Author: Servant of the Lord

Laziness

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)

There is no room in the work of the Kingdom for lazy people. Lazy people do not get the work done. They become a liability rather than an asset. Lazy people have a tendency to be critical of those who are busy. They are quick to judge and slow to change. Lazy people are not growing people. They lack the incentive to help themselves grow. They are not good students of the Word, let alone doers of it. They are not generally prayer warriors. They always follow and never lead.

We need to encourage one another to step out in faith. We need to spur one another on to service in spite of fear and lack of confidence. We need to inspire others by our example to become bold servants of God.

people silhouette during sunset

We need to take tender care of the weak. We should be aware of those who do not have strong faith and come alongside of them to help them. We need to be sensitive to those who are vulnerable and need coaching along the way. We need to get involved in their lives and do what we can to help them become strong.

We need to learn to be patient with everyone. Not everyone thinks alike and not everyone grows alike. We must not become impatient with those who don’t seem to “get it” like we do. We must allow the Lord time to teach and grow others in the faith. We must ask the Lord to exercise patience to all, especially those who have a tendency to mess up more than others. And while we are at it, we need to ask the Lord to grow us. Our ability to help others depends on our own maturity of faith and understanding.

Duteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT) – Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Church Is Not A Place Or A Meeting. It’s A People Being Built Together For A Habitation Of God In The Spirit.

The truth is not always like you’d expect.

Here’s one that might startle you. “Just Jesus and you” is not enough. That was never God’s plan. It’s much bigger. His plan is the Church.

In the old covenant His people were the nation of Israel. In the new covenant His people are the Church. His promises are only for His people.

Church is not a place or a meeting. It’s a people being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

audience band christians church

His plan is for us to be linked together to be a testimony to the world – not by our programmes but by the life of Christ manifest in our individual lives that together reflect the fullness of Him.

There is a way He builds His Church. A foundation, a structure and an order in the spirit.

Ephesians 2:14-15
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man

Ephesians 2:20-22
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

  • Mark Saunders

Honor Your Leaders

Paul’s Final Advice

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT

There is a fine line between putting people on a pedestal and honoring what they do for the Lord. We must be careful that we don’t idolise people because they may be talented and gifted. We don’t idolise people because they have winsome personalities. We don’t idolise them because of their position in life or wealth. We don’t idolise them because of their successes in the world. We don’t value them higher than others and make them out to be favoured citizens of heaven. However, we do need to honor those who are leaders in the Lord’s work.

We should respect their role in the church. God prepares and puts into place leaders in the church. They are given the responsibility to preach and teach the Word. They are responsible for spurring others on to greater faith and godliness. They are responsible for the spiritual well-being of those whom they serve. They have to answer to God for what they do.

We should respect what they say to us. Godly leaders warn us of not only what is to come, but what happens to us now when we reject the Lord or His Word. They warn us that sin has consequences and no one can escape them. We need to pay attention to what they say to us and strive to put into practice what we hear.

We should think highly of them and intentionally love them and pray for them. It is so easy to criticise those in leadership. They are vulnerable to being criticised and judged for their failures. They are expected to be better than we are and to meet all of our expectations. They are easy targets to blame when things don’t go the way we think they should.

What we should do is be supportive of those who lead in a godly way. We should appreciate what they are doing for the Lord. We should come alongside of them and stand with them. We should encourage them and support them in their efforts. As long as leaders are doing the best they can do in their service to the Lord, we should be on their side and not against them.

We should honor them by adequately supporting them in the work they do. Support comes in a wide variety of ways: financially being fair to them, being kind to them, being positive, encouraging them, etc. We must never forget that they are human just like we are and their need for being treated with decency and affirmation is just as important to them as it is to us. We should as well treat their families in the same way we want our families to be treated.

We should always strive to live in peace with not only our leaders, but every one of faith. Internal conflict within the family of God is always wrong and should not be allowed to continue.