1-3 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
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A minister must speak in truth, without deceit or guile.
It takes courage to do the work of God.
One problem that happens in the church groups, even when the minister is of God and is holding fast to scripture. "Mockers" come into the church group. These are people who want to be religious, want to be godly, but do not have the Spirit of God. They watch people they consider religious and try to copy them. They read scripture and try to do what it says. But they are doing all this by their own minds, not by the Spirit and therefore they are always off a little.
Jude But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators, copiers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
They are saying to themselves, "I need to be such and such," so they take on that appearance. But it is only an appearance and not real.
Pay attention to their fruits. Are they always trouble? Are they always off just a little?
Jesus says: Matthew 7:16-20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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I Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Many times we speak messages we know people in our own church group will hate. We speak nevertheless because we are fully persuaded that is what God wants us to speak. We, who are ministers of God, are set in the church by God to do the work of God and we must be faithful to God.
They are fortunate that we will do this work of God, setting them in proper order. For by our correction God is appeased. God is totally righteous and cannot stand their actions when they are play acting religion.
Once God told Moses HE would not go up with the congregation for if HE were in the midst of them, HE would slay them. Exodus 33:3
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For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
Don't be deceived by this. We have scripture where Paul warned the church to get themselves right in the sight of God before he got there otherwise he would "bewail" many when he came.
II Corinthians 12:20-21 ... Paul says: For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
So when the church followed God with a pure heart Paul could be gentle among them. But when they were doing wicked works while sitting in the church, Paul would go after them and speak strongly to them. Once Paul even turned one of them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. I Corinthians 5
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I Thessalonians 2:8-13 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto HIS kingdom and glory.
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I Thessalonians 2:13 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.
There are some in our church group who are this way. But there are also those who are as in Jude, putting themselves into the church group without having the Spirit of God.
We rejoice greatly over the elect of God, witnessing the Spirit of God in them and seeing their faith in God and their continual keeping themselves by the Spirit that is in them.
The ones in the church group who are not of God are not that way. They are like a radio station that is not tuned-in and is always a little off.
Jude vv. 17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
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I Thessalonians 2:14-20 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and 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.
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and 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.
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