Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 2:7-12 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 03-01-2020

The Example of Parent-Style Spiritual Leadership

1Thessalonians 2:7-12

Last week in 1Thessalonians 2:1-6, we looked at the characteristics of spiritual
leadership that bring honor to God. Today, we are going to look at 1Thessalonians
2:7-12 where we will consider how leadership within the the church is much like
that in a normal family, i.e., that there is to be both a mother and a father.

In 1Thessalonians 2:7 Paul writes, “we were among you, as a nursing mother
who tenderly cares for her own children,” but then in verse 11 he says, “we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own
children.”

Paul provides here two of the many metaphors used in Scripture to distinguish
the character and practice of spiritual leadership in the church; but before we look
at those, let me give you a few more examples of how the those who lead in God’s
church are to serve:

In 1Corinthians 4:1-2, as a steward [one who manages the resources of the
house of God]; in 1Timothy 2:7, as a preacher, a herald [bringing the gospel
message of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ]; in 2Timothy 2:2, as a teacher
[one called and equipped to rebuke, correct and train those in the church with the
truth of God]; in 1Peter 2:16, as a bond slave [a free man who chooses to serve
God wholeheartedly]; in 1Peter 5:1-4, as a shepherd [feeding, caring for,
overseeing, and protecting the flock of God].

Read 1Thessalonians 2:7-9… Paul says that he, Silas, and Timothy served as
spiritual mothers to the believers in Thessalonica (verse 7), we were like “a
nursing mother” who “tenderly cares for her own children.”

Out of all the relationships humans have, this is the most gentle and tender, a
mother nursing her baby, giving herself for the life she is holding in her arms. Paul
is illustrating the personal and tender care that is to be given to the church by
those who are in leadership.

The verb “tenderly cares” means to warm another with your own body heat, i.e.,
a mother holds her baby to her breast warming the child with her own body, while
also feeding the infant with milk from her own body.

Paul says (1Thessalonians 2:8-9) that he and the other apostles had a deep
affection for the Thessalonians, like a mother does for her baby; and not only did
they impart to them the gospel of God” to save them (like a mother breast feeding
her baby), but they “also [imparted to them] their own lives, because these
believers had become so very dear to them.”

The word translated impart here [means to share something fully, yet to retain
some of it yourself], e.g., the apostles shared the gospel with them, but also their
very lives; for they sacrificed for them like a mother does for her own child
(especially a baby, who consumes its mother’s life), as she feeds it, changes it,
loves it, clothes it, bathes it, puts it to bed, gets it up, takes care of its every need.

And a mother does all this without receiving any special awards or kudos for
mothering her children; in fact, she is expected to labor through all kinds of
troubles: sleepless nights, stuffy noses, teething, stomach aches, skinned knees,
sore throats, ear aches, etc. A mother does all this because of the deep affection
and love she has for her child or children; she gives up a big part of her life, to
make sure they have what they need.

Paul is saying that those in leadership in the church are to give themselves to
those in the church, the family of God, and they are to do this selflessly, constantly,
even in hardship, “working night and day,” just as a mother cares for her children.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:10-12  Just as verses 7-9 illustrate the mothering role
of a spiritual leader among the family of God, verses 10-12 illustrate the fatherly
role; clearly, there is to be a balance of both motherhood and fatherhood displayed
as spiritual leaders care for family of believers.

But what is fatherhood? What makes a man a man? How should men act?
In 1Corinthians 16:13 Paul commands the men, “Be on the alert, stand firm in
the faith, act like men, be strong.” The verb “act like men” means to conduct
oneself in a courageous way. Men are to be strong and courageous.

Clearly men are not to be effeminate [which means gentle, soft, womanly,
unmanly]; in fact, the word feminine is taken from the word womanly; in the old
English definition it literally means “one who suckles, or one who feeds from the
breast,” as we have already studied in 1Thessalonians 2:7-9.

But now we are talking about spiritual leaders representing the ultimate in God
pleasing masculinity or maleness, that of being a God-honoring father to those in
the church. He is to do this by being strong and courageous, he must be willing to
engage in the challenges, to be steadfast in difficulties, and to be willing to remove
or go through obstacles; these are part of his duties and responsibilities.

Moses, speaking to Israel, tells them that he is 120 years old and although he is
turning responsibility for Israel over to Joshua they should not fear; then God
exhorts Joshua to be strong and courageous because God will be with him.
Deuteronomy 31:3, “It is the Lord your God who will cross ahead of you; He will
destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one
who will cross ahead of you, just as the Lord has spoken.” 6, “Be strong and
courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one
who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” 23, “Then He commissioned
Joshua the son of Nun, and said, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the
sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.’”
Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just
as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land
which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you;
do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success
wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all
that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will
have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not
tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When King David is surrounded by the armies of the Arameans, he sends Joab
out to lead Israel in battle:
2Samuel 10:12, “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of
our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His
sight.”

When David was close to death, he exhorted Solomon:

1Kings 2:2, “I am going the way of all the earth [to die]. Be strong, therefore, and
show yourself a man.”

1Chronicles 22:13, “[Be] careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which
the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not
fear nor be dismayed.”

The point is, God has ordained for men to be leaders in their own families and to
be leaders in God’s family, the church. God-ordained male leadership is exemplified
by men who are firm in their faith; men with convictions rooted in the Word of God,
who are willing to live boldly and yet humbly, as examples to others, acting like
men, being strong and courageous, because their strength is from the Lord.

No one is perfect, only Jesus Christ the Lord. We all make mistakes,;I often
mess up, and when I do, I must make corrections, and sometimes I have to
apologize to someone. Owning up to your mistakes is representative of acting like
a man, just as being strong and courageous is. Paul acted like a man, and he
challenges other men, especially those who lead the church, to do the same.

Back to 1Thessalonians 2:10, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly
and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.” Paul reminds
them that they are witnesses of how he, Silas, and Timothy acted before them, and
that God knows their actions and the very intentions of their hearts. Paul is saying,
we were above reproach, blameless before you, as you well know.

Paul reiterates (1Thessalonians 2:11) how the apostles, as fathers, came
exhorting them [meaning to come alongside them, to urge them to do the right
thing, to receive Christ as Savior and Lord]; this is the same word used for the Holy
Spirit [paraklete, literally, Comforter, Helper]. Jesus says, concerning the Holy
Spirit [Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of God] (John 14:16), “I will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Helper,” [One just like Me] whose work (John
16:8-9), “to convict the world concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”

The apostles, as fathers, also came encouraging them [meaning to stimulate
them to hang in there, to have confidence, and to continue doing the right thing].
Hebrews 10:23-25, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another…”

Thirdly, the apostles came imploring [begging, entreating, urging] each of the
believers in Thessalonica, just as a father would strongly plead with his own child
to please consider the consequences that will come, if you do not heed the
exhortation and encouragement I am giving you.

2Corinthians 5:20-21, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.”

Basically, fatherly exhortation instructs a child to walk or to live in a certain way;
while fatherly encouragement gives emotional, intellectual, moral and/or spiritual
support to the child, so that they can keep on keeping on; and finally, fatherly
imploring them earnestly, from the heart, making it very clear that to continue
turning a deaf ear to the message or to rebel in their heart toward it, will bring dire
consequences, destruction, and ultimately death” (cf. Romans 3:10-12; 23; 5:8;
6:23; 8:1).

In 1Thessalonians 2:12, Paul states why, as a father, he is exhorting,
encouraging, and imploring them, “so that [they] would walk in a manner worthy of
the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory.”

At the moment of genuine salvation a person enters the kingdom of heaven,
ruled by the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected,
and coming again to take all who believe in Him to live with Him, forever in the new
heaven and the new earth, where there will no longer be any mourning, or crying,
or pain, or death, for all that has past away (cf. Revelation 21:1-4); and surely
goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever (cf. Psalm 23:6).
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 02-23-2020

1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

God-honoring Leadership

Paul loves the believers in Thessalonica, and has expressed the witness of their
faith to people everywhere. As we have already studied, Paul came under great
persecution in Thessalonica and had to get out of town, so he went to Berea, and
the same thing happened there with the opposition of the Jews who came against
him and his presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He then had to leave and
went to Athens, then on to Corinth from where he is writing the believers in
Thessalonica.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:1-6 … Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica to not
listen to those who oppose him and Silas and Timothy; but instead to remember
their own personal experiences with these men and the impact made upon them
by the preaching of God’s Word in the power of God’s Spirit, and of course the
evidence of the message they brought that has become effectual in the lives of all
who believed it.

Paul reminds them that he and his companions had been persecuted in Philippi,
prior to coming to Thessalonica; actually, Paul & Co were falsely accused, physically
beaten and put into prison in Philippi, even though they had not committed any
crime.

But Paul & Co continued to preach the whole gospel of God to the Thessalonians,
even though the unbelieving Jews who followed them from Philippi continued to
cause trouble and to slander Paul and bring bogus charges against his motives and
his character.

Paul’s confidence and boldness came directly from God, as he also had
encouraged the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:10), “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of His might.”

Even amid such opposition, Paul preached the good news of what God had done
to redeem sinners through the grace of God made effectual by the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ the Lord.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:2 … The Greek word agon [aa-gawn] translated
‘opposition,’ means struggle and conflict, and in fact we get our English word
agonize from it. It has the idea here of the struggle to keep the message accurate
and biblical and to not cave in under pressure to teach something more palatable
and acceptable to sinners who reject Christ; but instead to preach the Word
correctly, in the face of any and all opposition, with full confidence that God’s
purpose will prevail (see 1Corinthians 2:1-5).

Read 1Thessalonians 2:3 … Paul says their exhortation [meaning their urgent
message] to the Thessalonians wasn’t done with deception or by way of any false
teaching, nor was it from any impure motives on the part of the apostles.

Note: The first of the gifted men in the New Testament church were the apostles, of whom
Jesus Christ Himself was the foremost (Hebrews 3:1). The basic meaning of apostle
(apostolos) is simply “one sent on a mission.” In its most primary sense “apostle” is used
only of the twelve, including Matthias, who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26), and of Paul, who
was uniquely set apart as apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-17; cf. 1Corinthians
15:7-9; 2Corinthians 11:5). The qualifications for apostleship were having been chosen
directly by Christ and having witnessed the resurrected Christ (Mark 3:13; Acts 1:22-24).
Paul was the last to meet those qualifications (Rom. 1:1-7). It is not possible for there to be
apostles in the church today. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle
ceased (there were only these original thirteen).

There is a more general sense in which the term apostle is used in the early church,
such as in the case of Barnabas (Acts 14:4), and Silas and Timothy (1Thessalonians 2:6),
and a few other outstanding leaders (Rom. 16:7; 2Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25);
these apostles were called “messengers [apostoloi] of the churches” (2Corinthians 8:23).

Evidently the Jews in Thessalonica were charging Paul & Co with teaching error,
but Paul makes it clear that he and his companions are committed to speaking only
the truth of God and also guarding the truth of God, for during the time of Paul
many false religions and cults were taking people captive with a false presentation
of the gospel of Christ.

The spiritual climate in Corinth was similar, to which Paul gave a similar
exhortation (2Corinthians 4:2-6), that he and the other apostles were “not
walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of
truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And
even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case
the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might
not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For
we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is
the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Christ.”

Paul’s enemies often accused him of impurity and deceit [this word actually
means fishhook, trap or other deception to catch something]. False teachers often
use some form of showy theatrics or pseudo magic, in order to appear as if they
have supernatural power from God; but it is anything but God-honoring (see
Matthew 7:15-23).

The eternal condemnation and judgement for these false teachers is already
confirmed (Matthew 25:30), “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth,” (Matthew 25:46), “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.”

Paul’s life was an open book, there was no deception in his teachings or his life,
i.e., the way he was in his public preaching is exactly who he was in his private life,
what you see is what you get!

Read 1Thessalonians 2:4a … Paul makes it very clear that his authority and
approval doesn’t come from men, but from God. The phrase “have been approved
by God” is worth some clarification, as the perfect tense of the Greek verb here
means that Paul was tested and confirmed to be continually effective or valid by
God’s approval, for the purpose Paul says, “to be entrusted with the gospel.”

1Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I,
but the grace of God with me.”

1Timothy 1:11-12, “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with
which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened
me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was
formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown
mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more
than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a
trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

Read 1Thessalonians 2:4b-5 … Paul makes it clear that his purpose and passion
is to please God, not men, and God is his witness, for God examines our hearts and
is fully aware of Paul’s thoughts, motives, feelings, and intentions.

False teachers use flattering words to gain influence and control over people for
their own personal gain, usually motivated by greed. Paul says, not so with him!

Acts 20:17-21, “From Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders
of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves
know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon
me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you
anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ.” 31-35, “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night
and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with
tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able
to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are
sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know
that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the
weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive.’”

Read 1Thessalonians 2:6 … Paul had no interest in gaining any honor from men
or from anything else on this earth, for his service and honor and glory were
reserved for God alone, as he expressed in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who
is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to
all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Interesting, Paul says as an apostle of Christ he could have pulled the “apostle
card” and asserted the authority given to him by God, but Paul never abused his
authority and was always seeking to be an example to the rest of the church while
also being accountable to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul is an excellent example of God-honoring leadership, for Paul had a deep
and reverent respect for God, knowing that God knew the very intentions and
thoughts of his heart, and so Paul’s total submission was to the letter and spirit of
every word that came from the mouth of God (Romans 11:36), “For from Him and
through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Pastor Mike
°°°>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 2.16.20 ~ 1Thessalonians 1:1-10

Part Two: Be Examples!

The Thessalonians had only been believers and followers of Christ for a short
time, a few months. Paul had spent a brief time, evangelizing in the synagogue on
three Sabbaths, and then a little longer time evangelizing Gentiles. He and Silas
and Timothy were there only a matter of weeks and then they were forced to leave
because of Jewish persecution. They went to Berea,. then to Athens, and finally to
Corinth, from where Paul is writing this letter to the Thessalonians.

Paul had sent Timothy back to find out how the church in Thessalonica is doing,
and he reports that they are serving the Lord honorably; and so Paul rejoices as he
writes this letter to encourage them in their faith, which is already being expressed
so as to be witnessed by others.

In 1Thessalonians 1:3, Paul acknowledges their “work of faith, and labor of
love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In 1Thessalonians 1:4 Paul makes mention of their genuine salvation,
“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”

Today we’ll pick up where we left off last week:
1Thessalonians 1:5-10… Paul reminds them of how their original coming to faith
in Christ is giving evidence through their lives.

See 1Thessalonians 1:5… Paul is describing the experience of himself, Silas,
and Timothy as they preached the gospel to them, and that it is clear to them that
the Thessalonians’ salvation is real. Paul is basically saying, “we experienced God’s
power moving through us when we preached to you, knowing that it would
accomplish the salvation of your souls.”

Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that
is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth
Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, “for whoever will call on
the name of the Lord will be saved.” 17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing
by the word of Christ.”

Clearly, it isn’t through clever cognitive persuasion that someone is saved, for
without the power of God in it, nothing will be accomplished concerning salvation..

2Corinthians 4:4-6, “the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall
shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

John 3:19, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

Ephesians 5:6-16, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do
not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light
in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all
goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose
them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in
secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for
everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and
arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”

Paul, Silas and Timothy’s preaching wasn’t just with words

(1Thessalonians 1:5), “for our gospel didn’t come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

The Thessalonians had experienced God’s transforming power

(1Thessalonians 2:13), “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received fromus the Word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for
what it really is, the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe.”

At the end of 1Thessalonians 1:5 Paul writes, “Just as you know what kind of
men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

Paul is he saying, the power in their preaching was from God and it is now expressed in the lives of the Thessalonians who believed in Christ.

Read 1Thessalonians 1:6-10… Paul says the believers in Thessalonica became
imitators [Greek, mimics] of Paul and his companions, and of the Lord.” Being
genuinely saved, they were following the example of Paul, who was trying to
exemplify the Lord (see 1John 2:6; Hebrews 13:7; Philippians 4:8-9).

The evidence of new birth, spiritual birth, is to imitate Christ, to be a Christian
[an example of Christ] showing the newness of the Life that we have received from
God (see John 1:12-13; 3:6-8).

The believers in Thessalonica (1Thessalonians 1:7-8) were examples to
believers everywhere, and no matter how tough it got, they never lost their joy
because their joy was from the Spirit of God not from emotional, situational,
psychological, physiological, or any other internal or external stimuli or causation.

1Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit [Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth] who is in you, whom you
have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

2Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine
yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

The behavior of the believers in Thessalonica was so distinctly God-honoring and
Christ-exalting, that they were models for others to emulate.

Paul writes (1Thessalonians 1:8) “For the Word of the Lord has sounded forth
[strongly like a trumpet blast] from you,”

i.e., the Message of the Gospel of Christ has and is continually going out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but everyplace, everywhere.

See 1Thessalonians 1:9… Everywhere Paul goes believers are talking about
how something supernatural had happened in Thessalonica, because it was
continually evidenced in the witness of those who had received Christ as Lord, for
they continued to have a desire to talk about Christ, to share Christ, to proclaim
Christ.

The believers in Thessalonica had turned from worshipping dead idols to serving
the living God, it was clear that they belonged to God by the way they lived.

Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present
your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship.”

Let me just say this, if someone claims to be a Christian, having gone from
death to life, from an eternal destiny in hell to an eternity in heaven., and they
have no interest in talking about Christ, you have reason to question their
salvation.

When you repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it is not
just a change of mind or a different way of thinking – true salvation is found in
Christ alone, and it causes a total change, concerning who you are, who you serve,
who you obey, and how you honor and worship God the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit..

See 1Thessalonians 1:10… True Salvation is exemplified in the lives of
believers (1Thessalonians 1:3) by their work of faith, their labor of love, and their
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

True Christians are expectantly waiting for Christ to come back and to take us to
be with Him forever, for He has conquered sin, death, judgment, and He is the
Creator, Sustainer, Lord, Savior, and Judge over all.

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself
for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for
His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

1Peter 2:9-10, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a
people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now
you have received mercy.”

2Peter 3:11-12, “what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” 18, “…grow in
the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory,
both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 2.09.20 ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10,

Part One: Be Encouraged!

Read 1Thessalonians 1:1-10…Notice again the greeting in 1Thessalonians 1:1,

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians.” Paul gives equity of
greeting from himself, Silvanus, and Timothy, for they were all well known by the believers in
Thessalonica, and they were equally given to this ministry to them.
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy together, affirm the genuineness of the belief of those in the
church at Thessalonica, saying they are, “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace
to you and peace.” Only those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ
to save them, can receive the Grace and Peace of God.

Who is the Timothy spoken of here in the greeting with Paul? Well, both of Paul’s letters
1&2Timothy were written to him to help him lead the church in Ephesus, after Paul had
departed.

Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother, and yet Paul addresses him (1Timothy
1:2), as “my true son in the faith.” for he had been a young convert of Paul’s and had
probably heard and responded to the gospel when Paul came through the area of Derbe and
Lystra on his first missionary journey, but we don’t know for sure.

Timothy was probably no older than his early twenties when he joined Paul during his
second missionary journey, where he distinguished himself as faithful and committed servant
of the Lord.

Timothy is mentioned as being with Paul when Paul wrote 2Corinthians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1&2Thessalonians, and Philemon.

Paul says (2Timothy 1:1–5), that Timothy had a “genuine faith,” the same as that which
lived in his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), who had prepared Timothy’s heart to
accept Christ by teaching him the Old Testament Scriptures “from infancy” in order to
prepare him to recognize the Messiah when He appeared (2Timothy 3:15), “from childhood
you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” When Paul came preaching Christ, all three
(Lois, Eunice, Timothy) committed their lives to the Savior. What a great example of how we
must prepare our children to be ready when Christ knocks on their heart’s door.

Silvanus (his Roman name) was used by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, and the
Thessalonians, and Peter used it also in his first letter. But all through the book of Acts he is
referred to as Silas. Silas was a Hellenistic Jew (meaning his native language was Greek),
and he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).

When we first meet Silas in Scripture, he is a leader and teacher in the Jerusalem church
(Acts 15:22, 32). After the Jerusalem Council, at which it was determined that Gentile
Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law, Silas was chosen to take the council’s
decision to Antioch, along with the apostle Paul. Soon afterwards, Paul set out on his second
missionary journey, and he chose Silas to accompany him (Acts 15:40-41).

On this journey, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi, where they were arrested, beaten, and
imprisoned (Acts 16:25), “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them”. God then miraculously released
them, and the jailer, having witnessed their faith, asked them (Acts 16:30-31), “‘Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and
your household.’”

The jailer and his family were saved that night, and they were all baptized. The next day,
the city officials learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and they were immediately
fearful, because their mistreatment of Paul and Silas the day before violated Roman law. The
city leaders immediately released Paul and Silas from custody and from all charges, after
which Paul and Silas left town, but they left behind a body of believers—the first church in
Europe.

Look again at 1Thessalonians 1:2-4, “We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and
labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God
and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”

Notice the great joy expressed by Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, for these dear believers in
Thessalonica, who, by their genuine faith expressed in their love and obedience toward God
for the hope they have in and through Jesus Christ the Lord.

The church in Thessalonica had its start sometime in AD 49 or 50, when Paul and his
companions, Silas and Timothy, visited this city of about 200,000 people on his second
missionary journey, just after being run out of Philippi (Acts 16).

Turn to Acts 17:1-15… So, we find that Paul, Silas and Timothy travel SW from Philippi,
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica. There was no synagogue in Philippi, as
the Jewish population was evidently too small [10 Jewish head of households are necessary
to establish a synagogue].

But there was a synagogue in Thessalonica, and Paul, as was his custom, reasoned
with them, presenting evidence (OT) that the Messiah would suffer and die and then rise
from the dead; he then answered their questions and discussed with them in a manner
reflected in 1Peter 3:15, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you
to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Paul’s public ministry to the Jews here, was over three Sabbaths (2-4 weeks), but his
private ministry to the church in Thessalonica was most likely longer, perhaps several
months; for we know he worked while he was there so as not to pay for his own needs
(1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:7-9), and he was a skilled tent maker (Acts
18:1-4).

Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as God’s Son, Savior and Lord, and he did it from the OT.
And (Acts 17:4) some Jews were persuaded, also many Greeks; but the unbelieving Jews
(Acts 17:5) were jealous, spiteful and angry, that people were believing Paul’s message, so
they enlisted some thugs from the local bars to go after Paul and Silas and give them a good
beating to shut them up.

These Jews (Acts 17:6) accuse Paul, Silas and Timothy of stirring up trouble and
promoting worship of a king other than Caesar (just like they did in Philippi, Acts 16:20-21).
And then they take along some lowlifes and go to Jason’s house; evidently Jason had heard
and believed Paul’s message and was providing hospitality to him and his co-travelers. But
since Paul & Co couldn’t be found (Acts 17:6-9), these Jews grab Jason and some other
believers who are there and drag them before the magistrates, charging Jason with harboring
Jewish troublemakers who are “promoting the worship of a king other than Caesar, someone
named Jesus.”

Upon hearing these allegations, the crowd goes ballistic and of course, to keep the
peace and calm the chaos, the officials determine that these trouble-makers, i.e., Paul & Co
must leave their city, if they can find them.

The judges demand a pledge from Jason that he will stop giving aid to Paul & Co , i.e.,
he has to post a bond, probably a large sum of money or perhaps the deed to his house, to
be forfeited if there was any more trouble from Paul & Co.

After Dark (Acts 17:10-15), Paul and Silas are sent to Berea, about 50 miles west of
Thessalonica; Berea was kind of an out of the way town, in fact, it was said to be “off the
beaten track.” Paul and Silas needed to get out of the public eye for a time, and Berea was a
great place to do that; but the first thing Paul does is to go before the synagogue to teach
about Jesus, the Messiah.

Here we go again! It would seem that whenever it is possible, on a Sabbath Day, Paul
finds his way to some synagogue, or a place of prayer by a river or a lake, or on a hillside or
in a garden, etc., and there he preaches and teaches about Jesus Christ: crucified,
resurrected and coming again. According to what is recorded in Book of Acts, Paul often
caused a disturbance on Sabbath days because of the message he brought about Jesus
Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior.

One of the greatest exhortations in the Bible expressing genuine noble character, is found
right here (Acts 17:11). Unlike the Jews in Thessalonica, whom Paul had to try and
convince concerning Jesus; the Jews in Berea listened, examined, and determined whether or
not a teaching was true by comparing it to God’s Word, which they held as the sovereign
authority in all belief and practice.

In Thessalonica (Acts 17:4) “some” of the Jews were persuaded, “along with a large
number of the God-fearing Greeks,” but in Berea (Acts 17:12) “many” of the Jews believed,
“along with a number of prominent Greek women and men,” who believed in Jesus.

The Bereans had open hearts and they searched the Scriptures to see if Paul’s message
lined up, and because it did, they believed.

The unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica were angry that Paul & Silas had escaped without a
beating; when they heard Paul was in Berea, they went and stirred up the crowds against
Paul and his companions.

Paul is forced to leave Thessalonica, or bring trouble upon Jason; but Silas and Timothy
stay in Berea to nurture and care for the believers. Paul is taken to Athens, as evidently, all
of Macedonia had become a hot spot for Paul’s safety, as he was now very well known as a
troublemaker.

After reaching Athens (200 miles), Paul told those who helped him to get a message to
Silas and Timothy, that they should come as soon as they can and join Paul in Athens. From
Athens Paul & Co would later go to Corinth, from where he actually wrote this letter to the
believers in Thessalonica.

Praise God for troublemakers like Paul & Silas, who fearlessly and unabashedly proclaimed
Jesus Christ every chance they were given to do so, even though it often brought them great
trouble and hardship, as Paul wrote (2Timothy 3:12), “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But Paul also wrote (2Corinthians 1:3-4), “Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any
affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Paul, Silas and Timothy trusted in God’s protection, provision and plan, and so should
everyone who belongs to God the Father through God the Son, having God the Spirit living in
them. Be encouraged, so that you might encourage others.

1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is
He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

1John 5:5, “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the
Son of God?”

Revelation 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To
him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”

Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and
power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Revelation 5:12, ““Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Revelation 7:10, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 12,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be
to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike       >’(((><

Bible Text: Ephesians 6:17-24 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Ephesians | 02-02-2020 – The Weapon of God’s People

Ephesians 6:17-24

Last week we studied (verse 14) about the belt of Truth and the breastplate of
righteousness, (verse 15) then about special footwear which protects our feet and
our steps, for we have peace with God, through Christ.

Next (verse 16) we learned about the shield of faith, which enables us to
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, i.e., the attempts by Satan to
deceive, discourage, and disable the believer from standing his ground in service to
Christ.

Read Ephesians 6:17… We are instructed to take up the helmet of salvation,
and finally the sword of the Spirit [which is the Word of God].

The last piece of spiritual armor is the sword of the Spirit [the Word of God].
Christ gives us an example on how to use this special weapon.

See Matthew 4:3-11. Every time the Devil made an attack, Jesus blocked it
with Scripture, eventually the Devil left Him, having been defeated by God’s Word.

In Genesis God spoke everything into existence through His sovereign and
eternal Word.

When Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation, in Revelation 19:13-16 it
says, “His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven… …
were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that
with it He may strike down the nations… And on His robe and on His thigh He has a
name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’”
2Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit [Spirit of Truth], our divine teacher, but we
must study and apply God’s Word if we are to stand our ground against the
enemies of God, the spiritual powers of the kingdom of darkness.

God’s Word is not only our defensive weapon, so we can remain standing
against all that the world, the flesh, and the devil may bring against us, but it is
also our offensive weapon, with which we can strike down the spiritual enemies of
God and claim victory over that which opposes God, because of Christ in us.
1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them [all those
who oppose God]; because greater is He [God’s Spirit] who is in you than he
[Satan] who is in the world.”

Prayer is as essential as the other pieces of armor without which, we could not
stand our ground.

Read Ephesians 6:18… Paul’s instruction on spiritual armor is followed by a
teaching on prayer, for prayer is the attitude a soldier [of Christ] must have as he
readies and outfits himself for battle.

In his Book, Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells of the character Christian’s
weapon called prayer. When darkness and discouragement surrounded him, prayer
enabled Christian to stand firm and ultimately to defeat the evil fiends in the valley
of the shadow of death.

We can pray wherever we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves (see
Luke 21:34-36). To pray at all times is to live continually conscious of God.

God’s greatest desire and our greatest need is to be in constant fellowship with
Him, and prayer is the means by which a believer comes into the presence of God
and has fellowship with Him.

Praying in the Spirit is to pray in a manner that is consistent with the nature and
the will of God, lining up our thoughts and desires with the Word of God. We must
remain alert for we are in a spiritual battle against the Devil, the world, and the
flesh; this battle must be spiritually fought, through prayer.

The focus here is on praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for it is
believers to whom God has provided the armor Paul describes in Ephesians
6:10-17, and so it is believers who are commanded in (verse 18) to pray in the
Spirit.

We are to pray specifically for one another, for our brothers and sisters in Christ
who are serving the Lord in this battle against the flesh, the world and the Devil.

Read Ephesians 6:19-20… Paul pleads for the believers in Ephesus to pray
not so that he can be freed from prison, but so that he will be bold and faithful to
proclaim the gospel while in prison.

Self-sufficient persons don’t pray to God. It is the humble believer who comes
before God, those who are poor in spirit receive God’s blessings (cf. Matthew
5:3-10, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, the pure in heart, peace makers; it is these who will be called the
sons of God; and theirs is the kingdom of heaven forever).

Paul’s motive for prayer is to further the gospel, encourage believers, and glorify
God.

Read Ephesians 6:21-22… Tychicus, from the province of Asia (cf. Acts
20:4), was especially dear to Paul, who sent him to other Christian communities
and individuals to encourage them on Paul’s behalf (cf. Colossians 4:7-8;
2Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12).

Paul knew the value of a personal word from someone who had been with him
recently. Tychicus could bring comfort, in Christ, to many of those who had been
converts of, or had benefited from, the preaching, teaching, discipling and
counseling ministry of Paul.

In May 2019 we began this study of the wealth we have been given in Christ,
the manner in which we are to walk, and the warfare we can expect as God’s
children.
Ephesians 1:5-8, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His
grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His
grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight.” 13-14, “In Him, you
also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having
also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given
as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own
possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are
fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”
Ephesians 3:11-12, “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He
carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident
access through faith in Him.”
Ephesians 4:1-6, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent
to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one
Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
There is one body and one Spirit one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 32, “Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in
love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” 15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days
are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 21,
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Read Ephesians 6:23-24… Paul’s benediction seems to reflect the major
themes of this letter. Paul prays for peace, love, faith, and for the grace of God to
be the experience and desire of all genuine believers.

Grace [the divine favor of God], God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, for all those
who responded to the eternal and unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ:
God’s Son, Lord and Savior.
The Grace of God should be evidenced in the life of every obedient ‘born again’
believer and follower of Jesus Christ. God’s Grace provides, not only our
forgiveness and eternal life, but also the armor and the weaponry we need to stand
against God’s enemies, using the Word of God [the Sword of the Spirit] to declare
the revealed plan, purpose, and provision, of God, by which we are to live
honorably and victoriously in this world, while we wait for Him to return and take us
to be with Him in the new and never-ending world, where (Revelation 21:4-5),
“there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying,
or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said,
‘Behold, I am making all things new,’” (Revelation 22:20-21), “He who testifies to
these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace
of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

Pastor Mike     >’(((><

Bible Text: Ephesians 6:10-12 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Ephesians | Read Ephesians 6:10-12… We are to find our strength in God. He has
provided spiritual armor that we might take our stand against the devil’s
schemes. Paul uses a military term that speaks of holding a critical position
while under attack, there is no retreating, just standing firm to the end.

Our battle is not against people, but the devil, the flesh and the godless
system of this world that opposes God. Satan is the ultimate enemy of
God’s people, and he wants to confuse, separate and destroy our witness.

Satan is the top General over the forces of evil in the heavenly places
[the realm of demons and angels], engaged in a spiritual war. Note: Angles
served Christ (Matthew 4:11), they also serve us (Hebrews 1:14).

The word struggle = close quarter battle, i.e., hand to hand combat (like
a wrestling match); and so, we must take our positions and ready ourselves
against these attacks, not so much against us physically, but on our
thoughts, emotions, and the convictions we hold.

There are no special techniques for standing against that which we
cannot see; but James 4:7 declares, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you,” i.e., stand firm!

God gave us His Spirit to indwell us, guide us, comfort us, confront us,
grow us, mature us, encourage and empower us.

During that last evening before His arrest (John 13-17) Jesus said to His
disciples in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you
another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
1John 4:4, “…greater is He [God’s Spirit] who is in you than he [Satan]
who is in the world.”

Satan is powerful, but he is only a created being and therefore, he is
subject to God; one day he and his demons, along, with all unbelievers, will
be cast into the lake of fire, to be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.

Matthew 25:41, “Depart from Me… into the eternal fire which has been
prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Revelation 20:10, “And the devil… was thrown into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also…” 15, “And if
anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into
the lake of fire.”

But God’s children are victorious.

1John 5:1, “ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”

1John 5:5, “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?”

No matter in what role or function you serve God, as a husband, a wife,
a parent, a child, an employee, an employer, brother or sister in Christ—
God has equipped you to escape the corruption of this world and the
deceptive schemes of the devil, so that you might honor and glorify God
victoriously!

2Peter 1:3-4, “His [God’s] divine power has granted to us everything
pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who
called us by His own glory and excellence. He has granted to us His precious
and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by
lust.”

Philippians 4:13, “ [We] can do all things through Him who strengthens
[us].” 19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in
glory in Christ Jesus.”

Read Ephesians 6:13-15… Since our battle is against spiritual forces, we
must put on spiritual armor, that we might stand our ground against these
attacks. Paul uses the analogy of a Roman soldier preparing for battle, to
exemplify the type of armor we have to protect us spiritually.

We are to stand firm (Ephesians 6:14), we are to be resolute,
immoveable, having been outfitted with the full armor of God, with which we
are readied to take our stand against all enemies.

What does it mean to have girded your loins with truth? To gird is to
secure something around that which needs protection; in this passage it is
the loins; the loins is the area of the body from the lowest ribs to the hips,
all the way around; notice here that the means, or the source of our
protection is God’s Truth.

So in this metaphor, a belt, in this case a soldier’s belt, made of heavy
leather, is secured around the soldier’s one piece outer garment.

The belt was usually loosened when off duty and tightened up for battle,
so that any loose clothing was tucked in, cinched up; the belt here,
symbolizes the Truth of God that secures us for battle and readies us to
stand our ground.

The next piece of armor is the breastplate [body armor, made of bronze],
it protected the soldier from his neck down to his thighs, both front and
back, and was often called the heart protector, because this most important
organ was covered by the breastplate.

Our spiritual breastplate is the righteousness we have, by way of our
faith in the Lord for salvation (see Romans 3:10-12, 21-24, 28). It is by
the righteousness of Christ that we are made acceptable to a Holy and
Righteous God, forever (2Corinthians 5:21).

Read Ephesians 6:15… Paul says your feet are shod [meaning our feet
have had special footwear placed on them]. Footwear is an essential part of
our armament and here, Paul is talking about some very special boots used
by Roman soldiers that were fitted with short broad headed nails [similar to
hob nailed boots, or logger boots]; they were used to provide good traction
in any terrain, against any foe.

Good foot protection is very important for a soldier to securely stand his
ground.

Note: In the Korean War hundreds, perhaps thousands of me lost toes and
feet to frostbite, their boots didn’t protect their feet. In Viet Nam, hundreds
of soldiers were rendered debilitated by jungle rot, a foot fungus that their
boots did not protect them from, rendering them incapable of walking, let
alone fighting.

Every Christian has been provided special spiritual footwear, through the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, i.e., through Christ’s victory
over sin, death and judgement, believers have peace, and no matter how
slippery, rocky, or treacherous our journey might become, because of the
devil’s snares and schemes, we have confidence that God will direct our
steps and keep us on firm footing as we serve Him.

Read Ephesians 6:16… There were two types of shields commonly used
by soldiers, a small round one for blocking the thrust of an opponent’s
sword, and a large oblong one for protecting the whole body, and all those
who were crouching behind him, from thrown spears and flaming arrows
that were wrapped with cloth, soaked in pitch and set afire.

This [large] shield was made of several layers of wood, covered with
animal hide and bound with iron; this shield it was often soaked with water,
so it wouldn’t ignite when impacted by fiery arrows, that splattered burning
pitch everywhere.

The “flaming arrows of the evil one” describes the Devil’s tactics of
inciting doubt, distrust, and fear among God’s people, so that we will give
up, or even run; but during such times, it is the shield of faith that protects
us and prompts us not give up, but instead, to stand firm in the faith

(Psalm 18:30), “He [God] is a shield to all who take refuge in Him..”

1Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your
toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

1John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is
the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Read Ephesians 6:17… The next piece of armor is the helmet, which
protects the head. Paul gives it the characteristic of salvation, not the initial
receiving of Christ, but the eternal security we have as God’s children (cf.
Romans 6:23; 8:1).

Satan attempts to deceive God’s people, trying to confuse them or cause
them to believe they have lost, or could lose their salvation; if that doesn’t
work, Satan attempts to discourage or disable believers from serving God.

The helmet of salvation provides both our present assurance and our
future hope, for it is God Himself who watches over, provides for, and
protects us, promising to bring us to Himself, in glory (Romans 8:28-35,
37-39; John 14:1-3). God has equipped us for victory in Christ!
Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.”

And God has provided everything we need to accomplish His will in and
through our lives (2Peter 1:3), “His divine power has granted to us
everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of
Him who called us by His own glory and excellence,” (Philippians 4:13) “I
can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (19-20), “And my God
will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike       >’(((><

Bible Text: Ephesians 6:1-9 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Ephesians | Deuteronomy 6:4-9, ““Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your
heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you
sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and
on your gates.

The parents of Israel failed, just as many parents today fail to share God’s plan,
purpose and provision with their own children.. So why is that so difficult?

1. Every living person has a sinful nature, with self at the center.
2. The world system is godless and corrupt, antithetical to the character of God
and God’s will for marriage, family and other relationships.
3. The widespread confusion and ignorance about marriage and parenting is
exacerbated by the myriad of marriage, family and child psychology books written
by so-called experts who have no real substance and are lacking the truth.

Read Ephesians 6:1-4… There are a many secular humanistic groups today who
are promoting the release of children from the morals and values held by traditional
families, denying parental authority, outlawing physical punishment, and forbidding
religious education, or “indoctrination” as they refer to it.

Some of those from these groups are seeking to remove all moral ideologies and
instead to allow children to have complete sexual freedom: contraceptives made
available through school health clinics, abortions on demand, minimum wage
payment for doing household chores, and even the right to sue and/or “divorce”
their own parents.

Parents who do not teach and train their children to know and to apply God’s
principles and precepts, may one day find that their child has become like a frog in
a kettle of water, sitting atop a burner on a stove, adjusting to the slowly rising
heat, unaware of the imminent danger approaching, until it is too late, ultimately
succumbing to death by environment.

Children must not be allowed to choose whatever they want, whenever and
wherever they want it; for they are under the authority of their parents, not the
other way around! And no matter what the world says, God is very clear:

(Ephesians 6:1-2) children are to obey (behavioral action) and honor (heart
attitude) their parents.

This is the first commandment with a promise,

euteronomy 5:16, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God
has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with
you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”

The OT consequences for disobedience and disrespect was death.

Exodus 21:15, “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to
death.”

Deuteronomy 21:18-21, “”If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will
not obey * his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even
listen to them, then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the
elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. “They shall say to the elders of
his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey * us, he is a
glutton and a drunkard.’ “Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so
you shall remove the evil from your midst, and all Israel will hear of it and fear.”

A generation of undisciplined, godless children will produce a society of
confused, neurotic, and dangerous adults; and it can take up to three or four
generations to reverse the effects of one wicked generation.

The Children’s Defense Fund posts the following figures, concerning what
happens every 24 hours in America:

5 children are killed by abuse or neglect
7 teens commit suicide
170 children are arrested for a violent offense
300 children are arrested for a drug offense
600 unwed teenage girls have babies
1,800 abortions take place
2,800 kids watch their parents separate or divorce
3,000 teens drop out of high school
5,000 teenagers contract an STD

A world like this is very hard on its children.

A child can have no greater blessing or inheritance than the godly teaching and
example of loving parents. It is a parent’s duty to train his/her children to know
and honor God, to care for themselves, and to care for others.

Children do not know God naturally, they must be taught about Him, His plan
and His provisions; His love must be shown to them, so they will come to trust in
Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, and so here (Ephesians 6:4),
fathers are commanded not to use their authority or their physical presence to
provoke or exasperate their children, instead, he is to model Christ to them.

In two separate studies [one by Harvard University sociologists, the other by a
well known Christian psychiatrist] similar factors were found to produce beneficial
and productive parent-child relations:

1. Love expressed by parents for each other, and for their children.
2. Firm, fair and consistent discipline and expectations
3. Good modeling by both parents, with father as the head of the home.

Following are some factors that were found to cause resentment or to provoke
anger in children, toward their parents:

1. overprotection
2. showing favoritism, comparing siblings
3. pushing achievements to fulfill parental fantasies
4. a lack of commendations
5. pushing a child to grow up too quickly
6. using love as a reward and/or punishment, i.e., conditional acceptance of a
child based on performance

Biblical Proverbs direct us to train and discipline our children according to God’s
principles and precepts, expressing our love for them and our obedience to God.

Proverbs 1:8, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your
mother’s teaching.”

Proverbs 13:24, “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him
disciplines him diligently.”

Proverbs 19:18, “Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his
death.”

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he
will not depart from it.” 15, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod
of discipline will remove it far from him.”

Proverbs 23:13-14, “Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you
strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod and rescue
his soul from Sheol.”

Proverbs 29:15, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own
way brings shame to his mother.” 17, “Correct your son, and he will give you
comfort; He will also delight your soul.”

Children are blessings and treasures from God; they belong to God, and so we
as parents are caretakers of that which belongs to God; it is our responsibility to
guide, direct, protect, encourage, discipline, teach and equip our children, that they
might come to know and to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ:
crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, ”Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from
coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
As Christian parents, we are to exemplify the will and the character of God in
our lives, so that our children will come to personally know Jesus Christ as their
Savior and Lord; only then, will they have all they need to be able to enjoy life on
this earth, as a servant of Christ, while waiting expectantly to be brought into
heaven, as a child of God, where they will live forever, in the presence of God the
Father and God the Son, with all those who are members of the Family of God [the
Body of Christ].

Read Ephesians 6:5-8… Slaves [employees] are to serve their masters
[employers] obediently, respectfully; for this is good and pleases the Lord. We are
to serve others as if we are slaves of Christ, working wholeheartedly, as if serving
the Lord Himself. And we do this whether we are serving under or alongside other
believers or unbelievers.

Read Ephesians 6:9…Masters [employers] are not to threaten or mistreat
their slaves [employees], for we are all equal in God’s sight (in salvation and
individual worth) and there is no favoritism in God’s family, for we all serve one
Master, who is in heaven, and through Christ we all belong to God.

Galatians 3:26-28, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For
all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male
nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

1John 3:1a, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would
be called children of God; and such we are.”

1John 5:1-2, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and
whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love
the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.”

Husbands are to be the head of the home, and they are not to be harsh with
their wives, but considerate and caring, treating them with love and respect.

Parents are to be obeyed by their children, but they are not to provoke or
mistreat them, but to love, nurture, and train them, so they might know and serve
the Lord.

Masters [employers] have authority, but they are to provide what is right and
fair to their servants [employees] because God in heaven is the Sovereign Master to
whom every one will one day give an account.

And so, whether you serve the Lord as a husband, wife, child, parent, employee
or employer; you are to serve as if you are serving the Lord Himself.

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” 23-25, “Whatever you do, do
your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has
done, and that without partiality.”

Bible Text: Ephesians 5:22-33 | Pastor: Mike Hale | Series: Ephesians |  

As we previously learned from verse 21, mutual submission toward one
another is what God wants and expects in all of our relationships, whether:
husband and wife, parent and child, master and slave. The mutual submission we
are to express is out of reverence for God through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:22-24 tells us wives are to align themselves under their
husband’s leadership, for a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head off
the church; therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, wives are to be
subject to their husbands in everything.
Read Ephesians 5:25-33…
A husband’s love (verse 25) for his wife should exemplify Christ’s love for His
church. Christ gave Himself up for us. He saved us through a purifying love,
according to His Word (verses 26-27). Husbands are to express that very same
selfless, protective, nurturing, and sacrificial love for their wives, as Christ
demonstrated toward His church.
Paul gives some strong illustrations and examples concerning the priority and
depth of the husband-wife relationship. It becomes clear (verses 28-30) that
husbands are to think of their wife as their own body. Would a person not feed and
care for his own body? Christ feeds and cares for each member of the church, and
each one of us, both husbands and wives, are members of Christ’s own spiritual
body. Likewise, a wife is one with her husband, as the husband is one with her.
In verse 31, Paul references back to the Genesis record to proof text his
teaching by quoting Genesis 2:24. Let’s take a look at Genesis 2:22-24, “The
Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and
brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of
my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ For this
reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and
they shall become one flesh.”
The word “joined” in verse 24 has the meaning of being glued together [never
to be separated; they have been welded together to become one] through Christ.
The husband wife-relationship is a model of Christ’s relationship with His
church. This first institution ordained by God was the marriage of a man to a
women, a most holy union, for this exemplifies Christ’s relationship with us, His
body. No wonder Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all”
people.
Ephesians 5:32 declares that this is in fact a profound mystery. Paul is
expressing the relationship between a man and his wife but it seems to be all mixed
with the relationship between Christ and His church.
Christ is the head and the bridegroom of His church. Man is the head and the
husband of his wife.
I think what makes this even more profound is the fact that while Christ is the
head of His body, His church, and the husband is the head of his wife –both the
husband and wife are members of Christ’s body and are equal as parts of this
universal and spiritual body called the church or the Bride of Christ.
So husbands, you are part the spiritual body known as the Bride of Christ, and
therefore you also are to become the wife of Christ at the wedding feast described
in Revelation 19:6-9.
As we have already studied (Ephesians 5:22-24), God has ordained that a
wife is to voluntarily align herself in rank under her husband and show respect for
his leadership. This respect is conditioned by and expressive of a reverence for
Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
God has ordained that a husband is to be the loving and self-sacrificing servant
leader to his family, as Christ is to the church. It is assumed that the husband will
initiate this love for wife, just ask Christ did for the church.
Paul doesn’t tell the wife to love her husband but to submit to him and respect
him. Why is that? The answer is expressed in the Christ-church relationship.
Christ loves the church and expressed that love fully when He died for us. The
church returns its love for Christ through willful obedience and submission to Him.
1John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”
Every individual who responds to the message of salvation, becomes a member
of Christ’s spiritual body the church. Had God not reached out and initiated His love
for us, we would never have been able to submit in obedience to His Lordship.
We submit to Him because He loved us. The connection between a husband
and wife’s relationship and that relationship of Christ and His church is indeed a
profound and a marvelous mystery, unveiled in Christ.
The Christ/church and husband/wife relationships are parallels, as marriage is a
typology of being in Christ. One thing is very clear and very true: When God’s love
is given, accepted, and shared, husbands and wives will submit to one another
expressing God’s pleasure and will.
Husbands, when you are loving your wife in obedience to God’s clear commands
to care for, nurture, and protect her, she will find it much easier to willfully submit
to your leadership.
Wives, when you are respecting and submitting to your husband’s leadership–
he will find it much easier to lovingly care for, nurture, and sacrifice for you.
When God made Eve out of Adam’s side and brought her to him, Adam named
her and they became one flesh. That original relationship between husband and
wife was pure; Adam’s headship and Eve’s submission were manifested by their
mutual love for one another under God’s care and provision.
Genesis 1:26-28 makes it clear that they (man and woman/husband and wife)
were to rule over creation; to be blessed and multiply. Even though Adam was to
be in leadership and Eve was to be his companion helper, their relationship was so
closely knitted together that God’s command was given to them jointly.
Marriage was instituted by God for several reasons:
1. (Genesis 1:28) To procreate mankind by raising up children, filling the earth. 2.
(Genesis 2:18) For companionship so that they would not be alone.
The Fall brought a curse on man, woman and marriage (Genesis 3:16-19):
Woman was cursed with painful childbirth and a desire to usurp her husband’s
leadership. Man was cursed with difficult toil just to make a living and a desire to
dominate his wife.
Marriage was corrupted from the very beginning, before the first child was
born; harmonious marriage relationships can never exist apart from mutual
reverence for Christ and mutual submission toward one another.
The curse of Genesis brought conflict between husbands and wives. The Cross
of Christ brought the cure for resolving that conflict: as man submits to the
Lordship of Christ he will be able to serve as the head of his own family not by
demanding obedience or ruling harshly over his wife, but by expressing Christlike
love toward her: sacrificial, unconditional, unbreakable love.
Jesus didn’t sacrifice Himself for the lovely or worthy but for the unlovely and
unworthy. A husband’s love for His wife is not because she deserves it or is worthy
of it.
The love of the world is a conditional love based upon attraction, fulfilled
needs, and pleasure. In other words, it is based upon a certain type of appeal that
one has for another. As soon as the ‘feeling that was appealing’ is gone, so is the
relationship, in many instances.
God’s love for us, Christ’s love for the church, is not based upon any type of
merit or appeal between the one who loves and the one to whom that love is
directed. Thank God that we don’t have to stay appealing or attractive to God to
receive His sacrificial love for us.
A husband is not commanded to love his wife because of anything that she is
or is not. The husband is to love because this is God’s will for him. It is a definite
plus to be able to love a woman who is kind, beautiful, gentle, fun, and winsome.
But even if all those qualities were taken away, the husband would still be just as
responsible before the God of Creation to love his wife.
The husband is under a greater obligation to love his wife when she isn’t
appealing, attractive, or deserving. In fact, the more unlovable and unworthy she
becomes the more need she has for the healing and restorative nature of her
husband’s love. This is exactly the kind of love Christ has for us, even though we
are in a condition of abject sinfulness, deserving only the Wrath of God.
A Christian husband is to be generous and gracious as he loves his wife; no
matter how nagging, irritating, and contentious she might become.
When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He did it because of His love for
them, not because it was pleasant or they deserved it. Jesus expressed His love for
them by serving them in this menial way, even though He was Master and Teacher.
Love does whatever needs to be done, whether there is worthiness or not. If a
husband loves his wife only when she is pleasing or attractive to him, that husband
is not loving as Christ loved the church.
A husband is to give up everything for his wife, including his own life if
necessary. He is to put aside his own wants, needs, and opinions if that is what is
required to meet her needs. A husband who loves his wife “as Christ loved the
church” is more than willing to give up everything for her.
Think about it! If a husband is willing to sacrifice his own life for his wife; he
must be willing to make lesser sacrifices for her. If a husband is obeying God
concerning this priority command to love his wife, that husband will take time to
talk with, listen to, and even share his own thoughts and fears, hopes and desires,
with her.
There isn’t any place that a man’s relationship to God is better tested than in
his relationship with his own family, especially his relationship with his wife.
How are we doing husbands? Listen, you are to supply your wife’s needs just
as Christ does for His church. Husbands are to use tender love and physical
affection to provide warmth, comfort, and security to their wives; these
responsibilities fall to the husband for his wife, just as they fall on Christ for the
church.
A husband and wife is seen by God as one flesh, not two. Marriage is a unit of
two people who have been unified and welded together by Christ in such a way that
they are no longer two but one.
This sacred relationship between husbands and wives is a typology of the
relationship between Christ and His church. Husbands are to sacrificially love their
wives and wives are to respect their husband’s leadership.
When husbands and wives walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to
God’s Word, being subject to one to another out of reverence for Christ, they will
experience God’s pleasure, presence, and power, in a supernatural way, because
this brings honor, glory and praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen? Amen!

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Ephesians 5:21-25 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: Ephesians | See Ephesians 5:21. Christians are to willfully submit to one another, out of
reverence for the Lord who saved us.
This verse is a transition into the larger section (Ephesians 5:22-6:9), where
we are instructed about relationships between husbands and wives, Christ and His
Church, parents and children, and masters and slaves [i.e., employers and
employees]. In short, we are to be submit to one another, out of reverence for
Christ.
All nations, churches, organizations, institutions, agencies, and families, function
best with a clear chain of command or line of authority. Those who have the
responsibility to lead, do not necessarily receive their authority because they are
better than anyone else; but for the most part, it is because they have been hired,
appointed, or elected into a position in order to provide oversight and manage for
the functionality, and overall productivity, of the unit.
God commands all Christians: husbands as well as wives, parents as well as
children, employers as wells as employees, to have the same attitude as that of
Christ Jesus (Philippians. 2:5-8) “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also
in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross.”
All believers are spiritual equals in every sense and we are to submit to one
another out of reverence for and submission to the Lord, who loved us enough to
die for us, that we might receive forgiveness for sins and adoption into God’s
eternal family. We are to express our love for one another as members of one
body, brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging one another to know, to exemplify,
and to proclaim God’s Word, as we humbly serve the Lord together.
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free
man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Mutual submission is what God wants in all of our relationships, and we are to
do this, out of reverence for Christ. As Christians, we are to show mutual respect
and love toward one another, realizing that God has ordained distinct functions and
roles for His people, but we all have the very same value and worth before God.
The church’s understanding and application of God’s Word is meant to provide
protection, power, and purpose for Christ’s church, as we obediently live out God’s
precepts and principles in a world that rejects the very existence of God.
Much of today’s church has succumbed to the influence of the godless world
around us, e.g., self-indulgence, self-importance, immorality, impurity, greed, and
false teaching.
As we enter 2020, it would appear that God’s standards are out-of-date to
most of the world, perhaps irrelevant, and even offensive to a majority of people.
Sadly, this has also become true among many of those who call themselves
Christians.
God calls us to live differently than those who do not belong to him. God’s
design for marriage and family is in sharp contrast to that being practiced and
validated in the world around us, especially in reference to how wives and
husbands, and parents and children, are to function in their god-ordained roles.
God makes clear distinctions in the matter of roles and functions for husbands and
wives (see Ephesians 5:22-25a).
Wives are to respectfully submit to their husband’s leadership; and husbands
are to lead their wives by loving them sacrificially, as Christ loves the church.
God says wives are to be subject to [this is a military term, literally meaning,
to align or arrange in rank under] their own husbands, i.e., wives are to willfully
submit to their husband’s leadership, because God has ordained it so.
This does not mean, nor is it taught anywhere in Scripture, that a wife is to
obey her husband, as children are to obey their parents, and slaves are to obey
their masters. A husband is not to treat his wife as a servant or a child; she is a
co-heir of salvation and co-equal before God; but God has placed the responsibility
on the husband to provide for, protect, and even suffer for his wife’s sake, as did
Christ for His church.
A husband is not superior to a wife, no more than a man is superior to a
woman, simply because he is a man. In fact, many times a wife may be more
qualified and skilled at decision making and leadership than her husband (but this
can, and often does, create struggles in a marriage).
You see, God has ordained that a husband is to lead and a wife is to follow,
much like a man and a woman dancing, if they both are trying to lead, they will
most likely trip over one another’s feet; it is clearly best for only one to lead.
God has designed every person for a unique role in the body of Christ, and
these are to be carried out by way of mutual respect, submission, and love.
God’s directives for leading and following are entirely functional and they are
ordained by God (see Genesis 3:8-19). There was a consequence given for Adam
and Eve’s failure to obey God’s command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).
The word translated desire (Genesis 3:16) does not imply sexual, emotional
or psychological desire. Eve already possessed those, for she was Adam’s specially
created “helper suitable for him” (cf. Genesis 2:18).
The desire expressed here is the same found in the next chapter (Genesis
4:7) where the same word is used [meaning – to compel, urge or seek control
over]. God warned Cain that sin wanted to control him; God commanded Cain not
to give in to or allow sin to control him.
The context of both Genesis 3:16; 4:7 is after Adam sinned. In Genesis
3:16 the curse on Eve implies that woman’s desire would, from that time on, be to
usurp her husband’s leadership, to not align herself under his headship. Man, on
the other hand, would fight against a woman’s desire to take control, for it says he
will rule over her.
Adam and Eve were told in Genesis 1:26, 28, to rule over the animals (before
sin had entered), a different Hebrew word is used here for the concept of rule, it
means to care for something that belongs to someone else, like a steward of what
belongs to God.
Sin brought about a change in the concept of ruling, i.e., from genuine
stewardship, oversight and management, it digressed to a form of authoritarian
domination; however, this was not part of God’s original plan for man’s role as
leader and woman’s role as helpmate, but instead, this was the consequence of sin
entering creation.
The act of honoring and fulfilling the roles that God intended for husbands and
wives, was distorted at the point that sin entered creation, and the battle of the
sexes began: radical feminism and male chauvinism entered creation as a
consequence to sin’s curse.
The original closeness and perfect unity between Adam and Eve is expressed in
Genesis 2:19-24. By chapter 3 that unity and innocence is gone; Adam and Eve
are at odds with God and with each other, for sin has entered the world.
Man was created first, and God placed man in the role of leader, first in the
family, later on in society, and finally, in the church. 1Timothy 2:11-12 says, “A
woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not
allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
Paul then reaches all the way back to original creation to show that women
weren’t intended to serve in headship roles over men; the reason being (1Timothy
2:13-14), “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not
Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
This is talking about the fact that Eve, circumventing Adam’s leadership, fell
into the transgression of original sin by listening to and being deceived by the
serpent; and yet, it was through a woman [Mary] that the Savior was born. God
designed women to fulfill roles in the home, church and culture that no man can fill,
and therefore, she didn’t have to carry the stigma of being the one who was
deceived in the garden.
Woman was created after man, as his helpmate; and it was she who was
deceived when acting independent of the man’s leadership. Paul goes on to say
(1Timothy 2:15), “But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if
they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”
1Corinthians 11:3, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every
man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
1Corinthians 11:7-9, “A man… …is the image and glory of God; but the woman is
the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from
man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the
man’s sake.”
It is interesting though, that we are told 1Peter 3:7, “You husbands… …live
with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a
woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your
prayers will not be hindered.”
Peter is speaking of a Christian husband’s responsibility to be understanding
toward his wife’s physical and emotional needs, and a husband is to be actively and
genuinely sensitive toward her, “as with someone weaker, since she is a woman.”
The truth is, males are generally stronger than females, both physically and
emotionally, as multiple studies confirm, but of course there will always be
exceptions.
However, when a male or a female faces an emergency and/or a high stress
situation (pain or fear> flee or fight), during these events, in 100% of the test
subjects (human and animal) the male brain always exhibits increased blood flow
which heightens awareness, resolve and response; while the female brain always
exhibits decreased blood flow , leading to muddled thinking, confusion, and
indecisiveness.
By God’s purpose and design, man was made to be the provider, protector, and
servant-leader of his family; but western society and culture has pushed hard this
past century, in an attempt to blur all male/female distinctions, roles and functions,
e.g., unisex clothing, genderless bathrooms, feminine men, masculine women,
gender confusion and dysphoria [e.g., Michael Jackson was famous for his sexually
and ethnically ambiguous appearance and attributes; by his own words he sought
to exemplify both gender and ethnic androgyny, and he became very popular
because of it.
Western civilization for the most part has turned its back on God and considers
God’s Word to be obsolete. Let me assure you that all of mankind will one day
acknowledge God’s Living Word as absolutely sovereign and eternally authoritative
(Philippians 2:9-11), “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed
on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and
that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.”
Christians are to live by God’s inerrant and eternal Word, no matter what the
corrupt and godless world around us chooses to follow and promote.
The curse of Genesis 3:16 laid the ground work for the battle of the sexes,
and from that time until now women have been trying to usurp man’s headship,
and men have been trying to rule over women by dominating them. The
consequences of such behavior is extremely detrimental to the families, churches,
and communities of our society.
1Corinthians 11:11-12, “However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of
man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the
man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate
from God.”
In other words we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, and
only then will a wife be able to willingly respect her husband’s leadership in the
home, and a husband be able to sacrificially love and care for his wife, leading by
serving.
This is only possible through a personal relationship with God’s Son, the
indwelling of God’s Spirit, and obedience to God’s Word; apart from which, there
will be no love, no harmony, no respect, and no mutual submission for one another out of reverence for Christ.

Pastor Mike

Pastor: Pastor Mike |  

The past four Sundays we have studied some of prophecies, events, and
people surrounding the Holy Conception of Mary, and the Divine Birth of God
in human flesh, Both Lord and Savior, and given the name: Yeshua [Heb.]
and Jesus [Gk.] meaning God’s Salvation; and was called Immanuel [Heb.]
(God with us).
God’s purpose in coming to earth in the flesh of a human child, was that
He would ultimately serve as the sovereign payment for all sin, so that we
might be made acceptable to God, in and through Jesus Christ.
Today we will look at some of the events and characters that appear in
the months following God’s advent to earth in the flesh of a male baby,
conceived in the womb of a young virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born in Bethlehem, in Judea.
Read Matthew 2:1-6… Some Magi (learned men who studied the
heavens) came from the East (Persia – Iran), in order to find, honor, and
worship the newborn King of the Jews. They most likely had servants and a
security squad traveling with them, and the Magi would have appeared as
royalty and noblemen to the Jews.
The Magi followed a star to Jerusalem (about 1000 miles), and began
asking everyone about the birth of the King of the Jews. This greatly
troubled Herod (who had been named King of the Jews, by Julius Caesar), so
he called for his theologians to find out what the Prophets had written
(Micah 5:2), “From you [Bethlehem] One will go forth for Me to be ruler in
Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”
Read Matthew 2:7-12… Herod, being aware of the Magi, sends for them
in order to find out when the “star” (they had been following) appeared; he
then sends them to Bethlehem to look for this King of the Jews (who is now
a “Child” [or toddler, i.e., 1-2 years old], Jesus is no longer a baby or infant).
Herod says he wants to find this child (verse 8), so that “[he] too may go
and worship Him.”
The Magi go to Bethlehem, following the star that came to rest over a
house, where the Child, Mary [His mother], and Joseph were now living.
The Magi present magnificent gifts to Jesus:
Gold – One of the most precious metals, associated with royalty and wealth:
it speaks of Christ as King of Kings.
Frankincense – An expensive and highly aromatic incense made from tree
resin, it was used in worship at the Tabernacle, and later, on the incense
alter at the Temple, as a fragrant offering to God: it speaks of Christ as Lord
of Lords.
Myrrh – A valuable aromatic gum resin, it was used mostly for embalming
the dead, in order to preserve the dead bodies from putrefaction; it was also
mixed in wine to produce sedation or intoxication: it speaks of Christ as the
Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God, our Savior.
The Magi honored Jesus, although just a child, with marvelous gifts, for
He is the KING of Kings, LORD of Lords, and the Savior who came to die for
our sins, that we might be set free from sin’s penalty.
The Magi were warned in a dream (verse 12), not to report to Herod, so
they obeyed God and returned home a different way.
Read Matthew 2:13-18… Joseph is now warned in a dream to take Jesus
and Mary and go to Egypt until Herod is dead, for Herod will soon order the
murder of all male babies and toddlers who appear to be around two years
of age and younger, in an attempt to destroy the Christ child who had been
born (see Matthew 2:18, cf. Jeremiah 31:15).
Ramah is about 5 miles north of Jerusalem where Jewish captives during
Jeremiah’s time were gathered and deported to Babylon, children were
separated from their parents, never to be seen again.
Rachel, the wife of Jacob [Israel], wept as her children [the Israelites]
were taken away from their mothers and sent to foreign lands during the
time of Jeremiah.
Now, after the birth of the Messiah, God’s Son, the mothers in and around
Bethlehem would also weep bitterly, for Herod, in a rage of jealous anger,
would massacre their male children.
Herod (Matthew 2:16) was enraged, physically shaken, so full of anger
that he set himself against God, knowing full well the identity of the Child he
was trying to kill (Matthew 2:4, the Messiah, God’s Son), the future Ruler
of Israel.
God not only protected His Son by sending Him out of Israel into Egypt
before Herod could find Him, but God also provides resources (gold,
frankincense, myrrh), so that Joseph and Mary could care for Jesus, while
traveling to, living in, and returning to Israel from, Egypt.
Read Matthew 2:19-23… Herod tried to kill God’s Son by murdering all
the baby boys in or near the vicinity of Bethlehem, but as Josephus (a
historian during the time of Christ) records in Antiquities of the Jews, that
God’s judgment came upon Herod, who died a horrible and painful death,
after suffering with ”ulcerated entrails, maggot-filled organs, convulsions in
all parts of his body, and foul breath.”
Herod murdered two of his own sons, his wife, and several other
relatives; in fact, anyone who became popular among the people was in
danger of becoming a victim of Herod’s maniacal jealousy.
After Herod died, God told Joseph to return to Israel, fulfilling (Hosea
11:1), where God says, “out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Herod, at the time of Christ, had three living sons: Archelaus (Ar-khel’-
ah-os) ruled Judea & Samaria; Antipas (An-tee’-pas) ruled Galilee (he
beheaded John); and Philip II ruled north of Galilee (his wife, Herodias,
committed adultery with Antipas).
Herod’s son Archelaus hated the Jews about as much, if not more than his
father, e.g., one Passover he had 3000 Jews executed.
No wonder Joseph (verse. 22) was warned in a dream, not to go to
Judea (ruled by Archelaus); but instead to take Mary and Jesus and go to
Nazareth in Galilee, ruled by Antipas.
Nazareth was considered a despised place, the term ”Nazarene” was
often used to express contempt or disdain.
Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and rejected by men… … and we did
not esteem Him.”
Four days ago, most of us, if not all of us in this room, celebrated
Christmas, in honor of God’s Son; but many of the world’s inhabitants
celebrated Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or the Holiday, giving no
attention to the Christ of Christmas.
The majority of the world’s people are indifferent toward the meaning of
Christmas, perhaps ignorant of the birth, life, death and resurrection of
Jesus – all of which declare Him to be Almighty God, Lord or all, Savior to
those who believe in Him, but Judge and Executioner to those who reject
Him.
The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus all declare Him to be the
Lord and Savior of all.
John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For
God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the
world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he
who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” 36, “He who believes in the
Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but
the wrath of God abides on him.”
God wants us to know and to believe in His Son; God wants everyone to
be saved and to spend eternity in heaven.
1Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth.”
John 14:6, Jesus said, ”I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but through Me.”
God protected and provided for His own Son when Herod sought to kill
Him, and God will provide for and protect all who belong to Him, now and
forever.
John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him [Christ the Lord], to them He
[God] gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe
in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of
the will of man, but of God.”
If you have not confessed your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ to forgive
you, believing in Him as Savior, do it right now; there is simply no good
reason not to.
Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life [eternal life];
he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life [eternal life].
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of
God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
At our Christmas Eve Service I shared a piece of literature called, ’Twas
the Night Before Jesus Came. The last line of that piece goes like this, “In
the words of this poem the meaning is clear; the coming of Jesus is drawing
near. There’s only one life and when comes the last call, we’ll find that the
Bible was true after all!”
If you have never confessed to God that you are a sinner, asking God to
forgive your sins and save you, please consider Paul’s urgent plea in
2Corinthians 5:20, “[I] beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Don’t let another day go by without the assurance of God’s eternal
protection, provision and presence. The gift of forgiveness and eternal life is
absolutely free and God turns no one away.
Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 10:13, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In three days this year will be over. Don’t attempt to enter the new year
without the Eternal Provision & Protection of God that comes through Jesus
Christ, God’s Son, Savior and Lord. Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus for
salvation, follow the teachings in the Bible as they have been revealed to us;
remain in fellowship and actively participate in a God-believing, Godproclaiming, God-honoring church, and you will have a much more joyous
and prosperous year.