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2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have
free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
In the middle of our praise and worship service, we must remember the great need
for the word both taught among us and preached. We need that more than anything
else for it is the word hidden in our hearts that keep us strong against sin and
it keeps us from being deceived by false teachers.
In saying that though, I must remember also that we need to praise and worship
God in song and in testimony but at the same time never neglecting the word of
God.
2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for
all men have not faith.
The word keeps us from being fooled by deceivers and wicked persons who like to
uproot and destroy the true work of God.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from
evil.
The Holy Spirit is always among us working out this among us but we have to
yield to His leading and not allow seducing spirits or counterfeits to over take
us.
I believe Smith Wigglesworth once told of a lady who thought she heard the voice
of the Lord speaking to her. The voice said, "If you obey me, I will make you
the greatest missionary that ever lived."
It was commendable that this lady desired to be a missionary and she did later
become one but at this time, she was not ready and this voice was not God.
How do we know? Does God promise that we will be greater than others in the body
of Christ? The voice promised something that was self-exalting. Serving the Lord
should be humbling, not self-exalting.
I know we hear the opposite today but God has not changed and when Jesus told us
the story of the proud Pharisee and the publican to show us the danger of pride
and being exalted in one's self, it showed us what really pleases God. We are to
have faith and confidence, but the confidence should be in the power of God, not
our own selves. Paul also warned us not to think more highly than we ought
to think. This may shock some of us, but the bible never teaches self
confidence, it teaches trusting the Lord and having confidence in Him. The
flesh profits nothing, we must not have confidence in our own fleshly ways.
2Th 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and
will do the things which we command you.
Naturally any commands coming from men must line up with the word of God or else
we cannot obey them and God too. The commandments that Paul made though always
lined up with what Jesus taught.
2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the
patient waiting for Christ.
We do not hear too much of the coming of the Lord anymore so we must be careful
that we don't think in our hearts that He delays his coming and begin to smite
our fellow believers.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so
doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his
goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for
him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
after the tradition which he received of us.
Again I believe Paul was talking of the tradition according to truth and the
example of the other apostles and the teaching of Jesus. Not all church
tradition is necessarily the truth.
However, Paul is speaking of real troublemakers who walked disorderly and
rebelled against the truth, that we are to withdraw from not just someone who
disagrees in doctrine. The tradition that he tells us to follow is that
which is in the scripture, not a man-made tradition that is not found in
scripture. If a church leader or any type of leader departs from the
correct understanding of the scripture, mostly the New Testament scriptures, we
are commanded to keep following God, not the wayward leader. The
people in Germany did not have to follow the commands of Hitler because he
sometimes used supposed teaching in the bible. They may have had to obey to save their lives
and the lives of their families but God never commands us to obey evil leaders
who order us to kill the innocent.
2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not
ourselves disorderly among you;
2Th 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor
and travail night and day, that we might not be chargable to any of you:
Paul worked for his own living instead of taking from the church. He didn't want
anyone saying that he was after their money I suppose.
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto
you to follow us.
They had a right to receive support from the church for their labors but refused
in order to set a good example for others to follow. If a pastor chooses
to give himself completely to the duties of a minister and not have a secular
job, it is really the best thing for the church for he has more time to pray and
study the word. I believe in giving local church pastors support so
they do not have to work outside the church. However, I don't believe in
the clergy / laity division. A good church will have people who work,
teach, prophesy, preach and be helpers that are not ordained pastors.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he eat.
Paul was against freeloading it appears. He expected those who lived among them
to do their share of work.
There are people who attend meetings for the sole purpose of disrupting and
causing trouble. Those types usually wouldn't lift a finger to help work or
labor in the spreading of the gospel.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly,
working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and
have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
We can go to them in order to restore and correct but we are not to run around
with in their company thereby identifying ourselves with their rebellion.
This doesn't mean that we refuse to speak, greet or give them something to eat
if they are hungry, we are just supposed to avoid their company in general.
2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
This is the part many of us tend to forget. Those that disagree, fume and fuss
are still our brethren in the Lord. We do not have to burn people at the stake
who cause trouble.
2Th 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.
The Lord be with you all.
2Th 3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every
epistle: so I write.
2Th 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall
see the Lord:
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