The Preaching of Paul…  (5 things)

• 1^st – HOW Paul preached… vs.1-2 (2 points)
  • 1^st – Paul did not preach in VAIN…vs. 1
    • The believers in Thessalonica knew (edio) that Paul had not come to them in vain…
      • Vain – kenos used 18x in NT – carries the idea of being fruitless / empty…
      • There was no question that there was FRUIT to the work Paul did…
      • Anyone who wanted to know – could see that there was now a church there!
    • We also do not want to serve the Lord in vain…
      • Every one of us has received a GIFT from God – I Peter 4:10…
      • We all have been given talents – gifts that come from God…
      • Those gifts were not given in vain – but so that we could minister one another!
      • Not sure what your gift is – there is only one way to find out – step out and try!
      • If God has given us a desire to worship – then pick up a guitar…
      • If God has given us a desire to teach – then pick up a Bible!
      • We will never be sure of what our purpose is – until we step out to find out!
  • 2^nd – Paul preached BOLDLY… vs. 2
    • The believers knew (edio) how Paul and company had been treated in Philippi…
      • How they had suffered and been severely mistreated just before arriving in Thessalonica…
      • Acts 16:16-40 – we read about how Paul and Silas were wrongly imprisoned…
      • Paul had cast a demon (python) out of a slave girl and got arrested for his efforts…
      • There in prison he and Silas worshiped the Lord – and God send an earthquake…
      • The jailer ran is to see if they had escaped – and instead gave his life to the Lord!
      • When they were released the next day – the officials pleaded with them to leave the city!
    • When they arrived in Thessalonica – there was still much conflict…
      • Acts 17:5 – the Jews who did not believe stirred up a riot against Paul and company…
      • Yet in spite of all the conflict – Paul was BOLD in his preaching of the Gospel…
      • BOLD – used 9x in NT – always used in correlation to the preaching of Paul!
      • It did NOT matter what people did to Paul – they were not going to silence the Gospel!
      • Sharing the Gospel will always bring about conflict (sword) – Matthew 10:34…
      • The world hates Jesus because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness – John 3:19
      • If it were not for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
      • But that is all the more reason to BOLDLY share the Gospel – tell people about Him…
      • They may not WANT to hear the truth – but all the more they NEED to know Jesus!

• 2^nd – WHAT his Preaching was NOT… vs. 3 /5-6 (6 points)
  • 1^st – Not in ERROR… vs. 3
    • The exhortation (encouragement / Gospel) Paul brought them was NOT in error…
    • Error – plane used 10x in NT – carries the idea of the wisdom of the WORLD (planet)…
    • Paul did NOT come and try and to give them the ideas of men (psychology)!
    • Many people today run to the wrong counsel for help – the wisdom of this world…
    • On the surface – there can even appear to be some WISDOM in psychology…
    • But at its core it denies that God is the solution – or even that He exists!
    • And will even try to discredit the sufficiency of God to overcome problems!
    • We do not want someone who gives us their opinion – no guarantee they are right…
    • We want someone who is going to point us to Jesus – He is ALWAYS right!
    • I John 4:1 – “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”
  • 2^nd – Not in UNCLEANESS… vs. 3
    • Uncleanness – Matthew 23:27 – also used to describe the preaching of the Pharisees…
    • On the outside everything might looks good – but inside they were UNCLEAN…
    • Because they were not looking to glorify God – they were looking for the GLORY of men…
    • Paul DID NOT preach in uncleanness – his motives were PURE before the Lord!
  • 3^rd – Not in DECEIT… vs. 3
    • Deceit – used 12x in NT – carries the picture of fishing with bait…
    • I am going to try and LURE you in – in an effort to get from you what I WANT…
    • Paul DID NOT preach with deceit – he wanted NOTHING from those he gave the Gospel to!
  • 4^th – Not with FLATTERING words… vs. 5
    • Flattering – only here NT – Paul did not spare the sinners from the truth (flattery)…
    • Because flattery is shallow – and ultimately does not help anyone – Proverbs 26:28 
    • Many pastors today have forsaken teaching of the TRUTH of the Bible…
    • They are afraid to talk about harder subjects – sin / consequences / hell…
    • They do not want to offend people – so they only talk about happy subjects (flattery)…
    • The church is not a theatre or a show / it is a place to hear the TRUTH…
    • The power of salvation is in the Word of God – Pastors need to TEACH the Word!
    • II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will… look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.”
  • 5^th – Not with a desire for MONEY… vs. 5
    • Paul did not use his preaching as a cloak (hide) of covetousness (greed)…
    • In other words – Paul was not trying to get rich off of preaching the Gospel!
    • The number 1 message of false teachers is give us money – Apollo Quiboloy / Iglesia ni Cristo
    • False teachers do not look to bless / help others – teach them about Jesus…
    • They do not look to bring glory to God – they only look to please themselves!
    • They will try to win you over to their cause – so they can take advantage of you!
    • Philippians 3:17-19 – “They are enemies of the Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life…”
  • 6^th – Not for the GLORY of men… vs. 6
    • Even though they MIGHT have made demands as APOSTLES of Jesus Christ…
    • They had the POWER (dynamai) to place a BURDEN (baros) on the believers…
    • Paul was not after the GLORY of men – either from Thessalonica or anywhere else!
    • In contrast the Pharisees loved to hear their own name – love to be recognized…
    • They loved to be seen by men – they loved the praises of men!
    • John 12:43 – “For they loved [agape] the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
    • Leaders who love the praises of men – end up NOT being a servant of Christ!
    • Galatians 1:10 – “If I were trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
    • A godly leader does not seek the praises of men – the acceptance of men…
    • If a leader is seeking to please men – he is listening to men and not to God…
    • He becomes a leader who is tossed about by the whims of men – no direction…
    • He becomes the blind leading the blind – both fall into the ditch – Matthew 15:4

• 3^rd – WHY Paul Preached… vs. 4 / 7-8 (3 points)
  • 1^st – He was approved by God… vs. 4
    • Paul had been approved (perfect/passive/indicative) by God…
    • Approved – the word could also be interpreted examined / tested / recognized…
    • In other words because Paul had PROVEN to be faithful to God…
    • Therefore – he was entrusted (trusted with) with the Gospel of God – and so he SPOKE!
    • A lot of people step up and say they want to be used by God…
    • Only to be handed a broom / or asked to wash the dishes…
    • And they walk away – because they think they are better than menial work…
    • Yet I have noted two traits on the people God uses…
    • They have humility – realizing it is not about them – but all about Jesus…
    • And they do not give up – they persevere – do not quit hanging on to Jesus!
    • Zechariah 4:10 – “Do not despise these small beginnings…”
  • 2^nd – To please God… vs. 4
    • Paul did not speak to please men – but to PLEASE God…
    • Because it is God who TESTS (same word as approved) our hearts…
    • I Corinthians 3:13 – “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test [same word] each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
    • Paul understood that he would ultimately answer to God for his actions…
    • So he wanted to make sure that he was living / preaching in a way that pleased God!
    • A good friend once told me he ONLY cared about what his wife and God thoughts about him…
    • Because he had to live with his wife – and he knew he would one day answer to God!
  • 3^rd – Because of his love for the people… vs. 7-9
    • His Love for the people can be seen in three ways…
    • 1 – How Paul treated the people…
      • He was GENTLE among them – like a nursing mother cares (warms) for her children…
      • The picture is intimate and powerful – Paul genuinely LOVED them…
      • With just as much passion and intensity as a mother caring for a nursing child!
    • 2 – What Paul wanted to give to the people…
      • He had such affectionate longing (only here NT) for the people…
      • He was not only pleased to give them the Gospel message…
      • But also his LIFE because they were so LOVED (agapetos – PPP)!
      • How did Paul have such a powerful – self sacrificial – AGAPE love for others…
      • Because of the LOVE he had received from Jesus Christ!
      • I John 4:10-11 – “This is love [agape], not that we loved God, but that He loved us… if God so loved us, we also ought to love [agape] one another.”
    • 3 – What Paul refused to take from the people…
      • He called for them to remember how he had worked day and night while with them…
        • Labor (work) and toil (hard labor) so they would not be a burden to anyone!
        • Not that they could not have been paid for their work in the ministry…
        • Those who minister to the spiritual needs of the church – pastoral ministry…
        • As much as possible – provided for practically by the church – I Corinthians 9:11
        • I Timothy 5:18 / Matthew 10:10 – “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
        • If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
        • It is a blessing to the people to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister!
      • But like a father to a child he ONLY wanted to give to them…
        • Paul was willing to SPEND all he had for the church…
        • He would have given them his last peso / his last ounce of strength…
        • II Corinthians 12:14 – “I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

• 4^th – WHO were the witnesses to his Preaching… vs.10 (2 points)
  • 1^st – The believers were witnesses… vs. 10
    • Paul was not telling the believers anything they did not already know…
    • They had seen – HOW / WHAT / and WHY Paul preached the Gospel to them…
    • In face Paul uses the term – as you KNOW – 4 times just in this passage (vs. 1 / 2 / 5 / 11) …
    • The word KNOW could also be interpreted – SEE – they SAW everything Paul did!
    • Whether we know it or not – people are watching us – following our example…
    • If we are conforming to the world – chances are they will ‘stumble’ with us…
    • The opposite is also true – if we stand up for Jesus – it will give boldness to others…
    • When you are willing to go to Bible studies – you will find others follow…
    • When you stand up for Jesus around family / friends – it gives other boldness too!
  • 2^nd – God was a witness… vs. 5 / 10
    • People were not the ONLY ones watching – so was God (vs. 5 /10)…
    • When Steven was stoned – he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father – Acts 7:56
    • Jesus does not stand at the right hand – He sits – Colossian 3:1 / Hebrews 8:1
    • Here and here ONLY do we see Jesus standing in Heaven…
    • Jesus stood because He was proud of His son – Steve had a good witness (martyr)!
    • I can hardly believe it – but one day when I go home I will see Jesus…
    • And hear Him say the words – Welcome good and faithful servant – Matthew 25:21
    • Not because of what I did for Jesus – but because of what Jesus did for me!

Till the days when God calls them to come home – into His Kingdom and His Glory!

5^th – The description of his Preaching… vs.10-12 (2 points)

1^st – The example Paul gave… vs. 10

Paul uses 3 adjectives to describe the EXAMPLE they were witnesses to…

Devout – only here NT – which speaks of the desire to be DEDICATED to God…

Just – which speaks of practically being OBEDIENT to God…

Blameless – 2x in NT – which speaks of following through and being FAITHFUL to God…

Because Paul was DEDICATED to the Lord – and OBEDIENT to His commands…

No one could make any accusations – blame – because he was FAITHFUL to the Lord!

2^nd – The words Paul shared… vs. 11

Paul uses 3 verbs to describe the WORDS they were witnesses to…

Exhorted – to come along side – often meaning to instruct or admonish…

Comforted – to encourage or console (used concerning Mary & Martha) – John 11:19

Charged – to be witness of – he spoke honestly to them about what he saw in them!

Just as a FATHER would do to his own children!

Paul saw himself as their FATHER – and he taught them like they were his kids!

Fathers are to teach their children – teach the about Jesus – Ephesians 6:4

It is the responsibility of the Dad to EXHORT / COMFORT / and CHARGE their kids…

Too often fathers forget that they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes…

We must take the time to read the Bible with our children / pray with them…

If we do not teach our kids to have a relationship with Jesus – who will!

3^rd – The desire Paul had… vs. 12

Paul did all of THIS – HOW / WHAT / WHY / WHO – so THAT…

They would walk WORTHY of God – who calls them into His Kingdom and Glory!

How can we walk WORTHY of God – through the teaching of the Word of God!

Colossians 2:9-10 – “That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy [same word] of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

That was the desire of Paul – the purpose of the preaching of Paul…

That people would know about the Love of Jesus – and would learn to walk worthy of Jesus…