Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:31:07 -0500WeeblySun, 23 Jun 2013 18:37:46 GMThttps://righteouslivingministries.org/blog-sermons/living-a-consecrated-life-as-a-functional-family 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

“But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.”

Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians to encourage them in the faith and love for one another. We know by his use of the nouns, brother and sister that Paul truly felt a kinship to these Gentile believers.  We in turn  learn that these words are the very words that are needed to show family relationship in today's congregations.  Here  we ascribe to  this notion of familial relation on several levels, I  imagine much like these early Christians.  Their meetings would occur in the home of one of their number. Scholarly notes tell us that there was likely present at those assemblies 40 or so believers waiting to hear the word of God.  Within those walls were husbands and wife's, mothers and fathers, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, play cousins, next door neighbors, new and old friends.  All of them coming together to worship as the functional family of God. 

In order for us to live A Consecrated Life as a functional Family I believe it to appropriate that we define what functional versus dysfunctional would be. Functional is:  having a special activity, purpose, or task; relating to the way in which something works or operates.

Dysfunctional is: Not operating normally or properly. Deviating from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad.

What is needed in a functional family?  Three points:

We need to respect each other

We need to be at peace with one another

We need kind actions for all by all

We need to respect each other.  We may not all agree or have the same viewpoint when it comes to how every detail of the church should be met. However, we can and should respect each other’s points of view and ability to express ourselves. In the early church they were to very different schools of thought as to how to become a Christian. Two of our faith's forefathers, Peter and Paul had opinions that collided with each other.  One believed that to become a Christian as a Gentile, believers would first need to become a Jew. 

Whereas, the other thought that there was not a need to be a Jew first if you were born Gentile. Jesus Christ, our Redeemer paid in full the ransom for us all to be grafted into the family of believers.  Now for a moment I want you to imagine what it would have looked like if our forefathers had decided not to put in the work to spread God's word. If they had not earnestly put forth the effort to do God's will. How dysfunctional we would be as a family. But thanks be to God that Paul and Peter could still work together, they could still function as a family to serve God. They remembered what was most important and that was the mission to spread the Good news.

Right here, right now what are we doing as a family to respect each other and function? It is easy to talk about how we pull together and support each other for child births, and weddings , birthday parties, weekly birthday singing, and all the little nuances that we are accustomed to doing. It is feasible to. Be respectful and function others on the outside are looking. You know when we have visitors and guest that come by.  When we have special days, we don't fight and bicker and try to tear down each other. We receive one another in love and even with our differences and press toward the higher call! 

All families have their disagreements but it is how you pull together during those times and glorify God that will sustain and edify the people. I take this moment to celebrate you and encourage you all to continue just as the author of today's text said, " to respect those who labor among you". Because as a family you function so well in the difficult moments, it does nothing but give the highest respect to our pastor. See each and every one of us here represent God, Jesus, our church and our pastor when we do what we do.

When we operate in a respectful manner we are sending up the highest praises and honor for those that seek to teach, lead and prepare us for service to God. But for those of you that are not part of this St. Paul family or a part of God's family you also can become a functional member of God's family.  With today as your start believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and profess it with your mouth, start reading God's word, go to God in prayer over every area in your life. Attend Bible Study, Sunday School, and Sunday worship. These things will help you in meeting the desire to be in a functional member of the family of God.  But that is not all. The word tells us, "Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them."

We need to be at peace with one another. It is not enough to just respect each other. After we work through our disagreements we have to be at peace with the outcome.    I was about to give Iris a bath the other day and Omar'an tells me daddy get out of my bathroom. I said, " uh sir this is my bathroom I just let you use it!" He thought about it for a moment and retorted, " it is both ours" , replied," ok I can go along with that." See as a functional family an agreeable and peaceful resolution was reached. Same as with Laban and Jacob. As they met and discussed the missing Idols they reached an agreement that we now know as the Mispah, " May The Lord watch between me and the while we are absent from one another." Their agreement for peace as family kept them in a functional manor.

But what is the Apostle saying to the people of Thessalonica? I Imagine that he wants them to realize that a peaceful existence is the desire for every Christian. Pursue it by refusing to follow those that are not making the family in Christ a priority, you know who I'm talking about. Those Christians that can't ever make it to a function.  Or go to a afternoon service, those that do not call those that are sick and shut in. The ones who are on committee by name only.  These are those that contribute to the dysfunction!

We have too guide those brothers and sisters who backside.  Not every Christian has the same fortitude.  The ability to keep from reverting to their old ways are still very fresh to them. By being creatures of habit, it only makes sense to go for what you know.  Was a functional family we are called to be the example of how to run to God when things seem out of sorts.  We must display where and whom we as new creatures put our trust in daily. 

Finally, support those that are young in the faith. Everyone of us mature in the Lord at different rates of time. That is because the obstacles that come against us all are different and at a myriad of spaces of time in our lives. The growth that I am having today will help one of you all and or some other sibling of ours tomorrow.  Likewise, the growth that you experience should in turn do the same for me and others. As we grow together let us remember, through all of it, as they say now, Keep Calm!  Remember brothers and sisters we once were there in that same place also.  Being at peace with one another should bring us to the last step, let us be kind to one and all.

We need kind actions for all by all. When a functional family is operating at full capacity we will readily be kind and good to one another.  This hope and desire illustrates the plan that was set by God for us all as children of the Most High. Kind actions show those we love how much we care and these actions are done with need for repayment or the fear of owing anything in return.  What am I saying? Family how often do you  tell each other That I love you?  Turn to your neighbor and tell them, " I love you and the isn't any you can do about it." Now turn to the other one and give them a hug. Do some good for all.  It does not have to be a big gesture but you have to mean it and it come from a pure place.  You will be surprise how much good will come your way when you do good by God's people.  Regardless of how others treat you. The word tells us not to repay evil for evil. So as there will be those that seek to do you harm and mistreat you. Don't give in to your flesh and exact the same treatment and punishment on them, that  harm you.  As  functional family member you are called to do what does not feels  good.  You are called to do what will hurt your pride.  You are called to do what many will say you are soft, weak, a punk , chump, and any other adjective that you could use to describe the proper noun known as you! Remember that you are not the first to be placed in this situation.  Our lord and savior gave his life to the very people that he had healed, cleansed, brought back from the dead, fed, loved, cared for, called out into a new profession, yet they all at some point allowed their our desires their own evil to act against Christ. He gave his life not because he did not have anything else to do but because in being kind to all he gave you and I and the rest of our siblings a gift that will keep on giving. The gift of eternal life will never expire for those of a functional family. I thank God right now. I praise his name. For he has been so good. He has be better to me than have been to myself.  But I don't want the story to end there for me. I want to be there with The Lord in the end. It is my pledge to: respect each of you, to be at peace with you, and to be kind to you all.  Amen

]]>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:35:35 GMThttps://righteouslivingministries.org/blog-sermons/the-perfect-gift

Gifts come in many shapes and sizes and hold different values to the people that possess them. How often have you receive a gift that was not what you may have hoped for or request? Far too frequently we are unappreciative of the gifts that we receive from others.  If it is a pair of shoes, we want them to be name brand, if it is jewelry it has to be real and expensive, in the case of cars they must be luxury models, and when it comes to food, it must be steak because we will not accept Top Ramen.  The gifts that we except must meet and suit our standards.  Any gift you give us must be perfect.

There is something to be said about those that want to receive the perfect gift but continue to make imperfect offerings.  We ask the world to cater to us and give us our hearts desires yet we are not willing to put anything on the line or change any of our behaviors, yet we keep questioning, “why we do not get the best of all things. “

In reading Romans 8:1-5 for today’s sermon I witnessed Paul exclaim the importance of how those that are redeemed can no longer be condemned.    I found that to be amazing, once the perfect gift was given, that how a complete 180 degree turn had occurred in the life of those that were once given a death sentence because of the life they once lived outside of the love of Jesus Christ.   This life that kept the early Christians in bondage (the Human Condition) Paul talks about this in Romans 7:18 “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.”  We could not live a righteous and pleasing life to God based on following the law.  Because Holy living had proven itself impossible the God gives us the perfect gift.

This perfect gift from God would give life to the Christians in Rome and to Christians everywhere else until the end of time.   As I read this scripture, I discovered three refreshing points about the redeemer. 

·        He was made flesh like you and I

·        He suffered and died for you and I

·        He left a Helper for you and I

He was made flesh like you and I, Jesus being born into sin just as all man before and after Him caused the death of sin to no longer consume the life of God’s children. This Gift keeps on giving because of the newness of life that is restored every day.  Christ gives us the perfect example of how we should strive to live a life pleasing to God.  During this Lenten season, there is time to reflect over Christ’s sacrifice and gain strength in knowing that we too can live better, by following in Christ’s steps of submission and sacrifice

He suffered and died for you and I, brothers and sisters please understand the cross that Jesus bore to give us the full and perfect give of everlasting did not come quick nor was it easy.  Christ was beaten, mocked and handed over to enemies of the church to award us with redemption.  As we consider Jesus’ gift, recognize the suffering that went into being nailed to a cross and drowning in His own fluids all for you and I. Not only did He suffer, die, and be raised from the dead, Jesus did not want us to face this world and our flesh alone.

He left a Helper for you and I, only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we face the cravings of the flesh.   Romans 8:10, “If Christ is in you the flesh is dead and the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” The flesh is seeking to keep us from the fellowship with God. However, if we listen, pray, and trust and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will live free from the bondage of this world. ]]>