Mutuality & Confidence In Ministry

About this sermon

Introduction: Wherever you find a spiritually healthy family, you find mutual love and care. And, in such a family, that mutuality extends from one generation to the next. This is something that the Scriptures clearly teach for family life. Children honor their parents. Parents do not exasperate their children. Husbands and wives love and care for one another. Parents care for their children materially as they grow up. Children care for their parents materially and physically in their old age. What is true in the natural family is also to be true in the family of God. And that is what we see in our verses today. We see the beauty of salvation in the mutuality of ministry. We see the apostle Paul seeking prayer support from those whom they had evangelized — the Thessalonians. But in the very same context where he is seeking their help, he continues to provide spiritual guidance and shepherding. It is a beautiful, God produced and God pleasing, mutuality in ministry. Mutual love and care between spiritual shepherds and those being shepherded. A mutuality that speaks of the love and care and support that exists in the family of God. IT IS A MUTUAL LOVE AND CARE THAT IS FOUND IN ANY HEALTHY CHURCH. But there is something additional here. While there is an appeal for, and a demonstration of, mutuality in ministry, there is also Paul’s knowledge about ministry that includes an unshakable confidence about the things that we ask for. I. PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE WORD (vs.1-2) This is why I mentioned mutuality in ministry. Paul’s appeal for prayer is given to those who never knew what true prayer was until he had come to them with the gospel. They have been reached through his ministry, and now they are being asked to contribute to the REACH of his ministry through prayer. His appeal is based on their mutual love as brethren (brothers). His appeal is based on their knowledge of his ministry TO THEM. A. PRAY FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD (vs.1) “Pray for us” he says. In what ways do we pray for you and those who labor with you Paul? Pray for the ministry of the Word of God. 1. PRAY FOR ITS ADVANCEMENT The word means “to run.” The idea being, as the various translations recognize, that the Word of God would run in the sense of ADVANCEMENT. LSB – “spread rapidly” ESV – “speed ahead” May the ministry of the Word of God spread all around, may it find wide open opportunities so that it advances speedily. PAUL UNDERSTOOD, AND ALWAYS WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND, THAT THOUGH THE WORD IS CARRIED BY HUMAN MESSENGERS, ITS ADVANCEMENT IS EXPLAINED BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND POWER. All the human activity in the world will never explain the successful spread of the Word of God. The word RUNS when God opens the pathway in front of it. ESV 2 Corinthians 2:12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

Topics

• Service & Ministry