God’s Commands for Living Our Lives

Transcript

GRM 719
1/28/2001
God's Commands for Living Our Lives
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
Gil Rugh

I want to direct your attention to the book of I Thessalonians and chapter 5. I was thinking about our ministry together as a Body and I was drawn to this closing portion of I Thessalonians 5. You know often the closing portions of the New Testament letters seem to have just a series of brief comments, maybe some personal greetings of comments and they close. But there is a richness included in these areas as well as the Holy Spirit has inspired every word that has been recorded. These are here for our encouragement and growth and understanding.

I Thessalonians is usually viewed as one of the early letters of the New Testament. Written to the church at Thessalonica as is the second letter to the Thessalonians. As he concludes this letter Paul gives a series of commands. There's quite a list of commands given here. I just want to highlight some of them. In verses 12 and 13 he talked about the responsibility of the church to its leaders. A proper, healthy attitude toward the leaders that God has appointed and given oversight of the ministry and the honor that is theirs because of their service. We as a board of elders in this church can testify that we appreciate His grace in your lives as you support our leadership and encourage us in the ministry of oversight that God has entrusted to the elders.

Then in verses 14 and following he gives a series of exhortations that really run almost to the close of the letter. Most of these are given as commands in the present tense. It means these are something that God commands us to be doing as His people and the present tense usually means that they are continuing ongoing responsibilities. These are things that are to characterize our lives and our ministry together. They are not one-time events but as we serve the Lord together as the church at Thessalonica served the Lord. There were things that would be an ongoing part of their ministry together and the responsibility that God had placed upon them as His people and His church in that place.

We see as we work through some of these commands that our ministry together is to be balanced by a sensitivity to one another. In other words, there is to be an awareness that each one is in a little different situation, the needs of each one vary from time to time and the kind of ministry that needs to take place to different ones varies. So, there is to be that kind, if you will, of sensitivity to individual situations and needs. These commands address those kinds of situations. The commands are addressed to brethren in verse 14. "We urge you, brethren." He is addressing them as fellow believers. These are those who have come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. They are not those who have joined the church at Thessalonica. There are those who were born into the church at Thessalonica. Not by physical birth but by spiritual birth. By one spirit we have all been baptized into one Body. So, when a person believes in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior; they are cleansed from their sin and they are spiritually joined to Christ. That is the universal Body of Christ. But the manifestation of that universal Body of Christ is the local church and the thousands of local churches that God has raised up all over the world. That does not mean that every group that carries the name church is truly part of the Body of Christ. Because we must be born into the family of God. We must be born into the spiritual Body of Christ, to be a vital part of the true Church. This local church and other local churches are to be a manifestation being comprised of those who are part of the Body of Christ.

Then he begins the commands, this series of commands, that he is urging upon them as brethren, and it may be a reflection upon some of the situations taking place at Thessalonica that begins with a negative. Admonish the unruly. That word "unruly" means those who are out of order or out of place. It's a military word which would be used of a soldier who was out of step. An army that was moving in disarray, in a disorderly fashion. The Church of Jesus Christ is to have an order about it, and we are to function properly and correctly as God's people. There are occasions that come up where there are people who are not functioning as God says they should. They need to be admonished, confronted. Believers need to come to them and show from Scripture your conduct is out of order. It is not according to what God says is to characterize us as believers. But you see what happens. If the Church does not carry out its responsibility of admonishing pretty soon this person is out of step, this person's out of step, this person's out of step and it becomes like an army. Because then that local congregation becomes characterized by what? Disarray, disorderliness. How can that be a testify to the work of God in their lives? It becomes a ministry of love to admonish those who are out of order because as God's people we experience the fullness of His blessing, His peace, His enabling power when we are walking in obedience and submission to Him. This becomes an act of love as we approach someone and we ought to appreciate that. When we are approached by someone who doesn't believe that our life is what it ought to be. Our first reaction perhaps is to be defensive and perhaps there is a misunderstanding, but we can appreciate that there are those who cared enough that even if they are mistaken what they thought to be true was not true, they cared enough to come and address the issue with us. If there are things that need to be taken care of, then God can use them to help us get into proper order again.

What it was at Thessalonica we are not clearly told but we do know there was a problem of laziness in the church, and some were not carrying out their responsibility of working diligently. Back in chapter 2 Paul gave himself as an example, "You recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so it not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed the gospel to you." Down in chapter 4 verse 11 he says, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, attend to your own business and work with your hands just as we commanded you." So, he gave himself as an example of hard work. He reminds them to concentrate on your responsibility, not be constantly nabbing, if you will, into other people's business. You see a balance. We are to admonish the unruly but that's within the context. I not to make it my life's business to be doing your life's business but to see that I am leading a disciplined, orderly life before the Lord.

At the end of the second letter to the Thessalonians in verse 6 and following, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition you received from us." The tradition you received from us would be what we have recorded now in these letters. "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner.", and verse 11, "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life." They are not working at all. They are becoming busy bodies and so on. The responsibility of admonishing and encouraging; and if there is not a response then the follow through as he deals within his second letter is, you have to separate yourself from that brother. It's not an option just to allow the unruliness to continue. It has to be dealt with and the first line is admonishing, a confrontation and a pointing out in love, in concern, in humility. As Galatians 6 would say with a spirit of meekness. But you understand here it is a command from God. You say well how do I know if I should do it. Well, has God made me aware of unruly, undisciplined, improper conduct in the life of another believer. Well, He did not make me aware of it so I would have something to tell others about. He made me aware of it because He wants to use me in that situation. Perhaps the first thing I do is bring this to the Lord in prayer, praying for that person, and then seeking His will as I seek a proper approach to them.

The second command back in chapter 5 of I Thessalonians. "Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted." There are some believers who go through times of discouragement, become maybe what we call despondent. It seems like their faith is getting very weak and we are human. The Old Testament tells He knows our frame that we are but dust. Sometimes we are concerned with the veneer of being godly people that we try to go on like we're not human and we ought to recognize that there are times when people will go through difficult times. There are discouraging things that come. Someone in the Body is going through a time of pressure and difficulty and trial, discouragement that has them down so to speak. The proper response to that is not to admonish them as you do the unruly but to encourage them. Here it's not rebuke but encouragement. It's easy to say, look, as a believer, you ought not be discouraged. We don't have to be down ever. There is an element of truth in that, but we also recognize in dealing with our children that they go through difficult times, times when at school there's pressures and with friends there's problems and they get down. How do we handle it with them? We try to encourage them. Be understanding. Walk them through it. That's the way we are to do with one another. Someone's going through a discouraging time. I think they are down. I want to look for an opportunity then to become part of their life in a way I can encourage them, lift them up, be a help to them. You note what is indicated in these things is an indication that we are part of one another’s lives. Now that doesn't mean that we know everything about everyone but as the Body functions together, we do become aware of one another and know when some is out of step, know when someone is fainthearted, discouraged and down; and that's a great ministry. The word "to encourage" means to encourage, to cheer up, to console, to comfort. Sometimes it's just the willingness to be there. They know you're there and you care. It means a lot, not just what you say but the action you bring to it. Again, that is a command. These are to be ongoing characteristics of us. It's true of the functioning of the Body that it does admonishing when it has to deal with unruliness. There is a readiness and a willingness and an obedience to be encouraging and comforting the fainthearted.

We are to help the weak, again, another command. The word "help" carries the context of the idea of sympathetic assistance. Here you have a person who is weak, perhaps somebody weak in faith like Romans 14 talks about, I Corinthians 8. They are struggling. Sometimes a person who is weak in the faith struggles with things when they are in the context of other believers who are stronger in the faith and the things that are bothering them and weighing them down become a greater burden because they look around and others around them are not concerned about those things. Romans 14, I Corinthians 8 had to do with foods and things they ate. But there we are talking about the weaker brother and how we are to help them and encourage them.

The context here is he's written the letter to the Thessalonians. It doesn't seem to indicate that the prime concern here is physical weakness but of course that would be included. We say we don't help people who are physically weak, just spiritually weak. What is said here would be true whether it's physical weakness, but I think the point that he is emphasizing here is the weakness in the area of spiritual things. We have to have a proper attitude and a proper willingness. We don't want just to be a Body of strong believers. Don't we all want to be strong? Yes, we do. Well, let's face it. Everybody is at a different stage of growth. Some grow faster than others. We see this in our children. You see some children at a certain age, and you say, my, they are so much more mature for their age. You see others and they haven't matured nearly as fast. They are immature for their age as we would say. Well, in the spiritual family of God we have that too. There are people at all levels and there must be an understanding and appreciation of that. I'm not going to give the idea unless you're this kind of person and at this level of maturity, you won't be comfortable at this church. No, it's a place where the weak will find help and comfort and the discouraged will find those who will come alongside and encourage them. But those who are just leading an unruly life and looking for excuses will be admonished and confronted. You see there is a balance in the functioning of the Body and a sensitivity to being used of God according to the need and the situation.

The next command, one that encompasses all of our action, be patient with all men. We talked about the three kinds of people up to this point: the unruly, the fainthearted and the weak and here we are reminded we have to be patient with everyone and that will sort of overlap going to the commands that we have yet to look at as well. Patience ought to characterize us as believers. We don't give up on one another. We don't wash our hands of one another. They are just too much trouble. Now again you see the balance that's been here. It doesn't mean the unruly can string the Body along so to speak. That's not true biblical patience, that we're just tolerant and do nothing about the unruly person. But by the same token there has to be understanding and patience with those who are weak, fainthearted discouraged. Be patient. A person that's willing to put up with a lot. To put the interest of others before themselves. You know we sometimes will say with our own kids, I'm losing patience. There is a time to say that to our kids so that they understand they've about come to an end, and in the Body there comes a times when we will probably cross over and we may realize the real problem here is unruliness, an undisciplined life, an unwillingness to function. Perhaps they've been trying to hide behind the idea I'm fainthearted. I'm just weak; and it may be that I understand that I need to do some admonishing here in the situation. But there is to be patience. This is one of the characteristics of love. In I Corinthians 13:4, "Love is patient." So that we love one another. How do we put up with one another. God's grace and love in our lives. Since there are no perfect people in this church or any church for that matter it takes patience in dealing with one another. Because we love one another we manifest that love in our dealing with one another and one of the characteristics of our love is patience. How do you put up with each other? Well, we love each other. We look at married couples and we say how do they . . . ? How do they put up with each other? Well, they love each other. So, they put up with things they wouldn't if they didn't love each other. You look at somebody married to somebody else, and you say I don't think I could do it. I'd probably kill him. Well, great. That's fine. You know why? Because God hasn't called me to be married to them. I don't have to have that same kind of relationship in that context. So, it is in the church. God has brought us together. We think they ought not to be any rubs, any hard spots, any difficulties. Well, then we wouldn't have to be commanded to always be patient. Be patient with all men. It's one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. The fruit of the Spirit is patience, and the fruit of the Spirit is love. In this context His love and His patience produced in our lives, and it gives us the ability to put up with one another, to overlook weakness, to overlook failures, to appreciate the work of God in a life. Like we do with our children and the patience there and they are different, and we see it as an unhealthy situation. If all a parent does is compare one child with the other and all they do is tell this child, he ought to be like that child. You say they are two different children. They are in the same family, but they are different. You have to appreciate their differences. They have different strengths and different weaknesses. It's not fair to compare this strength, this one with the weakness of this one, and it's not fair to do it in God's family either. In fact, He commands we ought to be functioning properly, being patient with one another. Thus, that gives us an endurance to help one another.

In this context, "see that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men." You know vengeance and retaliation are natural, human responses. Natural, human responses because we are fallen human beings. The reason I say that I mean they are a natural part of our fallen sin nature. Retaliation, vengeance, wanting some kind of satisfaction. This doesn't always mean, you know, that I want to crush the person, but I want some vindication, some satisfaction when I've been wronged. But here we're told, "See that no one repays evil for evil." It's interesting that the word "see" is another imperative, another present imperative. It could be translated "be on your guard," "be careful." Here's something that believers have to guard against, to watch out for. This is a characteristic of us. Remember it's a command to be always true of us. I have to be careful. There are going to be wrongs done in the Body. I have wronged people in this people. I've done things I know that have offended them. Others have done things to others that offended. If we are going to function like the world we don't forget. One characteristic of love is it doesn't keep a ledger and yet we sometimes forget because there is a certain satisfaction in rolling over the wrongs that have been done. You know the more you roll over that wrong, the more it eats away at you. Use the marriage relationship again, you begin to focus on something your partner did that you don't like or that was offensive or that maybe was a serious wrong, the more you roll that over it gives you certain pleasure to think about it but the more it eats away at you. We get consumed by it. We have to be careful of that in the church, so we begin to look for ways to strike out. We have to cover it up because we have to keep a veneer of godliness in our dealings. We want to look spiritual, but if that veneer were pulled back, in our hearts there is vengeance. We have a sense of having been wronged and we want it right and I want justice. I want vindication. "Well see that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men." He's concerned about our relationship as believers and then he puts that first for one another, but of course this will be true for all men because sometimes the wrongs believers experience particularly the Thessalonians experienced persecution would come from unbelievers persecuting them. You note here it's not enough not to do the wrong thing. They wronged me and I haven't done anything. But that's not enough. I not only have to not do the wrong thing in responding, but I also have to do the right thing in responding and seek the good of these people. Now when you stop and think about it this makes the Body function perfectly. If Marilyn is always concerned only with doing good for me and doesn't take into consideration any of the wrongs, I do to her and is not looking for me to have to make them right or pay the penalty for what I've done, all she's concerned about is the good she can do for me, that goes a long way to smoothing out our relationship. I mean, she's not going to have any trouble with me because she's never concerned, I do anything wrong. If I function the same way with her, boy, that would be an ideal relationship, wouldn't it? You noticed I said, "that would be." Because she doesn't always do that perfectly and you know me well enough to know the problem she lives with so.

In the Body that's the way it is. You know, we think these things . . . but think how smoothed out the Body would be. No one here ever considers that anything is ever done wrong to them and all I'm concerned about is the good I can do for you. Well, all of a sudden, things are on a smooth keel. Aren't you bothered by that? Doesn't that gnaw at you for what they did? You know you were really slighted. In fact, what they did to you was more than a slight. That was an offense. What was that? Don't you remember? Tell me again what they did to me. Why? Because I'm not even keeping a record of it. It's not even something that belongs there, is it? You know isn't that one of the glorious things we have in our relationship with the Lord? He's not keeping a record. I mean He's washed away all my sins. He's not saying well, you know, I'm still going to get back at Gil . . . He's not going to get off that easy. Praise the Lord, that's not the way it is. So here we're manifesting the character of God in our relationships with one another. "See that no one repays another with evil for evil but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men." I love the way that's put because I don't have to wonder is this situation covered? Well, for one another and for all. For everyone. So that pretty well covered it. That sort cleans up my life in this area if I will be obedient. You see if I'm not doing that and being on guard to do this like He commanded me to do, then the problem is not really what someone else has done to me. The problem is me and my unwillingness to submit to the clear command of the Scripture. But I want to turn around and say it's your fault. If you hadn't done that there wouldn't have been this problem. Well, the only response I can have is to submit what the Lord has said and do what is pleasing to Him.

He now gives three concise, sharp commands really: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. That will be a follow-through on what he has commanded them previously. We are those who are on guard, who are always looking and seeking after an opportunity to do good to others and we are now to always rejoice and the stress in these commands is on the modifier to the verb. In other words, always rejoice. The verb is rejoice, the command is the word "rejoice," but the emphasis here is on the always. The command is to pray but the emphasis is on the continually. The command is to give thanks, but the emphasis is on everything. We see an encompassing nature of what God is commanding us to do as His children.

"Always rejoice," verse 16. Or rejoice always as we have it translated in our Bibles but in the Greek text as Paul wrote this the always comes first. So, I say the emphasis is on that. Always rejoice. Shortest verse in the Bible. Now in our English Bible we count the letters and it's Jesus wept. But in the Greek Bible as Paul wrote it this is the shortest verse in the Bible. Always rejoice. In the verse Jesus wept in the Greek text there's three words there whereas here there are the two short words. If you ever have a Bible trivial question, "What is the shortest verse of the Bible?" Jesus wept. Not really because it's rejoice always, and then you tell them you have to have Greek to know that, and you may not so that's all right. We'll take your answer.

Now this command to rejoice is given to people who are going through hard times. The Thessalonian church is under trial and persecution. In chapter 1 verse 6 Paul spoke about the fact that he received the word in much tribulation but with the joy that the Holy Spirit had given them. In chapter 2 verse 14, the last part of the verse, "You also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen." Chapter 3 verse 2, Timothy was sent to strengthen you and encourage you in your faith so they would not be disturbed by the afflictions. We're going to suffer affliction. Paul was suffering it. You know, sometimes the discouragement comes as we see others enduring affliction as well as ourselves. Here's a church going through trying times. What does God command them to do? Always rejoice because joy does not depend on external circumstances for the child of God, and why would I be despondent? Why would I be miserable? You note something here that is encouraging. The command to have joy and this is what it means to rejoice, to have joy, indicates that it is a responsibility. It is a choice that I make. I can't help it. I'm miserable. But when God gives me a command that indicates my responsibility to put it into action. That indicates that I can do what He has commanded me to do because He provides the enablement if I am willing to submit to Him. When He says always have joy, I'm encouraged just by the very fact He gives the command but that indicates that having joy is a choice. We talked about helping the fainthearted and the weak and those who are struggling. We go through those down times, but it doesn't change the fact I can have joy all the time. In fact, God commands me to always have joy.

You stop and think about it. We believe that we have a God who is all sovereign, rules over all, is in control at all times of all things. He is the God who always works all things for my good and His glory. He is working everything in the context of His plan to bring me to eternal glory. Every kind of suffering and every kind of problem and every pain, all is under His perfect control and according to His perfect will. What am I unhappy about? Well, really, it's a problem do I think God is in control. Yes, I know He is. I don't like what He's doing. Well, I know it's hard. I am unwilling to submit to Him and His will for my life. When I stop if I become rational in my spiritual thinking here, biblical in my spiritual thinking, I'd say well, why wouldn't I have joy. Is He not in control in the worst of situations as well as in the best of situations? That doesn't mean I would just assume have pain as I would to have freedom from pain. No, but it does mean I understand in pain and the heartache that comes that my God is sovereign, and I have joy in knowing His will is being accomplished. Doesn't mean I never have tears, that I never cry, that I'm never sorrowful. No, but there's a paradox there. Even in those times there's joy. Is there not?

You know we as believers talk about the loss of a loved one and oh it's so painful and yet at the same time there is joy in knowing they are with the Lord. There's joy in knowing that someday we'll share his glory. So, I can say yes, I have tremendous pain and sorrow and yes, I have great joy and peace. Always have joy.

“Pray without ceasing” or continually pray. Again, the word "without ceasing" or continually comes first. Be continually praying is his emphasis. This is a word which is a general word for prayer, all kinds of prayer. I talk it over with the Lord. You know isn't it amazing God commands me to pray. You would think we would have to beg or sign up for an audience with the Lord of Glory. But He commands me to be talking to Him all the time. It's the characteristic of my life. Now again, it doesn't mean that I'm always closed up in a room and what we might call formal prayer. Because there are other responsibilities. We already touched on some of that. They are to be working, providing a living, doing what is necessary and so on. But even in that, what? We are with our God, and again talk about our relationship as husband and wife. We are in the house; we are going about duties but there is what? Sometimes you just talk. You stop, you are doing other things, you talk. It is just part of the flow in the relationship. The beautiful thing about prayer. You know you are walking down the sidewalk. You can be talking with the Lord. Something comes up at work, you don't have to say wait, I got to go and close a door someplace. I have to pray. I can talk to the Lord in my mind. I don't even have to audibly speak to Him. A situation comes up, Lord, I need Your grace and strength. I don't know what to do and so on. Pray without ceasing. It's something that is to characterize our lives.

“In everything give thanks,” verse 18. Believers are characterized by joy; they are characterized by prayer. It ought to be the most natural thing in our lives, what? To talk to the Lord. You know that ought to be the pattern of our life. Let me encourage you just before I leave that prayer. Don't be intimated by audible prayer. I realize speaking out sometimes, you know, puts it in a dimension for us but really when you pray audibly there's only two people involved, if I could put it that way, God and you. Now I realize when I speak audibly, I am also speaking on behalf of those who are listening, but you know the pattern of my life ought to be I talk with my Heavenly Father and so if I’m in a situation where I need to do that or the occasion is for me to do it audibly, that's fine. I'm comfortable with Him. You know sometimes I talk with my earthly father privately. Sometimes I talk with him publicly. You know, boy, others will hear. How will I talk to my dad? What will I say? I don't know. I don't think I can talk to him with you listening. Well, why not? I mean, I'm not going to say oh, now I'm going to talk to my dad. What would you think if . . . now my Dad is here . . . you heard me standing in the aisle hear saying, "Oh, Father, I have come before you today to ask might we have lunch tomorrow?" You say now that's not natural. Now again I realize there is a reverence with God but what I'm saying is sometimes we think when we talk audibly with God things have to change. Really my audible prayer is to just be an outflow of my communion and conversation with my God. In my private conversation with God there is to respect and reverence as well as in my audible conversation with God. Now I just say that so that you do not feel intimidated. You may be in a class sometime or situation where someone would ask would you pray, and your first reaction is I can't do it. You say wait a minute I talk to God all the time and sometimes it's good to talk to Him out loud when you're alone. And sometimes it's good to hear your voice talking to God and that gives you a comfort as well.

Then we are “in everything give thanks.” That word "in everything" means in every situation and every circumstance. It doesn't mean every situation is what I want it to be. You know these commands wouldn't have to be given if our lives as believers always went smoothly. If everything was the way I wanted it to be. You don't have to command me to give thanks when I've just been given a two-million-dollar inheritance and someone else thought I ought to drive a brand-new car at their expense and someone else felt that I should go on an extended vacation that they are paying for. Of course, you don't have to command me to give thanks. What do you think? Of course, I sat down and wrote them a thank you right away and told them thanks a hundred times. You know when I have to be commanded to give thanks? When I'm not sure that I'm thankful. In everything give thanks.

In all circumstances, in all situations, this ties to our always rejoicing. The same kind of thing. What? Oh, God's in control here. Lord, I don't know why You’re doing this, I don't know why it's happened this way. It's definitely not my first choice. Quite frankly, Lord, I don't even know if it's on my list of choices. But I know You're my Heavenly Father and what joy and peace it gives me to know that You have Your reasons and Your purposes for what You're doing and Father, I give You thanks for that. I give You thanks for what I'm going to learn and the opportunity I'm going to have to grow in this. I give You thanks for knowing that Your strength will be sufficient and is sufficient for me. You know all of sudden I think there are many things I could give Him thanks for even in the most painful situation. It all comes back to my confidence He's in charge and He is doing what is right and best.

The end of the verse, "For this is God's will concerning you." This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. This refers particularly to the three commands He just gave: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and everything give thanks. This is God's will for you. Sometimes we say, oh, if I only knew the will of the Lord. Well, we find the will of God in the Word of God. I have clarity here. Now that doesn't mean he's told me certain details of my everyday life. But you know how I discern the will of God? I respond to His revealed will and that becomes the pattern of my life. I know He wants me to have joy always-- He's commands me to do it--to be always praying, to be always giving thanks. Now if I'm not submitting to His will in these areas, how do I expect to discern His will in other areas? This is the will of God concerning you. Well, someone would say boy, I am having a hard time discerning the will of God. Maybe we ought to back up and say, well, there are certain things about the will of God that are clearly revealed in Scripture. Are you putting these into practice? Then it will be a follow-through in other areas. The question usually comes up in areas the Scripture doesn't address. Should I buy this house, or should I not buy this house? Should I move to this place or not to this place? Should I take this job or not? Should I marry this person or not? But you know it's again like in your family relationships, certain things you just don't have to ask. You develop an awareness. You know when you are around someone you become familiar with them, don't you? Someone says oh, we are going to do this for your wife, and you say well, wait a minute. I know she wouldn't like that. Well, we say, how do you know she wouldn't like that? I live with her. Did she ever say she wouldn't? No, but take my word for it. She won't. That's not . . . You know, we say, well of course. You just develop an awareness. Now that doesn't mean we are always perfect in that as God is but there is that general awareness. You know it became a joke around the staff and the staff knows me pretty well now. They come and talk to me about something and ask what I think, and I'll say well, let me think about it? They go out the door and one of the staff that's been around here a long time says you know that's a no. I'll say let me think about it. What I'm really saying is well what I need here is to get together my reasons why I don't think it's a good idea. You know the people you're around you just get to know. That's the way. So, when we begin to put the will of God into practice in our lives and I concentrate on what I'm going to what God tells me His will for me is, my life begins to be shaped by my relationship with the Lord and living in His will becomes the characteristic of my life. I develop more an awareness of His will for me in other areas. That builds confidence in that relationship and in my walk with Him. That's just something that comes out of the blue, but it's developed in that relationship of walking in obedience to Him and His will for me and that shapes me in all other areas as well. We often make it more complicated than it is. We have whole books written on knowing the will of God and there's help in some of those. You know very simply start out with what God says His will is. He's an example in these three areas in particular. All these commands. They are given because that's God's will for me. My concern is to implement His will. I'm always concerned about what He didn't say. When I concern myself with implementing what He did say, it's amazing how that begins to narrow the parameters and it becomes clearer to me no, I know He wouldn't want me to do that. Well, I'm confident that this is the direction He is taking me. I become more aware of His will.

Now we are going to stop there. These are some of the things that He has exhorted for us as a family of believers in our relationship together. We just need to stop. We go through a brief list not very much elaboration, but the God of heaven has spoken and said here is what I require of you to do in your walk with Me. As we do that in our relationship with one another and implement these things and are hard on ourselves. I don't think my case is an exception. This is not normal. I say this is what God has commanded. I do what He says and leave the outcome with Him. Then we find not only our lives personally, but our relationships together grow stronger and our testimony for Him becomes brighter. Let's pray together.

Thank you, Lord, for Your grace. How blessed we are to be Your children. How blessed we are to have Your instructions, to know that You care for us, You love us. Of molding and shaping us and maturing us as Your children, to prepare us for the glory of Your presence. Lord, I pray that we'll not chafe against Your will, we will not resist that will, that it might be the delight of our hearts to implement it. Lord, we all realize there are circumstances and situations where it becomes difficult because we are unwilling. We don't really want to do the right thing. I pray that You will give us the grace to be an obedient people that You might be honored, and we pray in Christ's name, amen.