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The Care Of New Christians1 Thessalonians 2:7-12
July 21, 2013First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
July Memory Verse:John 14:1-3 HCSB14“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:1-3 HCSB
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THE CARE OF NEW CHRISTIANS
1 THESSALONIANS 2:7-12
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 KJV7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse (mother) cherisheth her children:
8 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.
9 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.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 KJV
1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse (mother) cherisheth her children:
1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV
Warren Wiersbe says that just as the nursing mother eats the food and transforms it into milk for the baby, so also the mature Christian feeds on the Word of God and then shares its nourishment with the younger believers so they can grow (1 Peter 2:2).
1 Peter 2:2 KJV 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter 2:2 KJV
But it is not easy to be a "nursing mother."
Even Moses felt the burden of caring for God's people.
Numbers 11:1212 "Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which Thou didst swear to their fathers'?“
Numbers 11:12
But if we do not nurse the new Christians on the milk of the Word, they can never mature to appreciate the meat of the Word.
Hebrews 5:12-14 NASB 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14 NASB
J. Vernon McGee says that the “nursing mother” is also a picture of a mother bird.
The Lord Jesus said of Jerusalem:
Matthew 23:3737 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Matthew 23:37
How many times the Lord Jesus says to us, "Just come in under My wings."
Paul was that kind of mentor.
He loved the Thessalonians with a mother's love.
SACRIFICIAL LOVE 1 Thessalonians 2:8b8b we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the Gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8b
Besides imparting the complete Gospel, Paul, Silas, and Timothy shared also their own lives.
www.theresurgence.com
Literally, they gave up their souls — their real inner beings — for those they were mentoring.
There was nothing superficial or partial about their sacrificial service.
The chicken made a contribution to breakfast, but the pig made a total commitment to breakfast!
Someone else has poured their life into yours, now it is your turn to do the same.
The maternal metaphor only partially describes the effective, spiritual, mentor.
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Describing the spiritual mentor as a father completes Paul's picture.
THE SPIRITUAL MENTOR AS FATHER1 Thessalonians 2:1111 ... imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
1 Thessalonians 2:11
THE FATHER AS MODEL1 Thessalonians 2:1010 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
1 Thessalonians 2:10
Devoutly means "in a holy manner" and emphasizes how Paul, Silas, and Timothy lived before God.
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Their lives were holy.
In the Greek, this means to "carefully fulfill the duties God gives to a person."
A dedicated life is a holy life, lived always in the presence of God.
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A holy life has nothing to do with obtaining your salvation, but it has everything to do with the salvation of folk around you, because they are watching you.
Paul and his friends lives were also righteous (upright).
This refers to integrity, uprightness of character, and behavior.
This is not the "righteousness of the Law" but the practical righteousness that God works out in our lives as we yield to Him.
The adverb uprightly ("righteously") refers to how well the men dealt righteously toward both other folks and God.
Their lives were also unblamable.
Literally, this word means "not able to find fault in."
His enemies might accuse him, but no one could level any charge against Paul and prove it. Christians are supposed to be "blameless and harmless" as we live in this world (Phil. 2:15).
Philippians 2:15 KJV15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians 2:15 KJV
The word blamelessly pertains to their reputation before people.
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In every respect, they were exemplary spiritual fathers, setting the standard for all who have followed.
1 Timothy 4:12 NIV12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
THE FATHER AS TEACHER AND MOTIVATOR1 Thessalonians 2:1111 ... imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
1 Thessalonians 2:11
As a father would his own children expresses the natural, normal function of a father concerned about the well-being of his own children.
Fathers are not only examples, but also instructors.
So the spiritual father is not to be merely a model but also a personal teacher and motivator.
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This fatherly instruction Paul uses in 1 Thessalonians is conveyed in three verbs describing what fathers do and what Paul had done continually.
THE FATHER AS TEACHER AND MOTIVATOR1 Thessalonians 2:1111 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring ...
1 Thessalonians 2:11
1) Exhorting 2) Encouraging3) Imploring
Exhorting is from parakaleo, (para-kal-EH-oh) literally "to call alongside," and is related to the noun parakletos, "one who comes alongside," which is one of the titles for the Holy Spirit.
The apostle referred to coming alongside for the purpose of aiding and instructing wisely to build character into the mentee.
1) Exhorting2) Encouraging 3) Imploring
THE FATHER AS TEACHER AND MOTIVATOR1 Thessalonians 2:1111 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
1 Thessalonians 2:11
Encouraging comes from paramutheomai, (para-moo-THEH-oh-my) meaning to encourage in the sense of comfort and consolation, is so critical in assisting towardspiritual growth because of the many obstacles and failures Christians can experience.
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Paul comforted them.
This word carries the same idea of "encouragement," with the emphasis on activity.
Paul not only made them feel better, but he made them want to do better .
A father must not pamper a child; rather, he must encourage the child to go right back and try again.
“Never play the victim!”Pat Summitt
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She is the all-time winning-est coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division.
She is the only coach in NCAA history, and one of three college coaches overall, with at least 1,000 (1,098) victories.
Summitt was named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in April 2000.
In 2009, the Sporting News placed her number 11 on its list of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports; she was the only woman on the list.
In 38 years as a coach, she never had a losing season.
Summitt has written three books, all with co-author Sally Jenkins: Reach for the Summitt , (motivational/biography), Raise the Roof about the Lady Vols' 1997–1998 undefeated and NCAA-
championship winning season, and Sum It Up , covering her life with Alzheimer's.
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Christian encouragement must not become an anesthesia that puts us to sleep.
It must be a stimulant that awakens us to do better.
Used in John 11:19 and 31 for the consolation given to the grieving family of Lazarus, the word was reserved for the tender, restorative, compassionate uplifting needed by a struggling, burdened, heartbroken child. (Abba)
This beautiful expression of natural fatherly kindness also fits the spiritual father.
Encouraging also means "to persuade."
There was an urgency in Paul's message to the Thessalonians.
He often said, "I beseech you" -- I beg you.
Romans 12:11 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
1) Exhorting2) Encouraging3) Imploring
1 Thessalonians 2:1111 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
1 Thessalonians 2:11
Finally, Paul reminded the believers that he had been imploring each one (singling them out personally).
Imploring is the Greek participle marturomenoi, (mar-TOO-rome-my) which is usually translated "testifying," or "witnessing," is related to the word martyr because so many faithful witnesses died for their boldness.
Paul implored (charged) them.
This word means that Paul "testified to them" out of his own experience with the Lord.
It carries the idea of giving personal witness.
Sometimes we go through difficulties so that we may share with new Christians what the Lord has done.
God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:4, NIV)
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NASB3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NASB
Paul warned the Thessalonians that any deviation from the divinely prescribed course of conduct had serious consequences.
The warning was an admonishment that if they did not follow the course laid out for them, they, as disobedient children would receive from a father, could expect to receive spiritual discipline from the apostle.
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Paul "charged" them.
This has a note of severity in it -- it involves discipline.
It is a virile word, a robust, firm, masculine word.
We find a lot of sissy preaching in the pulpits across the US today. The popular thing is to have a little sermonette given by a preacherette to
Christianettes.
There is little urgency in many churches today!
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The average church service in a liberal church is when a mild-mannered speaker gets up before a group of mild-mannered people and urges them to be more mild-mannered.
“That is sickening, my friend!”
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THE FATHER AS PRODUCER1 Thessalonians 2:1212 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:12
What was the purpose for this fatherly ministry to the believers?
His aim was that his children might "walk worthy of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
Just as a father wants to be proud of his children, so the Lord wants to get glory through the lives of His children.
2 John 4, NASB4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth,
2 John 4, NASB
Paul ministered to them in such a personal way because he was teaching them how to walk.
Like a father whose goal is the mature wisdom of his children, the apostle Paul concluded his exhortation by affirming that a spiritual father will endeavor to continue his efforts until he produces sons and daughters who walk in a manner worthy — live mature lives (fruit).
Walk refers to daily conduct.
Colossians 1:1010 walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10
THE FATHER AS PRODUCER1 Thessalonians 2:1212 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God Who calls you…
1 Thessalonians 2:12
The verb “calls” in 1 Thessalonians 2:12 is in the present tense: "who is continually calling you."
God called us to salvation (2 Thess. 2:13-14), and He is constantly calling us to a life of holiness and obedience.
1 Peter 1:15-1615 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior];
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.1 Peter 1:15-16
1 Peter 2:9 KJV9b that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter 2:9 KJV
Paul stated the singular end of that saving call — entrance into God’s own kingdom and glory.
www.thefinalcall.org
What is the number 1 thing?
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God has called us unto “His kingdom”, which refers to the millennial kingdom, and unto “glory”, which refers to the eternal kingdom.
In other words, get a perspective of God's great plan and purpose.
Live in the light of eternity.
Though they had not yet seen either the millennial kingdom or the eternal kingdom, they were already citizens of the redeemed kingdom over which God now rules.
Romans 14:17 KJV17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17 KJV
Thus they had a present share in the glory of God as well as a promise of the future glory in the kingdom yet to come.
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All believers (that would be us) look forward to sharing in the full glory of the heavenly kingdom when God raises them to be like Christ and with Him for eternity.
The parental pictures of spiritual mentorship in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 clearly demonstrate that it is not enough for mentors just to be compassionate, tender, and caring as spiritual mothers.
We also need to live uncompromising, pure, and exemplary lives as spiritual fathers — lives that, in their motives and actions, set the standard for all to follow.
Furthermore, we need to teach the truth faithfully, building up the saints in spiritual wisdom (Ephesians 4:11-16) and display the courage of conviction to come alongside and exhort and call our spiritual children to obedience, through both strong discipline and tender consolation.
These efforts lead those we mentor to live in a way that honors God, Who has called them to His eternal kingdom and glory.
This passage gives us a beautiful example of New Testament follow-up.
Paul has shown us how to raise the babies.
We must be faithful stewards, loving mothers, and concerned fathers.
If we are not faithful to God, we may find ourselves becoming doting mothers and pampering fathers.
Children need discipline as well as love.
In fact, discipline is one evidence of love.
No wonder the church at Thessalonica prospered in spite of persecution, and shared the Gospel with others for miles around.
They had been born right (1 Thessalonians 1) and nurtured right (1 Thessalonians 2).
This is a good example for us to follow.
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