Timeless Truth for a Troubled Church

TIMELESS TRUTH FOR A TROUBLED CHURCH

COMMANDS FOR A PURE CHURCH #5

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

I.WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO ARE DISORDELY IN THEIR WALK

A. The exhortation for the pew

B. The example from the pulpit

II. WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO ARE DEFICIENT IN THEIR WORK

A. The exhortation concerning work

B.The exhortation concerning withholding

C.The exhortation concerning well-doing

III.WATCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WORD

A.Admonishment that is demanded

B. Attitude that is desired

It's rather interesting subject when you to come to the conclusion of this book which has dealt with some of the great prophetic themes of the Bible, and find in the concluding verses, discovering that Paul he talks about the matter of lazy Christians.Paul has given us some of the greatest prophetic passages in all the Bible. He’s dealt with the rapture. He’s dealt with the return of Christ as He comes to judge the earth and establish His millennial kingdom. He’s dealt with the rise, rebellion, and ruin of the antichrist.

I would have expected a grand and glorious finish to the book. I would have looked for him to finish with awe-inspiring, soul-thrilling truths, but that’s not what we get in these verses. What we get in these verses, for the most part, is a strong and unapologetic rebuke of laziness.

Some members of the assembly had misinterpreted Paul's teachings about the return of Christ, left their jobs and were living off the generosity of the church. They were idle while others were working. Yet they expected the church to support them.

Misinterpretations and misapplications of the truths of God's Word can cause endless trouble. Any teaching that encourages us to disobey another divine teaching is not Bible teaching.

The purpose of Bible prophecy is not for us to make a calendar but to build character.

Paul issues three commands for a church that wants to be pure.

I.WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO ARE DISORDELY IN THEIR WALK (6-9)

“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. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”

Though it may seem divisive and contrary of the unity of the Body of Christ, there are times when as believers we must withdraw fellowship from another believer in Christ.

Withdrawal of fellowship is an effective way of letting someone know that their conduct is unacceptable.

A. The exhortation for the pew

“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 thetradition which he received of us.”

1.The command for withdrawal

This is a "command," and not a suggestion. Paul is not addressing a debatable issue. It is a divine command.

Paul uses this powerful word “command”and it means "a military order handed down from a superior officer." Paul considered the church to be like an army, and if the army does not obey the orders, there can be no order.

2. The cause for the withdrawal

I want you to withdrawal yourself, keep aloof from every brother who walks disorderly. “Disordely” is a military term, and it means you're out of rank, out of line, out of order. God is a God of order; He is not the author of confusion.

3. The criteria for the withdrawal

“not after the tradition which he received of us” - A "tradition" is something handed down. "Tradition" here means the oral and written teaching the gospel team passed down to the Thessalonians.

B.The example from the pulpit

“For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”

Before actually naming the specifics of the case, Paul leads up to it byreminding them of how he and his fellow colleagues had behaved while they were withthem.

Paul and his associates had not taken any support from the infant church. Instead, they had set the example of meeting their own needs and also helping to meet the needs of others. "You ought to imitate us," he admonished his readers.

Paul is saying, “While I was among you, I earned my own living and worked in order to provide the necessities of my life. I would not be dependent on you. I paid my own way. I provided my own food. Now I have set you an example. You should be providing for your own things. You should not be living at the expense of others.”

Here is a proper Christian standard; however, some have adopted the philosophy that the world owes them a living. This is not found in the Bible. The attitude of the Bible is just the opposite. The attitude of the Bible is that the world owes the Christian nothing, but the Christian owes the world something. We have something to give to the world.

1. Paul’s practice

Paul was a bi-vocational preacher. He had a trade. He was a tentmaker by trade. The churches Paul started for the most part were small churches. Although he could have demanded and be entitled for support from them, Paul didn't take it because the churches were young.

The Thessalonians were brand new Christians saved out of paganism with little understanding of Christian values so Paul waved his rights of financial support from the church there.

The Philippian church sent money to Paul while he was in Thessalonica. Paul did receive financial help from others but not from the Thessalonians themselves.

2. Paul’s policy – “that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample untoyou to follow us.”

He maintained himself hard manual labor night and day. He worked hard to bring the gospel to the Thessalonians. Paul did not want to be a heavy burdento those believers at Thessalonians. He did not want to load them down with an unnecessary financial burden. He was not a parasite on the Thessalonian church although he had every right to receive support from them.

It wasn't that he didn't deserve it, he says that in verse 9. He had a right to it, but it was that he was trying to dignify work. Paul did not use his right be supported by the Thessalonians. He voluntarily surrender that right so that he could dignify work before them.

II. WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO ARE DEFICIENT IN THEIR WORK (10-13)

Now we will look at the particular situation that prompted the command in verse 6.

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

A. The exhortation concerning work

1.Work is respectable.

a.It is of Divine design

I have seen a bumper sticker that says, "Work fascinates me, I can sit and watch it for hours." You've all heard the words, "Thank God it's Friday." I saw one that said, "Hard work may not kill me but why take a chance?"

However, have you ever seen a sign on the back of a speed boat that said, "I'd rather be working?" Have you ever heard anyone say, "Thank God it's Monday?"

We really do have a warped perspective on the matter of work.

Work is God ordained. Work was not the result of the fall; God created man to work. God did not design man to be idle. Before Adam ever sinned, God provided a job for him do.

Labor was a part of man's life before sin entered the scene. God gave Adam the job of dressing and guarding the Garden. Though sin turned labor into almost hopeless toil, work must never be thought of as a result of sin.

Work wasn't initiated by the Fall; it was just cursed. It became a burden. Just like women having pain in child bearing, there would have been children prior to the Fall; there would have been children. but there wouldn't have been any pain in having them. The Fall didn't introduce child bearing; it just brought the pain into it.

There was work before the Fall; the Fall didn't introduce work; it just brought the pain to it.

We make a lot about the command in Exodus 20 but very often forget to emphasize the main point. You remember the command? It goes like this, "Six days shalt thoul labor, and do all thy work, But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work." We like to emphasize the Sabbath. Rarely do you hear anybody say anything about the sixth days of work. We talk about a fiveday work week in America and some people talk about a fourday work week. God talks about a sixday work week.

Six days you are to labor. God designs for man to work. We can't have a low view of work if God has such a high view of it.

You should not have a low view of work when you understand that it is a gift from God and that it is a command of God.

b. It is of Divine demonstration

Work is respectable because repeatedly in Genesis 1 we read where “God made” and “God created.” Do you know what this Divine activity is called? See Genesis 2:2!

When God came into this world in the person of Jesus Christ, it is mentioned several times about His working, and at the end of the His earthly ministry it is said that He had finished the work which the Father gave him to do.

2. Work is a responsibility (12)

“Now…... we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

a. Industry is demanded

Have you noticed that God called people who were busy at work?

Moses was caring for sheep. Joshua was Moses' servant before he became Moses' successor. Gideon was threshing wheat when God called him, and David was caring for his father's sheep. Our Lord called four fishermen to serve as His disciples, and He Himself had worked as a carpenter.

There is a legend at Harvard that the late Le Baron Russell Briggs, beloved dean of the College once asked a student why he had failed to complete an assignment.

"I wasn't feeling very well, sir," said the student.

"Mr. Smith," said theDean, "I think that in time you may perhaps find that most of the work of the world is done by people who aren't feeling very well."

b. Independency is desired – “eat their own bread.”

The believer is not to be on the lookout for a handout; he is not to sponge off others. He is roll up his sleeves and get to work.

Do not expect someone else to feed you. Pay your own way.

B. The exhortation concerning withholding

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

Though there is much hungry in the world today, there is onegroup that should go hungry. It is the group of those who refuse to work.

Paul recognized the fact that some people could not work, perhaps because of physical disabilities. This is why he phrased the statement as he did,"if any man wouldnot work." It was not a question of ability but willingness. When a believer cannot work, and is in need, it is the privilege and duty of the church to help him.

IT IS NOT A LACK OF CHARITY TO WITHHOLD FOOD FROM THOSE WHO WOULD NOT WORK.

The Scriptures make it very clear here that laziness should never be a partof a Christian's life. A Christian should not be a lazy individual.

1. The principle asserted –“would not work, neither should he eat”

Many people today do not think in terms of principle. Here was a simple principle for getting folks to work. If you will not work, then you will not eat!

Work is God’s anti-poverty program.

Jockey who used to say to his horse before every race:

“Roses are red

Violets are blue

Horses that won’t run are made into glue.”

2. The problems avoided – “working not at all, but are busybodies.”

The very fact that some were idle led to all sorts of problems. Idleness is fertile ground in which the devil can sow seeds. Idleness is the Devil’s workshop.

"Busybodies" carries the idea of not minding one's own business. Literally, it means to be working around with the idea of meddling in other people's business. They are not busy in their own business, and so they are busy in the business of others.

People with too much time on their hands usually get into some type of wickedness. Idleness is the parent of all vice.

See Ephesians 4:28. Paul puts working up against stealing. Stealing is the outcome of a failure to work. Much of our crime today is born out of idleness….a result of failure to work.

By doing nothing men will soon practice evil.

The Jewish rabbis taught, “He who does not teach his son a trade, teaches him to be a thief.”

C.The exhortation concerning well-doing (13)

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”.

Faithful Christians can become discouraged by the conduct of other saints who are not doing right (in this care refusing to work).

The temptation when we see others who are not doing the right thing is to say, “What is the use? I am trying to do the right thing and no one else is. I think I will quit.”

So Paul said, “Be not weary in well doing.” Keep on being faithful in the task God has given you.

III.WATCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WORD (14,15)

“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. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Paul now gives advice concerning fellowship with those who are disobedient to the Word of God. He anticipates that there might be some who simply would not submit to the authority of the Word God.

A.Admonishment that is demanded

“note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed”

Paul had already taken the first step towards the unruly (I Thessalonians 5:14). If they persist, Paul gives the second step.

Now Paul says, "Mark that person.” Keep your eye on that person for the purpose of not associating with him. Watch him so that you can avoid him. Stay away from him. Withdraw your fellowship.

For obedient saints of God to treat disobedient saints with the same friendship they show to other dedicated saints is to give approval to their sins.

This verse teaches us that we should not pick as our associates and friends those who despise and disobey the Word of God.

B. Attitude that is desired

“Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother”

What should be our attitude? Actions should be with right attitude or spirit.You can do right with a wrong attitude.

Don't treat him yet like a tax collector or a heathen; don't treat him like an enemy. He is still in the family of God. Treat him with love like you would a brother. Treat him with affection like you would a brother or sister.

Be careful with your actions.

1. Admonish him with a friendly attitude

We are not to regard carnal believers as non-believers or enemies.

2.Admonish him with a family attitude

Admonish the erring one as a relative and not as adversary. The purpose of the admonition and the absence is restore fellowship.

Conclusion

Paul closes this epistle with a prayer for peace.Paul started this chapter by commanding the Thessalonian believers to pray for him, and now he prays for them.

In these three verses, there are three things for which he prays. He is praying about the unseen resources that every Christian has to help him deal with every problem that comes along the way.

He prays about the Lord’s peace.

"I'm glad," testified a man, "that I've got peace with God. I've taken the Lord as my Savior." "

“But I've got something better than that,"answered his friend. "I've got the peace of God."

"But I've got something better still," said another. "I've got the God of peace." Do you have Him?

He prays about the Lord’s presence. Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of the Lord inthe trouble.

He prays about the Lord’s provision. God’s grace is sufficient. His grace is sufficient to save; to satisfy; to strengthen; and to sustain.

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