Entrusted with the Message of the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 2:1 – 12
Our lesson this week comes from the first letter that Paul sends to the Christians at Thessalonica after his first visit to them which is outlines in the 17th Chapter of Acts. He wrote this letter to encourage the young believers. He wanted to assure them of his love for them, to praise them for their faithfulness during the persecution that they faced and to remind them of their hope in a sure return of their Lord and Savior.
In 1 Thessalonians He commended them for their work of faith, their steadfastness of hope and for their labor of love. They had heard the Word, they responded to the Word, they turned from idols and they began to serve the living God. Paul told them that because they had come to embrace the power of the Gospel that it proved that they were Chosen by God.
This week Paul tells us that we are also expected to respond to the Gospel story to become a witness to the power of the Gospel and to become a faithful and true example to others. Paul outlines for us the model of how he, Timothy and Silas came to the Thessalonians with traits of an evangelist that were Entrusted by God with the Message of the Gospel so that we as a church and each of us individuals, can spread the Gospel to all that we come in contact with.
But what makes a model ministry? How can we be the church that God wants us to be? Here is what Paul tells us today are the defining characteristics of effective ministry Entrusted by God with the Message of the Gospel.
Courage to proclaim
It takes courage to proclaim the Gospel. Paul, Silas, and Timothy came to Thessalonica after being “shamefully mistreated” in Philippi. In they had been stripped, beaten, thrown into prison, and their feet fastened in stocks. It had not only been an extremely painful experience but humiliating as well, since they were flogged naked in public, without trial, and in spite of their Roman citizenship.
They headed to Thessalonica where they met up with more strong opposition. Yet, Paul declares they had courage “in our God.” It was not their own courage, it was “in God”, from God, through God that they received their courage to proclaim the Gospel. This confidence from God translates into a courage that enables us to take a step outside our comfort zone, to risk more than we’ve been willing to risk before, to work alongside people who are new to us, and to trust that God, who has entrusted us with the Gospel.
Serve others with a pure heart
Paul details how to serve with a pure heart. Paul was being grouped in with religious charlatans and hucksters so he responds to personal attacks against his own ministry. Paul debunks three accusations surrounding his ministry.
First, Paul’s ministry did not come from deceit; rather, it was grounded in God’s Word. This is how you can judge a ministry: is it grounded in the truth of God’s Word? An effective witnessing is not based upon preferences, opinions, or musings…it is based on God’s truth. The one great advantage that Christians have is that our holy book is accurate, infallible. Even though people attempt to find contradictions and errors in the Bible, their attempts are always foiled.
Second, Paul’s ministry did not come from impurity for he was a man of purity. In this context, the word “impurity” would mean “impure motives,” alluding to such evils as “ambition, pride, greed, and popularity.” But Paul is saying, “I am ‘above reproach’ in every area of my life and ministry.” We can measure the impact of God’s Word upon any group of people by the spiritual caliber of the spokesman.
Third, Paul’s ministry did not come from trickery for he was an honest man. Paul didn’t use trickery or to sell the gospel, assuring people of things that the gospel never promises. Sometimes, in an effort to get people to receive Christ, we tell them how Christ will solve all their problems, but we don’t tell them the hardships and cost of following Christ. So they come to Christ under false pretenses. When their problems don’t go away, or grow even worse, they grow bitter and fall away.
Approved by God
Not only did Paul refute the negative and jealous claims leveled against him and his ministry to the Thessalonians as being deceitful, impure or trickery but he went further to say that in fact the power and authority of his ministry come directly from God himself: He tells the Thessalonians that we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel. They were responsible and authorized to proclaim Christ to anyone and everyone who will listen, regardless of what others think or say.
Because we also have been chosen and commissioned by God for witnessing to the ministry of the Gospel we to are Approved by God to testify to the power of the Gospel. Paul tells us: to speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Pleasing God
So, what does it mean to please God in our proclamation of the Gospel? It means being faithful to the Gospel, of course, but it is more than that. God witnesses our actions and tests our heart. Pleasing God means responding to others in the same way that God has responded to us: with generosity and grace. It also means recognizing that what we say and do either shines light or casts a shadow on God. Friends we can be a path or an obstacle to finding God. Always be the Light of God unto their feet and unto their path.
It also means being humble enough to acknowledge that we must let the Holy Spirit lead me in witnessing. When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Therefore, Christians must be people who hold to the highest possible standards of truth, integrity and spirituality. When you and I live for Christ with our lives and our lips, the world can be changed.
Caring for others as our Heavenly parent
Paul explains what an effective witness is by using paternal examples. Paul’s extensive use of parental and family images is significant. Through the use of such language he portrays the congregation as a new family. First he compares ministering to others to that of a nursing mother.
This is a loving image of a nurturing and caring witness the others. Paul illustrates his relationship with the Thessalonians by describing the bond between a nursing mother and her child. Just as a mother nourishes her child through her own body, so Paul as a spiritual parent nourishes his children in the faith with the Word of God.
Paul also says that he behaved with the Thessalonians as a father with his children. “Urging” speaks of pressing upon God’s people the need to live a life of godliness. Often, this may take on the form of a rebuke. “Encouraging” points to progress where a spiritual father might say, “I see your growth. I am watching your steps of faith beyond your comfort zone. You are moving toward your potential. I believe in you. I am proud of you.”
Sharing Ourselves
Paul, Silas, and Timothy share with the Thessalonians not only the Gospel of God, but themselves as well. Sharing the word requires a willingness on our part to be vulnerable; to not only share what we know, but how we strive to live what we know and the failings and doubts we have encountered along the way. We need to have a heart of compassion and tenderness for others.
In order for us to be able to witness to others effectively we have to be able to show our true personality, a personality of honesty, faithfulness and caring so that we can have a true personal relationship with others. Our work, our witnessing, our ministry to others must be in an effort to help others to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Hear the Good News my friends………
Do you remember in Matthew 9 when Jesus and his disciples were walking along the road and they came over the crest of a hill and below He saw the multitudes of lost people? When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few! We are all sent into the harvest fields, into the ministry fields of our daily lives.
All we have to do is be open, authentic, vulnerable, and real. All we have to do is open our hearts to be in relationship with our neighbors. All we have to do is seek God’s people and love them.
The fear of man should never keep us from speaking out for Christ. The gospel is a powerful message, and the indwelling Holy Spirit will impart power to our words. Holy boldness is needed, and if we trust Christ, holy boldness will be given.
Paul exhorts the church to walk in a worthy manner. For this, Paul doesn’t give us a list of rules, rituals, and regulations. Instead, he urges us to become like Jesus in their character and conduct. This is simply responding to God’s call upon our lives. Paul refers to “His own kingdom.” We must temper and tune our lives to this calling.
We adjust ourselves to God; He does not adapt Himself to us. We must be bold in our witness to the world when the opportunity comes because we are were Entrusted by God with the Message of the Gospel to witness to the world. Amen.