How Paul Conducted Himself

Sadly, the apostle Paul faced opposition and criticism. Every place he went we might, I suppose, have thought that an apostle of Jesus Christ would be spared those things by the protecting hand of God. But such an expectation would be very naïve. Christ himself faced vehement hostility in opposition and told us that his followers would face exactly the same. Therefore, the more fervently we serve him of the more Christlike we become, the greater the opposition that were going to endure in this world so we better become prepared for it. And Paul had critics in every city where he went every location where he ministered and replace work by the spirit of God. He was able to plant a church.

There were always a number of people who rose up to criticize and to oppose him as much as they could. So not having defended his ministry and, second, first Thessalonians. Rather, chapter 2 verses one through six.

We looked at that a couple weeks ago we now find Paul describing his conduct in ministry.

In verses seven through 12 of this chapter, and in this section he gives three illustrations of his approach to ministry out of Paul conduct himself number one like a little child. How did Paul conduct himself. Number two, like a nursing mother out of Paul conduct himself.

Number three like an involved father Percival like a little child that takes us to verse seven and here we read soon as I find it but we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children, and it's the first part of that verse that I'm focusing on now, but we were gentle among you know he cannot understand what Paul is saying here until first of all, we understand the importance of the contrast indicated by that opening the word but this is in contrast with what has gone before. But here's something different. In other words, Paul is telling us now.

What he did as opposed to what he didn't.

How he conducted himself as opposed to how he did not conduct himself because in verses one through six. Paul is primarily defending himself against the accusations of the critics who said Paul you did this Paul you did that and Paul said I did not I did not I did not I did not. Now he says but here's what I did do the word not is found a number of times in those first six verses in the idea of not opposition is found even where the very word not is not used. He said to begin with it. He did not come to them in vain. Verse one of chapter 2. You yourselves know, brethren that are coming to you was not in vain is not empty is not without substance was, not without fruit and furthermore it was not an error or impurity or deceit, according to verse three what he had to say was the truth of God without any mixture of error.

No impurity that is immoral conduct involved in his ministry either himself or his missionary team or in the teachings that he gave to them, no deceit, no manipulation, no slide of words in order to to deceive them, not at all. Not that, not as pleasing men.

Verse four. That was not his goal that was not his manner of operation. He was not calculating and crafting his ministry in such a way as to make himself popular and to gain something for himself inaudible not as pleasing men, not with flattery or greed. According to verse five, and he puts those things together as if when people are flattering others, it's usually because they are greedy to get something in return something of material value or something else they want to get out of people and so they butter them up. They flatter than Paul said nope. I didn't do that. See, these are all things.

The critics work charging him with.

They were all saying that he came to them without any substance that he came to them with an error in impurity and deceit that he was just a man.

Please are not a God pleaser that he was coming with flattery and with the motive of greed and that he was seeking personal glory. And he says that was not true either. In verse six, nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. And it's that last statement becomes the strongest contrast to our phrase in the beginning of verse seven, but but we were gentle among you, we might have made our might have made demands as apostles of Christ. And Paul is getting back to this idea of how he exercised his authority. I am an apostle of Christ. I have God-given authority is apostle of Christ. I could have legitimately made many dumb ions because of my position as an apostle of Christ and they would not have been out of order, they would've not not have necessarily been excessive I could have been made far more demands than I did but instead I or we are you my team were gentle among you, he did not abuse his rightful authority, which evidently was a common accusation against him. This is a common assertion, Paul makes a number of times he seems to frequently have to defend himself against this charge. Paul you are overbearing you are abusing your authority as an apostle of Christ and posted no nope.

If anything, if anything, I am under utilizing by rightful authority as an apostle of Christ. We were gentle among you, not arrogant and demanding member that idea of of making demands in verse six as the idea of throwing our weight around and he says I didn't read. We have a certain amount of weight and not in a measure of exercise of that authority in and appealing to that weight is perfectly legitimate out can be overdone, but there's a measure of its perfectly legitimate but I didn't even do that I didn't even exercising authority. That was a legitimately mine, at least not in Thessalonica because it wasn't necessary. There and I don't abuse my authority. I don't even utilize my authority words not necessary to do so in some places it was going to be one of them. We made a journey through the first and second epistles to the Corinthians in their Paul had to use his authority yet to come down on them pretty severely at times he had to say you are doing what you want to do and so I'm a tell you what to do get to see them do it now.

When come to you with a rod so Paul knew how to use his authority appropriately, but only as absolutely necessary.

Otherwise, here's the way he conducted himself. Here was a standard way of conduct we were gentle among you, that all of this, Paul teaches us that God-given authority must not be ignored but God-given authority must not be abused by say I didn't use my authority as an apostle, he reminds them that he hasn't authority is yes authority is apostle. It is a legitimate authority, and it cannot be ignored. He cannot let them trample over his authority to the detriment of their own souls and of the welfare of the church and of the cause of Christ. But God-given authority must not be abused.

And Paul is a wonderful example of that. And so whatever area of authority you have in all of us generally have some of some kind. We need to keep this in mind, the best way to exercise God-given authority and gently, humbly, kindly underwhelming lien is much as possible. Only rural rising to the weight of that authority when it is necessary in order to keep people from destroying themselves.

Another pastor's need to keep this in mind, I have given a lot of thought to this is Paul has reminded me of the time and time again husbands you need to keep this in mind, it's true that the Bible teaches that the husband is the head of the wife are very hated Bible doctrine of the day in which we live are nevertheless taught in the word of God but husbands don't abuse your authority exercise gently fathers the same way teachers the same way employers if you have a position as of supervision on your job then learn to be gentle in the exercise of your authority. You may at times have to watch her foot down.

You may at times after after twist arms. It may at times have to say do this or else, but for the most part your general demeanor is not arm the boss around here and he walked readily you use to tread softly around me, but it is gentle, kind, like Paul, teachers at school, same thing, government officials, same think we could learn this lesson. What to change. It would make in the whole world in which we live are actually two common mistakes when it comes to authority in our relationship with authority. There are those who question nothing in there.

Those who question everything and those who question nothing and follow blindly. And that's not wise to always look to the word of God recognize when authority is not leading in the right direction.

We must do that, we are answerable to God not to man. We must not follow blindly. We cannot be the kind who question nothing but far too many are the kind you question everything and basically have a settled attitude of resistance toward authority in general. I get to submit to authority like to submit to my husband. I'm not to submit to my parents. I'm not to submit to the policeman. I'm not going to submit to spiritual leaders are not to submit anybody on to do things my way and we applaud the doorway, which we celebrate that he did things his way, while was that wonderful wasn't that great but sinful rebellion but learn to submit to God-given authority. Not having a settled attitude of resistance supposedly came to you gently and that were gentle gently in verse seven we were gentle among you, some Bibles is translated we were babes among you, here's where I get. Finally around to my to my heading here that Paul conducted himself like a little child we were babes among you, not to go into the details of the differences in the translation of why they exist, but you can see the connection between these two coming as a little child would be coming gently rather than one whose coming is a is a big authority throwing his weight around.

So Paul says we were not this, we were not that we were not the other, but we became like little children in your midst. We did not exercise the weight of our authority. We did not abuse our apostolic authority. We let my example rather than by coercion. We were like children. Paul said, I conducted myself among you like a little child. What else number two. Also, I conducted myself among you, like a nursing mother. Here's the second illustration. Also, beginning in verse seven we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. This suggests several things in the go on in verses eight and nine maybe I can should continue to read so affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives because you had become dear to us.

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you we preach to you the gospel of God like him nursing mother to you.

What is that suggest suggests that Paul was first of all committed. Secondly, tender third loving and forth sacrificial in his conduct among the Thessalonians. He was committed to them that comes up in several of the phrases of the verses I just read, but particularly like a nursing mother mother and then these words with her own children. He emphasizes that not just anyone who nurses though that day wasn't all that uncommon for wealthy people in particular instead of nursing their own children to hire a nursemaid. We don't see that very often in America today, but that was common in many, many cultures down through the years to hire a nursemaid, no nursemaid in most cases is going to be very tender with the trial just like the mother would be, but is not quite the same strength of commitment is that the nursemaid is doing it for wages. The mother's doing it out of love. Huge difference. So Paul says we were like a nursing mother among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. That's a strong commitment. I would guess as I thought about this at this probably calls attention to the strongest human tie in human relationships, the time of the mother with her little baby as the child grows and develops that tie lessons and lessons in that tie isn't supposed to be the strongest relationship in her life forever. But at the beginning. Husbands back off a little bit your your wife is well occupied with it little child that she has the strong relationship with, and right now that's the most important thing in her life again. I say it won't always be she's not abandoning you she's not loving you less. Her commitment to her child is not going to be greater than her commitment to you, long term, but right now she has a special relationship a special duty, a special responsibility for little child.

She understands that if this child is not carefully nourished. It's not going to thrive. In fact, it may not even survive, it requires extensive take care and love and commitment and and labor on her part and so pulses that describes my relationship when I came to minister to you. I came like a nursing child from a nursing mother cherishes her own children committed. Secondly, the word tender is very prominent in all of this, who cherishes her own children goes on with several other descriptions of that that love that special love that he had toward them.

They mother who tenderly cares for who cherishes her children and that is probably one of the tenderest illustrations.

It could have been used as well.

How a mother nourishes how mother feeds how a mother cuddles how a mother loves to the to the utmost. This precious little life that God has given to Hershey cherishes that, by the way, that's the same work, the Paul using Ephesians chapter 5 for husband and their relationship to their wives, husbands are to love their wives and they are to cherish them like Christ cherishes the church. But this is the way that a nursing mother relates to her young child that small child and still nursing at her mother's breast so nursing mothers committed the nursing mothers tender the nursing mother. Third is loving, affectionately longing for you. He says in verse eight fond affection very dear became dear to us are different translations you will find in various Bible translations when my commentary said love is the mainstream of mainspring rather of effective evangelism and discipleship. Love is the mainspring of effective evangelism and discipleship. Paul is describing his labors in Thessalonica, which involved both of those things.

When he came there.

There were how many Christians in the town of Thessalonica. When Paul first arrived there were zero. So he preached the gospel again and again and again he makes reference to that here how he preached the gospel to them. That's not all he did what he preached the gospel to them. He preached the gospel of the city of Thessalonica by the work of the Spirit of God. Many believed the came to faith in Christ. And so this description of how Paul conducted himself in Thessalonica is both a description of how he conducted himself in evangelism as well as how he conducted himself in discipling those new converts. He did so in this tender loving way, affectionately longing for you. That is the mainstream of Ring of evangelism. That's the attitude that we need to have. Yes, it's the gospel that saves but our motive are method of proclaiming the gospel should try by God's help and grace to emulate that of the apostle Paul in this tender loving manner described as a mother cherishing her own children. Likewise with discipleship so nursing mothers, committed and tender and loving but also sacrificial Anastas indicated in verses eight and nine, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God is critical is that is essential is that if nothing happens without the gospel all the love in the world. All the kind deeds in the world are, are not sufficient to bring one soul to salvation apart from the message of the gospel, God uses that gospel message to open hearts to faith in Jesus Christ, but we preach to you not only the gospel of God, but we also gave to you our own lives because you became dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil for laboring working hard night and day.

We may not be a burden to any of you we preach to you the gospel of God.

Remember, Paul is illustrating his conduct among them by.

In this case by the way a mother is with a young child and he says a mother's relationship to him. Child is extremely sacrificial when only preach the gospel to you but we give you our own lives or could also be translated. We poured out our soul without without any ending point without any stopping. We poured out our whole souls to you who would doubt the statement of mothers making credible sacrifices for their children. Generally, all throughout their lives, but especially when they're young and tender veins like are being referred to here mothers work night and day care for nursing child is not an eight hour day job visit mothers. This would be a good Mother's Day message.

You didn't fall on Sunday next week is I'm working through my consecutive exposition but it it certainly would've fit into that category.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do next Sunday, but just consider this a good Mother's Day message if I don't come back to this idea. Next Sunday if we just move on in Thessalonica and the Thessalonians is were likely to do but this is a wonderful Mother's Day message because it reminds us of of a mother sacrifice her children.

Her love her, her drive her God-given determination to to give whatever is necessary for the welfare of her child.

It's not an eight hour day job.

It's not a 12 hour day job.

When that little baby cries in the middle of the night who gets up. Sometimes fathers do. God bless you, but not a whole lot you could do if the child is hungry what are you going to do dad this a nursing baby. So, in most cases it's mother sleep deprived tired to the bone, worn out, but hubby just grunts and mother gets up right is net out works. Most the time I see some of you doing this so that must must work that way in your situation that's most the time the way it works. And that's the way Paul is describing his labor among them. Here he worked night and day. We not only give you the gospel, but we gave our own lives, our own souls. We work hard for you night and day like a mother who works night and day for her nursing child to make sure that it's needs are met.

So Paul and his team worked night and day to care for the Thessalonians.

And Paul makes it clear that what is talking about here is is he was working to earn a living. Along with working in ministry at the same time. That's the import of these words our labor and toil for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you that language comes up several times in Paul's epistles and it's clear that what is talking about is we might not be a financial burden to you. We weren't looking to you for financial support.

We actually worked with our own hands in order to support ourselves as we were preaching to the gospel of God. No wonder they were working night and day that the team had to work a job in order to support themselves financially, and then they also had to find time for ministry. Paul and his team were by vocational that's the common day. The modern day terms.

They were by vocational in Thessalonica. Now it is true that God sent them some additional support from from Philippi they did get financial support from that church. Philippians 415 and 16 LU Philippians no.

Also that in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed for Macedonia knows church shared with me concerning giving and receiving.

But you only or even in Thessalonica you sent aid. Once again, for my necessities.

You may remember I pointed this out a few weeks ago was one of the reasons why think Paul had to have been in Thessalonica longer than three weeks and some people think he was.

But for aid to reach him from Philippi once and again considering the conditions for conveying gifts like this in that day he had to be there at least over a period of some months and so the church at Philippi, established by Paul after Paul left were glad for the opportunity to help him financially in his ministry, so he's a missionary who is receiving missionary support from another church but it's only one of the church and that's not enough to keep them alive. Not very many missionaries would be able to to stay on the field if if the only support they had was just what was given to them by one church. Once in a while you find a church that's that's large enough, and happy Tuesday to fully support a missionary, but that is very very rare generally is done the way we do it we supply some another church supply.

Something was reading all of this week. I think I read a couple of reports from missionaries. One said that they had 20 supporting churches and X number of individuals that that to help them get them on the field another church named another number of churches and individuals that made up their support support team.

One church isn't going to be sufficient to do especially when you're talking about a team of at least three people, not just one man, Paul. So what are they do to make up the difference. To make up the lack they worked presumably at making tents. That's what Paul did. That's what he was trained to do.

That's hard work I've never done that, exactly, but I can imagine what it would take take that canvas and flopped down on that table market out cut it again. Big pieces of canvas and and so it together and by hand. They didn't have a sewing machine to do that. Paul must've been a strong man and they didn't even have recognition workshops, and that was the Mediterranean one part of the will of the world and there was a lot of sweat toil and exertion, and I'm sure after eight or 10 hours of doing that. The day Paul was ready to go home and flopped down in his easy chair and take it easy till the next day, but no, that's when ministry began.

He was by vocational and his primary responsibility was the ministry of the word preaching the gospel and discipling the converts he only made tents in order to support himself so that he financially could do the work of the ministry.

This is describing Paul's commitment to them. Paul's love for them calls determination to serve them at whatever cost.

There is no question that he was sacrificial does a mother shows sacrifice on behalf of very tender child, he or she does, but no more than Paul show did Hughes commit to these Thessalonians ministering the gospel to them because as we seen previously.

Paul declined financial support from Thessalonica was his pattern as a missionary rather than as a pastor. It was his pattern not to take support from churches when he was establishing them when they were being planted. He took the support from other places. If it came to him and if not they tents sometimes eat was full-time in missionary service. One other support came in sufficiently and when that ran out they did go home and raise more support.

They just found a job making tents and supported himself used by vocational we did receive support from Thessalonica until he went to court so that it would was happy to receive support from Thessalonica, he didn't receive support at Philippi until he went to Thessalonica. Then he was happy to receive support from Philippi.

You see, that was his pattern of of ministry and so he got no financial support from Thessalonica though. Every place he planted churches. He taught them it was their responsibility to support their pastors taught that very clearly was in the Paul had any objections to ministers being supported by churches as a matter fact he demanded the church's support their pastors, but missionary service is different.

Paul didn't take financial support from churches when he was planting them but his labor among them required an awful lot of time and effort required extra personal attention because they were new converts. There was nobody else to train them.

Given this a lot of thought and I realize in in a missionary situation as challenging as this is what Paul is describing in the. The extremely long hours and hard work, it's necessary to make this happen. There still are some differences that make it more possible than it make it easier to do it this way by vocationally missionary service than, say, in any pastoral what's the difference well in missionary service.

You you're dealing with people who know zero about the Bible so you don't have to spend a lot of time frankly preparing your messages. You can have the same ones you print someplace else and just given them the. The ABCs and given them the pablum you given them the basics and after a while when the church becomes established, then they will have pastors who will take them deeper into the word, but the missionary doesn't take them very deep into the word because they're not prepared to receive it himself. He can he can minister to them without a great deal of preparation. That's one of the big differences in the second difference is that in a new church like this is nobody else to disciple them except the missionary but an established church members supply much of the personal ministry. Paul is describing here, to himself how I interacted with you personally and such a tender way because there weren't any other Christians around to do it, but an established church got a bit different situation. So my hat goes off to Paul and anybody like him who is by vocationally missionary service, but I take up another hat both tickets through a pastors who find themselves in the situation because if a pastor has to be by vocational yetis also expected to do some serious study each week to give people the meat of the word so they can grow thereby not just skim over some notes that he has from previous ministry or something that he picked up a Bible college, but he's really doing serious study for the preaching of God's word. How is he going to be able to manage all that Wendy's could have enough time to do all of that and yet I know a lot of pastors, not a lot, but I do know a good number.

Pastors who are in that situation there by vocational they work all day and then they come home at night. They kissed wife and the kids alone. The ether separately spent a little spend time with the family and then they go very themselves and their study and for nothing next to three hours there preparing for ministry in the next day they get up and go to work and they do it all over again and you talk about these law days in these hours. Large sacrifice. That's what Paul is describing so how did Paul conduct himself number one like a little child number two, like a nursing mother. He was infant like in terms of motive. He was mother like in terms of caring and love. Number three like an involved father verses 10 through 12 and this is all one sentence of verse 10 goes with 11 and 12 were where the references to the father.

He says in verse 10, you are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you as a father does his own children that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory like an involved father and their three things suggested here that Paul does like a father does number one he's an example number two. He's a teacher number three. He's a preparer. First of all, is an example and and this is helpful. A lot of times dads aren't sure what am I supposed to do what's my role as a father. What about what is expected to make. How do I fulfill my role as a father and a God honoring way will think of these things sexually to the third one grows out of the first two think of these things.

Here's what you are primarily number one. A good example number two good teacher got it. If you're not a good example. You can't be a good teacher and if you're not willing to teach your example alone is going to get the job done can be a good example that more is needed than that. So here's what you gotta do number one be a good example before your children number two.

Teach them. That's what Paul said I was. I was an example before you back to verse 10, you are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe devoutly justly blamelessly devoutly is a word that means holy has the idea of conforming to divine standards of conduct.

Paul says God as is my witness can tell you that I conducted myself before you in a holy way like holy man of God, conforming to divine standards of conduct number two justly, this has to do with righteousness and commentators are not on the great some things that refers to the standards of Mandan. Others think it has to do with the standards of God again, but since God is in view and in the first one devoutly I take the second one to be primarily in view of men. So he says. Number one I was holy in regard to God's standards.

I knew what they were not conform myself to them, to the best of my ability. With the help of God. Number two I was just I was righteous in meeting human standards of expectation what other people consider to be right. A righteous life. I met that standard as well and that's what made me number three blameless because he said by doing this I faithfully fulfilled my obligations before God and man.

I fulfilled the required standards of God.

I fulfilled the expected standards of man.

That's pretty sad is pretty shaky. The pole could say I did this boxed post of us would say I endeavored to do this.

I tried to do this. I know I didn't do as well as I should have been. Paul doesn't make any any concessions here.

He says you know this is true is not claiming to be perfect and it is as you know this is true. He was a an excellent example of what a Christian to be pulled and seem to have the idea that a lot of people have in our day that Christianity is all bound up in our justification before God and work were our sins and cleanse now and forever and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ in all this is wonderfully truth therefore doesn't really matter how we live means we don't be legalistic so will live like the world but were going to heaven.

I don't find that pattern in the Bible. Do you words that come from holy righteously blamelessly set the example, but not only an example, pose a teacher. Verse 11. As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you was a father does his own children. One commentator called this the didactic role of paternal obligation to stand what he saying there, the didactic role of paternal obligation. This is what fathers are obligated to do their obligated to teach their children live the strong silent type will just be an example you're only to do half God expects yes be a good example.

Yes, you teach your children leave it to your wife she will to but you teach your children the didactic role of paternal obligation. Don't leave it up to the Sunday school teacher. They will teach. They will help, but you teach your children you don't leave it up to the Christian schoolteacher you don't leave it up to the preacher you don't leave it up to others, you teach your children you exhort them. That means to instruct them and urge them you comfort them. That means to encourage and persuade them. You charge them the strongest of the three terms, that means you insist you can require you command them, teaching them what they need to know teaching them what they ought to do teaching them how they ought to live telling them when there doing the wrong thing, telling them when they're making the wrong decision telling them stopping them insisting that they stop doing things that are destructive to their life's he's a teacher number three. He's a preparer and this is simply means that in in his goal, doing all this, what is he was he aiming for verse 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. The goal of the earthly fathers to repair his children for mature productive adulthood. That's the reason for his example.

That's the reason for his teaching. Paul's goal in every minister's goal is to prepare converts to be mature, productive Christians. That's the goal of setting a good example. That's the goal of the teaching to prepare people to fully participate in Christ's kingdom. The very purpose. Paul tells us here for which you were called God called you. God called you by his grace God called you out of darkness into light God called you out of the world into the kingdom of Christ. Now learn to participate in the kingdom as a member of the kingdom of Christ. That's the goal to heaven for me tonight.

These text in Ephesians 4 comes to mind. Christ gave some to be apostles and prophets and evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, why, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. That's the reason why ministers minister. That's the reason why apostles apostle.

That's the reason why evangelists do the role do the work of an evangelist. So what we learned.

Paul conducted himself how one like a little child to like a nursing mother number three Lycan involved father father like he tends and spares us well our feeble frame. He knows in his hands. He gently bears us, rescues us from all our phones hallelujah hallelujah. Let's pray father, thank you for this portion of your word which is so helpful and instructive.

Help us Lord to receive it and apply it and obey it and learn from it by the work of your spirit in our hearts man