Well may it please God to bless
us together this evening as we continue our meditation in the
first epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians and chapter 5 and
tonight we'll read verses 14 and 15. So the first epistle of Paul
to the Thessalonians chapter 5 reading verses 14 and 15. Now we exhort you brethren warn
them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the
weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for
evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among
yourselves and to all men. So the Apostle in these verses
continues that which we've already meditated on in the earlier verses
in this chapter. And how necessary and how instructive
they are to the Church of God. To follow the exhortation that
the Apostle gives to the Thessalonians and of course the Word of God
gives to us today. So really in these two verses
the Apostle exhorts them in four ways. First of all, he warns
the unruly. Secondly, the comfort necessary
to the feeble-minded. Thirdly, supporting the weak. Fourthly, to be patient to all
men. And then he goes on to tell the
church, do not render evil for evil. And finally, follow that
which is good. Well, they're gracious words
and they're words that all of us need to remember and recognize
that they have an application to those who preach the gospel,
as we said last week, but also they have an application to the
whole Church of God. And how good it is if, as you
and I, walk in the world and bear the privilege of the Christian
walk that we may recognize the great truth of God as he speaks
to us. And so as he commences and says,
now we exhort you brethren. It wasn't just a very small or
we might say insipid comment. It's something which he really
wanted the brethren to listen to and to work out and to follow. And such words are no less appropriate
and applicable as they were then as they are today. And so he
comes and he tells us to warn them that are unruly. And again we should remember
that we do all things amiss unless we do all things in love. That really is the golden rule
that the Church of God is to operate under. And so here we
have this statement, they exhaust us to warn them that are unruly. That really means those that
walk contrary to the Word of God, that don't follow the truth
of God and they are unruly and walk in a wrong direction. And
as such, these should be warned that this is not the right way,
but this is the wrong way. And again, how needful it is
that we receive grace to speak in a right understanding and
in love to those that we address if we think they are walking
unruly. And of course, we must always,
first of all, examine ourselves to see whether it applies to
us, whether we're walking in an unruly way. And then he says,
and comfort the feeble-minded, those perhaps who are timid,
those who aren't very brave, you might say. And we're not
to speak against them, but we are to, as it were, come alongside
them and comfort them and encourage them. You see, these things perhaps
are not that which we naturally do, but here we have this gracious
word that you and I are to comfort the feeble-minded. We're thankful,
surely, when God comes and comforts us. How encouraging that is. And so here we have this gracious
exhortation to come and to comfort the feeble-minded. And then he
says, to support the weak, those who aren't strong at all, are
weak and perhaps tempted, tempted to walk out of the way, tempted
to be taken up with the poor things of this world because
their faith is weak. We need to therefore support
them. Gracious words, aren't they?
Many things here in these few statements for the Church of
God to take on board, and realise the relevance of them. And not
to stand away and think it doesn't matter. We are to come up. We
are to comfort the feeble-minded. We are to warn the unruly. We
are to support the weak. And then he says, be patient
toward all men. Again, sometimes we find that
people irritate us. They do things which we're not
happy with. And we wish they would change
their ways and come in line as we think would be far superior. But the Word of God here tells
us to be patient toward all men. It doesn't just say the people
of God. We should always note that it's
to all men. All those that we come in contact
with and have to deal with. Sometimes we might feel impatient,
but we are to be patient. let us remember how gracious
and patient God is toward us, how often we are unruly, how
often we don't do those things which are right. Perhaps the
Lord reminds us many times and we still walk contrary to our
God and God is still kind and loving and patient toward us. And so here we have this statement
here tonight, be patient toward all men. I do want us to notice
exactly what it says, all men. Those that we meet with, those
that pass the chapel door, those that come in amongst us. Yes,
we are to be patient toward them. And then he says, now see that
none render Evil for evil. Yes, we're not to do that. And the Apostle, when he wrote
to the Romans, said very similar words. He said, dearly beloved,
avenge not yourself. Again, our nature sometimes works
in that way that we think, well, I must put that person right
and I know what I'm going to do. And what it means is we're
really avenging ourselves. And what are we doing? We're
rendering evil for evil. Again, come back to the glorious
and blessed example of Christ. If we want any encouragement
how to walk our life, we only have to look at the blessed example
of the Saviour. And remember, the opposition
that he had all through his life, And yet he didn't render evil
for evil. And again, the statement is comprehensive. It says, unto any man, no matter
how bad the evil might be, we're not to render evil for evil. And then finally, the apostle
says, but ever, that means always, follow that which is good. He
says, both among yourselves, which is right and proper. Remember,
he's addressing the church at Thessalonia. But also, again,
he says, to all men. Wonderful words, aren't they,
really? And as we look at ourselves, probably we realize we come very
far short in following the gracious words of the Lord. Sometimes
we almost seem as though we haven't read the words. But here we have
a very clear statement, but ever follow, ever, always, always
follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. And that really follows on the
words that we read together in that chapter, that sixth chapter
in the Galatians, where we read, and ye have therefore opportunity. Whenever an opportunity presents
itself, not to turn away. Remember the good Samaritan. Remember those who turned away.
Yes, the Leviathan, the priest, they didn't want to get involved.
There was an opportunity to help. They passed by on the other side.
But the Samaritan came where that man was and did all that
he could. And so here we have this statement.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good. unto all men,
and especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
What a wonderful word of instruction that is to us. Again, sometimes
we think, oh, well, I don't need to get involved with that person.
Well, that's not the way the Scripture speaks to all men. And it's good, therefore, if
we remember this and desire to walk in that way, And so, as
I read this 6th chapter to the Galatians, those first few verses
are very appropriate to what we are talking about tonight.
He tells us, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which
are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness,
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. By the grace
of God, we are what we are. It's not because we're any better.
It's because of God's grace. And then he goes on, bear ye
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to
be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let
every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing
in himself alone. and not in another. For every man shall bear his
own burden. Well, we could go on and go through
that whole chapter. It's a very instructive chapter,
as indeed this one is, that we've read here, or these verses we've
read tonight. Well, we should be thankful that
God, in His love to His Church, directs us how we should live
our life. This is the example for us. This is laid down for our encouragement. We shouldn't turn away from it.
Be sure of this. To follow the exhortations in
the Word of God is always costly. It always involves sacrifice. Let us never forget that. But
let us realise what a privilege it is to be a true follower. the Lord and a true follower
of the words which are recorded in his word. So therefore let
us heed these words. Now we exhort you brethren, warn
them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the
weak, be patient toward all men, see that none render evil for
evil unto any man But ever follow that which is good, both among
yourselves and to all men.