The Great Cost of the Commission
1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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This is our third Sunday evening spent looking in the first two chapters of 1 Thessalonians. Three weeks ago, we noted that Paul, as well as Timothy and Silas, had a special bond of love and fellowship with these saints in Thessalonica. Paul communicates his care for the saints in all his writings, but he gives extra space to this in his first epistle to the church in Thessalonica.
We looked at some reasons, found in the text, why these bonds of love and fellowship were forged between these saints. We saw that both Paul and these Thessalonians fought a common spiritual enemy—the devil. They all endured hardship and persecution for following Christ! We also saw that as Paul followed Christ, so the Thessalonians followed Christ by following Paul. They were busy moving in the exact same direction. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Paul and the Thessalonian church were agreed, and so they walked together and enjoyed sweet fellowship! Finally, we saw that they were all faithful to a common effort in preaching the Gospel, and we discussed some ways to forge these kinds of bonds with those around us.
Two weeks ago, we discussed appreciating the Hand of God at work in our lives. The world attempts to look for direction and guidance in things like astrology and palm reading, but God works in our lives using His Word, His Holy Spirit, and the obedience of His faithful servants. We spent much of our time seeing evidences that God’s Hand was at work through the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. And human agency is still God’s chosen instrument today! If I had to sum up Paul’s words to the Thessalonians in his rehearsal of all that God had done through them, it would this way: if you’re trying to find out if a person is following God and being used by Him, look for these signs. Only God can make sinners into the image of His dear Son, and when that is happening, we should appreciate the hand of God at work!
There is much to admire so far in what we have seen in this Thessalonian church. We have spent time considering how to emulate the fellowship they had with one another in the Lord. We have considered how to identify the signs of a person being a true servant used by the Hand of God, and then submit to God. Tonight, I’d like us to consider what is required to be that servant used by the Hand of God. May it be the desire of every saint to be used daily by the Hand of God. There is no greater purpose in life!
People of the world are constantly looking for purpose. Many talk about being a part of something bigger than themselves. People look for a cause to join, a certain group of victims to defend and protect, a charity to support, and more. There are many commendable causes and charities out there, because there are many needy people in our world! It’s a good thing to be engaged in helping those in need. However, people can their priorities backwards. They may attach themselves to any charitable cause, simply because they are trying to meet their own need for purpose, instead of focusing on others in need. People may also get so wrapped up in their cause—good though it may be—that they think it is the most important cause. Perhaps you have met people like this.
Of course, we know that God has plenty of purpose for each human being, if we’ll come to Him for it! Essentially though, it is just one cause or purpose: that is to “fear God, and keep His commandments,” as Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us, “for this is the whole duty of man.” Since the time that Christ came and established His church, His purpose for the saints is grounded and enacted in what we call The Great Commission. Everything that we do should fit into its fulfillment!
I. Whose Commission Is It?
I. Whose Commission Is It?
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Of course, it’s important to determine to whom Jesus gave this commission. There are only three basic options.
Those who were physically there
This small group of saints were not capable of going and preaching to “every creature.” Christ’s words, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” seem curious, too. All of those saints have been dead for many centuries, and with them the commission, if Christ delivered it just to them.
All the present and future saints
Some try to make the Great Commission a commission for each saint personally. But none of us can go and preach to every creature! We cannot baptize individually. It is not a commission that any of us can fulfill alone.
Christ’s church as a body
The Scriptures are clear that the Commission belongs to Christ’s church. It is not personally mine, or personally yours. It is given to Christ’s body…and EVERY saint is to be implanted and embedded in Christ’s body, busily working to fulfill this Commission!
Of course, this applies to us here tonight as well. The Commission is ours, and through the power of Christ, it IS attainable. The world looks to environmental and social causes for purpose in life, but we are called to something greater!
II. The Great Cost of the Commission
II. The Great Cost of the Commission
The Apostle Paul is a very good example of a life given to the carrying out of the Great Commission. We’ve already seen this! Through his service with the Thessalonians, God forged strong bonds of love and fellowship, and wrought unmistakable works in their lives. But all this came at a great cost to Paul. And if we are to be busy in the Great Commission, it will come at a high price to us as well. Notice these elements of the great cost of the Commission.
A. The life of service
A. The life of service
1 Thess. 2:1-6
A servant gets stepped on. A servant gets “bossed around.” A servant is overlooked and disrespected. Are these things just? Is a servant’s “rights” properly observed and protected? No, and the saint who is busy in the Great Commission will find their “rights” stepped on, probably regularly. But Jesus never promised anything different.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
John 13:3-5, 12-17
Christ, the very Son of God, had lowered Himself to the level of the lowest servant. He teaches this to us via the Scriptures, and He commands us to teach the converts “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” It is not easy living the life of the lowest servant. It’s part of the cost of the Great Commission. Paul lived a servant’s life in order to reach the Thessalonians with the Gospel. We must live this life to reach the lost around us.
B. The life of giving
B. The life of giving
It’s one thing for a servant to obey what he is told. It’s another thing to voluntarily give and give and give. That’s how Paul lived!
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
As you parents know, caring for small children is a thankless job! It is definitely rewarding, but small children cannot thank you, and once they’re able, they often don’t want to! Children have countless problems and predicaments, requiring constant help, rescue, and longsuffering. Being a good parent means living a life of giving.
In reaching out to the lost around you, you will be called upon to give in big and small areas, without much thanks in return. And often this is true because most people reject the Gospel when we give it to them! Are we willing to endure this?
But the cost of the Great Commission is more than that kind of giving.
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
Consider the deep personal investment that Paul, Silas and Timothy made! Once a person is saved, there is much giving still to be done. And while a growing saint is appreciative of your efforts, can you really be repaid for investing your very soul? The Great Commission isn’t a once or twice a week occupation; it is daily, year after year. It is a life of giving, even to the point of investing your very soul in the work.
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.
Paul also reminds his readers of how hard he and his companions worked so as to not be a burden on the new believers. If Paul “deserved” thanks, he would not have lived this way! Being obedient to the Great Commission means living a life of giving.
C. A life of faithfulness
C. A life of faithfulness
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
It’s easy for us to justify the occasional “cheat day” in something like a diet, for instance. And while it might be perfectly OK for a diet, it is not acceptable to do this in our personal walk with God! But denying ourselves day after day, year after year, is not easy. Christ likens it to crucifixion.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Living for Christ every day takes faithfulness! It takes endurance. It takes God’s grace.
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.
Do your children learn their lessons the first time you tell them? Neither do mine. And that can be exasperating! But just as Christ is longsuffering and faithful to teach us what we need to know, just as Paul was faithful to teach the Thessalonians, so the saint who is involved in the Great Commission must be faithful to teach others. The Great Commission isn’t easy, and it isn’t part-time! There is a cost.
D. A life of obedience
D. A life of obedience
This aspect is clear in Paul’s epistle, but Christ makes it more clear.
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
The Thessalonians were good examples of what the saints ought to be, because they were obedient!
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
In its simplest form, living to fulfill the Great Commission is obedience. We don’t need any more motivation than that! If we love Jesus, we’ll keep His commandments.
II. The Compensation of the Great Commission
II. The Compensation of the Great Commission
We may expect Heavenly rewards for our service to God here on earth.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
However, in our text, Paul mentions a more immediate compensation…one that may be easy to overlook!
1 Thess. 2:13-20
John says it this way:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
The psalmist, in a more generic way, says it like this:
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Let us be busy in the purpose that God has designed for all His saints! There is a great cost that should not be overlooked…but the work of God in eternal souls is far more valuable than any price we may pay!