Hallmarks of Godly Ministry
1 Thessalonians 2:1-20[1]
10-17-04
Intro
I have taken as my subject this morning from 1 Thessalonians 2—The Hallmarks of Godly Ministry. What criteria do you look for in order to discern whether a ministry is the real thing or a counterfeit? How do you know whether a ministry is trustworthy not?
As I think back over the last few decades I remember national scandals where sincere Christians got taken to the cleaners by unscrupulous leaders. In some cases it cost them their life savings. In extreme cases like Jim Jones and David Koresh it cost people their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
What kind of fruit should we be looking for? What evidence should we see that a person is really sent by God? Anyone can look back now and know that Jim Jones and David Koresh were not of God. But the difficulty is that the signs are far more subtle in the beginning than at the end. In the end, everybody knew those men were charlatans. But that was too late for a lot of people.
Those are radical examples. Usually the consequences are not quite that sensational. Usually it involves some kind of financial rip off. When Jeanie and I were newly weds we were approached by a middle-aged couple who were spiritual leaders at the church we attended. They had us over to their home and told us how God was leading them to mentor young couples with an evident call on their lives. They already had some couples in the group and invited us to join. I felt a subjective caution and told them we did not feel that God was leading us in that direction. Later the group of families all moved to California and had some very bad experiences. We don’t want to be critical, judgmental people but we do need to be discerning.
God has given us everything we need to protect us from deception.[2] He has given us three major resources to guard us in these matters. He has sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.[3] He has given us the Body of Christ where wise accountability is a protection.[4] And He has given us His word as a standard.[5] I would suggest that He intends for us to use all three. If there is any one of those we don’t like or won’t submit to, we can find ourselves vulnerable even though we my claim the other two. My subject this morning does not directly deal with the subjective leading of the Holy Spirit. That is a whole sermon in itself. Neither will I have time to deal with submission, humility, and accountability within the Body of Christ. But our text today presents a powerful lesson on objective criteria for godly ministry. This comes about as Paul defends himself against false accusations that have been waged against him. In Chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians we are given good insight on what characterizes godly ministry.
1st Notice that Paul is opposed by certain people vs 1-2. Of course, almost anybody that’s doing anything faces a certain amount of opposition. But if you think everyone was talking about how sweet and loving Pastor Paul was you probably don’t have a good handle on what was going on. Certainly there were those who would readily defend Paul and his team. But there were others who had all kinds of negative things to say about him. Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”[6] I have found it absolutely impossible to be obedient to God and please everybody at the same time. If you say what God tells you to say, it will at times step on people’s toes. The response of some people is to humble themselves and get right with God. The response of others is to attack the messenger. What I have learned to do is ruthlessly scrutinize my own motives and work very hard at operating out of godly principles and seek as best I can the well-being of every person I relate to. Out of that mentality we take action. But that does not insure an absence of opposition.
In verse 2 of our text Paul talks about the fierce opposition he encountered at Philippi. You may recall from Acts 16 how he was beaten and thrown in prison. Praise God the jailer got saved. But the treatment was insulting and painful. It would have been very easy to quite the ministry at Philippi. It would have been easy to decide that it was not worth it and go do something else. But we see that Paul is the real thing by the way he responds to all that. What does he do according to 1 Thessalonians 2:2? He gets up and goes to Thessalonica and risks the same thing all over again. He was not opportunitist looking for easy ministry or easy money. He was steadfast in his commitment to fulfill his calling in spite of all the opposition.
Perhaps before I move on I should mention two qualifiers. One is that godly ministry is not just being cantankerous and contentious. I have known some people who go from church to church stirring up strife and claiming it as an evidence of their superior spirituality. If strife is the only fruit we’re producing there’s probably something radically wrong. Listen to Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
Additionally, notice that the accusations against Paul were false. I remember one situation I had to deal with in which a Pastor claimed to be terribly persecuted by certain members of the congregation. As the facts eventually revealed all of their allegations were true and so true that the pastor wound up in prison. The accusations against Paul in our text were false accusations.
2nd characteristic of godly ministry is pure motives (vs 3-5)
Paul said in effect we were not playing some kind of game of deception. We were not presenting ourselves as one thing knowing in reality we were something altogether different. We were not pretending to have one goal but in reality really have some hidden agenda. Paul deals with this issue on three levels. First, he talks about his purpose or goal. His goal was to please God in contrast to pleasing people. That is very significant. I know of congregations that have lost sight of pleasing God. There are a few people in power and they hand pick pastors who will work to please them. And they wind up getting what they deserve in a pastor. A little further down we will see how tender and sensitive Paul was to those he was ministering to. That is the balance to what he is saying here. But woe unto any congregation of people who find a spiritual leader who is not seeking to please God. Pity the congregation who finds a leader whose primary goal is customer relations. That man is destined to compromise something very important along the way.
How can I tell the difference between someone who seeks to please God and someone who seeks to please men? Hear me carefully. The person who seeks to please men makes decisions based upon expediency—what is the line of least resistance and what is popular with the people, especially the powerful people. In contrast to that, the person who seeks to please God makes decisions based upon principle—especially principles found in the word of God.
Next, Paul talks about flattery. Verse 5, “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness.” One evidence that a person has a hidden agenda is flattery. What’s the difference between flattery and a complement? The key difference is sincerity. Do I really mean what I’m saying or am I actually saying something I don’t really believe? We all need to consciously be encouragers of one another. We should look for characteristics in each other that we can sincerely commend and reinforce. But flattery goes beyond what is actually warranted. And flattery is spoken not to encourage but to manipulate—to gain favor and confidence which will create vulnerability. When you see flattery going on, you are seeing a red flag that should not be ignored.
Paul is pointing out the usual motive behind flattery—greed. “Nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.” Don’t you get a little suspicious of someone who’s seemingly “working you”? I mean when people call me and tell me I’ve just been selected to receive a free gift I always tell them I don’t want the free gift—the cost is usually way too high.
Before I leave this subject of flattery I must say one thing. If I’m not going to be vulnerable to flattery I have to be ruthlessly honest with myself. I’m not saying I should be demeaning toward myself. That’s not healthy at all. But I should stay objective enough to tell the difference between what I might want to be and what in reality I am. I should also have some people close enough to me that if I get too far out of touch with that they have permission to tell me. Amen?
There is some connection between what Paul says in verse 6 and what he says in verse 5. Paul says not only that he was not motivated to please me but that he was also not seeking their praise. If that need for people’s affirmation is at an unhealthy level I am vulnerable to flattery. And it’s amazing how a manipulator can smell that out. We all want to be respected and appreciated. But our basic need for affirmation must come out of our relationship with God and then secondarily out of healthy human relationships.
So we have here a few flags to look for—an inordinate pursuit of people’s approval, a willingness to compromise principle to have it, a willingness to use flattery to get what is really being pursued—and that usually has something to do with money or personal glory. In contrast, Paul is saying, “My primary goal is God’s approval.”
3rd characteristic of godly ministry is hard work (vs 6-9).
In verse 9 Paul uses two words to describe the work he and his team had been doing. The first is kopon which emphasizes the weariness and pain experienced and the second is mochton which emphasizes the difficulties overcome in the process.[7] In other words, Paul was working very hard. And it was something he was continuously doing. 1 Thess 2:9 “we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”
As apostles of Christ Paul and the rest of his team had every right to be supported and provided for as they preached the gospel.[8] This was not something Paul had to do but rather it was a right he chose to forfeit in this situation and in several others. There were times when Paul received support. But these are new converts and Paul is making this sacrifice in their behalf.
He said we could have asserted our authority as apostles and demanded you make the sacrifice for us. But instead we were like a nursing mother toward you. We were willing to not only invest the gospel in you but our own lives as well. We loved you so much we gladly made the sacrifices for you. I had the joy a week or two ago to watch my middle daughter Jill become a new mother. Giving birth to baby Ben was quite an ordeal for her. But after he was born she drew him to herself with nothing but love. There was no resentment toward him for the labor and pain she had gone through. Love overcame that completely. Paul said I became like a nursing mother to you—full of tenderness and gentleness and love toward you. Paul was not complaining of the price he had paid. He was simply pointing to it as evidence of the sincerity of his love toward them.
Hard work and personal sacrifice are characteristics of godly ministry that is usually absent in the counterfeit. The charlatan may work hard for awhile to get what he wants—but it will not characterize his life and personal sacrifice is certainly not in his plans.
4th Godly ministry is characterized by a blameless and nurturing life-style (verse 10-12).
Paul is able to say in verse 10, examine my life—look at the way I live. I live an upright, devoted life that is above reproach. Paul’s life contained no hidden scandal. He was an example of how a Christian ought to live and people could safely follow him.
Our lives reflect what we really believe. If I say I believe in tithing but only give sporadically—I am deceiving myself. I don’t really believe that or I would do it. If I say I believe in servanthood but I never serve, who am I fooling? I’m just fooling myself. I’m not fooling God and I’m probably not fooling people either. What we do reflects what we really believe and what we really are. So Paul says, take a look. I think you will find a consistency between what I am saying and what I am doing.
5th Godly ministry encourages obedience to God (verses 11-12).
Here Paul likens himself to a father. Earlier he likened himself to a nursing mother. Now he adds the paternal side of the relationship. In that culture the wife did most of the nurturing and the husband was responsible for the training. Of course, the wealthy had slaves involved in the process. But like a good father Paul exhorted them toward righteousness. He encouraged them in the face of their trials and tribulation. He urged them on in their walk with God—to live lives worthy of God’s kingdom and glory.
Now lest we lose sight of the point—what was Paul’s message about? It was about serving God. It wasn’t about how to multiply your dollars or how to gain success in a competitive world. The thrust of the message is a strong indicator of what the messenger is really about. It is tender. It is encouraging. But it is designed toward righteousness. It is not an ear tickling message but a God pleasing message.
6th Godly ministry preaches the word (vs 13-16).
There are lots and lots of things we could talk about when we come together. But if the word of God does not remain central then the whole endeavor will drift off course. It is easy for people to come together (not around God’s word) but simply around social activity. Relationships are important and place should be given for that. But when a group of people are no longer hungry to hear what God has to say, they are in trouble as a movement. Ps 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Matt 4:4 "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Once that is lost a church is like a ship without a sail-- just drifting in the vast ocean of humanism.
Paul commends these people for their regard for the word. He did that in chapter 1 and he does here as well. Why? Because it is extremely important. Verse 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 the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” For the word to be effectual two things must happen. On the part of the preacher he must submit himself to God and speak as an oracle of God. On the part of the hearer he or she must respond in faith. Notice at the end of verse 13 Paul says the word is “at work in you”. Isn’t that wonderful? But the verse doesn’t stop there—in you who believe. “Pisteuousin” is a present participle. The word is not effectual because once upon a time you believed and became a Christian. It is effectual as you believe. In other words, the benefit you receive from it depends upon how you receive it. If you receive it as an interesting idea or entertaining speech you will probably get little real benefit from it. But if you examine it with the scripture and receive it as authoritative in your life—believing it as the word of God and applying it accordingly—then it will do its work of transformation in you.
In verses 14-16 Paul talks about pending judgment. Godly ministry will not avoid that subject. As Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and addressed the subject of their pending judgment he very tenderly said, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”[9] That’s our attitude toward the coming judgment. We are not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance. Judgment is not a subject we enjoy preaching. But it is a part of the whole council of God. And a flattering ministry, a man-pleasing ministry will usually leave that part of the message out.
7th Godly ministry is also characterized by resistance from Satan (verses 17-18).
Listen to what Paul says in verse 18 “For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan stopped us.” Paul longed to come to these new believers and establish them in the faith. He tried over and over but failed. Why? Because Satan stopped him. How do you explain that? Was Paul in sin and therefore powerless before the enemy? I think the whole context negates that theory. Did Paul just not have enough faith? Well if he didn’t have enough I don’t know who at that time would. The Greek word translated hinder in the KJV and stopped in the NIV is enekopsen. The root meaning is to cut up a road and make it impassable.[10] Have you ever had the enemy cut up some roads before you? Have you ever had circumstances so chopped up by the enemy that you were stopped from doing what you sincerely felt needed to be done? That’s what happened to Paul. And I’m sure Paul was frustrated about it just like you and I would be. But today we can look back and see how God used all that to bring about this epistle that not only addressed the needs in Thessalonica but helps us in our walk as well. Resistance from the enemy is a part of it. Unbroken success is usually not the best indicator of godliness.
8th Godly ministry invests in people and lives for the eternal (verses 19-20).
Paul brings this chapter to a climax by asking a rhetorical Question. “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?” The people were central to why Paul sacrificed the way he did. Why did Paul endure all these things? He was an educated, capable man. Why didn’t he just get a real job? Because Paul lived for one thing. He lived for the day when he could present these and others whom he had served to the Lord Jesus as fruit of his labor. “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? In the parousia of our Lord. This is the first time in biblical literature this word parousia is used to indicate the coming of the Lord. It takes on a significant eschatological meaning as Paul continues to use it.[11] The day of the Lord’s appearing when we will see Him face to face. Paul says I am so looking forward to presenting you to Christ on that day. You will be our crown of glory as we bring you before Him.
It is relatively comfortable to apply these eight criteria to other people. But we are all ambassadors of Christ.[12] We are all to be examples others could follow. As I looked at this text and allowed it to examine my life there were some areas that I felt pretty good about but some that need real improvement. I found myself saying, “Lord, do a work of grace in that area of my life.” Perhaps some of you are having a similar experience. If so, I invite you to join me as we go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to strengthen us in a specific aspect of our life and ministry.”
Prayer
TEXT: 1 Thess 2:1-3:1
2:1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite 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 men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men 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 men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely 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. 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 the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen 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 all men 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. 17 But, brothers, when we were torn away 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 stopped us. 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. (NIV 0
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
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[1] Text which was read earlier in the service is provided at the end of this manuscript. All quotes are from the New International Version unless otherwise specified.
[2] II Peter 1:3
[3] I John 2:27
[4] Eccl. 4:9-10; Col. 3:16; I Cor. 12
[5] Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 1313; II Timothy 3:16
[6] Luke 6:26 NKJV
[7] Rogers, C.R. Jr. and Rogers, C.R. III, The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998) p.475
[8] I Corinthians 9:9-15
[9] Matt 23:37 NKJV
[10] Leon Morris, The First and Second Epistles of the Thessalonians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979) p 95
[11] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament Vol. IV (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983) p 31
[12] II Corinthians 5:18-20; I Corinthians 12
