Pure Hearts and Pure Motives

1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 – Pure Hearts and Pure Motives

Another reason that Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians was not in vain but filled with power: the message they were sharing was not based on error or uncleanness, and it was not a deception. In other words, the message was holy and true, and Paul’s motives were pure. There were then (and are now) many false teachers who were making the rounds of the churches and spreading a false gospel. The Judaizers were legalistic insisting that before you can be a Christian you must become a Jew and follow Jewish religious practices and rituals. The Gnostics were ultra-intellectual and said that the mind was the way to salvation. And no doubt there were many others seeking to deceive and destroy the church while getting rich doing it. Can you imagine inviting total strangers into their homes so that they can destroy their families and then paying them to do so? (Can you say television? But that will have to wait till another day!) That is exactly what was happening, and the only way to combat the evil was for Christians to know the truth – the Holy Word of God – offered from a pure heart. The amazing thing that happens when God’s Word is honored is that He blesses the church that does this, and it grows spiritually and lost people get saved.

Paul summed it up this way: We don’t seek to please men. No flattering words trying to get people to give him something. No effort to draw attention to himself. Because he knew that God is the one who tests our hearts, and He is the one that holds all of us accountable.

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.

Get Caught Up!

1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Get Caught Up!

Oh, wow! Not only does Paul say that we are to turn to God from idols to serve Him, but also he says that we are to wait for His Son. That is why I love this letter – Paul is so excited that Jesus is coming again that it permeates every part. Jesus died on the cross, but He rose on the third day. In doing this, He conquered sin, the grave, and hell. Not one of these has power over Jesus – or us! We have been set free. Then, just before He ascended, Jesus gave us our marching orders: to go out and make disciples, bringing people into the Kingdom. Why? Because He is coming again to take His children home to heaven. Jesus told stories (parables) during His earthly ministry to illustrate this point. What He wants is to return and find us faithful – serving our Heavenly Father.

And here is the promise: He is returning to deliver us from the wrath that is to come. Some say that is a reference to hell – but He has already accomplished that. Some say it is to deliver us from tribulation, and in a sense, that is true. However, Paul and his followers were already experiencing some tribulation, and even today Christians around the world are experiencing it, too. In fact, while the persecution of Christians has gone through cycles of varying intensity, the 20^th and 21^st centuries have seen more Christians die for their faith than most of the other centuries since Christ combined. And I believe that while it is happening all over the world today, we are beginning to see its evidence in the United States of America. I believe that it will intensify. In fact, I believe that the wrath that is to come, the Day of Wrath that is foretold in both the Old and New Testaments, is still coming. I believe Christians around the world will experience the beginnings of that Day of Wrath, but Paul says that Jesus is going to return, with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet blast, and His bride, the Church, will be caught up – raptured – to be with Him forever. And I believe that is how He will deliver us from the Wrath that is to come.

Many say that the Great Tribulation will take place before any of this, but Paul thought that the rapture could happen at any moment, and so do I! Are you ready? If not, get ready. Turn to God in repentance of your sin as you turn from your idols. Ask for His forgiveness. Place your trust in Him and invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, and then, you, too, will be delivered. For more information, e-mail me at ben@southsidebaptist.net or visit our website, www.southsidebaptist.net and click on the link on the left side of the page that says, “Change Your Life.”

About Face!

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - About Face!

This one phrase just keeps jumping out at me. Paul talks about turning to God from idols, and that is a great picture of salvation. All of us, whether we want to admit it or not, are idol-worshippers before we get saved. We may have never bowed down to a statue, but we did give our hearts, our time, our money, and our energy to those things that called our hearts away from God. Family, education, career, hobbies, sports, drugs, sex – anything that takes us in the wrong direction (away from God) becomes an idol.

Notice what Paul says: turn to God from idols. Lots of people start to get convicted of their sin and decide to change their lives, so they turn away from their idols. But they fail to turn to God. Others start to feel convicted and decide to change their lives, so they turn to God. They start going to church, but sadly, they try to hold onto their idols. Both choices are bad choices, and they leave you spiritually vulnerable because no matter how hard you try, you cannot change your life on your own and you cannot partially get right with God. Too often, those who try to do this find themselves worshipping the same idols again. Jesus talked about this in terms of evil spirits. You may cast them out, but if the space in your life which they occupied isn’t filled with God’s Spirit, other evils will take their place.

Here’s the key. Repentance means “about face!” It is a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction – away from sin and towards God who forgives us our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He fills us with His love and grace, and that prevents the evil one from taking control again. So what are you battling today? Addiction? Immorality? Bitterness? Hatred? Anger? Lust? Pornography? Whatever it is, you must make a conscious decision to turn away from it and turn to God in absolute surrender to His will. When you do, He will break the chains that bind you and set you free! I promise! But more importantly, He promises!

The Power of the Gospel

1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 – The Power of the Gospel

The gospel is more than words. Yes, it is the good news of God’s love and grace that offers salvation to ALL who believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day. Paul talks about our “election by God….” Scary words to lots of Baptists – especially to Baptists who do not understand the concept. The Bible does not contradict itself. God’s word tells us whosoever calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved and that God loves the WORLD that He sent His only Son. 

Do you remember God’s choice of Israel? He chose them not because they were good or mighty but because He loved them. Remember Abraham? It started with him. God chose Abraham and promised to bless him but only if Abraham would obey the covenant. And he did. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Ro. 4:3). That is the power of the gospel.

In Paul’s day, that power was evidenced in spectacular ways just as it is today. The power of the gospel is transformed lives. That’s what Paul is talking about. The Thessalonians saw what kind of men Paul and his brothers were, and they chose to follow Jesus. Then these new converts’ lives were changed, and the Macedonians and Achaians saw the transformation, and they, too, believed in Jesus.

Yes, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and salvation is about changed lives testifying to the grace of God. It is about joy in the midst of affliction because the Holy Spirit has come to live in these believers and give them the strength, courage, and wisdom to live for Jesus. What does that mean? These new disciples were so changed that they were willing to risk everything to make more disciples. They were so changed that everyone knew it. That is the power of the gospel!

A Great Church!

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 – A Great Church

It’s a great joy to hear in the words of the apostle the love he had for this church. His time at Thessalonica had been bountiful, and the reports he had received since he left revealed the impact of his ministry. The people were thriving spiritually, so much so that Paul let his gratitude flow freely. This was a church whose work continued to be strong as evidenced by what he was grateful for:

·         Work of faith – this is important. Following their conversion, they decided that they weren’t going to do what lots of Christians do after they have been saved for a while (sit, soak, and sour like an old soggy sponge). They worked to reach people for Jesus and to minister to the needy. They understood what we all must understand: we are not saved by works, but we do work for the Kingdom because we are saved.

·         Labor of love – this is agape love, sacrificial by nature and it truly is laborious. The word that Paul uses describes a hard kind of labor that wears you out. For Paul, love was not an emotion; it was doing what needed to be done even when you are too tired to do anything else.

·         Patience of hope – patience often makes us think of sitting back and waiting. Paul wasn’t that kind of man. This kind of patience is about manly/womanly endurance in the face of persecution. This is a picture of a soldier who endures his opponent’s attacks but holds back enough strength to counterattack and conquer. Do you know what Paul is talking about? Enduring in faith till Jesus returns (one of his and my favorite topics.)

So here is the message, my friends. We must wait patiently and work fervently to bear fruit for our Savior because He is coming again to claim His bride. And that is what it takes to be a great church because that is what we have been chosen to do!

I Am Not Alone!

Colossians 4:7-18 – I Am Not Alone

Have you noticed this? We go all the way through this letter, and we just now get a hint at Paul’s circumstances. In v. 10, Paul speaks of “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner.” In v. 18, he says, “Remember my chains.” Not only is Paul in prison, he is in chains within the prison. Life in prison has never been easy, but in Paul’s day, it just couldn’t get any worse. There were three possibilities: being chained to guards who weren’t very nice (even though we know that Paul considered this an open door for the gospel); chained in a deep, dark hole with rats and mud and a smell that would just about kill you; or house arrest – still under guard but under better conditions. Since Paul had access to his friends, this was the most likely scenario, but had it not been for his friends, life would have been impossible.

My point? Paul is not alone! I wonder if he ever had those moments when he felt like he was the only one going through these difficult times. I know that I do. As a pastor, there are times when it seems that no one else cares – that you are standing on a deserted island and nothing you do makes a difference. But as I read this passage, I heard God speaking through His word: "Paul is not alone, and neither are you!" For Paul, there was Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus/Justus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas. Each of them, no doubt, served alongside the apostle, helping him but also being helped. For me it is my sweet wife, Sonya, and my daughters, Jennifer and Ashley, and their husbands, Rob and Jon, and their daughters, Hayes and Lucy. These are my biggest supporters, critics (in a good way), and cheerleaders who keep me going and keep me grounded. There is also my dear friend, Mark, who has listened to almost all of my struggles in the ministry for over 25 years. There is Jimmy and Mary who have been a blessing by simply opening their homes and hearts to me time and time again. There are dear friends right here at Southside who actually want to spend time with us – just because. And countless others that encourage and help me along the way. My prayer is that in some fashion, I have helped them, too. Good people. Praying people. Loving people. WE all need them. Paul was not alone. I am not alone. And YOU are not alone!