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.

1 Th. 2:3-9; Jn. 13:12-17, Quality Check for Ministry (4)

Ministry that has God’s approval is characterized by the presence of:

·        Affection, v8.  This is the only use of this particular Greek word in the New Testament.  It refers to a kind feeling.  Again, when you think of Paul whose would let nothing get in his way of finishing the race, you may think of someone who is driven, who might seem a little pushy and so forth.  We are not surprised that Paul stood his ground with Barnabas in the matter concerning John Mark (Ac. 15:36-41).  But perhaps we are surprised to learn that later in his life Paul greatly valued Mark (2 Tim. 4:11).  Paul’s ministry was controversial from the start.  It is quite likely that he saved Mark from great difficulty, perhaps more than he was ready for, by not having him along on the second journey.  Our point is that we should realize Paul was a man of affection and that other’s recognized it.  There is no more proof needed than the picture on the beach at Miletus when the Ephesian elders wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him as he prepared to board the ship for Jerusalem.  Even so the Thessalonians were dear to Paul!

·        Self-giving, v8-9.  Here is a powerful aspect of God-approved ministry.  It is not just about the task we have, which is to preach the gospel.  It is about the people.  Thus Paul shared not only the gospel but he shared his life (psuche, soul) with them.  As we work through these qualities I keep reflecting on some interviews I have been part of, interviewing people to serve in various positions of ministry in local churches.  So often one of the key themes of these interviews has to do with borders, limitations.  Men want to be sure they have the right to say no to ministry for the sake of family or personal needs.  Now this may be too complicated to consider fully here, and I want you to know that I am aware of 1 Cor. 7:25-35.  But I do want to say that God-approved ministry involves giving yourself for the sake of those to whom God has called you to serve.  Paul knew this and he gave himself, just like his Lord gave Himself, for those he came to serve!  Paul even took on a part-time job just so he would not be a burden to them.

·        Love.  If you are wondering which verse we are referring to you can look at 1 Th. 1:4 when Paul called them beloved brethren.  But if you want to see Paul’s love for them we just saw it in 2:3-9.  Love is what binds all this together.  Paul had engaged in a labor of love and they knew it because they saw his gentleness, cherishing, affection and self-giving.  We have been loosed from the bonds of slavery to sin and we are now bound by love, the bond of perfection (Col. 3;14).  Having been drawn by God with gentle cords, with bands of love (Hos. 11:4) we are now in the service of Christ, our Lord.  Let us remember that when He called us to love (Jn. 13:34-35) He first called us to humble ourselves.  What He said was, You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet (Jn. 13:13-14).  Paul followed Jesus.  May we do the same!

1 Th. 2:3-9; Phil. 4:10-20, Quality Check for Ministry (3)

Evangelistic ministry that is approved by God is characterized by the absence of:

·        Greed/covetousness, v5.  Paul was not focused on money; he was not in ministry for the money!  Furthermore there was no “give money to me so you will get more money,” a popular message of many preachers today.  The Pharisees were in it for the money (Mark 12:40), fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophesy about the shepherds who get fat off the sheep (Ezek. 34:1-10).  Again, from 2 Peter 2 where Peter was dealing with this issue of false prophets and teachers, they are those who exploit their hearers for the sake of covetousness (2:3).  Paul did receive money from people (Phil. 4:10-20).  But when he did he made it clear that he was thankful for them and then sought to bless them instead.  Paul’s attitude in Phil. 4:12, that money was not a big issue and that he knew how to get along fine with a lot or a little, that attitude seldom makes it into “missionary letters” or “fundraising appeals” today.

Let us now turn to the positive aspects of Paul’s evangelistic ministry.  Ministry that has God’s approval is characterized by the presence of:

·        Gentleness, v7.  One synonym for gentle is mild.  Think about this in terms of Jesus’ call to servanthood (Mk. 10:35-46).  He told the disciples (and us) not to be like worldly leaders who want to have the power and control: they lord it over them!  How different is Christian ministry, being first gentle or mild.  We are called to this even when dealing with people who oppose us (2 Tim. 2:24).  And it is the same attitude of the Good Shepherd with His lambs (Isa. 40:11).  Jesus (and Paul) could be strongly emotional at the proper time (e.g. Jn. 2:13-22, cleansing the temple).  But look at the gentle way Jesus dealt with the sin issue in the heart of the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:16-18).  It is not the preacher who is the hammer that breaks the heart of the sinner; it is the word of God: Is not My word like a fire? Says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29).

·        Cherishing, v7.  To cherish has the root idea of heating something up or softening the heart.  A husband is to cherish his wife (Eph. 5:29).  God Himself cherished His people and showed it in the way He cared for them in the wilderness (Dt. 1:31).  What a great illustration Paul uses: as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  Until Acts 28 Paul had never been to Rome or visited the Church at Rome.  And yet we are told that the brethren of that church met Paul at the Appii Forum, a marketplace some 43 miles from Rome.  He may have known a few of these brethren, and certainly they all knew about Paul.  But still we ask what would have given them such a heart for Paul as to go 43 miles to welcome him to Rome?  Could it have been that he had already warmed them, cherished them, through the magnificent letter he wrote that we simply call Romans?  That letter is considered a theological masterpiece.  But when they read the introduction (1:8-15) and the conclusion (15:14-16:27) they saw a man who cherished them.  When they met him on the Appian Way they met a man they knew to be a true servant of Christ.

1 Thess. 2:3-9; 2 Cor. 4:1-6, Quality Check for Ministry (2)

Evangelistic ministry that is approved by God is characterized by the absence of:

·        Impurity/uncleanness, v3.  This term, which of course speaks of mixing in that which is evil with that which is good, is most often used in a “sexual” context.  The doctrine of Balaam (Rev. 2:14) introduced this mixing of evil into the lives of God’s people, and in that situation it was actually sexual immorality.  Consider this amazing description of certain false teachers by Peter: When they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error (2 Pt. 2:14).  He describes people who have seemingly escaped from the error-filled world and life into which we were born, escaped by responding to certain (false) teachers.  But actually they have been drawn by a message that is mixed with the lusts of the flesh, which is, of course, one of the errors of their former life.  Evangelistic ministry that is approved by God cannot pattern itself by the world’s lewd and lusty entertainment.

·        Deceit, v3.  Paul soundly renounced this.  Listen to the different kinds of lies he rejected: But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully (2 Cor. 4:2).  There was no trickery in Paul’s dealing with people, none of what we refer to as “cute.”  We are talking about methodology.  It is a fact.  There are many times when those who preach the gospel will try to use music or lighting or other environmental issues so as to make people more open to a positive response to the preaching.  There are things we should do to encourage a positive response: pray, depend on the Holy Spirit, preach a clear and bold message, and set an example of love and integrity.  But it is vain to use hypocrisy (trying to be something we are not) or craftiness; the faith of those who respond will be in a lie.

·        Flattery, v5.  My dad, who was a good and godly pastor, referred to flattery as “an effort to compensate for lack of value.”  Think about that in the context of preaching the gospel.  Flattery says nice things, things that are not true, to and about someone who is a sinner in need of God’s grace.  We certainly must respect people.  But we must not lie.  What we are offering in the gospel is of immense value.  It stands on its own.  It is Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead.  If you want an illustration of preaching without flattery just read Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler (Mt. 19:16-30) or with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21).  Jesus never buttered people up so as to get them to listen to Him.  Neither should we!

Paul’s ministry did not spring from error; he did not motivate people by mixing in evil with the truth (impurity); he did not use deceitful methodology; and he didn’t try to get a hearing by flattery.  In tomorrow’s post we will look at one more negative before we move to the positive characteristics of his ministry.

Psalm 78

I hope you have not decided to skip this Psalm because it is so long.  Unlike the longest Psalm (119) which is already divided into stanzas, this second longest of the Psalms cannot be divided.  It is a complete story, one that needs to be heard by the saints.  Please take the time to find a quiet place and read it thoughtfully.  


Let’s begin with some background.  When the Children of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land God had told them He would choose a place of worship, a place where He would put His name, and place where He would dwell with them (Deut. 12:5).  Did you ever wonder how Jerusalem became that place?  When Israel first entered Canaan the capitol city, and site of the tabernacle, was Shiloh, a city of Ephraim (Josh. 18:1; 1 Sam. 1:3).  Now that you know or are reminded of that, do you wonder why the tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant did not remain in Shiloh?  That is the subject of Psa. 78.  We need to hear the reasons God rejected Shiloh and chose Jerusalem.


1 Samuel 4-6 tell the story of Israel’s attempt to gain a victory over the Philistines by taking the Ark into the battle, thinking it’s presence would give them a decisive edge.  Instead the Ark was captured by the Philistines.  But they could not keep it; having it resulted in being under constant plagues.  So they returned the Ark to Israel who did not return it to Shiloh but to the house of Abinidab in Kirjath Jearim.  The answer to the question as to why it was not returned to Shiloh but eventually ended up in Jerusalem in the time of King David is in Psalm 78.  The reason involves a history lesson and it’s in Psalm 78.


We are called to listen to a parable (v1-4).  God established His law in Israel (v5-8).  But Ephraim did not keep the covenant (v9-11).  God had done great and marvelous things in Egypt (v12-16) but the people sinned even more, grumbling again and again against God (v17-29) so that His wrath was stirred up against them (v30-31).  Yet they continued to sin (v32) so that they were forced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years (v33).  When they entered in the land this continued, rebellion against God followed by God’s punishment followed by a show of repentance followed by God’s mercy (v34-39).  They tempted God and limited God (v41), doubting Him just as the Egyptians had done previously (v40-53).  God eventually brought Israel into the land (v54-55) where they continued to test and provoke the Most High God (v56-58).  Finally God’s anger was stirred up so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh (v59-64) when He allowed the Philistines to make Israel miserable in defeat and to capture the Ark, the symbol of their special relationship with God.  But then God’s grace and mercy came to the front.  He beat back Israel’s enemies (v65-66) and chose the city he loved, Mount Zion in the tribe of Judah.  And He chose David His servant to become Israel’s shepherd-King (v67-72).


The turning point for Shiloh was when the priesthood had become corrupt, in the time of Eli.  Israel came to put their trust in the Ark rather than in the God of the Ark.  They believed that having the Ark in battle would guarantee a victory.  Instead the result was that the Ark was removed from Shiloh and never returned.


God had predicted this clear back in Genesis 49:8-12 in the prophecy of Jacob concerning Judah.  While Joseph received the double-portion of the inheritance given to the oldest son (Gen. 48) the leadership role of the first-born was given to Judah.  The scepter would not depart from Judah, a promise fulfilled in the Davidic Covenant wherein God promises a Son on David’s throne forever.

The story teaches an important lesson of consequences.  Israel’s unbelief when the tabernacle was in Shiloh resulted in its removal from Shiloh.  God kept His promise to make His dwelling with Israel but it would be in Jerusalem, the place established by David, the man after God’s heart.  It would be in the city of Melchizedek, the first godly King and Priest in (Jeru)Salem (Gen. 14:18-24).


God kept His promises to choose a place to dwell; but at the same time, sin brought consequences.  This is the story of Shiloh and Jerusalem.  God’s work is the same today.  Our wickedness will bring harmful consequences and lost opportunities. 

1 Thess. 2:3-9, Quality Check for Ministry

In 1 Th. 2 Paul is speaking about his in Thessalonica.  He could say that his desire was met, that his ministry was not empty (v1).  The nature of his ministry was vocal: he spoke the gospel, persuading, sharing and preaching the gospel (v2f, 8f).  His ministry was carried out in the context of trials which gave Paul much integrity (v2).  Paul’s ministry had a depth of quality (v3-9).  It was an approved ministry.


In ministry there is no question that those whose lives are devoted to the ministry of Christ must be accountable to men.  We submit to those who have God-given authority (e.g. Heb. 13:7).  We see this in Paul’s relationship to Peter (Gal. 2) and to Timothy and Titus.  You also see it in the way Paul maintained regular connections with what we would call his “sending church,” the Church at Antioch (Ac. 13:1-3; 14:26-28; 18:22).  We must be open to the reproof and support of others in the Body of Christ.  But we are not to set out in ministry to please men (2:4) or to gain glory from men (2:6).  We must be careful about this because men’s applause can feel pretty good and make us think it is part of God’s encouragement to us.


Instead, we must be approved by God (v4, 6).  God’s approval is especially critical in evangelism where we are preaching to unbelievers.  They may evaluate us in the way of the world.  Jesus touched on this when reproving His disciples about their concern with personal greatness (Mk. 10:35-46).  Remember how He contrasted servanthood with the world’s way of lording it over people.  Those who need Christ might be drawn to us if we excel in the world’s form of leadership, but they will not be drawn to Christ.  

Our ministry must have God’s approval.  Paul sought this for various reasons.

ü God had chosen Paul to ministry to begin with (Gal. 1:15; Ac. 9).

ü God had entrusted Paul with the gospel (1 Cor. 4:1; Eph. 3:1-7). 

ü God could see the heart of Paul!  We can fool men but we cannot fool God.

Thus we conclude that “quality” is defined by God.  How does God define a good ministry of evangelism?  Let us begin with the negative.  Evangelistic ministry that is approved by God is characterized by the absence of:

·        Error, v3: This has to do with the source of our message.  John spoke of this when he referred to the Spirit of truth versus the spirit of error (1 Jn. 4:6).  What we call a cult is the result of deceitful spirits (1 Tim. 4:1).  Error has in it the sense of wandering.  As Paul put it, it is the tendency to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).  When we are seeking to give the gospel to those who are unbelievers we cannot try to build a bridge to them by sourcing our message in their world.  A message with errors is eternally dangerous.  We must be careful in using illustrations and quotes from the current culture.  We must not fear offending people by quoting the Bible, the absolute source of truth.

We are just beginning this theme.  Let us seek to be approved by God (2 Ti. 2:15).

1 Thess. 2:1-12, The Best Preaching

Paul’s desire is that his ministry not be vain.  Paul wanted the good things God did in his short time with the Thessalonians to continue on into the future.  So what kind of ministry did Paul undertake to bring this about?


When Paul came to them he preached with boldness (v2).  Even though they had been mistreated in Philippi they did not ease up at the next stop.  They had courage.  They were not brash or abrasive.  Rather they spoke with freedom and clarity.  His ministry was also characterized by exhortation or persuasiveness (v3).  They were not deceitful but they did preach with emotion, with a strong appeal.

Another word to describe his ministry is “impart” (v8).  He was sharing the gospel, giving what he had to those who had nothing.  And he “proclaimed”, meaning he preached or announced the gospel.  

As important as it is that we “live” the gospel we see here that the gospel must be spoken.  Thus the best sermons:

·        Are spoken.  The lifestyle of the Christian is the platform for his preaching.

·        Are clearly spoken. 

·        Are courageously spoken.  Courage comes from one significant truth from God when He says, I am with you (Ac. 18:9-11; Mt. 28:19-20).

·        Are persuasively spoken.  A key to this is the use of Scripture in preaching the gospel.  Remember: the gospel itself is God’s power to salvation (Rom. 1:16f).

·        Are sincerely spoken.  This is the “life” issue.

·        Are preached!

A good preaching of the gospel is important.  But notice also the life-context out of which Paul spoke.  He uses three words in v2 to describe this: suffered, spitefully treated and conflict.  Paul fought the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7) and ran the race with patience (Hb. 12:1).  He had suffered in Philippi and yet continued to preach in the next city, Thessalonica.


We need to understand this, even in the USA where there is little physical abuse.  Still, the gospel carries a much stronger punch when our unsaved friends and relatives see its power in the afflictions of life rather than the successes of life.  Go back and read Acts 16:19-34 to see what Paul experienced at Philippi.  


Revolutionary ideas are often born in the academic environment, but Christianity grows in the fertile soil of the blood of its martyrs.  There is a great illustration of this in the birth of the English reformation in the 16^th century.  There was a group of men in 1521 who gathered at the White Horse Inn at Cambridge University, frequently discussing the reformation and teachings of Luther, Calvin and Zwingli.  What men are we speaking about?  Thomas Bilney, Robert Barnes, Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, William Tyndale, John Rogers, and Nicholas Ridley.


Those who need to know Christ will best hear of Him from His people whose afflictions bear testimony to the great hope we have in Him.