Weariness

2 Thes.3:13 "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good."

I write this in sincerity because this epistle (2 Thes, 3) deals with encouraging the body of Christ to avoid those who do not walk according to the apostle's instructions. Yet, don't make enemies of those in the body who aren't following, etc.  

Also,I write this in sincerity because I do not want to grow weary of doing good.  I do not want to be sick and tired of the world and even the body of Christ.  I am really tired in a way that is a serious matter to my soul and spirit.

I recently ran into a lady who attended a very small church that my husband and I attended for a while.  She's 76.  She is intense, and carries a great deal of bitterness within her.  She never smiles or laughs.  Never. She has offended so many of God's people, it would take a very long time to describe that!

She informed me that all Christians are deceived.  Why? I ask.  Because they do not follow the commandments of Yeshua.  We are Ysrael.  There's no difference between Jew (Jew isn't a word) and Christian.  The apostles went to synagogue and followed the Torah.  The calendar we use is evil and we must use the Hebrew calendar.  She's saying  all this faster than I can type and much more!  She had a revelation from reading books, listening to information on Hebrew roots, etc. and that we aren't to say Jesus or God as these are made up names.  We are to follow the Torah --even dietary laws, wearing tassels on the four corners of our garments, hanging scripture at our door posts, etc. etc.  No, you don't need to know what tribe you are from.  She said that was wrong.

I understand the evil of Babylon in the church.  The easter basket, Christmas tree, yule log.  I get it.  I didn't feel it necessary to counter everything she said with what Jesus said about the Pharisees.  The law is written on our hearts.  Those who say they are without sin are liars.   I could have gone toe to toe with her.  I knew it was pointless.  So, I'll pray for her and tell her I'm there if she has a need.  She said she's fearful she's all alone here with no family or friends.  

Not to belabor the point here.  I listened to her even though, in the past, she has been extremely divisive and tearing up other believers to an unreal level.  I listened because I do not want to grow weary of doing good.  I feel sorry for her.  I understand that she does not wish to be deceived.  There's so much evil in the church she said. I agree and I can't find one that isn't fairly off either.  But, she was insistent that the law needed to be followed and that Christ will save only those who call upon His name which she insists must be said as Yeshua.

OK.  I met her at the park yesterday (after a week of running into her at the post office) and she kept on about it.  I just asked questions like, ok today is your Sabbath and you drove your car here...doesn't that count as work. She got around that one easy enough.  I really could not argue with her.  She pointed out many, I mean MANY, evils in our government which I'm sure are true and I would not speak of them here.  It's too evil to mention.  She seemed sort of obsessed with all this.  I told her it's fine to know about it but what you do with all that remains to be seen.  We can't control it.

Should we not just talk about the beauty of the LORD!??
 

I have to admit I LOST MY PEACE.  I really lost my peace.  Not that I believe these laws need to be followed.  But, I have no friends in my town .....only in other places.  No fellowship.  I'm part of what I'd call a remnant for lack of a better description.  Then, I think I'm like the scripture reads:

".... we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting."  Yet, this lady is very serious, concerned, and I believe she wants to please the LORD.  I just could not help but feel bad for her.  Yet, today I find myself disturbed.  

Is there no end?  I am really struggling with the LORD. My spirit is disturbed and the LORD has not really answered me except today. My wicca neighbor's husband died two weeks ago.  So, I brought her flowers today.  I don't interact with her except to help her from time to time with something as she's elderly.  I asked the LORD if I should even bother as she's a WITCH for crying out loud.

THE LORD answered audibly as I approached her house, "....do not grow weary in doing good."

The last sentence of your post say's it all Candice. The Lord counseled you personally and that's awesome! Not many people have heard the Lord audibly, so consider that a great honor...because it is! 

You can't save everyone, it's just not possible. Don't be so hard on yourself, everyone doing the Lord's work gets burned out on occasion. That's natural and there's nothing wrong with it. I've heard many Pastors talk about it and I'm reminded of that old saying "pace yourself, it's a marathon not a sprint". That applies to the Ministry as well. *Take some time off to revitalize your spirit and you will find your peace again!

Candice...I am so encouraged by this post! Your honesty is a breath of fresh air for me today. So often we can get mired in our day, in our tidy little practices of this or that. But the Spirit of Jesus is life and health, and as Phil shared, you have experienced Him breathing life on you. Be encouraged sister, you are exactly where you need to be and the Father is with you through Jesus and IN YOU through Holy Spirit.

God bless you Candice, Phil and Marvin for sharing.

As for my condition of being helpful or witnessing it seems I've failed to do anything for a long time, and at the same time I think on "God Knows" and have asked HIs help in sharing as He would have me to share with whomever He wants me to share with. 

I don't know what to say to people and this is okay because it gives me something to pray about before I automatically let my mouth overload the rest of me. First to pray for a person and ask the Lord to help me to wait, and listen and if something comes to mind to pray, and ask God what He wants me to do.  He does give us thoughts or words.  The other day all I had come to me in thought was, "in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  So I began giving thanks for one thing at a time as things came to mind. 

It came to me to go back and read the shares and to pray for the woman that Candice shared with and about. 

Chip Brogden has shared about the Lord having him stop what he was doing and to minister to Him instead of what he was doing to minister to others.  Ministering to the Lord was what came to be the focus.

I got to be still and know and go to Psalm 46:10.

Then today to just share what came to mind and trust the Lord and to enjoy Him ... this brings a smile and gratitude.

Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.

Thank you Lord for saving us and for teaching us as we know we don't know but to come to you, listen, and share as we can.... 

Hallelujah Thine the glory, hallelujah amen, hallelujah Thine the glory, revive us again.

 Thank you for being here and for helping me to not feel so weary, mostly about myself.  May I become free from being self-centered.....

Candice you are not alone. We may not be many but we seek to glorify God and support each other.  For a very long time I avoided getting to know my neighbors because I knew they were lonely, lost, confused, frustrated and generally hurting and I had my own problems don't you know but God has pressed on me to seek to understand them and to tell them where they would find peace. Now I am involved and yes, it does feel onerous but they need the Lord and the love of believers. Many of them are of the JWs and they come by regularly, but many have been to church for years and have become totally disillusioned or as one said "badly hurt" by the church so many discussions are about church, church practices, and disappointments in life and belief. Hang in there sister, you are most likely right where God wants you.  

Candice,

At first, I found it difficult to respond to your post because I love the Jewishness of Jesus. However, the

things I love are not at all legalistic. 

Instead, I love seeing how He overcomes the legalistic interpretations of the Pharisees with quips,

such as: "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Mt 23:24).

I think the Lord might gently offer the same thoughts to your friend. Certainly, it is true

that the law is good, but its goodness is seen when it convicts in order to bring us to Christ,

who then writes the law on our hearts (Jer 31:33; Heb 10:16).

So, why do I love the Jewishness of Jesus. I love it because God established the paradigms

in the wilderness that were shadows of what was to come. However, I think we often leave

out some of this as we worship. I don't mean that we should engage in all of the rites, but

I do think it is good to recapture the wonder.

What I mean is that we have made Jesus so approachable that He becomes common. However,

God in the OT is seen in a pillar of fire. Indeed, YHWH meets Moses up close, and as a result,

his face glows. Isn't it exciting to consider that the Holy of Holies was carried about in a desert--always

off limits, but we can enter?

But, I think we often stay outside the Holy of Holies because we are too caught up in the mundane. I think

Jesus shows us how to do both. Indeed, each work of the Lord brought miracles, healings, tears,

worship, forgiveness, and much wonder.

So, I guess my point is that good intentions sometimes substitute flesh for God's glory. However, it always leads

to confusion and oppression. Perhaps, one day the woman God placed in your path will find

the grace and spirit behind true worship, which is of the Jews! (John 4:22). 

I know you already know all of the above, but maybe I needed to remember. I also have no one

in my area who wishes to seek God in all of His fullness. Perhaps, if we speak to one another

here in Psalms and spiritual songs, we might find God's presence among us. Then, we can

encourage one another.

Blessings,

Lolly