What Kind Of Minister Can You Trust?

Our main text for the morning is going to be verses 9 through 12.

I think it will be helpful for us to start reading at verse number 1.

I'm not going to work through all those verses,

but 9 through 12 really is just kind of a portion of a larger argument in the text.

And I've kind of chopped it up into three or four different sections.

I want us to, at least in the reading here at the front end,

to kind of bring all of it back together so we have a good understanding of context.

And then we'll spend our time really focused in on verses 9 through 12.

1 Thessalonians 2, verse 1.

1 Thessalonians 2:1

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi,

as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God

in the midst of much conflict.

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive.

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,

so we speak.

Not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know,

nor with a pretext for greed, God as witness.

Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,

though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you,

like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

So being affectionately desirous of you,

we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God,

but also our own selves,

because you had become very dear to us.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.

We worked night and day,

that we might not be a burden to any of you,

while we proclaim to you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and God also,

how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

For you know how, like a father with his children,

we exhorted each one of you,

and encouraged you, and charged you,

to walk in a manner worthy of God,

who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Amen.

Well, I think all of us would probably agree

that one of the most difficult, challenging things to do in this life

is to determine who you can trust.

Determine who you can trust.

Unfortunately, it's all too common for people,

for us, to be failed by, hurt by those

whom we should be able to trust the most.

First, a spouse may abandon you for another lover.

A parent may abuse you rather than protect you.

A doctor may fail to give you adequate care.

A spiritual leader, pastor,

may turn out to be a total fraud.

And to experience that kind of betrayal is devastating, isn't it?

It's hurtful, it's devastating,

it's infuriating in many cases,

and it can quickly drive us to an unhealthy kind of cynicism

that begins to hold everyone else accountable

for the sins of those who have hurt us.

So that we build up walls,

and we refuse to really give any real trust to anyone else

because of the trust that has been betrayed

by other people that shouldn't have betrayed us.

You know what I mean.

But at the end of the day,

we all know that you can't really function in life

without trusting people on some level.

We have to.

Every day of our lives,

we're putting our trust in someone for something.

And that may be a guarded trust,

it may be a cynical trust,

but we have to do it, right?

We have to do it.

It's one of the curses of living in a fallen world.

We are created to exist in community,

but no part of that community is exempt from sin's corruption.

No part of it.

And this certainly includes the Christian church.

And you don't have to look very far

to find people who are turning away from Christianity,

they're turning away from the gospel,

not necessarily always because they find that it's untenable

or not credible,

but because they've been hurt by Christians

and spiritual leaders who were supposed to love them,

who they should have been able to trust.

And we long for it to be different than this.

We long for a world that isn't like this.

We long for a life that isn't like this.

And those of us that know and believe the gospel,

we actually do have hope in this, don't we?

We live daily in the hope that Jesus is going to return

and that when he returns,

he's going to right all wrongs.

He is going to rid us of indwelling sin.

He's going to usher in an eternal kingdom

that is everything that Eden was meant to be.

It's coming.

The day will come.

He will return at just the right time.

And we will live, those of us who know him,

will live eternally in a place that we long for now

in this place and in this world.

But in the meantime,

we by necessity must endure the brokenness of this world.

Including the reality of betrayal,

even by those in the church

whom we should be able to otherwise trust.

That brings up a question.

Is there actually a way for us to recognize

and discern and identify

spiritual leaders or gospel ministers,

pastors,

disciples,

whatever it may be.

Is there a way for us to actually identify

which of those people we can actually trust?

And I would say,

yes,

the scripture gives us the criteria

for such discernment.

And this passage,

particularly verses 9 through 12,

takes up that very issue.

There was a problem in cities like Thessalonica

during Paul's day.

It involved itinerant philosophers

and religious teachers

who preyed on people

for personal gain.

They sold people lies in many cases,

manipulated them

in order that they might personally accrue wealth,

notoriety,

power.

It's not very different today.

And understanding the prevalence

of such charlatans

as we would categorize them,

having possibly even been accused

of being one himself in Thessalonica.

Paul wrote here reminding

the Thessalonian Christians

of the authentic nature

of his ministry to them.

Which defending the credibility

of the gospel in this way

was always utmost of importance

for Paul

when he wrote these kinds of things.

But there is another

actually major reason

why he does this

here in this text

in the context

of 1 Thessalonians.

And it is this.

He did this

in order that he might comfort

and reassure

suffering Christians.

Why is he focused so much

on his ministry to them?

Well, part of that is,

and maybe primarily,

is even just to help

defend the gospel itself

more so than to defend

himself.

But there's another piece here

and I'm going to explain why.

It's that this was

a suffering group of Christians

who no doubt

were beginning to have questions

about whether or not

they should continue

in this faith.

And Paul writes this

about the authentic nature

of his ministry

in order that he might comfort them,

in order that he might strengthen

them in those moments.

At least 10 different times,

just in 1 Thessalonians,

Paul uses some variation

of the phrase,

as you know,

or for you know,

which is unlike

any of his other letters.

This is unique

to 1 Thessalonians.

You can pull up

his other letters.

Sometimes he never uses

this phrase at all.

Ephesians, Colossians,

Philippians,

once or twice

he uses a phrase like this.

But in this short letter

in 1 Thessalonians,

at least 10 different times

he uses a variation of it.

More than half of those times

it has to do with

his character as a minister.

Three of those times

happens in verses 9 through 12.

Just set your eyes on them.

Look, verse 9.

For you remember.

Verse 10.

You are witnesses.

Verse 11.

For you know.

Why is he doing that?

Why is he using this phrase?

We have to ask that question

because it's so different

from his other writings.

Well, clearly Paul wanted them

to recall

what they knew

to be true of him.

And his reason for that

I believe

was to strengthen their faith

in affliction.

Because suffering

tends to create

a pathway to doubt.

We understand that.

Suffering sets us

very quickly

on the pathway

to doubt.

And it's reasonable

for us to conclude

that because of the persecution

that they faced

for their faith,

the Thessalonian Christians

might have been tempted

to question

the validity

of Paul's ministry

and thereby

forsake the gospel itself.

So whether he was

being accused

of being one

of these charlatans

or else

he just understood

the possibility

and potential

of being grouped

in with them,

Paul reassured

these believers

by reminding them

of the authenticity

of his ministry.

And as a result of that

the Lord has graciously

given us

in this text

a set of criteria.

Criteria for discerning

the kind of minister

we can trust.

The kind of pastor

you can trust.

But before we examine

the three characteristics

that are in these verses

we need to understand

that the foundation

for a trustworthy minister

is always

a commitment

to faithfully proclaim

the gospel

of Jesus.

If it's nothing else

it is the faithful

proclamation

of the gospel.

This is at the heart

of Christianity itself

and it should be

at the heart

of everything

a Christian minister

does.

constantly bringing

those under his care

back to the reality

of the gospel

not only as he evangelizes

the lost

but as he encourages

and strengthens

and edifies

and exhorts

the saved.

A constant focus

on the gospel.

The apostles

including Paul

were hyper focused

on gospel proclamation

as apostles

as sent ones.

That's actually what

Jesus sent them to do

to proclaim

the gospel.

Just look here

in the first two chapters

of 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1:5

chapter 1

verse 5

Our gospel

came to you

not only in word

but also in power

and in the Holy Spirit

and with full conviction.

Chapter 2

verse 2

We had boldness

in our God

to declare to you

the gospel of God

in the midst

of much affliction.

Chapter 2

verse 8

We were ready

to share with you

not only the gospel

of God

but our own selves.

Chapter 2

verse 9

While we proclaim

to you

the gospel of God

Do you see this?

As Paul is writing

as he's reflecting

on the nature

of his ministry

over and over

and over

he relates

the heart

of his ministry

to the proclamation

of the gospel.

That's what a faithful

minister does.

That's what a faithful

Christian does.

Everything focused

the heart

of the gospel message.

But what is that gospel?

If that's what

a faithful minister does

if that's what

faithful Christians

are to do

what is the gospel

that they are

to proclaim?

Most of you

probably know

gospel itself

it means good news.

The gospel

is the good news

of what

God has done

to save sinners

through the sacrificial

death and resurrection

of Jesus Christ.

Let me just say that again.

The gospel

is the good news

of what God

has done

to save sinners

through the sacrificial

death and resurrection

of Jesus Christ.

You want to know

what a faithful minister

looks like?

It starts and ends

with faithful proclamation

of the gospel.

The good news

that God

saves sinners

and that he saves

sinners

through the sacrifice

of his own son.

See all of us

are not only

by action

but by nature

sinners.

We have

rebelled against God.

It's in our nature

to do so.

In our sinful condition

it separates us

from fellowship

with our creator.

It destines us

for God's judgment.

But in his love

not by our request

but on his initiative

and in his love

God made a way

for us to be forgiven

so that we might

be reconciled

to him.

And he does that

through his own son.

Jesus

co-equal

and eternal

with the Father

and the Spirit

comes to earth

as we'll spend

the next month

focusing on

in the incarnation.

He lives the life

that we were meant

to live.

He perfectly fulfills

the law

as the second Adam

but then he was

crucified

as an atonement

for us.

He lived the life

that we were meant

to live

and then he died

the death

that we deserved

to die.

And then God

raised him

from the dead

to prove

that his sacrifice

was sufficient.

that it appeased

the wrath of God

against sinners

and then he turns

and he looks at sinners

and he says

you don't have to carry

the burden

of the law anymore.

All of the righteousness

you're working for

hoping

to get back

into favor with me.

Lay down that burden.

Jesus has done it

on your behalf

and he took your death

on your behalf

and then Jesus turns

and he says

now just come to me.

Come to me.

And believe.

Come and believe

the gospel.

Receive my righteousness.

Believe in my atonement.

Not in any atonement

you might give

for yourself.

And God says

all who will come

and believe

will be forgiven,

will be reconciled

to God,

will be at peace

with God

and will be given

eternal life

with God.

loved ones,

this is the gospel.

It's the gospel.

It's what Paul

gave his life to share.

It's what the Thessalonians

endured

such persecution for.

And the fact is

that you cannot trust

someone

whose fundamental objective

is anything except

declaring to you

the gospel of Jesus.

Jesus.

And with that in mind

we can then look

at these three characteristics

that come to the surface here.

The first one

that we find here

in verse 9

is that a trustworthy minister

labors diligently

for the gospel.

A trustworthy minister

labors diligently

for the gospel.

Look with me again

at verse 9.

For you remember

brothers

our labor

and toil

we worked

night and day

that we might not

be a burden

to any of you

while we proclaim

to you

the gospel of God.

So what's the focus

here in verse 9?

The heart of it

as we've just said

is the proclamation

of the gospel.

And how is it

that Paul

and Silas

and Timothy

supported

the opportunity

to preach

that gospel?

Well they worked

night and day

so they wouldn't

be a burden

to anybody else.

They diligently

labored

for the gospel's

sake.

Now this particular

verse

it is a call

to remember

that's the first phrase

right?

For you remember

he's recalling

to their memory

it corresponds

to an issue

that he actually

brought up

in verse 5.

Just put your eyes

on verse 5

again.

He says

we never came

to you

with words

of flattery

as you know

nor with a

pretext

for greed

he says.

This is corresponding

back to that.

Remember all of this

is one argument

we're just kind of

chopping it up

as we study it

together.

It's one argument

it's corresponding

back to verse 5.

So that there were

some people

who were coming

to Thessalonica

and they were

trying to gain

influence in the city

as a pretext

for greed

in order that

they may

influence people

to gain

for themselves

to get money.

Paul, Silas,

and Timothy

did not do that.

Instead

they worked hard

so as not

to receive

compensation

from those

to whom

they ministered

the gospel.

So not only

did they

diligently labor

to preach

the gospel

message itself

but they

diligently

labored

to support

that gospel

ministry

through their

own trade.

Acts 18 tells us

Acts 18

1-3

tells us that

Paul was a

tent maker

by trade

and that he

often used

his craft

to finance

his gospel

work.

This is one

of the many

ways that Paul

distinguished

himself

from the

charlatans

of the day.

If there

was any doubt

in the minds

of the Thessalonians

about the

authenticity

of Paul's

ministry

as it related

to the potential

of greed

all they had

to do

is remember

about the

nature of

his ministry

while he

was there

and what is

it that he

calls to their

mind?

Hey, just

remember

we didn't

come greedy

we didn't

in fact

we didn't

take anything

from you

and so those

who might have

been tempted

to doubt

maybe

questioning

maybe listening

to unfounded

accusations

that came

against the

apostle

and then

wondering

whether or

not they

believed a

lie

because they

were deceived

by a charlatan

oh now they

just think back

and recall

no you're right

he didn't

come that way

what a comfort

this would have

brought to their

their hearts

in that moment

to remember

that unlike

many others

he took

nothing from

them

trustworthy

ministers

serve the

purposes

of the gospel

unfaithful

ministers

use the

gospel

to serve

their own

purposes

you see

in Thessalonica's

case

it was charlatans

coming in

with deceptive

things

but there

are those

who will

come in

with a

truthful

message

but still

have a

pretext

for greed

that's not

a faithful

minister

that's not

someone you

can trust

that's someone

who inevitably

unless the

Lord graciously

calls them

to repentance

of that

inevitably

they're going

to fail

you

they're going

to betray

you

because their

fundamental

objective

is not

the preaching

of the gospel

the fundamental

objective

is to gain

for themselves

and they're

using the gospel

to do it

Paul says

we didn't

come that way

that was not

our behavior

but this raises

an important

question for us

doesn't it

maybe it's a

question you're

asking there

in your seat

now

and it is

the question

of if

or how

pastors

and missionaries

and evangelists

and other

vocational

ministers

should be

compensated

for their

gospel work

do we come

to a text

like this

and say

well

this indicates

that really

no gospel

minister should

ever receive

compensation

for this

isn't that

what Paul's

saying

when it's

worth us

at least

taking a

moment

to consider

that question

in this

moment

now

it's

noteworthy

that Paul

was describing

his practice

in Thessalonica

he was not

prescribing

something

for all

gospel

ministers

here

we understand

that in the

context of

what he's

saying

he's saying

remember

what I was

like

while I

was with

you

that doesn't

say anything

about a

command or

an instruction

it doesn't

even say

anything about

other points

in Paul's

ministry

it just

says

when I

was with

you

in

Thessalonica

I didn't

take anything

from you

we labored

hard night

and day

so that we

wouldn't

take anything

from you

so we

need to

keep that

in mind

Paul

himself

even

received

material

support

from

other

churches

while

he

was

in

Thessalonica

we learn

that in

Philippians

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4

and verse

16

on two

separate

occasions

the church

in Philippi

who was

also a

suffering

church

but the

church

in

Philippi

on two

separate

occasions

sent

material

goods

to

Paul

in order

to support

his

ministry

in

Thessalonica

and Paul

willingly

and graciously

accepted

that gift

and accepted

that compensation

for the gospel

work

so we can

look at this

and say

okay

Paul's

describing

something

about his

ministry

in Thessalonica

but even

while he's

there

he's

receiving

help

and support

from other

people

so that

brings in

some nuance

to the

question

doesn't

it

but then

we find

in other

writings

that Paul

not only

affirmed

that it's

permissible

for pastors

to be

paid

for their

work

but that

it's

actually

the duty

of congregations

to supply

the needs

of their

elders

1st

Timothy

chapter 5

verses 17

and 18

this is on

the screen

for you to

see

let the elders

who rule

well

be considered

worthy

of double

honor

this is the

context

of financial

help

especially

those who

labor

in preaching

and teaching

for the

scripture

says

you shall

not

muzzle

an ox

when it

treads

out the

grain

and

the

laborer

deserves

his wages

Paul clearly

has in

mind

their

material

compensation

for gospel

work

and he's

saying

congregations

need to be

responsible

for this

they need

to care

for the

elders

in their

church

in order

that the

elders

may give

their time

to the

ministry

of the

work

in that

congregation

let me show

you another

passage

1st

Corinthians

chapter 9

I would

encourage you

to go back

and read

the entire

paragraph

here but

just verses

13 and

14 for

now

Paul says

do you not

know that

those who

are employed

in the

temple service

get their

food from

the temple

and those

who serve

at the

altar

share in

the sacrificial

offerings

in the

same way

the Lord

commanded

that those

who proclaim

the gospel

should get

their living

by the

gospel

okay

so there

Paul's actually

saying no

this is

it's not

only permissible

it's good

it's good

and churches

should care

about this

so when we

come back to

1st Thessalonians

chapter 2

the issue

here is not

about whether

it is right

for ministers

to be paid

but whether

a minister

is willing

to continue

faithfully

proclaiming

the gospel

when compensation

is either

impossible

or unhelpful

and in the

case of the

Thessalonian

church

it might

have been

both

both

impossible

and unhelpful

faithful

ministers

are not

motivated

by money

they do

not use

the ministry

as a means

to accrue

wealth

and as they

are given

this qualification

in 1st

Timothy 3

and Titus 1

they manage

their homes

well

so that they

do not

enter into

temptation

for greed

or unnecessarily

burden

the people

that they

serve

that's what

a faithful

minister

does

so is

ministerial

compensation

good

yes

is it

always

right

no

and there's

three reasons

that Paul

gives

for why

he did

this

in his

ministry

the first

reason he

gives

is that it

was not

to burden

others

the idea

here is an

unnecessary

burden

laying a

weight

that's attached

to the gospel

laying a weight

on the shoulders

of people

the gospel

lifts burdens

it is not

meant to

add burdens

and Paul

says when we

came to you

right there

in 1st

Thessalonians 2

9

we work

night and

day

that we

might not

be a burden

to any

of you

we didn't

want the

gospel to

come in

there

we didn't

want to

come in

guns

ablaze

and making

demands

of you

and adding

a burden

to you

when the

gospel is

not meant

to bring

a burden

the gospel

is meant

to bring

blessing

we might

consider

Acts chapter

Acts 20:33–35

20

verses

33 to

35

Paul says

there to

the Ephesian

elders

he said

I coveted

no one's

silver or

gold or

apparel

you yourselves

know that

these hands

ministered to

my necessities

and to

those who

were with

me

in all

things I

have shown

you that

by working

hard in

this way

we must

help the

weak

and remember

the words

of the Lord

Jesus how

he said

this

it is more

blessed to

give than

to receive

now that's

an important

statement there

why is it

that Paul is

saying that

when he went

to Ephesus

he didn't

receive

compensation

that he

worked hard

he said

because from

his perspective

it was

actually generous

of him

not to do

that in

Ephesus

it would

have been

a burden

to those

Christians

it would

have been

a burden

to that

church

that was

not necessary

for them

to carry

and he

says so I

didn't

burden you

that way

he says

the same

thing to

the Thessalonians

it wasn't

possible and

it wasn't

helpful I

didn't want

to burden

you so I

worked hard

the second

reason he

gives

is that he

might provide

an example

for others

to follow

would you

just flip

over to

second

Thessalonians

verse chapter

three

second Thessalonians

chapter three

what we find

here is that

there was an

issue in the

churches

in the church

in Thessalonica

some people

were intentionally

not working

not because they

couldn't work

but because they

were basically

mooching off

the church

so Paul

sets an

example for

them and

he confronts

it look

with me in

second Thessalonians

chapter three

let's start

actually in

verse six

now we

command you

brothers in

the name

of our

Lord Jesus

Christ that

you keep

away from

any brother

who is

walking in

idleness

and not in

accord with

the tradition

that you

received from

us

idleness

laziness

intentionally

not working

in order

that they

might be a

leech on

others

okay

that's the

idea here

of the

idol person

what's the

tradition that

he's passed

on the

tradition is

his own

example right

his own

example and

his command

verse seven

for you

yourselves know

how you

ought to

imitate us

because we

were not

idle when we

were with

you nor

did we eat

anyone's bread

without paying

for it but

with toil and

labor we

worked night

and day that

we might not

be a burden

to any of

you now look

at verse

nine it

was not because

we do not

have that

right but

to give

you in

ourselves an

example to

imitate so

first he says

I didn't take

anything from

me because I

didn't want to

be an

unnecessary

burden to

you and

then he says

but you also

needed an

example of

hard work

because there's

people still in

your congregation

Paul says who

are walking in

idleness and

they need to

look at us and

they need to

imitate what we

did for the

gospel sake and

not be a burden

to other people and

not stand in the

way in the gospel

but actually work

and help and

serve third

reason Paul did

this so that he

would not become

an obstacle to

the gospel so that

he would not

present an obstacle

to the gospel

first Corinthians

chapter nine again

we read a portion

of this a moment

ago but verse 12

is where I want to

read now Paul

says if others

share this rightful

claim on you this

is that's compensation

do we not even

more nevertheless

we have not made

use of this right

we have not

received from you

what we could have

received from you

we have not made

use of this right

but we endure

anything rather

than put an

obstacle in the

way of the gospel

of Christ

in other words he

says to the church

in Corinth if I

had done this it

would have been an

obstacle to the

gospel people would

not have taken the

gospel seriously they

would have just

thought I was a

charlatan like

everybody else this

what everybody else

does he says we

didn't come that

way he tells the

Thessalonians we

didn't come that

way to you and

what do we learn

from that we learn

that a trustworthy

minister a pastor

you can trust is

somebody who is not

manipulated and

motivated by money

and personal gain

they work diligently

for the gospel even

if that means that

they have to work

diligently in order

to support their

gospel ministry that's

where their heart is

it's in the gospel

secondly a trustworthy

minister conducts

himself with

integrity a

trustworthy minister

conducts himself with

integrity look at

verse 10 you are

witnesses and God

also how holy and

righteous and

blameless was our

conduct toward you

believers so Paul

calls on the

Thessalonians as

eyewitnesses here and

what are they

eyewitnesses to his

integrity while some

in Thessalonica were

using flattery and

deceit to prey on

people Paul and

Silas and Timothy

behaved honorably but

notice the

specificity of his

conduct toward

believers that's what

he says we were

holy righteous and

blameless in our

conduct toward you

believers what does

he mean by that why

does he make that

distinction what

doesn't mean that he

lacked integrity with

unbelievers but he

was appealing to those

who knew him best

among whom he lived

and served the people

that he spent his time

with the people that he

lived with and lived

among which gives us

another insight into

what a faithful minister

does he's actually with

the people that he

served so that they

might observe his life

Paul was with them he

lived with them he was

among them and he

appeals to them now to

just recall just remember

you yourselves know you

were witnesses of of how

we conducted ourselves

and what he says is there

was no pretense here

there was no pretense with

Paul and Silas and

Timothy they weren't one

way in public and another

way in private they

acted with integrity in all

things and the Thessalonian

Christians knew it well

let's think about these

three adjectives he uses

here first he says we our

conduct was holy holy

and this is not the

typical word that we

think of with holiness

that's hagios which is a

reference to moral quality

that's not actually the

word that Paul writes

with here he writes with

a slightly different word

husios or husios which is

more the sense of devout

so he says you understand

what our conduct was like

among you you saw our

lives we were truly

devout we were truly

devoted to God and the

gospel in other words he

wasn't a showman he was

authentically a devoted

Christian I've been around

a lot of pastors in my

life it would be shocking

and some of you probably

already know this would be

shocking for you to know

how many people stand in

pulpits Sunday by Sunday

but Monday to Saturday are

not truly really devoted to

God in their Christian life

Paul says that is not how

we were we were truly

devoted to God and you saw

it you saw our devotion

secondly he says we were

righteous meaning that they

wronged no one as they

ministered in Thessalonica

Thessalonica they didn't take

advantage of people they

didn't mistreat people for

personal gain they did what

was right even when it may

have been more advantageous for

them not to they were

righteous third they were

blameless they gave no

occasion for the gospel to be

reproached they didn't flirt with

ethical boundaries so as to

cause suspicion about their

ministry if the people in

Thessalonica rejected the

gospel it wouldn't have been

because Paul's conduct was

disingenuous or questionable

they were blameless in their

ministry so then they were

holy in terms of their

relationship to God they were

righteous in terms of their

dealings with others they were

blameless in terms of the

observation of the watching

world that's what a faithful

minister is like hey can we just

say that's what a faithful

Christian is like Christians

don't get off the hook just

because he's describing a

pastoral ministry no this this

is what our lives are to

reflect holiness genuine

devotion righteousness

blameless Christians in

Thessalonica knew that Paul and

his team acted with integrity but

did you notice in verse 10

there's a greater witness here you

see what he says they knew it was

true more importantly God knew it

was true now why would he say

that he's already said it a couple

of times in this whole section

hasn't he God is witness God who

tests our hearts he knows even if

the Thessalonian Christians doubted

his intentions Paul appealed to

God who knows our hearts

here again we find that Paul's ultimate

motivation and his ultimate desire was

to glorify God it wasn't about his

reputation just for his reputation

sake no he did what he did and he lived

the way he lived because he wanted to

honor God and at the end of the day even

if the Thessalonians doubted or questioned

his motives for any ways he makes his

appeal to God and he understands that in

the end it is before God that he will

stand it is to God that he will finally

answer and Paul says the God who knows

all things was a personal witness to his

integrity now let me ask you this is

your life and ministry and if you're a

Christian we all have a gospel ministry in

some way is your life and ministry carried

out with this kind of integrity

to those who know you best would they

affirm that you are truly devoted to God

righteous in the way that you deal with

people blameless before the watching

world would your kids testify that that

guy I see on Sunday morning is not the guy

I see on Sunday afternoon would a co-worker

be surprised that you spent the better part

of your morning in worship but even

greater than that will God who knows your

heart will he give witness to your

integrity everyone will stand before God

unbelievers will stand there in judgment

so will believers but a different kind of

judgment our works the Bible says will be

exposed it will be made open by the God who

knows us better than anybody else and when

that that's what Paul's appealing to here when

that moment comes and you stand before God will

the one who actually knows you say holy

righteous blameless third a trustworthy

minister lovingly instructs others to glorify

God lovingly instructs others to glorify God verses 11 and 12 you know how like a father with his

children we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom

glory this final note he brings in to focus the character and content of his instruction to them

and he gives three words three characteristics here that that he exhorted them means that he

instructed them as one having authority to do so but not as a distant authority but as someone who was coming alongside of them

John Piper says this this particular word for exhortation he in in his words he said it is full of partnership

so it is authority that's coming with you in the process not cold demands but journeying with you on the way

Paul says that's how that's how we instructed you

encouragement underscores an emotional element to the instruction

truth is living as a Christian is not easy it's quite difficult actually

Paul was coming alongside struggling Christians in Thessalonica and he was encouraging them to press forward

you can do this the Lord is with you let me show you stay with me follow me

as I follow Christ

that he charged them introduces

solemnity

gravitas to the instruction

the connotation with that one is that Paul implored them as someone who had been there and understood truly what was at stake

he was imploring them to do what

walk worthy

now all of this

exhortation

encouragement

charge

is colored by the idea

that he treated them like a father

with his children

now your experience

that may not be very positive

Paul speaking generally here

the faithful father

that's how we minister to you

how is exhortation and encouragement and charging

of a father different from other authorities

faithful father is with you he desires your good

he's not hateful

doesn't exasperate his children

he encourages them

he may be firm with them

but it's all for the good

of their own benefit

Paul didn't instruct them as an impersonal authority

but as a loving father who cares for them and

desires their ultimate good

such as a faithful minister of the gospel

he does not lord over people for his benefit

he lovingly instructs them

for theirs

you say how can I

how can I find a pastor

a minister

a disciple

or a Christian

who I can really trust

well

would they really care

about you glorifying God

or

being able to add you to the list of people

that they successfully

discipled

what's it about here

are they lording over your life

or are they coming alongside you

to lovingly instruct you

that may be firm

that may even be confrontational

but it's colored

by this idea of a father with his children

we're almost done

faithful pastoral instruction

isn't just about manner and sincerity though is it

we know that

many people are sincerely wrong

leading people astray

even with what appears to be good intentions

and genuine care

the content of one's instruction

is of utmost importance

and the summary of Paul's instruction

was that the Thessalonians

walk worthy of God

he didn't mean that they needed to live lives

that needed to reach a measure of holiness

so that God would accept them

that's not what he means by that

worthy here is being used in the sense of fitness

he urged them to live in a manner

that was fitting of someone

that already belongs to God

he said that's how we instructed you

that was the objective there

it wasn't to do things for us

it was no

we were pushing you to follow God

to live worthy of him

to exalt him

to preach his gospel

that's what we were urging you to do

of course all of this instruction

is grounded in the gospel of Jesus

which is the significance of the very last phrase there

in the New Testament call here

which is what Paul says in verse 12

this God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory

the New Testament call

usually is referring to an individual salvation

we think of call in terms of

like being commissioned to a task

the New Testament very rarely actually uses the term that way

it's almost always in relationship to the call of God to salvation

through the preaching of the gospel

God effectually calls us into his kingdom

and out of sin and unbelief

let me just give you a verse that you might know well

that helps us kind of wrap our brains around that

1 Peter 2 9

you are a chosen race

a royal priesthood

a holy nation

a people for his own possession

that you may proclaim the excellencies of him

who called you out of darkness

into his marvelous light

it's the call to salvation

typically when call is used

that's the way it's being used in the New Testament

now what's interesting about the way Paul uses it

in 1 Thessalonians 2 12

is that it's in the present tense

not the past tense

did you notice that?

he says we urged you to walk worthy of God

and he doesn't say

who called you

into his kingdom and glory

no

he said

who calls

you presently

calls

you into his kingdom and glory

but why did he do it that way?

why did he say it like that?

oh this is so helpful

he's reminding us

that God continually calls his people

to walk worthy

of their identity

as citizens of his kingdom

representing his glory

his beauty

his gospel

his perfections