The Heart of Ministry
Standing Firm • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction: In early 2021 Kiarash Hudarzi, a Ukrainian citizen, decided to seek out greater opportunities and freedoms for his family in the United States. So he left Ukraine and made his way to Tennessee. Throughout 2021 and into 2022, Kiarash was undoubtedly anxious to have his family join him as he worked to prepare their new home. He communicated with his family over FaceTime for over a year as he updated them on his progress and anticipated the day that they would be reunited. However, he never imagined what his family would face in his absence. On February 24, 2022, his heart sank as he learned that Russia had made its move on Ukraine. To make matters worse for Kiarash, there was no way for him to contact his family during this time.
When asked about his experience, Kiarash recalled that he “just cried for five days,” hoping that he would somehow have the opportunity to reunite with his family. After five days of silence, he received word that his family had successfully made it to Poland, Germany, England, and finally to the United States.
After their reunion, Kiarash commented, “It’s like a dream, you know. It was not easy, but they made it. I’m happy they are here. We do not have anything, but they are here.”
I would imagine that Paul was trying to communicate the same sentiment to the church in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20. As Pastor Brandon has already mentioned about this letter, Paul is writing to the church In Thessalonica to address some critical concerns that he has for them. Among those concerns, Paul was addressing the slander from his critics, claiming that Paul and his companions were only in it for the money, the favors, and to build their own reputations. Paul has already addressed those concerns by reminding them of his conduct among them. He did not come to them with a cloak of covetousness, seeking glory, or making demands, but rather as a nursing mother who cherishes her children and toils over them day and night. And as a father who carefully comforts and instructs his children that they may walk worthy of their calling by God.
So now Paul turns to their final accusation against him, which was that Paul had abandoned them and did not care at all about the Thessalonian believers. They claimed that once Paul got what he wanted out of them, he had run away, never to return. “You’ve been duped,” they said.
Of course, this claim was heartbreaking for Paul, as nothing could have been further from the truth. He cared for the Thessalonian church more than they could ever know. Even though he had only served the Thessalonians for a few short months, his absence from them was unbearable. He had just finished explaining to them in verses 13-16 how his work among them was not in vain, but they had come to faith in Christ and evidenced their faith by enduring persecution. In other words, Paul was greatly burdened by the fact that just when he was starting to see their fruits abounding to good works, he was ripped away from them. Not only did he care for them, but he was desperately trying to get back to them.
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
Transition: In Paul’s final defense of his ministry to them, he expresses his deep care for them by explaining three elements of his interactions with them. In so doing, Paul also reveals to us how we ought to interact with those whom we serve in ministry by caring deeply for them, understanding the spiritual warfare that surrounds them, and living in light of their future reward.
Love The People You Serve
Love The People You Serve
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18a
1 Thessalonians 2:17–18a (NKJV)
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—
(ἀπορφανισθέντες) taken away - were made orphans by separation
1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”
1 Thessalonians 2:11 “as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,”
Acts 17:1-10 “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”
He served in Ephesus for 3 years
He served Corinth for 18-20 months
Again, he felt like a bereft parent who was torn away from their child before they could mature
2 Corinthians 11:28-29 “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”
(καιρὸν) for a short time - temporary in nature
(προσώπῳ) in face - limiting the absence
(καρδίᾳ) not in heart - limiting the absence
(ἐσπουδάσαμεν) endeavored - to work towards something with intense effort
(περισσοτέρως) more eagerly - a controlling desire
Example: A couple weeks ago when I could not sleep due to work projects being on my mind
(ἠθελήσαμεν ἐλθεῖν) wanted to come - Paul had made repeated attempts to come
Transition: And so, while the Jews in Thessalonica claimed that Paul did not care for them, Paul makes very clear that the complete opposite is true. And even at this very moment in time, he was desperately trying to make his way back to them to ensure their spiritual growth. Well, if all of that is true, why hadn’t Paul come back? Well, Paul tells us in the second part of verse 18. He loved the people he served, but he also understood the spiritual warfare surrounding them.
Understand the Ongoing Spiritual Warfare
Understand the Ongoing Spiritual Warfare
1 Thessalonians 2:18b (NKJV)
—but Satan hindered us.
Satan actively opposes God’s plans
He tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:3-10)
He opposes gospel preaching (Matthew 13:19)
He performs counterfeit miracles (Exodus 7:11; Acts 8:9-24; 13:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:4)
He attempts to deceive believers (2 Corinthians 11:3, 14; Ephesians 6:11)
He promotes lies and murder (1 Kings 22:22; John 8:44)
He attacks churches (Acts 5:1-11; Revelation 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9)
He targets spiritual leaders (Job 1:6-2:8; Luke 22:31-32; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; 1 Timothy 3:7)
(ἐνέκοψεν) hindered - a military tactic referring to an enemy breaking up a road
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
However, Satan and his forces never act outside the boundaries of God’s sovereignty (Job 1:12; 2:6)
Transition: Although Paul never stated what that hindrance was, we can be sure that there will be spiritual opposition wherever the Lord is expanding His kingdom. And while Paul loved the people he served, he was also aware of the spiritual warfare surrounding them. He trusted in the Lord’s timing to bring him back into personal fellowship with the believers at Thessalonica at the right time. And as Paul’s closing argument, he looks forward to God’s future deliverance.
Rejoice in God’s Future Deliverance
Rejoice in God’s Future Deliverance
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
What is our hope?
Promise of future reward
What is the source of our joy?
Eternal happiness and satisfaction
What is our crown of rejoicing?
The crown of victory for athletic triumph.
1 Peter 5:4 “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
You are
Undoubtedly, Paul’s greatest hope, source of joy, and triumph was his anticipation of being in the presence of the Lord.
Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
However, a crucial element of Paul’s joy in the kingdom of God is bound up in the lives of those he ministered to.
Luke 16:9 ““And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.”
A great part of our joy in heaven will be enjoying the presence of those the Lord has used us to reach. When Jesus speaks of laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven, he is speaking of storing up our joy in the kingdom of heaven by allowing the Lord to use us now to reach people and bring them into the family of God.
Conclusion: Paul’s absence from the Thessalonians physically did not mean that he did not care for them. No, but like Kiarash Hudarzi, he had them continually on his mind agonizing over when he could be reunited with them. Paul loved the people he ministered to and was willing to press forward in faith even against the hindrances of Satanic forces to serve the people who were his greatest source of joy.
When it comes to caring for people, Paul is perhaps our greatest human example of the heart of ministry. Can you imagine what the Lord would do at Chapel Hill Baptist Church if we put these principles into practice to the degree that Paul did? As God sends us out into our mission fields this week, may we love people, be aware of the spiritual warfare, and press on knowing that the people we reach for Christ are a crucial part of our eternal reward and joy.