Looking After Your Body
Technology, urbanisation, pandemic isolation, crime and societal norms all converge in making us more and more self-aware and self-focused. We even tend to read Scripture through a selfish lens, rather than the God centred and other-centred priorities that Jesus taught. Ironically, self-centred lives lead to loneliness and a struggle for identity and purpose, whereas living out God’s design for the Church (Jesus’ body) grows and strengthens each individual member. We are part of Jesus body and we need to be cared for, and care for every other member.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:19-28 ESV Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Bible Study Questions
The purpose of prophecy
Old Testament prophets were given special authority to write the infallible and inerrant word of God. Prophecy continues through the New Testament and still today. While this prophecy is not authoritative like the Scriptures, it is a valuable gift to the Church. What is this prophecy for today?
1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 ESV But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
The gravity of prophecy
We should be extremely careful when dealing with prophecy, especially in the way that we share what we believe to be a message from God. What does God call for in the Old Testament as the penalty for those who presume to speak for Him but do not, or those who lead others astray to other Gods?
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 ESV But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
The test of prophecy
The Church at Thessalonica are warned not to disregard or reject prophecy, but rather to test it, hold on to what is good and hold off what is not. How are we to test prophecy?
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 ESV Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Corinthians 14:29-32 ESV Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
Acts 17:11 ESV Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
1 John 4:1-2 ESV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
The health of the body
Prophecy is a gift to the Church to build up all of it’s members. Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, blesses all of the members of the Church petitioning God to make them completely Holy, and to keep them to the day that Jesus returns to fetch His Church. How is Paul’s focus on the body as a whole different to how we sometimes view our faith and God’s purpose for us in the Church?
1 Corinthians 12:25-27 ESV that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it
Prayer for the body
Who is Paul asking the Church to pray for in 1 Thessalonians 5:25? Aren’t these people the ones who have been praying for the Church at Thessalonica? What does this mutual prayer teach us about caring for the Body of Jesus, the Church?
1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV Brothers, pray for us.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 ESV Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace..
Care for the body
Paul has appointed leaders in the Church at Thessalonica to care for it’s members. He also calls for the members to care for the leaders. What does this teach us about the way we should operate as a Church?
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 ESV Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
Food for the body
Having addressed the letter of 1 Thessalonians to the Church as a whole, Paul finishes the letter putting them under oath to make sure that the whole Church hears the words of the letter. This may indicate that Paul anticipated some problem, but what does it tell us about the need for every member of the Church to read and be nourished by God’s Holy Word?
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
Prayer
Dear Father God, Thank You for giving us the Church and for giving us to the Church. Thank You that our Lord Jesus died for the whole Church, and that His life is an atonement for the sin of the whole Church. Please forgive us our sin, especially the sin of selfishness. Please deliver us from the ways of the world and help us to think and behave more like Jesus. Please make our Church Holy, and keep us pure and without blame, as we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Name we pray, Amen.
Worship
Now in all the churches flowing,
Brotherly love.
Light and life and love bestowing,
Brotherly love.
In the oneness all believing,
Fellowship with all receiving,
Nevermore the Spirit grieving,
Brotherly love.
To maintain the sweet communion,
Brotherly love;
Fellowship and healing union,
Brotherly love.
Love believing for the brothers,
Hoping all things for the others,
Suffering all with one another,
Brotherly love.
For the issue of fruit bearing,
Brotherly love.
Fellowship in oneness sharing,
Brotherly love.
Here our soul life we’re forsaking,
And the Spirit’s way we’re taking,
Now from death to life we’re breaking,
Brotherly love.
Oh, this perfect way of gladness,
Brotherly love!
No more fear, imparting sadness,
Brotherly love!
Now is our sure affirmation,
Life and Spirit our foundation,
Building up, the consummation—
Brotherly love.
Seed of life within us growing,
Brotherly love.
Philadelphia now is flowing,
Brotherly love.
To this love God has restored us;
Everything will fall before us;
Love is over all victorious,
Brotherly love!
Service
Today’s Scripture reminds us that we are called to serve one another in the Church through genuine concern and fellowship, availability, prayer, up-building, encouragement and consolation. Pray for the Lord to show us how we are to do this to the best of our abilities and then to empower us by His Holy Spirit to do so.