The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet #5136 KC1Thes2
Paul
will now recount to the Thessalonians (and us) how it came to be that they
received the truth.
The apostle Paul felt a deep love
and affection for his "family" at Thessalonica and he was really excited
when Timothy returned from visiting them and brought back with him a most
favorable report that not only were they continuing in the faith but they
were carrying forth the gospel far and wide with much zeal and enthusiasm.
That was especially good news to
Paul considering the fact the Thessalonians were heavily steeped in heathenism
and idol worship prior to Paul's "reasoning with them from the scriptures".
Then too, the fact that Paul desired
to but was not able to visit them made his heart grow even fonder of them.
What a tender man this once vicious
hunter of Christians had become.
In today's study we are going to
learn more about the "manner" of Paul and see to what lengths a true man
or woman of God will go to do the will of our Father.
Paul will now recount to the Thessalonians
(and us) how it came to be that they received the truth.
1 Thes.
2:1
For yourselves,
brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
Although Paul was only together
with them for a short while, the time he did spend with them certainly
proved to be very fruitful.
Of course just getting there was
not an easy task because the enemies of truth do not like those to whom
God has entrusted His Word and who go forth planting seeds from it.
[2]But
even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated,
as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the
gospel of God with much contention.
Shamefully entreated?
I'll say.
Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown
into prison at Philippi, but that certainly is not enough to intimidate
a servant of the Most High God.
Here is an excerpt from Acts 16
detailing their delivering up.
Acts
16:22
And the multitude
rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes,
and commanded to beat them.
[23]And
when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailer to keep them safely:
With good upstanding magistrates
who would command the beating of innocent men, "charging" the jailer was
probably more like "threatening" the jailer because in the next verse the
jailer puts them in the maximum security cell.
The jailer was not about to take
any chances.
[24]
Who,
having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made
their feet fast in the stocks.
And you thought you were having
a bad day?
Let's just see how rattled and despondent
Paul and Silas became.
Acts
16:25
And at midnight
Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard
them.
Good grief!
They are handling their trials and
tribulations exactly the way James said we should handle ours: James
1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations
[adversities]."
Most Christians would probably pray
all right but it would probably be a sobbing, "oh God, help, help, have
pity on poor me", wouldn't it?
But Paul and Silas sang praises
unto God.
And why not?
They knew their Father knew where
they were and that they were imprisoned for righteousness sake, for His
name's sake!
Our Father takes that very personally,
you know!
Read the rest of Acts 16 and see
how things turned out for Paul and Silas.
We continue now with the account
of Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them.
1 Thes.
2:3
For our exhortation
was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
Paul and Silas and Timothy
had no "hidden agenda" in bringing the Word of God to the Thessalonians.
Their motives were purely to teach
the true Word of God for the joy and happiness that it brings to those
who will hear it and believe.
They were not seeking to gain monetarily
nor acquire glory unto themselves.
[4]
But
as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we
speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Paul knew and appreciated from
the bottom of his heart what an awesome privilege and honor it was and
is to be put in TRUST with the gospel, the very TRUTH of God's Word, the
most precious gem in the entire universe!
Think about that!
We need to pause and seriously consider
our own trustworthiness with those priceless pearls!
You see, Paul knew that he was a
chosen vessel (Eph. 1:4) given charge of the precious Word of God and he
was not about to compromise that Word for any reason, not because of imprisonment
nor threat of death, and especially not to merely please men.
He taught "straight on" with compassion
and love knowing full well that only the truth can save and bring one to
the joy of knowing Him.
So what if teaching the truth "straight
on" gets you delivered up and tossed in jail.
Though we use wisdom and common
sense to avoid trouble whenever possible, we also know it is also an honor
to suffer for His name's sake, for righteousness sake, and when
that happens His servants "count it all joy" and they sing praises to Him.
1 Thes.
2:5
For neither
at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness;
God is witness:
God knows each and every one
of our hearts and motives and a wise person with only minimal discernment
can easily spot a preacher or a ministry with an agenda for self gain.
They usually spend most of their
time talking about "material blessings" and how your "giving" to them will
cause God to bless you materially.
Paul did not seek anything for himself
from the Thessalonians, not money, not supplies, and certainly not admiration.
[6]Nor
of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might
have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Do you want to be popular among
the religious community?
Then you will have to use flattering
words and teach the traditions of men and not the unadulterated TRUTH,
because as the saying goes, "the truth often hurts" and though it is not
the intent of God's servants to offend people, some will be offended.
[7]But
we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
Are you able as Paul was to
teach the truth as gently and lovingly as mother nurses her babies?
Some people get real "pushy" in
their desire to "convert" others to their way of thinking.
It makes you wonder if their desire
is to really bring someone to the truth or to seek glory by showing how
great his or her own knowledge is.
We must always be gentle and caring
for God's children and not try to force feed meat to babies who need first
to be lovingly nursed and nurtured.
[8]
So
being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted
unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye
were dear unto us.
There was such a bond of Christian
love that developed between Paul and those at Thessalonica that Paul could
hardly contain himself and he thought about them often and surely wondered
how they were doing.
That is why he was so excited when
Timothy brought the good report to him that they were carrying forth the
Word of God with zeal and enthusiasm.
They were like family to Paul and
rightfully so because they were now part of the family of God.
1 Thes.
2:9
For ye remember,
brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because
we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel
of God.
Paul and his traveling companions
supported themselves, paying their own way.
People could never accuse them of
trying to rip off folks or of preaching the Word of God merely for monetary
profit.
What kind of work did they do to
support themselves?
We know from Acts 18:3 that Paul
was tent maker.
[10]Ye
are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved
ourselves among you that believe:
[11]As
ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as
a father doth his children,
Paul entreated the Thessalonians
as a loving father does his own children.
What interest does a loving father
have in his children?
Certainly it is not to rip them
off or profit from them monetarily or impress them by flatteries, is it?
[12]That
ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
God makes the calling to partake
of the kingdom and the glory whenever the Word of God is taught but the
choice as to whether one will answer that call is left to each individual*.
Paul presented the Word of God to
those at Thessalonica with no other motive than to share that Word with
them that they may come to know the joy Christ brings to those who believe.
He was so excited by the fact that
they believed the Word of God as TRUTH, i.e. as being really God's Word
and not just religious words.
* Note: God's elect were chosen
before the foundation of this world (Eph. 1:4). They were also justified
and given a destiny at that time (Romans 8:29-30). So when God is ready
according to His purpose, He will directly interfere in their lives just
as He struck down Paul on the road to Damascus to fulfill his predestined
part in the plan of God.
1 Thes.
2:13
For this cause
also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of
God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as
it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you
that believe.
The Word of God is a real
"power" in the lives of those who truly believe it.
That "power" changes their hearts
and their lives not through mere conformity, i.e. a showing of a goodly
outward appearance in following a "religion", but by a uniting of their
hearts and minds, their spirit, with the Holy Spirit, His Word (Jn. 6:63).
It is evidenced by their spiritual
blessings and the fruit they produce.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
1 Corinthians
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the
ancient Israelites} for
ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
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