INTRODUCTION

1. We are MISSIONARY Baptists
1. Means wherever we go we are to REACH out

1. Monday morning when we go off to work or school
1. Wherever God has sent you  
2. We are to reach out to the world

                                          i.    Letting the LOST know we love them

                                        ii.    Letting the SAVED know we love them

1. Remembering, that wherever God sends you

                                          i.    God equips you

                                        ii.    God equips us through the teachings of His Word

Ephes. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1. Every one of us have a JOB to do
1. Our JOB -  to REACH out for Christ #. Our JOB – to REACH out to the Lost
2. Our JOB – to REACH out to other believers

1. Paul understood his job
1. In this chapter he gives us 4 principles to help us reach out

FIRST, TO REACH OUT WE MUST HAVE COURAGE

1 Thes. 2:1-2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

1.    Paul begins by speaking of how he and his fellow labors were treated in Philippi

a.    Acts 16 tells us

Acts 16:22-24 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

2.    No matter where God places you

1. At times there will be trials and troubles
2. At times there will be contention

                                          i.    It is at these times courage is required

1. The devil will see to it that we have contention #. The devil will see to it that we have trails and troubles
2. Sometimes we have to take a stand that some people will not like
3. Sometimes we may not be able to go along with the crowd
4. Sometimes we will be misunderstood, ostracized and criticized

1. At times all of us feel intimidated by people who oppose our stand
1. Or simply don’t understand us #. Paul was not naturally courageous

2 Cor. 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

1. Within were fears = Paul was afraid
2. His flesh had no rest - when you are emotional upset you don’t sleep
3. Courage is not the absence of fear

                                          i.    It is doing what must be done in spite of fear

1. If you think about it                                           i.    If there were not for intimidation and fear in what God calls us to do

1.    We wouldn’t need faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

SECOND, TO REACH OUT WE MUST THE RIGHT MOTIVES

1. Paul labored with integrity – he was HONEST  

1 Thes. 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

1. Paul was not seeking fame or fortune in his ministry
2. He demonstrated the purity of his motives by the suffering he endured in Philippi and other places

1. Nor did Paul alter his message to be a people pleaser
1. He writes  

1 Thes. 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1. In trying to win people, we may be tempted to water down the Gospel

                                          i.    TO make it more acceptable to one’s sinful nature

1. Many have retreated so far that the Gospel is unrecognizable IF present at all #. Some have retreated so far that abortion, sexual immorality are blessed

                                          i.    If not encouraged

                                        ii.    When a ‘Christian’ denomination must debate the rights of gay clergy; something is terrible wrong

1. My goal, OUR goal must be to please God  

2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1. To rightly divide the word means we do not water it down #. We know that methods for the presentation of the Gospel will change our from time to time

                                          i.    But we must never change the message

1 Cor. 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1. The Word is sharper than a two edged sword                                           i.    It will make some people mad

                                        ii.    It will make some people turn away

                                       iii.    No matter how hard you try, not everyone will like you

1. Jesus was – Is – the most loving, compassionate person to ever live on earth                                           i.    He was perfect

1.    And there were people who did not like Him

2.    And there were people who wanted to KILL our Lord

1. Paul says of his ministry  

1 Thes. 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

1. Flattery is buttering up people to get them to do what we want them to do
2. It is using deceit to take advantage of people
3. Paul did not use people
4. Paul did not take advantage of people
5. Paul did not flatter people
6. Paul would not water down the Gospel to make it more acceptable, attractive, flattering to a sinful people
7. That flattering will backfire

Proverbs 28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

1. All kinds of false accusations were hurled at Paul
1. One charge was that he was in the ministry to ‘get rich’ #. That is why Paul writes:

1 Thes. 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

                                          i.    Covetousness = is more than just the desire for money

1.    It is the desire to have MORE

a.    More acceptance

b.    More attention

c.    More popularity

2.    NONE of these are acts of an honest person

1. If we are to reach out, we must have the right motives
2. If we are to reach out, we must be honest

THIRD, TO REACH OUT WE MUST HAVE CONCERN

1. Paul continues  

1 Thes. 2:6-7 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

1. Paul was not forcing the Gospel on anyone

                                          i.    Not saying ‘turn or burn’

1. Paul was gentle                                           i.    Gentle = kind, considerate

                                        ii.    Jesus said

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

1. You would think that Paul, being a big shot in this new work, would have demanded special treatment
1. That limousine chariot #. Those fancy hotel rooms
2. Seats in the front
3. No
4. Paul was gentle

                                          i.    Treating people with kindness and respect

1 Thes. 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

1. When Paul and Silas and Timothy first met the Thessalonians
1. The Thessalonians were ungodly
2. They had lifestyles and habits that were repulsive to God’s missionaries
3. Yet Paul writes

1 Thes. 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

1. Remember that old saying “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”
2.  As you and I reach out to people they got to know we love them, that we care
3. Before we can win the lost we must build a bridge of friendship

                                          i.    From our heart to theirs

1. Paul then reminds the Thessalonians  

1 Thes. 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

1. Every Jewish boy had to learn a trade

                                          i.    Paul was no exception

                                        ii.    He learned to make tents

1. The Jews believed that you either taught your child a trade                                           i.    You taught your child to be a thief
2. Paul had good parents                                           i.    They taught Paul a trade

                                        ii.    Paul learned his trade well

Acts 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

1. Paul probably worked from dawn to noon making tents                                           i.    Rest of the day preaching / teaching God’s Word

                                        ii.    Paul showed his concern for all people

FOURTH, TO REACH OUT WE MUST HAVE OUR LIFE TOGETHER

1 Thes. 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

1. To reach out, we must be people of integrity
1. Paul could honestly say ‘you are my witnesses’ #. That he was holy – i.e. set apart for God’s use

                                          i.    Being different from the world

1. That he was justly – i.e. doing what is right in the eyes of God and man
2. That he was unblameable -  means without any outstanding faults
3. Paul was a caring and compassionate man

                                          i.    James speaks of that quality

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

                                        ii.    Notice the last part “and to keep himself unspotted from the world”

1.    If we are ever to reach out, we must have our life together

1. Seems like the first thing to become polluted by the world is our speech                                           i.    We must learn to tame our tongue

Ephes. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

                                        ii.    We must learn to control that which comes out of our mouth

                                       iii.    Corrupt = foul, bad – rotten food

1. Paul had learned how to behave himself                                           i.    To keep his tongue in check

Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

1. Paul looks on his work for the Lord as one would look on parenting
1. Paul writes  

1 Thes. 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

1. ‘Every one of you’ – individual attention
2. A good father supports his children by exhorting, comforting and charging them:

1 Thes. 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1. Paul was a very busy man
1. Yet he found the time to reach out people  

CONCLUSION

1. TO REACH OUT
1. We must have courage
2. We must have the right motives
3. We must have concern
4. We must have character