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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 28th May 2006 AMSEVEN MARKS OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY Pastor Linton Smith
It is a privilege today to be involved in a service where we have re-commissioned a family for further service overseas. When I first began to pray about this service I was drawn to 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13. Here the Apostle Paul describes his ministry among the people of Thessalonica. I was drawn to these words because I believe that the family we have re-commissioned already live by them. Nevertheless they are a challenge – to all of us. Here we find seven marks of faithful ministry.
In Philippi, Paul was dragged before the authorities, stripped and severely beaten and then thrown into prison. God intervened. An earthquake shook the prison and Paul and Silas were set free. Soon after, they left Philippi and traveled southwest to Thessalonica. There they spoke in the synagogue on three Saturdays and once again met strong opposition. Not long after this, Paul wrote to the people who had believed. In chapter 2 of the letter he writes.. 1 Thessalonians 2:2.. 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 in spite of strong opposition. He describes the gospel as “His gospel” - God’s gospel, God’s good news. It is God’s message and must be passed on without alteration. And Paul did just that – in spite of the opposition. He did not yield to their threats and violence.. but courageously shared the good news with all who would listen. About 10 years later he wrote to believers in Ephesus.. Ephesians 6:19,20.. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. As I ponder this I hear God saying.. tell My good news as it is.. and pray for those who tell it that they may tell is fearlessly.
One of the secrets of Paul’s courage was that his focus was on pleasing God.. and not people. He goes on to say.. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6.. 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. 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. What we said to you.. our appeal to you to believe the Good News.. was based on truth.. God’s truth.. and our motives were pure. We were not trying to trick you. We did not use flattery. We did not wear a mask to cover up greed. We had no ulterior motives. We were not trying to please people, but God. About five years after this he wrote to the believers in Corinth.. 2 Corinthians 4:2.. We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. What a challenge. I hear God saying.. Don’t worry what people think.. but aim to please Me. Pray for all who tell My good news that they will be motivated by what I think.. and not by what people think! 3. MOTHERLY GENTLENESS. At that time.. or soon after.. there were so called ‘apostles’ who dominated people.. and made big demands on them. Paul: 2 Corinthians 11:18-20.. Many are boasting in the way the world does.. You even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. Boasting in the way the world does.. enslaving.. exploiting.. taking advantage.. dominating others.. Paul was nothing like that. He was gentle.. like a mother. He writes.. 1 Thessalonians 2:6,7.. 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. He lived out what Peter teaches in 1 Peter 5:2,3.. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers.. not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. This is how God would have us serve.. with gentleness.. like a mother. And He would have us pray that those who tell His good news will serve like that!
Paul goes on.. 1 Thessalonians 2:8,9.. 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 of God to you. He points out in his next letter to these people [2 Thess 3:9].. that he had the right to be paid.. but did not exercise this right. How did he live? The believers in Philippi sent him some help [Philippians 4:16].. and He worked day and night. He gave the Good News to these people free of charge.. and gave himself to them. An inspiring example of loving sacrifice! I hear God saying to us.. Be like Paul.. and share My good news free of charge.. and be like the Philippians.. and support those who make sacrifices to take My good news to others. 5. BLAMELESS BEHAVIOUR. Paul goes on to remind the Thessalonians.. 1 Thessalonians 2:10.. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed He had lived and worked among them. Yet he could say this.. without fear of contradiction. What a challenge to us today! Far too frequently we find Christians letting God down.. and letting the gospel down.. letting down those who do not yet believe.. by living lives that contradict the message. This week the Pope told our PM he should apologize for the way we as a nation have treated the aboriginal people. One person wrote to the paper taking the Pope to task.. saying he ought to apologize for the bad behavior of the church.. People will not listen to us when our lives contradict the message we share! We are all fallible.. all of us make mistakes.. but let’s acknowledge how critically important it is to live holy, righteous and blameless lives! I hear God saying.. Live in a way that honors Me! And pray for those who share My good news.. for all My people.. that their lives honor Me.
Paul has compared himself to a mother.. now he compares himself to a father.. 1 Thessalonians 2:11,12.. For you know that 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. What a picture of a father! He takes time to be with his children.. to listen to them.. understand them.. and encourage, comfort, and urge them to live lives worthy of God. A challenge to fathers.. and mothers.. pastors.. to all of us.. I hear God saying to us.. Come alongside people like that.. and pray that all who share the good news will come alongside people like this.
Paul’s ministry was marked by courageous communication.. God-centred motivation.. motherly gentleness.. loving sacrifice.. blameless behavior.. and fatherly encouragement. And his ministry was accompanied by blessing. He tells the Thessalonians.. 1 Thessalonians 2:13.. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. That is blessing. That is God’s Spirit at work. When the Spirit of God is at work.. people hear the good news.. and hear it as the very word of God. They are gripped by it.. challenged by it.. and respond with faith. That is what we long to see… here.. and overseas.. where our friends will work.. This is what God wants to do.. and He will do it.. when we share His good news as it is.. and pray.. asking Him to work in this convincing way. SEVEN MARKS OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY.. courageous communication.. God-centred motivation.. motherly gentleness.. loving sacrifice.. blameless behavior.. fatherly encouragement.. and blessing. Paul’s words challenge us deeply. Don’t go out of this place today and forget them.. Instead.. Read this passage often.. ponder these seven marks of faithful ministry.. until this passage shapes the way we think and act.. Use this passage as a guide to praying for others.. for all who share the good news.. for our friends as they serve overseas.. Let this passage inspire you to give.. like the Philippians.. so that the good news can be shared free of charge with others.. here.. and overseas.
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