That He Might Be Glorified

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We live in a time when there is more resistance to the Gospel than previously in our culture.

We live in a time of increasing cynicism and distrust concerning people’s motives and addenda’s.

We live in a time of augmented suspicion of institutions and institutionalism.

We live in a time of easy offense over things that in the past would have been disregarded.

We live in a time when people practice self-absorption rather than self-denial (this includes the church).

We live in a time where people are broken – families are fractured – children are fatherless – and the world puts forth guide-less guides proposing to tell us how to live.

We live in a time where an atheist in tactical gear can walk into a church with automatic weapons to massacre men and women – mothers and fathers – brothers and sisters – grandmothers and grandfathers – children

And we ask, Lord, why that church?

Why not another church?

Why not this church?

· This is the culture we live in – this is the time God has placed us in according to His wisdom and purpose – to touch it with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

· We are called to this time

Yet we should ask the question: How do we effectively interact with our culture for the furtherance of the Gospel to the glory of God?

What proofs can we offer cynical – fearful – broken – sometimes arrogant – always lost – hurting people?

From our text, we are going to identify three proofs that will answer these question.

Worship in Thessalonica

The full Greko-Roman pantheon of gods was worshipped there.

There was a Serapeum, which was dedicated to the Egyptian god Serapis – Archaeologists have also discovered many other Egyptian idols at the site, which most likely means that the Serapeum became a place where a multitude of Egyptian gods was worshipped.

Also prominent in the city was the existence of the Imperial Cult (Emperor worship).

We know from that the believers of Thessalonica had been idol worshippers

Taking this stand against their former way of worship would have brought them into direct conflict with, not only their neighbors and the citizens of Thessalonica but also the Roman Empire itself.

This was because of the Imperial Cult – because of Emperor worship.

The Romans didn’t care how many gods you worshipped – the more, the merrier, as long as you worshipped the Emperor as well.

All citizens of the empire were required to sacrifice incense to the Emperor at least once a year – and to proclaim “Caesar is Kyrios (Lord).

Having done their duty, the citizens of the empire would receive a certificate that proved their obedience to this regulation

Of course, believers could not make this proclamation, believing that only Jesus was Kyrios

When asked to produce the certificate of proof they could not do so and thereby they were arrested on the charge of sedition – treason against the empire and the Emperor.

In later periods this constituted legal grounds for execution

Paul, himself, had stated in that “there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ” – this, to the Romans, was a denial of the right of the Emperor to be worshipped.

In , the Apostle had told the believers in Thessalonica that the Day of the Lord would come suddenly upon those who were proclaiming “peace and security,” – This seemed to be a challenge to the concept of Pax Romana (Roman Peace) – also an important part of Emperor Worship

This was the situation in Thessalonica and the greater culture around it.

When Paul was In Thessalonica

He preached in the Synagogue for three Sabbaths reasoning with them from the Scriptures and proclaiming Jesus was the Christ ()

For some weeks after that Paul and his companions continued to declare the gospel to the Gentiles and Jews of the city

Many believed and were saved yet the Jews became jealous and stirred up a mob to set the city in uproar

The believers of Thessalonica hid Paul and Silas so that they could not be apprehended by the mob

Then at night the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea ()

The believers of Thessalonica had not seen Paul since – yet from Corinth Paul wrote to them

Timothy delivered the letter to the young believers there

Now let’s look at chapter two and how is it we can become effective at interacting with our present culture for the glory of God

1. First: The proof of our sincerity during times of difficulty (1-4)

a. Principle: Boldness brings more boldness (vs. 1-2)

i. The people of Thessalonica knew that Paul had been beaten and jailed in Philippi

ii. Even with that experience Paul told the Thessalonian believers that he and his companions had not feared – rather than that, they had been bold among them

iii. It was because of that they had had fruitful ministry among them as well

1. The word vain in verse one means to “have no results.”

2. Paul says that because they had not feared based on their past experiences nor the current conflict – much fruit was brought forth in the lives of the people of Thessalonica

iv. When we are bold for the Lord – and do not shrink from declaring Him – it causes others to be bold as well.

From his place of imprisonment in Rome, the Apostle wrote to the church at Philippi telling them

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

v. This word “bold” here means to have “courage or boldness in the face of danger or opposition.”

vi. When the news of Paul’s imprisonment was heard it caused others to be “much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

John Piper says of this

“So, what we learn is that the reason boldness is needed is that it keeps our lives from being in vain. It makes our lives count. It keeps us from coming to the end and saying, “Nothing happened. There was no significance. I lived in vain.”[1]

b. Where does this boldness come from? (vs. 3-4)

i. Paul tells them that their motives were pure

ii. They had boldness because they had been approved by God and it was Him that tested their hearts

iii. This word “approved.” means to regard something as genuine or worthy on the basis of testing.

iv. Because God trusts us with His gospel, we are responsible to Him and not to man

v. It is God who tests our hearts

1. The word Paul used for “tests” means “to scrutinize – to look at critically or searchingly – or in minute detail

2. The knowledge that we are accountable to God for proclamation of the gospel should give us courage no matter what the circumstances

c. God uses conflict to prove our sincerity to others

i. If people know we are a believer – they watch how we respond to difficulties

ii. Do we forgive when wronged? Or do we lash out?

iii. Are we gracious when attacked? Or do we respond in kind?

iv. Do we defend ourselves or do we trust God to be our defense when people talk behind our back?

v. What happens if we experience great tragedy?

1. Would people see our faith?

2. Would people see us love God although we have more questions than answers?

3. Danny and Heather Roberts

Our response during times of conflict proves the sincerity of our message!

Now on to the second proof of the genuineness of our message

2. Second: The proof of our desire to live in community (5-8)

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Paul tells them that when they were among them, his desire was not to take but to give – and he called upon God to be his witness to that fact

ire was not to take but to give – and he called upon God to be his witness to that fact

He says, “you know what, we could have made demands as apostles of Christ, but we didn’t

Paul always approached people based on their particular situation and we should too

He reminds the believers of Thessalonica that they were gentile among them and had shown affection toward them just as a mother might do

Then the apostle tells them

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

a. It is our lives that truly proclaim the gospel.

i. The gospel has much more power to bring transformation when it comes in the form of shared experience

ii. When we take part in the lives of those we share with.

iii. This can happen through our jobs as we work together with those that we want to reach for Christ

b. We must be willing to live as they live – and experience life as they do

Illustration: Eric Liddle

Most of us know of Eric Liddle because he was a great athlete and had taken a stand against running on Sunday – yet most of us don’t know the story of him becoming Christ to many held in a Japanese internment camp

Eric was born in China to missionary parents being the 2nd of three children

He won the Olympic gold medal when he was 22 and became a national hero

Rather than using his celebrity for self-exaltation he used it to preach the gospel. Although he was very shy and not comfortable speaking in public, he did so for the glory of Christ.

While in school he had met a young man that introduced him to Christians who had a gathering that later became known as the Oxford Group

They spoke of living their lives by principles they called the four absolutes

Absolute Purity

Absolute Unselfishness

Absolute Honesty

Absolute Love

This became the practice of Eric’s life

He also at that time developed a habit of spending the first hours of the day in quiet time before the Lord

Yet his heart was for the mission field, and at 25 he left for China

When boarding the train, leaving Scotland, he declared, “Christ for the world – for the world needs Christ.”

With that, he took up a post as a chemistry teacher in Tientsin, China

He also organized bible studies – preached and shared his faith

He met his future wife, the daughter of missionaries, and they married in 1934

They had two daughters

Patricia and Heather

In 1937 he left his post as teacher to serve as a rural evangelist and pastor in another part of China

This was during WW2, and things were becoming very uncertain – it was in 1937 that the Japanese invaded China

By 1941 the situation in China was becoming more unstable

The war in Europe was raging

London was being bombed nightly

Japan was increasing its control over northern China and other parts of Asia

When Eric’s wife was found to be pregnant with their third child, they decided that it would be right for her to take the children and move to Canada for safety – although they intended to see each other in a year, they never saw each other again

Eric said that it was too difficult to leave the people that he had grown to love – had ministered to – and had depended upon him for their spiritual support

After Pearl Harbor and America’s declaration of war, things in China intensified

Missionaries and other foreign westerners in China were now considered foreign enemies

The Japanese moved them into internment camps so that they could control them – Eric was one of the westerners that was imprisoned

They were not tortured, yet they only had the very basic necessities

Many of the people became malnourished

Altogether, there were more than 1500 people in the camp that Eric was in

Then 300 children and teens were brought to the camp

They were the children of missionaries

They had been at a boarding school separated from their parents

Eric began to invest his time with these children and teens

It was said that Eric was energetically all over the camp bringing cheer to people

He missed his family greatly – so being with the children was a great help to him

One said he was a man of prayer and commitment to the Christian faith

He continued his practice of having a quiet time early in the morning even in the cramped living quarters of the camp

He and several others shared a quiet-time together

They would read early in the morning before dawn by the light of a peanut oil lamp

Eric’s attitude concerning his faith was this

The ultimate aim of preaching and reading the bible and prayer was to bring about a change in oneself – an internal change. A change in one’s attitude to God and ones attitude to other people. The one word that came out constantly in his attitude and his words was love

One of the children who were in the camp with Eric, when grown described him as “the most Christ-like man I have ever met – he loved everyone and sought to show the love of God to everyone

Eric began to feel his memory was fading

He began slowing down – many thought it might be nervous exhaustion

Yet soon he began to have difficulty walking and partially lost the use of his limbs

Finally, he went into the hospital within the camp – and the doctors began to suspect a brain tumor

Before he died the last word he spoke was “surrender” – he had been talking about surrendering to the will of God

The people in the camp were devastated by Eric Liddle’s death

He had been a bridge between the different groups in the camp

He was a unifier and a lover of Christ

Eric was only 43 years old, and he was gone

As the news spread around the camp grown men, that had not shed a tear in years, were weeping at his death

He was not known in the camp for his Olympic prowess – but because he was a friend to everyone

And one man who was not a Christian said concerning his death – Jesus Christ use to live in our camp, but he died yesterday

Eric’s was an example of a life lived in relationship that shared the truth of the gospel and his faith in a way that could not be denied by those who came in contact with him. He lived what he believed!

Finally, the third proof of the truth of our message of the gospel

3. The proof of a life lived for the glory of God (9-12)

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:9–12 ESV

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Question: When people see our lives – who does that make them think God is?

a. Here, Paul called not only upon God, but also the Thessalonian believers to affirm his and his companions conduct when with them at Thessalonica.

i. Paul is saying here that their conduct was proof of their message

ii. Their way of life showed their care and concern for the people that were trying to reach

iii. This is how it is to be with us

1. In our hearts, we must expect no gain other than to glorify God

2. And in turn, it is Jesus Christ that is our glory and reward

a. Jesus is the very heart of our message

b. Jesus is the very reason for our message

c. Jesus is the very life that indwells us that we might serve Him

b. In verse eleven Paul uses the analogy of a “father with his children” to describe his relationship with the Thessalonian believers – just as previously he had used the figure of a nurturing mother in verse seven above.

i. Paul employs three verbs in verse twelve: exhorted – encouraged – and charged

ii. These, as the apostle see it, are the work of a Father toward his children

John MacArthur says that these verbs “emphasized the personal touch of a loving father.”[2]

Exhort = To earnestly support or encourage a response or action

Encourage = To give emotional strength to someone

Charged = To be emphatic – to insist

iii. What were these verbs pointing to? To the phrase “Walk in a manner worthy of God.”

1. Paul says that when they were among the young believers of Thessalonica, they exhorted – encouraged – and charged them to do this

2. These were all necessary if these young Christians were to be effective for the gospel toward the people to which God had called them to share the gospel

3. This hostile – pagan – culture

When writing to the Corinthian church, Paul had said

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

4. Just as with the church at Corinth – Paul had become their father in Jesus Christ through the gospel

c. To walk in a manner worthy of God

i. In effect, this phrase sums up all that Paul has been saying

ii. This is a high calling

iii. We cannot obtain it through effort

iv. We cannot obtain it through formula

v. We can only obtain it by allowing Christ to live his life through us

vi. We can only obtain it through the cross

d. The great apostle had learned the secret of this

i. Just as Jesus Christ had emptied Himself of any divine prerogative – any advantage concerning His walk among us () – taking the way of the cross – we must do the same

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

ii. The way of the cross is the only way if we are going to serve others rather than ourselves – if reaching people for the gospel is in our heart of utmost importance

iii. Laying down our lives that Christ might live through us

Paul told the churches of Galatia

have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

iv. This is the only way if we are to live our lives to the glory of God

Conclusion

If we truly desire to reach people in a culture of cynical – fearful – broken – sometimes arrogant – always lost – hurting people we must give them proofs that our message is true to break through the barrier of secular resistance

We must:

Prove our sincerity through times of difficulty

Show our desire to live in community

We must live our lives for the glory of God alone

Let me end with this.

Alexander Maclaren, the great Bible expositor, said this of the cross of Christ, and how we are to live by it if we are to have any effect for the kingdom and the glory of God

“What was Paul’s gospel? According to Paul’s own definition of it, it was this: ‘How that Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.’ “

Continuing

“Do not always be looking at Christ’s Cross only as your means of acceptance. Do not only be thinking of Christ’s Passion as that which has barred for you the gates of punishment and has opened for you the Kingdom of heaven It has done all hat; but if you are going to stop there you have only got hold of a very maimed and imperfect edition of the Gospel. The Cross is your pattern, as well as the anchor of your hope and the ground of your salvation, if it is anything at all to you. And it is not the ground of your salvation and the anchor of your hope unless it is your pattern. It is the one in exactly the same degree in which it is the other.”

If we are saved by the cross – it is by the cross we must also live!

[1] John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007).

[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .