1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Urgency to Intentionality

Read verses 12-18

In it are powerful and biblical exhortations for the believer.

Who knows what the word exhortation means?

The definition of it is- it’s an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.

Well then what does emphatically mean? It comes from the word emphasis

So essentially, it means that what Paul is saying in this passage is of great importance to the Lord, and we’ll see in verse 18 he states that everything he just wrote in his exhortation- is God’s will for believers.

Read Verse 12-13

I’ll let you guys in on a secret- not every pastor you meet will labor for your sake and warn and instruct you. When you guys move on from highschool, maybe if you go to another church in a different state because of college or jobs, you’re going to come in contact with people with the title of pastor that don’t act like it. They don’t really feed or care for the sheep.

This scripture still applies to those people. Obviously i’m talking about pastors have a different leadership style than you prefer. I’m not talking about those that don’t recognize scripture as the authority over our lives as believers. Those that would steal from God’s people, or abuse them in some way. In those instances where they are clearly in sin- we speak up to the other pastors/leaders.

So that then begs the question, how can i tell the difference? How do i know i can trust them?

A mark of a truly godly pastor or leader, is their labor and work amongst the sheep.

Acts 6:4 “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

That is the heart of a leader and pastor. Because the true pastor and leader knows that the only thing that really feeds the sheep, the only One who can really do the heart surgery that we all need- is the Lord. And the Lord does that through His word.

Paul is reminding the church to take a second and realize, that these kinds of leaders and pastors do labor for your sake. The ones that instruct you, correct you, and warn you. Recognize and esteem them highly in love.

The true pastor and leader doesn’t want your money, your gifts, or even your service in their ministry. What a true pastor and leader wants- is for you to grow in the love of Christ. For us to see you growing in affection for God and His people. That’s all we want.

We’re grateful and thankful for those other things don’t get me wrong- but truly when i see you guys talking about Jesus, sharing where you’ve been reading in scripture and what God is teaching you- that’s my reward. That’s Tim’s reward.

Sometimes

Romans 12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”