I Thessalonians (2)

The Model Christian Servant

1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 NKJV

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Intro: The church at Thessalonians were new Christians. They were as we looked at last week “modal church”

Satan hates a church that is a “modal church” any church that is reaching the lost for Jesus Satan hates.

Satan will send people into the church to stir things up. He will use people in the church to hinder Gods work.

Satan will use people to bring in false teachings.

This church was dealing with false teachers. (Jew’s teaching the law)

Paul, in chapter 1 dealt with the present. Now he talks about the past, and what he, Silas ans Timothy had done, how they how they handled situations. They live and served as and example to the church at Thesslanica.

What we see here today , how to be a model servant of God. This goes for pastors, and all Christians.

Godly boldness. VS 1-2

1 Thessalonians 2:1 (NKJV)

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

“that our coming to you was not in vain”

In other words, it wasn’t empty. There fruit from our lobar. There were results.

But there would be persecution.

There would be false teachers.

Paul had sent Timothy back to help and to encourage the new Christians.

1 Thessalonians 3:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

He was afraid that his new converts, under the pressure of persecution, might compromise or even give up altogether.

Churches are under pressure today to compromise. But this I mean compromising the gospel.

Pastors give up.

No longer preaching sin is wrong.

No longer preaching repentance.

He was afraid that his labor might, after all, have been in vain. (Useless) Because if they gave in under the pressure of the Jews use pushing the Law on them. Then Paul’s work was in vain. (Useless, fruitless)

1 Thessalonians 2:2 (NKJV)

2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

“But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi”

Paul and Silas in Phillip. They are encountered by a slave girl (a fortune teller) She become a follower of Jesus. (She gets saved) (Her master lost money)

Her masters brings before the magistrates, they are beaten and thrown into prison.

So they were beaten, mistreated, but it did not stop them. They were ran out of town.

Many would have gone back home. They didn’t go home, they just moved on.

They went to Thessalonica and preached the same message of Jesus there.

Paul did all this because He loved Jesus, and he want them to love Jesus. And to keep loving Jesus, and knowing that people are going to be against you (Beat you, run you out of town) that takes boldness.

They didn’t coward, they didn’t quit, “They spoke with boldness.

“we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.”

Bold: I speak freely. I have courage. Without reservation.

They had boldness in God. Even in “much conflict” Conflict: Fight.

LOOK BACK TO 1:5

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NKJV)

5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

They were just men. Men who loved Jesus, loved sharing Jesus.

Didn’t they looked forward to being beaten. But they were willing to be beaten for the sake of the gospel.

These men, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and others were courageous.

I want more boldness. I want to be courageous. Not only to share the gospel, but as a pastor.

Godly Words. VS 3-5

1 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (NKJV)

3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

The Thessalonians were first pagans. The pagan priests :Lust, greed, and dishonesty of many pagan priests.

Then many of the turned to Judaism. But then they saw lust, greed, and dishonesty of many Jewish priests.

The Thessalonians were all too familiar with the pagan religion and with the trickery, lust, greed, and dishonesty of many pagan priests.

Then the gospel was preached to them, preached them with power. And the saw love, joy, peace, holiness, forgiveness, and new life in Christ.

What made them eager and willing converts was the transparent integrity of its messengers.

1 Thessalonians 2:4–5 (NKJV)

4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel”

There were people who were teaching “God” the Jews. But not Jesus. The were still caught in the law.

They were in that day traveling philosophers. Who were great speakers. VS 5 “flattering words.”

Last week I said, “words are cheap”

Paul was saying. We don’t falsely we come faithfully.

We don’t come with lies, we come with the truth.

God has trusted us with the gospel, and God is our witness.

We didn’t com with flattering words. But we came with the power of the gospel of Jesus.

GPS elab have it will get you lost.

Flattering words can come from the pulpits of a Baptist church, and lead you the wrong direction.

Flattering words will lead people to Hell.

Godly actions VS 6-12

1 Thessalonians 2:6 (NKJV)

6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 AMP

6 Nor did we seek to extract praise and honor and glory from men, either from you or from anyone else, though we might have asserted our authority [stood on our dignity and claimed honor] as apostles (special missionaries) of Christ (the Messiah).

“Nor did we seek glory of men, either of you or from others”

Why would a servant, pastor seek the glory of men? To get the praise of men. A pat on the back.

Whatever the case may be, if its about pleasing man and not God. Its a heart issue.

a. Meekness vs 7

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV

7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

One the most awesome things to see, is the loving genteelness of a mom with her baby.

Paul say (reminds them) we came to you with this type of genteelness.

In our lives as Christians, when we are dealing with people. We have to do so with gentleness of a mom with her baby.

As a pastor, when may have to deal with a situation, I have to do so with the gentleness of mom with her baby.

When someone walks into this church and they want...... we have to deal with the as a mom with her child.

That is being a modal christian servant.

Titus 3:2 (NKJV)

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Paul, Silas, Timothy spoke the truth, but they did so with love, gentle words.

Tuff, but tender.

b. Example vs 8-10

1 Thessalonians 2:8–10 (NKJV)

8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

1 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP

8 So, being thus tenderly and affectionately desirous of you, we continued to share with you not only God’s good news (the Gospel) but also our own lives as well, for you had become so very dear to us.

READ VS 8

Although he had many churches for which he was responsible, Paul treated the Thessalonians as if they were his only church.

After spending only a few weeks of ministry with them, they had become precious friends to Paul.

(v. 8). He had developed a profound love for them and they knew it. In fact, they had become so “dear” to him, that he was more concerned about their needs than he was about his own comfort

READ VS 9

1 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV)

9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

Here Paul is not bragging, but reminded them of what he and Silas had done.

“For you recall our hard toil and struggles,”’

Toil: Struggle, work hard.

AMP

“We worked night and day [and plied our trade] in order not to be a burden to any of you [for our support] while we proclaimed the glad tidings (the Gospel) of God to you.”

Paul was tent maker. He would would to make money to live off of. (Silas and Timothy with him)

“ that we might not be a burden to any of you”

Paul didn’t come into town with demand for money or even ask for it. He worked hard (toiled) to not burden the people

He and Silas would work at night , preach all day.

If he would have come to town with demands for money, he would have to seen as a fake.

The false teachers, the philosophers were that way.

I see this verse speaking to pastors, evangelist who will only speak for an amount of money. (Give some examples)

For Paul, this was all about his love them, and his love for Jesus and the gospel.

“we preached the gospel”

1 Thessalonians 2:10 (NKJV)

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

They lived “devoutly.” That is, they walked with God in such a way that His name, His will, and His kingdom were their first priority.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

They lived “justly.” justly points to their conduct. It means, they lived their lives with honesty and integrity, so that they avoided any appearance of evil

They lived “blamelessly.” They did not claim to be sinless; they claimed to be blameless. Because they knew that they were targets for their critics, they sought to live their lives above reproach. (They lives a way that there no fault found in them.

As Christians, as servants of God, we need to live this way.

c. Encouragement. VS 11-12

1 Thessalonians 2:11 NKJV

11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

In VS 7 Paul compared himself to a nurse Mother, tender, gentle, loving and kind.

But now he refers to himself as a Father. Strength.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

They would need strength. False teachers. Persecution.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 NKJV

12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Walk: This is speaking of “conduct of daily living”

Paul message to the Thessalonians was to walk your life (live your life daily)

They had lived a live of Idol worship (Pagans) now the were followers of Jesus. Paul say walk that way, live life you are a follower of Jesus.

We are to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Live a life in such way that people notice.

They heard the gospel, they turned to Jesus, turned from their old life.

The gift of God bring salvation to those will trust Him.

The change that happens means a new life.