{"id":1820,"date":"2022-06-12T12:00:57","date_gmt":"2022-06-12T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1820"},"modified":"2022-06-09T07:59:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T12:59:22","slug":"pauls-encouragement-and-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/12\/pauls-encouragement-and-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul\u2019s Encouragement and Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
\u201cWe then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.<\/strong>\u201d
Romans 15:1 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Excerpt\nfrom Y3Q2 Lesson 10: Paul\u2019s Third Missionary Journey:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe leaders in the church\n of Ephesus, of whom Paul had called\nto himself to speak, needed to realize that Paul would no longer be there\nphysically to rely upon. They had to step up and take care of God\u2019s church. \u201c\u2026\n27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28. Take\nheed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy\nGhost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath\npurchased with his own blood<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 20:25-28). Paul had done the job God\nhad given him to do: he declared to all of the people the counsel of God (counsel<\/strong> means \u201cGod\u2019s purpose, or plan<\/em>\u201d). He had taught them. Knowing that Paul\nwould not be able to return to them, these men had to be prepared. \u201c29. For\nI know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,\nnot sparing the flock. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking\nperverse things, to draw away disciples after them<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 20:29-30). They must not only be prepared\nthemselves, but they must take care of, and prepare, the church over which they\nwere the leaders. Not only would some (\u201cgrievous wolves<\/strong>\u201d) come in and\ntry to destroy new Christians, as well as the church, but also there would be\nleaders arise that would be filled with \u201cperverse things<\/strong>\u201d (perverse things <\/strong>means \u201cperverted; corrupt; vicious; or \u2018to turn\naside divine truth\u2019<\/em>\u201d). Some\nleaders would try to cause people to follow them \u2013 not Jesus. What were they to\ndo? \u201c31. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I\nceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32. And now, brethren, I\ncommend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you\nup, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified<\/strong>\u201d\n(Acts 20:31-32). They were to do just as Paul had done \u2013 for he had lived his\nlife as an example. Paul warned that after teaching the new Christians how to\nlive a Christian life (following Jesus), they would then have to warn the\npeople, day and night, of these \u201cgrievous wolves<\/strong>\u201d who would come \u201cspeaking\nperverse things<\/strong>\u201d and to recognize them. Also, see what else Paul revealed.\n\u201cI have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the\nweak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give\nthan to receive<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 20:35). Support<\/strong>\nmeans \u201cto take hold of another mutually\nas by the hand; i.e. figuratively to support from falling as by the hand; to\nsupport, help, assist<\/em>.\u201d Weak<\/strong>\nmeans \u201cwithout strength, powerless; weak;\nto be afflicted, distressed as by want, oppression, calamity, and such<\/em>.\u201d\nNewer Christians (as well as newer churches) need extra support, for they are\nweak in their new Christian life. Many new Christians (and even some older\nones) are often afflicted and distressed by their want (things they desire, or\nwant, as opposed to things God would have for them), or even what seems to be a\ncalamity in their life. Paul warned that these people needed \u201csupport from falling as by the hand<\/em>,\u201d or\nassistance, from stronger Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter teaching them face-to-face one last time \u2026 one cannot\nhelp but recognized the impact that Paul had upon these Christians\u2019 lives.\nThese people loved Paul for the life he had lived, faithfully teaching them the\nthings of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Deeper Path:<\/strong> It is the responsibilities of church leaders to help new Christians (those who are \u201cweak<\/strong>\u201d) grow in Christ. However, it is not only the responsibility of the leaders, but it is the duty of all Christians. See the following verses. \u201c1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2. Let every one of us please his<\/em> neighbour for his<\/em> good to edification<\/strong>\u201d (Romans 15:1-2). That are strong<\/strong> means \u201cone who is strong, firm, fixed, established<\/em>\u201d \u2013 referring to the things of Christ. Infirmities<\/strong> means \u201cto be weak or powerless; the result of being weak: i.e. referring to the scruples which arise by being weak in the faith of Jesus<\/em>.\u201d As Christians, we are not to please ourselves, for we must always remember that there are newer Christians who may not understand the things we do \u2013 for a newer Christian may not always know what the right thing to do in a situation is. It is the responsibility of every Christian to live a life according to God\u2019s Word, so that newer Christians are not confused. We are to live a life that is right \u201cfor his<\/em> good to edification.<\/strong>\u201d Good<\/strong> means \u201cgood, in respect to operation or influence on others; i.e.: useful, profitable, beneficial<\/em>.\u201d Edification<\/strong> means \u201cbuilding as a process; i.e.: edification, spiritual profit or advancement<\/em>.\u201d Christians are to live lives that cause other Christians to become better Christians by living a life that pleases Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you live a Christian life that helps newer Christians understand how to please Jesus, growing stronger?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excerpt from Y3Q2 Lesson 10: Paul\u2019s Third Missionary Journey: \u201cThe leaders in the church of Ephesus, of whom Paul had called to himself to speak, needed to realize that Paul would no longer be there physically to rely upon. They had to step up and take care of God\u2019s church. \u201c\u2026 27. For I have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[319],"tags":[461,385,230,940,938,941,768,939,277,794,270,942,943,937],"class_list":["post-1820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-excerpt-from-the-biblical-path-of-life","tag-christ","tag-christian","tag-church","tag-counsel","tag-excerpt","tag-grievous-wolves","tag-lesson-10","tag-missionary","tag-paul","tag-quarter-two","tag-strong","tag-support","tag-weak","tag-year-three"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1822,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions\/1822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}