A Model Servant
Pastor Jon
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Introduction
Introduction
Text -
Text -
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,
but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
Review
Review
Part 1 is about “A Model Church”
An Elect Church
An exemplary Church
An Enthusiastic Church
An Expectant Church
Part 2 - A Model Servant
Paul as a model servant
from an enemy of the church to a defender!
from a pharisee to a true disciple of Christ
Paul’s testimony of himself
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1.12-13
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Main Points
Main Points
One commentary summarised the false charges against Paul, as evident in the way Paul explained himself in this chapter:
1 Thessalonians 1. The Integrity of Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica (1–2)
Barclay saw the following false charges against Paul, evident from the way Paul explained himself in this chapter:
• “Paul has a police record and is therefore untrustworthy” (1 Thessalonians 2:2, suffered before referring to his imprisonment in Thessalonica).
• “Paul is delusional” (1 Thessalonians 2:3, error).
• “Paul’s ministry is based on impure motives” (1 Thessalonians 2:3, uncleanness).
• “Paul deliberately deceives others” (1 Thessalonians 2:3, in deceit).
• “Paul preaches to please others, not God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, not as pleasing men).
• “Paul is in the ministry as a mercenary, to get what he can out of it materially” (1 Thessalonians 2:5, 2:9, nor a cloak for covetousness).
• “Paul only wants personal glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:6, nor did we seek glory from men).
• “Paul is something of a dictator” (1 Thessalonians 2:7 we were gentle among you).
On the contrary, Paul exemplified outstanding Christian service throughout his life. He was a true model servant of the church outside of Christ.
Paul’s Exemplary Attitude to Ministry
Paul’s Exemplary Attitude to Ministry
The Faithful Steward
The Faithful Steward
He was entrusted with the gospel -
according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
Gal;atians 2
The Manner of his ministry -
he came and ministered the gospel with boldness - most people would take a break or find an excuse after being beaten and humiliated in
he preached amid much opposition (conflict, contention, struggle)
Paul somehow learned to expect opposition whenever he preached the gospel. He even exhorts us to prepare for them.
experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9.25
The Message of his ministry -
His exhortation does spring from error or deceit - Paul assures them that his message was true.
The Motive of his ministry -
His motive does not come from deceit
deceit is when one preaches the gospel for gain
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—
nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
The Method of his ministry -
He did not come with “flattering speech”
He did not seek glory from men
The Loving Mother
The Loving Mother
He was gentle as a mother
My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
He imparted his life also
Christ did this to us
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
We should do the same
2 Corinthians 12
I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
The Concerned Father
The Concerned Father
Paul as a father to the believers
just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
1 Thessalonians 2.11
For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4.15
His work -
he worked in order not to be a burden to the saints
For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
His walk -
his life was holy
his life righteous
His words -
he exhorted and encouraged each one of them
his fatherly aim - that his children walk worthy of the God who called them
Conclusion
Conclusion
What can we learn from Paul’s personal testimony?
Servants of God are stewards of people, and stewards are required to be faithful.
Servants of God are nurturers of souls, which require the tenderness of mother.
Servants of God are builders of lives, which require the love and discipline of a father.