is what the Church is made up of right?? We are all just sinners saved by grace… Justified but not glorified and perfedcted yet.. So while conflict is inevitable, I urge you to pursue peace… and not just peace that is the absense of conflict but a peace that is harmony, understanding, and unity among the body. The Word of God calls us to love each other deeply and to forgive one another.

In conclusion Paul gives you clear guidance on how to appreciate and respect your leaders. He calls you to recognize their hard work and dedication by showing your Appreciation and Respect to them. When you do this you demonstrate you love for Christ, who is the ultimate example of sacrificial service and love. Take these instructions to heart, be a congregation that shows Appreciation and Respect to your leaders… Leaders that cultivate peace, love and joy… Leaders that admonish you daily… Leaders that labor among you relentlessly. May your lives be a testimony of the grace and love of Jesus Christ…