THE PATTERN SERVANT OF GOD

1 THESSALONIANS 2:1,4

12/57

 

I.  2:1-6  PLEASING GOD, 2:4

 

The spirit of his ministry.  His aim, motive, were simple, supreme consecration to God.

 

2:3  His enemies included him in the whole crop of sopheits, wandering minstrels, magicians, astrologers, religious quacks.  Traveling at ease; enjoying himself at expense of others; thrown over faith  of his fathers for selfish ends.

 

2:6  When, we might have used authority.

 

      a. The trainmaster at the gate.  The people surly, angry, displeasing so many.  How able to do his work with direction?  Because, just one to please - the head man at the window upstairs.

 

 

II.  DEPENDENCE UPON GOD, PRAYING FOR THEM, THEY FOR HIM

 

      1.  In prayer.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:2; 3:9,10; 5:17,25

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1

 

The work born in prayer, watered by prayer, grounded, protected by prayer.

 

The worker himself stayed in prayer, hidden behind the supernatural working of an almighty hand.

 

      2.  The enduement of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

1 Thessalonians 1:5.

 

Jesus not beginning His ministry until after baptizing of the Holy Sprit at the Jordan.

 

The disciples not begin until after Pentecost.

 

So Paul - the power of God in his messages, ministry.  Consequently, his gospel large, complete.  Not a social gospel, reformer, wasting his strength on a thousand little civic, legislative, negative efforts to force men in by material restraints, but a life changer, soul saver.  The difference between man's social systems and God's great salvation:  to get his little boat down the river man is always digging out the sand bar, removing the rocks, snags from the stream, which God is aiming to pour a flood tide into the channel to lift the little boat above the snags, rocks.

 

            a.  The bid to raise the boat from the bottom.  The platform of logs, the tide coming in.  God has one thing for us - that one thing is all we need.

 

 

III.  FREEDOM FROM ALL UNNECESSARY METHODS

 

1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8

 

Laboring night and day - from sun up to sun down, a day's work then.  But night, too...  Working with his hands to support himself - preaching publicly from house to house.

 

Paul taught the minister should be paid.  1 Corinthians 9:14   Even so knowing the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

 

9:9  Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.

 

Following the word of our Lord in Luke 10:7, the laborer is worthy of his hire.

 

But Paul - to win these lost, pagan idol-worshippers, renounced his right to receive payment.  Supported himself.

 

Our work for God not dependent upon paid salary.  Many think, to serve God truly, must give up business...

 

Compare:  Daniel, statesmen of Babylon.

Nehemiah, crop bearer of Artaxerxes.

Aquilla, Priscilla, Paul, tentmakers.

 

God takes people as he finds them.

 

The rod of Moses.

The oxgoad of Shamgar.

The needle, thread of Dorcas.

The loom of Paul.

Mr. Moody - filling up the pews he rented.

 

As you toil at the work bench, behind the plow, washtub, laundry table, switchboard, you may be as truly a minister, messenger of this glorious gospel as the man in the pulpit, the woman missionary at the rescue station.

 

Paul at Philippi, Sabbath prayer, service.

Paul in chains, before Felix.  Agrippa, Caesar.

Paul on board ship, storm tossed, work for salvation of all on board.

Paul between two Roman soldiers, all Praetorium guard.