The accountability and Responsibility of the Church

Once upon a time, there lived a young man in a large house. He had a parrot named Polly. The young man used to wake up late in the afternoon, ate up his meals, and then go to his bed again. This was his everyday schedule. Also, read Lion And Mouse Story.

Polly was an intelligent parrot. Polly, the parrot used to sit on the window and he was aware of the fact that everyone should have the means to earn their own living. The parrot was worried about his young friend’s future. His friend’s behavior made the parrot puzzled.

One day, Polly could not hold herself from asking his friend what is the matter! “Don’t you get tired of resting all through day and night? The sun has been out hours ago and the people have finished half of their daily routine’s work. How can you take rest all day in this world which is full of hustle and bustle? Why are you so lazy?” Polly, the parrot asked ruffling her feathers. Also, read The Thirsty Crow.

The lazy young man yawned while resting and said, “Every morning when I wake up, two of my friends came near me and starts whispering in my ears. One of them is Hard work and the other one is called Laziness.”

“Hard work tells me to get up! There is a lot of work waiting for you! Don’t waste your time in resting all day long as time is flying. On the other hand, Laziness tells me not to make a hurry in getting up. It says there are many other people who do hard work. It advises me to sleep more and more.”

The young man continued, “They keep on whispering all through the day and I keep on listening to them patiently. All my time goes listening to both of them. That is the reason of lying on the bed for a longer time!”. Also, read Self Help Is The Best Help.

MORAL OF THE STORY: JUST TALKing just thinking just listening DOES NOT HELP; WE SHOULD GET UP AND WORK.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–18 NKJV

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Here paul

Closes out the letter to the Church membership/body.  Exhorting them to understand their responsibility and accountability as the body of Christ.  Loving each other and the Lord enough to BE THE CHURCH/PEOPLE HE HAS CALLED US TO BE. WHICH IS MAKING AN ETERNAL IMPACT REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION THAT WE LIVING IN.

Accountability and Responsibility:

As a church member As we serve the Lord within His Church.

ACCOUNTABILITY

(love and care for another)

Consider

Hebrews 10:24 NKJV

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

or

Ephesians 4:2 NKJV

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Romans 12:13 NKJV

distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

but here we are speaking of Love by Truth

Ephesians 4:15 NKJV

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

In this context—of church unity and spiritual maturity—Paul writes, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Rather than be spiritually immature and easily deceived, we are to speak the truth to one another, with love, so that we can all grow in maturity. We are to train one another in truth—the foundational gospel truths, truths about who God is and what He has called us to do, hard truths of correction, etc.—and our motivation to do so is love. The “love” referred to in this verse is agape love, a self-sacrificial love that works for the benefit of the loved one. We speak truth in order to build up. Several verses later Paul writes, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Our words should be beneficial to the hearers of those words. We should speak truth in love.

We Love one another Not allowing people to continue. Love them enough to intervene

Three things were going on that Paul knew needed to be addressed.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE FAITHFULNESS AND WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

Laziness – v. 6 – 11a

keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. – v. 6

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, – v. 11

Stay Busy (Keep serving the Lord)His purpose for you life

A job.  Fulfill your calling.

Proverbs 10:4–5 NKJV

He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Colossians 3:17–23 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Meddling– v. 11b – 12

but busybodies – 11b

do their work quietly – 12

A burden to the church and her ministry

4020 periergázomai (from 4012 /perí, “all-around” and 2038 /ergázomai, “to work”) – properly, work all-around, i.e. to meddle, going beyond proper boundaries (where a person doesn’t belong); to fixate on what others are doing, instead of doing what the person himself is supposed to do (used only in 2 Thes 3:11). (Helps Word Studies)

James 1:26 NKJV

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Proverbs 16:28 NKJV

A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Disobedience – v. 14

one that Does not obey – v. 14 Take note and have nothing to do with– v. 14

Recognize, Realize and Keep away

If you cant lift them up dont let them drag you down

Our association with others can mean agreement

Guard your testimony

RESPONSIBILITY

(our motivation and means)

The Word – v. 6, 12

We command you – military authority (Greek use )

In the Lord Jesus Christ

Our Example – vv. 7-10

2 Thessalonians 3:7–9 NKJV

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

Imitate us – v. 7

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

1 Peter 2:21 NKJV

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

Example – v. 9

As believers we should set and example for others to follow As the church we should set an example for others to follow Our example is our EXPECTATIONS.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

The Church Functioning as the Body – vv 11-15

Do not grow weary – v. 13

Never finished.  Never over.Invest in others

Remember Acts 11. Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother – v. 15

Seek Restoration

Matthew 18:15–20 NKJV

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ – vv. 16-18

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. – v. 16

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all – v. 18

Romans 15:13 NKJV

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14–16 NKJV

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Peace – Grace – Presence

Where are you today ?

Do you have peace/ Has The lord filled you in His Joy

Have you been disobediant, fiiled in gossip, stiring up conflict,

Where are you today As the sermon today clearly illustrates Today I give you some hard truths but I do so out of love. So what you do with such truths will be between you and God

Repent and Belive or turn and hide fall down and ask God for mercy or standin your self righchoussness and miss the peace that is offered by Christ in Him alone where are you. I can say honestly this message speaks truth to us all here and as 1 john says if you say there be no sin in you than you are a liar. We all must fall down turn back to God see His truth as authority and turn to him in faith and obediance