The
Thessalonian Epistles
People
and Pastor
Lesson
V
Written:
We
have been arrested by the number of times the words ‘know’ and ‘knowing’ appear
in these letters. First we observe what
the Thessalonians knew about the pastor, Paul, then what Paul knew about
them. Then we notice it was the
Scriptures that influenced both people and pastor. If we allow any space for even one inspired
writer in the same sense as those who wrote Scripture, we thereby allow the
full authority of Scripture to be destroyed.
We
would outline this material under three headings:
Ø Pastors should be known
to the people.
Ø People should be known
to the pastor.
Ø Preaching Scripture will
influence both pastor and people.
1 - Pastors should be
known to the people.
Hear
what these people knew about Paul.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
(5) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but
also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
They
knew what
he did, how he did it and why he did what he did. All was for their sake and their good and
they knew it.
Would
that could be said of all pastors and preachers.
1 Thessalonians 2:2
(2) But even after that we had suffered before, and were
shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God
to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
By
reading Acts 16 and Acts 17:1, we learn that from Philippi Paul and Silas moved
to Thessalonica. The shameful treatment
is explained in Acts 16:35-39.
Acts 16:35-39
(35) And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men
go.
(36) And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore
depart, and go in peace.
(37) But Paul said unto them, They
have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and
have cast [us] into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?
nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us
out.
(38) And the serjeants told
these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they
were Romans.
(39) And they came and besought them, and brought [them]
out, and desired [them] to depart out of the city.
Acts 17:1
(1) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis
and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a
synagogue of the Jews:
The
magistrates gave orders to let Paul and Silas go. But Paul said, “They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison;
and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay verily, but let them come themselves and
fetch us out.” If Paul was worthy of
death he was willing to die (Acts 25:11) but he was not willing to allow men to
unlawfully abuse him without making them feel accountable.
1 Thessalonians 2:5
(5) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as
ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God [is]
witness:
We
remember having a motto that read: “Soft
soap is 90 percent lye.” The Thessalonians
knew that Paul was an honest man.
1 Thessalonians 2:11
(11) As ye know how we exhorted and comforted, and
charged every one of you, as a father [doth] his children.”
Proverbs 17:6
(6) Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and
the glory of children [are] their fathers.
So
the statement reveals the great respect had by the Thessalonians for their
mentor, the Apostle Paul.
Again
we find in:
1 Thessalonians 4:2
(2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by
the Lord Jesus.
Here
do not think in terms of the ten commandments given to
Moses. Paul’s commandments come in the
form of exhortations and encouragements.
We shall discover a list of these in 1 Thessalonians chapter five.
2 Thessalonians 3:7
(7) For yourselves know
how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.
And
again in 1 Thessalonians 2:10, “Ye are witnesses
(that is, you know), and God
also, how holily, and justly and unblameably we
behaved ourselves among you that believe.”
1 Thessalonians 2:10
(10) Ye [are] witnesses, and God [also], how holily and
justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you
that believe:
Perhaps
with these things in mind the Holy Spirit urged Paul to write:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
(12) And we beseech you, brethren, to know them
which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord,
and admonish you;
(13) [And] to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
They
had learned and seen what Paul had been among them and he desired that those
who followed him would follow his high standard.
Many
times we have witnessed heartache in Churches and the lives of individuals
caused by unknown ministries.
2 Corinthians 8:22
(22) And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have
oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the
great confidence which [I have] in you.
Paul
tells us what he did in 2 Corinthians 8:22, “And we have sent with them a
brother, whom we have often times proved diligent in many things.”
Proven. Proven
diligent. Proven diligent in many
things and that many times! Such brothers
and sisters are the kind who should have letters of recommendation. Too often there are men in ministry who have
proven that they serve not the Lord Jesus but their own belly (Romans
16:18).
Romans 16:18
(18) For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple.
Paul
writes that the Thessalonians knew what he had taught them had proven to be
true.
1 Thessalonians 3:4
(4) For verily, when we were with you, we told you before
that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Other
doctrine they had heard had not fallen on deaf ears.
1 Thessalonians 5:2
(2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of
the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
And
when others were troubling their minds he wrote: “Remember ye
not, that, when I was with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he (the
man of sin) might be revealed in his time.”
2 Thessalonians 2: 5-6
(5) Remember ye not, that, when
I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth
that he might be revealed in his time.
So
in all these Scriptures we learn a good deal about what the Thessalonians knew
because they had been taught by Paul.
2 - People should be
known to the pastor.
Now
we look at those things Paul knew about them.
1 Thessalonians 1:4
(4) Knowing, brethren
beloved, your election of God.
How
did he know?
1 Thessalonians 1:6
(6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
When
they heard the gospel, they became followers of us and of the Lord (1 Thessalonians
1:6). To become a follower of Paul was
to become a follower of Christ.
Acts 20:30
(30) Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1
(33) Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not
seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.
(1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.
There
are men who “seek to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). Based on 1 Corinthians
10:33-11:1, we have heard some teach that Paul sought followers. But look at the context. “Even as I please all men in all things not
seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they might be saved. Be ye followers of me, as I am also of
Christ.” In other words, be followers of
me in winning followers of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:7
(7) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in
Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Timothy 4:12
(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example
of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity.
Paul
also says “they became ensamples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia” (1
Thessalonians 1:7). They were true
examples not only to but of believers (1 Timothy 4:12).
It is our opinion that it is more important to be examples of
believers than to them.
1 Thessalonians 1:8
(8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not
only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is
spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
The
faith of the Thessalonians was so well known and evident that Paul did not have
to tell about it (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
3 - Preaching
Scripture will influence both pastor and people.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14
(13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing,
because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe.
(14) For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches
of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like
things of your own countrymen, even as they [have] of the Jews:
In
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14 we read: “For
this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the
word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it, not as the word of men, but
as it is in truth; the word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe. For ye, brethren became followers of the churches of God which
in
It
would seem there is a great lesson here.
Having received the gospel, not in word only, but also in power, and in
the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance (1 Thessalonians 1:5) the churches did
not follow up the converts, the converts became the followers. They had received the Word of God as the Word
of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
(5) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but
also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what
manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Sixty
years ago a brother gave this testimony.
He had gone to Church every Sunday with a good black book under his
arm. But when he heard the Word preached
in the power of the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance as had these
Thessalonians, he went home with the word of God in his hand.
Has
the Bible become the Word of God to you or is it only a good book?