BE ENCOURAGED AND COMFORTED AND LIVE WORTHY OF GOD

Proclamation:

“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.”  1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  Paul offers an account of his ministry among them and describes the nature, manner, and success of it. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6)  He also mentions how he treated them when he was with them. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-10)  He said that he encouraged them, comforted them, and urged them to live worthy of God.  Then he said that he thanked God that they received the gospel as The Word of God and that they also began to spread The Word. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14)  He ended the second chapter of his letter by stating that he wanted to visit them but Satan had prevented that from happening. (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Applications:

As believers we should cling closely to The Lord God.  We should seek comfort in, and be encouraged by His Holy Word.  We should also be committed to live a life which would be pleasing to God.  We should treat one another and speak to one another with loving kindness.  We should build each other up and not tear each other down.  When we point out errors or shortcomings, we should do so with caring constructive corrections and it should be done out of love for one another.  We should walk worthy and we should encourage others to also walk worthy. (Ephesians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:12)  We have the power to do so, we just need to exercise the commitment and do it. (John 1:12)  We should do it willingly, joyfully, and carefully.

BELIEVERS NEED SELF-DISCIPLINE

Proclamation:

“Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the crown.”  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul begins this chapter by talking about his rights as an apostle.  He provides a justification for them using worldly and Biblical examples to support his claim. (1 Corinthians 9:1-12)  Then he goes on to say that he did not use or claim that which is rightfully his. (1 Corinthians 9:13-18)   He ends by describing the need for self-discipline among believers, apostles, and preachers, including himself.  He states that we ought to run our race in such a way as to make sure that we get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24)  For the prize which we seek is an eternal crown.

Application:

In an athletic race event, there is only one winner.  Athletes must train and practice and make sacrifices to prepare for the race in order to win the prize.  However, in our spiritual race all of us can be winners and get the prize.  We must also work and make sacrifices in order to get our prize.  We must walk His way (Psalm 128:1) and exercise faith and self-control. (Hebrews 11:6)  If we live by The Word of God and follow His way, we will all receive a crown as our reward.  Our salvation is not our reward; our salvation is a gift from God for those who believe in Christ.  Our rewards will be based upon the work we do during this life which gives God glory.  One day we will receive our crowns. (2 Timothy 4:8 and James 1:12)

DON'T LET PAST SINS HOLD YOU BACK

Proclamation:

“At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is The Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?  And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’  Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is The Messiah.” Acts 9:20-22 (NIV)

Explanation:

During his past life, before being converted on the road to Damascus, Saul had persecuted Christian men and women.  He even entered their homes, hauled them out, and committed them to prison. (Acts s 8:3)  He was so bad to the believers that it was hard for the people to accept him as a preacher of the gospel.  But as bad as he was, God was able to change him and use him. (Acts 9:20-22)  Saul was his name as a Hebrew; Paul was his name as a citizen of Rome. (Acts 13:9)  Paul not only preached the gospel, he organized several churches while on his various missionary journeys.  Additionally, thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the new testament of The Bible were written by the apostle Paul. 

Application:
Has your pre-Christian past ever been an embarrassment to you?  When you meet your old friends are they shocked at the new Christian you?  Do you feel that you were so bad in the past that God would not use you to spread His Word or build His kingdom on earth?  If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then remember the apostle Paul.  He went from persecuting Christians to preaching the gospel.  Don't let your past sins, for which you have been forgiven by God, get in the way of your present work for The Lord.  Let go of your past and let God use you now and in the future.  God has forgiven you.  All of us have sinned. (Roman 3:23)  We have all done things which were not Christ-like.  After we ask God to forgive us, we need to forgive ourselves and move on.  God has a plan for each of us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

WE SHOULD GIVE GOD OUR BEST EFFORT

Proclamation:

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, the son of King David, wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, to avoid just going through life relying on human wisdom and doing just enough to get by.  He encouraged them to do their best at whatever they do.

Application:

I was taught that a person should do their very best to be the best at whatever they do.  The Bible teaches us that we should do our best at whatever we do and that we should work as if what we are doing is for The Lord. (Colossians 3:23)  We are also taught that we should get busy and not procrastinate because this life is short and it will soon be over. (John 9:4)  Whatever we do, and in all that we do, we should do our best to do it to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Nothing that we do should be done in a half-hearted manner.  Everything that we do should be done to the best of our ability.  Anything that is worth doing, is worth doing right, and it is worthy of our best effort.  We are working for The Lord God and He deserves our best effort.

DO YOUR BEST AT WHATEVER YOU DO

Proclamation:

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) the son of King David, wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, to avoid just going through life relying on human wisdom and doing just enough to get by.  He encouraged them to do their very best at whatever they do.

Application:

I was taught that one should do their very best to be the best at whatever it is that they do.  The Bible teaches us that we should do our best, and that we should work as if what we are doing is for The Lord. (Colossians 3:23)  We are also taught that we should get busy and not procrastinate because this life is short. (John 9:4)  Whatever we do, and in all that we do, we should do our best to do it to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Nothing that we do should be done in a half-hearted manner.  Every thing that we do should be done to the best of our ability.  “Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right.” (Author unknown)  If it is worth doing then it is worthy of our best effort.  This life is short.  When we come to the end of this life and look back over our life, it will be much more rewarding and enjoyable when we have done the best that we could do in all that we have done.  We should do our best so that God will be glorified in our efforts.

WE SHOULD ALWAYS DO OUR BEST

Proclamation:

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words of wisdom were written by King Solomon.  He was urging the people of God to do their very best whenever they work and in everything that they do, while they have the opportunity because death is coming.  After they die, they will not be able to do anything, or plan anything, or think anything, or know anything. 

Application:
Jesus, The Christ, said "I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." (John 9:4)  Jesus knew that He had to be serious about doing His Father's work while He was here on earth, because He knew that His days were numbered.  The same is true for each one of us, our time on earth is limited.  Jesus was all about doing His Father's work even as a child. (Luke 2:49)  We need to work as if all that we are doing is for Him. (Colossians 3:17 and 3:23)  We should do our very best when we work, at whatever we do, because we are, in fact, working for The Lord. (Romans 12:11)  This life is not a dress rehearsal, we need to get it right while we are alive, because there will not be a second chance to get it right after we die.  For after death, then comes the judgment.  That is when we all want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21 and 23)  

GOD CAN USE US WHERE WE ARE

Proclamation:

"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that The Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ... Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him."  1 Corinthians 7:17 and 20 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul began this chapter to the believers in Corinth with a discussion on being married versus being single.  However, he also discussed being circumcised versus uncircumcised and being a slave versus being free.  His point was, with respect to God's call on their life, they should stay in the situation that they were in when God called them, and focus on what God has for them to do and not focus on their situation.

Application:

God can use us, wherever we are in life, regardless of our status, station, or situation.  What is important to God is our focus being on Him and our behavior, not our employment status, marital status, our health status, or economic status.  God has a purpose for each of us, and it is important that we bloom where He has planted us. (2 Corinthians 5:5 and Philippians 2:13)  God has blessed us to be in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and He will work it for our good. (Roman 8:28)  We need to appreciate wherever we are planted and count it all as joy. (James 1:2)  Whatever we do, we should do it to the best of our ability. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)  For whatever it is that we do, it should be done to the glory of God, because it is for Him that we are working. (1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23)  

Do Not Complain

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ..."  Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Philippi to encourage them to continue to obey The Word of God, but to do so without complaining or a negative attitude.  As the people of God they were to be godly examples to a wicked and depraved world.

We need to understand that if we do the right thing, but we grumble and complain while doing it, God is not pleased.  Our negative attitude displays an emotional rejection of God's providence and His will.  God knows our thoughts, motives, and intentions. (Psalms 94:11)  The Bible teaches us that God loves a "cheerful giver". (2 Corinthians 9:7)  We are to be the light of the world. (Matthew 5:16)  Whatever the activity or situation, it is the will of God for us at that time and we should accept His will joyfully. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 and James 1:2-4)  All things happen for a reason, and even if we do not understand why at that time, they will eventually work for our benefit. (Romans 8:28)  So, whatever we do, let us do it without complaining, and do it to the glory of God. (Colossians 3:23)

We Are Working For God And We Should Do Our Best

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, the son of King David, wrote these under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, to avoid just going through life relying on human wisdom and doing just enough to get by.  He encouraged them to do their very best at whatever they do.

I was taught that one should do their very best to be the best at whatever.  The Bible teaches us that we should do our best, and that we should work as if what we are doing is for The Lord (Colossians 3:23)  We are also taught that we should get busy and not procrastinate because this life is short. (John 9:4)  Whatever we do, and in all that we do, we should do our best to do it to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Nothing that we do should be done in a half-hearted manner, it should be done to the best of our ability.  Anything that is worth doing, is worth doing right, and it is worthy of our best effort.