Page 4 - 2017 JFBNews - August

from Pastor Tom
Delivering The Whole Package

“For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a the answer can be found in who Paul was attempting to imitate;
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pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from who he longed to reflect. It is revealed in the qualities that made
people, whether from you or from others, though we could have Jesus such an effective minister. I believe Paul was a model minister
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made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among and when someone becomes a “model” of another, it will cause you
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you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being to lose sight of the model and instead fully see the one they are
affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not trying to reflect. Like a mirror, if it is a perfect mirror, you don’t see
only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had the mirror but the reflection. Flawed mirrors draw your attention to
become very dear to us. their imperfections. Paul was a model minister because he reflected
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For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night Christ. When they looked at Paul, they saw the heart, passion, love,
and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we integrity, authority, and power of Jesus. That is heavy! What’s more,
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proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God we are all reflecting someone. The question is, who? The world, the
also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward flesh and the devil? Or Jesus? Let that settle on you stir your heart
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you believers. For you know how, like a father with his for a moment. Realize that if you feel inadequate right now, the
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children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you living Christ wants more for you.
and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you In the opening passage we get a chance to see the mirror, if you
into his own kingdom and glory. will. We have an opportunity to understand the qualities of the
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And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you “reflector”; the minister. Paul gives us insight by explaining some of
received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted the things they DIDN’T do, and what they DID do among the people
it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of they were ministering to. Read the passage again. Is it clear what
God, which is at work in you believers.” Paul and his co-ministers were seeking to do? Is it clear how they did
-1Thessalonians 2:5-13 it? I want you to see that there isn’t a magic spell or an aligning of
the celestials required but a simple
Do you see yourself as a minister of the and focused motivation; real love. It
gospel of Christ? If you’re on the fence about it not something you can conjure up
or would fully declare a “no” to this question, yourself but it can compel us. When
and you believe yourself to be a Christian, be the mirror is pointed at Jesus, Jesus
forewarned! You are going to have serious is reflected. It may sound a bit odd
problems with the scriptures where it but I’d like to say it’s almost
thoroughly and authoritatively defines what it “natural” for a true believer. It’s like,
means to be a Christian. According to the Bible, you cannot help but reflect Him
all Christians are called to minister. Indeed, not when you are in Him.
out of obligation but by the compelling influence There is a humanitarian
of the work and love of Jesus Christ for each of element that comes along with
us; but that is a different subject for a different day. Today I would Christianity. However, being a humanitarian doesn’t mean you are a
like to draw your attention to some of the fundamental biblical Christian. Non-Christians with compassion for those less fortunate
qualities of the one who is to be a minister of Christ. I love how the may have all the best intentions but, without Jesus, they are just
scriptures deepen our understanding of what we might often take helping less fortunate people feel comfortable on a sinking ship.
for granted or even ignore. Admittedly, the bible is (and should be) With that said, I believe compassion in non-Christians proves that
both enlightening and convicting for us. For the true follower of God created us. Compassion is a part of us from God which
Christ, there should always be a level of recognized and separates humankind from the animal kingdom. Again, another
unsatisfactory self-inadequacy in us conjoined with the holy drive subject. The point I am trying to make is a “church attender” may
for what is right and holy. In other words, while I can see and feel have humanitarian compassion but not Jesus-compassion; a
my failures in the exhortations of the scriptures, I also sense the compassion that centers on the gospel. It doesn’t matter if you
truth of such messages and a desire to conform to those standards desire to help people, if eternal help isn’t part of it. You’re only
because I see them as right and true. Do you see? It was understood prolonging the inevitable. It would be an error to think that just
by Paul the Apostle in two separate comments he makes: because you have compassion and attend church that you are a
1) “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, minister or even Christian. If you reflect Jesus, Jesus-compassion will
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of be seen which is gospel-centric.
whom I am the foremost.” -1Timothy 1:15 So, let us look at 1 Thessalonians 2:5-13. What qualities of the
2) “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not minister (Paul) can we identify? The DIDN’Ts start right at the front.
have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus He says they didn’t come with words of flattery or pretext for greed.
through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of They didn’t seek glory from you or others. They could have made
me.” -1Corinthians 4:15-16 demands as apostles but they didn’t. Ideas that come from these
If Paul was the “foremost of sinners” (“chief” in other translations), statements are “truthful” and “without manipulation” and
then why would he “urge” others to “imitate” him? Paul understood “humble”. They weren’t sweet-talkers or looking to gain from the
that while he was fully enlightened to his own sin nature, he people in any way. Philippians 2:6-8 is where Paul tells us about the
yearned to rise to the bar of the truth of the word, despite his sin. character of Jesus. He says, “Though he was God, he did not think of
He was compelled… why? What drove him? I would contend that equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his
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