The basis for encouragement (Ministry in Thessalonians, #20)

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

A principle of interpretation is to always look to see what the "therefore" is there for. Here, Paul urges the believers to encourage and edify (build up) each other as a result of specific truths. Just as chapter 4's teaching on Christ's return ends with the exhortation to encourage each other with the words that promise reunification with our loved ones who are in Christ, the section on the "day of the Lord" ends with the exhortation to encourage each other. What is our source of encouragement in the context of a certain coming judgment? 

• We belong to the day. As the previous section noted, we are children of light and of the day. We are not asleep; we've been awakened by the beauty of Christ.
• We are spiritually protected. Faith and love become our breastplate, shielding our hearts from attacks of unbelief and hatred. The hope of salvation becomes our helmet, protecting us from mortal wounds of the enemy.
• We are not appointed to suffer wrath. Salvation is the end result of our faith, because Jesus bore the wrath of God on our behalf. 
• Jesus died so I can live with Him. Whether dead or alive when He returns, I am assured of life forever with Him. 

The  ministry lesson tucked in to this passage is that Biblical encouragement is always built on truth. Understanding this one principle can help us greatly in discerning true encouragement from well-meaning, but empty, words. It marks the difference between encouragement and mere affirmation. Biblical encouragement can be challenging ("let us be self-controlled"). It can remind us of basic truths ("He died for us") and take us deeper into the cross ("God did not appoint us to suffer wrath"). As we seek to be encouragers and teach others to do the same, let's always ground that encouragement in Scriptural truths. 

About those who fall asleep, and those who sleep (Ministry in Thessalonians, #19)

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:7

One of the things that makes the Bible ring true to me is the openness of its teachings. Unlike the gnosticism that was increasingly taking root in the first century, there are no secret teachings or higher levels of knowledge in Christianity. Earlier, we saw how intentional Paul was to highlight truths that he had taught them, things they "knew" because he was transparent in his ministry. Here, we see that same level of intentionality applied to teaching about death, the return of Christ, and the day of the Lord.

Jesus talked at length about the end of the world and told the apostles what believers living at that time could expect to see. So it's only natural that as new followers came into the fold, they would hear of Jesus' words (remember, the gospels hadn't yet been written down) and wonder about other believers who had died, who wouldn't be here to see Christ's return. Paul didn't leave them hanging - he didn't want them to be ignorant about it. This tells me that at the heart of true ministry is a desire for people to know. To have specific truths to hold on to. This is another of those areas where Paul didn't leave room for discussion, for a soft theology of discovery and raising questions; instead, he lays out "hard theology," a sound doctrine of clear truths with a specific timeline (though not specific dates and times).

1. Jesus will come down from heaven with a loud command, an archangel's voice, and a trumpet call of God. 
2. The dead in Christ will rise first. 
3. Believers who are still alive and left on the earth will be caught up in the clouds. 
4. Everyone - the resurrected dead and the caught up living - will meet the Lord in the air. 
5. We will all be with the Lord forever.

Paul also didn't want them to grieve hopelessly. Have you ever witnessed truly hopeless grieving? I have, and it's one of the saddest things I've ever seen. "Grieve" means to be sorrowful or sad. We are not told not to grieve - we will still experience sadness when those we love die, because death is not normal. It's not the way it was meant to be. Instead, when we lose a loved one in Christ we grieve differently because of the hope that we will see him or her again - we don't even have to wait for heaven. We'll be reunited in the sky, either both being resurrected (if we die before Christ's return) or being caught up after their resurrection (if we're still alive). Paul's specific theology here becomes a source of encouragement - we are told to "encourage each other with these words". The bodies of those who are gone are just "asleep" - waiting for the trumpet. (As Paul notes elsewhere, their souls are with the Lord immediately at death; absent from the body but present with God.)

Paul then moves into a related, but distinct topic: The "day of the Lord." Not the day of joyous resurrection, but the day of judgment. He doesn't give specific information, because that day will come suddenly, like a thief. The entire emphasis here is on the impact of this day on those who are being destroyed. These individuals are also said to be asleep, but not in the sleep of death. These are asleep in the darkness of unbelief. Asleep when they could be awake.

Believers are in direct contrast. In Christ, we are all children of the light, children of the day. We are alert, self-controlled. We are not in the dark of night, where sleep and drunkenness reign. We are in the light of day, where truth and love reign. We have been called from darkness into His marvelous light, called to declare His praises with every breath He gives us until our last breath - or until we meet Him in the air.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Now, about Brotherly Love, Part 2 (Ministry in Thessalonians #18)

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 

- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Ever since I wrote the last post on Ministry in Thessalonians, I've reflected on these next two verses and came to realize that I really should have included them in that post on brotherly love. The thoughts are so closely connected that some versions don't start a new sentence at verse 11.

The Thessalonians were taught by God to love, and were successfully loving other believers. As part of his challenge to them to "do so more and more", Paul lays out three specific actions that facilitate love within the body of Christ:

• Be ambitious about the right things. The New Testament consistently warns against "selfish ambition" and cautions believers about elevating themselves above others. Jesus taught that greatness is measured by the degree of servanthood, so pursuing what looks like worldly success actually moves us away from heavenly greatness. Here, Paul gives a specific "goal" for appropriate ambition: Lead a quiet life. The phrase is used elsewhere in the New Testament to mean "remain quiet" and "rest"; its root means "tranquil". It's a phrase used in contrast to "running hither and thither" (honestly, that's part of the definition). The quiet life is marked by a trust in God (that keeps us from taking on too much), relationship with Him and others, Biblical rest. It's a quietness of soul. Goal-oriented, ambitious people in the body of Christ can love well by focusing their ambition on rest and relationship. 
• Mind your own business. We chuckle at this, knowing almost immediately what it means (or at least what we think it means). Certainly there is the element of avoiding gossip, as Paul clearly spells out elsewhere. But Young's Literal Translation captures the nuances of the Greek a little better: "Do your own business". Another translation reads, "Attend to your own affairs." In any case, the idea in mind is that we don't let our responsibilities slide ... an apt command given that the previous one focuses on quietness and rest. We are so prone to extremes: "Rest? OK. Great command. I can get into this quietness and rest thing. Can't do the dishes, gotta rest. Can't help out my neighbor, gotta rest." But when we truly grasp all that God is for us in Christ, we not only have quietness of soul, we also have fullness of purpose in the life He gives us. We can contentedly and peacefully take care of our own business - those things we are personally responsible for - without anxiety or stress. 
• Work. Paul instructs them to work with their hands. The context clearly refers to work that earns a living. We often forget that work preceded the fall. The result of the fall was sweat and toil, thorns and thistles - the difficulties of work. But work itself is God-ordained. 

As believers grow in love for each other, with lives that are consistently marked by quietness of soul, personal responsibility, and hard work, two things happen: Outsiders respect our daily lives, and we are not dependent on anyone. (Certainly, there are times when we step in and help each other, or even where disability or illness lead to dependence - that is not what this passage refers to.) Our love continues to grow as we each increasingly do our part, at home, within the body, at work, and generously share with each other our time, talents, and treasure, within a context of mutual love and submission.

Love at work. It's a beautiful thing.

The Story

I woke up late one recent morning, but full of joy for I had in my heart so strongly THE story ... the basic outline of Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. In my sleep God had reminded me so strongly of the basics and how simple it really is ... yet how profoundly amazing and full of love:

1) Creation. God created the world and everything in it - and it was good. His creation of man and woman in His image was very good. Whatever ills we see in the world, we cannot blame God. We cannot justly accuse Him or attack His character. A good God made a good world. He could not do otherwise.
2) Fall. God created man in His image - including a free will. God didn't have to create, to reveal, to love ... He chose to do so. God has a free will so creatures made in His image - man and woman, not the animals - had to have a free will. Sadly, they chose to use that will to rebel, to reject, to believe a lie. Sin and death entered the world.
 
3) Redemption. Amazingly and beautifully, God had a plan. Woven into the story of fall is the story of redemption. Blood-stained garments of animal skin to clothe the fallen couple, when their man-made garments of leaves were insufficient. A future Victor who would crush Satan's head. The assurance that life would continue through future generations.
 
4) Restoration. So often I think this is the one we miss. God not only offers redemption for all who will embrace it - He restores what is lost. Ultimately that will be in the new heavens and new earth. But even now, where He redeems, He restores. Broken relationships healed. Broken promises fulfilled, Broken people made whole. Broken dreams renewed. Ever wonder why we are so fascinated with home improvements, makeovers, dramatic turnarounds? The Great Commission and the Great Commandment invite us to be part of the biggest restoration project in the world.

I don't know why this simple outline came to me this morning - truths I know deeply. I just had this picture in my mind of someone ready to rail against God, being interrupted with these truths just as He interrupted me years ago.

"Is it any wonder they call it Amazing Grace?" (Geron Davis)

Now, about brotherly love ... (Ministry in Thessalonians, #17)

Now, about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 

- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

One of the earliest American history facts I remember learning is that Philadelphia is the "city of brotherly love". As we studied the history of the constitution and the infant republic, this town was featured prominently. It would be many years before I realized that the name of the city was lifted directly from the pages of Scripture.

Philadelphia, or "brotherly love" is the noun form of one of the three Greek words for love used in the New Testament (the verb form is phileo; the other verbs are agape and storges; a fourth word, eros, is not used in the New Testament.) While agape refers to divine love or to self-sacrificial love, and storges to natural love such as that a mother has for a child, philadelphia refers to love between individuals - specifically, the love that should exist between Christians. Interestingly, the root word, philos, simply means "friend" and was used to refer to "one of the bridegroom's friends who on his behalf asked the hand of the bride and rendered him various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials". We're talking about a love that involves a level of trust and deep relationship.

In his classic The Four Loves, C. S. Lewis explores each of these words. He writes of philos: “Friendship arises out of mere companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure or burden” (Strong's Concordance). In other words, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to choose not the self-sacrificing agape love, or the natural storge love, but the relational philos love to define the love that God taught these believers to have for each other. 

Love for one another is so important to the heart of God that when the founders of this fledgling church were torn away from them, God stepped in to teach love directly to the church. Certainly phileo love is tied to agape love; the word in the second part of verse 9 is agape. God taught them to love one another with His divine, self-sacrificing love - but it played out in ways that reflected the unique philos love. Why is that? I believe it's simply this: Believers always have Jesus in common.

When we encounter another follower of Christ, we have found something in common, as Lewis described. In a place like Thessalonica, where believers were in the minority and faced persecution, realizing that they had relationships based on the common bond of Christ was crucially important to the young church. Those social bonds would strengthen faith and help them grow to maturity. Furthermore, in the first century there were no denominations or multiple churches within a city. There was no place to go if you couldn't get along. True "brotherly love" was essential for the church to rise above the differences as God brought people from all walks of life - Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female - into the church to make them all equal before Christ. And that's a beautiful thing.

I've certainly experienced some of the beautiful diversity of the philadelphia love within the body of Christ. I think of one friend who is as different from me as I can imagine. I'm a southern girl; she doesn't quite get us. I don't have an artistic bone in my body; she is creative in every way imaginable. I dislike pink and girly frou-frous; she enjoys what is often called "the feminine touches". Yet because of Christ, I met her and gradually developed a relationship of mutual love and appreciation for our differences. She has been incredibly encouraging about my teaching; prays faithfully for my ministry requests; and demonstrates in every way that we have true phileo love for each other. I hope you can think of your own example.

We were created for relationship - with God and with others. Not everyone has a spouse; not everyone has children; but we all have the opportunity to have friends. We can enjoy things we have in common with our friends from all walks of life, but there is a special friendship among believers who have Jesus in common. Paul urges us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to pursue this love, "more and more".

Let brotherly love continue... Hebrews 13:1

Giving instructions (Ministry in Thessalonians, #16)

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man, but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)

Throughout the New Testament we see a variety of approaches to ministry. We see the apostles encouraging churches, teaching them, pleading with them, challenging them to think differently. Sometimes we see calls to come up higher; other times guidelines on what to let go and what to take up. And sometimes, we see straightforward commands. This is one of those passages. 

From the standpoint of ministry, it's important that we see there is a place for giving instructions. Certainly there is value in training disciples to discover God's Word for themselves; it's important that the faith-walk of a church be authentic and not empty legalism. Some topics do lend themselves to dialogue and a questioning, socratic-type method. But it seems to me that our post-modern culture has infiltrated the church in a dangerous way when this becomes our default method, especially in areas where Scripture leaves no wiggle-room. The "soft theology" of discovery and raising questions can lead to relativism when it's not balanced by Scriptural "hard theology" of sound doctrine and clear-cut commands. Sexual morality is one area where "instructions" are called for.

The word translated "instruct" in its various forms literally means "commandment". These are not options! Paul and his team aren't presenting one option among many. Instead, they lay out specific rules - significantly, "by the authority of the Lord Jesus." What does Jesus say about sexual morality?

• We are to be set apart. "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." Sanctified means to be set apart. This world is broken in every way due to sin - including sexual brokenness. Christians are not to be like the world. Our approach to sexual morality should be one area where we are set apart. Other Biblical passages make clear what that should look like: Sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage between a husband and wife, and anything that defiles that should be rejected.
• We are to avoid sexual immorality. "Avoid" means to hold oneself back, to abstain. It means that we are not to go in the direction of immorality but instead in the direction of purity. It's not just about avoiding certain acts; we are to pursue a lifestyle of purity that holds us away from sexual immorality. 
• We are to control our body in a holy, honorable way. When we belong to the Lord, we don't get to "lose control". Our body is His temple and therefore, we are stewards of His temple. We must control ourselves in a holy, honorable way. We handle ourselves in a way that reflects His holiness and brings honor to His name which we bear. Paul contrasts this to "passionate lust" - a hedonistic, physically oriented lack of control which characterizes those who don't know God.
• We are never to wrong or take advantage of someone in the area of sexual morality. To the Thessalonians this most certainly meant not being involved sexually with another man's wife, as was common in that culture. In fact, Thessalonica was known for sexual immorality being practiced in the guise of the religions of that day. Paul makes it clear that the church should be distinguished by not sharing spouses, but also by not taking advantage of another person. We might not have Thessalonica's sexual mores, but examples abound of "taking advantage of" another person in this way. In Paul's teaching of Jesus' instructions, morality is not based on consent. It's based on marriage, self-control, and love for others that would never take advantage of a weakness for selfish passion.

Paul wraps up the section by stating that Jesus Himself will judge those who commit these sins, because God wants us to be holy, not impure. He boldly tells us that disobeying these commands is a rejection of God, who gave believers His Holy Spirit. We have to intentionally reject the Holy Spirit's promptings in order to commit sexual sin.

These are hard, direct words. Paul doesn't shy away from sharing them. That's the ministry lesson tucked into this teaching: Don't be scared to share truth under the authority of the Lord Jesus. 
Yes, we can trust the Holy Spirit in the lives of other believers, but we have to realize that He uses teachers, pastors, and other leaders (Eph 4) to mature the church. It's great when we get to have a good discussion. But sometimes, we all need some clear instructions.

Wrath + Love

God's Word is so amazing. I have written and taught a study on the attributes of God, and I've studied covenant in-depth, but tonight doing my Bible study I made a connection I've never seen before.

One of the first passages I ever memorized was Isaiah 54:10: "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you." A great verse in a beautiful context of God restoring His relationship with His covenant people, pictured as a bridegroom renewing His promises to His bride.

As I reflected on this from the perspective of the bride, I thought of the differences between human relationships. In human relationships there is almost always wrong on both sides. But in this situation, God was 100% right to be angry with His people, His bride, and put her away for a time because of her unfaithfulness. She was 100% wrong and He was 100% right. But despite the judgments of the earlier portions of Isaiah, now the emphasis has shifted to a completely undeserved outpouring of grace, love, compassion. Why? What makes the difference?

Context is key in Bible study. Isaiah 54 follows Isaiah 53 which ends with this moving and dramatic truth about God's Servant, the Messiah:

53:12 "So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”

An intervention has occurred. The Messiah has carried their sins. He intervened on their behalf. They were no less rebels. But He took on the wrath of God that they deserved.

And not just them ... us. Me. Everyone. Romans 5:10 says "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Reconciliation came when we were still enemies, because Jesus bore the full force of God's wrath.

A theology that omits the wrath of God is not only incomplete, it steals from us the deep joy that comes when we realize the depth of God's love. We cannot know His love fully until we realize that His Son bore the wrath we deserved. When we hear this message it either becomes the craziest thing we've ever heard, or the most hopeful. We either think there is no way it could be true, or we desperately hope it is true.

God loved Jesus fully. Jesus fully pleased God. Yet He died. That makes no sense apart from one great truth that has drawn people for 2000 years: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Wrath + Love = The Cross.
Love + Acceptance of the sacrifice = The Resurrection.
The Cross + The Resurrection = The Hope of the Gospel.

Clear the way! (Ministry in Thessalonians, #15)

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now, may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May our Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones. 

- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

The news of the Thessalonians' faith and love was encouraging to Paul and leads into this beautiful outpouring of prayer on their behalf. Paul longs to thank God for them and does so the only way he can - by praying for them. He prays that the team can see them again; that our Lord will increase their love; and that He will strengthen their hearts. Each of these prayers is a lesson in itself, but what strikes me the most about them is a key difference between the first prayer and the other two. 

The latter two prayers focus on asking Jesus to do something IN the Thessalonians - increase their love and strengthen their hearts for the holiness that should characterize children of God. This isn't surprising. When we walk with the Lord we learn that we cannot love without His love in us. We know that it truly does take a certain strength of heart to pursue blameless, holy living when everything around us fights against it. It's not surprising to hear Paul ask for a divine impartation of love and strength.

What surprised me is that Paul's team prays earnestly to "see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith." They even ask God to get personally involved in making that happen. As a former Pharisee, Paul knew the Scriptures. He was certainly familiar with passages like Daniel 10, which tells of spiritual battles going on in the heavenly places involving angels, and shows God dispatching an angel in response to Daniel's prayer. Paul doesn't ask for an angel to get involved here. He boldly asks God to personally step in. And lest we misunderstand his request he gets extremely specific: "Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus..." There's only one God. The "Himself" is only there for one reason: To make it clear that this request is for God's personal intervention. 

The nature of the request is equally specific; he asks that they "clear the way for us to come to you." The phrase "clear the way" refers to the removal of hindrances. What hindrances? Paul has only verses before explained why his team didn't make it back to Thessalonica: "Satan stopped us." (1 Thess. 2:18). Paul and his team recognized that Satan was personally involved in an effort to keep the leaders from getting back to that new church. Satan wanted to keep the ministry team away from the young church as part of his diabolical plan to steal their faith. So, Paul went straight to the top - and asked God Himself to get involved in the fight. 

What was this so important? Why couldn't Paul just ask God to impart what was lacking in their faith, just as he asked Jesus to give them love and strength of heart? Here is the beauty of God's plan for the church: There is something inherent in the nature of faith that makes it grow in ways when we are together that it does not grow when we are apart. 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The New Testament was still in its infancy, so the Thessalonians didn't have the words of the apostles written down like we do - but we still need more than a pen and our own Bible, as important as those personal quiet times are. Something that we lack in our faith is built up when we hear the word of God proclaimed. We are equipped by our pastors and teachers, prepared for service and built up to a more mature faith. Every time we hear a Biblical sermon or sit under a sound teacher, something is supplied for our faith that wasn't there before. Our part is to recognize that our faith needs this impartation of the word, and to regularly put ourselves in a place where it's taught, with a heart attitude to receive it.

Here's the ministry challenge for this passage: If you are not in one of the spiritual roles mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, then thank God for your church leaders who do bear this responsibility. Pray for them to impart the word of God accurately, and for them to have the time to prioritize prayer and Bible study. Recognize that as their primary job. Thank them for it. Pray every day this week that when you come to church next Sunday God will use your pastor's words to supply something lacking in your faith. Let God use him for the purpose He gave him to your church - to build you up and mature you.

If you are in one of these spiritual roles, I'm sure you recognize the profound responsibility that you have to the body of Christ and the vital importance of handling the word of God accurately. However, take some time to recognize the importance of having what is lacking in your own faith supplied as well. Who is your "pastor" or teacher? Take some time this week to receive a word from God that you don't have to research, write, or determine how to communicate to others. He has a word that is just for YOU. It will supply what is lacking in YOUR faith, and it will build you up for the work you are doing in His church this week. 

Jesus loves His church. This is one prayer we can be sure He answers - to clear the way for His people to hear His word.

Faith and love (Ministry in Thessalonians #14)

So when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us, and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, in all our distress and persecution we are encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 

- 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8

Paul's heart for the church in Thessalonica oozes from every chapter of these books, but this passage is especially touching. Paul has already explained how his ministry team decided together to stay in Athens and send Timothy to check on them. But Paul gets very personal in verse 5: HE could stand it no longer. He had to know how they were doing. Specifically, he was afraid of the type of spiritual warfare they might have been facing from the enemy of our souls, the tempter. Satan had already stopped them from coming to Thessalonica again so he knew that something evil was afoot. He didn't know the form it took with the church, but he was afraid some temptation had come to them. The previous verses seem to indicate that he was particularly concerned about temptations away from faith based on the persecution they were facing. Whatever his concern, he reached a point where he had to know something about their faith.

What's interesting to me is the report Paul details from Timothy doesn't talk about their faith at all! He says there is news about "your faith and love" but all the specifics relate to love; The church has pleasant memories of Paul & his team, and longs to see them. That's it. It seems so innocuous to our ears, almost a courtesy statement. Yet Paul saw in this report something much, much deeper. He saw evidence of faith, of standing firm in the Lord.

The epistles of John were still decades from being penned, but the eternal truth from God must have been ringing in Paul's heart:

1 John 3:11, 14 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ... 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

1 John 4:6-12 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Paul knew that Timothy's report reflected two evidences of faith:

1. They loved other believers. Remember, Paul and his team had been run out of town by persecutors. If the church at Thessalonica was not holding firm to truth, they would want to distance themselves from people who were out of favor with persecutors. Instead, they not only embraced them, they longed to see them! And they even said they had "pleasant memories" of their time together - despite the riot and false accusations by their own countrymen!
2. They paid attention to the apostles' teaching (1 John 4:6). They weren't rejecting God's messengers, because they were embracing the message. Today we listen to the apostles' teaching through reading and obeying Scripture. The church in Thessalonica cared about God's word. 

Paul's team was greatly encouraged by this report, as simple as it was, because it told them everything they needed to know. When we truly are standing firm in our faith, we too will love other believers and pay attention to God's Word. It's a simple test, but the fruit is undeniable: Genuine faith and genuine love for God's people are inseparable.

God's fellow worker (Ministry in Thessalonians #13)

So, when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 

- 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4

At the end of chapter 2, we saw how Paul and his team prioritized presence in their ministry. It's no surprise when we find them sending one of their own, Timothy, to "strengthen and encourage" the believers in Thessalonica. Despite having the full authority and inspiration of the Holy Spirit behind his words, Paul knew that some lessons are not just taught, they are caught. Timothy's presence, and his steadfastness in the midst of trials, would strengthen and encourage the believers in ways Paul couldn't put into words.

What jumps out to me the most besides the continuation of this example of presence is Paul's description of Timothy: "Our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ." Paul could accurately have called Timothy "our fellow worker". In other passages, he referred to co-laborers in just that way. I find it significant that in a passage where he is trying to encourage them to not let trials unsettle them - the word literally means "move" - Paul highlights that Timothy labors not just alongside Paul, but alongside God Himself!

The implications for ministry are profound. To be God's fellow worker means we "work alongside" Him. It means we "cooperate" with Him in the task at hand. Most of all it means that spreading the gospel isn't our idea - it's God's. We're the ones coming alongside Him in His work.

As God's fellow worker, Timothy's assignment to Thessalonica is to strengthen and encourage them because of the certainty of trials. Trials are our destiny - they shouldn't unsettle us. Paul even goes on to say that his team had foretold their persecution. Whether they had divine insight or just read the signs of the times doesn't matter. Either way they knew what was coming, and they were right. It changed their location (they had to flee to Berea) but not their message. Not their purpose. Not their faith. They were God's fellow workers. Whatever happened, His work was going to be accomplished.

It is still so today. Trials, persecutions, difficulties - we face them all as God's fellow workers. But we face them with full assurance that He is with us in the midst of them, and that He is working it all together to accomplish His good purpose.

Don't be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. Be strengthened and encouraged as a fellow worker with God in the task set before you. He is faithful, and He will do it.

Presence (Ministry in Thessalonians, #12)

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. For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us. 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? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. - 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 

I have a sweet friend who truly brings to life the gift of presence. She truly loves to give her support to people in person. When Bob's mom was in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities over the course of a couple of years, I lost count of how many times I would look up and see Beth. When I had a monthly women's prayer and study group, Beth was the first to sign up. Birthday parties or special dinners? If she's in town, you can definitely count on her.

The more I study Scripture, especially the New Testament, the more I realize that the importance Beth places on presence is a reflection of God's heart. Think for a moment what we know about God from the earliest verses of Genesis: His Spirit hovered over the earth's waters. He was personally involved in every detail of creation. He personally brought animals to Adam to name. He walked in the garden and personally made garments from animal skin to cover Adam and Eve after their sin. We can look at Scripture and see ever-increasing levels of His presence: Walking in the Garden. The burning bush. The pillars of cloud and fire. The Shekinah glory. The incarnation. The indwelling Holy Spirit. His glorious return. Just to name a few.

With all this emphasis on the presence of God in the Bible, we should not be surprised to see Paul placing a priority on visiting the Thessalonian church. He doesn't take lightly their forced separation. The phrase translated "torn away" is particularly touching: aporphanizō. It literally means "orphaned" and was used to describe "to bereave of a parent or parents". Paul's team - described earlier in the chapter as acting maternally and paternally - has such a feeling of loss when persecution forced them to leave the new church in Thessalonica that they describe themselves as feeling "orphaned".
We might be inclined to think this is just a word for dramatic effect, if it were not for Paul's description of their actions after being torn away. They continued thinking about them, and had an 'intense longing' to see them - the word for 'longing' indicates a strong desire (positive or negative) and is so strong itis used negatively to describe lust. Out of this desire, they spent a significant effort to see the church - they were diligent, intentional, and put themselves out in an effort to get back to Thessalonica. Paul's words leave absolutely no doubt: It was their will to get back to Thessalonica.

"But Satan stopped us." Satan was also present. He got personally involved in an effort to keep the leaders from getting back to that new church. Why? Satan wants nothing more than to be worshipped and if he cannot get worship, the next best thing is to take someone's faith in God away. He knew how young the church back in Thessalonica was and how the church planting team could strengthen their faith. Here is the beauty wrapped up in this temporary setback: his plan failed utterly! I don't know what it looked like for Satan to stop them, but we know that's what happened. Yet as we will see in the next chapter, the church held firmly to their faith. Satan won a battle, but he didn't win the war. There's still a church in Thessaloniki, as it's called today.

Paul anticipates their continued faith as he wraps up this chapter - when Jesus returns, the churches he planted, included Thessalonica, would be his glory and joy. The ultimate measure of his purpose and significance. The ultimate satisfaction. The ultimate success story. They would be his victory crown - where? In the presence of our Lord Jesus. Here's our key word again. In His Presence, there will be hope, glory, joy. In His Presence, a temporary hindrance by Satan will be seen in its full context and victory will be celebrated. And we will get to be with each other as well as with the Lord - for eternity. What a gift - Presence.

This past Sunday, my pastor defined "loving your neighbor" as "extending to your neighbor whatever you have found Jesus to be for you." Jesus gives me His presence through the Holy Spirit. The ministry challenge for me is to seek God's heart for others to such a degree that I long to share my presence with them, just as He shares His with me.

Trusting the Word to Work (Ministry in Thessalonians, #11)

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you welcomed 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 you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men 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. - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

One of my consistent prayers when I teach or write is that my words will fall to the ground and God's words would remain. I know too well that I am human, imperfect, and have areas where I'm prone to imbalance. God wisely makes absolutely no promises about my words. His Word, however - well, that's a different story:

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. (Psalm 119:89) 

When I first started walking with the Lord, I had no mentor, discipleship program, or even a regular church. What God used to draw me to Himself was His Word, which had been planted in me when I was a child required to be in church with my parents three times a week. While it didn't seem to "take" at the time, what I didn't realize was the principle of germination. Just as seeds in a garden germinate at different rates - the oldest mature seed to germinate actually dates to Jesus' era - so it is when God's Word is planted in the soil of a heart. Our part is to plant the seeds of God's Word and pray for it to fall on good soil; the rest, including the timing of germination, is in God's hands.

Paul's team rejoiced over the Thessalonians because when they heard God's Word from Paul and his team, they welcomed it "not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God." Paul knew full well that such a response was the work of God in their hearts, so he "continually" thanked God for this attitude toward the Word of God. The words used in this passage are instructive to any of us who communicate God's Word in any way to other people.

• First, the word of God is "heard." This refers to physically hearing something. They had to literally hear the word of God from someone - the verse makes it clear they heard it from Paul's team. Paul lived out the words he later wrote to the church in Rome: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14
• Second, the word of God is "received." This word refers to "receiving something transmitted" and taking it to oneself. In the context of this verse it refers to receiving with the mind. When these believers heard the word of God, they did not immediately cast it aside. The words didn't fall to the ground; they received the words into their minds and gave them some consideration. 
• Third, the word of God is "welcomed." Some translations say "accepted". The Greek word carries a much deeper meaning than our typical understanding of either word. Its first meaning is "to take with the hand" and it is a word associated with hospitality, used in Hebrews 11:31 of Rahab "welcoming" the spies. When referring to something heard it includes the idea of "to make one's own". It includes the idea of "take up", as its use in Ephesians 6:17 demonstrates.
• Finally, once the word has been heard, received, and welcomed, it is "at work in you who believe." You don't have to know Greek at all to grasp the meaning behind "at work" when you see the word energeo! It contains the idea of working with POWER. It brings to mind Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

How was the word of God shown to be at work in the Thessalonian church? The "For you" in verse 14 connects the thoughts. Paul tells them God's word "is at work in you who believe. FOR YOU, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea..." How did they imitate these churches? The verse continues to describe how just as the churches in Judea suffered persecution from their own countrymen, so too did the church in Thessalonica. We know from Acts 17 that this persecution came alarmingly early in the life of the new believers. The seeds had barely germinated before persecution came, people were arrested, and Paul & his team were whisked away to Berea. They had to learn quickly to trust the word of God to be at work in the church.

Please know that none of this negates the importance of sound biblical teaching. God gave the "office" gifts to the church - apostle, evangelist, prophet, pastor, teacher - to build her up and bring us all to maturity. When God's word is at work in us, we will be drawn to sound teaching and want to be part of the church He loves.

What this passage teaches me, though, is that when I fully do my part - share the word of God and pray for the it to fall into good soil - I can rest knowing that whatever circumstances arise, the word of God will do its work. Like a new plant, it takes on a life of its own.

The ministry challenge for this is two-fold: First, it's always a good idea to examine our hearts anew to make sure we are welcoming the word of God and allowing it to powerfully work in us. Second, take any concerns that you have about people you've shared Scripture with to the Lord. Ask Him to give them a heart to receive and welcome the words as the words of God, not man. And pray for those words to accomplish the purpose God intends as He unleashes the power that is locked up in every seed, bringing it forth to produce fruit in His perfect timing.

The fruit of loving (Ministry in Thessalonians, #10)

"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you. But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 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. 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 to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless we were among you. For we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory."

- 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12

When I started this series, I wrote that I wanted to discover the heart of ministry. I wanted to meditate on the truths of these two books that were richly laced with insights about how Paul and his team ministered in Thessalonica. The passage we are considering today is one of the key sections that God kept bringing up in my heart and mind to lead me to this series. It's funny though. Preparing to write about this, I kept focusing on the idea of "how not to be a burden", since Paul mentions that concept twice in these verses. I even made a list from my observations. But God - as He so often does - reshaped my understanding just as I sat down to write this post.

Paul's ministry, not only to the Thessalonians but overall, cannot be understood apart from the deep love that God gave him for people. What else but love can prompt such a longing for another's salvation that a person would want to give up his own if possible?

I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit--that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:1-3 ESV)

Paul made it clear to a later congregation that love was the motivating factor in his ministry:

If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2 Corinthians 5:13-14)

And one of the most beautiful chapters in all of Scripture, loved by believer and unbeliever alike, extols the virtues of love above other spiritual gifts, even saying it is greater than hope and even than faith!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

But in 1 Thessalonians, one of the earliest books of the New Testament to be written, Paul isn't teaching on the theology of love. Instead, his emphasis on love appears suddenly, sandwiched between his words describing how he and his team approached ministry in Thessalonica. To me, that makes his example all the more powerful. Rather than providing us a list of ministry do's and don'ts, he just peels back the curtain of transparency and lets us see what happens when ministry is fueled by genuine love. Join me in this glimpse into Paul's heart:

• The intensity of authentic love. "We loved you so much". The word translated as "loved...so much" is only used here in the New Testament and is defined by Strong's concordance as "to desire, long for, especially the longing of love." We often rightly emphasize the "doing" aspect of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. It's good and even wise to remind ourselves that love doesn't depend on feelings. But it's wrong to keep love locked into a category of duty. There is an intensity of authentic love, especially for those God calls us to minister to, that brings with it a deep desire. It transforms duty into delight.
• The joy of authentic love. "that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well". In a ministry situation we should never lose sight of the importance of joy and delight. Let's face it - ministry is hard. Anyone who chooses to spend time developing her spiritual gifts, practicing the spiritual disciplines essential to exercise those gifts effectively, and living out the exercise of those gifts in consistent ministry is giving up something to do so. It's not just this thing we do on the side, on par with attending local sporting events or visiting art galleries. And if that weren't enough, the minute we step out in the obedience of faith, Satan increases his attacks to stop us (we'll see more on that in a future lesson). But in the middle of this tough job and spiritual warfare, God does something beautiful. He gives us joy. He makes us delighted to do His will - to share the gospel and our lives. 
• If you think delight is not important, consider this: Imagine your husband coming home one night and announcing that he is taking you out for dinner, then when you get home will clean the entire house while you prop up your feet and watch your favorite show. The next day he will take care of the children while you sleep in. When you thank him for it he says, "Don't thank me, it's my duty. I'm supposed to do that as your husband." I don't know a woman who could hear those words and not have some of the excitement taken out of the plans. But if that same husband took his wife's face in his hand and said, "Darling, I love you so much, I am delighted to do something for you to bless you. In fact, I cannot wait to find ways to show you love" - the woman would sense his delight.
• Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, there is a joy that underlies everything we do. We can consider that Biblical permission to fight for joy and to come against the enemy's efforts to steal our joy. In fact, we can often discover what ministry God wants us involved in when we find something that causes us to overflow with joy and delight!  
• The word "delight" is a word meaning "well-pleased". It's used by God for Jesus upon His baptism - "This is my Son...with Him I am well-pleased" (Matthew 3:7).It really means just like it sounds - it's a sense of pleasure that goes along with someone or something. It's a word that describes when you are doing exactly what you want to be doing at a given moment. Paul's team was "delighted" - "well-pleased" - to share the Gospel AND their lives. Let's face it - most of us might share the Gospel out of duty, but we aren't likely to share our lives apart from a sense of delight. There has to be some level of "want to" in order to open up our hearts and homes.
• The nature of authentic love. "because you had become so dear to us." "So dear" is "agapetos", a form of the word "agape" which is sacrificial, Godly love that focuses on the good of the one loved. The same form of the word is used at Jesus' baptism when God speaks, "This is my beloved (agapetos) Son" (see Mark 1:11). John tells us "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Any measure of love we have for someone comes from the heart of God. When God gives us love in our hearts for someone, or a group of people, and gives us a delight in sharing our lives with them, we walk that out in sacrificial love and along the way, they become increasingly "beloved" to us.

So we are back to our starting point. Paul and his team had this deep, genuine love, placed in their hearts by God. This love defined their ministry. What is the result of this type of love? The passage outlines a few aspects of their ministry that could only come from hearts of love:

• Parental care
• Gentleness
• Willingness to work hard
• Holy, righteous, blameless
• Encouraging, comforting, urging 
• And of course, not wanting to be a burden

After going through this passage, I'm convinced that a Godly ministry cannot start with a desire to not be a burden. Frankly, that can easily become false humility and lead to pride and a "martyr's complex". Godly ministry has to start with authentic love. If I am to see any kind of fruit at all, I have to first be filled with love for the people God calls me to. Whether that be a one-time conversation, an extended Bible study group, or a long-term relationship, I cannot escape the priority of love. If I sense the love waning, I have to go back to the source of Love Himself, and ask for a new infusion. The beautiful thing is, when I am compelled by love, the fruit is evident. People might reject the message, but they can never deny the love behind it. 

So that's my ministry challenge tonight: Seek God for the people He's given you a deep love for. Ask Him to make that ministry a delight. And watch the type of fruit He brings forth as you love and serve those you find "so dear".

Not Looking for Praise (Ministry in Thessalonians #9)

"We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. 

We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else." 

- 1 Thessalonians 2:4b-6a

Paul's ministry example continues with a segment of parallel warnings. As apostles and teachers "approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel," Paul and his team knew that God tested their hearts. This recognition undergirded their determination to not try to please men. In part, that meant they didn't use flattery (trying to attract people by giving false praise) or cover up greed with a spiritual-seeming mask. They could stand with God, and the Thessalonians, as their witnesses to their desire to please God, not man.

Yet what captured my attention most from this section is the latter portion: "We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else." To me this goes beyond not just trying to please men. Consider this with me briefly.

"Trying to please men" implies some sort of effort. In fact, the Greek word this phrase comes from, aresko, means to strive to please, and includes the idea of accommodating oneself to someone else's "opinions, interests, and desires". I can't help thinking of Julia Roberts in "Runaway Bride." She plays a woman who didn't even know how she liked her eggs, because she always ordered them the same way her boyfriend did. That's a perfect picture of "trying to please men". In the movie it's sad; in ministry it's spiritually disastrous. In ministry situations it can be challenging (you want them to like you so you can build relationships), but it's crucial. One of my spiritual gifts is encouragement, so I have studied Barnabas in-depth. I can completely understand how he could be "led astray" with Peter with the Judaizers came to Antioch.

Most mature Christians probably make a sincere effort to not be people-pleasers. But Paul's words go further. He says, "We were not looking for praise from men". "Looking for praise" literally means "seek glory". While "seek" (or "looking for") is used for intentional seeking, it is also used for something far more subtle: "Crave". We can resist the temptation to intentionally accommodate people's "opinions, interests, and desires", and still retain the subtle craving for their praise. In fact, some of our biggest disappointments come when we feel that we didn't get the positive feedback- the "praise" - we had hoped for.

Thankfully, there is a craving that can go deeper than our understandable human craving for approval. Luke 12:31 uses the same word: But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. When our focus is on the kingdom of God, all other cravings come into balance. We no longer crave people's approval or praise. And in the paradox of the kingdom, it is within the community of believers that we are able to find our soul's deeper longing met fully. We learn to appropriately value others and look out for their interests; to honor others; to show gratitude. We give and receive appropriate "praise", when we stop looking for it and focus on Jesus together. Consider just a few passages:

• Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
• Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
• How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? (1 Thessalonians 3:9)

I encourage you to take up this ministry challenge with me: Ask God to search your heart for any areas where you are trying to please people, and reveal any hidden cravings for praise. Commit to seek Him and His kingdom above all. And learn to model - and receive - the biblical answer to our human longing for positive feedback through the community of believers, the church.

The appeal we make (Ministry in Thessalonians #8)

"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,

 nor are we trying to trick you. 

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel." 

- 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4a

I love the connecting words of Scripture. The "fors" and "therefores" and "buts" and "so's" teach me so much spiritual truth.

These verses tell me that Paul's boldness in sharing the Gospel "despite strong opposition" (see v. 2) didn't come from a desire to prove a point or a human-centered approach to outreach that put all the burden on the messenger. Instead, he was able to "dare to tell" the Gospel because of the very nature of the appeal that he was making. The Gospel, and the call to speak it, became a source of empowerment to fulfill his calling. Consider these observations:

• Paul was convinced of the truth of his message. The appeal - the Gospel - did not "spring from error". This is the starting point for any authentic evangelism. The messenger must first of all preach the Gospel to himself or herself - to be convinced it doesn't not spring from error. If you are facing any doubts at all in this area, go back to the basics. Read the Gospels and the book of Romans again; take your questions to God; renew your faith. 
• Paul was convinced of the purity of his motives. Paul knew his team was in Thessalonica for the right reasons. Interestingly, Paul didn't focus much on the motivations of others. In fact, to encourage a church that was concerned about ministers taking advantage of Paul's imprisonment he wrote "The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached." (see Philippians 1:15-18). However, Paul's example and his emphasis here on the purity of his motives tell us that motives do matter. The overall teaching of the New Testament makes it clear that leaders are held to a higher standard. The more we can be sure of the purity of our motives, the greater our boldness in sharing the message. There are many possible impure motives, but what is a pure motive? Paul himself defined it to the church at Corinth: For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2 Corinthians 5:14). We should be filled with Christ's love, and it will overflow in love toward others. When we are convinced of His love and are walking in love toward Him, then we will have His heart toward the world. Since He doesn't wish for any to perish, His love will compel us to someone who needs to hear the message. 
• Paul was convinced of the rightness of his methods. His team was not trying to trick anyone. There was no bait and switch. They were clear about why they were there, and they were clear about what the message involved. They didn't hide difficult truths. One of the contrasts of Christianity to the gnosticism of the first century is that there was no "higher level" of knowledge for those who were in the faith's "inner circle". In fact, there was no "inner circle" as the world perceives it. Those called to lead most visibly suffered the greatest, and the church preserved the words it was taught for all to hear. We still enjoy that straightforwardness every time we open the New Testament. 
• Paul recognized God had entrusted them with the Gospel. God had "approved" them - the word refers to being approved after having been tested. God knew they were ready for the responsibility of taking the message to others. The word "entrusted" should be encouraging for anyone called to share the Gospel, whether to a friend or in a church or at an evangelistic meeting. It's the word "pisteuo" and is a form of the word "faith"! God had faith in them, after testing them, and He demonstrated it by giving them the Gospel message. Anytime God calls you to share the love of Christ with someone, you can be sure He's first tested you and entrusted you - He has faith in you! The focal verse of this blog, 2 Corinthians 4:7, tells us that when God entrusts the Gospel to us, He knows He's putting them in this earthen vessels - these jars of clay - and that the whole reason He does it is to show that the power comes from Him and not us. 

One of my favorite book series includes the story of a young man who unknowingly inherits over a million dollars. His adoptive father is charged with telling him about the inheritance "when he is old enough to bear it with dignity." We could consider the Gospel message a "trust fund" that God entrusts us with when He has made us ready (see Gal. 1:15-16). Unlike most earthly trust funds, though, this treasure is one we're not to keep to ourselves. In fact, the nature of the treasure makes us long to share it with others! As we grow in Him, He tests us and then begins to entrust us to share that treasure with others. Maybe just one or two ... maybe a whole congregation ... maybe millions on television. It doesn't matter. The message is always the Gospel, the motive should always be love, and we should always share it openly and freely.

The appeal we make comes from a heart that God has entrusted. We can trust Him to empower us to complete what He trusts us to do!

Transparency (Ministry in Thessalonians, #7)

"You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 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 despite strong opposition." 

-1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

As I've meditated on Paul's letters to the Thessalonian believers, I've been drawn by the number of times he tells them they "know" something, either about him or from him. Ten times in eight chapters he reminds them of something they already know. 

The church in Thessalonica knew: 

• What type of men Paul and his team proved to be while among them (1:5).
• Their visit to Thessalonica was not a failure (2:1). 
• Paul and his team was persecuted in Philippi before coming to Thessalonica (2:2).
• The team did not try to flatter the Thessalonians, nor were they greedy (2:5). 
• They dealt with the church in a paternal way (2:11). 
• Paul's team was destined for trials (3:3). 
• The persecutions Paul prophesied while in Thessalonica came to pass (3:4). 
• The instructions Paul gave them (4:2) 
• What is restraining the man of lawlessness at this time (2 Thess 2:6)
• What it looks like to imitate Paul & his team (2 Thess 3:7)

How did the church know these things? The message of the books is clear: These are all things that Paul either told them, or they observed while watching him. To me this shows a remarkable degree of transparency. 

Consider just one topic: Persecution. Paul wasn't in Thessalonica very long. We don't know at what point he shared this information, but we can assume it was very early in the life in the church. How tempting it could have been to soft-pedal the realities of life after choosing to follow Jesus. But no - Paul shared what had happened to them in Phillipi, told them more was was coming, and described it as his team's destiny! Based on what happened in Thessalonica, the new church quickly learned to practice what Paul had preached! 

Paul also lived openly before them. Their lifestyle and approach to ministry were on display for all to see. They made their teaching clear. There were no secret lessons, no "super-spiritual" attitudes to establish unrealistic standards. There was simply transparency in all matters. This transparency was not our modern "tell-all" approach that tends to glorify our sins and emphasize our flesh. Instead, it was an authentic godliness, borne out of deep love for them and firmly grounded in the word of God.

One of the most important ways Paul's team was transparent is tucked into 1 Thessalonians 2:2: with the help of our God we dared to tell you His gospel despite strong opposition. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. He was already well-known throughout the empire - but he makes it clear that after what happened in Philippi, it was only "with the help of our God" that they kept the message going. I don't know about you, but in that portion of a sentence I hear the voice a man who passed through fear and landed firmly on the ground of faith. I hear a supernatural boldness that came after time on his knees. I hear a holy stubbornness to take chances - not just to whisper but to "dare to tell you His Gospel". Paul never pretended that the strong opposition was easy. He taught them how desperately they needed "the help of our God." 

As we grow in transparency, we are also increasing what those who look to us "know". We are equipping them to walk out their faith when we're not around. We're making an investment that, like Paul's, will not be a failure but will result in a church that can be an example to others.

Ministry challenge: Identify a way that you can be more biblically transparent to those who look to you for leadership.

When the message rings out (Ministry in Thessalonians, #6)

"The Lord's message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead -- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." 

- 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Acts 17 records the beginning of the church in Thessalonica. Jews, Greeks, and "prominent women" joined together in following Jesus as Messiah - and then the persecution started. This wasn't just an isolated heckler here and there. The early Thessalonian church saw mob riots and the arrest of some of the new believers. They had to sneak Paul and Silas out under cover of darkness. This church had every reason to stay underground.

But there is something about the Gospel that cannot stay secret for long. The text tells us that from the church in Thessalonica, the message "rang out" - the phrase literally means "sounded forth" or "resounded". It's used when the sound of something is carried forth - A. T. Robertson says it signifies "to sound out of a trumpet or of thunder, to reverberate like our echo." Thessalonica was strategically located on the Egnation Way (Via Egnatia), a major thoroughfare of the first century. This passage makes it clear that this young church used its location for kingdom purposes. In fact, their faith had "become known everywhere".

Yet Paul and his team don't focus on how those who heard the ringing truth of the Gospel reacted to the message. Instead, they rejoice that God's word has been shared so widely. Whether positively or negatively, people were talking about the new faith of the Thessalonian believers. Specifically, they were "gossiping" about their rejection of idolatry and their anticipation of Christ's return. We should all have such a reputation.

This passage should give great encouragement to anyone in ministry. It contains not only principles for ministry; it also gives a picture of how the Gospel can take root in a community. Consider just a few points:

• The Gospel takes on a life of its own. There's nothing wrong with strategies (Paul certainly was intentional in his evangelistic efforts). But there is an organic nature to the spread of the Gospel that should be profoundly encouraging to anyone in ministry. In the Thessalonian church, we see Jesus' words in action: 
• "What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs." (Luke 12:3)
• "Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."" (Luke 13:20-21)
• We don't have to convince people that a ministry effort is successful. In a numbers-driven society, this is good news indeed! Certainly there is nothing wrong with reports of what God is doing - the New Testament is filled with specifics about responses to sermons and mission trips. But the report of those who see the difference the Gospel has made in the lives of others can be a greater "year-end report" than anything we could prepare. 
• We can rejoice when our faith is recognized - even negatively. Based on Acts 17, we can be certain that this awareness of their faith did not always come with positive feelings. The old adage, "It doesn't matter what they write about me, as long as they spell my name right" could be modified for believers: "It doesn't matter what they say about us, as long as the Gospel comes through loud and clear."

The Thessalonians were famous for their faith, and made Jesus known in the process. Along the way, more than a few who overheard the gossip had their interest piqued enough to find out more. The Lord's message rang out - and the world would never be the same.

Imitation (Ministry in Thessalonians #5)

"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; despite severe suffering you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit, and so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia." 

- 1 Thessalonians 1:5b-7

Among the many beautiful truths the Protestant Reformation restored to the church was the importance of individual faith. Martin Luther was captivated by the emphasis on faith for each singular soul when he studied Romans 1:17: "For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it hath been written, 'And the righteous one by faith shall live,'" (Young's Literal Translation). Today, personal faith in Christ is a fundamental tenet of evangelical Protestant faith.

However, the non-negotiable necessity of a personal relationship with Jesus does not mean that our relationship with Him is only personal. Far from it. We embrace Him personally, but we walk with Him in community. Our local church, the broader body of Christ, and the "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) who have walked this path before us provide examples that we can follow. Various words such as "example", "model", "follow", and "imitation" all point to the same principle: When we are in Christ, we don't have to figure it out on our own.

In the case of the Thessalonians, Paul and his team clearly lived among them in a specific way for the sake of those they were ministering to. These new believers imitated their leaders and ultimately became a model themselves to new churches. It's interesting to note that "imitators" is plural while "model" (or "example") is singular. Each person had to walk out his or her own imitation - but together, as a whole, they became a model for other churches to follow. Later, in chapter 2, we learn that the Thessalonian church imitated the churches in Judea - the organic development of the church spread as each body became greater than the sum of their parts! None of us will get imitation perfectly but somehow, together, we can reflect the character of our Savior.

Our modern Western world tends to be resistant toward intentional imitation, though the warp speed at which fashion trends, hashtags, and slang traverses the globe testifies to our internal bent to imitate someone. On some level we think that imitation is phony, that we give up some degree of individuality. But Biblical imitation is anything but uniformity. Instead, it's an intentional choice to emulate someone in specific ways. Consider the following:

• Paul taught others how he followed Jesus and urged them to do the same. 
• "I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:16-17)
• "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you." (1 Corinthians 11:1-2)
• "For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you..." (2 Thessalonians 3:7)
• "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13)

• Spiritual leaders should have faith and lives worth imitating. 
• "It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate." (2 Thessalonians 3:9) 
• "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
• "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7) 

• We are taught to intentionally draw our attention to those whose lives follow Biblical examples.  
• "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." (Philippians 3:17)
• "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord." (James 5:10)
• "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (Hebrews 6:12)
  

What do we imitate? 3 John 1:11 tells us to imitate actions that are good "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God." The Hebrews 13:7 passage above tells us to imitate the faith of leaders whose long-term walk has visible results. The same verse tells us we should consider the outcome of their life- this speaks to a long-term walk with visible results, not a trendy following of the latest fads.   And several passages make it clear that suffering enters us into a special type of imitation (see 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2:14, and 1 Peter 2:21).


So what does this look like in practice? There are as many answers to that question as there are Christians. As I've learned about imitation, I've realized the importance of being very intentional and prayerful. Imitation first starts with Christ, so I have to be very aware of His life through the Gospels and live accordingly. I should always be able to identify characteristics of my "role model" that reflect the character of Christ. I've also learned that God doesn't want me to be an exact replica of someone else. God isn't about creating cookie cutter Christians, who follow exactly some pattern. So in my own life, imitation seems to be centered on specific areas where God is working in me. Let me give an illustration.

One of the dearest people in my life is Judy. I often describe her as my "second mom." Judy attends my church now, but for years was a pastor's wife. Judy is a quiet, peaceful presence in any room, and in Bible study she is known for attentively listening and often not speaking at all. But when she does speak, it's like the old commercial: "People listen." She has a way of simplifying whatever we've been discussing into the basics, and always increases our faith. In short, she brings much wisdom without many words. Regular readers of this blog know that the same cannot be said about me! My gifts of teaching and encouragement often tag team to make it difficult for me to keep my mouth shut. However, I know from Scripture that sometimes, the better part of wisdom is found in silence: Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. (Proverbs 10:19). So one day I had lunch with Judy and asked her the secret to developing that kind of discernment. She shared with me her life experiences and things she learned along the way. I have a long way to go, and I know that God has gifted me in certain ways that mean sometimes I have to speak where others are silent, but there are definitely times where God reminds me, through Judy, of the beauty of silence and careful speech. I also pray that my words would fall to the ground and God's words would remain. No one will ever confuse me with Judy, but her influence in my life has strengthened my faith and sharpened my walk with Christ.

Your experience will be different. If you are struggling in an area, find someone to imitate. Talk to your pastor or other church leader; read Christian biography; look in Scripture for someone God commends who has the same problem, gift, or situation.Ultimately, we imitate God, and all imitation of others must be kept within this context:

• "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:15)
• "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." (Ephesians 5:1)  

All of us should strive to live a life worth imitating, because there is always someone watching. However, if you are in leadership, or are involved in any kind of ministry, it is absolutely essential. Whether you are aware of it or not, people will imitate you. As we seek to live lives worthy of imitation, we absolutely must keep our eyes on Jesus. We have to first imitate Him so that we know we are on solid ground if anyone imitates us. Beyond that, though, we should be authentic and specific. It makes a big difference whether I say, "I begin each day with prayer" or, "I pray for a half hour first thing in the morning because if I don't, I find that my prayer time never happens and my day is more frustrating."

Imitation also can require sacrifice. In many cultures today new believers are paired with someone who meets with them daily. Paul's frequent practice was to live among the churches he started; they saw firsthand what his life was like. They knew when he rose for prayer and how he studied the Bible. I often ask myself, would I be willing to share my quiet time with a new believer? I look at that as my "alone time" with God - but maybe He would have me invite someone in for a period so they can hear my prayers and study with me. While Jesus did have a place of "farther still" where He went alone, the closest three disciples still heard what He prayed (they wrote it down in the Gospels) and those three were with Him in some of His most intimate moments with the Father.


"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Charles Colton wrote in 1820. That might be true in worldly things. But in matters of the faith, imitation is far more than flattery. It's a divinely-appointed means of our spiritual development and one of the ways that God shapes us into the image of His Son. Biblical imitation is not uniformity. The beauty of our faith is that it is infinitely translatable - it doesn't look the same because the focal point is not what we do, but Whose we are. When we are in Christ, we find that our different gifts and approaches become part of a majestic mosaic that, when pictured from a distance, shows an increasingly clear picture of our Savior.

Ministry challenge: Who are you imitating? Reflect on an area where God wants to transform you, and ask Him to give you someone to imitate.

Certainty (Ministry in Thessalonians #4)

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our Gospel came to you not simply with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction." 

- 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a

One of the beautiful things about Christianity is knowing where we stand with God. Scripture is clear that we can know we have been saved and are in Christ. An entire book has this as its main theme. Consider just a few passages from 1 John: 

• "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ... But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:" (1 John 2:3, 5) 
• "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14)
• "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:" (1 John 3:18-19)
• "The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:24)
• "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ... We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:13, 20)

Paul's words to Thessalonica underscore another Biblical certainty: In ministry, God can give us discernment about the authenticity of another person's conversion. Of course, we cannot know the deepest workings of another's heart, but this passage echoes Jesus' teaching that we can recognize genuine faith by its fruit:

"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."(Matthew 7:17-20)

What does Paul and his team claim to "know" about the church at Thessalonica? Simply that they are "chosen" - one of Paul's ways of referring to authentic believers. After beautifully reiterating to the church that they are loved by God - a message we should all remind each other of regularly - Paul elaborates on why they have this certainty about Thessalonica: When the Gospel came, it came with four evidences: 

• Words
• Power
• The Holy Spirit
• Deep conviction 

The Acts 17 account of Paul's visit to Thessalonica doesn't include a lot of detail about what these evidences looked like. Instead, it's focused on the persecution they faced in that city. Yet despite this opposition, people responded to the message. Later in 1 Thessalonians Paul observes that they "welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit" (1:6) and that they received the words "not as the words of men, but as it really is, the Word of God" (2:13). Whatever evidences of power and the presence of the Holy Spirit came were obviously clear to Paul and the team. 

What about the "deep conviction"? Contrary to what we might think, this isn't the word used for conviction of sin. It means "full assurance, most certain confidence". It's the same word used in Hebrews 10:22: "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

For anyone in ministry, this is an encouraging concept. God can grant discernment and make conversions so obvious that we can "know" genuine faith through what we are able to perceive. Certainly this is one way that Jesus' words in John 20:21-23 are lived out in the church: "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.""

What an encouragement it should be, especially to pastors and church leaders, to know that God gives a special discernment to "know" genuine faith, to recognize authenticity. This is protection against easy believism, emotion-oriented responses, wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). In some parts of the world, it's protection against persecutors who try to infiltrate the church by pretending to be seekers. 

Is this discernment perfect? Of course not. John himself later wrote of a time when falsehood didn't become apparent on the front end: "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us" (1 John 2:19). Like anything else in ministry, we have to grow in this discernment. And even then sometimes we might find, like Elisha, that the Lord hides details from us that we would like to know (see 2 Kings 4:27).

The ministry challenge in this passage for me is: Grow in discernment in ministry situations, and pray for my pastor and church leaders to have the insight and discernment to perceive the real from the counterfeit. Will you join me in taking up this challenge?