1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

They say that those who can’t “do,” teach.  The truth is that the best teachers actually teach by doing.  As believers, it is vital that we be good examples of that which we are striving to teach or people will never believe or follow our teaching.  Our walk and our talk must be in harmony or our testimony will never do much more than just limp along through life.  Our walk with the Lord is much more than just knowing principles from God’s Word it is practicing those principles on a day to day basis.  Paul’s ministry was effective because he talked the talk and walked the walk.
THE CONTENT OF A GODLY MINISTRY IS TO BE AN EXAMPLE: Paul was able to rejoice in the results of his ministry in Thessalonica because they had demonstrated a radical change of heart due to the message of Christ.  The reason that Paul’s ministry was so successful was that it had three basic components.  First, was the proclamation of biblical principles.  Paul said that our message did not come in word only, but it did come in word.  Paul and his companions were busy teaching the truth to all who would listen, even in the midst of intense persecution.  Effective ministry requires bold preaching.  Second, Paul realized the priority of the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul may have been an effective preacher, but the most gifted communicators will not be effective without the power of God’s Spirit on their lives.  We must always recognize our dependence upon the Lord.  Finally, Paul’s ministry was effective because he practiced what he preached.  He called his hears to follow him as he followed Christ.  Too often we tell people to just follow Christ because we are flawed examples.  That may sound humble, but it was not Paul’s practice.  He called men to line up behind him and follow him because he was following Christ.  The preaching of the Scriptures, the power of the Spirit and the practice of servants of God are the essential components of any ministry that honors God.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF A GODLY MINISTRY IS PRODUCING EXAMPLES: The result of Paul’s ministry was that those who were following him and listening to his Spirit empowered ministry became faithful examples to many other people.  The fame of their faith and the radical repentance that they demonstrated quickly spread to regions both far and near.  All of us are worshipers.  God created us to worship Him, but since the Fall of man we have turned from worshiping Him to worship idols of our own making.  However, once we truly come to Christ, the object of our worship will change to one of worshiping God.  This, by definition, is conversion.  It is what happens when people repent and truly come to Christ.  This is the consequence of ministry.  Lives are transformed for the glory of God, and then those lives are used to bring about the transformation of other lives.  God is in the “life transforming business,” it is what He does best and is why He sent Christ to pay the price of sin.  May we allow the preaching of God’s Word, the power of His Spirit and the practice of those who have gone before us to blaze a trail that we faithfully follow so that we might be used to light the way so that Christ might transform many more lives just the way He has transformed ours.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more