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Getting Unstuck

Getting Unstuck

Words of Faith 3-20-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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1 Thessalonians 4

    Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. [2] For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

 

        Paul had extended the warmest of greetings to the believers at Thessalonica.  He had shared words of encouragement and expressions of deep attachment to the believers there.  In chapters 4 and 5, Paul began to address "what is lacking in your faith", the matters he had alluded to in the previous chapter (3:10). 

        The first concern for Paul was not so much a deficit as an exhortation that they not retreat from the Christian life that they had been living.  Paul encouraged the believers to deepen their walk with God more and more. Many of the believers were living precisely the life that was pleasing to God, but Paul knew that they could quickly become satisfied with the basics and not move on with God. Paul encouraged them to continue to grow more and more.

        The Greek word Paul used means to super-abound in quantity or quality, to be in excess and abundance, to "be the better" or excel.  This appeal was not so much to point out what was lacking as it was to encourage them never to stop growing in their walk with God.  The believers in Thessalonica knew the teaching of Lord.  They knew the right way to live.  Now, it was a matter of carrying that on more and more.

         Paul seems to be speaking to a common experience in Christian living in which we can become satisfied and then stop growing with God.  This is something that can happen at almost any point in the Christian life.

        Some will get the basics of salvation and never move beyond that.  Others will gain Biblical knowledge but never move further in relationships or service.  Some will get into a specific pattern of service and never grow in the Word.  Sometimes we gain a certain level of Christian experience and knowledge, and then we judge that we have "been there and done that," so we settle in and stop growing.  This is clearly not the intention of God for us.

        Paul urged the believers of the early church not to grow complacent or apathetic or stagnate in their walk with God.  When are we done growing with God?  Never.  Even when we are glorified with the Lord in heaven, we are probably continuing to grow in an ever-deepening eternity of praise and communion with Him. Certainly for this life, we are never finished.  When we think we are finished or that we have "been there and done that," the very attitude is the thing that is lacking most in our journey with Jesus.

        Have you been feeling complacent lately?  Stagnate or just stuck?  Now is the time to seek the Lord with all your heart and see if there is some challenge that is just ahead.  Often such growth involves something we had never considered before or that may seem impossible to us.  

       As we pray, God will often bring something across our path.  It may seem impossible.  That is a pretty good sign that it may be from God.  If you don't need God to move ahead, it probably is not from God.  This is when we step out in faith and really start to grow with Him.

       Does God want to use you in some unique way?  Is there a local ministry that needs your help?  Is it time to take that short term mission trip?  Is there a place He wants you to volunteer?  Is there a class or a degree that He wants you to pursue?  Is there a trip He wants you to take or a person He wants you to reach?  Is there a language He wants you to learn?  Is there a class He wants you to teach or a small group He wants you to start?  Is there a substantial financial gift He wants you to give-- that you know you could never give on your own? Is there a young person He wants you to sponsor or an older person He wants you to touch?  Is there some small act of service you have noticed that seems to be left undone?  Could you do it?  Pray.  Look. Listen. Step out.

       

       Father God, thank You for the gift of Jesus and His grace.  Show me how it is that you want me to please You more and more.  Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and courage to step out in faith.  In Jesus' name.