“The Founding of the Philippian Church” Acts 16:25-34
“The Founding of the Philippian Church”
Acts 16:25-34
(Part Two)
Introduction
In the Greek Islands, one can seek out the home of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. In the area, one can also find an olive tree, supposedly dating from his time. If this is so, this tree would then be some 2400 years old. The trunk of this tree is very large but completely hollow. The tree is little more than thick bark. There are a few long, straggling branches, but they are supported by sturdy wooden poles every few feet. It has an occasional leaf here and there and might produce a few olives each year.
In the fields around, however, are olive groves in many directions. The strong, healthy, young trees with narrow trunks are covered with a thick canopy of leaves, under which masses of olives can be found each year. The tree of Hippocrates can still be called an olive by nature, in that it still shows the essential unique characteristics, but it has long since ceased to fulfill an olive’s function. Tourists file up to inspect this ancient relic, having some link to a dim history, but the job of the olive tree passed long ago to many successions of replanted trees. Do you know any churches (or even people) like the tree of Hippocrates? The form is there, but the function is not. They have stopped reproducing and are satisfied just being big, or having a noble history.[1]
Prayer
Four Principles That Led to a Growing Church (vv. 1-10)
#1. Don’t Do Ministry Alone—Find Someone to Invest In.
#2. Having a Good Reputation and Getting Rid of Unnecessary Obstacles Opens the Door to Conversations about the Gospel. Prioritize Life.
#3. Solid Doctrine is Essential to a Strong Growing Church.
#4. Life Changing Ministry Must Be Spirit Led.
Characteristics of a New Church (vv. 11-34)
A. People are Saved (vv. 11-15) – Lydia and her household
B. Darkness is Broken (vv. 16-24) – the demon possessed girl
C. Opportunities to Show Compassion (vv. 25-34)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,[2] supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
(v. 25) “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” – “Praying they were singing (simultaneously, blending together petition and praise).”[3] “and the prisoners were listening to them,” The original word usage tells us they were enjoying what they were hearing. In the dark dungeon, while in stocks, sore from beatings, Paul and Silas were experiencing joy.
In preaching I could tell you of all the things that Jesus has done for you and because of that you should not sin. This is called the debtor’s ethic – In light of all that Jesus has done for you, now the least you could do is live in obedience to Him – you owe him this debt. But in most cases, this is not a strong enough motivation to avoid sin. Instead, when confronted with sin, I would remind you of the gift of joy that He has given to us.
“One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the incomparable pleasure of true joy. As David said, ‘You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with you in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’ (Psalm 16:11). What if we seek to pursue this kind of pleasure in life? In our time of temptation to passing pleasure we can see how much more enjoyable is the incomparable pleasure that Christ gives. We will want to guard that pleasure and not let it be spoiled by lesser pleasures.”[4] We will willingly give up one type of pleasure for God and the joy we find in that relationship.
In response to Paul and Silas praising God, the rocks wanted to praise God too,[5] (v. 26) “and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.” There are other examples of earthquakes freeing followers of God, other examples of prisoners being freed, and they do escape (Acts 5:19; 12:11). Paul, Silas, and all the other prisoners have freedom – all they have to do is walk out the door but they choose to stay put.
But look at what they choose to do with their freedom; each in his own cell – door open, free, but they voluntarily stay. Paul and Silas voluntarily bind themselves to this man, so that he may come to know Jesus. Are you willing to give up your freedom to do what you want so that others may come to know Jesus?
“Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make disciples for Jesus Christ,” our mission can only be accomplished when enough people are willing to lay down their wants, desires, and preferences in order for a lost community to hear about Jesus. You give up your freedom, so that others can be set free.
How did Paul and Silas know to stay in prison instead of leaving like Peter earlier on Acts 12? In Acts 12 there is an angel waking Peter up, and leading him out, and there is no angel here. But there was it a shadow on the wall, the sound of the sword being drawn – something alerted Paul that the jailor was about to take his life. If he did this, then they would surely be free – but they stay. They want to use their freedom, to help to free him as well.
This is one of the joys of salvation; it is one prisoner tells the other prisoner how to be free. Some people don’t know they are really in a prison, and some people forget they used to be a prisoner.
The jailor knew why Paul and Silas had been put under his custody. How the demon possessed girl yelled out how they were “servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation, then he heard them singing and the praising in the darkness, but it was not until his world was shaken and an act of compassion was shown, they he started to ask the most important question a person can ever ask. For some it has to be a divorce, or a doctor’s test results, a financial loss – something that shakes us to our core, and we are scared to death before we are willing to ask the real questions of life.
(v. 30) “Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” – Paul and Silas were followed all through the town by the demon possessed girl, that they were “servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation (v. 17.) Then through the night they had sung songs, quoted Scripture, and prayed aloud – then an earthquake that could have cost him (the jailor) everything (but the prisoners showed him compassion), Paul says “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here,”
All Paul had to do was stay quiet and their freedom was certain. But he would have to experience a man take his own life, knowing he could have done something to stop it. But a man of God cannot remain quiet when he knows he can set a man free. Paul knows why he is in the jail cell he has a mission.
The jailor (and his household) wants to know ‘where does that kind of life and compassion come from?” There was something about Paul and Silas’ night of singing and praising and prayer – that caused the prisoners to stay and see what was going to happen next. (v. 25 b) “the prisoners were listening to them.” The jailor believed that Paul and Silas had the answer to his question. The lies, the beating, the travel, being away from family, the stocks, the prison – was all worth it, when this man asks this question.
(v. 31) “And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” The jailer and his household, don’t have to do anything to be saved, only believe on Jesus. But if you have no biblical foundation – Who is Jesus?
Romans 10:14-15, 17 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?3 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? . . . So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Paul had already preached Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Paul takes God’s Word and explains to the man and his household how Jesus paid the price for their sin by dying on a cross and how He had fulfilled prophecy, and was the Son of God, “And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house,” This man and his family had no idea of who God was – he did not have the biblical upbringing of Timothy. “He (Paul) had been accustomed to using the Judaistic background as a support for his message.”[6]
He did not have the Jewish OT of Lydia or the women who gathered to pray. But like the girl freed of demon possession – they have no foundation – so “they spoke the word of the Lord to him.” The world is crying out, “what must I do to be saved?” and they need people to speak the word of the Lord to them. They don’t have a clue.
Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ – we have to go and tell them who Jesus is and what He has done for them.
This jailor was part of a system that brutalized Paul and other Christians, but through the work of God there is a symbolic picture of things changing, “And he (jailor) took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he (jailor) was baptized at once, he and all his family. Look at the radical difference in the life of the jailor; (v. 27) “he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,” (v. 34) “And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.”
This is the heart change of a person who has placed his faith in Jesus. From darkness and fear to rejoicing. This was the same man who shoved them into a inner prison cell, locked them in stocks, cared nothing for their wounds, now he washes their wounds, brings them into his house, puts a feast before them. This is a heart change. The first act of the new believer and his family is to serve.
Another example of salvation is Zaccheus in Luke 19:8 Jesus wanted to go to his house, as a tax collector he had stolen money from the people, and after his salvation Luke tells us “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Where he had been greedy and a thief – now he becomes generous and wants to bless others. Where there is salvation, there is a heart change.
The prisoner and the jailor sit down together sharing the same faith and love. To be a Christian is to sit across a fellowship table from all kinds of people, each with a very different story to tell of how Jesus has changed their lives. This begins in a prison “about midnight,” then dad brings home two of the prisoners, after a major earthquake.
Something is different about dad, then the two strangers explain who Jesus is, and then you place your faith in Jesus, then your whole family is baptized, in the middle of the night – then you eat a meal, early in the morning – then dad and the two strangers go back to jail before daybreak. What a night.
40 says, “So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.” Paul visits with these new converts and then leaves. “That is all we hear about the first members of the first church plant in Philippi: a business woman and her household; a former slave-girl; and a city employee, the jailer, with his household.
That’s the beginning of the church plant in Philippi.”[7] That small group shared the gospel, and many came to know Christ through their testimony and witness. The Holy Spirit guided the church planters, Paul and Silas shared the gospel to a few – it was then these few that spread the gospel.
Paul leaves them to continue sharing the gospel in other towns – but what does he expect of them? What are they supposed to do? Next week we will look at Philippians chapter 1 and I want you to see the difference from where we leave this small group of believers to that first chapter.
When does a group of people who get together change into a church? If we define a local church as “A church is a group of Christians who meet together regularly and who have some measure of a commitment to each other to be the body of Christ together, which includes biblical leadership and biblical teaching and preaching and a proper celebration of the Lord’s Supper and a right application of Christian discipline.”[8] We will see next week that this small group go to work after Paul leaves – so let us follow their example in reaching our community for Christ.
I will conclude with this article, “This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service. If I who make it what it is, am filled with these, Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.”[9]
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[1] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/church.htm
[2] “In Roman law a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was liable to the same penalty the prisoner would have suffered (Code of Justinian 9.4.4).” Longenecker, 464.
[3] Robertson, 250.
[4] Ajith Ferando, The NIV Application Commentary, Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1998) 456.
[5] See Luke 19:40.
[6] Clifton J. Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 10 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 99.
[7] https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/treasuring-christ-in-planting-churches-and-loving-the-poor
[8] https://www.9marks.org/article/what-is-a-church
[9] https://ministry127.com/resources/illustrations/church
“The Founding of the Philippian Church” Acts 16:1-34 (Part One)
“The Founding of the Philippian Church” Acts 16:1-34 (Part One)
The Founding of the Philippian Church
Acts 16:1-34
(Part One)
Introduction
When I was a kid, Saturday mornings meant one thing – cartoons. And one of those cartoons, on one the three channels we had, was the strategic genius of Wily E. Coyote and his eternal chase of the Road Runner. With large batches of anvils, giant rocks, rocket-powered roller skates, tornado seeds, explosive tennis balls, TNT, mallets, painted tunnels into a rock face – he was always trying a new way to outsmart the Road Runner. But we see in episode after episode that his tools and outfits from the ACME catalog never actually produce the result he wants. The Road Runner outsmarts him every time.
It’s easy to think of reaching our community for Christ and mission as “big tools” we hope will work out, like dynamite strapped to a rocket with a fuse – what could go wrong? The church has a tendency to look for programs, new tools, or events (we flip through the ACME/Lifeway catalog) – but this is not how the NT shows us that the early church grew. Today we will look at Principles for Acts 16 on how the early Christians shared their faith.
Prayer
Four Principles That Led to a Growing Church (vv. 1-10)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him[1] because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
“Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra” Paul has already been to these cities two-three years before proclaiming the gospel, healing the sick, and he was stoned there (Acts 14:19). The scars would have still been on his body. So now Paul goes back to strengthen the young churches.
(v. 1) Paul normally does not travel alone, but he and Barnabas had and argument about another young protégé named John-Mark. Their argument was so heated that they decided to part ways. Barnabas took John-Mark and went in one direction, and Paul set out in another direction with Silas. So, Paul is doubling back over previous covered territory that he had already been through with the gospel but he is also intentionally looking for someone to help him in his ministry, to do what John-Mark did in their ministry.
#1. Don’t Do Ministry Alone—Find Someone to Invest In.
It is more than likely Timothy’s father was a non-believer (Christian or Jewish), and it is likely that Timothy and his mother were converted in Paul’s earlier visit to this area.[2] In between then and now Timothy’s mother and grandmother were growing in their walk with the Lord, 2 Timothy 1:5 “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,” and 2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings.”
(v. 3) Timothy was “well spoken of” meaning he had a reputation among the people of the city. He was known, his father was known, and his mother was known. As Paul and Timothy would have traveled from there to town to town this reputation (even though it was good), everyone would have wondered why he had not been circumcised – it would appear that he was refusing to adhere to the law.
“Timothy was both Jew and Greek and would continually give offense to the Jews . . . so for the sake of expediency, “because of the Jews,” Paul voluntarily removed this stumbling block to the ministry of Timothy. Otherwise, Timothy would not have been allowed to preach in the synagogues.”[3] We need to move past this lesser argument or discussion to get to the things of greater importance – they would constantly face this lesser issue, and it would be a stumbling block to them getting to the gospel.
And Timothy taking this step would have a favorable impression on the people they were trying to reach. “It was no question of enforcing circumcision upon Timothy as if it were necessary for salvation; it was simply a question of what was necessary under special circumstances in which both he and Paul were to seek to gain a hearing for the Gospel on the lines of the Apostolic policy; “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Also, Timothy was willing to endure pain for the sake of reaching other people with the gospel.
#2. Having a Good Reputation and Getting Rid of Unnecessary Obstacles
Opens the Door to Conversations about the Gospel. Prioritize Life.
Earlier in Acts 15:1-2 Paul and other church leaders were discussing doctrine, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.”
So that by chapter 16:4 “they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem” – the Church was just beginning and they were working through foundational doctrinal questions; so Paul and Timothy as they went from town to town, they would instruct these groups of new believers the decisions that had apostolic authority. The result of sound doctrine is that “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.”
#3. Solid Doctrine is Essential to a Strong Growing Church.
1 Timothy 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
(v. 6) “having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia” – “Passing through it but not preaching the gospel,”[4]
“immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia,” – Once Paul and Timothy had a clear direction from the Lord, they did not delay, but immediately started in that direction. It is also at this point the pronouns, for Luke the author of the book, move from them to we and us, “immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us,” It was at this point of the missionary journey that Luke joins the team.
All the things that came before chapter 16 were Luke going and gathering witnesses and other’s account of what happened, here he can give a firsthand account of what happened. Some scholars believe that Luke was a resident of Philippi or the surrounding area and became a convert as Paul passed through. And look how quickly Luke goes from convert to traveling missionary.
(v. 10) “concluding that God had called us,” – The word used for concluding means to “make to go together,” “to knit together,” “to make this and that agree.” “This is a proper use of the reason in connection with revelation, to decide whether it is a revelation from God, to find out what it means for us, and to see if we obey the revelation when understood.”[5] “Because of Paul’s obedience at this point, the gospel went westward; and ultimately Europe and the Western world were evangelized. Christian response to the call of God is never a trivial thing.”[6]
#4. Life Changing Ministry Must Be Spirit Led.
These Four Principles 1) Doing ministry in teams 2) removing obstacles and prioritizing 3) watching our doctrine 4) and being Spirit Led – now lead to a new church in Philippi. Let’s look at the characteristics of this new church plant and then ask, “Is this true of our church?”
Characteristics of a New Church (vv. 11-34)
People are Saved (vv. 11-15)
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.[7] 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
As far as we can tell, there were some Jewish women who gathered to pray, but there seems to be no church, no synagogue – but God is going to establish a church in this area referred to as Philippi upon women who had gathered to pray. Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (NLT)
(v. 13) “and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.” – The custom of Jewish teachers was to teach from a seated position, “Luke’s use of the first person plural implies that each of the four (Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke) preached in turn, with Paul as the chief speaker.[8]
“The Lord opened her (Lydia) heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” Salvation has two parts; 1) The Lord opening her heart and 2) the girl paying attention to the gospel. God through the Holy Spirit showed her sin and need for a Savior, she paid attention to Paul’s sharing of the gospel and responded in faith.
Darkness is Broken (vv. 16-24)
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.[9] 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(v. 16) As Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke were going to the “place of prayer” they were met by “a slave girl who had a spirit of divination” – the type of divination mentioned is where we get the word ventriloquist[10] The demonic spirit would speak through the girl – who is just as much under its control as the demonic (Matthew 8:28). The darkness is her complete control by the demon and that there was a company (multiple business owners) who used this girl to make money through this demonic possession.
Paul “said to the spirit,” not the girl. The girl has no control over what is happening. Notice that the demon says (through the girl), “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” It is speaking the truth, there is a recognition of who they are and what they are doing, similar to the demons recognizing Jesus, His authority, and what He was doing; Luke 8:28 “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”
Why does Paul not permit the demon to continue yelling that they are servants of the Most High, and that Paul and the others are proclaiming the way of salvation? Do you allow the testimony of evil men, because the testimony in itself is true?[11]
“The hour of gravest peril for the Gospel in Philippi was not the hour when they put Paul in prison; it was the hour when the girl with the spirit of divination told the truth.”[12] Evil can tell the truth, but it can just as easily tell a lie. It can take the truth of the gospel and twist it just enough to make it a false gospel. “Every time a demon confirmed that Christ was the Son of God, Jesus rebuked it – every time!”[13]
The girl returns to being a normal girl – free from demonic possession and it enrages the slave owning businessmen. The church should not be surprised when the gospel is shared, the darkness is broken, that those that profit from the darkness become enraged and angry. Nor, should we shy away from the consequences of sharing the truth. For Paul and Silas it cost them being lied about, severe beatings, and imprisonment. Again, there is pain for those who seek to share the gospel.
These two characteristics of 1) the gospel being shared and people coming to know the Lord, and 2) darkness being broken, are two of four characteristics of this new church (we will look at the next two characteristics next week).
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So Does Wiley E. Coyote ever catch the Road Runner? Wile E. is chasing the Road Runner through a series of pipelines, which causes both of them to emerge in a greatly shrunken state. Upon discovering their situation, they re-enter the pipeline and be transformed back into full size. The Road Runner emerges at normal size, but Wile E. is still in small size when he comes out. Upon discovering this turn of events, the Road Runner stops and allows his rival to “catch” him.
The Coyote does not notice anything until he steps over his opponent’s feet, and looks up to see he is massively outgunned. The Road Runner utters a low-pitched “beep beep”, much to Wile E.’s horror. He can only hold up two signs to the audience stating, “Okay, wise guys, you always wanted me to catch him.” and “Now what do I do?” So when the world comes to the church and the Holy Spirit is working in their hearts – we must be ready “to give and answer for the hope that we have.”
1 Peter 3:15-17 “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
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[1] Regarding the idea that Paul seems to argue against this later in Galatians, “Those who deplore the absence of consistency from Paul miss the higher consistency which is aimed at bringing all the activities of his life and thought ‘into captivity to the observance of Christ.’ (2 Cor. 10:5) and at subordinating every other interest to the paramount interests of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:23).”
[2] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume 2 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 339.
[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume 3 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1930) 244.
[4] Nicoll, 342.
[5] Robertson, 248.
[6] Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John & Acts, Volume 9 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1981) 458.
[7] See also Luke 24:45.
[8] Robertson, 251.
[9] “They were handed over to the lictors – the magistrate’s police attendants – to be soundly beaten. The lictors carried as symbols of office bundles of rods, with an ax inserted among them. . .” Bruce, 315.
[10] Nicoll, 349.
[11] G Campbell Morgan, The Acts of the Apostles (Old Tappan, New Jersey; Fleming H. Revell Company, 1924) 385.
[12] Morgan, 385.
[13] R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Acts, The Church Afire (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 1996) 215.
1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers “Standing Firm In Service to Christ” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
1 Thessalonians Sermon Series
Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers
Standing Firm In Service to Christ
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
Introduction
Paul, Silas, and Timothy, having left because of persecution, have written a letter to the new church in Thessalonica where they are essentially answering the criticism of “Paul and his associates are deluded individuals who for selfish reasons and with trickery are trying to exploit the people.”[1]
I. How Far Are You Willing to Go to Share the Gospel? (vv. 1-2)
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
(v. 1) “our coming to you was not in vain” – the word vain can mean something without content, or does not have a result. Paul is expanding what he said in 1:5, “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” Another way of interpreting vain is “empty-handed.”
Later in the text he defends his ministry with them and says that he was not trying to take something from them (leaving them empty-handed) instead he was bringing them something. As in the parable of the bad tenants in Mark 12:3 “And they took him [the servant of the owner sent to get the fruit] and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.”[2]
No builder (as Paul was) likes to have his work torn down, or to spend his time in vain. By the way, it is very hard to build; it is very easy to tear down what someone else has built. It was not a waste of time for the missionaries to share the gospel in Thessalonica. It is not a waste of time to share the gospel, especially amongst conflict.
(v. 2) Paul had moved from Philipi (Acts 16:12-40) to Thessalonica, and it was there they faced a very similar situation, “we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi.”
“we had boldness in our God” – Paul, Silas, and Timothy are going (all by themselves) into a major trade city, standing up in the Jewish temple and preaching about Jesus. That is bold. Then as a result of that boldness of preaching and sharing who Jesus is, there erupted “much conflict.” Then, they preached all the more.
Our boldness is not in our ability, or our group size, or how much money is in the bank. Our boldness is not rooted in anything that we can do or have control over – our boldness is in our God.
Matthew 14:28-31 “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,5 he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
We don’t have to come up with what to say, it’s God’s gospel, not ours – “to declare to you the gospel of God.”
“to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” Conflict has its roots in agoni (agony) and was an athletic term of striving in games. It could refer to both mental and physical agony.[3] Paul was in agony, striving in battle, to declare the gospel. We don’t quit when things get hard, reaching a lost world with the gospel will always be hard.
II. What is Your Motive in Sharing the Gospel? (vv. 3-8)
3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
(v. 4) “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” – We who have been saved, and especially we who have been given this great gift of freedom, must remember the supreme trust that God has given us – the trust of His Word, the gospel. Paul says, in light of this awesome trust and responsibility, “so we speak.”
Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
We must be on guard that we never lose the wonder and weight of the gospel. We must not allow our hearts to get used to the gospel – when the net is being drawn at the end of the service is not the time to gather your coat.
Paul is defending their ministry of sharing the gospel against several false accusations (he was deluded, they were just in for the money, they were just like other charlatans going around from city-to-city selling their religion). For us, Paul gives us a list of characteristics that we should not follow our attempts to exercise the trust of sharing the gospel with the world:
- from error or impurity
(v. 3) Paul reminds the Thessalonians that his “appeal” to them did not involve delusion (i.e. and error on Paul’s part), “impure motives” or trickery (a word that deals with how he preached) – a trio of words that reflect traditional charges against traveling charlatans of various sorts.”[4]
- or any attempt to deceive – no deceptive practices were used to catch them, like a fish on a hook. They did not seek to trick them into believing in Christ.
- not to please man, but to please God
- words of flattery
- nor with a pretext for greed – “a cloak of covetousness” a disguise to cover up greedy desires.
- seek glory from people
In contrast to these things, Paul says we should imitate him, “gentle among you, like a nursing mother” This is Paul who was once Saul of Tarsus. In his early years was brutal, and held the coat of those stoning Christians. He hunted them down like animals and put them in prison. But Christ changed this brutal man’s heart, and now he sees these new Christians as precious children. Paul is a new creature in Christ, he was experienced the effects of the gospel and wants others to experience it as well. 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
The second characteristic that Paul shows to be very important in their evangelism strategy is “we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves” – “With the delivery of his message he delivers his heart, for they are truly dear to him.” We must give ourselves and our words to the message of the gospel. We must be two handed in our giving; with one hand we give the gospel, and with the other we give ourselves. “They held back nothing in their ministry.”[5]
This giving of ourselves is another expense – this hear-and-soul involvement with people is costly.[6] (v. 8) “being affectionately desirous of you, . . . because you had become very dear to us.” Lost people’s lives are messy, and if we are to live out the gospel in front of them, then they become apart of our lives. Many people want to drop a tract in a public restroom, or on the table after you eat out and call that evangelism. That’s not what I see in the New Testament – true evangelism costs you something.
III. Are You Willing to Work Twice-As-Hard So Someone Else Can Hear the Gospel? (vv. 9-12)
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
In order to not be a burden to this new church, the missionaries burdened themselves, “we worked night and day.” They may have started in the early hours, or worked late into the night, probably at tentmaking (Acts 18:3), in order to be financially independent. They would preach and teach during the day, and at other times labor at making tents (early mornings, or late at night).
Paul, Timothy, and Silas bore the weight of taking care of their expenses while doing the work of evangelism because of its’ importance (and so that no one could accuse them of wanting to profit from their message).
In verse 7 Paul describes their leadership as being “gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” and here in verse 11 “like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you” Paul is using it as a reference to how more mature believers are to treat those they are discipling.
But it also is a window into the relationship between parents and children and why two parent homes, led by a father and mother, is so important. Women tend toward nursing and care, fathers tend toward exhortation, encouragement, and charging.
Paul says that he gives not only the gospel, he also gives his life. He is compassionate and loving, while at the same time challenging, encouraging, and exhorts them in how they live their lives – all being done with boldness and in spite of much conflict. This is the example that we are to follow in our sharing of the gospel with the world. They are watching to see if being a Christian is what you say it is.
Now Paul continues to show how they were seeking to make disciples for Christ. Once a person received Christ, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, “like a father with his children” he did three things:
-
- “we exhorted each one of you” –
- “encouraged you”
- “and charged you”
- To “walk in a manner worthy of God” –
Paul is thankful for the church following their (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) example, but it is important to see what he is pointing them to follow. The worthy walk has nothing to do with what you eat, or what you wear, so . . .
How does Paul, Silas, and Timothy model a walk that is “worthy of God?” (4 ways)
Paul, Silas, and Timothy model a clear set of priorities. Life requires decisions and choices. These decisions are based on our goals and the priorities we have in our lives. If we are to walk in a manner worthy of God, then God, the gospel, and the things He prioritizes are clearly our priority and goals.
They model a concern for the integrity of the gospel. Paul and the missionaries worked hard against any accusations against what they did not want to be accused of being in it for the money or being greedy, or any other false accusations. While it shouldn’t be true, it is very difficult to separate the message from the messenger.
They model a clear sense of love and commitment to those to whom they ministered. “Among the more subtle hazards faced by those engaged in ministry is the temptation (often unconscious) to meet personal needs by ministering to others, or to do things for people in order to win their approval or to get them to like us. We are glad to serve or minister to others as long as we somehow benefit from it, or as long as it doesn’t cost us too much of our precious time, energy, and/or money.”[7]
They modeled a down-to-earth work ethic.[8] The goal of Paul, Silas, and Timothy was not boost their own reputations, by winning praise, and they didn’t lord their authority over people. Rather, their ministry goal was the well-being of others. They believed that when people receive the gospel their lives will be better – here and now, and for all of eternity, so they were willing to do whatever it took for that to happen.
IV. Are You Willing to Learn Something New? (vv. 13-16)
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
(v. 13) “the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” – Work has its root in the word energy, like a battery – when Paul, Silas, and Timothy leave, the word of God is still working (keeps on working) in the believer’s lives.
(v. 14) “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews” – The Pharisees “They kept before the nation the glowing story of past greatness, and summoned it to be faithful to the noble traditions of the fathers. They were faithful in church attendance; engaged in severe and frequent fasts; were generous, for they were meticulous tithers; had fiery patriotic fervor; and were the most popular and influential of the Jewish parties.
But they were guilty of one thing which carried with its train a succession of ugly vices – their minds were closed because patterns and preconceptions. They knew everything. They were never wrong, but everyone else was. They were the possessors, guardians, and interpreters of God’s law.”[9]
The Pharisees are not an ancient religious group long-gone, they are still among us. Every congregation has them, and we must be on guard that we do not become one.
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[1] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Publishing, 1987) 59.
[2] Hendriksen, 60.
[3] Clifton J. Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, 2 Corinthians-Philemon (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 270.
[4] Michael Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1&2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan, 1988. 61.
[5] Allen, 271.
[6] Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Kansas City, Missouri; Beacon Hill Press, 1965) 454.
[7] Holmes, 73.
[8] Ibid, 74.
[9] George Arthur Buttrick, General Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 278.