A Ministry To Be Trusted Part 1 | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Introduction:
A consistent theme running through Paul’s letters in the New Testament is the fierceness of the opponents of faithful ministry.
FAITHFUL MINISTRY FACES FIERCE OPPOSITION.
Always on display in those warnings and reminders from Paul is that fact that the fierceness of human opponents is explained by the fierceness of their prince.
THE TRUE ENEMY WHO STANDS BEHIND THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH - IS THE DEVIL.
THE TRUE BATTLE THAT BELIEVERS STRUGGLE WITH IS NOT FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF DARKNESS.
PAUL ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OR ISOLATED STRUGGLE.
Paul warned the Ephesian elders when he met with them the final time, that spiritual opposition was something they could expect. He prepared Timothy with the same expectation, even using war imagery, and encouraging Timothy to serve as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
And Paul made clear that this kind of opposition is something to be faced by the church throughout time.
2 Timothy 3:10-13 “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Notice that he also makes the point that this is not something that will improve over time.
All of this, of course, simply echoes what Jesus promised we would all face.
John 15:18 “aIf the world hates you, 1know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but aI chose you out of the world, bbecause of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘aA slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, bthey will also persecute you; if they ckept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 “But all these things they will do to you afor My name’s sake, bbecause they do not know the One who sent Me.”
The result of this opposition is that Paul was often put in the position of having to defend his ministry. That is on display IN THIS LETTER.
Paul and his missionary team had to leave Thessalonica quickly when fierce opposition arose in the city. That departure left an opportunity for spiritual wolves to slander him and to call his ministry into question.
Paul could not leave the criticism unanswered.
The apostle has a responsibility for these churches. It is vital they receive his ministry. And so, for the sake of their souls he needs to defend his calling and work.
Paul began to do that in seed form in chapter 1. Now, in chapter 2, he expands with a more detailed reminder of his time with them, and an explanation of how and why they conducted their ministry in Thessalonica.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PAUL’S DEFENSE IS THE TRUTH.
He is not mounting a defense where no true defense existed.
Nor is he doing this for himself.
His defense is factual, and he defends the ministry for THEIR UPBUILDING.
He guards them by reminding them of the trustworthy nature of his ministry.
AS BY DOING SO, HE ALSO PROVIDES THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST - FOR ALL TIME - A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT CHARACTERIZES ALL TRUSTWORTHY MINISTRY.
That is what we begin thinking about this morning. What characterizes a ministry that is trustworthy? What characterizes faithful shepherding - faithful ministry?
We will see three CHARACTERISTICS in verses 1-16, but we will look at these in more than one sermon.