He who has the direction and management of a Church of God will need all the skill and prudence he can acquire. The ministers of Christ, being considered as officers, should acquaint themselves with the officers' duty. This subject has been largely treated on, Ephesians 6:0. We have often seen that the Christian life is compared to a warfare, and that the directions given to soldiers are, mutatis mutandis allowing for the different systems, suitable to Christians. If the troops be irregular, and cannot in every respect be reduced to proper order and discipline, let not the officers lose their temper nor courage let them do the best they can God will be with them, and a victory will give confidence to their troops. The disorderly, the feeble-minded, and the weak, will exercise your patience, and try your temper. Shore up, prop them that are weak strengthen those wings and companies that are likely to be most exposed, that they be not overpowered and broken in the day of battle.īe patient toward all - μακροθυμειτε προς παντας. Let them know that the battle is not theirs, but the Lord's and that those who trust in him shall conquer.

Those of little souls the faint-hearted those who, on the eve of a battle, are dispirited, because of the number of the enemy, and their own feeble and unprovided state. There are many such in every Church that is of considerable magnitude.Ĭomfort the feeble-minded - τους ολιγοψυχους. Those who are out of their ranks, and are neither in a disposition nor situation to perform the work and duty of a soldier those who will not do the work prescribed, and who will meddle with what is not commanded. Warn them that are unruly - The whole phraseology of this verse is military I shall consider the import of each term.

Pastor thessa g. smith