A God-Pleasing Ministry

A GOD-PLEASING MINISTRY Spring Valley Mennonite; February 20, 2022; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 William Alfred Quayle was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church at the beginning of the 20th century. He truly was a man of God and was known as a collector of rare Bibles. His collection of Bibles can be found at Baker University (in Baldwin City KS) from which he graduated in 1888. I had the chance to visit this collection a number of years ago and was tremendously impressed. One can see an original page from the Gutenberg Bible (the first book ever printed on a printing press in 1455), a Tyndale New Testament (1549), a Great Bible made for Henry VIII (1539), a Geneva Bible (1560), and two original King James Bibles (1611). There are over 600 books in this collection. I recommend a visit to this unique collection at Baker University. But of greater impact personally is his writings, among them a volume entitled "The Pastor-Preacher." I copied on the flyleaf of my study Bible this quote: "Unless a man be a good lover of folks, he has positively no business at all in the ministry of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ." I can imagine Bishop Quayle was thinking of the example of the Apostle Paul, and the description we find of his ministry among the Thessalonian believers. We find ourselves in the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians, and our outline of this study can be roughly divided into two sections: what Paul did not do regarding ministry (verses 1-6), and what he did do (verses 7-12). These verses give us a standard by which we may evaluate ministers, as well as churches. They also give us a pattern for successful Christian ministry on all levels. If chapter one could be labeled "Salvation," this second chapter could be titled "Service." Paul begins by reminding his readers of what they very well knew: He cites-- I. THE PROOF OF RESULTS Read vv. 1-4. There is a saying that goes like this: "If one thinks he is a leader, but no one is following, he is only taking a walk." The ones reading this letter knew that Paul's ministry in their city was successful, for their existence as a church was the proof. Their response to the preaching of the Gospel was evident, as they had turned from idols and accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior. Contrary to what most would expect after being severely scourged and thrown into jail for preaching, Paul arrived in Thessalonica, proceeded to the synagogue of the Jews and boldly preached the same message that got him in trouble! And the results were much the same: great opposition and personal danger. An important key to successful ministry is boldness. The pioneer evangelist Peter Cartwright spent seventy years serving the Lord and always preached the Word of God without fear or favor. One Sunday he was asked to speak at a church in the southern part of the United States. Just before the message he was informed that Andrew Jackson had just enter the sanctuary, and he was cautioned to be very careful in what he said lest he offend their famous guest. The evangelist, however, knowing that as Proverbs 29:25 states, "the fear of man brings a snare" was determined not to compromise the truth. He also knew that great leaders need the Lord as much as anyone, so he boldly proclaimed the Gospel. In fact, halfway through his sermon he said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is present in the congregation today. If he does not repent of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he will be just as lost as anyone else who has never asked God for His forgiveness." Instead of becoming angry, Jackson admired the preacher for his courage. He listened with keen interest to the message and felt such deep conviction that after the service Cartwright was able to lead him to the Lord. From that moment on, the two became the best of friends.1 Secret believers don't lead souls to Christ. May we all pray for holy boldness to share the Gospel, even when we know it will be opposed. Understand the truth is always intolerant of error, and this results in opposition to the truth. Jesus spoke of the reason for such opposition to truth when He told Nicodemus in John 3:19-20, "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light..." This speaks to our ministry today: We cannot embrace the culture's tolerance for "anything goes," calling right wrong and wrong right. We must boldly stand on Biblical truth. Verse 3 gives us a hint of how the opposition was accusing Paul and his message. He was accused of being in error as he boldly preached that the Law of Moses could not save anyone, but only was valuable in pointing out sin. The Jews strongly resisted the message of grace, especially that Gentiles were on an equal basis as the Jew regarding salvation. As Paul preached to the Gentiles, he was accused of participating in their immoral pagan practices: making him guilty by association! A final accusation must have questioned his methodology: he was winning followers by way of underhanded methods. Look at the word "exhortation" in verse 3: this word has the meaning of an earnest appeal, perhaps a challenging word, but it also very interestingly has the meaning of comfort. The Gospel boldly challenges sin, but it also contains the wonderful remedy of salvation and relief from the dire consequences of sin, along with freedom from guilt. The sinner lives in constant fear of his actions being found out; he lives in darkness, hiding fearful of his "skeletons in the closet" coming to light. But what freedom is found in admitting sin, turning away from it and being relieved from the penalty of eternal damnation! Psalm 32:1 in the New Living Translation: "Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!" Paul's defense? God approved the message which was proven by the results. God alone is the One we must please, for He examines us completely. We need not fear the criticism of man. Read vv. 5-6. II. PREACHING WITH PURE MOTIVES One can find a variety of motives among vocational ministers. Some view the ministry as simply a professional career. Some like the prestige and influence of being the Pastor. Some get into the ministry to please their parents: I know of one man whose mother pushed him into the ministry although he was psychologically unsuited for the stress. After a mental breakdown and several years of counseling, he found a career better suited to his personality. Unless a person is truly called by God, they should not be preaching. I have heard it said that if you can be satisfied doing anything other than preaching, you should do it. But Paul's motive for preaching was simply to fulfill the mission God gave him. He explains in 1 Corinthians 9:16, "For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." Whatever the motive for someone entering the ministry of preaching, there are constant pressures from the enemies of the gospel (the world, flesh and the devil) to sidetrack the minister from staying centered on the Word. In verse 5 we find the twin evils of yielding to flattery or to covetousness. Flattery is something easily seen. We all like to be flattered, for our flesh loves it! We all like to hear, "You are looking good today!" or "What a beautiful child you have!" Now, is it wrong to give someone a sincere compliment? No, but there is a difference between a complement and flattery: The difference between a compliment and flattery is the motive behind it. Paul said he did not come with flattering speech in an attempt to win their attention, such as did some of the gifted orators of the day. Some people have the gift of persuasion, able to talk people into something. Gifted salespeople have such an ability. There is also the temptation for the preacher to fall into the trap of someone who is using flattery for ulterior motives. Since we love to be flattered, once we get accustomed to it from someone, we don't want to say something to offend this person who thinks so much of us. So, we might soften our remarks so to stay in the good graces of someone. Covetousness, on the other hand, is found in the heart. Only I know my own heart. This is difficult to detect in a minister. Is the minister only interested in the compensation? Knowing the difficulty in detecting covetousness, Paul does something here: he calls God to be his witness. "God is my witness that my heart was right in my motives in preaching." There was no hint of greed. Look forward to verse 9: "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." Paul preached, but he also worked at his tentmaking profession to be self-supporting. One further thing Paul did not do: He did not seek glory or honor from his statis as an apostle. He could have puffed out his chest and said, "I am an Apostle of Jesus Christ; Jesus Himself appeared to me and gave me the right and commission to preach to you. I deserve special consideration because I am one of the elite!" But he was humble in his ministry, ministering not for honor, but because he had a God-given message of salvation. This was the part of the secret of effective and successful ministry: Boldness, pure motives, unadulterated truth of the Word, not seeking glory or advantage, and ministering to please only God. Through verse 6 we see what Paul did not do; beginning in 7 we see what he did do. We see: III. THE POWER IN TENDER AND GENTLE LOVE The positive side of Paul's message comes through in verses 7-12 (Read) There is a danger in considering Christianity as a negative standard, a list of "don'ts. We shouldn't do this or that." And while there certainly are things a Christian should not do if his life is to match his message, Christianity consists in what we believe, in the Holy Spirit empowered life we live and in joyful service we render. Our life is to be motivated by love: "We love because He first loved us." "For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son..." "But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:5: "And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Once again, the words of Bishop Quayle: "Unless a man be a good lover of folks, he has positively no business at all in the ministry of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ." A successful minister is not only good in the pulpit, but he is also good at relationships. Paul sets the standard: He gently and tenderly cared for these believers as a mother would care for her children. He had a fond affection for them and desired their well-being. He not only preached the gospel, but he shared his own life with them. He was involved in their lives on a personal basis, and he knew that relationships take time to develop. This is one reason we believe Paul spent more than the three weeks mentioned in the book of Acts. Perhaps nowhere else in the writings of Paul do we see his heart laid bare. God had transformed this proud Pharisee into a humble loving minister of the gospel. The love of a mother and of a father, God's best plan for raising children, complement one another. Both need to be tender and loving, and to present a godly example to their children. But a father's love is also expressed in presenting the truth in what has been called "tough love." As verse 11 states, "exhorting and encouraging and imploring as a father would his own children." When I had to correct my children, I often told them, "I love you too much to allow you to do this." It is one of the most difficult duties of a Pastor to confront a member of his congregation about questionable behavior, but this is what Paul is meaning. It is never loving to allow someone to continue in sinful activity. Every one of us has what we call "blind spots"-things which we rationalize or do not recognize as being harmful to our Christian witness. This is why strong relationships are crucial to a healthy church, for I will receive correction easily and best from a trusted friend. If I am wise, I will consider criticism from a stranger or acquaintance as to its validity, but "faithful are the wounds of a friend." The end result of Paul's example as a minister? The results of the things he avoided doing, and the positive things he did? Verse 12: "That people would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls us into His Kingdom." This church was not perfect, but the results of their witness was well known throughout their whole area. These verses are not only personally challenging to me, but they serve as a standard to evaluate ministers and ministries. May we personally and as a church be known as those who walk in a manner worthy of our calling as followers of Jesus Christ. It is more than just believing the right things, but living a life informed by scripture. 1 Roy B. Zuck;The Speaker's Quote Book, Kregel Publications; Grand Rapids MI; p. 41 (Boldness) --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2