with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle sets forth how the Gospel was brought and preached
to the Thessalonians and Philippi with great difficulty and persecution. He retells the manner in which they preached to them the doctrine of God and Christ and how they risked their lives. So, the Apostle exhorts them to walk worthy of their calling in the gospel of God as they suffered and were persecuted by their own countrymen for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He apologizes to them of his long absence from them as he earnestly desired to see them as he was deeply affectionate to them.
1️⃣1 Thessalonians 2:1-12: The minister work and duty amongst believers.
⏹️The work of a true minister of the gospel is their longing and love for their church members. The true minister should shepherd the flock of God knowing that the chief shepherd loved and died for the same flock which had been given to his care. The Apostle Peter says, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock"(1 Peter 5:2-3).
⏭️The true minister's duty is to preach the doctrine of Christ and His way of saving sinners from their sin. The true minister of the gospel's aim is not to make money by crafty or dishonest methods. The true minister should not be self-centered or interested in their own needs, neither should they be untrustworthy, deceptive in their speech or language. Paul advises Timothy saying, "If you put the brothers in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto you have attained"(1Timothy 4:6).
⏹️God's ministers should never use smooth deceptive words to gain the following of the people. The Apostle recounts to the believers both in Philippi and Thessalonica how straightforward he was in preaching God’s message and how he suffered bodily harm and sometimes financial need. The prophet Micah says, "Thus said the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him"(Micah 3:5).
⏭️So the Apostle says he neither wanted praise or money. Although as an Apostle he had a right to be supported financially by those to whom he ministered but he did not claim this right as a prerogative. He was very far from trying to make financial profit from the believers but rather he gave freely to help them from the proceeds he earned from his own trade. So, it was money from.his own trade that he earned to support himself and spent most of his time preaching the gospel of Christ to them. The Apostle says, "Not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart"(Ephesians 6:6).
⏫The believers in Thessalonica knew of his good conduct among them that it was without fault but a living example of a life pleases God and brings glory to His name. The Apostle says, ".... but be you an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity"(1Timothy 4:12).
2️⃣1 Thessalonians 2:13-20: The joy of the gospel and suffering for its cause.
⏹️The ministers of God should know that the gospel they preach is not of human origin or creation but should be a message from God which the world opposes. As the gospel is an opposition to the world, the minister should be prepared to suffer persecution for it as the Apostle recounts their opposition from their own countrymen, the Jews who were opposed to them for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. The Apostle Peter says, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty"(2Peter 1:16).
⏭️ As the world and the Jews (then Church) were opposed and rejected Jesus and even crucified Him, the same world and the same Church will be opposed to the truth of the gospel and will try by all schemes to prevent the preaching of the truth to the world. The Apostle Peter says, " Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers"(Acts 7:52).
The Apostle says, "Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men"(1 Thessalonians 2:15).
⏫It should be known to the true minister that opposition to the truth and teaching the commandments of men will be a terrible mistake and doing so would bring a terrible divine judgment against the opposers of truth. Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"(Matthew 15:9).
The Apostle says, "Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?"(Colossians 2:22).
⏹️All truthful and honest preachers will meet an opposition directed by Satan's attacks against them. But the devil will not be able to rob the Christian worker of the joy and reward of success in presenting the truth, thought great is his power but it is not omnipotent. The Lord has promised the Christian warrior and preacher power to withstand it and success of the vital gospel of Christ will triumph. Jesus said, "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yes, the time comes, that whoever kills you will think that he does God service"(John 16:2).
*🅰️Appeal*
As the Apostle Paul suffered persecution at the hands of the Church(Jews) and the world, so will true gospel ministers suffer the same fate. He was involuntarily removed and forced from them by raging persecutors and unwillingly sent away by night to Berea. Yet, though he was absent in body, yet he was present in heart, he remembered them and prayed for them.
Time for our habitation in this world is now short and uncertain. What is happening now in the world need sober minds, we need to know the times as those of the house of Issachar, who knew the times. Though the world will persecute the believers, believers should stick to the truth and the signs of His coming, trusting always in His guiding hand until we shall meet in heaven were we shall part no more, this is the blessed hope, and the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"(1Peter 1:3). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+273712952704)
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