God trieth our hearts (1 Thess 2:4). He searches our hearts. What is our motive when we serve God? Is it for self-glorification? For men’s praises? God hates pretence. He knows our hearts, our thoughts, and our motives. He trieth our hearts that we may be found faithful and worthy of our salvation. Whatever we do, we must do it for God, for His glory.
Before coming to Thessalonica, Paul was imprisoned in Philippi for preaching the gospel. He suffered for doing God’s work, being beaten, scourged and thrown into prison (Acts 16). There in prison, his body in pain, lying on the cold floor, there was no place for play acting or pretence. Paul prayed. God only was Paul’s strength and comfort. After God had delivered him from prison with the earthquake, Paul did not say that the gospel work was too tough and decided to quit. He went on to Thessalonica to continue God’s work for Him.
The theme verse for today’s message is 1 Thess 2:4. We who are “put in trust with the gospel”, what are we doing about it? Do we go out actively to share the gospel? And when we do, do we do it with the right motive? God trieth our hearts. He knows our thoughts.
1 Thess 2:1-12
v1- When a servant of the gospel is full of faith, putting all trust in Jesus Christ, his going forth will not be in vain. There will be souls ready to receive the gospel.
v2- There will be people who will believe along the way, and there will also be those who reject and make trouble. Do we then give up? Learn from Paul. He pressed on and simply moved on elsewhere to continue preaching.
v3- Many today preach for their own agenda. They preach a false gospel with covetousness as the chief end. Money is the motive. Note that Paul’s preaching was not of deceitfulness, nor uncleanness, nor in guile.
v4- Thank God if we have the opportunity to preach the gospel. It is a God-given privilege. Do not give excuses not to go. However, when we preach the gospel, do not do so for show or to please men. Seek only to please God, who trieth our hearts.
v5- Never only praise people wherever we go. Many missionaries today do so to get more money. Paul never did and he had God as his witness.
v6- To be a true servant of God, never talk about money. Serve God because of privilege, for the joy of seeing souls saved.
v7- Treat everyone as a beloved brother or sister or child in the Lord. Treat them with gentleness as a mother nursing her new born child. A Sunday School teacher should treat the child as though she is the child’s mother or spiritual mother and nurture the child in God with gentleness.
v8- Paul says here that even with the risks involved, he will still do the work to save souls, because the salvation of souls is of first priority.
v9- Paul recognised the people were materially poor. He would not be chargeable to them, so he worked day and night making tents to earn money. A genuine servant of God will not be a burden to the people he preaches to.
v12- Because of the gospel, the example set by Paul and Silas, the love shown by them, now the people must show forth their conversion by walking worthy for Christ. Be the new creature with the new life and show forth the salvation for the glory of God.
Ending challenge: Every empty pew should tell us a message. Go and tell, go and witness, go and find someone we can bring to the Saviour!
May this message stir us up to be ever ready to serve God, to bring the gospel to unbelievers, not for our own glorification or selfish motives, but only for the glory of God.
Let His Word sanctify us now and make us fully whole, realign our thinking and attitudes, and conform us to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Light and Truth go together. And it is such a great comfort that we have God’s Word in our hands today!
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Dr SH Tow,Truthlife BPC
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