“Be Ready”
The God-Pleasers
1 Thes. 2:1-12
Intro.
A funny thing happened to me on the way to studying for my message today.
I discovered that it’s easy to find stuff that will help you grow in your walk with Christ, but when it gets personal, it gets uncomfortable.
We’re quick to offer advice, but slow to accept advice, aren’t we (esp. pastors).
That’s what’s happened to me this week.
I discovered a passage that speaks primarily to me, a pastor.
How many women have trouble hearing about the Prov. 31 woman?
There are a lot of pastors who have trouble with 1 Thes. 2.
I’m glad the Board didn’t use this passage as a basis for my interview last year!
Every week I try to challenge you in your walk with and pursuit of Christ.
Today, it’s my turn to be challenged and humbled and convicted.
We’ve begun a new sermon series on 1 Thes. entitled, “Be Ready”.
It’s all about living for Christ now as we get ready for His return.
Warren Wiersbe calls Ch. 1, “The Ideal Church”.
Here is a church with a great testimony for the world to see.
By the way, did people see Christ in you these past 2 weeks?
Ch. 1 - Ideal Church, whereas Ch. 2 speaks of the Ideal Pastor (turn there).
If you could create the perfect pastor, this is what he would look like.
I’m not going to go through this passage just so you can watch me squirm.
There’s a lot in here for all of us, as we’ll discover at the end of the message.
Pray.
In this passage, Paul reviews his love and concern for the Thessalonians when he first visited them and pastored them.
He does this to defend himself against the charlatans and scam artists of the day.
In so doing, Paul in essence gives us 10 qualities of an ideal pastor.
1. An ideal pastor endures suffering. vv. 1-2
1YOU KNOW, BROTHERS, THAT OUR VISIT TO YOU WAS NOT A FAILURE (futile, we saw that in Ch. 1). 2WE HAD PREVIOUSLY SUFFERED AND BEEN INSULTED IN PHILIPPI (cf. Acts 16:16-40), AS YOU KNOW, BUT WITH THE HELP OF OUR GOD WE DARED TO TELL YOU HIS GOSPEL IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION.
They knew all about Paul’s suffering, not only in Philippi, but also in Thessalonica.
No fraud or scam artist would be willing to suffer for his/her own gain.
Paul stands apart from them because he’s willing to suffer for the Gospel.
Pastors need to have broad shoulders, they need to put up with a lot of grief.
James Street (Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1) "A pastor needs the tact of a diplomat, the strength of Samson, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon--and a cast-iron stomach."
2. An ideal pastor exercises boldness. v. 2
2b WITH THE HELP OF OUR GOD WE DARED TO TELL YOU (we had the boldness/confidence to proclaim) HIS GOSPEL IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION.
In the midst of great opposition, Paul held firm to his one true calling – to preach the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It’s easy for me to have boldness behind this pulpit.
The real test is outside those doors.
3. An ideal pastor pursues integrity. vv. 3-12
3FOR THE APPEAL WE MAKE (our exhortation) DOES NOT SPRING FROM ERROR OR IMPURE MOTIVES, NOR ARE WE TRYING TO TRICK YOU.
(BKC) Three aspects of Paul’s preaching that he defends:
His message was truthful.
Was not deceptive, not in error (to lead astray)
His motivation was pure.
Was not impure, contrary to the many pagan religious rituals.
His method was sincere.
Was not to trick, mislead them (to catch with bait).
His appeal to them of the Gospel was an illustration of integrity.
4. An ideal pastor is approved by God. v. 4
4ON THE CONTRARY, WE SPEAK AS MEN APPROVED (tested, analyzed, proven) BY GOD TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL.
They got their letter of recommendation from God Himself.
Paul was entrusted with the Gospel. It was an incredibly high calling.
What did he do with it? He entrusted it to others.
2 Tim. 2:1-2 YOU THEN, MY SON, BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS. 2AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES ENTRUST TO RELIABLE MEN WHO WILL ALSO BE QUALIFIED TO TEACH OTHERS.
We all have been entrusted with the Gospel!
We need to be faithful to God to preach the Gospel and entrust it to others.
God has approved me to be entrusted with the Gospel in order to entrust it to you.
5. An ideal pastor pleases God. vv. 4-6
4bWE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE MEN BUT GOD, WHO TESTS (approves – same word) OUR HEARTS.
This is really a synopsis of the whole passage.
Paul’s primary objective was to be a God-pleaser, not a man-pleaser.
Gal. 1:10 AM I NOW TRYING TO WIN THE APPROVAL OF MEN, OR OF GOD? OR AM I TRYING TO PLEASE MEN? IF I WERE STILL TRYING TO PLEASE MEN, I WOULD NOT BE A SERVANT OF CHRIST.
If we’re out to seek the approval of people, we’re in the wrong business.
This is a subtle and deceptive trap, especially for pastors.
We want to win people for Christ, but not at the expense of pleasing them over God.
Illus. Youth Pastor supplied ETOH, R movies to teen.
Went to jail for corrupting morals of a minor.
I struggle with not trying to please everybody. I want everybody to love me.
The truth is, I will never please everybody all the time (some of you heartily agree!).
I must constantly remind myself – I’m not here to please you or win your approval.
I’m here to win’s God’s approval. His opinion is really the only one that counts.
That’s why He tests our hearts – to make sure our priorities are straight.
Does that mean your opinion doesn’t matter to me? Absolutely not.
The rest of this passage points out the love that a pastor should have for his people.
The difference is this (v. 4-5):
Paul’s goal was not to please others. v. 4
Paul’s goal was not to please himself. v. 5
5YOU KNOW WE NEVER USED FLATTERY, NOR DID WE PUT ON A MASK TO COVER UP GREED—GOD IS OUR WITNESS.
Paul’s top priority/goal was to please God.
These two verses actually point out three great downfalls of a pastor:
1. Desire to please others.
2. Desire to please ourselves.
3. Desire for more (greed).
Paul’s desire is to please God.
Paul is adamant here about his integrity – God is his witness.
6WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR PRAISE FROM MEN, NOT FROM YOU OR ANYONE ELSE.
It’s a good thing, because he didn’t get much anyway!
Pastors shouldn’t look for praise from men, but it’s sure appreciated when it’s given.
AS APOSTLES OF CHRIST WE COULD HAVE BEEN A BURDEN TO YOU (we could have asserted our authority/weight – we could have charged you for our services),
They were entitled to pay as apostles.
Lk. 10:7 A WORKER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES.
1 Cor. 9:14 THE LORD HAS COMMANDED THAT THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD RECEIVE THEIR LIVING FROM THE GOSPEL.
Paul doesn’t charge them in order to prove his integrity so that more people might be saved.
He doesn’t want people to accuse him of preaching for profit.
That practice doesn’t apply here, today. I’m sticking to 1 Cor. 9:14!
The point is, Paul demonstrates absolute integrity here.
There’s not a hint of impropriety.
Paul shows us that the ideal pastor seeks to please God, not others, not himself.
6. An ideal pastor cares for his people. vv. 7-8
AS APOSTLES OF CHRIST WE COULD HAVE BEEN A BURDEN TO YOU 7BUT WE WERE GENTLE AMONG YOU, LIKE A (nursing) MOTHER CARING FOR (to warm, cherish) HER LITTLE CHILDREN.
What a beautiful picture! Every person here knows what that looks like.
There’s perhaps no greater picture of comfort, security, peace, joy.
Paul was like a mother to these people. He loved them that much.
Remember, this is an infant church. They’re all “babes” in Christ.
He elaborates on this caring and nurturing in v. 8.
8WE LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT WE WERE DELIGHTED (well-pleased) TO SHARE WITH YOU NOT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD BUT OUR LIVES AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU HAD BECOME SO DEAR TO US.
Paul didn’t just love them and leave them. He shared his very life with them.
Bill Hybels, “Tell me how to show love without spending time, energy or money, and I will gladly sign up. Tell me that love means sacrifice, however, and I become reluctant to commit myself” (Who You Are When No One’s Looking, p. 83).
Vv. 7-8 actually give a great antithesis to the attitudes we see in v. 3:
In place of deceit, impurity, and trickery, Paul demonstrates gentleness, compassion, and love.
Preaching the Gospel not only transformed the believers, it transformed the preachers.
I can honestly say that you are very dear to me as well.
That’s why it’s even more special when I see real spiritual growth and passion for Jesus in you, because you have become dear to me.
7. An ideal pastor labors for his people. v. 9
9SURELY YOU REMEMBER, BROTHERS, 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.
They worked harder than normal.
Illus. What do you do the rest of the week?
Being a pastor isn’t a 40hr/week job. It’s 24-7-365.
Why do pastors do it? Because they love God and they love their people.
8. An ideal pastor is blameless before his people. v. 10
10YOU ARE WITNESSES, AND SO IS GOD, OF HOW HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS WE WERE AMONG YOU WHO BELIEVED.
They were without reproach!
This is a tall order – no it’s an impossible order!
Unless a pastor’s life is consumed with pleasing God.
A pastor should live so that his life is blameless before his people and his God.
Pray for me. I still battle in the flesh. I’m not quite there yet.
Ken Davis - "Satan stands behind all pastors with a loaded gun pointed at their head."
He knows that if he can take out a pastor, he can potentially take out a church.
Pray hard for your pastor that he would be a man without reproach.
9. An ideal pastor builds up his people. v. 11-12
11FOR YOU KNOW THAT WE DEALT WITH EACH OF YOU AS A FATHER DEALS WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN, 12ENCOURAGING, COMFORTING AND URGING YOU TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF GOD, WHO CALLS YOU INTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY.
Not only does Paul act as their loving mother, but also as their loving father.
What is a father’s job?
To raise and build up his children that they might be men/women of God.
How does Paul deal with his “children”?
1. He encourages them.
2. He comforts them.
encouraging, consoling, ?persuading
3. He counsels them.
(to summon as witness, testify, declare, charge – has authoritative tone)
A pastor is like a father, seeking to build up his people to be men/women of God.
10. An ideal pastor prays for his people. 1:2-3
2WE ALWAYS THANK GOD FOR ALL OF YOU, MENTIONING YOU IN OUR PRAYERS. 3WE CONTINUALLY REMEMBER BEFORE OUR GOD AND FATHER YOUR WORK PRODUCED BY FAITH, YOUR LABOR PROMPTED BY LOVE, AND YOUR ENDURANCE INSPIRED BY HOPE IN OUR LORD JESUS Christ.
Paul prayed continually for the churches he planted.
An ideal pastor needs to devote MUCH time to praying for his people!
I stand in the gap for you. If I don’t pray for you, who will?
12ENCOURAGING, COMFORTING AND URGING YOU TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF GOD, WHO CALLS (invites) YOU INTO HIS (own) KINGDOM AND GLORY.
Notice that Paul doesn’t pour his life out for them in order to earn God’s favor.
A pastor doesn’t pour out his life for his church to win points with God.
Nor should the church try to win points with God, either.
We already have God’s favor (God called us, not vice versa, cf. 1:4).
Paul simply urges them/us to walk worthy of our great calling (cp. Eph. 4:1)
Phil. 3:16 ONLY LET US LIVE UP TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED.
Paul’s goal was to build them up so that they would walk worthy of their calling.
Conclusion
Now that I’ve been humbled and reminded of what I need to be as a pastor, let me say that this passage isn’t just for pastors.
We all need to hear and practice this.
Go back through these 10 points and write in “believer” over “pastor”.
1. An ideal believer endures suffering.
2. An ideal believer exercises boldness. “I am not ashamed.”
3. An ideal believer pursues integrity.
Remember, the world is watching us.
Our message needs to be truthful.
Our motivation needs to be pure.
Our method needs to be sincere.
4. An ideal believer is approved by God.
We’ve all been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel.
5. An ideal believer pleases God, not others, not himself/herself.
6. An ideal believer cares for his people/church family.
7. An ideal believer labors for his church family.
We have been called by God to serve Him faithfully and diligently.
8. An ideal believer is blameless before his church family.
9. An ideal believer builds up his church.
By encouraging and comforting and counseling them to walk worthy of the calling.
10. An ideal believer prays for his church (esp. his pastor).
I know what I need to work on. I’m not there yet. But neither are you.
God is calling every one of us to pursue excellence and perfection.
It’s all about walking worthy of our great calling while we wait for Him to call us home.
The Bottom Line: An ideal believer pleases God.
How do we please God? By walking worthy of our great calling.
How do we walk worthy? By practicing and pursuing these 10 things.
So, are we a God-pleaser or a man-pleaser? Who do we love?
An ideal believer/pastor loves/pleases God.
Prayer
Reflection/Communication Cards
Prayerfully go through this list and ask God which ones you need to work on.
Respond by giving that area to Him/committing to pursue whatever God is telling you to do.
Use your Communication Card as an act of worship.
“To obey is better than sacrifice.”
“As an act of worship, I’m committing to do/be this for God.”
Pray for your pastor, please God, etc.
Write it down and give it to God.
Source information and credite can be obtained by emailing svbible@aol.com.
