Missions Paul

I trust in the Lord…. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place… I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands …Let your face shine on your servant … How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you …

Who said these words? Probably King David and when he was fleeing Saul. Did anyone else say these words? Jesus did. Well he quoted part of the Psalm but everyone heard it knew the whole of the words above and it revealed the confidence that Jesus was placing in His Father whilst on the cross. “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” Psalm 31:8

It is with this in mind that we come to the next couple of verses which shows how Paul’s team placed their confidence in God despite what had been through.

“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 1-2)

It was not in vain (NASB) and it was not a waste of time (Message). That is how Paul describes their visit to Thessalonica. We then begin to see how they again had opposition, it was strong, but not perhaps like what they experienced in Philippi.

There they were stripped and beaten (Acts 16:22). Paul and Silas were stripped of their clothes and became hugely vulnerable and then they were painfully beaten. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’. Those who are stripped and who are beaten know the flow of the anointing of God. Oil from olives and grapes come from being beaten. There’s no other way for it is the way to travel.

They had been thrown into prison (Acts 16:23). How many times Paul and Silas were flogged we do not know, but it was severe. The wounds were severe. But no one was there to bathe, bandage and soothe them. Wounded they were thrown into prison and they were guarded. It wouldn’t be until the jailer was saved would he offer to bathe their wounds. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’.

They had been put in an inner cell and their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:24). It was a place of total darkness and heat and there was no way they were escaping. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’.

Perhaps you simply need to hear these words today, ‘with the help of our God.’ You may feel vulnerable, beaten, trapped, forgotten and in darkness today. But you can bounce back with the help of our God.

And what happened? They went again with the gospel. They ‘dared’ even in the midst of strong opposition. They didn’t flinch when the though may have been will we suffer like we did in Philippi? They delivered the same message.

Whatever that means for you today I know the helper, the Holy Spirit, is here ready and waiting to help you.

“All over the world the Spirit is moving” Remember singing that?

“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 8-10)

The team didn’t have to tell people of what God was doing in Thessalonica, the news had spread. The gospel had a starting point but it continued and it still is doing so 2,000 years later.

There are more than 1050 church planting movements which have been reported in the world so far. The top 10 countries with the largest Christian populations include Brazil, Russia, India and China. Iraq is the fastest growing Evangelical population at 19.6% (ten years ago). There are 1,392 Christian groups in the 10/40 Window. The largest being the Yoruba of Nigeria (34,362,000). The Jesus Film has been shown in 11,421 people groups in the world to a total of 7,136,000,000!

There is still so much more to be done but we can rejoice that throughout the world the gospel is growing.

Paul’s team discover what the world are saying of the Christians in Thessalonica. Firstly they have turned from their idols to serve the true God who is alive. They sought in worship the real divine presence not a counterfeit. This is still important today. But then we are taken into what keeps coming back as the theme of this whole letter and the second one, the return of Jesus. It is clear that this generation and including Paul believed that Jesus would come back in their lifetime. They at least had a firmly held hope they would see His coming and that He would come and rescue them from some coming doom which was also near. Should we live like this? Do we?

Do we resist trusting the things of the world because we know they are not permanent?

Do we find ourselves more joyful than those in the world because we know who is coming?

Do we filter our decisions based on the fact we will not be in this world for much longer?

Finally when we speak the gospel do we focus on turning from idols and living for the return of Jesus Christ?

For the majority of us it is difficult to picture the suffering that the early Church had to endure. Even more so if we turn a blind eye to the persecution being experienced across our world today. And yet we see a beautiful and positive attitude flowing through the believers at the time and I have personally witnessed this throughout the Persecuted World today.

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 6-7)

What the enemy throws at the suffering Church does not accomplish its intention. The response was and is difficult to describe. There was a response of joy. It would seem that within the gospel message there was a baton of response that was also passed on; that is the joy of the Holy Spirit. It defies all explanation. How Christians can find joy in the midst of such difficulty. But they do and it is the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

Paul shows us that there is a spiritual reproduction with the gospel. What they received they have passed on to the Thessalonians and Thessalonica has become a model for the Churches throughout Greece.

We too are in that place of passing on what we have received. Of course we don’t just copy man and that is why Paul said ‘and of the Lord’.

Almost 30 years ago I wore a bracelet, WWJD. What would Jesus do? It was a campaign to encourage us all to copy Christ.

As you begin a new day in whatever circumstance of your life there is an opportunity to imitate Him.

From the temptations of the desert to the teaching of disciples; to working out the will of your Father to following its cause; we have an opportunity to look like Him. And as we do we know others are looking at our lives and watching how we respond and react.

It’s not rocket science. Pastors can feel under pressure to produce some amazing strategic plan for their church. ‘This where we are going to be in 5 years!’ Many don’t make the long haul because they realise they can no longer pull rabbits out of hats and make their church better than the one round the corner, they fail the expectations of many, being a Messiah is impossible.

But it is simple. We make life complicated.

Not everyone is called to be a Pastor of a church. Not everyone is called to be a full-time Evangelist, Missionary and Church Planter travelling the world as an Apostle.

But all of us are called to the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

Today is the day for the gospel. Are you ready?

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” (1 Thessalonians 4-5)

This is the testimony of the missionary team. We came with:-

• Words – Yes we need to show acts of kindness to align with our words but they absolutely did speak the gospel and that is still the requirement today. In our conversations they do need other things and here they are.
• Power – The word used is not that of the healing and other miracles but of course it doesn’t exclude them. But it is speaking with the confidence of belief, the person speaking is convinced, they are powerfully speaking. How?
• Holy Spirit – there is a person who if not there then all that we do falls to the ground. Our confidence is that because of His presence then any success is down to Him. Only He can change a person. And because of His presence then the 4^th ingredient naturally is there also.
• Deep conviction – This is not a theoretical presentation. This gospel has changed your life. The Holy Spirit is full in your life and you know His constant presence. You know the gospel will transform because it transforms you. But the above 4 ingredients are still not enough. The 5^th is needed.
• Testimony – “You know” are two words often used in this letter and elsewhere. The world does know how we live among them. Whether our words match our lives.

The gospel that Paul and his team preached in Thessalonica was not a message which everyone was comfortable with. Their words were anointed with the power of the Spirit, the impact was great and there was a price to pay!

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 4-5)

When we read these words we could be fooled to think it must have been a beautiful experience. The move of God brings trouble at times!

We see what happened in Acts 17:6-7, ““These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here … They are all defying Caesar’s decrees.”

It wasn’t true of course. Similarly to the charges against Jesus in Luke 23 were not true. They were not defying Caesar’s decrees. Our message is not political or trying to overthrow some ruler. In fact it is those who incite the crowd that disturb the peace. However, there is some truth in that the gospel coming with power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction does turn everything upside down for those who receive the message.

For our message is about a better ruler. A different King. 

There is another king. They were right. It was a correct accusation. The believers were announcing this. There is another king! His name is Jesus!

Philippians 2: 9-10 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” No one higher!

Jesus has power over nature.

He has power over demons.

He has power over sickness.

He has power over sin.

He has power over death.

Today storms can be stilled, demons can be cast out, sicknesses can be healed, sins forgiven, death can be overcome.

Yes, He is another king. But the truth is, He is the only King. He is the King of Kings. And you wake to His presence every day!

On hearing this gospel, the city and the officials went into panic mode. What would Caesar think when he got to know that Thessalonica had allowed a declaration of another King? More importantly, what would he do?

The gospel turns everything upside down. It still does yes?

Today my daughter gets married! I’m feeling quite emotional but I am so happy and so proud. She has been chosen by a lovely, kind man who I have come to love also.

She was of course already chosen and that has always been a privilege to watch her come into the knowledge of this. God chose her.

And He has chosen you.

You know you. If you were being perfectly honest then you wouldn’t have picked you. But He did. When it didn’t make sense and when the odds were stacked against you, He chose you! And He did it right on time!

“For we know, brothers and sistersloved by God, that he has chosen you! (1 Thessalonians 1 v 4)

Like my daughter, you are not chosen for activity but relationship. She is not chosen to do the house chores (that’s definitely not going to happen!) but an intimate journey that 2 people share together. What matters is that you are chosen not for activity but relationship with Jesus! How we need more people to realise that!

When did that choosing happen? For my daughter to be a wife it was after she preached a sermon in church a year ago when she was invited out for dinner; that was one good sermon!

When were you chosen by God? Was it when you did something amazing? No of course not! It was when you was never even here. It was before any of us were here. Before the world began He saw you and He chose you. He actually chose us. He saw in His mind the Church, you and me, together as a community being built for His glory. Not chosen to be an island but in connection.

Oh one more thing. The phrase ‘loved by God’ (read the verse again) was only used by and for special heroes of the Jewish faith (Moses and David for example) and it was also used only for Israel as a whole. It was certainly not used for people outside of the Jewish faith. It would never have been used for you and me. Until Christ came and because of Him we use it now for we are indeed loved by God! Loved and Chosen.

Paul, Silas and Timothy are writing to churches that they love deeply. When they pray together they never miss praying for the Thessalonians. But they tell us exactly what they thank God for as their letter begins.

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 2-3)

Work produced by faith. We were created to work, to pour our whole energy and passion into whatever our hand finds to do. There will be no impact, no fruit and no results without work. We need a better now. Faith is eternal and faith is now. Faith is seen but faith sees. With faith we see and hear the pain of others. People need God now. The field is white unto harvest. The needs are endless, the cries are constant and if there is anything we can do then we must, we just have to. If there is money we can give we must give. If there are hands to hold we must reach out. If there are invitations to respond to we must go. Our faith must be seen!

Labour prompted by love. The experience of God’s love motivates us with the same love. It flows from our lives. We are kind because He is kind. We are generous because He is generous. We love because He first loved us. Rest in that truth today and then go love that person who is difficult to love. Make the world a better place. Our love is exemplified by the love of God the Father and God the Son. We love like God or we try to. Our love continues despite the circumstances of the person our focus is on.

Endurance inspired by hope. Some days you just have to go through it and keep going. There are times for whatever reason that we should not stop and admire the view. We should just go through it as best as we can. This place is not your destination nor is it a resting place. It is a going through place. Do not be distracted or attracted to whatever you see around you, just keep walking through. Today may be a painful day, the memories can be painful perhaps or it could even be a monotonous day, walk through it, you can get through. We are certain that no matter how difficult life gets, He is with us. We might not see Him but we have assurance He is here. This is not dependent on us but again it is on His Word that He would never leave nor forsake us. The voices may be loud and the mountains may be huge but faith is the conviction that He will make a way because He is here right now.

Paul, Silas and Timothy saw these 3 things in the Thessalonians and continually thanked God for them. They are still there in your life and those of the church community. Let’s also be thankful for them.

This was probably Paul’s earliest of letters, 1 Thessalonians, with estimates of it being written in AD50. Here’s how the letter commences:

“Paul, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 1)

This powerful letter came about because Paul and Silas would not let themselves be distracted from what God was wanting of them.

In probably AD 49 Paul and Silas having left Luke and probably Timothy in Philippi (where there was considerable gospel success) travelled to Thessalonica. Luke writes how they ‘passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia’, (Acts 17:1) on their way into Thessalonica.

These 2 cities were apparently beautiful and significant. But nothing of the gospel happens in these 2 cities. They seem uninterested to do any gospel work there. Why? All we know is that Thessalonica was their focus. Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia, a major seaport and trade route. It was here where the gospel could be taken to the whole province.

The point is this:

• Sometimes you have to walk past what is beautiful and significant in order to be in the best place that God wants you to be.

God had called them to Thessalonica.

Don’t be distracted with what appears on your journey no matter what the need might be.

We are people who have this driving force, this momentous call to go forward, to move ahead, to the next level. The purposes of God and the ability to overcome disappointment are born in such attitude. Many focus on the circumstances of life. The call is more important than the circumstance. The circumstance may want you to pause or slow down but the call to keep the faith, fight the good fight and to finish the race is still there.

I come to the end of this amazing letter from Paul. My 75^th devotional on the letter to the Galatians dealing with one major problem: circumcision of the flesh as the means to be approved by God.

In this final sentence Paul sums it up well.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.” (Galatians 6 v 18)

It is not the circumcision of the flesh that is important but that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be in our spirit.

We are saved by grace and we continue this Christian life not by what we do but by His grace in our lives.

How do we get past the ‘holiness’ lists when we recognise ourselves within them?

Grace.

Grace is challenged continually across the world by preachers who are concerned about a sinful Church. The fact is the Grace of God is the answer to a sinful Church.

To live by grace means you are not denying or trying to forget the sin in your life, but by allowing grace to expose it you find who you really are. Grace calls you to keep coming back to Jesus. Let Jesus bind up the wounds.

Let grace be with you and with you in the midst of others. Let the community of God’s people be marked by grace words, grace reactions and grace decisions.

Until He comes let grace live!

This is the end of Paul’s letter. But grace will enable us to live it out.

You are a child of God. A new creation in Christ. The love of Christ is in your hearts. The Holy Spirit is within and is alongside you to partner with you and so the mind of Christ is in you. The grace of Christ is in you and the Word of God renews this mind daily. You are way more than what this difficult season tells you. So walk tall in the truth of who you are!

A very confident Paul closes his letter.

“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6 v 17)

Do you remember that moment when it could be said of you, ’From now on’?

Perhaps it was a painful time in your life? Maybe you were rejected? Maybe you had to leave people and a certain place? From now on …

• From now on I will not submit to that which wants to undermine my confidence.
• From now on no one will take my authority.
• From now on no one will take my testimony.
• From now on these wounds of my life, these marks on my soul and even on my body are who I am and I no longer hide them. I am who I am.
• From now on that destructive person is no longer going to be in my life.

Maybe you wake today and you have to make the announcement, ‘From now on…’ Perhaps the opportunity is in front of you and you need to grasp this moment with courage? This is your inauguration moment and you have to take it.