Know those that Labor Among you

Thought for today:  My thoughts this morning are on knowing those that labor among you. I briefly touched on this subject awhile back but thought it important to expand on what I had said.  We go to church and sit beside our neighbors, but do we know them. Do we know how they live their lives day by day? It's very important to know those that labor among you or in other words those that are leading you, worshiping in church with you, those that are laying hands on you in the prayer line, those that are giving you a word from God.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 teaches us:
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

This is clearly teaching us that we need to know the leaders in our church and the people we worship with.  That we are to love them and be appreciative of the work they are doing for the Lord.  We need to know how they live outside the church.  It's for this reason that James told us to call the elders of the church to pray over us if we were sick. Because we know them!!  They've been around a long time and we know their lives.  This is not necessarily the oldest person in the church, but rather the ones that have been serving God the longest.  You are not supposed to have strangers coming into your church and laying hands on people and praying for them.  They may be Christians, but it is not scripture.  It is wonderful to have visitors come to the church to worship together but when it comes to praying for the sick, James clearly tells us who should be doing that job in the church.  It should fall to the elders in the church and not just to whoever decides they want to do it.  This sounds harsh, but it is scripture and it's the way it is supposed to be.  

James 5:14-15
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Some people will come to church just to see what is going on.  You have some that will come and live a double life.  You can't just be a Christian inside the walls of the church house.  This is why we are told to try the spirit, see if it be of God. The devil will walk into your church and sit down right beside you. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  Pray for the gift of discernment and let God lead you in all things.  We are to beware of false prophets or anyone that comes into our church and proceeds to give us a word from God.  They are not all of God and if we can't get to know the person, then we can't know what kind of fruit they bare or in other words what kind of life they live unless the Holy Ghost reveals it through discernment.  This is why this particular spiritual gift is so important.  

Mathew 7:15-18
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

1 John 4: 1-4 teaches us:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In conclusion, if you are a member of a church, then I believe it's is of utmost importance to know your brothers and sisters in Christ both in the church and in their everyday lives.  Know those that labor among you.

KWellman

RE: KJV Bible