How We Ought To Walk

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 4:1-12

Paul is telling the brethren here to keep on doing what they need to do. He “begs” and “exhorts” them to do this. Our walk, and the nature of it, is important. Some forget how to walk, and need to be re-taught. Some abandon the walk, and die in their sins. In what ways can WE walk?

WALK WORTHILY (2:1-12)

There must be a purpose, despite conflict (1-2)

The association was “not in vain” – Not pointless. There was a purpose to Paul and the others coming.

Acts 17:1-3 – Christ-centered teaching, no doubt!

Conflict should never discourage us from sharing the Gospel! Just because people say, “I don’t want to hear it!” does NOT mean that we should be timid or afraid to share it with OTHERS, who might actually listen!

There must be no deception, but speaking by approval (3-4)

Their exhortation/invitation was a pure one, not born in error (“straying from” – transgression), uncleanness (impurity), or trickery (DECOY, guile).

They taught as God gave them approval. Here is a close statement in scripture of “speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it is silent”.

The motivation - not to please men, but to please God, the tester of our hearts!

We need to be careful that we aren’t “tricking” people into the truth. (baptism, etc.)

There must be glory from God, not Man (5-6)

A reminder – they were not using flattery or covering greed – Paul makes the motivations clear. – “God is our witness.” – When an inspired Apostle writes that, he means it!

Neither were they seeking glory from men. Many today desire man’s glory (Hollywood, music industry, politics).

However, as Apostles, they could have received it if they wanted it!

An example of meekness, and an emulation of Jesus; Jesus pushed for the glory of His Father, not his own glory

John 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say that He is our God.

When we seek the praise of men, we’re going down a selfish path.

When we seek the praise of God, we will not fit in with the world.

“as a father to his children” (7-12)

Stern yet loving! This was proof of their behavior toward these brethren.

The obligation to walk was upon THEIR shoulders, not on Paul’s!

1 Thessalonians 2:12 that you would make your walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

WALK IN GOD’S WILL (4:1-4)

“brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus”

This is a serious exhortation. Not just a suggestion, but a pleading.

When Jesus' name and authority is invoked, we are looking at a very important passage.

“as ye have received”

“Received” carries the idea of welcoming. As we have WELCOMED the teaching of the Apostles, we must abound within it.

Some will welcome the doctrine, others will reject it. We must never reject the truth that God gives.

The fact that we have received this Word brings a responsibility.

“how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more”

This tells us that there is indeed a particular WAY to walk.

Some would say that there is no defined way to walk, or that God has only given us limited information, so that we can make up our own way.

We must walk according to His Will, and not our own.

We neglect this great gift by thinking we have it all figured out.

“you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus”

Again, the seriousness here is emphasized. Not suggestions, but COMMANDS concerning the way these brethren should walk.

“...the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37) – authority is key

“this is the will of God, even your sanctification”

Justified & Sanctified throughout life

We cannot abound / improve if we are habitually backsliding and getting tripped up by sin.

This is why it’s important to ABSTAIN!

“...abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11)

“that each one of you know”

Christians are not in ignorance of how they should walk, in ANY century.

Many claim ignorance so that they can get past God’s commands. By doing so, they make the commands of God impotent – pointless in their lives.

“how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor”

Our “vessels” are, simply, our bodies. Our flesh is not a curse, but a blessing. We are given this life for a particular purpose.

That purpose is to use this body, not for our own lusts and gratification, but for “sanctification” (ongoing and increasing purity) and “honor” (attributing value and worth).

If we walk in whatever way WE decide, and not in the way God has given us, we do not honor our vessel. This life must be a life of worth and value in our continuing purity.

WALK IN HOLINESS (4:5-8)

“not... like the Gentiles who know not God”

The “gentiles” really means “The nations”

God is telling his people, “don’t be like the world, that doesn’t care about me.”

If we really, truly care for God, we will stop following our own desires, and be conformed to what He wants (Romans 12:2 “be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed”).

“no one should transgress against and to defraud his brother in this matter”

Don’t defraud or lie to others – obvious, but how does this apply?

When we don’t tell someone the truth about their soul, it’s the same thing.

When we try to lessen the importance of God’s commands, and hold our brothers and sisters to a lesser standard, we are LYING to them and being a stumbling block!

“God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification.”

Purity is our calling. To degenerate that purity, to make it lesser, is NOT our calling.

God hasn’t called us to sin, but to be “Holy” – set apart for HIM!

In the same sense, we are not meant to make the Way easier, but uphold the truth concerning it.

“he who rejects this does not reject man, but God”

God to Samuel: “...they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7)

When we despise the commands, we despise God, not the ones showing them to us! Furthermore, we REJECT God’s RULE over us, and thus are not true Kingdom Citizens.

Remember this when others mock your strong stand within the Word of God!

WALK IN LOVE (4:9-12)

“you yourselves are taught by God to love one another”

Without love, this is all pointless!

And, in the Thessalonian brethren’s case, Paul did not have to remind them of this, because they had already been taught about it.

“we exhort you, brothers, that you increase more and more”

Again, there should be no limit in our knowledge and love.

We cannot ever say that we have done enough until we are finished with this life.

“aspire to be quiet, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands”

So many Christians are NOT quiet in the way they live their lives.

We rightly feel a responsibility to resist evil and to rebuke the ones who commit sin, yet we might be without mercy and patience in our execution of these God-given obligations.

“that you may walk decently toward those outside”

Even those who profess Christ can be so loud and obnoxious that they stain the name of Christ among the world.

May we be the shining city on a hill, lights to the world, that Jesus commands (Matt. 5).

Love as God loves, and you will be Holy!