Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Sermon notes
Paul’s courageous ministry of the gospel in Thessalonica was not in vain. God made it a fruitful ministry so as to accomplish His own electing purpose. Yet, God works sovereignly to save in prescribed channels! God is a God of order. We may look for a pattern in how He works and can expect that He will work again in such a way. Cp 1 Cor 10:11. In some sense, how God worked through Paul, is how He will work even today. Paul emphasizes that his ministry was strictly along lines that God approved of, v4.
The gospel of God, v2, 4, 8, 9.
His ministry is seen to involve certain negative and positive characteristics. These are key to an experience of the blessing of God! Especially in the ministry of the gospel—whether as a preacher, or in terms of personal evangelism—these are things we are to see as being critical to service that is not in vain.
I NEGATIVE QUALITIES TO PAUL’S FRUITFUL MINISTRY.
There were certain things he can say were missing from his ministry. They can be arranged into three classes:
- No filthy deceitfulness, v3. Three terms are grouped together here. Deceit > ‘error, wandering, leading astray’; guile > ‘bait, catch with a decoy’. It is instructive that the term uncleanness is included! Error masquerading as the truth is a filthy thing! Cp 2 Cor 2:17. It is so because it is the work of the devil. Paul’s ministry was not one of using the gospel like a bait to snare men with the hook of another message. He did not deviate/wander from the line of truth revealed in the gospel itself. Cp Jude 1:13. He was accused of such, 2Cor 12:16—the words of his enemies; but he can categorically state here that guile had no part in his work. Sadly, many are wolves in sheep’s clothing and in a pretended adherence to the gospel advance falsehood and error.
- No mere pleasing of men, v4-5. Paul did not set out to please men as he preached the gospel. Pleasing men, v4 > ‘to lift up, excite emotion’. This was not his aim. Cp Gal 1:10, 1 Cor 10:33. He did not employ flattering words, v5. Not once!! He speaks here of a fawning attitude. He was not the slave of human opinion!
- No self-interest, v5-6. Paul was a selfless preacher. Selfish interest has no part in a ministry that is not in vain! Covetousness is a greedy desire for more. It is an insatiable spirit of desire for personal increase. His actions among them did not conceal, like a cloak, a covetous heart. Cp 2 Peter 2:3,12-16. This is the mark of the false prophet! Nor did he court the praise and honour of men.
These are things to be strenuously avoided if our service of God is to be fruitful. These are qualities that are fatal to true gospel success. We must constantly die to these sinful and fleshly tendencies to know the blessing of God on our service.