How to Turn the World Upside Down for Dummies Pt II

Introduction

When we look around at the state of the world, we all see the problems. There are many who propose solutions, and everyone has an opinion. One opinion is this, and another opinion says that, but the thing about opinions is that their like armpits, everyone’s got them, but some of them stink. No, there is only one one true answer and only one true hope for the Christian in seeing the world changed, and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostles knew this, the early church knew this, the late church knew this, the reformers knew this, and in fact Christ has been building his church since the beginning and as it is written the gates of hell have not prevented it. The only hope of mankind to be saved from the wrath to come is the forgiveness offered to it, in the person of Jesus Christ by his work on the Cross. And since Christ’s acsencion into Heaven the great commision has been fulfilled in the transmission of the saving message of Repentance and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostles and their constitutes we learned last week visited many different ancient metropolis’ around the middle east and in even in Europe. Though their location changed their transgressions were the same “These have turned the world upside down are come hither also; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” So if you want to impact your household, your town, your state, your country, for the cause of Christ, there are 9 principles you must apply to have an effective ministry as Ambassadors of the Kingdom.

Our passage is 1 Thess 2:1-14, Last week we examined the first three principles to having an effective ministry in turning the world upside down. What are those points again? Well I’m glad you asked that question!

Point number 1 is a very simple point but also the point that too many Christians fail to meet, and that point is “True Obedience or Showing up to Thessalonica”. 1 Thess 2:1 “1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:” The first point is to report in to duty. Thessalonica is a metaphor. Where is your Thessalonica? Thessalonica for Paul was a pagan stronghold a Pagan city. For you it may be your place of employment. It may be your circle of friends, it may be your family, but for every Christian, wherever that may be, we are called and commissioned by the King Jesus to share his message of salvation to Thessalonica. So the first point in turning the world Upside down is by arriving in Thessalonica.

Point number 2 is, if you want to turn the world upside down for the King Jesus Christ, You must have True Perseverance, V2 of our text 1 Thess 2:2 “2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.” As we read last week, Paul and Silas were beaten, whipped, and imprisoned. They were erroneously slandered throughout their lives and endured much persecution. Be warned that when you show up to thessalonica, you will be persecuted. In fact 2 Tim 3:12 says “12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Also consider this, by living Godly, you will by default rebuke those who dont, and they will hate you for it. Remember the words of Jesus John 15:18-19 “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Thus in order to have an effective ministry where you are you must have true perseverance.

Point number 3 is, you must have True Sincerity. Look at V3-4 of our text 1 Thess 2:3-4 “3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Now, I use the word Sincerity because I believe it best encapsulates Pauls point but if you wanted to be specific, Paul lays out 4 things to avoid in order to be sincere. Not deceitful, no uncleanness, no guile, and no man-pleasing. What do those mean now.

1. Not Deceitful, in other words his message, our message, can not and must not be a fabrication. It must be true. Obviously, a lie concocted by man can not save, and thus is futile to propagate and to die for. God does not need our lies to help him, and thus sinning and being deceitful is never acceptable in Gospel Proclamation.

2. No Uncleanness, in other words, no sexually immoral behaviour. Not only is that a sin, but it will prevent effective Ministry. You must practice what you preach, and anything else is hypocrisy and will hinder your ministry to your Thessalonica.

3. No Guile, in other words no craftiness, essentially the same as point 1. Authentic, genuine. Not deceitful

4. Not a man pleaser, in other words, the gospel must never be toned down and altered to make it more palatable and less offensive. We must proclaim repentance and faith lovingly, but also honestly, and our persuasiveness does nothing to contribute to the salvation of Men. Paul himself stated , I know nothing else other than Jesus Christ and him crucified.

So to summarize all 4 points, If you wish to turn the world upside down for the the Glory of Christ, you must be truly sincere, you must not be deceitful, not sexually immoral, not cunning and not a man pleaser, true sincerity.

That was our recap and now we begin and will examine the remainder of the 9 principles found in our text.

Point 4 True Motivations

Back in our text 1 thess 2 lets read V5-6. 1 Thess 2:5-6

1 Thessalonians 2:5–6 KJV 1900

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Now the beginning of the verse is somewhat of a continuation from point 3. Paul restates that he did not use flattering words. Paul was not simply trying to flatter someone into the kingdom. “Oh your so wondeful, you are just so special, God just loves you so so so much and he has a wonderful plan for your life”. The reality is, and the sooner you hear this and understand this, the better you’ll be, but the reality is “God is angry with the wicked everyday and his bow and sword is ready to slay those who turn not” Ps 7:11-12” “He hateth all workers of inquity, He hates the bloody and deceitful man Ps 5:5-6” . Before someone can come to understand the mercy of God they must first understand their War against God. Before they can understand the cross, they must first understand their crimes. Continuing on in our verse, he states nor a cloke of covetousness. Covetousness is simply another word for jealousy or greed. Ill speak more on that but first lets examine the rest. Paul says “nor of men sough we glory, not from you or others, when we might have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ. Paul and his missionary team were there for the sole purpose to evangelize and plant local churches. That was their work. The bible states, “if a man shall not work, he shall not eat”. and also in 1 Cor 9:7-14, we have specific teaching on paying those whose livelihood is ministry. Lets read it very quickly 1 Cor 9:7-14

1 Corinthians 9:7–14 KJV 1900

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

The incredible thing is on several occasions the Apostle Paul and his team not only ministered to the place that they were in currently, but did it without pay so as to render it impossible of accusing them of simply getting rich at their expense. Additionally he did not use his position as an Apostle to build up his name and fame, but always gave the glory to God. So the takeaway is this, if you wish to have an effective ministry where God has placed you now, your motivations must be righteous and holy. Are you seeking the glory or praise of others for your deeds for Christ? Or perhaps more relatable, something i’ve been guilty of in the past, are you sharing the gospel TO BE an offense to others, to rebuke their sins under the guise of being bold and unapologetic? or do you truly love them and wish to see them saved, considering yourself and how much mercy God has shown you. So our 4th point is True motivations, you must have true motivations.

Point 5 True Compassion

Look at our next verses V7-8. Lets read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

We touched on this ever so slightly in our last point, but in order to turn the world upside down for the Lord Jesus Christ, this may surprise you but you must have True Compassion. This isnt the first time Paul uses the mother illustration to depict his love and affection for those who he ministered too. Paul being an expert on the books of the Old Testament he likely had in mind Moses’ depiction of a nursing parent of Israel in Numbers 11:12. Paul and his missionary team we read of their great concern, love and affection for those who they ministered too, in the same way in which a mother lovingly looks after her child, even willing to give her own life for her children. Here’s the hard question we must all face, God has saved us, and commissioned us to share the gospel, we all have circles and connections with those who are lost, do we demonstrate this amount of compassion and love towards them? Sure none of us will likely ever have to die for the Billy who works in the adjacent cubicle, but do we even pray for billy? Do we have a concern and compassion towards billy in a way that mirrors a mother and child? I sure don't, and I need to work on that, but if you wish to have an effective ministry we must mirror the same love and compassion that our Saviour had toward us. Point 5, are you showing true compassion to those who God has allowed you to be an influence on?

Point 6 True Sacrifice

Continuing on, look at our next verse V9, 1 Thessalonians 2:9

1 Thessalonians 2:9 KJV 1900

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Again, some of these have slight overlap, but we see here, that even though Paul and Silas and the team had every right to extract and demand compensation for their work in the ministry, they deliberately refused it so as to be absolutely blameless and to not hinder their gospel ministry. Why might they have done this? Some context. There was no New testament at the time of Paul. Paul wasnt able to quote himself in Romans. Paul didnt use the romans road in his evangelism haha. At least not by exact numerical verses. This was what you can call the age of the Apostles. The Apostles were the 12 apostles of Jesus plus Paul. They were authenticated by signs and miracles. During this time, False teachers arose seeing an opportunity to make a great profit pretending to be Apostles and Teachers. Because these men were simply put Wolves in sheeps clothing, not true under shepherds, they were categorized by their behaviour because their abuse inevitably culminated in “uncleanness, and covetouessness”. You can see this even today with cult leaders always being the ones with the most wealth and with immoral scandals that follow. So in an effort to be unblameable, above reproach, they refused any sort of compensation from the people and instead lived off their own hands and by the assistance of donations that the Phillipian church gave. So whats the application to you? Most of us if not all of us are not in full time ministry so our bread earned is not from ministry. So how do we sacrifice? Thats a question I can not answer for you, but you will know when the opportunity arrives.It’ll be different for all of us. It may be time. It may be money. It could be anything. Whats important is the self examination. For Paul and Silas, in an effort to be blameless from being called ministry profiteers, they sacrificed a paycheck. What must we sacrifice so as to not bring blame or a reproach on the message we are trying to herald? So in order to turn the world upside down for Christ we must have True Sacrifice.

Point 7 True Conduct

The seventh point, look at V10, 1 Thessalonians 2:10

1 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV 1900

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

This is the tough one. You can have my money, just dont ask me to follow my own beliefs personally. As the saying goes, Rules for thee, and not for me. One of the cheesiest catch phrases is Lifestyle Evangelism. They say, I dont go up to people and traditionally tell them about Jesus, I simply live my life and hope that they ask me about it, as opposed to simply approaching people in conversation and sharing with them the Gospel. Can I suggest that these two methods are not exclusive to one another, but two sides of the same coin. If you go on and live your life for Christ, even exceptionally but you never tell anyone about Christ, you know what will happen? Nothing. 1) Because they dont want you to open your mouth and share the truth because they hate it, but 2) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Your life no matter how “pious” will profit nothing if you never actually give the gospel to those who are lost. But you know what, your message of the gospel will never do anything either if you live hypocritically. You can yell it from the rooftops, share it with millions, no one will consider you or your message because no one respects a hypocrite. You must live your life to the Glory of God and you must testify to this world about Christ Jesus and his resurrection. 1 Peter speaks alot about Christian conduct and its benefits, turn to 1 Peter 1:15

1 Peter 1:15 KJV 1900

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Next 1 Peter 2:12

1 Peter 2:12 KJV 1900

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Lastly 1 Peter 3:16

1 Peter 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

So if you want to have an effective ministry in the place in which God has placed you, you must have True Conduct.

Point 8

And lastly, our last point. Lets read the remainder of our passage this morning V11-13. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13

1 Thessalonians 2:11–13 KJV 1900

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The end result of the 7 principles put into practice led to True Conversion. Now let me just say off the bat, there is no formula that you can practice that can assure true conversion because their salvation isnt derivative of you. We are called simply to share the gospel faithfully, in a manner like these 7 principles. At the end, Pauls ministry of the Gospel led to genuine converts which as we read in our text, received Pauls message not as man made message but a message from God. They believed the Gospel which had been given to Paul and were added into the kingdom. The Thessalonians were Pauls’ children in the faith who he loved like a father does his children. He exhorted them and charged them to walk in a manner worthy of God. I’ve never led anyone to the Lord, some of you have perhaps, some of you havent. If I may pose a question for all of us to ponder, how come? Most of you know where I come from Soteriologically but the question remains. We can all think of someone that we want to see saved and added into the Kingdom. Are we going to them? We have the love perhaps, but our lacking the action. Our last and final point, if you wish to see the world turned upside down for Christ you must have true conversion. Paul and Silas Theyre gospel witness and testimony was 1Obedient, 2Perservered despicte mockery, was 3Filled with Sincerity and 4Righteous Motivations, 5full of compassion and 6self sacrifice, 7exemplified godly conduct, and 8Culminated in true conversion.

Closing

Our last and final point, if you wish to see the world turned upside down for Christ you must have true conversion. Paul and Silas Theyre gospel witness and testimony was 1Obedient, 2Perservered despicte mockery, was 3Filled with Sincerity and 4Righteous Motivations, 5full of compassion and 6self sacrifice, 7exemplified godly conduct, and 8Culminated in true conversion. This passage isnt so much a step by step for dummies book but a passage in which we can learn and apply the principles of effective ministry in the places to which God has placed us. May we strive to apply them and be found guilty by man on one crime alone, “These have turned the world upside down are come hither also; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” Lets Pray.