220407 Christian Conduct

Respect God’s established leadership

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (NASB95) — 12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

This means that the Pastor and the deacons do not answer to the sheep. The men who have placed in the leadership are their to care for the flock that means the teaching and the protecting of the flock and as God’s men, they are due given respect.

Where there is the undermining of the pulpit immediate action must be taken to correct the issue. if that means expelling wolves then so be it.

Live in peace with one another

Harmony within the the body of believers. Disharmony is among the brethren is another means by which satan uses to bring down a congregation. As long as there is disharmony within the church that church is rendered impotent and has lost its Salt and light

Mark 9:50 (NASB95) — 50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NASB95) — 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly,

Matthew 18 was covered Tuesday night. this is legal proceedings within the body of believers. A church has every right under heaven to expel those in the church that seek to undermine the mission of the church. By Laws of that church need to make it clear of what that church stands for and what it will not tolerate.

the bigger the church grows and the effectiveness of the church the more Matthew 18 proceedings will be conducted.

encourage the fainthearted,

Word Pictures in the New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Admonish the disorderly (νουθετειτε τους ἀτακτους [noutheteite tous ataktous]). Put sense into the unruly mob who break ranks (α [a] privative and τακτος [taktos], verbal adjective of τασσω [tassō], to keep military order). Recall the idlers from the market-place used against Paul (Acts 17:5). This is a challenging task for any leader.

Word Pictures in the New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Old verb to encourage or console as in John 11:31, though not so common in N. T. as παρακαλεω [parakaleō], the compound adjective (ὀλιγος [oligos], little or small, ψυχη [psuchē], soul), small-souled, little-souled, late word in LXX. The verb ὀλιγοψυχεω [oligopsucheō] occurs in the papyri. Local conditions often cause some to lose heart and wish to drop out, be quitters. These must be held in line.

Your own spiritual growth is the number one encourage. When a church is full of babies then who is there to encourage another. encouragement comes to the small souls by the watching the mature stand firm in the faith. they have in so much won the confidence of younger beleivers. and when encourage comes it comes by scriptures through them.

churches have a varying degrees of maturity. and to opt out of Church and take your bible study privately at home, is in effect shirking your responsibility as an encourager.

help the weak, The weak are those who are spiritually sick. as we find in James

James 5:14

be patient with everyone.