When Others Helped You - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

When we compare the early growth and learning patterns of all creation it is somewhat revealing to find that dumb animals learn faster at an earlier age than does the human being. In fact no other in the chain requires as long to learn to stand erect and walk without training and assistance. Animals of the forest and beast of the fields learn to obtain their food and become independent of the parent at an earlier age. However it is important that all living creatures be taught how to survive and this always requires a teaching process to take place in the life of the animal as well as for man who was created in the image of God.

I am excited about the theme of the lesson for this Sunday’s Bible Study. It deals with the importance of TEACHING in the life of a Christian. My prayer is that some of you who read and study with us will realize the importance of TEACHING God’s Word and will commit the rest of your lives to the task of spreading and explaining the Gospel of our Lord. The introductory paragraph was placed here to dispel the usual excuses for not teaching in our churches. The parents of all living creatures are blessed by God with the ability to teach their young. Just think about this for a moment! Wild animals of the forest are excellent teachers. Are you not superior to them? Are you willing to admit that domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, horses and hogs and animals of the wild such as turtles, rabbits, lions and elephants are more able to teach than you are? No. Please don’t take that attitude because we are all teachers.

It has been said that no one can teach that which he does not know—just as he can not return from a place where he has never been. We learn from our experiences and our teaching ability improves when we practice what we preach. The life we live speaks louder than the words we speak. This simply tells us that if we live, work and act like a Christian we will learn enough about Christ to be able to tell others. Others, especially the lost, will not only hear our voices as we teach—but they will also see our actions that will help convince them of their need of a Savior.

Look at the title of this lesson which is WHEN OTHERS HELPED YOU. If you have been saved, someone taught you that you were a sinner in need of a Savior. You did not reach your present standing with the Lord without the help of someone who cared enough to teach you about God’s plan and purpose for your life. The bible asked the question, “How can you learn without a preacher?” Then it states that the messenger [teacher] can not go unless he is sent. If you will go back and read about what happened in the upper room on the day of Pentecost you will find that all believers were sent by Christ; He told them to go into the entire world and preach, and teach others. That commission was given to believers. Are you a believer? Then you are a teacher. Others have helped you and you are your brother’s keeper, you are obligated to teach others when the privilege and opportunity occurs.

As Paul opened chapter two he told the Thessalonians that they already know that their three week visit to Thessalonica was successful. [Paul was referring to Paul, Silas and Timothy’s first visit as recorded in Acts 17:1-9.] Paul and his helpers had been imprisoned in Philippi, and had to be smuggled out of town to prevent serious harm—see Acts 16. The team went directly to Thessalonica and started a four week revival in the town, preaching in the Jewish Synagogue three Sabbaths in a row. A group of Jews had followed them from Philippi and led a mob that grew to be more dangerous during their stay there. Fear of imprisonment did not prevent Paul from preaching and teaching. If you and I submit to God’s will in our lives he will give us the strength and courage to do his will despite any obstacles that may come our way.

Verse 3 contains a pointed statement in response to his Jewish critics as given in Acts 17: 5. Paul did not seek money, praise or position, as he paid his own way as a ten-maker and always gave more than he expected to receive. My sideline thought is this. There are dozens of mega churches that advertise regularly on TV, begging for money, when their CEOs are drawing fat salaries, living high on the hog, and traveling in personal jets. They are surely not emulating the two greatest teachers of all times—Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. In my opinion, teaching and preaching only for personal financial gain is a grave sin against God’s church.

Read verses 4-11. It is possible; it may actually be human nature, for us to want to succeed so much that we may be tempted to alter our position just enough to make our message more palatable to liberal thinkers. We may even try using flattery and praise to gain strength in numbers. Paul never changed his messages even to his critics, when it may have made life more plesant for him. The truth of the gospel must never be compromised.
The members of the church that received this letter read it with great anticipation because they knew that was the word of God as it applied to them. They did not see it as a message from Paul and his men, but personally from God. Their faith had been generated not only through the message Paul brought but also through the lives that believers lived before them. Although Paul had the right to expect financial help from the Thessalonians during the time he was there, he did not seek help, but paid his own way see 18: 3. He did not expect pay. He did not even want to be thought of as a burden on the people during his stay in their country.

This was a free city, made up of many nationalities and therefore with many beliefs that required the worship of idols and false gods. In verse 11, we hear Paul referring to them as his children, and he thought of them all as if they were his children. By his word and example Paul encouraged them to live in such a way that they would be worthy of God. Would Jesus Christ be welcome in your home today for lunch? Would you prefer that he be in your living room waiting on you to arrive—or do you need to arrive first? Are there any books, magazines, or bottles out in the open that you would like to hide away before he arrives? If so, you are too late.

These people accepted the Word of God that Paul taught, and they did not think of it as being the teaching of Paul. They not only accepted it as the Word of God but they understood what that meant. I ask you—what is the Word of God? The bible? Yes. The law? Yes. The New Covenant? Yes. The personal teachings of Christ…red letters? Yes. Now read verse 13. Paul says they really understood what the Word of God was. Christ told you emphatically: “I am the Word.” Paul then clarifies it here by telling them that The Word of God is Christ working in them.

In 14 we find that these people are being persecuted by their own people just as the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted by other non believing Jews. Persecution for being Christian has been practiced ever since Jesus was born and will continue as long s the earth remains. The feeling of hurt will never cease and will always smart more when it comes from those whom we love and from those who should love and appreciate us. The prime example of all rejection came the day Jesus arrived among his people the Jews and those in power rejected Him. It is important that you note that I said “those in power rejected Him.” Some did not and for these [including Paul] we owe a great debt of gratitude.

We will close this study today by looking closely at 2; 15-16, and trying to answer the question as to why so many Jews rejected Christ as their Messiah.
The Roman government had conquered the world and still allowed the Jews to practice their own religion without a great deal of interference. They feared loosing this privilege.
It appeared to everyone that Christianity was being brought in under the umbrella of the Jewish Church, and Jews were afraid that Rome would consider it a sect of Judaism. If at any time Rome felt threatened by Christianity, the Jews would be blamed for their plight.
Many Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees thought that Jesus was a false prophet and they did not want his teachings to spread.
They were afraid that if many of their faith were drawn away into the Christian faith it would weaken their political position in the world.
The Jews had always considered themselves to be God’s chosen people, and they resented the fact that the Gentile could become a member of this chose group by accepting Christ as Savior. *

*On one or more occasions before, our class has discussed the fact that God does not show favoritism of people regardless of race, creed or color. The Jew was not said to be God’s chosen people because God loved them more than any other race. The Jewish race was chosen by God to father the coming Messiah and to be responsible to see that Christ was preached throughout all nations. They succeeded in bringing the Messiah into the world from Abraham on through the house of David as had been prophesied, but then the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah. It became necessary for Christ to select apostles that would be willing to include all people in His plan, and since the Jews had rejected Christ it became the responsibility of Gentiles to spread the gospel to all nations. Do you fit the mold? Are you a gentile believer? If so, then you are a teacher. Have you accepted this fact? Are you practicing your profession and are you continually trying to improve? God Bless All—and MERRY CHRISTMAS.