Where is Your Boasting?

Questions

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 What three terms were defined in the sermon regarding verbal praise?

Which of the three is sinful and why?

Read Rom 16:17-18

Romans 16:17–18 NASB95

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

How might we differentiate between boasting(praise) and encouragement in the Christian life? Why are both needed and Why are they difficult to give to one another? How should we receive these from brothers and sisters in Christ? Why is it difficult to receive these well?

What two elements does Paul reflect upon in the Thessalonians church in v 3? How have you observed these in the lives of our church family?

In what ways can we ensure that our compliments and encouragements are rooted in genuine love and humility?

How can you practice the discipline of boasting in the Lord in your daily conversations with others?

How might we assume the Thessalonians were blessed by Paul’s words of boasting?

Why did Paul boast of them to the other churches? How might this have a positive effect on the churches as a whole?

Do you hear more boasting in the Lord about other churches or condemnation towards other churches? Why is that?

How might we verbally bless the work God is doing with like-minded churches?

Intro:

Signing of Yearbooks: Comments and compliments

Ego candy

We enjoy a good compliment and praise. It lifts us up! But how should we think about this verbal bouquet of encouragement? Is it helpful for our souls to receive this type of praise from our bosses or coworkers. Is it spiritually safe to enjoy such a thing?

Today as we look at the first few verses of 2 Thessalonians, we come to see Paul speaking well of the believers in Thessalonica. He is proud of them as He sees the Lord moving in working in their midst. But how might we categorize these positive vibes that Paul is putting forth in the opening letter. I want to start this afternoon with three definitions to help us understand Paul’s verbal praise and how we too might be challenged to verbally praise others.

2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 “3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

Flattery

Immediately, let’s take off the table the idea that Paul is flattering these believers. It is not in Paul’s character to speak to others in such a way. He even tells them so in 1 Thessalonians 2:5 “5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—”

Paul speaks of flattery as a negative form of speech directed at another person. Solomon likewise illustrates this in Prov 26:28

Proverbs 26:28 “28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.”

But is flattery always wrong? The bible seems to define it that way. It is a form of lying and manipulation with the goal of the flatterer gaining some advantage for himself. Listen to how Keith Christensen defines it….

Instead of doing things God’s way (speaking honestly) and thereby trusting in God to bring about ultimate good, the flatterer trusts in his own ability to control people and situations by means of his own ingenuity in dishonest ear-tickling.

Liars need to understand how flattery opposes true humility, love of neighbor, and trust in God, and then strive to put on those flattery-killing virtues. Keith Christensen

What we can easily say is that Paul is not flattering the Thessalonians with the kind words towards them. He instead speaks from the deep rooted apostolic love in their heart.

As parents, we might have experienced coming downstairs, complimenting our outfit, giving us loving speech, only buttering the bread for some request or some need to be met. In positions of leadership, we also might experience similar dishonest flattery in order to gain advantage at work. We should stop and evaluate if our positive words might we words to help us get our way.

Encouragement

The second category is encouragement. Encouragement is seen and promoted throughout the Bible as an action of the believer in Jesus Christ. We might read Paul’s words to the church at Thessalonica and say, that is so encouraging.

But let me show you how encouragement is framed in Scripture so that we might understand that these words would be categorized as something else.

What does the Bible say about encouragment? It is not a word that is found in the OT Hebrew. The OT idea of encouragment is found in strengthening the inner person. In Deut 3:27-28, Moses writes,

Deuteronomy 3:27–28 “27 ‘Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes to the west and north and south and east, and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 28 ‘But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see.’”

Now what we need to see about encouragment is that is always related to a task or mission or goal. In others words, encouragment is about a strengthening that moves us forward to accomplish something ahead of us.

Let me share what Jay Adams writes in his book, Encouragement isn’t enough, as a helpul definition of encouragement:

Encouragement Isn’t Enough New Testament Usage

encouragement….speaking in ways that inwardly calm, strengthen, and urge one to perform some duty or task by giving advice about what he must do and, at times, by offering other possible forms of help as well. There are, therefore, cognitive, emotive, and behavioral elements in the biblical concept of encouragement….It is designed to push forward those who stand on the brink of performing a task that lies immediately in front of them

Now how does the believer encourage someone to accomplish a task or goal ahead of them. Encouragement is not rooted in human wisdom. It is found in the wisdom of God. Encouragement is rooted in how the Scriptures should be applied to the lives of others in order to move them to live faithfully for God’s kingdom.

Romans 15:4 “4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Acts 11:23 “23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;”

Just to clarify, Jay Adam’s title “encouragement isn’t enough” is to draw the reader to see that before we can encourage the believer in moving forward, sometimes we must first help them see and deal with their sin so that they can move onward.

In connection then to our passage today, it does not seem so much that Paul is trying to look forward and encourage the believers to accomplish some task. Instead, he looks backward at what has already occurred and gives thanks to God for all that He has done in the city of Thessalonica.

This is the third category and my first point….boasting

1. Boasting in the Lord

While encouragement is looking forward, boasting is looking back. In looking back, we acknowledge what accomplishments have occurred and we offer praise for those achievements. In our culture, we see boasting at award shows when an actor or musician is honored for all the earthly successes they have achieved. We see boasting at end of the year sports banquets with individual awards are handed out for best offense, best defense, overall best attitude.

In the Christian life, how should we think about boasting?

Boasting can be a sinful action when it is generated from a prideful heart about one’s own accomplishments. Pride is the root of sin and there is no place in the Christian life for it.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Paul frames for us in 2 Cor the proper way to boast about ourselves…we boast in our weaknesses while boasting in Christ’s strength. All we are able to do as sinful people is to acknowledge that in our own power and strength, we can accomplish nothing.

An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians Paul’s Revelations and Visions

The power of Christ is not only thus manifested in the weakness of his people, but in the means which he employs for the accomplishment of his purposes. These are in all cases in themselves utterly inadequate and disproportionate to the results to be obtained. The treasure is in earthly vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God. By the foolishness of preaching he saves those who believe. By twelve illiterate men the church was established and extended over the civilized world. By a few missionaries heathen lands are converted into Christian countries. So in all cases, the power of Christ is perfected in weakness

The foundation of our boasting is thus in the Lord and not in man. He is the giver of good gifts. He is the provider of life and all its components. He is the Savior of his people. He is the orchestrator of His providence that brings about His will. He even brings trials and sufferings. He is the judge of all.

This brings us to our text today:

Paul says in v 3,

2 Thessalonians 1:3 “3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;”

Paul highlights the work of God in the church at Thessalonica. I give thank to God for you brothers which is deserved or fitting for the occasion. Paul by no means thinks that these believers in their own strength had faith and love disconnected from the work of God. He knows and is clarifying that it is God who deserves to be boasted in because of what He has done.

Notice the two things that Paul mentions:

Their Faith had been enlarged

Their Love for one another is growing

You and I can all imagine how much faith in the Lord is tested when persecution is standing at the door. Although we are not given the description of the severity of the persecution, the faith that grows in the midst of suffering is a tested and true faith in Christ. Paul is recognizing that faith so that they can have confidence in God who empowered them to weather the storms of their lives.

Equally, we can understand that the loving others in the church can also be a challenge when persecution arises. It is our sinful human nature in difficulty to turn on one another in survival mode. Elevated stress and self protection leads us at times to attack those who love us most. Again, Paul’s report from Timothy was the opposite. Paul states that their love abounded towards one another. A persecuted church will be a stronger church because the Lord creates a tighter bond in suffering. A braided rope that is pulled with great force exhibits a tighter bond in the midst of being pulled and stretched.

Now let us all see here what Paul is accomplishing with his opening statement to the church. He is telling the church of his thankfulness towards God for their faithfulness in persection. When he does this he is intentionally displaying the practice of “boasting in the Lord of fellow believers.” He is recounting all the great things the Lord has done but he is writing these things to the ones the Lord did them. We might call that encouraging them in their faith, but as I described, it is boasting of them in the Lord.

I think this is vitally important practice for the church, whatever term you might want to use, praising, boasting, or encouraging others in their faith. This practice is the intentional expression of thankfulness and pride in the spiritual work that we see in others. Paul is such a great example of this in all his letters as he boasts of how the Lord has grown his people.

2 Timothy 1:5 “5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

Colossians 1:3–4 “3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;”

As we consider this pattern, we must ask ourselves how we engage in such boasting? Chiefly, we must ask ourselves to where does our boasting come? Is our boasting rooted in the Lord for all that He does or is it in our own efforts as if we are strong enough on our own.

Psalm 127:1–2 “1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”

Psalm 33:16–17 “16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.”

Friends, what you have is a gift from the Lord, both physically and spiritually and he deserves our highest boasting and praise.

Secondly, let me ask do boasting of others in the Lord? God’s people need to hear from their spiritual family of the grace and growth that can been seen in their spiritual lives. This is where boasting and encouraging are so intimately connected and yet distinct. To boast of what has occurred in the spiritual lives of others recounts the mighty works that God has done while encouraging them is pushing them forward to be faithful now and in the future.

John Stott writes,

The Message of Thessalonians 1. A Thanksgiving for God’s Grace (1:3–4)

What should our attitude be to Christians who are doing well in some aspect of their discipleship? Some people resort to congratulations: ‘Well done! I think you’re marvellous. I’m proud of you.’ Others are uncomfortable with this and see its incongruity. It borders on flattery, promotes pride and robs God of his glory. So, although they may thank God privately in their prayers, they say nothing to the person concerned. They replace flattery with silence, which leaves him or her discouraged. Is there a third way, which affirms people without spoiling them? There is. Paul exemplifies it here. He not only thanks God for the Thessalonians; he also tells them that he is doing so…I thank God for you, brother or sister. I thank him for the gifts he has given you, for his grace in your life, for what I see in you of the love and gentleness of Christ’.

The takes intentionality to muster praise and boasting on our lips. Look again at v 3, “as is only fitting.” This means that such boasting of others is NECESSARY in the Christian life. If this type of boasting is not a normal spiritual discipline in your life, plan on it. Husbands and wives, your spouses need this. Parents, your believing children need this. Church family, your brothers and sisters need this.

Take time to verbally recognize the spiritual fruits in others as you boast in the Lord who accomplished them. We are living our spiritual journeys so that we can be a blessing to one another to stenghen one another with kind recognition of their spiritual growth. This friends is one of the ways that the writer of Hebrews defines our gathering as a church…

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

2. Boasting in the Lord to others

2 Thessalonians 1:4 “4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

Secondly, Paul took it a step further and He boasted in the Lord by also telling the churches of God of the growing faith in the Thessalonian church. Now we recongize first that the existence of the churches of God show God is at work as Paul writes these words birthing new churches. Paul is communicating with all these churches as he shepherds them in thier infancy. Paul knows that what will encourage them in their faith is the testimony of God working in other infant churches. The testimonies from Paul serve as a way of boasting in the Lord for all he has done.

Now again, it may sound strange to “brag on other believers” because as Stott said earlier, “promotes pride and robs God of his glory.” But we can boast of what God has done in others and in doing so it encourages those whom he has done it and it encourages others to do the same. Isn’t this why teh writer of Hebrews reveals the rollcall of faith in Hebrews 11? We see the writer of Hebrews boasting in the Lord of the faith of others and the church is encouraged to do the same.

Paul wrote in

2 Corinthians 7:13–16 “13 And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. 15 His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.”

Therefore, church we put forth praise and boasting of what God is doing in the lives of each other. Let us be bold to speak of God’s power and blessing in the lives of others. Let us speak good boastful words to those areas where the Lord is working. Let us now hold back for fear of engineering pride in them. Let God use our boastful words to spark a fire of confidence in God’s good work in them. Let us also be willing to boast to others of the work of God in his church, knowing that testimonies of God’s powerful work encourages the church.