Three Pictures Of Paul The Pastor

Well this is a different kind of protection we are taking about.

It was this fact that enabled King Solomon to discover which woman was the real mother of the living Child. (I kings 3:15-28)

I think of the time that one of my preacher friends heard that a certain cult was out in his community in full force one Sunday afternoon. He went right away to the home of a new convert in his Church. When they knocked on the door, he answered it, and said let me share my testimony of how Jesus saved my soul. Needless to say, they left rather quickly. But he was protecting a new believer.

III-WE SEE THE CARE OF PAUL AS A COMFORTING FATHER:

(V-9-12)

Paul points out three of his duties of a spiritual Father to the Church

A-NOTICE PAUL’S WORK: V-9

The father works to support his family. He doesn’t wait for a handout but he works for a paycheck.

Every Jewish boy had to learn a trade, and Paul’s trade was tentmaking. Rather than take offerings from his new converts, he worked long hours into the night making tents. Perhaps, as they listened to him teaching and instructing them during the daytime, these Thessalonians noticed that Paul’s hands were not the cultured, soft hands of a rich man who had never worked. They were, rather, the horny hands of a laborer who worked hard at his trade, and they knew it was in order that he might bless them, and not be a burden on them.

Thomas Jefferson was upset when our country went to a 10-hour working day. He said they would too much idle time. But in Paul’s day, it was a 12-14 hours a day plus he also taught tool

B-NOTICE PAUL’S WALK: V-10

Fathers must live so they are good examples to their children.

I recall a time when Jack Edwards, A politician, gave a free fish fry for the community in Thomasville. I notice the way a group of children were eating; they used no forks, just grabing it and gobbling it down. There was one certain boy who sitting by his father. His daddy had set a good example, for he was eating in the proper way.

He does not suggest that he is sinless, but that he is honest, open transparent before God and men. He has dealt with all his sin the way God wants us to deal with it. As the Holy Spirit made him aware of it, he judged it the way God sees it, confessed it to Him.

We must have a worthy walk before a watching world. People are watching us all the time. They are asking what is authentic Christianity? What makes you different? What makes you tick? Let’s pray they do not look at any of us and say there is a hypocrite. There is one who wears a mask on Sunday at church and puts on another one on Monday at work.

Members of the United States armed services not only serve to protect our nation, but they are ambassadors for our country. When they do a great job, then other nations respect us. When they fail in anyway, they lose the respect of others, as well as our own citizens.

August 27th issue of Time magazine: Timothy Woodland is in a grave predicament. The 24-year-old Air Force staff sergeant sits in a jail cell in Okinawa, Japan charged with raping a young Japanese woman June 29th. Timothy Woodland could spend up to 15 years in a Japanese prison if he is found guilty. He goes on trial next month in a proceeding that could last as long as a year. Denied bail for now, Woodland can comfort himself with English-language books, a Bible, and American-style meals–but no cigarettes, TV, or air conditioning in heat that often-tops 100 degrees. He isn’t allowed to speak or write to friends and family.