1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Good morning everyone. If we have not met before my name is Josh and I serve as one of the pastors here. No matter what part of Twin Port and northland you are listening, I want to thank you for joining us today. Let me pray for us…

If you have your bible I and hope you do, please open it to Paul’s 1 letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 2.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 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.

9 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.

As we begin to unpack what’s going on in this text I want us to first not that six times in this paragraph (verses 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11) Paul says, “you know,” or “you remember,” or “you are witness.” Look at it with me... 1, he says, “You yourselves know.” In verse 2, “As you know.” In verse 5, “As you know.” In verse 9 “For you remember.” In verse 10, “You are witnesses.” In verse 11 “Just as you know.”

And twice he appeals to God as his witness in verse 5 then again in verse 10. take a look, verse 5 “God is witness.” Verse 10 “You are witnesses and God is also.”

Now, if I were to repeatedly say to you… you yourselves know, as you know, you remember, you know, you would say… clearly I want us to know and remember something right?

So what did Paul want Thessalonians to know and why did he want them to know it? And how do the answers to these questions impact us today? That’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Paul wanted them to know 2 big things:

1. In verses 1-6, He wanted them to know and remember the sincerity with which he, Silas and Timothy brought the gospel message to them

2. In verse 7-12, he wanted them to know and remember the investment they had in them… that they were like a nursing mother and a hard working father for them.

The goal in all of this verse 12, that would walk in a manner worthy of God who called them into his very own kingdom and glory.

He repeats over and over that he want them to know and remember these two things because Paul is being slandered by his opponents in Thessalonica. We met them in Acts 17. They were jealous of him and stirred up a mob and took church leaders before the authorities. Evidently Paul's enemies were saying that he was insincere–that he was only after the praise of men, that he was a greedy swindler wanting nothing but their money and that he used flattery to get it. His concern is the the Thessalonians might be persuaded by his opponents.

Now, let’s dive in and along the way draw out implication for us today…

So let’s take look at verses 1-6 where Paul speaks his sincerity in speaking the the gospel. Well look at verse 1-2 together, then 3 and 4 together, and finally 5and 6 together.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

First thing: you know that our coming to you with the gospel had a positive impact. You have believed the gospel. You sins are forgiven and you now have peace with God. It is if you can see the Thessalonians nodding their heads… yes we know this.

but…also remember that we had come from Philippi your neighboring city where we suffered we had and been shamefully treated. In Philippi Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods, unfairly accused, and had their feet fastened in stocks. The Thessalonians were probably like “yup we saw the bruises around your ankles and the laceration on your backs.

Even still that experience did stop us coming to you with the gospel to you. We had boldness in our God to declare the gospel to you in the midst of much conflict… even when my and our opponents started a riot in your city and arrested some of you. Yes, yes, that is true.

Right here… is an important implication for us to know: Wherever the gospel is faithfully preached expect people to believe, but also expect varying degrees of resistance, even physical suffering.

If you’ve been taught that faith in Jesus and joining the mission of God is going to fix all your problems in your life, someone lied to you. Life may not get worse for you, but don’t be caught like a deer in the headlight if it does. The word boldness here means daring to speak fearlessly. Should intense conflict ever come you, to us, if the Christianity we have received and been taught is one that God protects us from persecution we will likely not dare to speak fearlessly about Jesus. Daring to speak the gospel is to rely on God’s power to save not your ability to persuade or your intellect to convince or your strength. You know as Paul did, that your life is hidden in God. And your hope is in God and your joy is in God.

3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

In our bold appeal about Jesus Christ you know that it was from a heart of utmost sincerity. We did not approach wanting to tell you anything incorrect about Jesus; we did not appeal to you about him from impure motives of any kind or any attempt to lie or deceive to you.

Verse 4 but, or to the contrary, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but God who test our hearts.

His emphasis here in context is on God as the person to whom he is responsible over and above trying to please people. People pleasing was not in Paul’s mind when he shared the gospel because people were not the one who are the final examiners, God is. The word approval here mean to test and find genuine. I have been tested and found genuine by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak. 

The sincerely motives is not to deceive anyone or worry about trying to please anyone. Our whole aim is always to live in a manner worthy of what God has entrusted to us day in and day out, the gospel.

In a day when many Christians struggle to share the gospel with a single person, I feel compelled to draw your attention to the three words, so we speak.

Do you know and really believe that Paul, Timothy and Silas were not the only one’s entrusted by God with the gospel. The gospel is the most important and precious news God has entrust to us… so the question is can you say with Paul, so we speak?

Not concerned about people pleasing and not from anything but utmost sincerity because God is the one before whom I am in the end, responsible.

if you are worried about what others think about you– maybe you focus is not on God, but on protecting yourself from rejection or looking like a fool. If you’ve ever felt that way, listen, you are not alone. Most, if they are honest, have but

Let’s keep going… verses 5 and 6

5 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.

Flattery was commonly viewed as a way to get money out of others or gain influence purely for selfish ends. Slick salesmanship, shock the audience, is the picture with a pretext or motive for money or self advancement. Paul says we never came to you like that and you know this and w did not speak the gospel for self glory and self promotion or greed of any sort. 

The big picture here is that from every angle Paul , Silas and Timothy came to the Thessalonians with utmost sincerity. He says to them, you yourselves know this, and God himself is witness to this.

But here the deal and another implication for us: Utmost sincerity is no guarantee that you will not be accused of insincerity. Some will simply resolve to be your opponent no matter how much you genuine you posture yourself and speak the gospel. That does not mean you do not go to every end possible to be genuine you should. It simply means that some will seek to discredit you.

Paul knows that was happening to him and he did not want such false accusation that to disrupt the faith of those he invested in.

This is why he goes to such length to say, you know from my experience with you, who I really was. To which the Thessalonians were probably like yes, yes, that was our experience.

In verse 7-12, he wanted them to know and remember the kind investment they place in them… that they were like a nursing mother and a hard working father for them.

Take a look at verses 7-8....

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.

Think about the image of a new mother nursing her new little baby. We are hard pressed to find better image of gentleness and care.

Think about it: A mother nursing her child, find a quiet room.... sits or lays down with her child.... make her child comfortable, in order to give her full attention to her child and give her very self to the nourishment and growth of her child.

A nursing mother will routinely say things like

“I am so in love and blessed and committed to my baby…”

“I am at a loss for words at how much I love this precious gift.”

“It is not possible to be more affectionately desirous of someone than I am right now.”

I have had the great privilege to watch my wife nurse our three children. You know what I saw: one tired momma.

Her entire schedule revolved around the care of our kids. She sacrificed her need for sleep in order to nourish and sooth them back to sleep. What a sacrifice mothers make! The give their very best.

Paul says to the Thessalonians, look we could have made demand of you, but instead we were gentle among you and cared for you like a nursing mom. Our entire life among you was to give everything we’ve got for you.

So affectionately desirous of you are we that we shared the gospel message with you with utmost sincerity but we also ready when ever you needed us to share our very selves with you, literally, “our own souls”. because of how much we love you!

I hope this image I leaves an impression you, and all the more so if you are a leader of any kind at Anchor Point. There is no room for leaders to make harsh demands simply because they hold the position of leadership. Biblical leadership give away self for the sake others.

Do not say this harshly....

The sad news is that some leaders and pastors are not gentle but harsh. They use their position by saying things like “I am the senior pastor here!” Paul’s as an apostle, if anyone could have used his position to call the shots, it would have been him. My way or the highway mentality has no place among leaders. Genuine and biblical leaders posture themselves not to have to call all the shots. Instead, like Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:24 “Not that we lord it over your faith, we work with you for your joy” Might I humbly suggest to you that if you feel too much like you have to control everything and make all the decision and if you find yourself being harsh and not gentle with people, you are not yet ready to lead.

Paul says… you remember were not harsh but gentle.

Then in verses 9-12… Paul want them to also remember He, Silas and Timothy were like fathers to them… which is different in a good way than being a mother. Take a look.

9 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.

Verses 9-12 

We worked day and night, around the clock. Paul was we were finding way to earn a living so that we would not weigh you down with our needs while we shared the gospel with you. The idea hear is that Paul preached the gospel by day and worked by night. He was so concerned about the gospel than he was prepared to do anything to keep it the focus. He says you are witness of this! You know this! We were not in it to with a pretext for greed and money. The Thessalonians would have remember this too. Yes, yes, this is right. You know we conducted ourselves as upright and with the most Christlike integrity as possible.

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.

This would have been the very opposite of the accusation posed by his opponents. Like a father, at least a good one, works for providing for his kids, Paul was like that to the Thessalonians. Exhortation leads one to do a thing willingly; encouragement helps to do it reassuring that you can. Charging here means keep going…

When I was a kid, I would often hear my dad shouting from the bleachers as I played hockey. Come on Josh, your can do it, keep skating, go, don’t give up! Give it everything you’ve got. Now, sometimes it was over the top but there was always something about my dad encouraging and challenging me that helped me play hockey better. There is something about a good father’s influence that inspires to actions.

Paul says, you know that’s how I was with you. The aim in all of it was so that you would live better, live worthy of God who calls you into his very own kingdom and glory. It is important to note, it is not to earn your worth before God. You already have that because of Jesus Christ. In other words, you are already one the team, you’ve got the jersey and skates now skate! Skate in such a way that shows the world what team you are on. God has called you by name into his kingdom and his glory, his team. now keep going!