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Word from Scotland

    by Sandy Shaw

Learn How Character and Ministry Go Together
Date Posted: July 6, 2020

We move on to I Thessalonians Chapter 2 – “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.” It was not for nothing that we came – it was not for nothing that all this has happened. Are there not times and occasions when we do wonder if our work and service and ministry has achieved and accomplished much?

v.1 – God owned and honoured the ministry – Paul was able to see how God had been present throughout all their efforts – and it had been tough.

v.2 – What had happened to us did not affect what we were nor what we did.

There is no limit to what men will do against the Gospel. These chapters in Acts 16,17 indicate just difficult circumstances had been.

Various questions arise here. Was Paul being accused of being a criminal on the run?

We almost have to expect much contention as the Gospel is contested – for some it become a contest – and nowhere is that more clear than in certain moral matters within our own nation just now.

Was Paul being misrepresented? Misrepresentation is part of the cost of exercising a faithful ministry.

Suffering seemed to sharpen his witness.

We see the pressures and persecution facing Paul and the team.

This was a successful church and the enemy detests successful churches. If he can he will attack the message being preached and the message has not changed in 2,000 years.

v.3 – My motives were pure. When we consider what had been happening the whole work appeared to be a stake.

Was Paul being accused of being deceived and deceiving? Sometimes the enemy attacks the messenger and that appears to have happened here.

Error has that meaning of deceit – and impure motives has the underlying meaning of uncleanness, and has that hint of being a womaniser – and trickery has the meaning of guile – it is the word used for ‘angling to catch with bait’ – offering as a lure something that is not what it seems to be – a confidence trickster – exploiting truth.

These were big accusations.

Satan means slanderer – or liar - and he is the father of all lies. People were saying terrible things about Paul after he had left Thessalonica.

v.4 – He writes about their calling. It was God who entrusted us with His holy Word here. They had been tried out by God and then trusted for service.

No Master is going to commit such a ministry to us, without first testing us, to see if we are fit to do the work, and remain faithful with such a responsibility.

Can God trust us and depend upon us?

Paul is a God pleaser. He is responsible to God and he knows he has to answer to God. This is why it so pointless to seek to please men – we are to please God.

After all, God tests our hearts.

People had been trying to put these new believers in Jesus and disciples of Jesus – off Paul – and thereby off the Gospel which he preached.

He had experienced suffering in Philippi and now in Thessalonica – but suffering did not deter Paul from his work and ministry – suffering did not ever deter him from returning to the synagogue.

He was no failure – and the fact that there was a church in Thessalonica indicates that he was no failure. He came – having been sent by God – and his integrity is obvious to all who have eyes to see.

This letter also reveals the power of God that motivated this man – as suffering seemed to sharper his witness, rather than blunt it.

After Paul came to Christ he went off into the desert to work things out – perhaps even to count the cost as he prepared and trained for his calling. After his apprenticeships and preparation and training he was soon sent out in the name of Jesus and this mighty ministry began.

After you pass the early initial tests, you are sent out.

In this passage we see how character and ministry go together.

What we are is as vital as what we are doing. Even then, people can point the accusing finger at our work and our character – and sadly sometimes with good reason.

“Do not let what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.” Romans 14:16.

We cannot avoid misrepresentation, opposition, criticism and persecution, but we are not to hand people ammunition.

“Lord God – help me to see Your Hand in all I do in the service of Jesus Christ. Guard my heart – guard my mind – protect me from the tempter’s traps and snares – help me risen and living Lord Jesus. Amen”

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Biography Information:

Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!

Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.

Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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