Don't Give Up!

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Don’t Give Up!

Paul’s ministry to this church was a great blessing filled with the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. This was one of those churches that every pastor dreams of – everything Paul did impacted lives and the people responded by serving God. I believe the key to that is what Paul says in v. 2. Even thought they had suffered persecution in Philippi (remember, Paul was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned before God miraculously delivered him), they refused to be intimidated. They went to Thessalonica and preached boldly. For three Sabbaths, he preached in the synagogues as was his custom (Acts. 17:2), and he didn’t water down the message. Because of that, some Jews and lots of Gentiles were saved and joined Paul in ministry until things got so bad that Paul had to leave. Even after he left, the ministry went on because of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

I think we can learn many lessons from Paul’s persistence, perseverance, patience, and passion. He refused to give up no matter the personal cost, but he waited on God to lead him. Then he gave it all he had. Why? Because he was passionate about the gospel. To Paul, nothing mattered as much as telling people about Jesus. His comfort didn’t matter. His survival didn’t matter. All that mattered was making disciples.

The question we must ask is this: are we willing to do the same. It is so much easier to just give up. We are facing a devastating trend in our churches today. Pastors are giving up. Only a handful of pastors who enter the ministry make it to retirement. Church members are giving up in record numbers. They are called the “done-ers.” They are done fighting the fight. Tired of the problems. To them, it isn’t worth it. “Why not place our focus elsewhere?” they ask. Because Jesus established His church for the purpose of spreading the gospel and making disciples. So the message is this. Don’t give up! And the key to not giving up is simple – wait on the Lord. Go where He guides and only where He guides. Do what He demands and only what He demands. Say what He says and only what He says. Only then are you and I going to experience the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and only that guarantees the victory.