A Model for Ministry | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 | Pastor Jose Brevil

So this morning I went to look at the first one to 12 and our topic this morning is a model for Ministry a model for Ministry. So appalled as Paul was a sharing the gospel in in several places and with the people and many of the people were talking bad about Paul. They were trying to bad-mouth Paul. They were saying all kinds of things about him and Paul found it necessary to answer those attackers and eyes we go to the text this morning you will see Paul here is making a defense for his ministry. Not that this is something else personal to him. I'll probably that concern about himself as we look at the text. But what Paul is concerned about is that The gospel is not being bad mouth because by extension if they talking about the gospel and talking about Paul's way of doing Ministry in the end. They talking about the gospel. So Paul is making that cleared ball is saying hey, this is not about me but it is about the gospel. So let's read our texts and verse 1 of chapter 2. It says for you yourselves know Brothers know before you yourselves know brothers that were coming to you was that in vain? So talkin here again. People like talkin and he's reminding them a you know, we had fruit among you do we have suffered and been shamefully treated at Phillipi as you know, we have roped in our God to declare to you the gospel of God. in the midst of much conflict For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to see but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with a gospel. So we speak not to please man, but to please who God would test our hearts we never came with words of flattery. As you know, no pretext for greed. God is our witness nor did we see Glory from people whether from you or from others do we could have made the measures Apostles of Christ, but we were shipped. Oh, you like nursing mother take care of her own.

So being affectionately desire 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.

For you remember Brothers our labor and toil we work night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you while we Proclaim to you the gospel of God, you are witnesses and God also also a holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you Believers for you know, how like a father with his children. We are excited each one of you and him courage you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God will cause you into his own kingdom and Glory other as we stood your word now. May you teach us what God how to do ministry individually and as a church, And help us load guide to learn from Paul and do likewise in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. So a model for Ministry. So this morning I want to share with you three marks of a christ-centered Ministries three marks of a christ-centered Ministries, and then I'll share some more with you next week. So today, we only going to look at 33 marks of a model Ministry. So three marks of a christ-centered Ministries Christ Central Ministry, is that a christ-centered Ministries will be fruitful. Ultimately a christ-centered Ministries will be fruitful ultimately. So if you are working for God if you are doing Ministry for God eventually it will bear fruit. If you look in verse 1 there it says for you yourselves know brothers that our coming to you was what Matt in vain sometimes doing Ministry can be very tiring and can feel like oh my God, what am I doing? Or if you individually sharing the gospel with somebody and then you could be like 4 years you sharing the gospel with someone and then you just never see any fruits any Witness. You can share how you want. You turn it around. You will not only shared with words, but you're also shared with your life. Like you you're living out the gospel. You working were worthy of the Gospel, but somehow you just don't see any fruit at all. But not Paul wanted to remind them all those people all those haters. They're talking about me and is asking how I was just profiting from you. But Paul says they remember when I came to you it was not in vain because now your faith is being known everywhere member chapter 1 The boss says hey don't let those people distract you telling you that, you know a I was not like a real teacher out. I was not serious about the gospel with bosses. It just remember the fruit. Just just look at you and bosses and you will know that when I came to you for those three weekends that I came up with those three weeks the three Sabbath day. It was not in vain, even when you go to 2nd Thessalonians 1 verses 10. It says when he comes on that day to be glorified in his Saints talking about Jesus. NB NTB Marvel at among all who have believed because our testimony to you was what the boss says a when you are in Ministry you to look at the Longview cake never to Shoreview pasta say I was not just in this, you know, just to get results right now, but both of them looking forward to the sure care once you going to be in front of Christ and a prophase am not worried about those people who are talking but I'm worried about the fruit that's going to happen like in the future because in the end everything will be revealed. That's why the first gospel-centered Ministry ultimately will be fruitful. We may not see it right now, but ultimately a gospel Ministry that is rooted in the gospel that is rooted in Christ will ultimately be The previous chapter previous verse before it's his four-day themselves report concerning us that kind of reception. We had them on you and how you turn to God from Idols to serve the chew. Got the new ball. Come in vain. You know like our memories are usually as short as the shortest pencil, right or as long as the shortest pencil like we don't remember things like we don't remember the things that God has done. So even those to selonia they started forgetting how God has work in them floople started believing the lies when people were telling them, you know, Paula you will see because of. Then do a lot of false teachers they would come and just profiting from people just getting on their greed as we go for their passage in the days that you see Paul you see he only came for 3 weeks. She he just came get all that he could get from you and then he just got right out. But we'll see it in the text as we continue.

Once we are doing minutes before Christ, we have to look at the Longview because Isaiah 55 verse portal say Steve everyday says so what shall my word goes out from my mouth. It's on that return what empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the Fein for which I sent it. So when the word of God goes out, guess what? It's going to bring fruit. Ultimately may not be today may not be in five years may not being seven years may not be in town may not be in 30, but ultimately it will bring fruits you talk to missionaries. They want to go to an area and then work for years. Nobody ever come to Christ. I remember there was a missionary my church in Florida. The guy spent years in Liberia in Africa and in trying to share the gospel to all kinds of programs things just never worked for him and he was there for 10 years. Nothing nothing like not one Soul could be said he could not even justify to the church. Why does she still said him support? Nothing was working for him. You know what the turning point was ultimately one day one lady. Was going to the market with a sack you do they carry stuff on their head and he just went and helped the lady and just took the stocking carry it and just went around and and and and carried it for the lady to go to the to the to the outdoor market then Wednesday. They said that then that's when his ministry really started in Liberia. Then people saw a white man carrying a sack on his head just like all the other people were used to accustomed to carrying stuff in typically to be the women but to see him do that. That's what they needed to see and since then he's just had done great work in that country. He was there for years adopted kids from their children would want you kids were born there and it just just beautiful better. Once you are in Ministry if you're looking at now, you know, you going to get depressed. And that's why the Bible says do not despise the days of Small Beginnings is God doing his work. Because it's not your work cuz God says my word will not return void. That's what keeps me going to Ministry. That's why I never get like. Oh my God. I want to quit now. I just trust God's word God's word says his word will not return void. I just trust that his word will not return void and you individually as you share the gospel with people Should never get depressed or get tired just know that hey, I just share my job is only to share my do my job is not to change my I cannot change. I can only share you just share and then let the word do its work. Whatever God calls you to God ultimately will bring life to the Ministries Ministries. Sometimes look like Ezekiel 37. I don't know if you've ever read the passage, but let's read it together. Does the hand of the Lord was upon me and he brought me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley. It was full of Bones and he led me around among them and behold there were very many on the surface of the valley and behold they were very dry.

And she said to me son of man can these bones live?

Ezekiel Ansah that I answer the old hard. You know that.

He says oh Lord, you know he was a smart man. Then he said to me and say to them. old dry bones hear the word of the Lord

This is why you have to be obedient. God is saying 8 I will send you the talk to some people that don't care about the gospel. He feels like you foolish. God will send you some places to do ministry and then you go and it just like if you feel like it's a foolish what you doing? It just doesn't make sense. But then he said to me prophesy over these bones and set it to them or drive and hear the word of the Lord. Says the Lord God to these bones behold. I will cuz graph to enter you and you shall live. So if God wants to bring a life to anyting God will bring life to whatever that God desires to bring life to so whatever you sharing the gospel with it doesn't matter how bad their life might might look how messed up. It might look how disinterested that they might be. If God says to share the gospel with them you share the gospel with them because God says we need to share the gospel with ever whatever he puts in our path. God calls you to a particular Ministry you go ahead and you keep doing what God has Called you to do. Just remain faithful and I will place the news upon you and will cause flash to come up on you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and you shall live and you shall know that I am the Lord is nothing. We like to boast. Scary it is like if things happened too fast, it gets into our head. Like I did it. Look what I did. But you know, I can't hear it. I just started this ministry and I did you know, we had a strategy we had a plan we did this and we did that at a Ministry you see At the end of the day God has to get the glory. Okay. That's why you see a lot of people, you know fall into that. Traffic is just too big for them. And then they just mess up after Kate got us to get the glory and got us two tissue boxes to do that. It seemed that was doing the work out all alone. Not you. So then when it finally happens, you know, it was not me. It was the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded the obedience. And eyes I prophesied there was a stone and Bo a rattling and the bones came together. God is saying be obedient be obedient obedient, whatever I called you to do all to mately it will be fruitful.

Bones to Eastbound and I looked and behold there were Cindy was on them and Flash. I'd come up on them and scan had covered them, but there was no breath and then so that means you'll see some progress and I'm not quite but God says keep being obedient to me keep being obedient to the breath prophesy. Son of man is the Lord God so was doing the work God come from the Four Winds o breath and breathe on this plane that they may live in. So I prophesied as he commanded me and the breath came into.

A christ-centered Ministries will be fruitful ultimately. Do with me. And they live and stood.

on their feet an exceeding great Army That's why you re stay with God and God will bring the increase. See God will bring the result when we do things in our own strength. It will dwindle eventually burn. What is God doing it it will last. And that goes to your personal life. Whatever is going on in your life. That might seem like a dry bones that you feel like nothing is working in your life. It might be your children are driving you crazy. It might be your marriage. It might be your personal sanity. It might be whatever it is in your life you naming that seems to be like a dry going to you like your career is not working relationships on at whatever it is. Whatever your dry bone might be. God says, what do you need to do about it? You prophesied over X. I am feeling lonely. But am I going to stay in my loneliness? What am I going to do? Now? I'm going to have to slide over that loneliness because I know what God's word says about loneliness. God says I will never leave you or forsake. You got this I will always be with Fairview

think whatever might seem like a drive on in your life turn to scripture you prophesy whenever you speaking God's word back to him. You are prophesying over the situation. You are prophesying over your life. That's why you need to know what God's word says about loneliness what it says about marriage what it says about healing what it says so that when you get to that situation, you pulled that scripture and you slept beside over that situation you prophesied over that problem you prophesied over your life because God can turn a dry bones into life.

You got it.

But now there's a caveat to the Caribbean sometimes God's word will be fruitful when I said fruitful ultimately it also that includes judgments. Look up Jeremiah. 7:27 says saw you shall speak all this words to them. But what? They will not listen to you. Your so-called call to them, but they will not answer. She got only calls us to obedient. We are not the one bringing the fruit see ultimately will bring fruit and some of the fruits will be good. But some of the fruit also will be judgement because the Bible says that no one will be without excuse. So when God was goes out for that it will not return void also means that not necessarily they're going to repaint but a judgment day, they will not have any excuse whatever that you share the gospel with because some people it doesn't matter what you say how you say it. They just will not listen in Romans 1:20. It says so they are without excuse. They sometimes God will tell you to share the gospel with somebody that doesn't mean they're going to turn to Christ. But God wants you to be obedient and shared with them because at the end they will not be able to say that they've never hurts. because God had sent you got that sent me that I sent other people to speak over their situation to tell them to turn to God, but they refuse because the Bible says in the end all of us will have to give an account to God in the way that we live. So yes God's word never returns void. Some of it will be for judgment and some of it also will be that good fruits that we all strive for. We are all responsible for what we hear. We are responsible for what we hear what we do with it. It's up to us. But my goal is that we want to be a good fruits not bad first. See the bottom line is that when Ministry work is rooted in Christ. It is never in vain. So be obedient you do what Christ has called you to do. The second thing. The second thing is that a christ-centered Ministries is faithful so that only a christ-centered Ministries will ultimately be fruitful but a christ-centered Ministries is faithful. God calls us to faithfulness. Remember God is the one doing his work not us. We are just the messenger. We are just the conduit that God uses but we are not the one doing the work. Let's look at verse 26 verse to it says do we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Phillipi as you know, we had bonus in our God to declare to you the gospel of God. Send a message to match conflict. God calls you to be faithful Ministry is not free from problem in Acts 16 and 17 see Paul and his companions. They were thrown in jail. They were bidding. They were beaten with rods. 3 but God called him to be faithful and regardless God wanted them to continue to persevere in Ministry, even though Paul they were going through suffering, but they stayed the car they call the course. They did not shy away from sharing the gospel, even though they were going all that conflict that problems that they faced Denver streets is for our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive process a shared with you was the real deal. Is that diluted from scripture in a we were not trying to deceive anybody and then Paul continue using inverse voices, 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 would as our hearts up office God testify and I would be gas then what we are saying to you is true and we are not trying to deceive in false as they I'm not giving you any diluted gospel. Because Paul says we have an audience of one and that audience is God the Father saying when I'm speaking, I'm only speaking for God. I don't care what other people think I'm not trying to please anybody. I'm only caring to speak for God and eyes people of Faith with God caused in Ministry. We are we have an audience of one that audience is God. That's the only person that we need to care about not offending. We need to share the word with boldness. Just like God share the word. Not you trying to dilute it. You share God's word as it is. Cuz Paul says we speak not to please man, but to please God will test our hearts for we never came with words of flattery. We're not being honest a lot of people in the try to share the gospel today, and I'm trying to flatter people but not telling the whole truth. And in the end it doesn't really help people. It just gives people more problem. They just want to give people short-term Solutions because the word was just like flattery. Just trying to keep people in. Good. God is saying he's not looking for a crowd. He's looking for followers is not looking for fans is looking for followers people who wants to follow him and Paul says we don't care about pleasing manner. We only care about pleasing God. We not going to flatter anyone on that trying to come with words of flattery to attract people. As you know know we were pretext for greed boss's day. I don't need anything from you. I'm not coming to share the gospel. You just trying to get an advantage for you sis. God is my witness. An adverse sexy says nor did we see Glory from people? Okay. I'm not trying here to just feel like you know, I'm something I don't need any Glory from people named Lori comes from God. I'm looking Longview future when God will glorify me. Where do from you or from others do we could have made the men's is Apostle the above the day I could make the man from you. But God Paul posted that that's that's not what I came here for him to give you the word undiluted. I came to give you the word just like it is I'm not coming here to please you, but I'm coming to make you Godly. I'm trying to help you be more like Christ first Thessalonians 1st Corinthians, 4:12, and we labor working with our own hands when reviled we bless when persecuted. And do it supposed I'm not I'm not trying to be greedy here. They trying to say that I don't like him for 3 weeks. I don't really care about you. I just came trying to get something from you and leave just like the other phones features do the posters. Are you you got me mistaken that me. 2nd Corinthians 5 9 to 10. So so whether we are at home all the way we make it our aim to please do he in Christ for we must all there. It is appear before the Judgment seat of Christ. So that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body whether good or evil everything that you do in this life. You will be judged for Where do good or evil? That's why we got to take God's word. Seriously. Okay, gentlemen day is coming. And it is so we have to be faithful in whatever God calls us to do. So the bottom line is ultimately we answer to God not man. Ultimately. We answer to God.

Love is the battery in the back. So christ-centered Ministries, totally christ-centered Ministries strives to be loving. To be truthful and to be caring so I put it all in one. So Christ Central Ministry must strive to be loving shoot pool and caring let's look at verse 7 to 12, but we were what gentle among you like a nursing mother taking care of her own children supposed to say I was like a mother to you when I came I really cared for you. I just want you to try to see the picture forgives here. Is that of a baby? What can a baby do for his mother? except to cry and to poop to make her clean Case of the nursing mother it's only the provider. The nursing mother is cleaning the baby the baby's crying soothing the baby. Just helping the baby. So his mother expect anything from the baby crying and pooping. Okay, so probably saying I was like a nursing mother to you all that I was doing I was just given to you. What is they are giving even my own life to you? I do not need anything from you. I don't care what they are trying to say about me. But I serve you like a nursing mother. So being affectionately desirous to see of you. We were ready to share with you. Not only the gospel of God, but also our own sales Boston say I gave myself to you and all my companions. We give our own lives to you. I was not only concerned about just telling you, you know to be saved just telling you about the gospel the boss that I really do care for you. I give my own life for you because you have become very dear to us. Is he a christ-centered Ministries is rooted in love is very loving and tiara. We don't see any superficial love. We don't see any green the real see any anything. Superficial you're probably saying hey I came here. I just want to love you like a mother love a child because all that I want to see I just want to see you grow. The really all that. The mother wants from the child has please grow. Please grow. Please grow. Please grow. Please grow. Please grow. Please grow probably something. That's all I need from you. I do not need anything else cuz I treat you like a mother would nurse a child so that you will grow and he says 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 proclaim the gospel to of God. Do you process? Hey, I work with my own hands de buses. That wasn't Appointment on you. Sue people trying to accuse me of greed. What are they talking about? Greed's I work. I was not to spend it on you to support my Ministry and it says you are witnesses and God also how holy and righteous and blameless with our conductor. Would you Believers see Paul is not against the foreign Ministry Paul accepted help from the Philippines in Philippians chapter 4 where they send him he'll but here in this new church in this baby church here bored thing and no no. No, I work with my own hands for you know, how now like a father supposed to say nobody can Accuse me of greed. I don't need anything from you. And this is not prideful but just Paul is just stating facts stating the claim that hey you trying to accuse me. That means you you you are choosing the gospel and probably saying as the representative of the Gospel, let us set the record straight.

And then he said it's not only I was a nursing mother to you. But I was also a father to you for you know, how like a father with his children. You see what a picture of a father? concern discipline

He said I came to you like a mother. I'm just nourishing you I'm loving you but you know discipline is a sign of love, but also I come to you as a father. Also how like a father with his children we exhorted you. So it's like I'm not going to let you in your mess by the way. I'm going to exhort you to so if you don't like that, I bought them sorry. Okay. I was not just like a mother to you, but I was like a father to you. I need to call you and your mess. Imports a like a that's why a christ-centered Ministries not only loving but it also true. A christ-centered Ministries must also be truthful if you can people all love and you never give them truth. You did not help them. And if you give them a lot of Truth with no love you create a rebellion. Text Sue truth and love works together. And that's what Jesus said. Jesus said. He came to give us life. And Jesus said that the word games in in sroufe word and deed the truth love so not only loving but also truth we exhausted each one of you see but a father is not only discipline, but you getting a group to because in any Visions five or six it says about that fathers, do not exasperate your child. So you also not only bring the exhortation, but you also need to bring the encouragement to probably saying hey, how is that only a mother to you? I was a father to you. I exhorted you and I also encourage you and charge you to walk how In a manner worthy of God, so probably saying hey, I don't think I'm going to come and Slaughter you here and not tell you the truth. If you think you just want me to tell you things to tickle your ears, just like the false teachers do talk cuz you got the wrong guy about this, but that's not what the gospel teacher says. I'm going to give you the gospel undiluted. You need to walk worthy of the Gospel. Don't think that I'm not going to call you out on your sin. And that's why Paul called him on titles in chapter one and they turn from their Idols to to the Living God and that's a problem. We have today a lot of church. It's all about flattery and just talking to people about tickling their ears so that they do not leave we so afraid to share the gospel so that we don't have an empty place but boss says I'm going to tell you the truth because you need to walk worthy of the gospel. And that's why we have a lot of people interested just never change. Because we just tell them things to tickle their ears and the never made that transition like the testolone Ians in chapter one where they turn from their Idols to the Living God. It's like we telling people come in but bring your Idols with you and you can keep them.

That's a recipe for hell. Not heaven Paul says that the Christian we need to walk wherever she of the Gospel of God will cause you into his own kingdom and Glory. I want you in heaven. And another for you to be in heaven. You gotta walk worthy of the Gospel to the bottom line is just like children to discipline as well as love the Christ Central Ministry never shy away from the truth, but strives to be loving at the same time. So when you share the gospel of the next person you come in contact with be truthful don't sugarcoat it, but also be very loving to them very caring that you show them that you're not only caring about just saying some words to them, but you actually care about them. You see what Paul said I was not only caring about sharing the gospel that I want to share my own life with you. See people don't care how much you Is there a way to damn you know until they know how much you care about them. So call this a gay when you share the gospel with people you shared with truth, but also share it with love and what it all boils down to in a nutshell is that the end goal of all christ-centered Ministries is transformation. If there is no transformation, there is no success if there is no transformation in lies that you've been coming for 5 years. You still the same that's not good Ministry. It's not christ-centered. If you there must be transformation God calls us to be transformed God calls us to live transform lives if the ministry has not transform lives. There were no success. The ministry is not successful the end goal of all Christ and his ministry is transformation. We have to be transformed not only here in 1st Thessalonians. It talks about walking worthy. It's like Paul put it in all his letters in Colossians. It says eyes so as to walk in a manner how safe with me where every of the Lord fully pleasing to him bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God again, Paul put it in Philippians as we've seen on Wednesday night only let your stay with me manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. You can't get away with walking worthy of Christ. You have to walk worthy of the Gospel so that whether I come to see you or an absent, I may hear the of you that you are sending firm in one spirit with one mind driving side-by-side for the favor of the Gospel. Not only he put it in Thessalonians. You put it in Colossians. You put it in Philippians, but Paul also puts it in Ephesians. It says I therefore a prisoner for the Lord urge you to do what walk worthy in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. Can you get away from working where the other gospel? That's why we cannot toy with sin. We have to fix him seriously and get rid of sin in our lives because the aim the end goal of any christ-centered Ministries is transformation so that we would walk worthy of the gospel of Christ. Amen. Thank you for your grace this morning. Thank you for teaching us Lord. God to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ walk worthy in your calling in our lives the father help us just like Paul to be an example to be a model to follow just like the Thessalonians were their faith was known to all people everywhere. Because of the work of Faith the labor of love and their steadfastness over hope for every single one of us that are here today. May you help us Lord to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ. So help each one of us load got to do just that we love you. We praise you and we magnify your name for Indy father. There is none like you in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Let's sing this last song Amen.