Give God Glory for the Growth in Others - 1 Thessalonians 3-5

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 (ESV)

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

The context of this portion of 1 Thessalonians will help us understand the above words of Paul to this church.  Paul wanted to travel to this church to encourage them.   However, Satan hindered him from going to them:

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ESV)

because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

(If Satan can hinder Paul’s ministry imagine what he can do against ours!)

So since he was hindered, he sent Timothy to encourage them.   In this section, Timothy has now returned to Paul and informed him of their great faith and unwavering love for Jesus and for Paul.   This is where the above long sentence comes in to shape our thinking.  Paul is asking a rhetorical question.  He wants to put into their minds how much thanks he would have to pour out to God for this amazing news and joy he is receiving as he continues to pray that he would be able, himself, further supply their growth, coming to them.   Being absent from them does not stop him from praising God for their growth.  It gives him much joy.   Note how another New Testament writer said the same thing when he heard about those of the faith living strong in faith:

  3 John 1:4 (ESV)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Paul, like John, saw the growth in those they served and that gave him much joy.   We can get excited about many things in this world.   But watching others grow in Christ ought to be at the top of our list.   And Paul knew that the power for their growth came from God.  That is why he is breaking out in thanksgiving.  He did praise Timothy.   He learned that others can do this work, as well.  But the glory went to God.   We cannot steal God’s glory when the saints grow because of the works of our ministry.   Only God can do the growth.  We are simply the voice.  Don’t steal God’s glory. If we do, it will also steal our joy.   We rejoice when we see God do a work in the lives of others.  

We Are Not the Light - John 1-2

John 1:8 (ESV)

He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

It would be a great study to find out how many teachers, preachers and/or ministers of the Christian faith actually believe what John the Baptist said in the above verse.  If anyone had a right to claim fame and fortune it would be John the Baptist.   Note what Jesus said about him:

Matthew 11:11 (ESV)

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

He even declared him the coming of Elijah:

Matthew 17:12-13 (ESV)

But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Too many people in church leadership act like they are the light.   Notice what John the Baptist would further say to keep himself in this right state of mind about himself and his ministry:

John 1:15 (ESV)

(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

John 1:20 (ESV)

He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

He knew he was just a voice:

John 1:23 (ESV)

He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

He knew he was not even worthy to untie Jesus sandals:

John 1:26-27 (ESV)

John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

He knew that it was Jesus who came to take away the sin of the world, not him:

John 1:29 (ESV)

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The next time a Bible teacher, Church pastor, or anyone who leads the church and ministers in the gospel puffs out their chest in pride, point them to John the Baptist.   Tell them to see that John is the perfect picture about how to characterize their ministry and how to think of themselves.   They are NOT THE CHRIST.  

The Glory of God is Revealed by the Spirit of God - Ezekiel 43-48

Ezekiel 43:4-5 (ESV)

As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

If there is movement in our lives to see the glory of God is ONLY because the Spriit of God moves us.   In these last chapters of Ezekiel we read a lot about the Temple and the sacrificial system within the Temple.   The purpose of the Temple and the sacrificial system is so that mankind can approach God and see His glory.   The system might look complicated to the non-Isabel, western mind.  But the point of it is access to God.   When we have access to God we see His glory.  God gives all mankind a glimpse of this glory in creation:

Psalms 19:1-6 (ESV)

The Law of the LORD Is Perfect

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

This Temple described the prophet was the “systematic” way God laid out for the nation of Israel to see more and more of His glory.  God’s glory would fill the Temple.   But in these later days we see the Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God:

Hebrews 1:2-3 (ESV)

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 1:14 (ESV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

We can now see the glory of God through our relationship with the Son.   But the Spirit of God is the one who moves us to see God’s glory:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

In order to see the glory of God we have to be moved by the Spirit of God through our relationship with the Son of God.  

Milk or Manure - Proverbs 14-15

Proverbs 14:4 (ESV)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

A proverb is a way to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements. In this proverb Solomon gives us a vivid picture about what can be best described as Barn Moments in life. He simply observes that if you have no ox you have a very clean barn. But if you have an ox you will have a great harvest (by the ox’s strength in the field pulling the plow). But where you have an ox you also have manure. We might say it this way, “If you want milk from a cow you may have to walk around, past and possibly through the manure to get it.” So, we have a choice in life to deal with the bad in order to get to the good. Having a church focused on children means we will have children running around the church. It might be quiet without the children, but we will have great strength from them as they grow and serve. Children make messes. Children make noise. Children … eventually produce milk. We might have struggles with our children in our family, but can grow those children who serve His Kingdom and you follow His plans.   We might have a struggle right now and it feels like “manure.”    But, God takes those times and gives us His strength to endure them.  We believe, by faith, that God will use those times to work the “manure” in life for His divine purpose.   

Romans 8:28 (ESV Strong's)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So, we can complain about the manure in life, or we can work hard to get to the milk. Milk or Manure is our faith choice.

God Vindicates Us and Blesses Us - Psalms 91-93

Psalms 92:10-11 (ESV)

But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;

you have poured over me fresh oil.

My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;

my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

Psalm 92 goes back and forth regarding who is speaking.  It is tough to understand if the song/prayer is from an individual or representing a group.  It seems to be liturgical song intended to be song as a worship song by the masses.  But it certainly has personal applications.   Note how the organizers of he psalms entitled the song:

Psalm 93:1

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

Whoever wrote it intended it to be read, sung or prayed on the Sabbath.   The above lines of the song follow the admittance of the plight of the evil and unjust person.   The contrasting “But” that begins verse 10 shows us that this is antithetical to the lines that came before it.  The song is saying the wicked are like this but the righteous are like this.  

The writer acknowledges that his success if a gift from God.   The phrase you have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox is emblematic Hebrew poetry.  It means God has given me strength.   The second line is equally emblematic as it reads you have poured over me fresh oil.  The word oil in the Bible is almost always a symbol for the Holy Spirit or riches and prosperity.   What the writer is saying to us is that the wicked do not last but the righteous flourish in many ways.  We are not to forget that is God who blesses us and rescues us from those who would befall us.   He not only raises us up but he allows the righteous to see the triumph over their enemies.  We might point to the story of Job to see this more practical.   Eventually Job was both vindicated and his foes (once showing up on his door step as friends) were made to submit to him.   It took some time, but God was faithful to His promises.  We are both exalted and vindicated by our God.  

God Saves Us to Solicit Worship From Us - 2 Kings 22-25

2 Kings 23:21-23 (ESV)

Josiah Restores the Passover

And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.

One of the benefits of restoring your relationship with God is not just getting the sin out of your life, but also coming into great worship with Him.   Note what David says in Psalm 51 after he spent the first verses telling us about his confession:

Psalms 51:13-19 (ESV)

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

build up the walls of Jerusalem;

then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

After we confess sin and purify our house (what Josiah had just done throughout all Judea) we can come into great fellowship and worship with Him.  The above passage is about Josiah reestablishing the Passover in Jerusalem (the place were God dwells).   David prayed the same thing in Psalm 51.   Once we are free from sin we can turn to God in worship.  It is always in the order.  Here is what Paul said:

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

God saves us to solicit worship from us.  

We Can Come To Him In Full Acceptance - Leviticus 22-24

Leviticus 22:10-13 (ESV)

“A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing, but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it, and anyone born in his house may eat of his food. If a priest’s daughter marries a layman, she shall not eat of the contribution of the holy things. But if a priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced and has no child and returns to her father’s house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s food; yet no lay person shall eat of it.

Because of God’s holiness, the people of Israel had to follow all the instructions of Leviticus, with fidelity.  They did not and that is why they would eventually go into captivity.   God had a designed way for people to come to Him.  In the above passage we read that since God had designed that only priest from the tribe of Levi could come to Him, no lay person would be allowed to follow.    Perhaps this is what is so amazing in the contrast of the Old and New Testaments.   In the Old Testament everyone had access to God, but in the Old it was the priest from the tribe of Levi that carried their sacrifices.   In the New Testament we see also that anyone can come to HIm, but now directly through the Son.   Note what the book of Hebrews tells us:

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

In the Old the lay person was unclean.  God had only made the tribe of Levi a clean to come into His presence.  In the New, all those who come to Christ and made clean and can come before God, through His Son.  

 Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We can come in full assurance and in complete confidence, because of Christ’s sacrifice.  No more distinction between the lay person and the professional priest.