Light Of His Word The Sermons of Pastor Mike Walls Freedom Baptist Church Smithfield, North Carolina King James Bible Church Used By Permission Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

TREMENDOUS TRUTHS FROM THE BOOK OF 1^ST THESSALONIANS 

Message # 3

Part 3

THE IDEAL SERVANT

1^st Thessalonians 2:1-20 

Introduction: This entire chapter is like a family in those days.  It has the role of a steward in it.  It has the mother who is that gentle nurse.  Today we will be looking at the concern father and how it relates to the ideal servant.  Then in the next message, we will see the ideal servant like a loving brother.  If you had a theme for the chapter it would thus: An ideal servant cares for other believers.

      Paul concerned himself to be a “spiritual father” to those folks who got saved under his ministry and as result of his ministry.  He expressed this thought in these verses.  He felt the same about the believers in Corinth. 1^st Corinthians 4:14-16

“I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” 

3. AN IDEAL SERVANT IS LIKE A CONCERNED FATHER.  

                                                Vs. 9-12

      “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

            Having been a dad for twenty-eight years, I can relate to this passage of scripture.  I am concern over every part of my children’s lives.  Even though the two oldest don’t live at home, I still wonder and am concerned for their welfare.  There are three areas of thought in this passage relating to a concerned father.

1. A concerned father’s work Vs. 9

      “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”

            He works hard on behalf of his children.  A father is more than a man who begets a child.  He is works to provide for them those things that they need and if possible what they want.  It is a balancing act of being a father and being a provider.  God has much to say on this subject of balance.

                              Proverbs 11:1

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”

                              Proverbs 20:10, 23

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”  “Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.”

                              Matthew 6:33

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

            It is hard work in the role of a father and this includes a spiritual father. 

                              Ecclesiastics 9:10

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

                              Acts 20:20, 27, 31, and 35

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house” “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”  “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

                              2^nd Corinthians 12:14-15

“Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

            There are many times that a servant of God is not sure what more he can do for the church.  But he wants to work hard so that the Lord will be pleased.

2. A concerned father’s walk Vs. 10

“Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe”

      By this you can see that Paul had an exemplary walk with the Lord.  It is reflected in the three truths found in this passage.

1. His behaviour was holy. Romans 12:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

                  1^st Corinthians 3:17

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

                  1^st Peter 1:15-16

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

      In the Word of God, you will find two interchange words.  It is holy or holiness.  These terms sometimes denote outward purity or cleanliness, sometimes-internal purity and sanctification. True holiness characterizes outward acts, but still more the motive and intent of the heart.  It is not what we do as much as what we are even who we are affects what we do.  This has to do with how we are with the things of God.

2. His behaviour was just. Proverbs 3:33

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

                  Proverbs 10:6

“Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”

                  Proverbs 24:16

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

                  Titus 1:8

“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate”

      This refers to his dealings with men.  It is upright of character and full of integrity.  It is not righteousness under the law but righteousness that is practical in that it works out to others.

3. His behaviour was blameless.

                        Ephesians 1:4

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

                  2^nd Peter 3:14

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”

      The word literally means that not able to find fault.  The ideal servant’s enemies may accuse him but they cannot prove it in his life.

3. A concerned father’s words Vs. 11-12

“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

      We have much to say as spiritual fathers.  The problem comes in when people fail to do what you tell them.  Once again, we find three truths in this passage.  What kind of words do we need to give as a concerned father?

1. Words of consolation  1^st Timothy 4:13

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

                  Titus 1:9

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

      Paul wanted and did many times deal with a man on a personal basis.  It is great and wonderful when we preach to the church but there are times when a private time is needed to help encourage the person in their walk with the Lord.  Jesus was never too busy to deal with individuals.  In fact, His greatest ministry seemed to be with individuals.

      Every one needs to be encouraged once in a while.  As my wife’s grandmother used to say.  “Every dog needs a pat on the head once in a while.”

      2. Words of comfort 2^nd Corinthians 2:7

“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”

                  1^st Thessalonians 5:11-14

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

      There are times in people’s lives that they are hurting.  It may be family pain.  It may finance pain.  It may be physical pain.  Or it may be emotional pain.  Every one hurts once in a while and needs comfort.  Here is another reason to memorize scripture.  You can give them God’s Word on the subject and it can ease the pain at times if they will think on this subject.

      Paul did not try to make them just feel better but also do better.  Comfort is action. 

3. Word with a charge 1^st Timothy 5:21

“I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”

      It was a two-fold charge.

1. It was a charge to walk worthy. 

                  Ephesians 4:1

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called”

                  Ephesians 5:2, 15

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”  “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise”

      This means that we walk in a manner that is pleasing to God.  It is a walk that is honest before men.  It is a walk of love.  It is a walk that is matched with your talk.  It is hard for an unbeliever to really believe you are a real Christian if you say those words that they say that they know they should not say.

         It is a walk that is controlled by the Holy Spirit and reflects the Lord Jesus.  It is a walk in the light of God and His Word.

         It is a careful walk.  You may sure of each step.  You never know who is watching you besides the Lord.

2. It is a charge to remember their calling.

                  Romans 11:29

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

            2^nd Timothy 1:9

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”

      God has called us to be a peculiar people.  It is a call to a holy and righteous life.  This cannot be emphasized enough.   

Conclusion:  There are times when love is given in the form of discipline. If we don’t correct our physical children, they will be brats and unruly.  The same goes for spiritual children.  I have been corrected numerous times since I got saved.  It does not mean I am not loved but loved in a way that helps me in the battles ahead.

      An ideal servant will help father new converts by being diligent in work, walk and words.  May God help us as we help others!