The Bold and the Gentle Pt. 3

The Kingdom Dream

Open w/ blurb about American dream vs. Kingdom dream.

Have you ever noticed that you work a lot harder for something that interests you? I see this with teenagers all the time. I could talk to one of my Greek students about basketball stats and he would know a lot about multiple divisions: college, professional, and some high school stats. But if I were to as this same student about Greek grammar or the paradigms he is supposed to memorize, I would have a less than stellar conversation. The same teenagers who complain about having to read for literature class will spend hours reading on social media. We all have a tendency to work for what we want.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 2:9-11 “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,”

Paul has been explaining his method of mission and how he cared about these individuals. Let’s back up a few verses to get some of the context. Look at verses 1 Thess. 2:7-8 “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 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.”

Gentleness is laying aside our authority and rights (whether given by God or the world) in order to make much of Jesus.

Brother Antoine covered these versed last week hammering in the fact that we cannot be self-seeking in proclaiming God’s word.

I think it’s important to dwell for a moment on the Apostle Paul’s gentleness. I’ve seen preacher clips online where some preacher in a good ol’ fashion church starts to rail against a certain sin. Then, this preacher calls someone out in the congregation for practicing this sin! Y’all ever seen that? That’s not how Matt 18 tells us to handle church discipline, by the way. Then this preacher, in a moment of self-awareness, realized how hard he’s being and excuses it by saying, “Y’all just never heard true gospel preachin’ before!”

As if, true gospel preaching involves me calling your personal sin out before a large audience! Paul’s example is not one of fundamentalist harshness; but rather gentleness.

Sometimes in our climb the corporate ladder context, we think of gentleness as wishy-washy, not getting anything done, or indecisive. And I think there is a certain tendency within some men to not take the responsibility given to them. In fact, it’s inherit to the curse, after the fall that men’s tendency is to neglect responsibility.

When I think about Paul as a man, he is not one to shake off responsibilities. Paul is shipwrecked multiple times, he stands before kings and commoners proclaiming the gospel of God. I remember one story where he shaked off a viper. Acts 28:1-6 “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”

Paul is not the kind of man to shake off responsibility, Paul is not some effeminate wimp who lets everyone walk all over him. Rather, Paul recognizes the authority God has given him. You all remember this story, right?

Acts 13:8-12 “But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

Paul recognized the authority that God has given him. Paul is a man who takes responsibility, even sacrificial responsibility. Paul is a man who gets things done. And Paul is willing to lay aside his divine authority and rights in order to make Jesus great. And that’s his whole purpose you see? He doesn’t do this for himself.

Look back at our test for a moment 1 Thess. 2:9 “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.” I think the NKJV renders this verse better, “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.”

All throughout Paul’s arguments, he is calling the Thessalonians to remember, he frequently says “you know” throughout verses 1-12. The Thessalonians experienced Paul and his associate’s life before their very eyes. They experienced it, they could not doubt it.

The main subject and verb of Paul’s sentence in verse 9 is “we preached;” subordinate under that is “while laboring night and day.” The very man chosen by God himself to carry the gospel to the Gentiles; Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus; the whole gathered church affirmed his calling by the Holy Spirit. The very man who worked miracles, been imprisoned, been stoned, was going to do whatever it took to bring the gospel to these people.

Comfort is less important than preaching the gospel of God.

There are some major reasons as to why Paul refused to receive financial support from those to whom he preached, listed by commentator Charles Wanamaker “(1) Potential converts might have reservations about conversion if they believed that it would entail a financial commitment to the missionaries, and (2) the gospel based on love and the self-sacrifice of Jesus was incompatible with missionaries who sought their own self-interest and financial gain at the expense of their converts.”

Charles A. Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990), 103.

Paul was most likely using his workshop to proclaim God’s gospel. Wherever we go, we have an opportunity to share God’s truth. But I want you to think back to this theological principle again, “Comfort is less important than preaching the gospel of God.” Consider for a moment that we’ve lived in a society, Western society, that for centuries since the crowning of Charlemagne the Emperor of the Romans on Christmas day 800, perhaps you could argue earlier to Constantine’s Edict of Milan in the 300’s that being a Christian has brought increased comfort.

Think about it. At one point in history, Charlemagne conquered some Saxons and forced them to either be baptized and convert or die be beheading. That’s certainly a situation where being a Christian brings more comfort. Even in recent American political history, if you were going to run for a national election, before say the year 2000, you better join a church, or you probably wouldn’t be elected.

Now the tides have turned. You will be maligned. John 15:18-20 ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

Gentleness demands we lay aside our power and rights, the gospel demands we lay aside our comfort all glorify Christ, make him look great, give people a view of Jesus more true view, a view like he really is! Because life is not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about our church, it’s about Jesus Christ.

Our next point in the text:

What we believe is reflected in how we behave.

Let’s look at our next verse 1 Thess 2:10 “You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.”

Here Paul is bringing to his readers’ minds their conduct. “Holy and righteous” are usually used together to reflect obedience to human law and God’s law. “Blameless” strengthens the entire argument. The Thessalonians could not approach Paul and rebuke him for some wrongdoing, because he had done nothing wrong. In other words, Paul is acting in a way that is “above reproach”

And I have to use that phrase carefully, because some authoritarians and dictators take this to mean they are “untouchable.” You may even hear in some church circles about their preachers “don’t touch God’s anointed.” But being “above reproach” does not mean that you are perfect, or that no one is allowed to come up to you and give you advice, instruction, or rebuke you for doing wrong. Being “above reproach” simply means your general character reflects godliness.

I remember being in an art appreciation class in college. I went to a GA Baptist college in the north GA mountains. The art professor was a bit eccentric and a little disconnected with the class. And since I waited to take this class until my Senior year, I was stuck in a classroom full of mainly Freshmen who did not care about the subject. These students did everything they could to make fun of the professor. I remember one of the students in the front row getting up and impersonating the professor practically right in front of her. The professor was wither too polite or too unaware to acknowledge what was going on.

Granted, art is not the most interesting subject for 18-year-old young men, nor was it for me either. But fortunately, I knew about Francis Schaeffer and his analysis of art. Schaeffer essentially traces the fall of Western civilization through various art forms. I was able to use this to my advantage and make the subject interesting to me. But of course, I had no idea what background these other students were coming from. I remember the day I was very frustrated with these other students for their behavior in class. I tried to strike up a conversation with one of them to impart what little wisdom I had. I asked him what he was majoring in, hoping to kind of understand his background more and find out what interests him.

I assumed, based on his behavior, that he would be majoring in something like business or sports management. To my surprise, he told me he was majoring in Christian Studies and wanted to be a pastor. I felt a certain rage building up within me. My mind is a little fuzzy on the details as to what happened afterwards, but I still remember being in shock after finding out his major. This young man claimed to believe Jesus died for all, but his behavior suggested that the professor’s worth was less than others and deserved to be scoffed it. He claimed to believe Jesus is Lord over all, but his behavior suggested that Jesus forgot about art when establishing his Lordship.

This is because, of course, as Paul recognizes in this text, our work and attitude toward work is tied to our character. And our character is tied to our message. What we say we believe about God is validated by how we perform our everyday tasks.

So do you want to know what you really believe about Jesus? Look at your behavior. Not as though your actions save you. We are not saved by works, but by faith alone. But our works, and our actions, our behaviors are indicators to what we believe. A lot of times we don’t recognized when we are deceived about something in God’s word, but recognizing our behaviors is a form of God’s grace so that we can increase our personal holiness.

Our next point from the text:

Motivation for godly living comes from God’s character and invitation.

Let’s continue looking at our verses 1 Thess. 2:11-12 “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.”

Notice the first line in this passage, “For you know how, like a father with his children. . .”

In the ancient world father’s were primarily responsible for the moral instruction and socialization of their children. Father’s being responsible for their children is something all societies have recognized as being good.

Prov. 9:3 “She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,”

Prov. 1:8 “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,”

Prov 10:1 “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”

Humanity, naturally recognizes the importance of training and respecting the young. Furthermore, the Bible places the responsibility of teaching young people on the backs of the parents.

Dt. 6:6-7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Mal. 4:5-6 ““Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.””

Paul recognized his role to his converts like that of a father. Once the converts consented to the belief that Jesus is Lord and had raised from the dead, and will return. Paul does not just leave them by themselves, say “good luck” and carry on his merry way. Rather, Paul teaches them how to live.

He “exhorts” and “encourages.” Paul was not frustrated or irritated, or manipulative with his instruction. Rather, in patience Paul encouraged and taught them. Finally, with the authority from God, Paul “charged them to walk in manner worthy of God.”

Paul recognizes, in terms of motivation for holiness, there’s no greater motivator than God himself. You look at all the cults and you may see some very pious behavior, but their behavior is manipulated on the basis of the fact that if they don’t behave thusly, they forfeit their salvation. And thus, all of their striving is merely a way to earn their God’s affection.

This is not so with the gospel of God. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But we are not then thrown into the ocean of this world without a boat! The Lord has given us grace to navigate this world. He has given us his law so we know are way. He has given us sustenance and edification and exhortation and service in the church. He has given us deeper fellowship in the Lord’s supper and baptism. He has given us motivation as well.

Let me ask you first before we go into this motivation explained in the text. What motivates you to live a life pleasing to God? Do you live in fear that you may lose your salvation? Do you live in fear that others might judge you?

Loss of salvation will motivate legalism. A cold, lifeless obedience that forces a smile on its face. You’ve seen this in teenagers sometimes, right? The kids who obey, say “yes ma’am” and “yes sir,” but deep down they hate every second of it. If your obedience and holiness is motivated not by a fear of the Lord, but fear of loosing your salvation, this will lead you not to joy, but to bitterness in the Lord. And perhaps that’s how you’ve been feeling lately. Maybe you begrudgingly drag yourself to church or listening online, not because you really enjoy doing so, but your afraid God might cross your name off the list. You find your affections are really for the things and pleasures of this world. And it only takes one really good temptation or excuse before you jump into the deep end of this world, shaking your fist at God.

Perhaps, though, your jumping through these hoops because you fear judgment from other people. Your tie to this community of believers is strong, people know your face, the pastor has been with you when your loved ones have died, the church has supported you through thick and thin. And your afraid. Deep down, you have no affection for Christ or the things of God, nor do you really care to attend church services, but here you are to save face. I mean, if your family found out what you really believe about Jesus, you’d probably be disowned. Let me tell you, if this is true for you, then you are running a rat race that has no cheese. God did not call your family members and leave you to yourself.

If you’re in Christ notice some things that are true about you in this text: “and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

When you think about the worth of God, what do you consider? Perhaps we can make a comparison. What is the worth of a germ floating in your toilet? What is the worth of an ant? What is the worth of a squirrel? What is the worth of an infant? You see our own human law recognized the vast difference between the worth of an infant and a dog. If you run over a dog on the road, you face significantly less consequences that you do if you run over an infant.

What is the worth of an angel? What is the worth of God? It would be one thing if God existed, created all things in his power, and then stood back watching indifferently at what came about. If God did nothing at the fall, we could still stand in awe at his majesty, his authority, his power! But how much more are the riches in grace that are in Christ Jesus! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John Flavel says of Christ, “But let me tell you, the whole world is not a theatre large enough to shew the glory of Christ upon, or unfold the one half of the unsearchable riches that lie hid in him. . . Alas! I write his praises but by moon-light; I cannot praise hims so much as by halves. Indeed, no tongue but his own is sufficient to undertake that task. What shall I say of Christ? The excelling glory of that object dazzles all apprehension, swallows up all expression. When we have borrowed metaphors from every creature that hath any excellency or lovely property in it, till we have stript the whole creation bare of all its ornaments, and clothe Christ with all that glory; when we have even worn out our tongues in ascribing praises to him, alas! we have done nothing when all is done.”

I’m telling you these things to stir your hardened affections! You see, my brothers and sisters, don’t you want to work for him? Don’t you want to follow him? If we could get a slight glimpse at how worthy He is, we count our comforts, our rights, our prestige, our sins, as garbage, trash, in comparison with the infinite glory found in Christ Jesus.

But it doesn’t end there! It says, “who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.” This infinitely beautiful God who we cannot even begin to comprehend his unapproachable glory, he is right now, and continuously inviting you, calling you, into his own kingdom and glory. Who are you, who am I, but a small germ, a small ant in comparison to the immaculate glory of Jesus Christ, and there he is, calling us who are in Christ to partake in his kingdom, his glory.

You know, we all have a tendency to work for what we want. What interests you? What stirs your affections? Is it Christ?

O LORD GOD,

Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus;       and I would flee to no other refuge,   wash in no other fountain,   build on no other foundation,   receive from no other fullness,   rest in no other relief. His water and blood were not severed   in their flow at the cross,   may they never be separated in my creed     and experiences; May I be equally convinced of the guilt     and pollution of sin,   feel my need of a prince and saviour,   . . .   love holiness, and be pure in heart,   have the mind of Jesus, and tread in his steps. Let me not be at my own disposal,   but rejoice that I am under the care of one   who is too wise to err,     too kind to injure,     too tender to crush. May I scandalize none by my temper and conduct,     but recommend and endear Christ to all around,     bestow good on every one as circumstances       permit,     and decline no opportunity of usefulness. Grant that I may value my substance,     not as the medium of pride and luxury,     but as the means of my support and stewardship. Help me to guide my affections with discretion,     to owe no man anything,     to be able to give to him that needeth,     to feel it my duty and pleasure to be merciful       and forgiving,     to show to the world the likeness of Jesus.