Ambassadors at Work 1 Thessalonians 2 Sunday, January 27, 2019 In the first chapter Paul commented on three hallmarks that this church was known for throughout the Grecian Peninsula, which were Faith, Love and Hope. They had turned from the world, turned toward God and were following Jesus. Now in the second chapter we hear Paul say that the church was like a sponge, soaking up the teaching of Paul, receiving them as the Word of God and not that of a man. But first. Paul talks about how he and his ministry team approached those living in Thessalonica in the first place 1 Thessalonians 2:1 12 (NKJV) 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. You might remember that while Paul and Silas were ministering in Philippi, they were arrested, beaten and thrown into the dungeon. While they were singing and praising the Lord, there was a great earthquake that shook so hard it opened all the prison gates. Just before the jailer was about to do himself in for fear of what would happen to him if the prisoners escaped, Paul and Silas stopped him. They shared the Gospel with him and his entire family, AND they all received Jesus as Lord and were saved. NOW - although that was a good ending - you would think that Paul would have been a bit more cautious when coming to the next town. You know - in stealth mode. Not so Paul, Let me give you a little insight - since he exposes his thoughts to his son in the faith and says 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Page 1 of 7
With that power and love, Paul witnessed to the townspeople of Thessalonica. Do you realize that you don t have to ask God for that power and love (maybe some of you a sound mind!)? God, the Holy Spirit, has given each of you the power, love and clarity of thought in order to be a witness today - - - just like Paul was in Thessalonica! Vs. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. Folks, that pretty well describes the work of the Holy Spirit in each of your lives. Listen: Since God chose you and Jesus died on the cross in order that you might enter the Kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit empowers you. Let me give you Christ s summation of that last part. He said - - - Acts 1:8 you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Witness - mártus - One who has information or knowledge of something, and hence, one who can give said information, bring light to a subject and confirm a matter Actually, as we look at this portion of Scripture, it is the formula of How to Share Your Faith. Rely on the Holy Spirit who will give you - 1) the Power (or the ability) 2) the Love (or the compassion for the lost) 3) and the clarity of thought to present the Gospel The next thing is - speak straight forward. don t beat around the bush, don t water down the Gospel just so that someone will hear you out. Vs. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. Some people must think that not watering down the Gospel means hiding a brick in your Bible and slapping someone upside the head with it. Page 2 of 7
Remember, it s supposed to the be the power of the Holy Spirit at work, not your power. Here is that power in action as described by Jesus Himself John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: You are to be full of His power, infused with His love and plainly speak as you share your faith - then it is His job to convict the person of sin, righteousness and judgment. Vs. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 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. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. exhorted, and comforted, and charged Let me give you three synonyms - - - Encouraged - Console - and Stating the Facts Sharing your faith with someone will probably require some follow-up - - - use these three as you do so. Now, here were the results of sharing the Gospel in this manner 1 Thessalonians 2:13 16 (NKJV) 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. Do you see the world truth in verse 13? Look for it - see it? Page 3 of 7
We need to remember that a lost soul is believing in an alternate truth - that is the truth of the world. We hear a lot about fake news these days. That s what alternate truth or alternate facts are. Alternative facts have been called many things: falsehoods, untruths, delusions. A fact is something that actually exists what we would call reality or truth. An alternative is one of the choices in a set of given options; typically the options are opposites of each other. So to talk about alternative facts is to talk about the opposite of reality (which is delusion), or the opposite of truth (which is untruth). It s that truth - an untruth, that we all believed in before we came to Christ. It s that truth and untruth, that every lost soul believes in today. Let me share with you a couple of experts on this subject. First Jesus and then Paul: John 8:12 (NKJV) 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Once someone becomes a Christian then they too become a light in this darkened world as Jesus once was. Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light When we Christians were once darkness, we wholly believed in the same untruths that every other non-christian believes in. That s why you see the word gentle in v.7 and affectionately in v.8. That s how one is to impart Real Truth. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 20 (NKJV) 17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you even I, Paul, time and again but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. Why wasn t Paul with them? Why was he taken away? Let me just briefly read to you the account of what happened after Ephesus and you will see Page 4 of 7
Acts 17:1 10 (NKJV) 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ. 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king Jesus. 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. But now, those in Thessalonica felt like spiritual orphans, so Paul writes to them and says, being separated from you is just as hard on us as it is on you You are our hope. You are our joy. You are our crown of rejoicing. By the way - - - that s the way every Pastor should feel about the church. Every Elder every Deacon. every Ministry Leader. If you are in ministry and the people whom God has placed under your leadership are not your JOY and Crown of Rejoicing, please do everybody a favor and get out of the ministry. With some people in ministry, it s all about them. Not so with Paul and every true minister of God. Because with those individuals, it s all about the flock! Listen to Peter talking to those in ministry today - - - 1 Peter 5:1 4 (NKJV) 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Page 5 of 7
Too many people in ministry are looking for some sort of CROWN today, some sort of REWARD now! It was too foolish and too dangerous for Paul to go back to Thessalonica at this time, to comfort those who were feeling so anxious, abandoned and troubled. But God always - ALWAYS - provides a way. This time it wouldn t be a way for Paul to return, but young Timothy could safely be dispatched by Paul It wasn t that Paul did not want to visit the Thessalonians. It was that Satan hindered Paul and his associates. Paul assured the Thessalonians that he desired to be with them, but he was hindered by Satan, and that this happened time and again. Here s a quick commentary about young Pastor Tim from Paul Philippians 2:19 23 (NKJV) 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. Timothy was Paul s ambassador on more than one occasion - - - Paul sends him to this church as well. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 3 (NKJV) 1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. When Paul said that with the sending of Timothy he was then alone in Athens, he was alone. Everybody that had been traveling with Paul was, at this time, somewhere else ministering. This was certainly dangerous and uncomfortable for Paul, but on behalf of this in Thessalonica, Paul felt like it was worth it! Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock What was Timothy dispatched to do? What was his job description? What was the GOAL? Page 6 of 7
Well, it was the same as everybody who has been called by God, bought with the blood of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness for Christ and a light in this world --- To establish you and encourage others. Once we ve witnessed to someone, the job isn t over. Jesus said Matthew 28:19 20 (NKJV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Establish - to cause someone to become stronger, more firm and unchanging in attitude and faith. Encourage - here s the idea. Just as the Holy Spirit is encouraging you - - - you, simultaneously, are to be an encouragement to others. Ok - let me wrap this up. Just as you were once in darkness and believed an alternative truth, others around you every day are in that same condition. But now you are light and have possession of the real truth. You are not to hide that truth, but to give it away. Not on your own strength or in your own wisdom, but relying upon the Holy Spirit Rely on the Holy Spirit that will give you 1) the Power (or the ability) 2) the Love (or the compassion for the lost) 3) and the clarity of thought to present the Gospel When you have completed phase 1, the Holy Spirit then can work on phase 2 John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: When phase two has been completed by the Holy Spirit, then you are empowered and sent back for phase three: To exhort, and comfort, and charge. Or to put it another way, as we saw in chapter 3 - to establish and encourage others concerning their faith. Page 7 of 7