Serving the Returning Lord

1. Introduction.

In Chapter 1, we discussed the reasons why the Thessalonians were the model church.

The lives of the Thessalonians began at the moment of their salvation. Being saved marked the beginning of their service to God.

The Thessalonians were not phonies. They had truly trusted Jesus as their Savior, and their lives were transformed.

Salvation is all about transformation, and the greatest example of that transformation can be found in the Bible.

Mark 5:1–5 “Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.

And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

Mark 5:15 “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.”

This man was so transformed that it scared the people who were once afraid of him because under demonic influence he terrorized. Now, they were afraid because he was transformed. They noticed the change. The change was evident. It was obvious this man had experienced a new birth.

Mark 5:19 “However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.””

This man was so transformed that he wanted to get out of the tombs and go with Jesus for Jesus, but Jesus commanded him to share his testimony to those among who he lived.

Now, that is transformation, and I will tell you this.

If Jesus did not transform you, He did not save you. If people cannot see that transformation, you have a problem somewhere.

Salvation is a new birth, and the Thessalonians lived in the power of that new birth. Their salvation laid the firm foundation for the truth that would be revealed to them by Paul.

Chapter 2 is about service, and service should be a block laid upon the strong foundation of salvation. We neglect service today, but service naturally follows the new birth. The question becomes this.

How do we serve God as the Thessalonians did?

2. Be bold in the face of persecution.

1 Thessalonians 2:1–2 “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 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.”

Do you know what Dyer County needs? Dyer County needs for this church and all churches in Dyer County to be a real testament to Jesus Christ.

As we said last week, the testimony of the Thessalonians spread throughout Asia. The church was a thriving church as its testimony revealed to the world. The church had an incredible testimony in the face of terrible persecution. Today, there is no shortage of seminars, books, conferences, and experts telling churches how to grow, but, dear friend, the church must first be bold and bear a testimony that reveals Jesus Christ to the entire community.

The key to the church’s success is found in verse 2.

The Thessalonian church was successful in part because of the boldness of Paul, its minister.

Paul and Silas were bold in the face of suffering. In verse 2, Paul talks about the treatment that he and Silas received in Philippi.

Acts 16:22–24 “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

Paul, however, did not let the way he was treated to deter him from boldly proclaiming the gospel. Now, I am a Pre-Tribulationist. I believe the Rapture will happen before the 7-year Tribulation, but that does not mean that I will not experience trials, tribulations, and persecution on earth. The Bible tells us in the letters to the seven churches that we are to expect persecution.

Revelation 2:8–10 ““And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

John 15:18 ““If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”

1 Peter 4:12–14 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

It is obvious that Christians should wear persecution like a badge of courage, yet many Christians shrink in fear of persecution. It is persecution that strengthens our faith. God uses persecution to make us unstoppable, and I dare say that persecution might be the missing element in the church today. The church has it too easy today, and because of that, we struggle when we face trials, tribulations, and persecution.

Now, that is the danger of the prosperity gospel. Nowhere in the New Testament does God ever promise us that we are not going to face trouble. As a matter of fact, the New Testament is clear that we are going to face trouble. That trouble comes in our lives, but we are not to let it get us down. Instead, we are to trust in God who raises the dead.

Paul faced persecution, yet he continued to preach the gospel boldly.

At the end of verse 2, Paul says, “as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel in much conflict.” The word translated conflict is the word from which we get our word agony. In the Greek language, it was used to describe the intense struggle an athlete puts forth to win first place in a race or athletic contest.

Do you remember this verse?

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Paul compared the struggle he faced as a Christian to the struggle of fighting a fight or running a race, and the struggle was not to finish the fight or the race but to win the fight and the race. In any athletic contest, you have opposition. Paul had opposition as he preached, and you and I face opposition. In the face of such opposition, it was Paul’s heart that was in agony over lost people, and that is the key.

We must boldly face all opposition because of our agony for lost people. I hope you understand what being bold means, and I am serious about this.

I have reflected upon this many times, and I am serious about this. I believe that the Covid crisis could have very well been a trial sent our way to test our boldness, but instead of standing boldly in the face of opposition, many churches went 2 yers plus without having in-person services. Now, let me ask you, is that being bold? Do you think God allowed that crisis in order to test our boldness? I think it is very possible, and I want you to think about how that crisis has negatively affected our society.

3. Preach the pure word.

1 Thessalonians 2:3–6 “For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 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. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”

Paul preached boldly. He did not pull any punches. Paul called a spade a spade. Paul boldly preached the Word of God. Now, all of us know that some preaching today is not according to the word of God. Most modern Christians do not know enough about God’s Word to know whether or not a preacher is preaching according to God’s Word.

We all need to be like the Bereans in the New Testament.

Acts 17:10–11 “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

It is funny how topics like this come up. It is almost like the Lord plans it this way, but, dear friend, if you want to be a bold Christian that agonizes over lost people, you must search the Scriptures daily. The Bereans did that, and the Bible says they took the Scriptures and searched them to make sure what Paul and Silas were preaching was Scripturally sound. Now, let me ask you a serious question.

Do you ever take any of my outlines and examine them through Scripture to see if I am preaching according to the Word of God? Do you assume that I am? If you are not doing it, why are you not?

In verses 3-6, Paul addresses 6 things that will destroy a church, its testimony, and its ministry.

A. ERROR.

Paul preached a pure message meaning he preached the Word as it was written.

Do you know what kind of preaching is the most dangerous? Preaching that is partly true.

A half-truth is more dangerous than an outright lie when it comes to the Word of God. Let me give you a couple of examples.

Mormons

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Seventh-Day Adventists

B. DECEPTIVE MOTIVES.

Paul preached a message free from deceit.

Paul did not try to trick the Thessalonians by saying they had to speak in tongues to be saved, or that they had to do good deeds to be saved. He told them the truth. He did not use questionable methods. He did not lead emotionally supercharged services that led people to make superficial decisions for Christ.

Do you think that happens? A service gets so emotional that someone just feels like they have to do something. Well, that is superficial. It never lasts. Paul simply preached the truth of the gospel and let the pieces fall where they fell.

I promise you this.

The true gospel is still in the soul-saving business. The gospel does not need anything added to it.

Any preacher worth his salt and any church worth its salt is going to preach Christ and him crucified for the penalty of sin. A preacher should rely upon God for the message he preaches, but that does not excuse a preacher to neglect preparation.

I don’t know if you believe this, but it is true. When I prepare a sermon, I see the outline in my head. I know it comes from GOd. I even see the Scripture He wants me to use, but it is up to me to prepare that message if it is going to please God.

C. FLATTERY.

Do some preachers today preach for the flattery of men? ____________________

In my class I took on Thessalonians they compared the Apostle Paul to men like O’Steen, Duplantis, Copeland, TD Jakes, and many others to show us how that these charlatans preach for the flattery of men. Now, I will be honest. I like to hear you guys say to me that was a good sermon, but I only want you to say it if you are sincere, and the most important thing about any sermon is your application of it. It is one thing to say good sermon, but if you never apply it to your life, you are just flattering me with words.

Even though I appreciate you saying good sermon, my ultimate goal in preaching is to please God and not man.

Preachers, today, do not need to flatter people with their sermons. People need to hear preachers boldly proclaim sin, salvation, and eternal judgment.

And let me tell you, there is nothing flattering about sin and eternal judgment in hell, and there was nothing flattering about what Jesus Christ endured on the Cross to pay for sin and to make a way to avoid eternal judgment.

D. GREED.

Did you know some preachers are in the ministry because of greed?

Greed is a terrible sin, and it originates in the heart.

Proverbs 15:27 “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.”

Woe unto a preacher who gets into the ministry because of greed.

2 Peter 2:3 “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

I saw a video on YouTube last week of this pastor, I believe in Michigan, telling the ushers to lock the doors of the church and not allow anyone out until they collected $40K for the offering that day. That is absolutely unbelievable.

Is that pleasing to God? Greed destroys a ministry and a testimony. Now, I am serious about what I am about to tell you. I told Bruce this the other day. Greed takes many forms. Being tight as a tick is greed too. When the church needs something, we ought not to settle for less than the best. When we need to buy something, we need to buy the best available if we want to please God. If you do not believe me, read in the Old Testament about what went into the Tabernacle and the Temple.

Too many times, the church is satisfied with hand-me-downs, and I personally do not think God approves of that kind of greed either. God and His house deserves the very best because a church having a reputation for being tight as a tick with its money destroys its testimony and its ministry too.

E. PEOPLE-PLEASING.

Did you know I have had pastors tell me that they do not preach on certain things because people do not like to hear about those things? _______________

Do you know what the Bible says?

Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

If it is in the Bible, I have an obligation to preach it whether it pleases you or not. As a matter of fact, I am working on a sermon about government that probably is not going to please many of you, but the Lord has laid it on my heart, so it is what it is.

F. SELF-GLORY.

Are there preachers that preach for the glory of self? ___________________

Paul says in our passage that he did not come to be honored by the Thessalonians. He came to humbly please God and to serve the people. Now, should a church take care of its pastor? ABSOLUTELY!!!!

A preacher should not to please the church so that the church take better care of him. Do you know what I mean? A preacher should strive to please God, and in doing so, there might be times when he is standing with just the Lord and him.

These six things will ruin a church and its testimony. None of these were present in the Thessalonian church because it was the model church. The title of the study of this chapter is Serving the Returning Lord. We will start framing that part of the house next week.