I THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 2
THE MODEL SERVANT
I. INTRODUCTION
The model church requires a model pastor. Paul filled the role very well. However, as is often, even the best of men cannot please all men. Paul must defend his position against accusations and maintain the character of a servant of God. Beneath the surface of this passage run the slanders which Paul's opponents at Thessalonica attached to him.
II. THE FAITHFUL STEWARD 2:1-6
A. It was not a message that Paul had made up or that he had
received from men.
Gal. 1:11-12 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
B. A steward owns nothing, but possesses and uses everything that belongs to his master.
C. Every steward must some day give an account. Luke 16:1-2
D. The merchandise over which we are given responsibility is
the Gospel.
I Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1. We must not bury it.
2. We must share it.
III. THE MANNER OF PAUL'S MINISTRY AS A STEWARD
A. The manner of his ministry. (v. 1-2)
1. Not in Vain.
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
2. Shamefully entreated at Philippi Acts 16:16-40
3. Bold in our God
4. Battling -- Contention = A contest for victory or mastery such as was used in the Greek games of running, boxing, wrestling, etc.
B. The message of his ministry (v. 3a)
1. An exhortation that Christ had lived, died, and was resurrected on our behalf.
2. Not a deceitful message, but a true message.
C. The motive of his ministry (v. 3b)
1. Not Uncleanness -- Paul's motives were pure. The word used for impurity often has to do with sexual impurity. There was one Christian custom which the
heathen often and deliberately misinterpreted; that was the kiss of peace (holy kiss). When the Christians spoke of the Love Feast and the kiss of peace, it was not difficult for an evil mind to read into these phrases what was never there. The trouble often is that a mind itself nasty will see nastiness everywhere. W.B.
2. Not in Guile -- Not baiting the hook to catch prey.
3. I am not mad. A really original man will always run the risk of being called mad. The Christian standards can be so different from the standards of the world
that he who follows them with a single mind and a burning enthusiasm can
appear to other men to be off his head. W.B.
D. The method of his ministry (v. 4-6)
1. Not pleasing men. God will try our hearts.
prove, examine, tempt, trial
2. Not using flattering words.
Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
A flatterer is a person who manipulates rather than communicates. A flatterer
can use truth or lies to achieve his unholy purpose, which is to control your decisions for his own profit.
Isa 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
3. Not a cloak (in pretense)of covetousness (greedy desire to have more). Some used religion in Paul's day to make money. Paul often gave up his privilege of receiving support to reduce accusations.
I Cor. 9:1-18 Paul is the ox treading out the corn.
He muzzled his own self at times.
4. Not seeking glory.
Proverbs 25:27 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
It is not good to eat much honey
(This will make you sick): so for men to search their own glory is not glory (This will make others sick).
IV. PAUL AS A LOVING MOTHER (2:7-8)
A. Gentleness
1. Giving of oneself to ensure the full potential of the children.
2. Having patience as the children grow.
B. Nursing
1. The nursing mother eats the food and transforms it into milk for the baby.
2. The mother imparts to the child that which she has partaken of. The mature Christian feeds on the Word of God and then shares its nourishment with the younger believers so they can grow. The Christian who is feeding others must be careful not to feed on the wrong things himself.
C. The children are so dear to the true mother that she is willing to die to preserve them.
V. PAUL AS A CONCERNED FATHER (2:9-12)
A. His work (v. 9)
The father works to support his family.
Paul labored night and day to support himself and not to be chargeable
to the children.
II Cor 12:14
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you;for I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
B. His walk (v. 10)
Fathers must live so that they are good examples to their children.
"unblameable" = not able to find fault
Though accusations were abundant, proof was lacking.
C. His words (v. 11-12)
Fathers must teach the children. --Paul exhorted, comforted and charged every one.
While it is good for church leaders to address the larger group, spending time with people on a one-to-one basis is also needed. Our Lord was never too busy to speak
to individuals, even though He preached to great multitudes. To be sure, this is difficult and demanding work. But it is rewarding work that glorifies God.
VI. GROWING PAINS
It was not easy to be a Christian in Thessalonica where believers faced persecution and suffering. There are divine resources in times of suffering and persecution.
A. God's Word Within Us (2:13)
"the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
The same Word that brings us salvation also enables us to live for Christ and
endure suffering for His sake.
B. They Appreciated the Word.
The Bible itself comes to us at a great cost.
It cost the Son of God his life.
It cost many of the writers great suffering or even their lives. It cost many translators great suffering or even their lives. It cost many believers great suffering or even their lives.
C. They appropriated the Word.
Paul used two different word for "received": the first means simply "to accept from another," while the second means "to welcome." One means "the hearing of the ear,"
while the other means "the hearing of the heart." The believers at Thessalonica did not only hear the Word; they took it into their inner man and made it part of their lives.
D. They applied the Word.
They exhibited this by working such that they became an example to all those that were about them.
VII. GOD'S PEOPLE AROUND US (2:14-16)
A. Paul encouraged the suffering Christians by assuring them that their experiences were not new or isolated. The churches of Judea (Jews) were being persecuted by (Jews) as were the Christians at Thessalonica were being persecuted by the Thessalonicans.
B. The Jews regarded themselves as the Chosen People, as indeed they were. But they never regarded themselves as chosen for privilege and never dreamed that they were chosen for service. Their aim was the world should serve them, not that at all times they should serve the world. The man who thinks of his own rights and privileges will always be up against other men--and, what is more serious, he will be up against God.
They wished to keep the offer of God's love exclusively to themselves and did not wish the Gentiles to have any share in his grace.
There is something fundamentally wrong with a religion which shuts a man off from his fellow-men. If a man really loves God that love must run over into love for his
fellow-men.
C. "for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost."
that is, wrath was determined against them, and would soon overtake them. It was not many years after this that Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jewish nation cut
off by the Romans. M. H.
D. Here is one of the great values of the local church: we stand together in times of difficulty and encourage one another. A lonely saint is very vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. We need each other in the battles of life.
VIII. GOD'S GLORY BEFORE US (2:17-20)
A. In my body, I was ran out of town.
B. In my heart, I am present with you.
C. I tried to come to you in body more than once.
D. Satan has hindered us from coming.
E. You make up our soul-winners crown.
Define Crown: stephanous -- A mark of royal exalted rank
F. You are our joy.—Chara – joy, gladness, the cause or occasion of joy
The glory of any teacher lies in his students; and should the day come when they have left him far behind the glory is still greater. A man's greatest glory lies in those whom he has set or helped on the path to Christ.
G. "at His coming." Parousia—the coming, arrival, advent
