Guidance to Strengthen the Fellowship

As the Apostle Paul winds down his letter to the young Thessalonian Church he moves from explaining end times issues in chapter 4 and the first half of chapter 5, to giving a rapid-fire set of command to them about how to conduct themselves in the here and now.

Last week we looked at how pastors are support supposed to work, lead, and correct the flock and how the flock is supposed to respect and esteem their shepherd.

Nowthe commands intensify in number. One set deals with how to strengthen our faith. We will look at those next week but today we will see guidance from Paul about how to strengthen the fellowship.

Warn the disorderly

1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB

And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Warn may sound harsh.. But think of this: would you rather get a speeding ticket, or a warning? Warning is actually less harsh than consequences.

In Acts 20.31 Paul says that he did not stop warning them with TEARS. 1 Corinthians 4.14 Paul says that his correction is not to shame them, but to warn as dear children, going on to say that they may have 10.000 teachers, but not many spiritual fathers. In 2 Thessalonians 3.15, Paul says that we should not treat those in our fellowship like enemies, but to warn them as brothers. It is the same word translated admonish in 1 Thess 5.12 where Paul says we should esteem and respect those pastors who admonish us… Who warn us.

Note that this particular warning is to go out to those who are irresponsible, idle, unruly, or disordered.

This may be someone who is “out of step, and going their own way,” or “outside of normal restraint.”

Christianity is not just a set of beliefs. It is a set of beliefs that dictate action and conduct.

The idea here is to speak to someone out of great concern for them and their well being. Someone who is obviously out of order in their living,

The passage may even point to someone who is not “making their own living” and lazy.

Let me hasten to add what Paul is NOT saying:

He is not saying “set yourself up as judge.”

He is not saying “join in the gossip.”

He is not saying “try to be the Holy Spirit for everyone”

He is not saying be a nitpicker.

He is not saying mind everyone’s business.

I believe he is saying, be willing to step in and speak to a brother or sister to HELP them.

Comfort the discouraged

1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB

And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

I found it interesting that this word for comfort is found only 2 places in the New Testament.

1 place is in 1 Thessalonians, where it is used two times. But how do I understand what it means to comfort someone.

The 2nd place it is used is in the Book of John. It is used twice in chapter 11 to speak of a group of Jews who had gathered around Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. They were there to COMFORT them.

How do we comfort someone?

Cry with them.

Give a touch.

In the South, we prepare food.

We may look for a small way to add a little cheer.

Ultimately we do it by entering their world and walking with them.

These people are said to discouraged, feebleminded, or fainthearted.

This is a compound of two words. One means small, short, or little, and the other is soul or inner life. These people are “little-souled” not in the sense of heartless, but just beat down.

Why are they discouraged?

They may be dealing with loss. Maybe someone has died, maybe their faith has cost them friends, family, or their job.

Maybe someone they love is astray and it has a hold on their hearts.

Maybe they are disappointed with what life has brought them, even if it is part due to their own choices.

Maybe they are wanting to live close and clean for the Lord, but nothing seems to be working.

Maybe they can’t get ahead in life, and just feel beat down.

Comfort from Wanda Coleman.

Wanda Coleman do you remember? Do you remember a teenage boy, sitting in the band room, alone in the dark, embarrassed because he was being teased over the choices of someone else closely connected to him; choices he had no control over and was not involved in ? Do you remember sliding in the seat next to that teenage boy, putting your arm around him, and telling him to hold his head high, he had done nothing wrong? That kid remembers it, and the difference it made. And even though that kid didn't know Jesus, and didn't understand that you did, he recognizes now how you obeyed the command to comfort the discouraged Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5.14 and he and all the lives he influences are grateful for you influence in his life.

Support the Weak

1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB

And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

what a word… help… support. IT means to cling to, hold fast to be devoted to.

It is to say to our brothers and sister, I am here. I am with you. I will help you. I will go the extra mile. I am committed to you.. I’m interested in you and what you are going through.

It doesn’t mean that we have a lack of boundaries, or that we care more about fixing someone than they care about fixing themselves, but it does mean that we are committed to helping them move to the next level of life.

The weak here, has to do with illness, or sickness.

The Christian faith pairs well with the thought of taking care of the sick. Even in Gadsden, both hospitals have their genesis in the church.

We look out for each other when we are sick, and it is as it should be.

Even this week, I watched a scene unfold on social media where I wondered if one of our families was starting a catering business… they were cooking and cooking, and then I began to see where they were showing up at homes and delivering food for various reasons. AWESOME!

I think of these ladies in our church who routinely go and visit folks who are sick, and in the nursing home. Behind the scenes. BUT BIG in my opinion.

Be Patient when doing good

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 HCSB

And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

This is big- The phrase be patient means BE PATIENT. Delay, take time. Forbear.

Why did the Holy Spirit have to have Paul write this?

Listen to me… Loving People is messy. Dong Life together is not always easy. Life is hard. When we do it together, other people’s stuff gets on us.

Its not a quick fix. Having enough concern for someone that you are willing to get in their business and speak to them when they are off track, hold them up when they are down and out, or care for them when they are sick. It’s going to take patience.

I watched a video this week where a police officer was trying to free a dog from a tarp in which it had become entangled. The dog was yelping in pain. Every time the office got close the dog yelped and snapped at the officer. Mind you the officer was trying to help, but all the dog could feel was he pain. The officer continued, guarding himself from the lashing out of the hurting dog, while working PATIENTLY to free the animal from what was harming it. Finally, the animal was free, and as soon as he realized he was no longer in pain, he jumped up and “hugged” the officer.

We can’t get to the place where we respond with evil for evil. We can’t get crusty and cynical. We can’t get mad at the sinsick folks around us when they snap at us and want to snap back.

THIS IS PROBABLY the hardest, at least for me, but it is most Christlike.

Remember, Christ was hanging on the cross, whipped and beaten, and crucified by those he came to save. Despised by those he came to love.