Lesson 5 for August 4, 2012

1.The courage of the apostles (v. 1-2) 2.The character of the apostles (v. 3) No errors No errors No impurity No impurity No deception No deception 3.The way of presenting the message (v. 4-6) Approved by God Approved by God Not trying to please men Not trying to please men Not using flattering words Not using flattering words Not seeking personal glory Not seeking personal glory 4.The emotions that encouraged them (v. 7-8) 5.Tireless work (v. 9-10) Day and night Day and night A healthy, righteous and irreproachable behavior A healthy, righteous and irreproachable behavior 6.Appeal and consolation (v )

“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) Paul and Silas could have used many excuses for not preaching in Thessalonica. They had been whipped and treated as criminals some days before despite they were Roman citizens. They needed to rest, to heal their wounds and to avoid more trouble. Nevertheless, they were encouraged by God’s promises –He who had entrusted them with the ministry of preaching– and got courage and strength from God.

“For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) The Thessalonians could not find any error in the preaching of the apostles. It was a result of their deep study of the Scriptures. They were driven to preach in Thessalonica by their desire to share the pure truth. They were not sincere preachers self-deceived by an intellectual mistake. “The appeal we make does not spring from error” (NVI) Contrary to some what some philosophers contemporary with Paul, he did not harbored any bad intention nor did any impure feeling motivate his preaching. They did not feel attracted to the sexual benefits that their popularity could bring. “the appeal we make does not spring from… impure motives” (NVI) The apostles’ intentions were crystal clear. They didn’t try to deceive people for their own benefit. “Nor are we trying to trick you” (NVI)

The apostles weren’t led by mistakes, impurity nor deceive when they preached. Then, what did motivate them and should motivate us too? Paul and Silas were outstanding preachers and were heard because their character was in harmony with their statements. We can also have a character like theirs with God’s help and following the biblical advice: A circumcised heart (Dt. 10:16)Humility (Dt. 10:16)Total dependence on Christ (Phil. 4:13)Conviction of sin (Psalm 51:1-9)A clean heart (Psalm 51:10)

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) The message was not presented by using ravishing words that could bring the applause of the audience. Why would they need the approval from men if they had the approval from God? “The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” E.G.W. (Education, “Illustrations”, cp. 7, “Lives of great men” pg. 57)

“But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 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” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) Filled with great emotion, Paul compared his feelings with the feelings of a nursemaid who takes care of the children she breastfeeds as they were her own children. This is a beautiful example of the feelings that must join us together with the ones we announce the Good News. The Thessalonians’ response to that love can be seen in the next comment from Paul: “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing… And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3,5)

“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 preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) Paul didn’t want to be a burden to his brothers, so he made tents for a living. He used his spare time to teach the believers and to preach to Jews and gentiles. THEIR PERSEVERANCE Neither the weariness of his job nor the constant friction with people made the apostles stop living a holy, righteous and irreproachable life, thanks to God’s power. THEIR BEHAVIOR E.G.W. (Evangelism, section IX,” Clinching the Interest”, “Meeting Prejudice and Opposition”, pg. 305) “He who expects to enlighten a deceived people must come near to them and labor for them in love. He must become a center of holy influence”

“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” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) Paul’s love for the Thessalonians was not blind love. Like a father, Paul worried about the present and future of his children. He admonished, comforted, scolded and taught his “children” so they could behave as worthy of God.

A genuine desire to please God and to love others is the only sufficient motivation for living a life that will truly be an effective witness for Christ.