1 Thess. 2:10-12; Eph. 4:11-16, Quality Check for Ministry (5)

There are three thoughts we want to briefly share about this concept of edification. 

·        First, the principles about evangelism ministry, and especially those having to do with the preaching, apply to edification.  There is no place for error or deceit, etc. 

·        Second, edification is a prominent NT term describing the nature of ministry to the local church, the believers who meet together.  It means to build up and Paul used it often of ministry to believers (e.g. 1 Cor. 14:26; 2 Cor. 12:19). 

·        Third, the pattern for this ministry of edification is found in Eph. 4:11-16.  Jesus gave men to the Church (v11) to equip the saints (believers, v12).  The ministry of the saints is for edifying of the body of Christ (v12) which is then the conclusion of the pattern: for the edifying of itself in love (v16).  

The word edification doesn’t even appear in our passage.  Rather Paul is describing his ministry as one of those given by Christ to the Church, the way he carried himself among you who believe.  Perhaps you are involved in this ministry to the believers.  Maybe you are an elder or Sunday School teacher or on the Missions Committee.  Or perhaps you are involved in edifying the saints simply through personal relationships with fellow-believers.  This is a helpful passage for prayer and meditation.

v The accountability for edification ministry, v10a. It is the same as always: we are accountable to God but also to others, and especially those we serve.  It’s easy to pull the wool over people’s eyes and say simply “God is my witness.”  Paul said that.  But he also said, you are witnesses of how we behaved among you.  Having said this let me remind you of some things Paul never said.  Paul never said, “What people don’t know won’t hurt them.”  Nor, “what I do with my own time is nobody’s business but mine.”  Nor, “Hey, come on now, nobody’s perfect!”  Nor did he say, “Cut me some slack; remember, I was a persecutor of Christians before I got saved.”  These “excuses” are fully inappropriate in ministry.  Those we serve should be able to testify to the integrity of our lives.

v The character for edification ministry, v10b.  Paul speaks of three qualities in his life as he served them.  They are all major, broad qualities.  He served:

Ø Devoutly.  This refers to holiness with an emphasis on seriousness.  Jesus is referred to as the Holy One (Ac. 2:27).

Ø Righteously.  This is the term for right conduct that is used all over Scripture.  It is used often of the Lord, of course, as well as seen to be evident in the lives of His servants throughout Scripture.

Ø Blamelessly.  The idea is that there is no charge against Paul, nothing sinful that you think of when you hear his name.  

As we said, these are major statements involving the total life of Paul while in Thessalonica.  And yet he could say, with a straight face, you are witnesses of how we lived.  And note as well: these are qualities that describe our Lord.  Paul’s character was the character of Christ Who is our life!  Christ was truly alive in Paul.