WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.200 We get to finish 2 Thessalonians today. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:04.879 We're going to be in chapter 3. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.320 We're going to go ahead and do verses 6 through 18. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:15.279 And today, as we close out this book, we're really closing out 1 and 2 Thessalonians. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.640 We did them in succession. 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:20.879 We've seen a lot of similarities between this book, as you have noticed. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:28.000 So we went pretty quickly through 2 Thessalonians, but we're going to go much slower once we get into 1 Timothy. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:34.799 And I just want to encourage you to start reading through 1 Timothy now and just prepare yourself kind of with what's coming up. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.679 And then we're going to dig into it deeper here on Sunday mornings. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:45.439 But for today, we're going to see a few more instructions from Paul, and then we're going to see him actually sign off, literally, in his own handwriting. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.920 So if you are able, would you please stand for the reading of God's Word? 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:56.079 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, and we're going to go verses 6 through 18. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:08.799 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the traditions received from us. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:12.400 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.319 We were not idle among you. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.359 We did not eat anyone's food free of charge. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:26.000 Instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:35.599 It is not that we don't have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you, so that you would imitate us. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:39.439 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:43.280 If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:46.480 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.280 They are not busy, but busy bodies. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:56.400 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.280 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:06.159 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:10.319 Don't associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:14.560 Yet don't consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.960 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:21.039 The Lord be with all of you. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:27.280 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:28.879 This is how I write. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.400 Lord, thank you so much for your word. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:43.439 We thank you for the opportunity that we have to come here every Sunday and to open it up and to see what you have for us. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.680 So we want to do that same thing here. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.840 Lord, I pray that you would speak to us with your word through the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:03:02.960 That we would come to you in all humility with open minds and ears and eyes and hearts that are ready to accept the truths that you have for us as individuals, but also as a church as a whole. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.439 So would you do a mighty work through your word? 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.319 Use me uh to speak this morning. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:13.360 Lord, fill me with truth and show me the direction that you want to go, we pray. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:14.560 In Jesus' name. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:15.520 Amen. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.080 You may be seated. 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:23.439 So here Paul is ending this letter with some final direction as we talked about. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.199 Basically, the theme of this is gonna be imitate us. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.919 And us is Paul, Silas, and Timothy. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.039 Those are the three people mentioned at the beginning of this letter. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.960 And he's gonna say, Imitate us as we imitate Christ. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:46.879 But since this is the last time we're gonna be in 2 Thessalonians, probably for quite a while, I did want to kind of go and do a recap of these two books. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:51.439 So you can turn back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 in your Bibles. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:55.039 I'd love for you guys to follow along with me in this way. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:09.280 And I want us to just kind of take a look at some of the main themes, some of the main verses, some of the main topics that we've been talking about as we've been going through these two books, and then we're gonna jump into our verses for today. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:15.120 So 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, and look at verse 3 with me, and let's just read it. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:28.800 We recall in the presence of our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:40.079 And we talked about how this was really the thesis, this was like the main theme that all of the verses that we're gonna come after this were gonna point back to one of these three things that he's looking at here. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.240 And we really did see that. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:46.480 I think for both books, this was kind of the thesis uh we could call it for both books. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:54.879 And then for about three chapters, if you remember, Paul went on and he commended their faith through persecution and affliction. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:05.600 And he commended them of how they followed his example, of just that short time that was uh that he was with them and the perseverance and some of the other persecutions that he had experienced. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:12.079 And then he commended them because they were really imitating him as he imitated Christ in that way. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:16.800 And then after those three chapters, we get to chapter four, and you can turn there as well. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:25.279 Paul changes gears a little bit here in 1 Thessalonians, specifically in chapter 4, verse 3, and you can turn there. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:29.680 Um, but this is where he starts talking about sanctification, if you remember. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:38.240 And that's where we talked a lot about the difference between positional sanctification and progressive sanctification. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.600 Words are not coming easy this morning, so let me just try and spit these. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:43.279 I blame the humidity. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:52.879 But um, positional being our standing before God as holy and righteous at the moment that we come to faith in Christ. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:06:01.120 And then we talked about how progressive sanctification is the life that we live after that and before we're with Jesus in eternity. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:08.879 If you remember Ben's graph that he had up here last week, it was that line he was talking about between salvation and eternity. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.839 So Paul gives this instruction on how to live this life. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.079 Things you should be looking for, things you should be doing. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:20.079 So look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, starting in verse 3. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:36.800 It says, For this is God's will, your sanctification, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions like the Gentiles who don't know God. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:50.240 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:54.879 For God has not called us to impurity, but to live in holiness. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:02.720 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.800 And then look down at verse eleven real quick. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:05.920 We'll keep going. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:21.680 Regarding sanctification, he says, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:23.600 And that's really our verses this morning. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:27.759 We're really gonna dig into those a little bit deeper as we get into our passage. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:45.920 And then Paul goes on, if you remember, at the end of chapter four and into the beginning of chapter five, regarding end times and what that will look like, talking about how Christians who die before the return of Christ will be raised at Christ's return, and we're all gonna get caught up together to be with Christ. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:50.879 He addresses how the day of the Lord, if you remember, will come like a thief in the night. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:55.040 And so he's telling them to be encouraged and to be prepared for that. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:08:01.839 He let them know that this will not be a silent event, and he confirms that again in 2 Thessalonians. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.160 When it happens, he's trying to comfort them. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:08.959 Like, when this happens, you're not gonna have to be convinced that this happened. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.639 It's gonna be loud. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:13.920 Every Christian is gonna know that this is going on. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:26.079 And our main takeaway, I hope, that we got from that, and we still have in us from that section, was that Paul was not trying to scare people into obedience by talking about end times. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.519 He was trying to encourage them to abide more deeply in Christ. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:36.960 He reminded them multiple times that they have this hope in Christ Jesus. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:44.480 They have this future in him in all of eternity where their current persecution was gonna be done and over with. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.039 All persecution was gonna be done and over with and gone forever. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:54.559 The consequences of sin in this world were gonna be done with and over forever. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.320 So they had that hope to look forward to in Christ. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:04.879 And I just want to reiterate every time he brought up end times, it was to encourage this church. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.559 And I really think that's what God wants to do with us as well. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:16.399 When we think, when we look around the world, when we talk about end times and the return of Christ, to be encouraged by that and not afraid of it. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:19.279 And then we came to 2 Thessalonians. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:28.240 In chapter 1, if you remember, Paul talked about God's righteous judgment and how everybody has one of two choices in this life. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:34.000 And he talked about how eternal damnation is a choice somebody makes for themselves. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:39.440 Just like eternal salvation is a choice everybody has to make for themselves as well. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:44.480 And we talked a lot about how perfect justice actually demands this. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:52.159 Perfect justice actually demands that each person makes one of those two decisions. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:57.919 And then in chapter two, you can turn there if you'd like, he goes back to discussing in time. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.360 So look at chapter 2, verse 2 in 2 Thessalonians. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:14.480 He encourages them not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter, supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:24.320 This is where we talked about how not becoming upset or troubled for us, for each person here today. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:28.480 It comes by knowing God's word for ourselves. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:40.320 So that we can't be duped into false teaching and false prophecy and phony letters and weird podcasts and weird YouTube videos and things like that that claim these sensational things. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:43.919 But when we know the word of God, we can say that's not right. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.039 That doesn't hold up. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:49.519 Or even if we're not exactly sure, the Spirit of God can say something's a little off there. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:52.399 Like, don't listen to this guy, don't watch this video. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:53.600 Something doesn't sound right. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:56.080 And then we can go and open our Bible and say, Oh, that's why. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:56.720 Right there. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.720 That's why this is off. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:09.120 But that's how we cannot be troubled by any wind of doctrine that comes by regarding any topic, really, is to know the word of God for ourselves. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:23.360 And this leads to Paul talking about how the tribulation will unfold, you know, as a reminder to them, so that they themselves could discredit these teachers, these phony teachers that were saying, the day of the Lord has come. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:25.039 We're in it right now. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:31.679 He wanted to remind them, hey, these events are gonna be happening that are gonna trigger all of this. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:36.399 If you're not seeing those things, then just move on and don't listen to those people. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.879 Which led right into our uh sermon from last week. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:49.679 It's just Paul encouraging them to stand firm in what they know to be the truth, which is from the Lord, obviously. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:57.519 And that brings us to today's verses again, just departing encouragement slash admonishment, I think we could call it. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:04.559 And he's gonna just remind them one more time to work hard with their own hands and don't be a busybody. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.480 So there's our review. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.039 Hopefully that kind of triggered a few things for you. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.320 It's been months and months since we've been going through here. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:19.759 Um, but hopefully that kind of helps remind you of some of the things the Lord has hopefully been showing you over the last couple months. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.279 Now, let's look at our verses today, starting in verse 6. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:29.440 He says, Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.000 So, right off, we know this is serious. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:35.440 Paul is setting this up with a serious tone here. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:38.080 He says, We command you, brothers and sisters. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:44.960 So he's speaking to the church, but it's in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, reminding them, this is not coming from me. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.960 This is not my personal preference. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.639 This is coming from Christ, not Paul. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.720 Now look at the second half of verse six. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:13:05.679 He says, To keep away from every brother or sister, so we're talking about in the church, who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:10.960 Idol here is a really interesting word, and we're gonna be talking about it a lot today. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:21.840 So I want to just make it as clear as possible from the get-go, because about half of the Bible translations you're holding will say idol, and the other half are probably gonna say disorderly. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:28.799 Which tells us we don't have a direct and perfect English equivalent to this original Greek word. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:33.279 Because idol and disorderly mean very different things in English, don't they? 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.879 You know, one of them I think of like a bar fight, disorderly. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:42.799 The other one I think of somebody just lazy on their couch, you know, uh binge watching Netflix or something like that. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:47.360 So this definition in the Greek, I want to show it to you for idle and disorderly. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:14:00.399 It says, disorderly, out of ranks, often so of soldiers, irregular, inordinate, immoderate pleasures deviating from the prescribed order or rule. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:06.000 So just by this definition, would you think it's closer to idle or disorderly? 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.919 I look at it and I think that sounds a little more disorderly than idle. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:19.919 But we have to remember almost as important as definitions like I have behind me is the context in which those words are used. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.559 So I want to do a little exercise with us real quick. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.000 If I say, give me the definition for the word key. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:27.600 Okay? 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.159 You might say, oh, it's that metal thing we stick in the door to unlock a lock. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.360 I'm like, no, no, no, no. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.480 The other key. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:38.799 Like, oh, oh, well, we just sang that song in the key of G. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.000 Like, no, no, no, no. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.879 The other key. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.799 You're like, oh, like on a piano. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.840 When you hit, you know, they have keys on the piano. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:49.519 Oh, you mean like on a basketball court, you know, in front of the free throw line. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.240 That's the key. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:54.399 There's so many different ways that we can define the word key in English. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:59.039 We only know how to use that word by its context, right? 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:02.559 And what the definition of that word is at that time. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:10.879 So when we see this word today for idle and disorderly, we need to kind of see both sides, the context and the definition. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:16.240 Because what it's really speaking about is rebellion in not working. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.039 Okay? 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:26.399 So as we talk about being idle and not working or not having the desire to work, it's really the rebellion in not working. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:40.159 Verse 6, you know, as a whole, is saying, if people have not listened to our instruction and they're rebelling and they're not working and they're being idle, you shouldn't even associate with them. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.639 Keep away from those people. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:52.559 And let's be clear: this is not talking about stumbling and sinning in idleness or laziness and then humbly repenting. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.480 This is talking about living in that rebellion. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.399 That word live that we have in verse 6 here is key. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.759 No pun intended. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.919 There's another way we can use key, right? 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.240 This is their lifestyle. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:16.960 These people are living in that sin, knowing they are sinning, not caring that they're being idle, and then continuing to be idle. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:35.679 If a brother or sister is confronted about living in sin by the church, any sin, really, let's let's make the context a little larger for this sake, and they don't repent after multiple attempts, as it's laid out in Matthew 18, Scripture calls for church discipline. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:42.639 Jesus himself in Matthew 18 says to treat them like a Gentile or a tax collector in that day. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:51.759 Paul says in 1 Corinthians to not associate with them and to not even have a meal with that person that is under church discipline. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.240 And here he says, keep away from. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:01.200 But I get the impression here that these people are not there yet to that point of church discipline. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:10.000 But they need to be admonished, they need to make sure that these people within the church don't end up in that place. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:17.759 And some people have a hard time with this concept, thinking, well, you know, if a brother or sister is living in sin, shouldn't we try to stay close? 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:23.200 Shouldn't we put our arm around that person and try and lead them back into the flock? 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.799 Struggling with sin? 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:28.160 Absolutely 100% we need to do that with those people. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.680 Living in sin, that's not what the Bible says. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:40.400 Jesus laid out in Matthew 18, if you want to read it later, that this person is going to be given pretty much every chance possible to repent. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:49.759 And when they refuse to repent after those multiple attempts, then church discipline needs to be set into place. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:18:00.319 And the idea is that once a person gets cut off from fellowship, that they're treated like a tax collector in those days. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:14.400 They're treated, you know, as uh kind of just excommunicated, lower class almost just like we just don't do anything with that person, we don't have meals, um, almost reviled in a way. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:20.240 And the hope is that that is what will lead them back into repentance. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:37.519 They will see the seriousness of their sin because they've now been kind of excommunicated from their community, their community, and because of that, it actually it's that shame that will lead them to repentance and back into the flock of God. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:58.000 What's unfortunate is that the way that the American church has multiple different types of churches pretty much in every town, once it gets to this stage, as Matthew 18 lays out, the person will often just go to another church across town instead of submitting themselves to the authority that God has placed over them. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:04.000 But back in biblical times, this was basically excommunication from everything. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.599 It hurt a lot more back then when it was just one church and one community. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:14.480 This can mean excommunication from your whole life as you know it. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:26.720 And I think it's kind of unfortunate in our American culture that we can just go to another church and just kind of start over because it doesn't have that same effect that it used to on us here today. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.640 He goes on in verse 7. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:32.640 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:37.680 We were not idle among you, we did not eat anyone's food free of charge. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:44.880 Instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:51.920 Again, what's interesting here is that Paul and his companions, they didn't do this everywhere they went. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:56.640 Or at least they didn't do it to this extent that they did it in Thessalonica. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:05.599 But he saw fit to provide this example in this specific way when they were with the specific church in Thessalonica. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:13.519 Maybe, you know, this is just me guessing, maybe this culture had a problem with laziness that Paul knew before he even went in there. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:24.880 Maybe the religious leaders of whatever other cults were in that city were known for taking advantage of the people in the city, and Paul just wanted to distinguish themselves. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:28.319 Hey, we're not like these other guys that take advantage of you. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:36.559 We don't know for sure, but Paul knew, I think, going into here, hey guys, this is what we're gonna do when we get there. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:39.519 We're gonna work, we're not gonna take anything from free. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:47.440 We're gonna jump in there, we're gonna minister and we're gonna work, and then we're gonna minister, and then we're gonna work, and then we're gonna minister, and then we're gonna work. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:50.799 So when Paul got there, that's what they did. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:54.000 They provided that example for the church to follow. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:58.480 And now he's calling this whole church to imitate his example in this way. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:06.240 Know that he's calling the whole church, not just the leaders of the church, not just the elders of the church, the whole church to imitate him in this way. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.599 He goes on in verse 9. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.960 Look at it with me. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:18.400 It is not that we don't have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:33.440 Paul makes it very clear in his other writings that it is right for a church to financially support their elders, pastors, overseers, especially if those people are teaching. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.119 First Timothy 5, 17 through 18, I want to show that one to you. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:48.799 It says, The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, respect, and wages in there, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:56.480 For the scripture says, Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and the worker is worthy of his wages. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.599 And then Paul says again in Galatians six, six, let the one. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.039 One who is taught the word, share all his good things with the teacher. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:15.920 So Paul's obviously not against support for his ministry in this way, for those that are faithfully ministering and teaching God's word. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:21.680 But he wanted, like I said, to leave an example with this church that they could actually imitate. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.519 Hey, you saw how we did it. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.359 Now it's your turn. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:32.240 He wanted to teach him that you can minister for the sake of the gospel. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:36.799 You can work a different job at the same time. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:47.039 And you can even sacrifice your own right for the sake of the gospel and have a good attitude about all of it. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.720 And like I said, this is for the whole church, not the leaders. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:59.359 Paul had the right to ask for food and he had the right to ask for support, but he gave up that right for the sake of the gospel. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.279 Now look at verse 10. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:05.839 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:10.000 If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:13.599 Isn't willing is another key phrase here. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.839 And if you highlight and underline your Bible, do that with that phrase, isn't willing. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:22.960 Because there's a big difference between can't and isn't willing, isn't there? 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:30.640 If someone is able to work but isn't willing to work, he's saying, let them starve. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:41.119 Let them have that motivation of hunger burning in their gut so that they actually get off their couch and get busy doing the things that they should be doing. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:49.759 You know, this confirms to me personally that this society, in some capacity, like I was saying, was already struggling with this in some way. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:57.359 Because in the short time he was with them, probably only three or four weeks, he was already addressing this issue with them. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:05.039 And then he addresses it in the his first letter, and then now here he is again addressing it in his second letter. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:09.119 Now we're gonna move on to verse 11, and I want to call this section. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:12.480 I think the best way to put it is don't be a busybody. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:12.960 Okay? 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.440 I think it just it sums this up great. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:21.200 Verse 11 says, For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:24.480 They are not busy, but busybodies. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:29.920 Idle hands are the devil's workshop. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:36.160 That's a phrase we know, you know, just I don't know, I've heard it ever since I was a little kid. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:53.119 We're going to see in 1 Timothy 5 13, where Paul addresses this with the widows that are younger than 60, saying, don't support them financially unless they learn to be idle, going from house to house. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:25:00.640 They're not only idle, but they are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:14.319 Paul's basically telling him, don't give these people a reason or an opportunity to be idle, because enabling this idleness is going to enable them and actually encourage them to be busybodies. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:20.000 And idleness leads to all kinds of other sins, as we probably all know as well. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:33.759 However, he does say a bit later in 1 Timothy, for those legit widows that are older than 60 and they don't have kids to take care of them, then by all means, support them as a church. 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:39.440 So there are people that need support from the church, and there are those that do not. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:42.000 And Paul makes a clear line right there. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:54.000 And I don't want you to hear this and think, you know, well, this means Abide shouldn't give from its benevolence fund, like we just saw up there, to people that are idle. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:26:10.240 I think that's 100% included, absolutely, but this means that you as individuals as well, Paul's writing to this whole church, remember, you as individuals, we need to hear this to not support the idol. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:14.720 Don't help those in the church that are not willing to work. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.200 However, sometimes we're not quite sure, right? 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.200 We want to help somebody, but we're not sure. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:23.200 Wait, are they not willing to work? 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:25.680 Or are they unable to work? 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:27.119 You know, what's going on here? 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.160 And we just don't know. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.519 I just want to encourage you. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:34.319 In those situations, I always try to err on the side of grace. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:40.079 And I just think that's a good thing to remember, to err on the side of the gray of grace. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:46.480 And then as you get to know that person as things unfold a little bit more, you might realize, okay, this is the direction. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:49.279 They're either being idle or they really do need support. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:59.759 So if you get to that point, you know, you go into a situation with a homeless person, that's something you know to think about that is outside of the um out of the box. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:05.039 But again, just try to walk by the Spirit, try to err on the side of grace. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:18.480 When you come across, you know, people that are in need, get to know them, pray with them, and just see is it a case of idleness or is it a case where they really can't work and they really do need the support of the church? 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:21.759 Now, I want to talk to parents with kids right now. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.480 Parents with probably little kids might be a better way to put it. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:44.079 It's your job to teach your kids to imitate Paul as he imitates Christ, to teach your kids to work with their hands, to minister for the sake of the gospel, as we just saw, and to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:48.079 And I just want to encourage you to start them young. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:56.799 First, you want to do it by being that example to them, but teach them how to work young in little ways. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:00.960 I'm not talking about child labor with your four-year-old or anything like that. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:22.960 But teach them how to contribute to the family, how to work in that way, to contribute to the family, how to contribute to their church, how to take ownership in tasks that they are given, in ministry that they are given even at a young age, and how to take pride in doing things well for the sake of the Lord. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:27.359 And as they get older, give them more and more responsibility. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:38.640 Prepare them to be workers and how to even sacrifice their own rights for the sake of the gospel, as we see here with Paul, because they're not gonna learn that in most schools. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.240 They're gonna learn the opposite. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:43.519 This is my right, and I'm gonna take mine, right? 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:51.279 We need to teach them as parents in this way to be those hard workers for the sake of the gospel. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:53.279 Because if we don't, who will? 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.799 Nobody else in this world is gonna teach them that. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:00.640 So please disciple your kids in that way. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:07.440 But for those that are not willing to work in the church, getting back into verse 12 here, what do we do with them? 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:09.200 And Paul tells us, verse 12. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:20.000 Now we command and exhort such people, the idol, by the Lord Jesus Christ, to work quietly and to provide for themselves. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:28.480 If you remember back in 1 Thessalonians 4, 11, Paul told them to seek to lead a quiet life. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:33.759 And we talked about how this doesn't mean like, shh, like, don't make a lot of noise. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:38.559 You know, it does that's part of the definition, but it doesn't always equate to that. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:53.359 This was when he encouraged them in this context to seek to lead a quiet life, same word we're looking at here, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands as we commanded you. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:59.920 Again, I think a great way to sum this up is be the opposite of a busybody. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:05.680 You know, if you don't want to be a busybody, just ask yourself, would a busybody do that thing? 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:08.720 And if the answer is yes, then don't do that thing. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:11.200 Just don't be a busybody. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.720 But I get it. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.920 I really do. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:20.319 It's way more fun for us to concern ourselves with other people's affairs, isn't it? 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:26.960 You know, why do you think celebrity gossip is so popular in our culture? 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:29.680 We're obsessed with it as a culture. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:34.319 We love seeing the drama as long as it's in other people's lives, right? 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:38.319 And people aren't looking at the drama in our own lives. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:42.400 We love spreading gossip in that way. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:50.160 Did you hear about Prince Harry or whatever it might be or Taylor and Travis or old school Brangelina? 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:52.400 You know, we have all of these things. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:31:01.759 Somebody's selling trash from uh from Taylor and Travis's wedding last week, and it's going like hot cakes. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:09.519 It's like we're so obsessed with celebrities in our in our culture, but that starts to creep into the church, doesn't it? 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:14.400 We just typically like to disguise it as prayer requests, don't we? 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.799 You know, but it's actually just gossip. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:22.640 Or we think thoughts like, you know, I can't believe that person. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:27.920 You know, they're in so much sin and it's so evident, and look at all the drama in their life. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:30.880 They should learn to hide it like mine, you know. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:32.880 But it's the truth, isn't it? 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:40.880 This is just saying, don't be a busybody, don't get all caught up in all of the drama and the gossip and all of those different things. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:50.640 Just try to lead a quiet life where you're working with your own hands, where you're abiding in Christ and walking by the Spirit. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:55.119 Now, Paul's been talking about such people, right? 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:57.839 So far, these busybodies, these idle. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:04.079 But for one verse here, he's gonna talk about those that aren't, and he's gonna encourage them. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:05.599 So look at verse 13. 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:13.920 To the rest of you, I'm sorry, uh, but no, but as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:27.839 So he's speaking to the rest of this group that is working hard, that is concerning themselves with their own affairs, and who are actually trying to help those that are truly in need. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:34.319 And he's simply saying, keep doing this and don't get tired of doing good. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:42.400 I had to ask myself, why would Paul put this right in the middle of these other verses? 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:46.240 Seems, at first glance, it seems a little out of context, doesn't it? 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:48.160 And I think I know why. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:56.000 Because idle, busybodies will wear the faithful out and they will drag you down. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:03.839 So he's saying, don't let those people that are living in sin in this way deplete you. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:18.000 You know, I think this is part of why Paul tells them to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle, because these people are gonna wear you out physically and emotionally and spiritually. 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:29.359 Yeah, I could tell you from a leadership standpoint, busybodies and those that are unwilling to work, they create so many extra meetings for leadership. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:36.640 They take up so much of the mental capacity and the physical time of church leadership. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:48.000 Those that spread rumors that aren't true, those that have a disagreement with leadership, and instead of talking to leadership, they just go over to their friends and be like, hey, I'm having this issue. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.359 What do you think about this? 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.000 Oh, yeah. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.920 Well, hey, what do you think about this? 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.240 Hey, what do you think about and the leadership doesn't even know that that's going on? 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:09.599 This can cause so much turmoil and extra time and depletion of leadership. 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:21.679 Because that can start leading to people taking sides, this can lead to divisions among different people, this can lead to church splits eventually. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:29.519 And sometimes this all happens even before the church leadership knows that that person's taking issue with whatever it might be. 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:33.760 Or maybe that person did meet with leadership. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:53.599 Great, good job, great way to start, but they still disagree with something, so they intentionally go to others and try and form a coalition, thinking, you know, if enough people are on my side, if I can get just enough people riled up, maybe the leadership will change their stance and they're gonna start doing things the way that I want them to do. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:58.960 I just want to encourage you, as I have before, I've said this so many times. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.599 If you have an issue, please come talk to us. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.599 Please just come talk to us. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:09.280 I would say 90% of the time, you're gonna walk away realizing that you had nothing to worry about. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:16.239 I think the other 10% of the time, at least you'll have a better understanding of whatever it is we're talking about. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:24.639 Or maybe you'll bring something up that the leadership wasn't even aware of that does need further discussion. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:27.679 Either way, just come talk to us first. 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:36.480 But please, instead of talking with anybody else first, because what happens is you're like, hey, I'm not I'm not really good with this. 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.559 Like, what do you think about this? 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.239 And they weren't even thinking about it. 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:45.119 And they're like, Yeah, absolutely, we should be up in arms about this or whatever. 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:46.960 Just come talk to us. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:51.119 You know, I've been in vocational ministry for almost 20 years now. 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:53.440 I've never bitten anybody before. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:57.280 So we don't buy you could talk to the other elders too. 00:35:57.360 --> 00:35:58.320 I don't think they have either. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:00.239 You can ask them after service, though. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.320 But we really try to be open. 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.679 We want to hear what's going on. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:05.840 If you have issues, just come talk to us. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.960 We would love to sit down and chat with you about those things. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.519 All right, look at verse 14. 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:14.960 Paul's going back to the rebellious after talking to the faithful. 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:20.880 He says, if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person. 00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:26.000 Don't associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:42.159 Now, I believe here, Paul is done specifically talking about the idol and is now talking about anyone that is rebellious against all of Paul's writings and all of what Paul has taught them when he was actually with them. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:46.079 And again, he says, do not associate with them. 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:50.239 This is another way to not grow weary in doing good. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:53.199 Just don't let those people deplete you. 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:57.119 Because if you don't associate with them, they can't drag you down. 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:03.199 But straight up right here, he says, so that they may be ashamed. 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:06.480 That's really the intention of doing this. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.639 He goes on in verse 15. 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:15.760 Yet don't consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:19.679 That's a delicate balance, isn't it? 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:25.039 You're to disassociate and avoid in love. 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:32.719 Not despising them for their sin, but lovingly disassociating from them. 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:44.559 Because again, sometimes what we think is loving a person that's living in sin, it's actually enabling them to continue in sin and in laziness. 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:48.559 So now I want to talk to parents with adult children. 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:52.960 If your kids need help and you're able to help, go for it. 00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:55.199 That's awesome, that's wonderful. 00:37:55.440 --> 00:38:06.559 But if you're enabling idleness and laziness because they aren't willing to work, when they are able to work, take heed of God's word here. 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:15.760 Otherwise, you're just enabling them to sin more easily and in a more comfortable environment by providing for them in this way. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:20.320 So it's saying, Don't hate the person and revile them. 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:23.440 Continue in love, but don't support them. 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:29.679 Don't let them pull you down so that you end up growing weary of doing good. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:35.920 So after this last bit of instruction and admonition, Paul closes here in verse 16. 00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:42.960 He says, May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:45.119