1 Thess. 5:14, I Kings 19:1-21, Body Life (3)

We are considering what in Scripture might be helpful in the process of admonishing the unruly.

·        Teach the meaning of submission.

o   It is equated with lowliness, humility.

o   It means to be subject, to reverence, obey.

o   It means living for another's welfare.

o   Rom 15:2: let everyone please his neighbor for edification

·        Teach submission as the means of receiving God’s grace.

o   Jas 4:6-7 But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

o   1Pt 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.

·        Teach that Christians must submit to God as the ultimate authority.

o   1 Pt2:19-20: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

o   1Pt 3:17: For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

II.Comfort the fainthearted.

The word comfort is not the word for counselling although that might be involved.  It means to soothe, console; it almost has the idea of cheering someone up.  The term fainthearted literally means small-souled.  It might refer to someone who is despondent or dejected because of some issue and is unable to face up to what needs to be done to deal with the matter.  This was an issue in the lives of some of the greatest men in Scripture: Moses (Num. 11:10-25), Job (Job 3:20-22); Elijah (1 Ki. 19:1-21); Jeremiah (Jer. 20:1-18); Jonah (Jon. 4:1-11).

What the stories tell us is that there might be a variety of issues, ultimately sin issues, involved in this that must be confessed and repented of.  It could involve physical sickness.  But then it might be the result of our response to a recent stressful event, self-pity, some hidden sin or habitual sin, or a past failure for which we have not accepted God’s forgiveness.  I have found that using the above stories as fodder for good one-on-one Bible study has been helpful in getting to the reasons for our faintheartedness.  The ways God confronted this fearfulness in each of these stories can be used by the Holy Spirit in the lives of those we seek to help.