In the times we are living, the only thing that we can do is allow the Word of God to enable us to walk before this wicked and adulterous generation. The Word will establish us in our walk walk.
How can we accomplish this?
Prayer is something that every believer can engage in. Paul is asking the Thessalonians for prayer so that "the word of the Lord may have free course." Paul had a very unique ministry. He was a missionary. He was an evangelist as we think of evangelists today. Actually that word evangelist in the New Testament means "missionary." Also, he was a pastor and a teacher of the Word. He fulfilled all those offices, and he had fulfilled them all to the Thessalonians. He is not only instructing them in the Word, but he is attempting to comfort them and to counsel them. One of the things he enjoins them to do is pray. "Pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you."
It troubles me and it worries me to see that even those who claim to believe the Word of God give so little attention to it.
Paul asked for prayer that he might be delivered from "unreasonable and wicked men." I find that the spreading of the gospel is hindered more by people in the church than by anything else.
It is one thing to hold the truth of the coming of Christ, to love His appearing; but it is another thing to walk worthy of that great truth. This is what Paul is writing about to the Thessalonians. If we really love His appearing, we will prove it by our relationship to the Word of God and by our walk through this life.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil [2Thess. 3:3].
Christians need to be established. Right now the home is in disarray, the church is in disarray, and the lives of believers are in disarray. We need to be established. How can you as a believer be established? By coming to the Word of God and letting it have its influence in your life. The Lord operates through His Word. The Word of God will keep you from evil. Someone has said, "The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible."
And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you [2Thess. 3:4].
Christians are commanded to do certain things, and there are specific commandments for Christians. The Lord Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (see John 14:15).
It troubles me and it worries me to see that even those who claim to believe the Word of God give so little attention to it.
Paul asked for prayer that he might be delivered from "unreasonable and wicked men." I find that the spreading of the gospel is hindered more by people in the church than by anything else.
It is one thing to hold the truth of the coming of Christ, to love His appearing; but it is another thing to walk worthy of that great truth. This is what Paul is writing about to the Thessalonians. If we really love His appearing, we will prove it by our relationship to the Word of God and by our walk through this life.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil [2Thess. 3:3].
Christians need to be established. Right now the home is in disarray, the church is in disarray, and the lives of believers are in disarray. We need to be established. How can you as a believer be established? By coming to the Word of God and letting it have its influence in your life. The Lord operates through His Word. The Word of God will keep you from evil. Someone has said, "The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible."
And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you [2Thess. 3:4].
Christians are commanded to do certain things, and there are specific commandments for Christians. The Lord Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (see John 14:15).
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ [2Thess. 3:5].
The believer is to walk in "the love of God." If you are walking today in the sunshine of His love, the love of God is shed abroad in your heart and you know He loves you. And you can manifest that love by the power of the Spirit, because only the Spirit of God can make God's love real to us. Love is a fruit of the Spirit.
"Into the patient waiting for Christ." This does not mean that you are to argue about being premillennial or pretribulational or posttribulational or amillennial, but that you are to be patiently waiting for the coming of Christ. Oh, what wonderful verses these are!
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 [2Thess. 3:6].
Paul doesn't beat around the bush! The believer is not to walk with the "disorderly." I know men who insist that we should go into the barrooms, sit down with the drunkard and have a beer with him as we witness to him. Unfortunately, I know of a young lady who became an alcoholic by following that procedure. God says that we are to "withdraw" ourselves from the disorderly. Certainly we are to witness to them, but we are not to fraternize on their level.
God makes it very clear whom we are to follow --
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you [2Thess. 3:7].
Birds of a feather flock together. You will be like the crowd you run around with. Believers need to be very careful about the company they keep and the people with whom they associate.
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 [2Thess. 3:6].
Paul doesn't beat around the bush! The believer is not to walk with the "disorderly." I know men who insist that we should go into the barrooms, sit down with the drunkard and have a beer with him as we witness to him. Unfortunately, I know of a young lady who became an alcoholic by following that procedure. God says that we are to "withdraw" ourselves from the disorderly. Certainly we are to witness to them, but we are not to fraternize on their level.
God makes it very clear whom we are to follow --
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you [2Thess. 3:7].
Birds of a feather flock together. You will be like the crowd you run around with. Believers need to be very careful about the company they keep and the people with whom they associate.
No comments:
Post a Comment