Monday, August 6, 2018

All Hands on Deck: Sharing Hands -1 Thess. 5:8-11


So far in our “All Hands on Deck series” we have learned about how important it is to have present hands (corporate worship), praying hands, and obedient hands (that is, to the Word of God) as we seek to accomplish the mission of God on board the ship that is the church. In so doing, we have come to appreciate that corporate worship is not a mundane ritual, but an integral part of our mission to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ in this world. We’ve also been reminded that before anything, prayer must be offered from a genuine heart that is dependent on the Lord and expectant for His answer. Furthermore, we proved that that the Word of God gives us our marching orders and must be revered above all other narratives.  Today, as we continue our series, we are going to celebrate yet at another important element of the strategy our church has for accomplishing our great mandate while on the high seas of our culture—meaningful relationships. After all, how effective is a crew going to be if there is no camaraderie among its ranks.  



Relationships have proven absolutely essential in my life. In fact, the old adage, “it is not what you know; it is who you know” helped give me several jobs, recruit workers for this church, and accomplish different tasks and responsibilities. Relationships have picked me up when I was brought low, surrounded my family when we needed it most, and have helped conform me more into Christ’s image. Relationships are paramount to the life and health of every church. Paul understood this when he wrote to the church in Thessalonica—a small church in a brave new world (sound familiar). In 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, Paul presents three elements of relationships that are important for us to keep in mind as we work to accomplish the greatest mission ever given.


I. ELEMENT #1: The Occasion for Relationship-5:8

The verses leading up to this passage address the coming age, “the times and the epochs” (5:1). In these times, Paul predicts that the Lord will come like a thief in the night, there will be destruction, and darkness will sweep across the planet. However, those to whom this letter is addressed (the church body in Thessalonica), need not worry, for they are called, “sons of light,…” (1 Thess. 5:5). To be a person of the day means to be illuminated with the life of Christ, who is “the light.” Therefore, Paul says “since we are children of the day…” there are certain encouragements necessary for the ministry to go forward during the difficult times to come.

John 8:12-“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

Those who have the light of Christ are called to live in the coming age (the age in which we are living right now) conspicuously different from the world around them.

Sons and daughters of light are to live “soberly” in a world that is out of control. This word means to be in complete control over one’s thought processes and thus not in danger of irrational thinking.
Consider what people are like when they are inebriated. Often when people are drunk they are inhibition free, willing to do embarrassing or even dangerous stunts on a whim or a dare. This often ends in disaster. Stammering around, those who are drunk or high yield control of their mind any number of substances, rendering them open to irrational and nonsensical thinking.

This is prohibited for those who are sons and daughters of light. And before you redact this command to literal sobriety from alcohol, consider the general principle to which this image is pointing. Christians are not to yield control of their minds over to anyone or anything except the Holy Spirit. In other words, alcohol is not the only thing Christians can get drunk on or a buzz from. Success, possessions, image, money, sex, etc. Paul’s call for the church in Thessalonica is to be sober in all areas. In a world of stammering drunks, believers are to remain clear-headed and steadfastly focused.
What causes this level of focus in a world that is like a bar offering an assortment of spirits? Paul quickly changes metaphors to answer this question, “having put on the breast-plate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation…” (5:8). Standing on the threshold of the coming age, complete with destruction and darkness, and drunkenness, Christians should arm themselves for action with self-control by means of a breast-plate and helmet.

The Roman breastplate referred to here would have covered a soldier from his neck to his waist and protected his most vital organs. This is what “faith and love” does for the believer’s spiritual lives. Faith and love protect the believer from the coming onslaught of evil.

Consider the nature of these two terms for a moment. Both faith and love are transitive, meaning they require an understood object as the recipient for the action they imply. A disciple cannot exercise faith without placing that faith in something or someone. Similarly, a disciple cannot love without an understood person or object receiving and reciprocating that love. The greatest of all objects of faith and love is God Himself that is demonstrated most clearly in intimate relationship. 

While the breastplate protects the vital organs, the helmet protects the head, the seat of the mind and reason. In the believer’s case, protection comes in the form of hope through salvation. The salvation of the disciple was the source of hope for all in the early church and remains the most appropriate source of hope for the believer today. The church at Thessalonica would have to rely on the hope of their salvation when things would get rough, and so should we.

These verses teach us that one must be dressed and behaving appropriately in order to make the most of the relationships God has provided us. It is similar to a crew on board a navy vessel. They have protocols in place for proper behavior and dress in a certain way in an effort to foster unity and camaraderie.  

Sobriety, preparedness, and hope provide an opportunity for relationship to take place in the life of Jesus’ disciples. It is hard to have a functional relationship with a drunk or someone who is unprepared for such or someone who is hopeless. Sobriety, faith, love, and hope create an amazing opportunity for believers to have a relationship with God and with other disciples. However, what 
paved the way for this opportunity in the place?

II. ELEMENT #2: The Allowance for Relationship-5:9-10

“For God has not destined us for wrath” (5:9a). The disciple is allowed to enjoy relationship with God and His people because God has not and will not assign wrath to them. Why would He spill out His wrath on those that He has saved? Why would He punish those who have apprehended the grace of God through Christ? The wrath that is to come upon the world in the days that Paul predicts here will pass over those who already belong to God.

This is not unlike what took place for the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. In the same way God’s wrath passed over the doors of the Hebrew slaves, His wrath passes over His children in the last days, rendering a relationship with Him possible and welcome.

In the place of deserved wrath, God provides the ultimate gift, “obtaining salvation” (1 Thess. 5:9). This is the antithesis of wrath reserved for those who are not in the faith. For Jesus’ disciples, the greatest judgment is usurped by the greatest grace, punishment and penalty is overwhelmed by love and welcome. God’s gift of salvation is the definition of supererogation. (Take time to define supererogation).

This greatest of all gifts was given by means of the greatest of all acts, the Passion of Jesus Christ, “through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us…” (1 Thess. 5:9c-10). The cross is where light shined in the darkness to bring the opportunity of faith to the faithless world, love in the midst of hate, and hope in growing despair.  As mentioned in Hebrews 10:19-25, Jesus’ flesh is the doorway through which all disciples enjoy relationship with God (see also Jn. 10:9; 14:6).

Paul concludes this thought by giving the reason for the salvific work of Christ in the first place—relationship, “so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him…”(1 Thess. 5:10b). The purpose of Jesus and His cross is restored relationship with God together with other believers. God did come to die to save individuals, He died to save a church! However, what does Paul mean by “whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him…”? A clue to the meaning of this is given in verse 6.

1 Thess. 5:6-so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

Paul’s point here is that Christians are assured life together with God and in meaningful relationship with brothers and sisters, whether they are spiritually watchful or not. The relationship given to believers through Christ’s sacrifice is unconditional—there are no strings attached. Does this then give the believer’s license to act poorly? Absolutely not! (mh ginoita-to adopt another Pauline word). Instead, the unconditional nature of this precious gift should motivate disciples to make the most of the relationship that has been made possible through Jesus.

III. ELEMENT #3: The Command for Relationship-5:11

One way for the disciple to make the most of their relationship with God is to capitalize of his or her relationships with others in the body of Christ, “Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing…”(5:11). The command here is to “be actively consoling one another through various means, building each other up.” It describes a vibrant community of like-minded people spurring each other on as the world continues to propel itself toward destruction. Think of crew members on board a war vessel inspiring each other with battle hymns and pep talks. This is something that Paul wanted to continue to see in the church of Thessalonica and it is something that he commends of them as well, “just as you also are doing.” Evidence that this church was already excelling in this endeavor can be seen earlier in Paul’s letter.

1 Thess. 4:9-10-“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,…

The church of Thessalonica made it their habit to be about the business of building each other up and encouraging one another. This phenomenon of mutual encouragement, through vibrant relationships within the body of Christ, is built on the foundation of their collective relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Paul says to this church, “keep doing what you’re doing because of what Christ has done for you.”

So What?

This calling upon the church of Thessalonica is not unlike the calling that has been placed upon us here in South Roanoke. As Jesus’ disciples, we are commanded to make the most of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ by giving ourselves to meaningful relationship with our brothers and sisters here in this local body. This is one way in which we will know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ to others. “Some Christians try to go to heaven alone.... But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people”- Charles Spurgeon
But what is Crystal Spring doing to help foster this kind of community? What are we doing here to help you make the most of each other?

The answer is found in our more intimate group settings, both in the Sunday morning hour at 10:00am and on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm and 7:00pm. These groups meet not because we feel like we have to do something at those times or because we want to be like other churches or for my health. We offer these opportunities for your benefit as times in which you can learn from each other, encourage one another through prayer, and build each other up as we all strive to live soberly in this world around us. Our commitment is to do the best we can to make these groups assessable, approachable, and worth your time. Are you making the most of what is being offered whenever you can? You are not making the most of your relationship with Christ (the groom) if you are not making the most of your relationship with the church (his bride). Whatever you do, don’t miss out on all that God would have you gain through this phenomenon called relationship. For it is in the crucible of godly relationships that we grow more sober, faithful, and hopeful in an increasingly inebriated, faithless, and hopeless world.

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