This is Exploring the Word on American Family Radio

>> Jeff Chamblee: M. The Bible. The Bible. It's the word of God, living and active, sharper than any two edged sword. It contains all we need for life and godliness. And it reveals to us the mysteries of God. Join us for the next hour as we study the Bible and take your Bible questions. This is Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.

>> Bert Harper: Two of the most important words you'll find in the NewSong Testament is one another. sometimes it will say love one another, care for one another. but that's what the NewSong Testament really espouses, one another. And today on Exploring the Word we're going to talk about how to treat one another. And when we treat one another the way we should, what might happen. This is Bert harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland and it's our joy to come to you each day, Monday through Friday at this time on Exploring the Word. And Alex, today it's a pre recorded program because you and I are unable to be here for traveling or sometimes it is family time that you and I take away. Yeah, but we could not do it. So we do these pre records so there will not be questions at the end. But we will be studying the word of God. So hope you can stay with us. Alex. When you see one another in the Bible, those words are repeated quite often, aren't they?

>> Alex McFarland: They really are. They really are. And we're going to look at 1 Thessalonians 5 today and if you've got your Bible turn there, it's really rich. I've always loved 1st and 2nd Thessalonians and what we're going to do with this passage is we're going to look at some of the final words, kind of a closing salutation that Paul's giving in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. But I want to tie it to some of our churches today.

What are the qualities that make a church great?

And let me throw this question out. What are the qualities that make a church great? Now if you're a pastor or I hope a parishioner at least of a church, hope you're part of a local church. What makes a church great and what makes a church healthy and strong and magnetic and we're going to pull out of this salutation. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Some things, some characteristics or attributes that I think would make any church.

>> Bert Harper: I agree with you. And again it's 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and it's about the day of the Lord, but then at the end it's instructions for living.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly.

>> Bert Harper: And kind of Instructions for living. Why? Because the church should be involved in our lives. The church is not excluded. Alex, I want to ask you, do you remember? And I always thought, I can't do what they're asking me to do. I. I would come to church, and sometimes my pastor or a teacher would say, now I want you to forget everything that's going on outside there and concentrate on worshiping today. I never could do that. But what I learned to do, I brought those issues to the Lord, and it clarified them better if I left them alone and did not give some thoughts to it. How could I apply what. What I learn to the issues of the day? No, I think you bring them to the Lord. That's what I do. I admit now, not everybody's like me. My wife Jan has to remind me sometimes, bert, you're not the standard, and I know that, and I realize that,

>> Alex McFarland: but you'd be a pretty good one.

>> Bert Harper: No, I'm telling you. Let me just share this with you. This is what we're going to do today, is look at these things that we bring and. And one another helping us, because verse 11, let me read that. Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also were doing. There it is that two words that I'm talking about. And in a church, that would be great. I guarantee you they care for one another. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, when Paul interacted with Christians at Thessalonica a little bit, he had to address some doctrinal issues. He talks a lot about the second coming of Christ. In fact, there's quite a bit about the return of Christ. And that is something to think about, too. live this day mindful of that day, the day we're going to see the Lord. And he talks a lot about grace and peace. And, you know, we kind of see these themes in 1 and 2 Thessalonians to increase brotherly love, to rejoice, to pray, and to give thanks, which is really spiritual health. Bert. I think that, there's a lot in the words of Elmer Towns, El Townes. I don't know if you know that name, folks, but he's a giant.

>> Bert Harper: They've heard him quoted on this program quite a bit, though.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, exactly. Now, think about this, and we're going to get into 1 Thessalonians 5 and begin at verse 11. Elmer Town said, before there can be much church growth, there has to be church health now in our culture today. And listen, I love America. I love the church. I mean, I love the church. I feel so privileged to have been in a whole lot of churches. Speaking about the state of church growth. Greg Lori said, the issue is this. We've forgotten how to lead people to Jesus. So how serious is the issue of America's church health? And relate it to the fact that to a large degree we're not seeing much, if any church growth.

>> Bert Harper: It is really coming. The day when a lot of the church growth, let me say it this way, is swapping sheep in place of winning new people. They just swap out, they go somewhere bigger and better or somewhere where they think they'll be accepted and very little missional evangelism. I think there's several reasons. I'm not going to get into all of those, but I'm telling you, it doesn't matter the situation. We should be on mission and evangelistic regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly, exactly.

The best way to identify your spiritual giftedness is to serve

And let me just say, folks, devoting time to prayer, and I mean praying with specifics, not just, lord, bless me as I fall asleep now. No, I mean to really do the work of prayer, and then to be, intentional about talking with others about Christ. And I think you always need to maintain what I call your most wanted list. Have a list of 10 names that you are praying for their conversion by name and to be serving and using your spiritual gifts. And listen, every last one of us, if you're a born again believer, you have some spiritual gifts, some supernaturally imparted abilities that God gave you at the moment of salvation for the work of the ministry. Not only are you never going to really be a healthy Christian, but you're never going to be, a completely fulfilled, happy Christian unless you've identified your spiritual giftedness and are using it for nothing but the glory of God and the good of his church.

>> Bert Harper: And the best way to identify your spiritual giftedness is to serve, to get involved. Get involved. Try to keep the nursery, try check some of these people out and say, can I help you in the preschool? Can I help you with the children, the youth? can I go with you on visitation? Can I go with you to the hospital? You know, serve to find out. I think that's better than taking a test. Now that's my opinion. Jesus did not give these tests Spiritual gift Inventory. Guess what he did. He said, you guys follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. So the experience that they had with Jesus, they got to identify their strengths, their weaknesses, and then, Jesus used them. And those are the men that, you know what it was said about Them, these who have turned the world upside down, they've come here also.

>> Alex McFarland: Do you know what? This reminds me, and again, I'm not the standard. The Lord knows that. And forgive me for, again, I'm going to interrupt you.

>> Bert Harper: You're a pretty good standard. I'll pay the compliment back, brother. You are.

>> Alex McFarland: I. I look back and I got saved and I really got involved at Macedonia Baptist Church, Liberty, North Carolina. The pastor there now, Pastor Eric Pace. Wonderful, brother. That church has been a part of my Christian walk now for 32 years. But I just started to get involved. And I never told you this, but one year I was on the finance committee. They asked me to be on the finance committee. And I was, But let me just say, that was not my forte.

>> Bert Harper: But you learned a lot, didn't you?

>> Alex McFarland: I learned a lot and served term. But, you know, for me, sitting in a business meeting is about like getting a tetanus shot. Okay. You know, taught Sunday school. And I was on the youth and I was on the visitation. I was on the missions committee and, worked in the cafeteria. We did food and had dinners cleaned, literally. I've cleaned the bathrooms at Macedonia Baptist Church. But I began to find out where my heartbeat was. You know what I mean?

>> Bert Harper: That's right.

>> Alex McFarland: Jump in, start swimming, quote, unquote. And God will lead you and you'll discover what your spiritual is.

>> Bert Harper: And I'm telling you, again, using a song, it's a great adventure. There's nothing like it in all the world to serve the greatest ministry God in all the world. In a local body of believers and shared. Will they be hiccups? You better believe it. Chuck Colson said it. Well, there's no church and no denomination. It's got it just right. And I know the reason. They are people. and if you find the perfect church, Alex, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to join it. I would mess it up if it were perfect. So, no, you're not going to find a perfect group of people. But don't go discouraged. Stay in there. Serve the Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness.

>> Alex McFarland: And you know, folks, ah. As you sort of get out of your comfort zone and get in situations that will stretch you, you may discover something about yourself that you didn't even know you had. I never knew what in the world apologetics was and then found this whole area of Christian ministry defending the faith. And it was a life's work and ultimately a destiny.

Bert: Some things that would make any church great

Now I want to read this scripture. We're Talking about from 1 Thessalonians 5, some things that would make any church great. You read verse 11, Bert. Paul said, therefore comfort each other, edify one another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold, the weak. Be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone. But always pursue what is good, both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything. Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. For you. Do not quench the spirit. Despise not prophecies, Test all things, hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now this is kind of a long grocery list he gives, but I think there's a lot of good stuff in here we can pull out, don't you?

>> Bert Harper: It is. It is a list. Now I've noticed this about Paul, and honestly I can say that I had not noticed it as much until you and I started doing exploring the Word. He's famous for his list.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly.

>> Bert Harper: He will go down, list the things that he had suffered, the things he wanted them to do, the things that had happened to him. Here, he could have written the book of lists and that could have been another book.

>> Alex McFarland: Folks in business, they talk about deliverables. You know, if you want to please your supervisor and keep your job, know what your measurable goals or deliverables are. Here's what I want. By Friday, I need A, B, C, D, E, F, G. All right. Paul is like that. And so much of the Christian life is like that, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It is. And you already talked about one list. The 10 list most wanted.

>> Bert Harper: People that you're praying for. Let me share that. When one of those gets saved, add to it. Don't go down to nine. Add to. And if you're a Christian, you know what you have to do. Usually you have to get out of your comfort zone to know those 10 people. That's the reason I've met some pastors and they'll join a civic club and they'll go to lunch once a week or once every month. So they will rub shoulders with those folks that they know are without Christ. So you got to do it purposefully to do that.

>> Alex McFarland: It's interesting in first Thessalonians how in verse one of chapter one, he uses a Greek word and a Hebrew word. Grace and peace.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Grace and peace. Now, when we come back, we're going to talk more about how this grace and peace flows out into three dozen other wonderful virtues.

>> Bert Harper: You're listening to Exploring the Word. Alex at Bert with you. And we're going through the book of First Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 11 through 22. And it'll be a blessing to you, and it might help your church.

>>  : The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app.

Alex McFarland: American Family Radio Network is looking for revival opportunities

>> Jeff Chamblee: This is Exploring the Word on American Family Radio

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Revival in our own hearts and across man. Anybody looking for a revival, lift up your voice and say, man.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland, Bert Harper, the American Family Radio Network. I do want to mention you can like us, on social media like Facebook. We surely would appreciate that. You can also email us, and we love to hear from you if you've got a Bible question or a prayer request. We hear from a lot of listeners, and it really does mean a lot to us. And you can, reach us that way by wordfr.net w o r d wordfr.net they can also talk to us about if you wanted us to come to your city. Bert and Jan do a lot of things around the country, and I travel and preach every now and then, Bert and I, we wind up in the same pulpit together.

>> Bert Harper: Those were exciting days when that happened.

>> Alex McFarland: I really love it. We were in Oklahoma City last spring, and great church out there.

>> Bert Harper: We've been in Richmond, Virginia. We've been in Warner Robbins, Georgia. We've been in Oklahoma City.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Yep.

>> Alex McFarland: and did the fishbowl.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, we've done some things. And they're effective. They are, and we'd love to do that.

>> Alex McFarland: we would. So if you want to do an explore. Oh, we forgot the biggest one of all. Fayetteville, North Carolina. Yeah, man, 3,000 people came out for a prayer room.

>> Bert Harper: I'm sorry, but I can't believe I

>> Alex McFarland: didn't remember that, hey, this was, you know, election in 2016. Okay, think about this, folks. With four weeks notice, we plan this prayer rally. And I guess that shows, well, number one, the power of the good Lord. But number two, when there's a radio station in the town where you are, we had 3,000 people come out to praise.

>> Bert Harper: That was an exciting night. I can't believe I did not mention that.

>> Alex McFarland: Hey, you were on that night, man.

>> Bert Harper: Well, listen, I'm telling you, Alex, he revs me up. I don't need a lot of revving, but, I do and I appreciate it, but we would love to come.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. If you're interested in doing an event, just email [email protected] let me give a little illustration.

There's so much in Paul's writings about encouragement

before we break. We're talking about 1 Thessalonians 5, the things that make a church great. And Paul uses grace and peace. And there's so much in his writings about encouragement. And I read this illustration. there was an author named Barbara Glanz, and she talks about a business owner who was thinking about how his teacher had influenced his life so much. And so he wrote a letter to his 8th grade literature teacher, and he thanked her for investing in his life. And he got this reply back. Ah, you'll never know how much your letter meant. I'm 83 now and living alone. My friends and family are all gone. I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first thank you letter I've ever gotten from a student. Sometimes I wonder what I did with my life. I will read and reread your letter till the day I die. End of quote. And so the author talks about the fact that this teacher was very fondly remembered and was talked about more than any other teacher at the high school reunions, but nobody had ever told her and friend the power of encouragement. And Paul is encouraging the Thessalonican Christians to edify and love and grace, peace, encourage one another. We're going to get into this. But, Bert, isn't it just incredibly powerful when we decide to be more sugar than vinegar? I, mean, if we try to be, you know, more sunshine than darkness. People thrive on it, and people need it.

>> Bert Harper: I heard someone say, this way you'll see people following a fire truck. You see very few folks following an ice truck, and it may get so hot they want to. But in other words, what that is talking about, there should be some, you know, enthusiasm is easy for some of us. You know, I played basketball and I love the energy went up when I Went into the game just because of my, I guess, my personality and who I am. But there is something about this business of, of watching someone enthusiastic. And, here I think Paul writes these things to a group of people who should be enthusiastic about serving the Lord and bringing enthusiasm. Because it talks about it in such a way. I can't help but believe he wants to be enthusiastic. I'm getting ahead of it, but I did want to point one out. Do not quench the spirit. I mean, be enthusiastic about hearing God's word and following it.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

Alex: If you encourage others, you yourself feel encouraged

>> Bert Harper: So that's what I want to introduce, that as we start going over the list of things he suggests, and I would say even commands. Some of these are commands, some of them are suggestions, some of them are commands. But all or every one of them important to carry out for our church to be what they should be.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, he says encourage, to be an encourager. Do you know what I have found, and I know most of us are not naturally this way. It's something you have to cultivate. But if you encourage others, you yourself feel encouraged. if you put on a smile inside, you're probably going to feel a little peppier and a little happier. And isn't it a blessing that these things and these would be so key to any church? As you give these out, you get them back.

>> Bert Harper: Encouragement is such a great thing for you to be a part of. If you do not have it naturally cultivate it. encourage those that are teaching you, those that you have admired. there are some people that I just. They have changed my life because of their encouragement. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: they have at a weak point or a difficult time for somebody to give a word of encouragement. And today with texting, with emailing, Facebook, it's possible to do that. Those that are on Facebook, I get so tired of those that lambast everything that goes on. But if somebody comes on and they give an encouragement, I kind of gravitate to that, if you want to know the truth. It encourages me.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it does.

Paul gives us a list of 11 things that can be observed by others

Now, the first we're going to go over some things that we are to do outwardly that would make any church great. I mean, they really would. I'll give the list, but I want to camp out on a couple. Encourage, build up. Respect the pastor. Verse 12. Esteem your leaders in love. Be at peace among yourselves. Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted. That's verse 14. Help the weak, Be patient with all. Don't repay evil for evil, seek to do good. Verse 15. Okay. So Paul's got a list. I'm just going to tell you There are 11 things here. I mean, if you break down the wording and the phraseology, Paul has given us a list of 11 things that

>> Bert Harper: can be observed, really, by others. You doing right?

>> Alex McFarland: Because we are supposed to be outwardly, doing these things.

>> Bert Harper: So when I show respect to my pastor, I'm doing two things. I'm doing what I should do. But I'm also setting an example for those that are watching me do that. And it's observed. That's the whole thing. That's what you said outwardly. I just want to make sure they get this word. They are observable for you to see, but they're also observable for others to see in you.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Let's talk about build up. What does it mean to be built up

Let's talk about build up. Ah. In verse, 11 there he says build, build up or sometimes edify one another. What, do you think of when you hear that word for a person or a, movement or a business or a house to be built up?

>> Bert Harper: I'm going to do an Alex McFarland. Let me show you what it is. Not Satan.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay. All right, all right.

>> Bert Harper: You know what? It's not tearing them down, right. In the book of Proverbs, it talks about the woman with her hands, and she tears down her own house. So what you're doing when you are complaining and when you are destructive, you are tearing down that that has built you up. We've talked about that in America, that all this freedoms that we have, and people want to take away the freedom of religion, they are tearing down what has built it up. In other words, when I edify someone, it means that I encourage them, I build them up to the point of growth. it's more like a building, Alex. You start with a foundation. You got to get the walls, you got to get those rafters. You don't start. You do it in an edification way. It's not haphazard.

>> Alex McFarland: That's, right.

>> Bert Harper: It is very orderly. The Bible says do all things in decency and in order and on edification. You do start there. You start with the fundamentals. You really do. You don't start out. I hear people. Okay, I'm saved. I'm ready to read the book of Revelation. Read the book of Daniel. I'd start out with the book of Jon. Read first Jon. I'd go to the book of the Philippians, Gospel, the letter to the Philippians. You know, start out, get your foundation laid pretty strongly.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. Exactly. Being built up.

Alex Martin: Respect the pastor, esteem the leaders in love

and then I'm going to talk about 3 and 4. Respect the pastor, esteem the leaders in love. Now this is in verses 12 and 13. I realize it might sound a little self serving for two preachers to be talking about the good treatment of a preacher, but this is in the word of God. And let's talk about respecting the pastor in verse 12. the King James says, we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you. And the word know there in the King James is really to respect, to honor. It means, recognize or appreciate those toiling among you.

>> Bert Harper: You know, I pastored for many years and, I want to say one to two things, and I'm not going to dwell on it. Respect of the pastor is, I would say, starting with praying for him and word of encouragement. Those two things go together. whom I pray for. I usually wind up encouraging, of course, and to know people are praying for their pastor. The other thing, don't do stuff behind the back. That is very disrespectful. And I know this is powerful and it's kind of negative, Alex, but I'm going to go ahead and say it. Don't operate behind the pastor's back and the leadership back. Go to them up front. When you have an issue, go to them in love, and you better do it early. If you don't do it early, guess what's going to happen. You'll turn it over and turn over and it will work up into bitterness and anger. And then when you approach them, you approach them in anger and don't. If you carry another person with you, you don't have to tell them what they're going for so they'll have the case. You go with them and say, I need to talk with you and I'd love for you to go with me.

>> Alex McFarland: Sure.

>> Bert Harper: And don't go out and just stir up the trouble that is causing discord among the brethren.

>> Alex McFarland: And let me say this to talk behind somebody's back. Let's say you've got a pastor or Sunday school teacher or a deacon or somebody in leadership or a choir director, and they've rubbed you the wrong way or for some reason you're sideways with this person. So you hit the rumor mill. That's cowardly. I mean, number one, to gossip and talk about and backstab somebody. Backbite. That is cowardly. And it's not reconciliatory. I mean, if you really have an issue, you need to go to somebody, go gently, go in love Be specific. Now, let me just say this. The question is, are you really trying to get things straight or are you just trying to stir the pot? Because let's say that, whatever somebody did a, ah, tangible thing, you go to him, you say, hey, friend, can we talk? You were supposed to meet me for this committee meeting, and three times you didn't show up. And that really, that's not helping. And I, need for one thing, I think you owe me an apology. And somebody goes, okay, I'm sorry. Give me a chance to make it right. That's trying to work things out. But if you go, well, you've hurt me and I just can't talk about it. Listen, that's not helping anything. So don't talk about your pastor. Don't backstab the leaders God has given you. I would say this, and they estimate 100 million Christians in America, maybe 130 million. First Thessalonians 5, 11, 12 are probably the most broken commandments in all of the NewSong Testament. It's not drinking or adultery, although I'm sure that goes on. But look, not loving, not appreciating, not edifying and holding up those leaders God has given you. Now listen to this. In verse 12, it says, we beseech you, brethren. Paul says, I'm begging you to recognize or know them which labor among you who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Now think about this. To thank God for and appreciate and encourage those that by God's design, they are over you. Friend, you might not like your pastor, but in the sovereignty of God, he's your pastor, but he admonishes you. Now here's. This is going to take the test of the Holy Spirit to love and pray for and encourage the one who in his preaching, steps on your toes.

>> Bert Harper: That's the truth. you know, I pastored full time for many years, and the last few years I've been interim pastor. You know, church doesn't have a full time pastor. I go and I preach. And some of the time I'm not preaching. And I get to go and worship at a church. And I sit there and I praise the Lord when that pastor speaks and admonishes attitudes or actions in my life. A lot of times what people do, Alex, they only want to look at actions. But your attitudes has. That is a, sinful. That's sinful, too. You remember what Jesus said, If you've committed adultery, in your heart, you've committed adultery. Now, it's not as bad as it taking fruit and doing it. But it's still sin. So I pray, I thank God that I've sat under pastors that have admonished me and through the Holy Spirit corrected some attitudes and actions in my life.

>> Alex McFarland: exactly, exactly. And let me just say this folks, where it says in verse 12, 13, to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. It means to cast a vote for the Greek there. Esteem them in love means to reckon in favor of heavily, emphatically. I'm on your team, Pastor. Now you might be saying, yeah, but the pastor we've got did this and it was bad pastor. I don't respect him, I don't like him, whatever. Okay? If you can't worship, then go find a church where you can.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. That's right.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, I'll say this in the last self referential illustration.

>> Bert Harper: All day we are spending time on this, but it's needed. If we don't say it, who's going to? So go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: The church where I came to Christ, a good church, but I had been a Christian two or three years and several of them decided they were going to get a new preacher and they ran off the preacher and it was ugly and it was messy. I made a decision.

I would never ever, ever, never ever be part of that good decision

I would never ever, ever, never ever

>> Bert Harper: be part of that good decision. And I agree and I'm standing with you. May our tribe increase on that.

>> Alex McFarland: Alex, this is Exploring the Word we're talking about. First, Thessalonians 5, the characteristics that can make a church and a Christian. Great. Stay tuned. We're going to come back after this with more on Exploring the Word.

Alex and Bert partnered with Preborn to introduce mothers with unplanned pregnancies

>> Bert Harper: You've heard a lot about saving babies on this show. That's because it's important to me personally. And let me just be frank with you. We need to save them. That is why we partnered with PreBorn, the nation's leader, in introducing mothers with unplanned pregnancies to their babies. And once she hears that heartbeat and sees that precious life growing inside of her, she is twice as likely to choose life. Now that's a miracle. But quite honestly, if we don't save them, who will? Preborn receives no government funding, so their work is completely dependent on us. Preborn has rescued over 280,000 babies. And that's not all. They provide love, support and counseling for up to two years for free, saving lives and souls. One ultrasound is just $28 or, $140 helps to rescue five babies. Abortion doesn't stop, so we can't together you and I can save lives. Just call pound two five zero on your cell phone and say the key word, baby. That's 250, baby. Or go to preborn.com, that's preborn.com exploring

>> Jeff Chamblee: the word on American Family Radio. Connect with Alex and Bert on the Exploring the word Facebook page. Facebook.com exploring the word.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Your words give us life that's never ending. Your words bring us love that never fails. Everything else will fade away, but what will remain? Oh, yeah.

Burt Harper: Paul has a list of positive characteristics in a church

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to exploring the word. First Thessalonians, chapter five. Alex McFarland, Bert Harper. We're talking about good, positive, healthy, uplifting characteristics in a church. And Paul's got a long list here in 1 Thessalonians 5. some of the things happen outwardly, visibly. Some of the things have to happen inwardly as God works in your heart. be at peace among yourselves. Admonish the idle. encourage the faint hearted. Help the weak. Be patient with all. Don't repay evil for evil, and seek to do good. Bert, you know, I read these things, and, I got to tell you, when I read Paul's list, I just feel better thinking about these things.

>> Bert Harper: Don't you, Lord, may I have this in my life? You know, you talking about a church practicing. If a church practices it, that means the members got to practice it. So this list is a list that I need to look at for my own benefit to see. Okay, Bert, how are you stacking up, brother?

>> Alex McFarland: That's called the law of composition. It is? The parts make up the whole.

>> Bert Harper: I've got to say, be at peace among yourselves. You know, you was talking about the last segment about a church that you were a part of, and some people wanted to run off their pastor. Nothing, brings up on more discord than that you can't be at peace with one another when you do that. And, sometimes, like you said, it's better to move on than trying to move within. I agree. But be at peace among yourselves. The Bible says, live peaceably with all men as much as possible. And those that you can't get along with, put some distance between you and them if you have to.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it says also admonish the idol. And to admonish, the wording means to exert positive pressure on. I was at a church not too long ago, and a man was telling me, he had just finished about 30 years of being an adult Sunday school teacher. And I said, that's just wonderful. And he's getting older and he can't do it. now, because of some health issues. He said, 30 some years ago, there was a woman on the nominating committee, and she pestered me and pestered me, and she kept asking if I would teach. And he said I'd never done that. I was in the business world. and he said it just almost made me ill. But finally, to get her off my back, I agreed to teach for a semester. He said, I found out that God had called me to be a Sunday school teacher. I did it for 30 years as a businessman. But sometimes we have to just lovingly but gently nudge people out into the game.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. That is neat. She saw something in him that he did not even know he had.

>> Alex McFarland: Isn't that so?

>> Bert Harper: That is great. And that is so true. People can see. I remember when I surrendered to preach, I had people come up to me and say, well, I was wondering when you were going to do it. That's the last thing on my mind, Alex. But sometimes the encouragement, admonishment from others is good for you.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and he says in verse 14, Help the weak. Now, some translations say comfort the feeble minded. you know, we humans, we're cognitive, we're emotive. I mean, we think, we feel. There are a lot of people that, you know, we have different things. There are a lot of people that they just worry. They're worriers and we have to comfort them.

>> Bert Harper: They worry about not having anything to worry about.

>> Alex McFarland: That's right.

>> Bert Harper: I mean, that's an exaggeration. But they are. And so we do need to comfort them and we need to help them along the way. And sometimes we need to challenge them and say, now listen, you know, you're imagining things that, you know, 10 of those issues that you're looking at, nine of them will hit the ditch for the.

>> Alex McFarland: Hit you. Oh, yeah. Wow.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah. So go forward in Christ, it says,

>> Alex McFarland: be patient with all. don't repay evil for evil. Seek to do good. See, a church is like a family. And in a way, I really think there's three things in life that really are a marriage. One is marriage. It's a marriage. But your employment and your church involvement is very much like a marriage. And you got to live together and you do it in peace, friend, as you seek to be a person of joy and love and grace. And you are encouraging and you're uniting people, not dividing people. Look, you're only helping yourself. Ah. As you spread the good.

>> Bert Harper: That's the reason that passage about be at peace among yourselves is so important. And you use the word marriage, like, a church, because when that happens and that relationship is broken, it nearly feels, or it feels like a divorce. And what you do seek to do good, when you can do good, when you can put a stop to something that is wrong. Ah, an idle word, a rumor. Put, a stop to it as best you can. that's doing good.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me say this. They say in the corporate world, if you're fired, that it lingers with you for seven years. People think about it. But I will tell you, disengagement from a church lasts for decades.

>> Bert Harper: It does.

Alex Martin: Churches need to deal with erroneous teaching and misusing finances

>> Alex McFarland: I have been in so many communities, and I know you have too. You pastored here in Mississippi. You have been a, ah, leader. I am not trying to flatter you. You just are. You're a major Christian leader in this state and beyond. And I will tell you, when things go bad with a church, the body count kind of exists for decades, doesn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It does. And I just say it's probably not worth it. I used to be a peacemaker. It is. Be a peacemaker. There's three things you want to do, and you do them quietly as you can. the issue of immorality, you got to deal with it and deal with it quickly. You've got to deal with erroneous teaching. I'm talking about severe doctrinal error, salvation, messed up Jesus. You worked on that. That needs to be dealt with quickly. And then the issue of misusing finances, those need to be dealt with quickly. Most other things, Alex, can be worked out. If they can't be worked out, they can be worked out to a time where somebody doesn't suffer the consequences of being, quote, let go, and it's staying with them for decades. I think churches need to think about that deeply. And I think God's using this program to deal with that. And if you're listening to that and you have the opportunity to stop those things and work it out for good. That's what it is. It says what? Seek to do good.

>> Alex McFarland: Seek to do good. All right. There's eight things that we're to do inwardly. Rejoice, pray constantly. Give thanks, don't quench the spirit. verse 20. Despise, not prophesying. In other words, we're to hear the word of God proclaimed, discern, prove all things, hold fast that which is good. to prove all things means to test or to validate. The word literally means to validate. So, whether it's a teaching or whether it's, ah, a program, to get on board with, use discernment, hold fast that which is good, abstain from evil.

>> Bert Harper: Look what it started with, though. Rejoice, be grateful. I'm telling you, I found out this in my life and I want you to comment on it. The quickest way for me to lose my joy, the quickest way for me to be in the flesh and not a part of what God's up to, is to become a person that does not rejoice, that complains. And I, don't know of anything that God appreciates more than a thankful spirit. Alex, I just want to tell you, be thankful. And you know, when we're recording this, it's cold outside even here in northeast Mississippi. Single digit numbers this morning. And I got up and I said, man, it's cold. I was kind of complaining and I found out it was minus 20 degrees up in the South Dakota, North Dakota area. And all of a sudden I became thankful. You know, I mean, that's a wimpy way to express it, but rejoice.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, there's, a guy, he's a war hero. Sergeant Johnny Joey Jones. I don't know anything about his spiritual condition, but he's a war hero. He lost both legs fighting for America. And somebody said this in an interview and he gave this response. People ask me how I can stay so positive after losing both my legs. I simply ask, how can they stay so negative with both of their legs?

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: I m mean, rejoice. You've got so much to be thankful for. And if you want to be able to cultivate these outward things that we build up one another, we're patient, we show grace, peace, we lifting each other up. Okay, here are the places it starts.

>> Bert Harper: It's in heart, doesn't it? Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Cultivate a grateful spirit. Rejoice. Says verse 16. Be constant in prayer. Pray without ceasing. Verse 17.

>> Bert Harper: You know, I've heard that it's like, do you pray all the time? Well, you stay in an attitude of prayer, but I think it's more than just an attitude. someone said it's like having a nagging cough that you can't get rid of. You just cough and you cough. Praying should be like that. On the positive side, you're just constantly praying here, you are, you go in to do something, you say, lord, help me do this, Lord, thank you for this. Stay in a constant mode, but let it be continual. Alex. Yes, and, it really does pay off. It's that communion with God that he's communing with you as well.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. And we're to give thanks. And again, verse 18 in everything, give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. People often ask, how may I be in God's will? Well, you can start by being thankful because it says, this is the will of God and Christ Jesus concerning you. I know that you, have probably heard that old poem, where the guy says he was on a bus and he saw somebody with a, crutches. Forgive me, Lord, when I whine. For I've got both legs and the world is mine. Forgive me, Lord, when I whine. I have two eyes and the world is mine. We have so much to be thankful for. I mean, we really do.

You have to feed the spirit, Alex says. Don't quench the spirit

let's talk a little bit about 1920, 21. Don't quench the spirit, Despise not prophesyings, prove all things. Okay. Isn't there a lot of correlation between, following the Spirit, hearing the word, and obeying the word?

>> Bert Harper: Amen. They are a trilogy there that I believe the quenching of the spirit is do not put the spirit out. If you quench your thirst or you quench your fire, you know, but don't quench the spirit. in order to not quench the spirit, Alex, guess what you have to do? You have to feed the spirit.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: You know, you have to feed the spirit. Now, how do you feed the spirit? I think it's told us right above this before it got here. Rejoice. Praying constantly and giving thanks. Guess what? Those. Do those feed the spirit of God? The word of God being taken in because it's going to talk about, you know, hear the prophecies. The more of the prophecies here is the word of God. Yeah. People will speak a, word of prophecy. But more importantly is the prophecies. That's already been given in the word of God. So guess what I do when I feed the spirit? The spirit will be free to move in and through me. But if I quench it, that means I'm cutting off those things that would feed the spirit. A critical spirit. every one of these. I just can't tell you that. Every one of these things, even those that are outwardly, if you're not careful, they will quench the spirit in your life if you don't.

>> Alex McFarland: And in your church.

>> Bert Harper: Yes, they will. I've seen it.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, yeah, yeah. And you know, Paul, he's kind of the master of positivity. I mean, really, because he knew the Power of being positive, being united, being one, being an encourager. In Romans 1:9, Paul said, I make mention of you always in my prayers. in Ephesians 1, 15, 16, Paul wrote, I did not cease to give thanks for you. And in Philippians 1, this is a little bit lengthy, but it relates to all of these virtues, these positive, uplifting characteristics. Paul, remember he's writing to the church at Philippi. He said, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, every time you come to mind.

>> Bert Harper: It's amazing, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: always in prayer, I make requests for you with all joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day till now, being confident of this very thing. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it to the day of Jesus Christ. Paul was a guy who knew the power of an encouraging word.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And he passed it on, and he would do that. They had encouraged him. There's no better book in the Bible to get encouragement from than the book of, Philippians. They had encouraged him. He would later. Nobody has communicated with me like you have in the Gospel. In other words, they sent him money when he was in jail. And when he was, in a nice place to stay, they did not stop. And he now was encouraging them. They feed upon each other. This verse 21. I make sure one will have time for it, you know, test all things, hold fast. What is good discernment. I found this out. there are some people that seem to have a spiritual gift or spiritual radar with discernment. I've observed it. I've seen it. Those of us that don't, have I classified which group I'm in. I found out the more time I spend in the word of God, with a thankful spirit, I'll, have better discernment. I don't think you'll have discernment apart from the word of God being a part of your life in a major way.

>> Alex McFarland: Now, let me tell you one of the reasons that we need the body. Because I've known people that had extremely good theological discernment but very poor discernment of people. On the other hand, I've known people that were really, really good with relationships, but they didn't always have, the keenest, aptitude for false teaching. All right? I know a guy, Bert, and he is one of the preeminent theologians in this country. This man is a theological genius, and he has hired some of the sorriest people in his organization because, he's great theologically, but he needs a little help when it comes to vetting out people. We need each other. And it says, hold that which is good. Discern, but then abstain from evil. No, we're positively embrace that which is good. Negatively avoid abstain from that which is evil. Tall grocery list Only the Holy Spirit of God can help us embody these things. But for his glory and with his help, we can.

>> Bert Harper: And it starts with me. I need to develop these in my life and let it kind of be like the ripple in the pond in your church as it continues and grows so that this church could have these characteristics that will help it grow and fulfill God's mission in this world.

>> Alex McFarland: You've been listening to Exploring the Word. This is Bert Harper and Alex McFarland on the American Family Radio Network. Tell everybody about Jesus. Take somebody to church. Bring somebody under the sound of the gospel and God's word this week, and he'll help you do it. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast do not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

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