Living with Kingdom Standards

1 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (ESV)

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.

Introduction: Rewards, achievements and successes in our lives are not always easily obtained. We have got to put in the time and energy to make what needs to happen, happen. Sometimes doing our best just is not good enough. Sometimes we have to endure pain, hurt, headaches, heartbreak, frustration, tragedy and suffering.

This is what Paul finds himself writing to the church located in Thessalonica. Paul seeks to describe to them what it takes to live according to the standards of God when surrounded by temptations and persecution.

See the Thessalonian church was not a bad church. In fact they were a great church. They were supporting Paul and heeding to the teachings of the Word of God. They were an exemplary church located in a place filled with idolators, criminals, murderers and pagans.

So Paul writes to encourage them to keep going and trust God. Paul encourages them to persevere. Hold on! and Keep trusting God!

DT: When we persevere while serving Christ the Kingdom of God will benefit.

AIM: We will not quit serving in our church

Propositional Statement: God requires us to live according to His standards even when our circumstances are not comfortable.

Transition: Paul demonstrates three areas we must persevere to maintain Kingdom standards.

Persevere in Proclaiming the Gospel (v.9)

“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.”

Paul uses himself and his co-laborers, Timothy and as an example of what it means to keep going when it benefits the kingdom. Paul says, that they wanted so much for the Thessalonians to receive the gospel He labored and toiled, he worked night and day. Some commentators believe Paul is speaking of his job as a tentmaker. The suggestion is that he worked his job and preached the gospel. Others say that perhaps Paul is speaking of the persecution and revile he faced by others. But be that as it may, they both demonstrate Paul’s love for this church and his willingness to persevere through hardship so that the Gospel would be proclaimed.

Illustration:

Transition:

Application: To share the gospel is our charge. We must not neglect this obligation. I know you have your aspirations, ambitions, career paths and many other things that are important, but proclaiming the gospel mustn’t be placed on the back burner. Share the Word with your neighbor. Share the Word on your job in your home. Do it at all costs. Persevere in proclaiming the gospel.

As a district we can do more together than we can do alone. We are living in a time when many are apathetic to the Word of God. But we must persevere and spread the Word that Jesus died for our sins!

Transition: Secondly, Paul challenges us to Persevere in Spiritual Maturity.

Persevere in Spiritual Maturity (v.10)

“10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.”

Paul continues to express what he contends while doing God’s will. Paul reminds the church of the hateful and hurtful moments he endured while he preached the gospel.

Paul explains that the hurt and the hate will not hinder him from being what Christ called Him to be. He refused to be anything other than a Christian.

Why did Paul find it imperative to do this? There it is in the text.

The text says, “you are witnesses and God also”. Do you see it? Paul wants the church to recognize that they are walking before God. Paul says, not only do you see me but God also sees me.

Illustration: It would do well for us all to live like we know God is witnessing our actions.

Transition: God does not miss what we say and how we say what we say to others.

Application: Can you say what Paul says? Can you say that God is a witness of how holy and righteous and blameless my conduct is towards others? or do you have to say God is a witness of how much I lie to others, mislead others, He witnesses me looking down on other people, God is a witness of me acting mean and coldhearted towards others.

Look, life is not always fun nor fair but the good thing is that as believers we serve a God who is always watching.

Be a Christian at all times. Persevere! People will not always treat you right! You won’t always get what you deserve at times. You will feel like throwing up your hands but Hold on to whom God says you are.

Transition: Lastly, Paul encourages Persevere in Discipling Others.

Persevere in Discipling Others (vv.11-12)

“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.”

Paul tells the church in this letter that He and his team desired the best for them and so they invested their time discipling the church to ensure their lives reflected Christ.

Paul says, We instructed you. We pushed you. We directed you to walk in a way that pleases God. Paul says, we did it like a father does his children. How do fathers do it? With love! But also with hovering guidance. Not smothering but guidance that instructs and then that say to keep going I want you to win.

Paul understood his responsibility as a leader. Paul knew that he was required to disciple other people if they were going to be successful on this Christian journey.

Illustration: A rehabilitation counselor took early retirement to spend the rest of his life preaching the gospel. Early in his career he found a young boy with several birth defects. He arranged financial and medical help. Skilled surgeons restored the child’s facial appearance. Trained therapists taught him to speak and walk. By his teens, the boy was able to take part in all the activities of other young people. “What do you think has become of this young man?” the counselor asked. One guessed he was a great athlete; another, a skilled surgeon. “No, none of these,” the retired counselor said sadly. “The young man is a prisoner, serving a life sentence for murder. We were able to restore his physical features and his ability to walk and act, but we failed to teach him where to walk and how to act. I was successful in helping the boy physically, but I failed to help him spiritually.”

AMG Bible Illustrations, Bible Illustrations Series (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2000).

Transition: The goal of Christians is to build the Kingdom of God. We can only do so by discipling others to Christ

Application: Intentionally become involved with those who are struggling in their walk with the Lord. Identify opportunities in your day to call and pray with people who are new to this walk. Encourage others to stay on the path. Be an encourager we have enough bad stuff to face. Every now and then people need to hear its gonna get better. God is able.

Transition: Look y’all, it is not always going to be easy but thats ok. We have a God who will bring us through. Andre Crouch sang a song a long time ago . . .

Conclusion:

I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow, there's been times I didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation, that my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I've been to lots of places, I've seen a lot of faces, there's been times I felt so all alone. But in my lonely hours, yes, those precious lonely hours, Jesus lets me know that I was His own

Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. For if I'd never had a problem, I wouldn't know God could solve them, I'd never know what faith in God could do.