Boldness, Care, and Effective Witness

Over the last several weeks we have been going through 1 Thessalonians 1 together. As we looked at that passage, we found that Paul’s heart was bursting with joy over the fruitful ministry of the Thessalonians and all that God had been doing through them. As we begin exploring 1 Thessalonians 2 this week, we will find that Paul is building on top of what he said in the first chapter and will begin to explain that their fruitful ministry came from their belief in his fruitful evangelism.

If you spend anytime with Paul, you will find that he was no stranger to hardships. In 2 Corinthians 11:25-27, Paul gives us a summary of some of the difficulties that he faced in his ministry. He writes,

2 Corinthians 11:25–27 NKJV

25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

To put it simply, Paul knew what it was like to suffer, however as we look at his life, we also find a life marked by perseverance through those difficulties. But what was it that kept him going? Well, as we look at 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 today, we will find that this fruitful ministry to the Thessalonians came after a difficult time with the Philippians, but it was his commitment to the glory of God that kept him going. So, today I want us to look at this passage and as we do, I want us to notice that when our minds are set on the glory of God, hardships cannot derail our Christian witness. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 says,

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.

Like I said a moment ago, today I want us to consider life with the glory of God on our minds. And as we live this way, we will find that when our mind is set on the glory of the God who loved us and gave His life for us, we will find that first....

We will stay committed through hardships

In verses 1-2, Paul mentions first that when he came to preach in Thessalonica, as they very well know, his ministry was fruitless, but was successful. But why? Why was it successful. Now, obviously we know that the only reason our evangelism is ever successful is because God works in the hearts of the people we are witnessing to. But in the human perspective, Paul’s ministry was effective because he was committed to sharing the truth even though he had been facing hardship.

In Paul’s mind, it didn’t matter how much you tried to silence him, he was confident that he knew the truth and was bold to proclaim it to the world. Now, Paul says that he was bold in God. This could mean one of two things. One is that he was made bold by God which no doubt is true in some sense. But is that what he means here? Another possibility is that Paul is saying that he was bold because he was in God’s presence. Or to put it this way, Paul spoke boldly because he knew that it was God who was watching him.

I don’t know about you guys, but when I was in school I would always try to play harder when my parents were watching. If it was a sport, I tried harder. If it was a concert, I tried to play better. Having them there motivated me to do my very best. It seems that this is how it was for Paul. He knew that God was watching over him and this energized his life.

The second thing that we will find if our mind is set on the glory of God is that...

We won’t be concerned with the world’s thoughts of us

Now, I am not saying that we won’t want people to like us and will have a snarky and condescending attitude. What I mean is that if we are living for God and know that we are walking in truth, we won’t let the condemning thoughts of the world sidetrack us from our mission.

This seems to be the mindset of Paul in verses 3-4. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

1 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NKJV

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.

We know that Paul had an issue in Corinth with people thinking that he was using the ministry to get whatever he wanted. It seems that maybe this is what Paul is dealing with here as well and so he wants to make it clear that while the carnal courtroom of the world might condemn me, I have been vindicated in Heaven’s court.

Paul says that his heart has been approved by God and that it is being steadily tested by him. What Paul is saying is that God knows his heart, God knows Paul’s motives and Paul is motivated to serve the Lord with a clear conscience because he is right with God.

The word that Paul uses for pleasing, according to one writer, speaks about a loyal soldier pleasing his superior officer by not becoming distracted with irrelevant things. If you’re in the middle of a war, you don’t want to see your fighters distracted with civilian concerns because this is a serious situation that demands full attention. Well, in Paul’s mind, the ministry of the gospel was that important and the pressures of the world weren’t going to pull him away.

This leads us to our third point. Which is that when we live with our minds set on the glory of God, we will find that.

We will be mindful of our conduct

In verses 5-6 and 9-10, Paul is further validating himself by recalling his behavior when he was in Thessalonica and he calls not only the Thessalonians to bear witness, but God Himself to bear witness to how he conducted himself. In verses 5-10, Paul testifies that he didn’t use the gospel as some kind of cloak to hide wrong motives and that he wasn’t doing this for popularity with men, but for the glory of God.

In verses 9-10, Paul calls God to witness again that when he was with them, he lived in such a way that he would be a blessing to them and not a burden.

What I find interesting here is that Paul is an open book and this is how we should be as believers. When you’re doing the right thing, you’ll have nothing to hide. And as Christians who are living on mission for the glory of God, we need to be mindful of our conduct knowing that not only are people watching, but the Lord is as well.

Finally, when we live with our minds set on the glory of God, we will find that:

We will be motivated by love for God’s people

1–2 Thessalonians Boldness in Witness Derives from Love (2:5–12)

The Stoic philosopher Seneca, who lived in Paul’s day, advised that people should allow only those to influence them “who teach us by their lives, who tell us what we ought to do and then prove it by practice, who show us what we should avoid, and then are never caught doing that which they have ordered us to avoid”

In verses 6-12, we find that Paul genuinely loves the Church and he uses three pictures to explain his behavior while he was with them. Now, the first one is a little hard to find, but in verse 7 Paul says that he was like a babe among them. The word for “gentle” here could be translated “babe” and may actually be what Paul was intended to communicate in this passage. Remember, he is trying to defend how harmlessly and genuinely he conducted himself and so he reminds them of his conduct by putting the image of a loving little babe in their minds.

Now, what is interesting and a little confusing is that Paul immediately switches us to discussing how he also conducted himself like a nursing mother toward her little child. The passage could read, “But we were like babes among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her children.” Every now and again, Paul likes to use metaphors that are a little hard to get our hands around. But regardless, Paul wants us to think of him as being like a nursing mother is toward her baby. Now, one thing about nursing mothers is that their whole lives are built around nourishing that little baby. Sleepless nights, interrupted chores, all things are put on pause for the good of that little baby and this is how Paul says he cared for them. He loved them, he delighted in them and he cared for them as a concerned mom.

Another interesting thing about this picture is that God referred to Himself as a mother caring for her babies in the old testament at least 3 different times. Maybe this is what Paul had in mind. Regardless, what we learn from this is that we need to get to know other believers in our church well enough that we know how to pray for them and how to minister to their needs.

Finally, Paul says that he conducted himself as a constructive father in verse 11. Like any good father, Paul didn’t want to burden these baby Christians with supporting him, but he wanted to pour all that he had into them so that they could grow and glorify God. In verse 12, Paul reveals the reason for his conduct and it is that he wants these believers to walk worthy of their calling, not that they have to earn their salvation, but that they should walk as though they have been saved by grace.

Lessons:

There will be people in this world who will give you a hard time, just keep your eyes on Jesus.

If you are living right, you have nothing to hide.

Let God’s love for you energize your love for those around you.

Get to know the people in your church and regularly ask yourself, “Who can I encourage this week?”