Keep it Up

New Living Translation Chapter 3

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

(NLT)

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

This is the Word of God for the People of God.....Respond Thanks be to God

I do not think there has been a time where this passage of scripture was more relevant for the Church of Jesus Christ or for the World in general than it is right now.

Right now we live in time in which every good deed that is done has people who either do not want to get involved or they criticize or simply mock the way things are being done even though they are standing on the sidelines.

Because this is so prevalent it has lead to a mass shortage of people willing to get involved in the often time busy and messy activity known as ministry. When we think that we will be criticized, made fun or of simply on our own we can become depressed and feel burned out…even though those that are not involved are the ones bei

When you are the recipient of criticism by such people or when it seems like you are the only one that cares about doing good in the name of Jesus it can become very easy to simply give up.

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

--Theadore Roosevelt--

I know how hard this is to do. The truth is I have and do struggle with this a lot even though I know it is important not to. When I allow criticism or lack of interest to get the best of me I am impossible to live with.

Right now we live in time in which every good deed that is done has people who either do not want to get involved or they criticize or simply mock the way things are being done even though they are standing on the sidelines.

When you are the recipient of criticism by such people or when it seems like you are the only one that cares about doing good in the name of Jesus it can become very easy to simply give up.

I know how hard this is to do. The truth is I have and do struggle with this a lot even though I know it is important not to. When I allow criticism or lack of interest to get the best of me I am impossible to live with.

I am in possible because I do not tend to point fingers at others when this happens I tend to be really hard on myself…I blame lack or good leadership and at times I get so down that I kind of shut down.

I do not think I am alone in this. As a matter of fact most people that I know that are engaged in ministry tend to be hard on themselves. If I preach a message on service the people that are the most convicted tend to be those that are already engaged in mission.

This is a tool the enemy uses to affect those that are on the cusp of doing the greatest things for him...

This is why prior to our passage Paul commands the Thessalonians to separate themselves from those who are idle. He tells them that instead of spending time listening to those who are not involved in the mission God has for them to stay focused on what he has called them to do.

Paul understood that people who spend the majority of their time idle generally use that time to find ways to be critical and if allowed make life miserable for those that are living on mission.

But even in the midst of this reality Paul tells them and us to not grow weary of doing good.

Do not let the criticisms of those not in the struggle keep you from being an active part of God’s mission, Don’t let setback sideline you but use them to learn how to be successful.

I do not think I am alone in this. This is a tool the enemy uses to affect those that are on the cusp of doing the greatest things for him...

When we allow the fact that there are some that will not be involved in the mission that God has for us to keep us from being on mission we are giving the enemy and easy victory.

This is why I am so proud of so many of you. So many of you are so faithful in the work that we are called to…you have served food at ABBA, The Football players, VBS, Fire Stations, Community events and even at Church socials.

You have Taught Small group classes, Taken Children to camp, been held captive in teen lock ins, mowed the church lawn, mowed the lawns of others, cleaned up storm debris, helped with flooding clean up.

You have given your tithe and some of you given above and beyond that to make sure that we have the ability to fulfill the mission that God has laid on our hearts.

You have done these things when maybe others have not…You have done these things even at the wonder of others...

Some of you have chosen mission instead of things that you would rather do…because the mission of God is more important that anything others say or try to get you to do...

You see some of you have realized that no one is as passionate about your ministry or interest as you are. So you have not let others criticism or lack or effort deter you from doing the work God has given you passion for.

This is why Our House in the middle of our street is the place to be…because you have made it that way.

No one is a passionate about your ministry or interest at you are. So do not let others criticism or lack or effort deter you from doing the works God given passion for.

Crickett keeps a super clean house…early on I was always frustrated because she never sat down…I tried to get her to not do so much…I even criticized her for it from time to time but that has never deterred her…as we have been married now for almost 30 years it has finally occured to me that for Crickett a clean house makes her happy…she likes to be comfortable knowing that if someone dropped in unexpectedly we would not be rushing around to throw everything in the closet…this is something that is important to her and nothing I say or fail to do will keep her from making sure we do not live in filth or clutter…

at the end of the day I am thankful for this and have even started doing may part to help her out…This not only makes for a clean house but a better marriage.

When we are all willing to engage in Presence, Relationship, Compassion, Church Involvement, Generosity, and Invitation we not only find personal meaning but we have a better Church, and Community

New Living Translation Chapter 40

29 He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

We want to serve our neighbors well, not just as a church, but as individuals.

4: Involvement // Serve your church.

(NLT)29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Each of us has something to contribute, and together we strengthen the church to do God’s good work.

5: Generosity // Be faithful in giving.

(NLT)

29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,

We give of our resources as an act of worship and statement of faith in God’s goodness. Each week we receive an offering in service, and you can also give online. A ten percent tithe is a great suggested starting point.

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

6: Invitation // Invite people into a journey.

So to all of you that are in the midst of mission thank you…and please do not grow weary of doing good. Keep the faith and let God renew your strength…It will be worth it.

So to all of you that are in the midst of mission thank you…and please do not grow weary of doing good. Keep the faith and let God renew your strength…It will be worth it!

It is important that we never miss an opportunity to hear the stories of others and to share our story. It is through that connection with each other we can invite people on a faith journey.

So to all of you that are in the midst of mission thank you…and please do not grow weary of doing good. Keep the faith and let God renew your strength…It will be worth it.

If you are one of those that has not engaged for whatever reason Our House needs you.

We need your presence, relationship, compassion, involvement, generosity and your invitations.

It is through all of us together that Our House in the middle of our street will be a place of refuge for those already here and for all those in desperate need from the outside.

We have the opprotunity to engage in every core value and practice every week but next week we will have the opprotunity to invite people to become part of our faith journey.

Think about the people that will journey with you to the Table as you come today.

To remember the sacrifice that Jesus made and to look forward to Jesus coming again.

Communion

Benediction From Scripture 2 Thes 3:16

New Living Translation Chapter 3

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.