6/28/2018 12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold 3 them in the highest g regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil. 23May God p, himself,, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 7 charge g y you before the Lord to 27I have this letter read to all the brothers. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1
Nothing CONTRIBUTES MORE to a FULFILLING LIFE, and an EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN WITNESS, than a POSITIVE SPIRIT TOWARD LIFE! Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever is TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE, EXCELLENT, or PRAISE WORTHY, think about THESE THINGS. Solomon said, As a man THINKS IN HIS HEART, so IS HE. DEVELOP A POSITIVE SPIRIT TOWARD CHURCH LEADERS OTHER BELIEVERS CIRCUMSTANCES 1 Thessalonians 5:12, RESPECT THOSE who WORK HARD AMONG YOU, who are OVER YOU in The Lord. 2
a.) It goes CONTRARY to the SPIRIT of THIS AGE to RESPECT ANYONE! b.) It s DIFFICULT to RESPECT SPIRITUAL LEADERS, because so MANY SPIRITUAL LEADERS have VIOLATED that TRUST. c.) It s DIFFICULT to RESPECT LEADERS because they are SOMETIMES S the VERY SAME PEOPLE who CORRECT you, and ADMONISH you! d.) Many of YOU are LEADERS in OTHER FIELDS. Hebrews 13:17, OBEY your LEADERS, and SUBMIT to THEIR AUTHORITY. They KEEP WATCH OVER YOU, as men who MUST give an ACCOUNT. Obey them, so there WORK will be a JOY, not a BURDEN. When we have a POSITIVE SPIRIT toward CHURCH LEADERSHIP it CREATES HARMONY and it ENCOURAGES those who HOLD the OFFICE! 3
2.) Paul urges a POSITIVE SPIRIT toward OTHER BELIEVERS! 1 Thessalonians 5:14 15, And we URGE you, brothers, WARN those who are IDLE, and ENCOURAGE the TIMID, HELP the WEAK, be PATIENT with EVERYONE. Make sure that NOBODY pays back WRONG for WRONG, but always try to be KIND to each other, and to EVERYONE else! PAUL says, Some in that day had WEAK CONSCIENCES, and they felt that it was WRONG to EAT MEAT that had been SACRIFICED to PAGAN IDOLS. PAUL says, You HELP those who are WEAK, and make sure NOBODY in the church PAYS BACK WRONG for WRONG! CHRISTIANS ought to be DEMONSTRATING KINDNESS to the WORLD, not IMITATING the WORLD S MEAN SPIRIT! BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER! 4
The Bible says, LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU! Colossians 3:12, As God s CHOSEN PEOPLE, clothe yourselves with COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, and PATIENCE. Bear with each other; FORGIVE whatever GRIEVANCES you might have TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, and over ALL these VIRTUES, put on LOVE, which BINDS them all TOGETHER, in PERFECT UNITY, and let the PEACE of CHRIST, rule in your HEARTS, and let the WORD of CHRIST, DWELL in you, RICHLY! DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU! 5
It would be AMAZING how we could INFLUENCE OTHERS FOR CHRIST, if we would just TREAT PEOPLE NICELY! 2.) Paul urges a POSITIVE SPIRIT toward OTHER BELIEVERS! 3.) Have a POSITIVE SPIRIT in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES! 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Be JOYFUL ALWAYS! Pray CONTINUALLY! Give THANKS in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is the WILL of GOD, in CHRIST JESUS, for you! Philippians 4:11, I have LEARNED to be CONTENT in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, whether WELL FED or HUNGRY; whether h I have LITTLE or I have MUCH! I can DO ALL THINGS through HIM Who gives me STRENGTH! SUFFERING is INEVITABLE, but MISERY is OPTIONAL 6
6/28/2018 Your PROBLEMS are not your CIRCUMSTANCES, CIRCUMSTANCES but rather your ATTITUDE! 1 Thessalonians 5:19 5:19 20, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 5:21 22, Do not PUT OUT the SPIRIT S S R S FIRE! R! Do o not ot TREAT PROPHECIES with CONTEMPT! Hold ON to the GOOD! O eve every y KIND of o EVIL!! AVOID You MEANT IT for EVIL EVIL,, but God MEANT IT ffor GOOD! GOOD! 7
If THIS GUY with NO LEGS, and NO EYESIGHT, can be GRATEFUL, so can YOU!! I ve LEARNED to be CONTENT in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE; I can do ALL THINGS, through CHRIST, Who STRENGTHENS me!! SUFFERING is INEVITABLE, but MISERY is YOUR CHOICE! PAUL says, BE JOYFUL, ALWAYS! GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this IS the WILL of God, in CHRIST JESUS, for you! 8