Sermon Notes | 6.4.23

Rise Week 7

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12

[9] Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, [10] for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, [11] and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, [12] so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (ESV)

…being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself – be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself – by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love – the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the more one would strive for it, the more he would miss it. In other words, self-actualization is possible only as a side-effect of self-transcendence. 

– Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

CALL TO LOVE

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. – John 13:34

HOW?

MEANS OF LOVE

1 Thessalonians 4:11

Work is a means of love.

Why does Paul have to say this?

[10] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. [11] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. [12] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. – 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

Live quietly

Mind your own affairs

Work with your hands

Are you willing to work with your hands?

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. –Frederick Buechner

What if your job isn’t ideal?

[28] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28

[15] The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. – Genesis 2:15

I am part of a global movement to bring order, beauty, and harmony out of the chaos of this world to the glory of God and the good of my neighbor. 

You can’t work well until you rest well. 

[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

People who understand that their creativity is a gift of God, rather than putting it in the place of God himself, discover a paradoxical freedom. They are both free to work and free from work. Motivated by love and gratitude (powerful motivators) they are free to work very hard, giving their best back to God.  At the same time, because they know that neither they nor their work is God, they are free from the burden of taking themselves or their work too seriously–as if their giftedness mandated perfection. – Charles Drew, A Journey Worth Taking

RESULTS OF LOVE

1 Thessalonians 4:12

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

A Prayer for Salvation

“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through your Son Jesus I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you that he lived the life I should have lived and paid the debt and punishment I owed. Receive me now for his sake. I turn from my sins and receive him as Savior. Amen.”