Exhortation, Part 2

All right. Good morning. I'm glad you all are here. It's good to see everybody. I invite you to stand with me. We'll pray and we'll get started.

Lord, we thank you for another morning and thank you for another opportunity, Lord, just to lift praise to you, Lord. God, we want to glorify you this morning. All glory and honor due to you. Lord, you are worthy of all of our praise, worthy of all glory. We ask your blessing upon this time, Lord. And we just ask that your Holy Spirit would come and move in a mighty way this morning.

We love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen.

You guys can go and have a seat if you like.

Lord, God, we just thank you, Lord, that you are our living hope. Lord, that in you, Lord, we have hope for a new life and that we have hope for a life after this one, Lord. We praise you.

Lord, God, we just thank you for how faithful you are. Lord, God, you are faithful. You, when we do fail, you're the same yesterday.

Worship you. Worship you. You are here working in. Worship you. Worship you. We must keep light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. In the darkness, my God, never stop. Lord, God, we just thank you. Death has been just wreaking havoc. Death has been just wreaking havoc in our lives. Lord, God, we just thank you that we have this through your son, Jesus.

Lord, this morning, I pray this pastor Ryan comes. You would speak mightily through him. Lord, overflow him with your Holy Spirit.

Lord, give us soft heart. We love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. As people said, amen. Let's have some fellowship.

Good morning.

If you could begin the process of locating your seat. Grab your bulletin. We'll get ready to go over some announcements.

Ah, there it is.

Welcome to Calvary Chapel. I'm glad that you have joined us this morning. Some things to take note of. Over on the left-hand side are the things that go on throughout the week. Again, if you have not found a spot to get yourself plugged into, please take a look at that. Find a location where you feel like would be good and get plugged in. Over in the middle section of your bulletin, a handful of things to take note of.

Tonight at 6 o'clock is our time of intercessory prayer down at the other end of the hallway. So if you're able to join us for that, it's a time where we just gather together and lift up the needs of not only the body, the community, but our nation and our world as well. Also, we have coming up a new Grief Share group that will be starting on February the 18th. It will meet every Tuesday from 1 to 3 here at Calvary Chapel.

And the meetings will run through May 13th. And if you have questions, you can speak with Holly Gage. Is Holly here this morning? I don't see. Oh, there she is. I see that. I see that hand waving back there. You can talk to Holly. And if you're unfamiliar with what Grief Share is, it is an opportunity for people who have lost people that they care about to meet with other people who also have faced that kind of loss just to kind of process through those things together.

So it's really just an opportunity to find some encouragement in your journey. So and then also we have a ministry spotlight this week, which is our Agape Fruits Ministry. Our Agape Fruits Ministry. It's a community meal that happens twice a month, the second and fourth Sundays here at Calvary Chapel in the evenings. And if you, a little video to show you a little bit more.

And if you're interested, you can talk to Jordan Aerosmith. So let's watch the little video.

All right. So again, if you'd like to get involved with that, you can speak with Jordan afterwards. So those are the things that are going on. If you would make sure that your mobile device is silenced. For our responsive reading this morning, we are going to be in Psalm 62. Psalm 62, looking at the New American Standard for this part so that hopefully we sound the same.

If you need a copy, it should be one in a row around you. And as you are turning to Psalm 62, if you are able, please stand in the honor of the reading of God's Word.

I will read the odd verses. If you will follow along with Pastor Allen in the even verses. Psalm 62 for the choir director, according to Jedithune, a psalm of David. My soul waits in silence. For God only. From him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation. My stronghold. I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will you assail a man that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position. They delight in falsehood. They bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah. My soul wait in silence. For God only. For my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation. My stronghold. I shall not be shaken. On God, my salvation and my glory rest. The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. Men of low degree are only vanity. And men of rank are a lie. And the balances. As they go up, they are together lighter than breath. Do not trust in oppression. And do not vainly hope in robbery. If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. Once God has spoken, twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.

In loving kindness is yours, O Lord. For you recompense a man according to his work. And Father, with this almost we say, my soul waits silently for you. Because in you is our hope and our salvation. And so, Father, we wait upon you this morning to hear what your word has to say to us. Through the power of your Holy Spirit. So, Lord, would you give us ears to hear what your Spirit wants to minister to us this morning.

And in the places where we need comforted, may you comfort us. And the place where we need convicted, may you convict us. And in the place where we need to know which direction to go, I pray that we would receive your instruction. In Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated. And if you would, open up in your Bible. Open your Bibles to the book of 2 Thessalonians, chapter 3.

2 Thessalonians, chapter 3.

As we come to the middle of 2 Thessalonians, chapter 3, I'll remind you of kind of where we are in the book. We said that all of 2 Thessalonians divided up into three parts. The first part, chapter 1, was encouragement, when he encouraged them and their difficulties that they were going through. Chapter 2 was instruction, in particular about end times events.

And then chapter 3 has been exhortation. Telling them how they are to live their lives in light of the soon coming of Jesus. And so he said there are three things that he was going to exhort them to do. Number one, he was going to tell them to pray hard. Number two, he was going to tell them to work hard. And number three, he'll tell them to not grow weary.

Last week, we covered the aspect of pray hard. As Paul requested for them to be praying for him, that God's word would go out. And he reminded them of God's faithfulness. And then he also had a short little prayer. That the Thessalonian people would be led into the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. And so today, we come to the aspect of work hard.

And so we'll start in verse 6. And it says this. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life. And not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. Because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you.

Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it. But with labor and hardship, we kept working night and day. So that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not because we don't have the right to this. But in order to offer ourselves as a model for you. So that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order.

If anyone is not willing to work. Then he is not to eat. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life. Doing no work at all. Instead acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ. To work in a quiet fashion. And to eat their own bread. Work. Work is kind of an interesting statement. Interesting word.

It's often times referred to as a four letter word. Which it does have four letters in it. But it's not the idea of a bag. It's a bad word. But in our culture today it's often times referred to as something evil. Something we want to try to get out of. We're always waiting to get to the weekend. Or we're waiting to the time when we can go on vacation. Or we're waiting for the time that we can retire.

Because work is just not something that we really enjoy doing. And in our culture today we've lost what work was always intended to be. When God put Adam and Eve into the garden of Eden. Adam was given a job. He was told to tend the garden. God wasn't just like, hey here's a sweet hand. And a bunch of fruit for you to eat. There's a little coconut for you to drink out of.

Like you just relax. Because that's what you're always going to do for the rest of your days. Is just soak up the sun. Enjoy the hammock. And really just relax in life. No, he gave him a job. Part of his job was to name the animals. Something I would have really enjoyed doing myself. But nobody asked me. But mainly his job was to tend the garden. To take care of things.

Work did not really become hard until the fall of man. Because when man fell. When man fell into sin. God cursed work and said, But now from the sweat of your brow will you provide from the ground. And that's what made work hard. But interestingly enough, while we are given jobs now. When we go into eternity. Not only the millennial reign. But the new heavens and new earth.

Do you realize that we will all have jobs? We will all work. We won't just sit on a cloud and play a harp all the time. Although it might be sweet for the first thousand years. Right? After that, we're going to have to do something. God's going to have a job for us to do. And so it's important that we understand. And what God's intention is for us as workers.

And that's exactly what Paul addresses here. And so as he deals with this aspect of work. And to work hard. He's going to tell them two things. He's going to give them a command. And he's going to show them an example. We'll start with the command. It says in verse 6. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That you keep away. Excuse me.

From every brother who leads an unruly life. And not according to the tradition which you received from us. Paul uses a strong word here. He says we command you. And it's an important thing for us to pay attention to. Because not only does he command them. But he calls into play the authority of Jesus Christ. Because he says we command you according to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now if we were to go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Paul would have addressed this same issue with the Thessalonian people. Only in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. He says I exhort each and every one of you. To work with your hearts. To work with your own hands. And to lead a quiet life. But what we're going to find out is he had heard that that was not taking place.

And so now he can no longer use kind words with them if you will. He has to use very stern words with them. And that's exactly what he does. He says we command you. This is not a suggestion. This is not something that I wish that you would do. It's something that according to the Lord Jesus Christ. You are supposed to do. It is a command. And so he says this is what we command you.

That you would keep away from every brother. Who leads an unruly life. Not according to the tradition. An unruly life. Now usually when we think about that word. I bet you're probably thinking someone who's really immoral. Right? As a matter of fact some of your translations may say undisciplined. Somebody who's living in abject sin. Somebody who's living an incredibly immoral life.

We should keep ourselves from that sort of a person. But that's not the idea of unruly here. The idea of the word unruly here means idle or lazy. Somebody. Who is unwilling to work. Notice what the Kenneth Weiss translation says. And I really appreciated this. It says those who have an insufficient inclination towards disciplined work. Those who have an insufficient inclination towards disciplined work.

You want me to put that in really plain language? They don't want to get a job. Keep yourselves away from people that don't want to get a job. It's interesting in our culture how much of an issue this has become once again. It's interesting how many people do not want to go to work. And how angry people get when you tell them. But that's what you're supposed to do.

Don't you tell me what I'm supposed to do. It's interesting the people that aren't willing to work and the excuses that they give. I spoke with a guy one time. And this guy did not want to get a job. And he hadn't wanted to get a job for I'm going to say I couldn't count the number of years on my fingers and my toes. He was about 62 years old. And he said. You have to understand I'm not a guy that punches a clock on a daily basis.

Bear in mind this guy is asking for a handout from the church when he says this. He goes I'm not the kind of guy that punches a clock on a daily basis. And I'm like well then you're probably not the kind of guy that eats on a daily basis are you? Right? Because that's kind of a problem. But this is the world that we live in. Is that people don't want to work.

And listen it's one thing when the world out there does it. It's a whole other thing when the church does it. Right? Because our work ethic is tied with our witness. They very much go hand in hand. And so Paul says this is what you need to understand. If there is an idle or a lazy or an unruly brother you should keep yourself from him. The idea is separation.

There should be separation from that type of a person. Understand not excommunication. We don't kick them out of the church. But the fellowship can't be the same with an individual who is unwilling to work. And can we be honest and say that that's sort of a natural thing that starts to happen anyway? Because when someone isn't willing to work. They don't have any money.

So they can't ever go do anything. And then when they do they want you to pay for them. And then when they do see you they're always asking you for money. And eventually you kind of naturally want to separate yourselves from that person anyway. But the idea is that they don't enjoy the same fellowship that you would at one point in time. If you were someone who was working on a really consistent basis.

And so Paul handles this in a really harsh way. But it's an important thing for us to pay attention to. And so he says we command you. That you keep away from everything. You're a brother who leads an unruly life. Because that's not the way that you were taught. That's not what Jesus taught us. Nor is it the way that we were taught as far as the apostles were concerned.

And then he goes on to give us an example. He says for you yourselves know. How you ought to follow our example. Because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you. Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it. But with labor and hardship we kept working. Night and day. So that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not because we don't have the right to this.

But in order to offer ourselves as a model for you. So that you would follow our example. He says you yourselves know that you ought to follow our example. Paul says when we lived among you. Even in the short amount of time that we lived among you. We left you an example of hard work. And he gives a handful of things about what he means. About that example.

He says number one we were not undisciplined. We were not undisciplined. Same word that's used in the previous verse for unruly. We did not live an undisciplined life. In other words we were not lazy. We were not idle. We were not those who didn't have a sufficient inclination towards disciplined work. No on the very contrary. We were very hard workers. Because the second thing he says is.

We weren't freeloaders when we were among you. In other words we didn't take anyone's bread without paying for it. We didn't. We didn't show up expecting you to take care of us. Because we showed up in order to serve you. The third thing he says about their example is. That while we were with you. We worked with hardship and labor. That word labor means toil or travail.

It's a very similar word that's used elsewhere in scripture to speak of a woman in labor. The idea is that there was strenuous work that went into what Paul and Silas did when they were among them. What does he mean by that? Well. When Paul showed up to Thessalonica. In any place that he showed up. If the church couldn't afford to pay him. Or if he felt like the best way for the gospel to spread.

Was for him to work. Then that's exactly what he did. And Paul had a trade that he followed. That trade was called tent making. And so that's exactly what he would do. He would show up. He would set up shop. And he would offer anyone his services. To where he would either mend or make tents for them. And so he had to work very hard. And as he worked all day.

That meant that any time that he had to. Study to prepare a message. Or to give messages. Was in his evenings and weekends. Meaning that there was intense labor and toil that went into it. And listen. Anyone that wants to serve God. This is kind of a sidebar. Anybody that wants to serve God. Needs to understand. There are no easy days. It's not an easy job.

I had somebody call me up one time. And they said. I'm thinking about taking a pastoral role at my church. And I just want to make sure. It's not because I'm trying to take the easy way out. And I said. I need you to understand something. I need you to understand something. Your job as a pastor. Will not be easy. It was going to be an executive pastor position.

I said. It'll be the hardest thing you've ever done in your entire life. It will make whatever you're doing now. Look like a simple task. You're not getting out easy. Actually you have to decide if you're called to it. Because what you're about to do. Is going to be the hardest thing you'll ever do. And he goes. Wow. I said. I'm sorry to be harsh. But that's just the way that it is.

You need to know. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. That there's nothing else you can do. Because it's hard work. And some of us as pastors. Have to work to support our habit. We have to at times. Work in order to support things. And again. If you're a young. Young man in this room. And you think that you might want to go into ministry. I think the most important thing you can do.

Is to take time where you are bivocational. In other words. You are in ministry. But you also work. Because I think it's so important. For that to be what takes place. Because you have to understand. The sacrifice that ministry is. You have to understand the sacrifice. Of what it is to do this. For 10 years. I worked other jobs. Sometimes stringing multiple ones together.

Just so that I could still do. What I wanted to do with ministry. And I would say. Lord. Can't you just provide for me. And you know what he would do. He'd give me another job. And I was just like. That's not what I meant. What I meant was. Provide to where I don't have to do this. And he's like. But that's not what you need. What you need is to work. And it was really important for me.

And so. He says. When we were among you. We labored. With toil and hardship. But listen. Even if he wasn't working. A full-time job. It would still be really important. That he labor with hardship. That he work hard at what he did. And Paul said. We left that example for you. And whether it's someone who's in ministry. Or someone who's in ministry. You still have to work hard.

Because it's our greatest witness. Paul said. We left you an example of what it looks like. Because we didn't freeload. We weren't undisciplined. Instead we worked with hardship and labor. Why? Because we did not want to be a burden to you. We didn't want to make our problem. Your problem. And then he says. One last thing. He says. Instead. We wanted to have a good example set for you to follow.

We wanted you to see a good example to follow. Now as I was thinking about this aspect. Of Paul setting an example for the people. Paul and Silas. Being an example for the Thessalonian people. It made me start to think about something. It made me think about my own life. It made me think about the lives of the people that attend this church. And it caused me to ask a question.

A question that I asked of myself. And a question that I'm going to ask of you. Is your life an example people could follow? Is your life an example that people could follow? One of the truest things about us as human beings. Is that people watch what we do. I remember being at Young Christians Weekend one time. With a group of teenagers. And I just watch people.

It's who I am by nature. Human behavior fascinates me. Sometimes it gets me in trouble. Because I get what my wife calls the creep stare going. Where I'm like. And then she tells me to stop doing that. And I kind of get my face back together. But I watched this young person. And they took a quarter. They rolled it on the ground. And they made it as far as they possibly could.

With that quarter rolling. And they hoped no one saw it. Right? And they looked around. And no one saw it. And I thought. They think nobody saw them. But I saw them. And that's the way we are in life. We think nobody sees us. We think nobody's watching. I'm here to tell you. People are watching. I remember being in the eighth grade. I was the oldest kid. We went to school right here.

Me and him. A handful of other boys. We're in the eighth grade. And my teacher at that point in time looked at all of us. And she said. You guys need to understand something. You guys are examples. And we said. We don't want to be no example of no kid. Right? Because we were in eighth grade. And we knew everything. And she said. It doesn't matter if you want to be.

You are. What kind of an example are you? Because you're either going to be an example for bad. Or you're going to be an example for good. But people are watching you. Whether you want it or not. So I have a handful of questions to ask. The first one is this. Are you an example to unbelievers and believers around you every day? Unbelievers. Just the average.

Your average interactions with people. Are you an example to them? Could somebody who is around you that is an unbeliever. They've never heard the gospel before. They don't know what Christians are supposed to look like. Look at you and say. There's something different about them. There is something about them. That is different than the rest of the world that I'm around.

I see a difference in their life. I can't put my finger on it. I can't explain it. I don't know what you'd call it. But there's a difference. Because their life is an example. They seem to care more than the other people. They don't seem to fly off the handle as much as the other people do. They're not as anxious as all of the other people. They seem to have a piece about them that other people don't have.

What is different about their life? The words that come out of their mouth. The actions that they commit. They're different. And I don't know what it is. But I want to be like them. Are you an example to the unbelievers around you? And even more than that. Can the people in the church. Look at your life. And see the difference that Jesus has made in your life.

Can they look at you and say. I see what Jesus has done in them. I see how much the Lord has changed them. And I love their example. I love the example of their faithfulness to church. Of their faithfulness to Jesus. Of their faithfulness to walk away from sin. And when they do fail. They admit it. Are you an example to believers and unbelievers around you?

Number two. Are you an example in your workplace? If I was to show up to your workplace today. Tomorrow. No one's there today. If I was to show up at your workplace. Unless you work at like Starbucks. No. I'll ask them later. If I was to show up to your workplace today. And I was to ask your employees. Or the people that you work with on a consistent basis.

Tell me about who they are. And if they're a good example to follow. Tell me about their life. What would they tell me? Would they be like. They are an amazing example. Of what it looks like to be a believer. They're a good worker. They're positive in the way that they handle themselves. They don't speak badly about management. They are encouraging to the other employees around us.

They don't take part in the gossip. And the dirty joking. Or would they say. They go to church. Because their mouth doesn't sound any different. Their actions don't look any different. And their attitude is just like the rest of the world. Around them. What would your co-workers say about you? Because you know what? We tend to think that being a believer. Means that you come to church on Sunday.

And then you live however you want to. The rest of the week. But I'm here to tell you right now. People are looking at you. Are you an example to the co-workers around you? Number three. Kids. This one's for you. Are you an example to the people that you go to school with? If I were to show up in the hallways. And I do this sometimes in the hallways. Of both Arc City and Dexter High Schools.

If I were to show up in the hallways. And start asking kids. Do they live out what they are claiming to me. That they are? Are they living that out on a daily basis? Are they an example? Would you put them up and say. They could be a Christian leader. Because you can follow them. Because they are not perfect. But I can tell that they're following Jesus. With all of their heart.

Or would they say. They're a Christian. I would have had no idea. Because you can be an example to those people that are around you. You can be an example of what it looks like. Listen. Sometimes it's a lonely road to follow. But that's who you're called to be. You're called to be that example. And now we come to parents. This isn't just a kid thing. I'm going to talk to you about.

Parents. What kind of an example are you to your kids? I need you to understand something. Especially you dads in here. What you think is important. Your kids will think is important. If you only come to church once a month. Your kids won't come to church. That's all that there is to it. Because they will follow the example that you set. And if you're just like.

Well. I mean church is okay. It's probably the right thing to do. So I show up every now and then. That what you've told your kids. Is church isn't that important. I'm never going. If you show up to church. Twice a month they may come. Once a month. Every now and then. But if you show up to church on a consistent basis. Especially you dads. Studies prove this over and over again.

Then your kids will think it's the most important thing. That they can do. And they are more likely. To have regular church attendance. If you tell them. That an important thing for them to do. Is to pray to Jesus. And take all of their problems to Jesus. But they never see you in prayer. You have spoken to them. That prayer is not that important. If you tell them they should read the Bible.

But they've never seen you read the Bible. You have told them. You have told them. You have told them. That reading the Bible is not important. And if you don't serve in your church. You have told your kids. Serving in church is not important. That the best thing that they can do. Is take their talent and hide it. Because you said. Oh family is way more important than church.

We shouldn't serve there. We're only going to serve each other. You've told them church really isn't all that important. Because listen. The example that you set. Speaks much louder than your words. And you need to be that example. Wouldn't it be wonderful. If with Paul we could say. You should follow my example. I gave you the example of what you're supposed to do.

I showed you with my life. What you're supposed to do. Now follow that example. You say Ryan that's way too hard for me. No it's not. Stop selling that to yourself. Stop telling yourself. You can't be who God's called for you to be. He's given you everything that you need. You're the one that now has to make the decision. And so he says. We've left you an example of what hard work looks like.

We've left you an example of what a disciplined life looks like. Now follow our example. And then he comes to another command that he gives to them. Notice what he says. Verse 10. But when we were with you. We used to give you this order. If anyone is not willing to work. And he is not to eat. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life.

Doing no work at all. But acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ. To work in a quiet fashion. And eat their own bread. Paul starts off this next one by saying. When we were with you. In other words in the short amount of time that Paul had spent with the Thessalonian people. Which was anywhere from three weeks to three months.

Really short amount of time. He had given them a command. And you know what the command that he had given to them was? If you don't want to work. Then you shouldn't eat. If you're not willing to work. Then you shouldn't eat. Now I want to throw a caveat on this really quickly. There are some people because of physical disabilities. That they have in their life.

That they cannot work. And I understand that. And the Lord understands that. And you need to know that that's not who I'm talking to right now. But I'm here to tell you that some of the people with some of the worst physical disabilities. I've seen in my life try as hard as they can to work. They try as hard as they can to find something that they're supposed to do.

But Paul says. If someone's not willing. To work. Then they shouldn't be able to eat. This is a biblical principle. Brothers and sisters. That work is really important for us. That God has not intended us to be people that sit around. And have our needs provided by somebody else without work going into it. It's something that God has called for us to do. And it's something that God has used over and over again in my life.

To remind me how much I need Jesus. Because it's all of our natural inclination. To not want to work all that hard. Usually we will shoot for the lowest common denominator. And we'll do as little as we can to get by. But the fact of the matter is that's not what God's telling us to do here. He tells us if a man doesn't work he shouldn't eat. Again. I've had lots of opportunities to deal with situations like this.

I told you about the one guy who came and said. I'm not a guy that punches a clock. I just. I'm too free of a spirit to. Punch a clock. And I'm like well then you're probably too free of a spirit to have groceries on your table all the time. You know too many people are. Are kind of like Uncle Eddie in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Clark I've been holding out for a management position.

Right. Only no management position is coming. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. And to not leave the young people out here. I've had young people come to me and say. I think if I did that job. Like yes that job is there available for me. But I think I'm going to have to work another part time job in order to pay the bills. I'm like. Then that's what you got to do.

But. But I might have to work two or three jobs to make it happen. Then that's what you have to do. Because those of us in here that have had to pay bills. Know that sometimes you have to work two or three part time jobs. To pay the bills. And it's important that we realize that's a normal thing. We have sold the American dream of the fact that you can have a job at the age of 22.

Where you work from nine to five. Make a hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. And have everything that you want. Right out of the chute. Brothers and sisters. That's not true. We've created that in the minds of people. But sometimes you got to hustle to get where you are. You got to hustle to get what you need. And I think that this message sometimes is long overdue in our culture.

That we have got to teach young people. And old people. Because the first guy was 62 years old. That sometimes you just got to work hard and do what has to be done. Because if a man doesn't work. He shouldn't eat. You know what Paul tells us in the book of. I think it's first Timothy. It might be second Timothy. He says if a man doesn't provide for his family.

He is worse than a heathen. That's pretty strong language brothers and sisters. It's pretty harsh talk. But I'm here to tell you right now. If we follow this biblical example in our culture. If we follow this example. It would transform our culture. But do you know what happens when you start applying hard things like this. This sounds great till you apply it.

But once you apply it. But once you apply it to someone's life. You know what they say. You're so mean. How could you be so mean spirited. How could you be so harsh. How could you treat people like that. That's not how Jesus would treat people. Really. Do you remember what happened after Jesus fed the 5,000. Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus the women and children.

So who knows how many there were. And the next day they all show up. And you know what they want. Bread. They want more. And you know what Jesus says. Listen. You're not here. Because. You want to see me. You're here because you want more food. And I'm not giving you more food. Jesus said that. Yes he did. Listen there's an aspect of caring for the poor that's incredibly important.

And part of who we are as believers in Jesus Christ. Clearly we think it's important because we have an entire ministry devoted to it here. But there comes a point in time where you have to hold people accountable. Again I get the wonderful privilege of getting to decide whether or not people get groceries. Or we help pay their bills here at the church sometimes.

I feel phone calls, emails, and walk-ins on those things on a consistent basis. One time I had a human being show up about a year ago. And this human being says I need groceries. Okay well we're here to help you with that. I was happy. I heard their sob story. I don't know why about 15 years ago I didn't start writing down all of the sob stories that people have.

Because some of them have been incredibly creative. And my favorite thing in the middle of a sob story. When they have to stop and think about it for a minute. And I'm like you making that up as you go. Anyway so she gives me her story. And I think it was legitimate at first. So I give her a bunch of bags of food. I'm like oh it hurt my heart right. So I give her food.

And this person takes off. And three days later. It might have even been two days later. They show up again. Hey I need more food. Only this time can you give me. And they gave me a grocery list. And I said. Well I mean I can help you. Did you already go through all the food that I gave you. Well yeah we did. We went through it all. Wow. It would have lasted my family a week.

Okay. So I gave more food. And those diet cokes are free too right. Sure. Why not. Take some diet cokes. So they leave. And three days later. Show up again. I need more of that food. And they pull out the grocery list. I said. So here's the thing. I love to be able to help you. But I have to save this food. And I have to save this food for other people too.

Because there's only so much of this. And at a point in time. I just. It's not. It's not being a good steward for me to be your grocery store. And oh my gosh. I started getting ripped up one side and down the other. How do you call yourself a Christian. This is supposed to be a church. I thought you were supposed to love Jesus. And I'm going. I have given you $200 worth of groceries.

And now I'm holding you accountable. And you're mad at me. You have to understand. When you start applying biblical principles. When you start holding people accountable. They don't like it. We're seeing that in our culture right now. Because when people get held accountable. They don't like it. But it's an important thing for us to do. Because listen. A loving thing for us to do.

Is to hold people accountable. And that's exactly what Paul says to do here. If a man doesn't work. He shouldn't eat. For we hear. That some among you are leading an undisciplined life. Doing no work. But acting like busybodies. Oh that's a great verse. He says. But we hear. And I think it's important for us to pay attention to as well. Because things that happen.

People hear about it. Right? You may think you're keeping it to yourself. You may think nobody knows. People hear. People like to tell me things. It's just the way that it is. People hear. He says. We've heard. That first of all. There's some among you who are undisciplined. Same word. There's some of you that are leading unruly lives. This is the entire reason why Paul gave this teaching.

Why he gave this exhortation. We've heard that there's some among you who are leading undisciplined lives. Not only are you leading undisciplined lives. But you are not willing to work. And you know what the third thing they were? They were busybodies. Isn't that a great word? Doesn't that just describe people sometimes? I just picture like a person whose body won't stop.

They just have to run from one thing to the next. That's basically what a busybody is. Let me describe this for you. Oh there it is. Busying themselves about everyone else's business. Or. Meddling in everyone else's business. Oh man. You know. This word is actually mentioned three times in the New Testament. Twice by Paul. Once by Peter. Paul twice says don't be busybodies.

And Peter says listen. If somebody is going to persecute you. Don't let it be because you're being a busybody. It seems like it's an important thing for us to pay attention to. Only you know what I have found. Is that with words like this. We have a hard time seeing this in ourselves. Right? Like I bet. When I said that. You thought of somebody. Right? Don't lie.

You know. You did. And if you thought of somebody. You probably should ask yourself a question. Should it be me? Because we're really good at spotting these things in other people. We're really good at going. Yep. They should hear this one. But maybe you should hear this one. Right? I was going to put together a whole list of like Jeff Foxworthy style of like.

You might be a redneck if. But like you might be a busybody if. And I can remember a handful of them. I didn't write them down. Because I probably wanted to get myself in trouble. But you all know that hasn't stopped me up to this point in time. So why should I let it stop me now? Listen. If you need to know everybody's business in the church. You're a busybody.

If everybody can come to you to know what's going on in everyone else's life in the church. You might be a busybody. If you think you can solve everybody else's problems in the church. You might be a busybody. And I'll use a term that my daughters like to use. If your favorite thing to do is to spill the tea. You might be a busybody. Did I use that contextually correct?

Thank you. And we just have to pay attention to these things. Listen. There is nothing as damaging to a church as a busybody. But do you know what creates busybodies? Laziness. Because that means you don't have enough going on in your life. You are not focused on enough things. Because if you're focused on your own business. It's really hard to get in everybody else's.

And listen. I want us to understand something. There's a difference between a concerned church member and a busybody. Right? Concerned church members like to solve people's problems. Busybodies like to share about people's problems. Right? And concerned church members keep it to themselves. Because that's the reality of it. You know what? I'm not taking this anywhere else.

And when somebody comes to me and says, have you heard? I try. I don't always do it. Every now and then I'm like, tell me more. Right? Because I'm a human being too. But I try really hard to be like. Well, do they know that? Because that's who you're telling me about. Have you gone to them with that? Do they know that that's what's being spread about them? Because we can stop this right now by going to them.

And you know what's said every time? Never mind. Never mind. I'll just pray for them. That's a good idea. You should probably just pray for them. But if we're about the Lord's business. It's hard to be about the gossip business. Let me give you a little bit of an Old Testament illustration here. Remember the story of Joseph. Joseph was. Had been sold into slavery.

And he was living in Potiphar's house. And Potiphar's wife was like, hey. Right? Like she was one of the first cougars. And she's like all about Joseph. And she's like throwing himself at her every single day. And you know what? We find over and over again in the story of Joseph. Joseph was always about his master's business. You know why Joseph could keep fighting that temptation?

You know why he could not give in to that temptation? Because he was too focused on his master's business. Brothers and sisters. If you're a busybody. Get focused about your master's business. Instead of everybody else's business. Because that will change everything. If you don't have a job. It's time to get a job. Right? Now I don't know everybody's work situation in here.

But if you don't have a job. It's time to find a job. I remember my dad telling me in my early 20s. Fresh out of Bible college. He said. If you have a job. Work a job. If you don't have a job. Your job is to find a job. Right? Like that's what we're supposed to do. If you don't have one. Then you need to make it your full-time job. Full-time employment. To go find one.

That means you need to go beat the bushes. You need to go put in resumes. You need to go put in applications. You need to follow up on those applications. I love you young people. But every now and then I'm like. Just make a return phone call. Right? That's all I need you to do. You're like. Well they've never called me back. And I'm like. Maybe you should call them.

Because if you're tearing down their door. Every single day. They'll go. I think they want to work here. But if you're not calling them back. Then they're going to be like. I don't think they want to work here. Right? Because that's just reality. Get busy about doing it. And so he says. Don't be busy bodies. Instead what should we do? Verse 12. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ.

To work in a quiet fashion. And eat their own bread. Such ones we exhort and command. In the Lord Jesus Christ. To work in a quiet fashion. And to eat their own bread. Their own bread. There's three things I want to tell you about there. Number one. Work. Work. It solves a whole lot of problems. It gives you purpose. It gives you reason. It gives you fulfillment.

It gives you so many things in life. To know that you have put in a good hard day of work. And like I said. If you don't have a job. Make it your job to find a job. The second thing he says is. Work in quietness. We're not very good at that in this culture. Are we? We like to talk. Not about important things. We like to talk about each other. I have found that one of the most important things that you can do.

Is to just be quiet. Chuck Smith used to always say this. I don't know if it originated with him or someone else. But he said it to us all the time. He said. It's better to be thought. To remain silent. And be thought a fool. Than to open your mouth. And remove all doubt. Right? Okay. For those in the back. That was. It's better to remain silent. Than to open your mouth.

And remove all doubt. Right? Okay. For those in the back. That was. It's better to remain silent. Than to open your mouth. And remove all doubt. Sometimes the best thing you can do. Is just be quiet. And listen. Fellas. I'm talking to you too here. Right? Usually we all say the same thing. Yeah. You know. Women on a job site. Always talking. Women in their workplace.

Always talking. Dude. I worked construction for a long time. And you know what happens. When you get a bunch of construction workers together. There are a bunch of cheerleaders. Right? It is nothing. But gossip. And drama. Did you hear what he said? Did you see what she did? Did you hear what he said? Did you hear what he said? Did you hear what he said? Did you hear what he said?

Did you hear what he said? Did you hear what she did? Well then the supervisor said. And I'm going. Aren't we dudes? Right? Like shouldn't this. Shouldn't we be done with this now? But you find that men are no different. Because we just love to talk. And we love to. We love to spill the tea. And that's why it's really important. Just sometimes. It's a lesson I learned really early on.

Sometimes I start defending myself. Sometimes I start defending other people. And finally God just goes. Why don't you just. Why don't you just be quiet. It's probably the best thing you can do. Right? I've been doing this on social media here lately. Because lots of misinformation is running around right now. And I've been like. Actually. And then I'm like.

Delete. Delete. Delete. Delete. Delete. Just be quiet. It's not my job. It's not my monkey. It's not my circus. Right? I don't need to worry about it. Work in quietness. And then what's the third thing it says? Eat your own bread. What does he mean by that? Be content with what you have. Be content with what you have. Again. A major problem we have in this culture right now.

Is for the most part. Our entire economy is set up on the purpose of covetousness. Have you ever noticed that's what advertisements do? Look at what they have. Don't you want it? Look at what they have. Don't you need it? If they've got it. You want it. Look. This celebrity owns it. Your life will be happy if you have it. And we're never happy. We're never happy because of this.

I read this article the other day. And it was. And it talked about that the thief of joy in our culture is abundance. Have you ever gone to buy toothpaste? I hate buying toothpaste. Right? I mean. I like buying toothpaste. Because I like keeping the pearly whites. But I hate buying toothpaste. Because you walk in. And there's like 37 brands of toothpaste. And different things.

And it's like. Okay. Do I want it to have baking soda and peroxide? Do I want it to whiten my teeth? Do I want it to harden my teeth? Do I want it to do away with cavities? Do I want it to give me a winning smile? Do I want it to make me a million dollars? Yes. And then there's the one that's the complete. And it's like. It does all of these things. I'm like.

That's the one to buy. Right? That's the one to buy. But that's the way we are with everything right now. We have so much of everything that we're never happy with anything. Which is why he says, work in quietness and eat your own bread. Be content with what you have. Brothers and sisters, there's something that we need to understand. And that's that our witness is tied to our work ethic.

Because the way that we work will speak volumes to the culture around us about who we are as believers in Jesus Christ. Because if our work ethic is strong, then they will see that we serve a strong Savior. But if our work ethic is weak, they'll start questioning everything that we believe. Because quite frankly, they don't see any change in your life. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, work hard. Well, this morning is Communion Sunday. And I already see tiny people marching down the hallway here. So I'm gonna invite the worship team to come up and the little people. Jeff, you can go and unleash the hounds. If you would, just kind of keep an eye on the door for your tiny people, because they don't know where you are. They're gonna be really confused.

And they have balloons. Come on in. I don't know who that one is. We have one at the door that is really confused about where ... Oh, there we go. Anyone recognize the adorable little girl at the door? We have one more class coming. Hang tight with me, kids. All right, we're ready for that last class. Bring them on down. There's a holdup at the doorway. All right.

There they come. Okay. All right, like we said, this morning is Communion Sunday, an important time for us as believers, an important celebration for us as believers. So inside of each of these trays, there's a couple of cups stacked together, and they have two very important elements in them, some juice and a cracker. Bottom cup has the cracker. The top cup has the juice.

In and of themselves, really nothing significant to it, because it's what they represent that has the most significance. As I oftentimes share with you on that last great night of the feast, Jesus took the bread, because that's what we want to talk about first. He took that bread, and that bread was so significant. It wasn't a big fluffy piece of bread like what you and I think of.

It was like a giant saltine cracker. It was, first of all, unleavened, and leaven in Scripture always speaks of sin. So that bread was pure, if you will. But that bread was also pierced for the baking process. And it was striped because of the baking process. So as Jesus holds up this bread, this bread is pure, it is pierced, and it is striped. And he takes that bread, and he breaks it.

He says, this is my body, which is broken for you. I can only imagine what that must have been like for Jesus to do that, to know that what he held up was the perfect image of himself being broken. I always wonder if a little tear rolled down his cheek at that point in time, thinking about the sacrifice that he made. And he held out the bread, and he said, take and eat, this is my body, which is broken for you.

And then he took that cup, and the Passover ceremony, there's several different cups that are passed, and the last one's called the cup of redemption. And so Jesus holds up the cup, and he says, this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you. Blood throughout Scripture is always held in very high regard. Very early on. Always what was used to atone for sin, the blood of animals.

One command was always given, and that's that they were never to drink the blood. Because it says, the blood has the life in it. So as Jesus held up that cup, and he said, this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood that is shed for you. He was telling them, this is the new covenant of life that is for you. Take and drink. And we're told as often as we do this, that we declare.

Take and drink. Take and drink. And we declare the death of Jesus. That his body was broken for us. We're told that by his stripes we are healed. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. The punishment for our peace was laid upon him. And that blood that covers all of our sins was shed for us. So we're told that when we partake of this, we're to partake in a worthy manner.

The first thing is to make sure that we understand exactly what this process is. It doesn't actually become the body and blood of Jesus, but it is powerful representations of what he's done for us. And so if you're here this morning, and you're not a born again believer in Jesus Christ, you've never dealt with your sins, then this meal is probably not for you. It won't mean anything to you.

But today could be that day that you decide, you know what, today's the day that I want to put my faith in Jesus. I want to confess my sins to him and accept the sacrifice that he's made for me. And then you can partake with the rest of us just like family. Because that's what we are. If you're here this morning and you're a believer, and there's things that have gotten between

you and the Lord, there's sins that are not causing you to lose your salvation, but they've damaged your fellowship, your fellowship with God or your fellowship with other people. This is a good time to deal with those things. The word tells us that if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so as the worship team plays this last song.

The ushers will come down and they'll hand out the elements. And when you receive your elements, please stand and we'll partake together. But while that song is playing, would you just ask God to search your heart? Let him do whatever business inside of your heart that needs to be done this morning so that we can partake as family and celebrate the death of Jesus for us.

Cast my mind to Calvary, where Jesus lived and died for me.

I see His wounds, His hands, His feet My Savior on that cursed tree His body bound and drenched in tears They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb The entrance sealed by heavy stone Messiah still and all of the Son This is our family. It binds us together.

Father, we thank You. I thank You for the body of Jesus Christ that was broken for us. Lord, for the beatings that You endured. Father, the crown of thorns or the nails through Your hands and Your feet. Lord, You endured. You endured it all, despising the shame because of the joy that was set before You. Father, I thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for us,

that blood that brings new life, that washes all of our sins. Lord, would You continue to keep us ever in mind of the death of Jesus Christ for us, knowing that it's the one common bond that everybody in this room has. Father, we thank You and we praise You in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's partake.

And if you'd bow with me, one last time. Father, we come to You now thanking You for the time that we've had here together, our time in Your Word, our time in fellowship and in worship. And Lord, may we now go throughout the rest of our week focused on You. Lord, keep our hearts and our minds focused on You and may Your Word continue to sink deeply into our hearts.

In Jesus' name. Amen. Be blessed.