Paul's Epistles -
Part 2 – Paul’s Ministry
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We began looking at the basics of
Christianity and the foundation of the church. How it was constructed, how it
is to operate, and the instructions we as followers of Christ are given.
We looked at the Book of Acts, which shows
the ups and downs of the Apostles and the early church. Many of the issues they
had then, we still deal with today. So it is good for us to read these books
and keep an eye on ourselves.
After Acts, we looked at the first few
chapters of Revelation to read what the letters Jesus sent to the churches
consisted of. We learned where the church were doing good, where they were
messing up, and in all cases, how they were “supposed” to be.
We took those letters, compiled them and
read them as if it were Christ’s instructions to us, as individuals, and as a
church.
From the letter’s of Christ, we turned
then to Paul’s letters, or epistles.
First looking at the Book of Romans, then
to I and II Corinthians, from there to Galatians, and now we are looking at his
letter to the Thessalonians.
This letter is believed to be Paul’s first
letter.
We will now look at Paul’s ministry in
Thessalonica.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Thessalonians 2
You know, brothers and sisters, that our
visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously
in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his
gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from
error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved
by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please
people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we
put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else,
even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our
authority. 7 Instead, we were like young
children[a] among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares
for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we
loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of
God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters,
our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to
be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were
among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with
each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to
live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the
word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it
not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at
work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters,
became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You
suffered from your own people the same things those churches
suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and
the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God
and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from
speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they
always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon
them at last.[b]
17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were
orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in
thought), out of our intense longing we made every
effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to
you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord
Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
I.
OUR VISIT WAS NOT
WITHOUT RESULT
a.
We suffered and was treated outrageously in Philippi
i. But with help from
God
1.
His guidance
2.
His Holy Spirit
3.
His timing
4.
His making a way
ii. We
dared to tell you His Gospel in the face of strong opposition
b.
Our appeal does not spring from error or impure
motives, nor are we trying to trick you
i. They didn’t preach
in error as the Jews claimed
ii. No
impure motives
1.
It wasn’t for money, they worked!
2.
It wasn’t for control, they left
afterwards!
3.
It wasn’t to destroy, they were building
up!
4.
There was no other purpose but to show
them how to be forgiven, and receive the very salvation God had promised since
the beginning of sin.
c.
On the contrary!
i. We speak as those
approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel
ii. We are
not trying to please people, but God
iii. You
know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed
iv. We were
not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even
though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
1.
The Word proclaims a workman is worthy of
his pay, and they could have demanded by right compensation
2.
However, because of the times, and all the
false teaching in order to get money from believers (prosperity preaching,
still being used today) the apostles worked to earn their keep so as not to be
accused of preaching simply for money.
v. Instead, we were like young children among
you.
1.
In other words, gentle, kind
II.
WE CARED FOR YOU AS
A NURSING MOTHER CARES FOR
HER CHILDREN
a.
Because we love you, we gladly shared the Gospel and
our lives
i. You witnessed our
toil and hardships
b.
We worked night and day so as not to be a burden to
anyone while we preached
c.
We dealt with you as a father with his own children
i. First Paul mentions
they were gentle like children
ii. Then he
says the apostles loved them as a mother loves her children
iii. He then
reminds that the apostles disciplined as a father to his own children
1.
They are family, the family of God
2.
The body of Christ
3.
Kindness and gentleness of children
4.
The love and protection of a mother
5.
And the discipline of a loving father who
corrects his children so that they may have the best life possible
III.
AND WE THANK GOD
CONTINUALLY (SECOND MENTION)
a.
Because you received the Word which you heard from us
and accepted it as the Word of God
i. This was a nice
break from all the opposition they usually received
ii. Enough
so, that they “continually thank God” for them twice and we have only read the
first two pages of the letter!
b.
And because you became imitators of the church in
Judea
i. You suffer from
your own people just as the other churches had to endure from the Jews who
killed Jesus
1.
Just as some of us have to from our
friends, family, coworkers, etc..
c.
Those Jews (or
those who try to stand in the way of others preaching the Gospel of Salvation) displease God
i. They are hostile to
everyone in efforts to keep them from speaking to Gentiles so they may be
saved.
ii. Is
there modern day Hostile Jews in the world who try to prevent the preaching of
the Gospel of Salvation?
1.
Y E S
CONCLUSION – Indeed, you
are our glory and joy.
In this way (being hostile towards those
who preach the Gospel of Salvation) they HEAP UP THEIR SINS TO THE LIMIT.
The wrath of God has come upon them
(fully) at last.
We were separated from you in person, not
in thought, and made every effort to see you, but Satan blocked our way.
What is our hope, joy, or the crown in
which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? It is you!!!
You are our glory and joy!
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