Becoming A Fellow-worker With God

Wherefore when we could no longer

forbear, we thought it good to be

left at Athens alone; and sent Timotheus,

our brother, and minister of God, and 

fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ,

to establish you, and to comfort you

concerning your faith: that no man

should be moved by these afflictions:

for yourselves know that we are 

appointed thereunto. 

1Thessalonians 3:1-3

     In the Book of Acts Timothy is not mentioned as being with Paul in Athens but it is probable that Timothy came there and then was sent by Paul to Thessalonica. Paul felt no need to have Timothy there and felt it better that he would be left alone in Athens and that Thessalonica Christians needed him more. Timothy was recommended to the Churches as a brother and minister of God. Furthermore Timothy was a fellow-worker for God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ministers of God are to be fellow-workers with the other Christians in the Church, not just overseerers, but workers alongside others to promote Authentic Christian living. Unfortunately some Church leaders are all about self aggrandizement and the feathering of their pockets with money and live in super luxurious homes, traveling about in 25 million dollar owned jets, etc., and though somehow this is working for God. It is not! On the other-hand, some everyday Christians have gotten themselves so in debt as to be slaves to those things that are taking them away from being a fellow-worker for God. Many own cars that are expensive, maybe even two cars, quads, ski equipment, boats, and other sports things, as though this somehow makes them a better person, to have a better fun-filled life. It does! But at a cost! Most families today need both spouses to work to pay for all these things and the children are left to themselves far too often and then there is a wondering of what went wrong. Christians do not have to life in poverty, no, they can have nice things and enjoy what this life has to offer, only if things are taking away from them a close relationship with Jesus, to take them away from being a fellow-worker then something is wrong with their understanding of what it means to be a Christian, an Authentic Christian. 

     Tribulations come in many disguises and at different levels of trial, some due to others, some do to our own sinful nature making poor or wrong choices. Paul knew that the tribulations facing the Thessalonians needed the leadership of a strong and faithful ministers, therefore he sent Paul. 

     But!!!!! I am obedient you say! Maybe so and if so this is good, but too often there is a counterfeit to obedience that makes a person thinking that he is obedient when in fact he is not. Here is how it often occurs: This counterfeit to obedience is a state of mind that makes a person believe that their occasional sacrifice, this work albeit said to be for God, is mistaken for discernment. What do I mean? It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2). 

     Discernment, like common-sense, is missing in too many people's thinking. It is easier to hear words that sound so good, that make you feel so good, to not cause a person to feel depressed due to their sinfulness and inability to follow God as God has commanded. Excuses are made for things done that lower a person so that they have an easier life. Respect is almost a thing of the past, or has been given a new definition to fit what a person likes so they are excused for not actually being respectful, discerning, and by this lack the will to person what God wants and perform those things that seem like great acts of self-sacrifice. 

     Brothers and sisters, don't look back at what you once were, that is gone, that is over if you have converted to Jesus Christ. Look ahead for God wants to make you into what you never were before. If you have a true faithful minister to lead you into growth of faith that is true faith in God, then good, if not: GET RID OF HIM! this man will lead you away from being all that God wants to make of you and use you. We are CHRISTIANS, not christians, and we are CHRISTIANS because we are becoming more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. This is a privilege to be led by God, to be changed by God, for this is just the beginning of an eternal life with Him in heaven, in a new world being prepared for you and I. Praise God! We are not orphans left to our own devices. 

He delighteth not in the strength

     of the horse: he taketh not 

pleasure in the legs of a man.

    The LORD taketh pleashure in

them that fear Him, in those that

    hope in His mercy.

              Psalm 147: 10-11

Let God use you today

Richard L. Crumb

Overcoming Fear By The Power Of God

But we, brethren, being taken

from you for a short time in

presence, not ink heart, endeavoured

the more abundantly to see your face

with great desire. Wherefore we would

have come unto you even I Paul,

once again; but Satan hindered us.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown

of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the

presence of our Lord Jesus Christ

at his coming? For ye are our 

glory and joy.

1Thessalonians 2:17-20

     Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica due to the rage of his persecutors. This unwillingness of Paul to leave Thessalonica but Satan as he does hindered him and even now had kept him from returning to the Thessalonian Church. In Acts chapter 17 we find the narrative of Paul journeying to Thessalonica and in Thessalonica there was a synagogue of the Jews and as was the custom of Paul he entered the synagogue to reason with the Jews from the Scriptures. Paul set forth that Jesus who had been crucified, who had suffered, did rise from the dead and it was this Christ that he was preaching and teaching. Some had converted to Christianity, others rejected, even many of the Greeks converted to Christianity. This dissatisfied some of the Jews, those Jews who had become lewd and debased in morality and life set the city upon Paul and Silas who was with him. They went to the house of Jason and carried him off to the city rulers complaining that they had turned the city upside down due to this preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ. The complaint was serious in nature because they spoke that this teaching was in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, that there was another king beside Caesar. Jason had to set out some security and when he did he was let go but for Paul they aided them to leave and this Paul did and went to Berea, and there Paul as was his custom went to the synagogue. The Bereans were called more noble than the Thessalonicans due to their searching the Scriptures daily as to whether or not what was being taught was correct according to Scripture. Many in Berea became followers of Jesus Christ. This knowledge came to the Thessalonicans Jews who opposed Paul and came to Berea and attempted to stir up the people against Paul. Paul then left to go to Athens.

     The Berean legacy is one of great notice for they are known for the diligent study of God's word, that they checked all that was being taught and said to see if it was according to Scripture. They left nothing to chance, they searched the Scriptures. Christians must not do otherwise, they have a responsibility to ensure that what is being taught is according to Scripture, not man's word and speculation about what a verse or Scripture means, rather what actually does Scripture say. Then to meditate upon this, to take pains to consider what has been read, or said so that they may, and you, and I, will not rest upon superficial knowledge. All Authentic Christians, those who want to have God as the highest priority in their lives will receive the word of God with readiness of mind, searching them, studying them and applying then the truth of Scripture. This will infuriate those who are opposed to God as it did for Paul and those Christians in Thessalonica, and Berea, and other places not mentioned here. 

     Do you believe God? Did He not say that He will aid you in all things? Yes! Therefore put fear aside, lead the life that God has outlined and revealed for His Children and let the chips fall where they may, be obedient and let God handle the circumstances. Many people are so prejudiced to religion and especially against Christianity and we must not allow them to control our minds and actions, not to lead us into their corrupt passions. To be a Christian is hard! So be it! It is hard for put a moment then all hardness is turned into the softness of the love of God, not temporary, but eternal. What do we have to fear? Fear fear! Fear is an enemy and only by the help of God through the empowering of the Holy Spirit can we overcome this fear. God is not a liar and He will keep His word to you. 

Be not afraid!--For your heart can hold

    Riches far finer than any god,

Treasures more precious than costly gen,

    Inheritance greater than diadem,

Faith you can have that is shining andclear,

    Hope that is bright with the brightness of cheer;

Love you can have, uplifting and wise,

    And Freindship's light in a clear one's eyes;

Truth you can have like a prayer in your heart--

    Fountain of literature, music, and art:

The grace of the flowers, the solace of trees,

    Be not afraid, for any of these

Are yours to gather and yours to hold,

    Wealth that is greater than any gold.

With Faith and Love your heart is at ease;

     count any man rich possessed of these.

                         Nora Carter

Become a Berean

Richard L. Crumb

 

Becoming Faithful Workers With God

For this cause also thank we God 

without ceasing, because, when ye

received the word of God which

ye heard of us, ye received it not

as the word of men, but as it is in

truth, the word of God, which effectually

worketh also in you that believe. For ye,

brethren became followers of the 

churches of God in Judea are in Christ

Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things

of your own countrymen, even as they

have persecuted us: and they please

not God, and are contrary to all men: 

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles 

that they might be saved, to fill up

their sins alway: for the wrath is come 

upon them to the uttermost.

1Thessalonians 2:13-16

     In Acts 17:5 we learn that the Jews stirred up the gentile inhabitants of Thessalonica against the Christians. The Jews had done what many do today when they believe that they have the only way to God and detest all others who will not believe the way they do. the Jews had this bad attitude which was an abhorrence for all other nations and considered themselves as they only favored and enlightened by God. It is true that God elected them to be His people upon this earth to have and hold the truth about Him, but not to be exclusive as the only people of God, rather they were to be His manifestation to the world. To bring to the world the truth about Him. The Jews did receive the word of God, His law, His requirements of worship to Him and so they were the people of God representing Him to the world. Not to be an isolationist people, rather a people of God. This they did not do and here in Thessalonica they cause considerable persecution as they had done elsewhere and this continued badly until the Roman Empire destroyed many or the Jewish provinces and people. We see this type of thinking with other religions: i.e., Islam especially whereby they will kill those who will not follow their form or religion. This occurred with some of those "Christians," during the inquisitions when this occurred as well. Christianity, God, is not to be conjoined with a government. It is not that Christians should not be involved in government and government dealings for we are the harbingers of Justice as God is Just. But we are not to push our religion upon a government making our religion the only religion. Yes, Christianity is God's religion! Christianity is the truth about God! When Christianity is following the word of God and not the word of men then Christians are examples and a manifestation of God here on earth. We are His witnesses, not His hit men! 

     God in His sacred oracles is where truth is to be found and deduced and here is where God is to be found. Not by some man or men who have speculated, or given their opinion as the truth, no, it is by the word of God rightly divided where a person comes to know the truth. Those who are hindering the word of God, even going so far as to replace it with the words of men, are to blame for what is occurring in this world that is hurting men and women. Those false words of men being taken as truth because a person will take the road of least resistance is causing almost irreparable harm to this present generation and generations to come. This is where those who like the Thessalonians who faced similar problems stood firm on the word of God and not of men. We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to His holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. Men's words of fickle, always changing, never satisfied with what is good, always looking for something better which in the end never proves better but leaves people in a pit of darkness searching for answers when the answer is in the word of God. We are the witnesses, the ambassadors for God who are responsible to bring to the world this light, this light of truth. 

     Why so many disregard the word of God? Is it because of so much infighting among denominations? Is it because there is so little preparations in the Churches to prepare God's children to defend their faith? Let us get this thinking in our minds, our senses; these are the words of God, not men, and we then submit to those words of God. We put our whole souls and bodies into this work given to us by our gracious God. Why should any man resist the wisdom of God and deny the people the bread of life, Jesus Christ, whereupon they should feed. This light whereby the may walk safely, hearing and reading the word of God from which they learn to turn from idolatrous ways, from sins that serve the body and not the soul? Why should we deny them the truth?

The preaching of the Gospel requires faith:

     not faith in believing, nor faith in wishful thinking,

but faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of history and Savior

    of the world.

The saving power of Jesus Christ is the one inexhaustible

    resource God has given to men, but it requires the 

instrumentality of faith to make it real. 

     "According to your faith be it unto you." 

                           Romans 12:6 (Billy Graham)

God is your Resource

Richard L. Crumb