TRANSITION: This is required of all Christians and is one of the greatest tests of true maturity. But we need His peace to give it!

2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

But are busybodies. That is, they meddled with the affairs of others--a thing which they who have nothing of their own to busy themselves about will be very likely to do. The apostle had seen that there was a tendency to do this in Thessalonica, and he had commanded them to "do their own business," 1Th 4:11. The injunction, it seems, had availed little, for there is no class of persons who will so little heed good counsel as those who have a propensity to meddle with the affairs of others. Means, that usually those who need a rebuke are least likely to accept it! Bad cycle - be humble and prayfull. One of the indispensable things to check this is, that each one should have enough to do himself; and one of the most troublesome of all persons is he who has not to do but to look after the affairs of his neighbors Are you working for the Kingdom? You can tell how far from the frontline a Christian is by the content of their problems.Are your battles, worthwhile? In times of affliction and want, we should be ready to lend our aid. At other times, we should feel that he can manage his own affairs as well as we can for him; or if he cannot, it is his business, not ours. Dealing with troubled or troubling brothers must be seen in context to last passage/sermon on authority. When that principle is followed things flow in order or its out of order.

1Th 5:12 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. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men]. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].

We must be sincere, but overall we must not ignore, nor overreact, but in balance deal with each problem.

Ga 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

We deal with the same principle, the stronger does the right thing regardless of emotion or selfishness. But at the same time wary and ready, filled in word and prayer. Are you willing to be corrected? Are you willing to make peace?Are you willing to correct for the sake of truth?

Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

2Th 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

We hear this first exhortation also in Galatians: Ga 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Similar in that we're not give up, in good works, especially to the church. But there is a difference here: not weary in well-doing.= faint not. The Greek means, properly, to turn out a coward; then to be faint-hearted, to despond. There are too many Cowards in God's family. Choosing comfort, flattery, and feeling over truth. Do not be a coward and let the trouble continue but in meekness rebuke and exhort the brother! Courage is needed to confront but God expects us to care that much! Also that they were not to be discouraged from doing good to the truly worthy and deserving, by the improper conduct of some. Last Tuesday night 2:30a.m. I went out on a benevolent call, and was torn. . .
They were, and are indeed, shiftless and worthless. They would not labour; they spent their time in gossiping with the concerns of their neighbours, and they depended for their support on the charity of others. The tendency of this, as all persons who have ever been applied to by such persons for aid, is, to turn us from doing good to any. We almost insensibly feel that all who ask for aid are of the same character; or, not being able to discriminate, we close our hands alike against all. Against this the apostle would guard us, and he says that though there may be many such persons, and though we may find it difficult to distinguish the worthy from the unworthy, we should not become so disheartened as not to give at all. Nor should we be weary though the applications for assistance are frequent.

Lu 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Not always easy, but the process is if there is repentance!, if not, let them go on alone! As Paul says here vs 14. If they repent, continue to forgive! Brothers burdens can be indeed frequent. God designs that they should be! Bear them! But the effect should not be to dishearten us, or to make us weary in well-doing, but to fill us with gratitude --for it is a privilege to be permitted to do good. It is the great distinguishing characteristic of God that he always does good. It was that which marked the character of the Redeemer, that he "went about doing good;" and when ever God gives us the opportunity and the means of doing good, it should be to us an occasion of special thanksgiving. If someone refuses rebuke, correction or resolving then -Note that man. The word here used, means to mark; to sign; to note with marks; and the idea is, set such a mark upon him that he shall be shunned; that is, withdraw all Christian fellowship from him. And have no company with him. I have confronted 2 people in the last week, when they should have. They both should have been snubbed but they were not. Now one turned out peaceably, the other - nowhere. So will the church snub this person now? They are supposed to! The Greek word here means,not to mix up together; then to mingle together with; to speak with. The idea is, that they were not to mingle with him as a Christian brother, or as one of their own number. They were not to show that they regarded him as a worthy member of the church, or as having a claim to its privileges. The extent of their discipline was, that they were to withdraw from him.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
This shows the true spirit in which discipline is to be administered in the Christian church. We are not to deal with a man as an adversary over whom we are to seek to gain a victory, but as an erring brother--a brother still, though he errs. There was necessity for this caution. There is great danger that when we undertake the work of discipline we shall forget that he who is the subject of it is a brother, and that we shall regard and treat him as an enemy. Such is human nature. We set ourselves in array against him.We cut him off as one who is unworthy to walk with us. We triumph over him, and consider him at once as an enemy of the church, and as having lost all claim to its sympathies. We abandon him to the tender mercies of a cold and unfeeling world, and let him take his course. Perhaps we hold him up as unworthy the confidence of mankind. Now all this is entirely unlike the method and aim of discipline as the New Testament requires. There all is kind and gentle, though firm; the offender is a man and a brother still; he is to be followed with tender sympathy and prayer, and the hearts and the arms of the Christian brotherhood are to be open to receive him again when he gives evidence of repenting.

2 extremes to be wary of overall. 1. Too harsh and writing someone off.This is the judgement that condemns that Jesus does not want in us. Only God can do so. On the other hand 2. We simply overlook the sin & welcome them without rebuke or ignore the chastising needed! Find the balance under God's authority. These are the truest tests of maturity for all christians.

If you handle this Biblically over emotions & pride you will be blessed and grow, and God will give abundantly, what you need, which is what we deal with next. Are you writing someone off? Are you letting someone get away without due repair? Are you ignoring chastisement?

Mt 5:9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

2Th 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord [be] with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

To go through theses tough tests or/and to maintain unity we need what only God has to give. so Paul ends this letter with that. The mercy prayed for, peace; peace with God, peace with conscience, peace / unity among themselves as Christians, peace with the men of the world, strangers, enemies to Christianity. As much as this focuses on the Church, everytime we witness the Gospel, we are also fulfilling our task in making Peace between man and God!... The person prayed to, The Lord of peace; - Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, the purchaser of peace, the procurer of peace, the preserver of peace. The perpetuity of the mercy prayed for, The Lord give you peace, not for a short time, but for continuance, always, that is, at all times, and in all places, and with all persons.

The way and manner of obtaining this & all other blessings, it must be in the use of means. There must be desire and reason for it - If you are not wanting to be at peace but rather hold to bitterness etc, then don't expect it! Reasons come from Storm, trial, persecution, in other words those doing the work should not weary for to them the Lord gives Peace! Our apostle now having prayed for peace, next prays for the presence of God: The Lord give you peace, the Lord be with you all. God's gracious presence with his people in any great measure, is connected to their peacable frame of spirit, and to their serious endeavours after peace and love, after unity and concord, among themselves: and the contrary spirit and temper grieves the good spirit of God, and provokes him to withdraw his peace and comforting presence from his people; for these two petitions seem to have mutual dependency upon each other. The Lord give you peace (if you want it), and the Lord be with you all.

The sending of salutations, either by word or writing, that we may thereby testify our sincere affection to absent friends, is not a matter of decency only. Paul did rarely write because of physical malady, he dictated letters to a fellow disciple. But as much as possible he personally wrote the end blessing to show sincere care!This is a good example, when Paul was dying he thought about others and wrote letters (Tim's etc) Mother Teresa the same. I pray that I'm thinking about others on my deathbed, that when times come when most are in self pity, I choose to care for others still. Jesus showed this at the Garden -

Mt 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Are you this kind of person? These God gives much peace and the grace of His presence! There is an inexhaustible fountain of rich grace in Christ, and so copious are the streams of spiritual blessings which flow from it, that wish we never so much to others, yet there still remains enough for ourselves. St. Paul knew very well there was enough both for himself and them! This is required of all Christians and is one of the greatest tests of true maturity We need His peace to make peace! God gives to givers! Are you deserving of peace? Are you willing to make peace? Are you growing weary? Do you need peace today?Again:Willing to be corrected?Willing to make peace?Willing to correct for the sake of truth? Or Are you writing someone off? Letting someone get away without due repair?

Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Are you a child of God?