Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 13

Paul's Rejoicing is in these Thessalonian Gentiles Redemption

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy. KJV

The man/Jew/Pharisee Saul had many personal accomplishments that he could have went on and on boasting, blustering, and bragging about concerning himself as he recounted for the Philippian believers when he said of himself, "Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has {or} seems to have reason to rely on the flesh {and} his physical {and} outward advantages, I have still more! Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees, As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law's standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless {and} no fault was found with me." (Philippians 3:4-6) (Amplified Bible).

However, the redeemed man who changed his name to Paul and was now the Apostle Paul (having seen with his own two eyes the Risen, Resurrected, Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) new that all human accomplishment, achievement, or attainments were nothing as he went on to declare to the believers in Philippi with these words, "But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord {and} of progressively becoming more deeply {and} intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found {and} known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith." (Philippians 3:7-9) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, with this background of Saul/Paul now firmly fixed in our minds, we have no problem understanding these words he now writes to these new believers in Thessalonica concerning what and where he gets true joy from as he says, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19) (KJV). Let's remind ourselves of what the English word 'hope' really means here when Paul speaks of hope to these believers, it is translated by the Greek word elpis meaning confident expectation. The English word 'joy' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word chara meaning cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness. The English word 'crown' is translated by the Greek word stephanos meaning from an apparently primary “stepho” (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, a “diadem” (as bound about the head): ), literally or figuratively: - crown. The little English phrase 'of rejoicing' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kauchesis meaning boasting (properly the act; by implication the objective), in a good or a bad sense: - boasting, whereof I may glory, glorifying, rejoicing.

So, in other words, the Apostle Paul has nothing in himself or about himself that he sees of value, but what Paul will now be proud of, delight in, rejoice over, and give honor to, and that is the fact, the reality that these people (in the Church @ Thessalonica) were worshipping man-made images of birds, four footed animals, and creeping things believing that this was worship of God and the right worship of Him, but upon the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy entering into their city preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and Resurrected from the dead, these people were turned from this false worship of idols to the One True and Living God Jesus Christ and their souls were redeemed, reborn, and resurrected unto eternal life 'in Christ Jesus our Lord' and this is now all of Paul's rejoicing and boasting to all of the world and to the heavenly host (Luke 2:13), that is the good angels who are faithful and obedient to God the Father in Heaven.

Paul saw the salvation of a sinful soul as his utmost joy in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and found the fierce and constant persecution he encountered and endured but light affliction as he said in this manner to the Corinthian believers, "For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing {and} producing {and} achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]" (2 Corinthians 4:17) (Amplified Bible). Paul will boast only in the grace of God before Christ Throne in Heaven that enabled him to be an instrument of God in preaching, teaching, and writing of the Word of God for the Glory of God, this will be his crown as he says to them with these words, "For ye are our glory and joy." (1 Thessalonians 2:20) (KJV). The Apostle Paul is so honored to have been a part of Christ plan's in bringing saving faith to these Gentiles in the city of Thessalonica.

"The meaning is, that the source of happiness to a minister of the Gospel in the day of judgment will be the conversion and salvation of souls. The object of the Apostle in dwelling on this in a manner so tender and affectionate is, to show them that his leaving them, and his long absence from them, were not caused by any want of affection for them." Albert Barnes

"These are expressions of great and endeared affection, and high estimation. And it is happy when ministers and people have such mutual affection and esteem of each other, and especially if they shall thus rejoice, if those that sow and those that reap shall rejoice together, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. The Apostle here puts the Thessalonians in mind that though he could not come to them as yet, and though he should never be able to come to them, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come, nothing shall hinder this. And further, when He shall come, all must appear in His presence, or before Him. Ministers and people must all appear before Him, and faithful people will be the glory and joy of faithful ministers in that great and glorious day." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 12

Paul Longs to Go back to Thessalonica but is Blocked by the devil

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. KJV

We see the work of the devil being carried out fiercely and ferociously against the Apostle Paul and all those with him as he Paul just reminded these new believers in Thessalonica in the previous two (2) verses, and because of such things we now find Paul yearning and longing to be in the presence (face to face) of these Thessalonian believers as he declares to them with these words, "But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire." (1 Thessalonians 2:17) (KJV). The little English phrase 'being taken' is used this one and only time in the entire New Testament and it is translated by one Greek word aporphanizo, which is from the Greek word apo that is a primary particle meaning off, that is, away from something near. Secondly, this Greek word aporphanizo is a derivative of the Greek word orphanos which means bereaved (orphan), that is, parentless. Therefore, we see then that this Greek word aporphanizo is the combining of the two (2) Greek words apo & orphanos meaning then to bereave wholly, that is, (figuratively) separate (from intercourse or communication between individuals).

In other words, Paul had been taken away from vital communication with these new believers in Thessalonica much earlier than he would have liked as we remind ourselves once again with the words documented for us by Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts with these words, "But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy, and, getting hold of some wicked men (ruffians and rascals) and loungers in the marketplace, they gathered together a mob, set the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people. But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, And Jason has received them to his house {and} privately protected them! And they are all ignoring {and} acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] asserting that there is another king, one Jesus! And both the crowd and the city authorities, on hearing this, were irritated (stirred up and troubled). And when they had taken security [bail] from Jason and the others, they let them go. Now the brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews." (Acts 17:5-10) (Amplified Bible).

Paul viewed this seperation as that of something that would last only a short while and he was never at all seperated from these new believers in Thessalonica in spirit, but was always with them and had them in his inner man continuously. With this thought now in mind, Paul declares to them in this letter that he endeavoured more abundantly to see their faces in person. The English word 'endeavoured' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word spoudazo meaning to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study. The little English phrase 'the more abundantly' is translated by one Greek word perissoteros which is an adverb meaning more superabundantly: - more abundant, the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, or much more. In other words, the Apostle Paul wanted them to know and underdstand that he made diligent, earnest, grueling, hard, frequent, and abundant efforts to get back to them in Thessalonica soon after having been forced out of the city as we documented again above (Acts 17:10), but here he now declares to them the reason for not being able to get back to them in person, "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." (1 Thessalonians 2:18) (KJV).

Paul lets them know why he was unable to get back to them in person, for it was the same enemy or adversary that had caused him to leave sooner than he would have desired, that is, the devil working in and through the Jews who persecuted the Apostle Paul physically everywhere he went as again evidenced by what we previously documented in Acts 17:13 as they even followed him from Thessalonica into Beroea to cause him the same problems there. It was the devil who was in and energizing every person that brought physical attacks against the Apostle Paul imprisoning and attempting to kill him as documented again for us by Dr. Luke here with these words, "And when the strife became more and more tense {and} violent, the commandant, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and take him forcibly from among them and conduct him back into the barracks. And [that same] following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, 'Take courage, {Paul,} for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.' Now when daylight came, the Jews formed a plot and bound themselves by an oath {and} under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they had done away with Paul. There were more than forty [men of them], who formed this conspiracy [swearing together this oath and curse]. And they went to the chief priests and elders, saying, We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath {and} under a curse not to taste any food until we have slain Paul." (Acts 23:10-14) (Amplified Bible).

Also even at the very beginning in Paul's ministry when an attempt upon his life took place as documented for us again by Dr. Luke with these words, "After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him, But [the knowledge of] their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the [city's] gates day and night to kill him, But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the [city's] wall, lowering him in a basket {or} hamper." (Acts 9:23-25) (Amplified Bible). We see then that Paul was no stranger to the devil's schemes and plots throughout his life and ministry to destroy him and as he thought, then he would destroy the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead our Lord Jesus was always and at all times in complete control and none of the devil's plans and schemes succeeded until Paul had finished his race of faith here on the earth as he declared to brother Timothy with these very affective and touching words written to Timothy to encourage him and strengthen him in the spiritual battles and warfare with the devil, "For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit's] release [from the body] is at hand {and} I will soon go free. I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me {and} recompense me on that [great] day--and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved {and} yearned for {and} welcomed His appearing (His return)." (2 Timothy 4:6-8) (Amplified Bible). I would say that the desire of the wicked men documented above would come under the category of causing Paul hinderances.

"We have a remarkable instance, not so much of the transient affections of holy grief, desire, or joy, as of that abiding tenderness, that loving temper, which is so apparent in all St. Paul's writings, towards those he styles his children in the faith. This is the more carefully to be observed, because the passions occasionally exercising themselves, and flowing like a torrent, in the Apostle, are observable to every reader; whereas it requires a nicer attention to discern those calm standing tempers, that fixed posture of his soul, from whence the others only flow out, and which more peculiarly distinguish his character." John Wesley

"The Apostle Paul was no stranger to attacks from the devil against his preaching of the truth of the Gospel of Christ and against his very life, but that never deterred him because Paul knew that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ was in control of his life and not the devil, therefore, Paul had no fear of the devil, but the enemies stumbling blocks did cause Paul grief when it kept him from strengthening the faith of new believers 'in Christ' because he wanted them to become as spiritually strong as himself or even stronger that they too would be able to take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the shield of faith to quench every fiery dart thrown at them by the devil." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 11

Paul Reminds these Thessalonian Believers of the Origin & Destiny of their Persecutors Part 2

1 Thessalonians 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. KJV

It was enough that the Jews persecuted Paul and all of the men and women with him and that they in every generation persecuted oppressed and even killed the Prophets of old that were sent to them to warn them to turn back to YAHWEH, and even the fact that they rejected God's way of Righteousness through turning to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but now the Apostle Paul documnets for these new believers in Thessalonica and for us today and for all of every generation God the Father's final straw that caused Him to send severe Judgement to the Jews and to the city of Jerusalem as he says with these words, "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." (1 Thessalonians 2:16) (KJV). The Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to take away the sin of the world as our Lord Jesus Himself said to the Jew Nicodemus with these words, "For God so greatly loved {and} dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation {and} be made safe {and} sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in {and} trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]" (John 3:16-18) (Amplified Bible).

In these words we find the straw that broke the camel's back being that there is no forgiveness, no salvation, or no heaven for any human being outside of Jesus Christ, none. Therefore, when the Apostle Paul uses the English word 'Forbidding' to categorize what the Jews were doing in regard to any Gentiles hearing about Jesus Christ and His saving work on the Cross of Calvary, well then this could no longer go unpunished or unjudged by God the Father. This English word 'Forbidding' is translated by the Greek word koluo meaning to curtail or to estop, that is, prevent (by word or act): - forbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand. In other words, the Jews were so spiritually blinded in their own perception that they themselves were in compliance with YAHWEH by keeping the Law of Moses that they wanted no one outside of Israel to come to God except their way of circumcision and keeping of the Mosaic Law, that is, they wanted every Gentile to become a Jew in order to be saved, but they missed YAHWEH standing right in front of them, that being, our Lord Jesus Christ was and is YAHWEH manifested in human flesh. Our Lord Jesus even burst their bubble concerning their reliance upon the Law of Moses to save them when He said these words to them, "You search {and} investigate {and} pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose {and} trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life. I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame], But I know you and recognize {and} understand that you have not the love of God in you. I have come in My Father's name {and} with His Power, and you do not receive Me [your hearts are not open to Me, you give Me no welcome]; but if another comes in his own name {and} his own power {and} with no other authority but himself, you will receive him {and} give him your approval. How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise {and} honor {and} glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise {and} honor {and} glory which come from Him Who alone is God? Put out of your minds the thought {and} do not suppose [as some of you are supposing] that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you--it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your hopes [in whom you trust]. For if you believed {and} relied on Moses, you would believe {and} rely on Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. But if you do not believe {and} trust his writings, how then will you believe {and} trust My teachings? [How shall you cleave to and rely on My words?]" (John 5:39-47) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase 'they might be saved' Paul uses here referring to the Gentile's salvation is translated by one Greek word sozo meaning to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save, make whole. This is what the Jews were preventing the Apostle Paul and all the others with him from presenting to the Gentile race, that is, the true and only way of salvation eternally by what our Lord Jesus Christ did by His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead, this is the Gospel or Good News Paul presented to the Gentiles everywhere he went and the Jews hated it as evidence by this fact documented for us by Dr. Luke, "But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, disturbing {and} inciting the masses." (Acts 17:13) (Amplified Bible). This is what happened to Paul everywhere he went preaching Christ, the Jews showed up and tried to stop him, so that the Gentiles would not be saved unless (so they thought) they converted to Judaism. This done to the messengers of God the Father by the Jews was the cause of what Paul says 'to fill up their sins alway' by their persistent, pernicious, and purposeful pursuing and persecuting the messengers/ministers of God declaring the Gospel of Grace to all sinners Jew and Gentile. For this very reason God the Father's wrath or judgement upon them was not far off, because the history books document for us that around 70 A. D. a huge army led by Titus seized Jerusalem and surrounded it and forced the people from starvation to cook and eat their own babies for food as our Lord Jesus told them it would happen with tears because they rejected Him, "And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace--your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness--depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize {and} know {and} understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]." (Luke 19:41-44) (Amplified Bible).

The writer of the Book of Lamentations documented this very sad and somber time for the people of Jerusalem with these words, "How the gold has become dim! How the most pure gold has changed! The hallowed stones [of the temple] are poured out at the head of every street. The noble {and} precious sons of Zion, [once] worth their weight in fine gold--how they are esteemed [merely] as earthen pots {or} pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones, but the daughter of my people has become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness [that desert their young]. The tongue of the nursing babe cleaves to the roof of its mouth because of thirst; the young children beg for food, but no one gives it to them. Those who feasted on dainties are perishing in the streets; those who were brought up in purple lie cleaving to refuse {and} ash heaps. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands had come against her {or} been laid on her. [In physical appearance] her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies {or} corals, their shapely figures [suggested a carefully cut] sapphire. [Prolonged famine has made] them look blacker than soot and darkness; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered and it has become [dry] like a stick. Those who are slain with the sword are more fortunate than those who are the victims of hunger [slain by the famine]; for they [the hungry] pine {and} ebb away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. The hands of [heretofore] compassionate women have boiled their own children; they were their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people [Judah]. The Lord has fulfilled His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion that has consumed her foundations." (Lamentations 4:1-11) (Amplified Bible).

"What love poured out of the heart of our Precious Lord Jesus who did all that He could do for 3 1/2 years trying to make the Jews see that He was the God of their father's Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that they would turn to Him and this pending judgement would not happen in Jerusalem." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"They forbade the Apostles to preach to the Gentiles, lest they should be saved; this was an inveteracy of malice completely superhuman; they persecuted the body to death, and the soul to damnation! They were afraid that the Gentiles should get their souls saved if the Gospel was preached to them! They filled up their sins always; they had no mere purposes or outlines of iniquity, all were filled up; every evil purpose was followed, as far as possible, with a wicked act! Is it any wonder, therefore, that wrath should come upon them to the uttermost? It is to be reckoned among the highest mercies of God that the whole nation was not pursued by the Divine justice to utter and final extinction." Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 10

Paul Reminds these Thessalonian Believers of the Origin & Destiny of their Persecutors Part 1

1 Thessalonians 2:15 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: KJV

As we just documented in the last two verses, these new believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ found immediate persecution from the unbelieving Jews in the Synagogue there and from the unbelieving Gentile Thessalonians stirred up by these unbelieving Jews, but Paul now tells the believing Thessalonians (Gentile & Jew) of the coming Judgement that will certainly come upon these people for all that they have done to God's chosen people as he says with these words, "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) (KJV). First of all, Paul reminds them that these were the same people (not literally, but figuratively) that killed our Great God Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary and with that in mind, they are sure, surely, and sure enough going to persecute those of us who belong to Christ Jesus our Lord.

For this is what our Lord Jesus Himself said to these raging, raving, and ruthless Jews before it was His time to be crucified, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, Saying, If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have aided them in shedding the blood of the prophets. Thus you are testifying against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins to the brim [so that nothing may be wanting to a full measure]. You serpents! You spawn of vipers! How can you escape the penalty to be suffered in hell (Gehenna)? Because of this, take notice: I am sending you prophets and wise men (interpreters and teachers) and scribes (men learned in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets); some of them you will kill, even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue {and} persecute from town to town, So that upon your heads may come all the blood of the righteous (those who correspond to the divine standard of right) shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar [of burnt offering]." (Matthew 23:29-35) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'have persecuted' that Paul uses here to describe what these people did to him and those with him is translated by one Greek word ekdioko (used here and only one other place in the New Testament) meaning to pursue out, that is, expel or persecute implacably, that is, relentlessly and mercilessly. These men were not in agreement with God the Father or pleasing to Him although they thought there zealous religious ferver for the Law of Moses was in itself alone pleasing to God, but they ignored the will of God through His Son Jesus Christ and rejected the true way of righteousness as even Paul had done before his conversion to Christ on the road to Damascus where he (Paul) was going to that city to find Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) and imprison them or even kill them.

However, Paul now with his spiritual eyes open to the truth of the Gospel of Christ wrote these words concerning his prayer and desire for all of the Jews who still believe like he once did, "Brethren, [with all] my heart's desire {and} goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal {and} enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened {and} according to [correct and vital] knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a {righteousness} {(a means of salvation)} of their own, they did not obey {or} submit themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in {and} adheres to {and} relies on Him." (Romans 10:1-4) (Amplified Bible).

These zealous but misguided Jews Paul declares to be 'contrary' to all men and this English word is translated by the Greek word enantios meaning opposite; figuratively antagonistic: - (over) against, contrary. In other words, these Jews who were so eager with strong desire to hurt and even eventually kill the Apostle Paul were men who cared nothing for the spiritual well-being of any people, but they were blinded spiritually only by and in their own religious zeal being antagonistic or resisting men and women, keeping them from the only truth that could free them now and for all eternity our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6) as He said of them speaking directly to many of them these words, "Woe to you, lawyers (experts in the Mosaic Law)! For you have taken away the key to knowledge; you did not go in yourselves, and you hindered {and} prevented those who were entering." (Luke 11:52) (Amplified Bible).

"The Jews became so blinded spiritually that not only had they persecuted the Prophets of old like Isaiah & Zechariah, and even killed them, but now they even persecuted and killed the God/Man Jesus Christ who was and is the very YAHWEH they said that they worshipped and belonged to through Abraham. Note: 'Tradition says that the Prophet Isaiah was placed inside a hollow log and sawed in half by his own countrymen the Jews.' The Apostle Peter said this to the Jews shortly after the Day of Pentecost speaking of what was done to our Lord Jesus Christ, 'The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified His Servant {and} Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], Whom you indeed delivered up and denied {and} rejected {and} disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go. But you denied {and} rejected {and} disowned the Pure {and} Holy, the Just {and} Blameless One, and demanded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.' (Acts 3:13-15) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Upon this occasion, the Apostle gives a character of the unbelieving Jews, enough to justify their final rejection and the ruin of their place, and Church, and nation, which was now approaching. (1.) They killed the Lord Jesus, and impudently and presumptuously wished that His Blood might be on them and their children. (2.) They killed their own Prophets: so they had done all along; their fathers had done so: they had been a persecuting generation. (3.) They hated the Apostles, and did them all the mischief they could. They persecuted them, and drove and chased them from place to place: and no marvel, if they killed the Lord Jesus, that they persecuted his followers. (4.) They pleased not God. They had quite lost all sense of religion, and due care to do their duty to God. It was a most fatal mistake to think that they did God service by killing God's servants. Murder and persecution are most hateful to God and cannot be justified on any pretence; they are so contrary to natural religion that no zeal for any true or only pretended institution of religion can ever excuse them. (5.) They were contrary to all men. Their persecuting spirit was a perverse spirit; contrary to the light of nature, and contrary to humanity, contrary to the welfare of all men, and contrary to the sentiments of all men not under the power of bigotry." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 9

Paul Praises the Thessalonian Believers Stand/Suffering for the Word of God

1 Thessalonians 2:13-14 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the Churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: KJV

Paul thanks God the Father for the working of the Gospel in the hearts and lives of these former idol worshippers who worshipped the images of statues made by the hands of men which were nothing and useless time spent that could not bring them close to the True God at all, but only pushed them farther away from Him, and this was exactly the idea Paul conveyed to the believers in Corinth concerning the eating of food that was offered to these nothing idols when he said, "In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them, both of gods and of lords {and} masters, Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through {and} by Whom are all things and through {and} by Whom we [ourselves exist]." (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) (Amplified Bible). Paul is excited, enthusiastic, and enthralled (that is, filled with wonder and delight) over how these new believers in the city of Thessalonica (that now make up the new Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in said city) have fully excepted the Word of God that Paul has brought to them as he says with these words, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13) (KJV). Note: "Many unbelievers shut out or mute the message of the Gospel of Grace because it is promoted, proclaimed, and preached to them by men & women, so they assume that the words are those opinions of the human instrument being used by God to deliver His message. When you say to many people 'the Bible says', often times you will get a response such as this, 'well the Bible was written by men', and this is an indication of their rejection of the Gospel because they think it to not be from God, but from the delusional, disturbed, or deceived minds of men and women." (Clifford D. Tate, Sr.) Note: "The Greek for the first 'received,' implies simply the hearing of it; the Greek of the second is 'accepted,' or 'welcomed' it. The proper object of faith, it hence appears, is the Word of God, at first oral, then for security against error." (JFB Commentary).

This was very true in this city of Thessalonica when Paul, Silas, and Timothy came their preaching the Gospel message as we again recall and remind everyone reading these words what was documented for us by Dr. Luke upon their arrival into the city; first the Gospel takes up root & residence in the hearts and souls of some, "Now after [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned {and} argued with them from the Scriptures, Explaining [them] {and} [quoting passages] setting forth {and} proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, Whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ (the Messiah). And some of them [accordingly] were induced to believe and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women." (Acts 17:1-4) (Amplified Bible), but immediately we see the flip side or the reaction of those who rejected the Gospel message declared by Paul and Silas, "But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy, and, getting hold of some wicked men (ruffians and rascals) and loungers in the marketplace, they gathered together a mob, set the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people. But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, And Jason has received them to his house {and} privately protected them! And they are all ignoring {and} acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] asserting that there is another king, one Jesus! And both the crowd and the city authorities, on hearing this, were irritated (stirred up and troubled). And when they had taken security [bail] from Jason and the others, they let them go." (Acts 17:5-9) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase Paul uses in this verse 'effectually worketh' referring to the Word of God is translated by one Greek word energeo which is where we derived or developed our English word energy from meaning to be active, efficient: - effectual (fervent), be mighty in, operative, powerful. In other words, it was the striking work of the Word of God (Romans 10:17) that had produced their turn from worshipping the useless man made images that was so long of a time deep seated and deep rooted in their lives, even with many from a very young age. It also was this same effectual working of the Word of God in these new Thessalonian believers that enabled, empowered, and energized them to endure the immediate persecution that came from the Jews in that city who stirred up other Jews and Gentiles to come against these new Christians as we documented above from Acts 17 and as Paul reminds them here in his letter to them with these words, "For ye, brethren, became followers of the Churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:" (1 Thessalonians 2:14) (KJV). These new believers in Thessalonica wanted to understand all that was required of them from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and so patterned their Church after the first Church that was founded and established on the Day of Pentecost when God the Holy Spirit birthed the first Christian Church after the Apostle Peter preached the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and 3,000 souls were added to the Church (Acts 2:41).

Just like the early Church founded, formed, and framed in Jerusalem suffered harsh persecution from unbelieving Jews, so much so that many of them could not even earn enough money to feed their families and needed help financially from other Churches (2 Corinthians 8:16-24), so did this new Church in Thessalonica suffer in like manner again as we documented above and as Paul wrote to the Hebrew believers in his letter to them with these words, "But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great {and} painful struggle, Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults {and} abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship {and} making common cause with others who were so treated. For you did sympathize {and} suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings {and} the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge {and} consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession. Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great {and} glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience {and} endurance, so that you may perform {and} fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive {and} carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay." (Hebrews 10:32-37) (Amplified Bible).

"Those who by faith receive the word find it profitable. It does good to those that walk uprightly, and by its wonderful effects evidences itself to be the Word of God. This converts their souls, and enlightens their minds, and rejoices their hearts (Psalm 19:1-14); and such as have this inward testimony of the truth of the scriptures, the Word of God, by the effectual operations thereof on their hearts, have the best evidence of their divine origin to themselves, though this is not sufficient to convince others who are strangers thereto. He mentions the good effects which his successful preaching had, 1. Upon himself and fellow-labourers. It was a constant cause of thankfulness: For this cause thank we God without ceasing, 1Thessalonians 2:13. The Apostle expressed his thankfulness to God so often upon this account that he seemed to think he never could be sufficiently thankful that God had counted him faithful, and put him into the ministry, and made his ministrations successful." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 8

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 5

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. KJV

Paul did not have to speak on his own behalf, he reminds these new believers in Thessalonica of how he behaved during the time he spent with them. How long this was is not exactly known, however, it must have been (in my opinion) in excess of a year or so because Paul would not have spent such time in tent making if he were there only a few months. Remember when he left Thessalonica and preached the Gospel of Grace in Corinth, Dr. Luke did document for us that Paul stayed there or continued there a year and six month teaching the Word of God to them (Acts 18:11). This I believe to have been the custom of the Apostle Paul when deep seated or deep rooted idol worshipping Gentile people in long standing idol worship were converted to the One True God via the Gospel message. Therefore, here we find Paul putting into the memory of these Thessalonian believers his conduct among them as he says, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:" (1 Thessalonians 2:10) (KJV). Not only were they literal witnesses of his conduct, character, and concern for them, but God the Father (who sees and knows everything) was witness to the motives of the Apostle Paul which could not be seen by the Thessalonian people. Paul was not some huskster or peddler of smooth talk in order to swindle these people out of their goods like the false prophets of his day were (this is why he took no money from them to authenticate his sincerity concerning only their eternal souls).

Paul declares three distinctive, distinguishing, and describing characteristics that motivated his behavior among these new believers in Thessalonica. The first mark of his conduct among them was that he lived 'holily' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hosios meaning properly right (by intrinsic or divine character). The second mark of Paul's conduct among these new believers in Thessalonica was that he lived 'justly' and this English word is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitably (in character and in actions); by implication innocently and righteously. The third mark of Paul's conduct among these new believers in the Thessalonian Church was that he lived 'unblameably' and this English word is translated by the Greek word amemptos meaning faultlessly: Therefore, we see that Paul is here reminding them that he lived with sanctity among them void or absent of covetousness he lived equitably in their midst not with greed for their material goods, but he kept himself innocent of doing them harm or hurt physically, spiritually, or emotionally and that he was blameless among them, that is, being free from guilt of doing them wrong and being blamed for such actions just as he declared before Felix when the Jews had accused and charged him with Sedition (an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government).

Paul said, "And when the governor had beckoned to Paul to speak, he answered: Because I know that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I find it easier to make my defense {and} do it cheerfully {and} with good courage. As you can readily verify, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship; And neither in the temple nor in the synagogues nor in the city did they find me disputing with anybody or bringing together a seditious crowd. Neither can they present argument {or} evidence to prove to you what they now bring against me. But this I confess to you, however, that in accordance with the Way [of the Lord], which they call a [heretical, division-producing] sect, I worship (serve) the God of our fathers, still persuaded of the truth of {and} believing in {and} placing full confidence in everything laid down in the Law [of Moses] {or} written in the prophets; Having [the same] hope in God which these themselves hold {and} look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous (the just and the unjust). Therefore I always exercise {and} discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men." (Acts 24:10-16) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "Paul could say of himself and his conduct among these Thessalonian believers exactly what the Prophet Samuel said at King Saul's Coronation, 'Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and Saul His anointed. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded or oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes? Tell me and I will restore it to you. And they said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand. And Samuel said to them, The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.' (1 Samuel 12:3-5) (Amplified Bible)." Paul reverts back to his analogy of a parent with their children, only this time he compares his care and concern for their spiritual well being in this manner, "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children" (1 Thessalonians 2:11) (KJV). Paul (just as an earthly Father would do) 'exhorted' and this English word is translated by the Greek word parakaleo meaning to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): to spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts.

Paul was not just their teacher of the Word of God and the one who brought to them the Gospel of God, but Paul was their 'Spiritual Father' and just as any good earthly Father would do and be with their children, Paul was always encouraging these new believers and cheering them on in their new faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul's comforting and charging these Thessalonian believers was all a part of his constant, continual, and consistent exhortation to them in their persecutions by non-believers and their grief of losing loved ones just as any good earthly Father would be and do concerning his children just as he wrote about his care and concern for the Corinthian believers with these words, "I do not write this to shame you, but to warn {and} counsel you as my beloved children. After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel). So I urge {and} implore you, be imitators of me. For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding {and} course of conduct {and} way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the Churches." (1 Corinthians 4:14-17) (Amplified Bible). Note: "By exhorting, we are moved to do a thing willingly; by comforting, to do it joyfully; by charging, to do it carefully." (John Wesley).

All of this Paul has brought to their remembrance for this one reason that they and we today who believe, "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12) (KJV). The little English phrase 'would walk' is translated by one Greek word peripateo meaning figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service): The English word 'worthy' is translated by the Greek word axios meaning appropriately: - as becometh, after a godly sort. In other words, Paul has brought back to their memory and detailed for them his conduct in their presence in order that they would be imitators of him as he follows Christ Jesus our Lord so that they/we would be pleasing to Him and not grieving Him with their/our sin and disobedience, for it is He (Christ) who has called us to an holy calling as Paul reminded brother Timothy with these words, "[For it is He] Who delivered {and} saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy {and} leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of {and} to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]." (2 Timothy 1:9) (Amplified Bible).

"The current or present kingdom of God is that of 'grace' that is given or supplied to every one of us redeemed believers in Jesus Christ that empowers us to live life down here on the earth differently than before we received or encounterd the 'grace of God' (it does not mean or produce perfection here and now, but it does produce a walking or living in a new way and new direction of life)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Piously - observing all the duties of religion. In our contact with people. I did them no wrong. This seems to refer to his duties both to God and man. In reference to all those duties no one could bring a charge against him. Every duty was faithfully performed. This is not a claim to absolute perfection, but it is a claim to consistency of character, and to faithfulness in duty, which every Christian should be enabled to make. Every man professing religion should so live as to be able to appeal to all who have had an opportunity of knowing him, as witnesses that he was consistent and faithful, and that there was nothing which could be laid to his charge." Albert Barnes

"What is our great Gospel privilege - that God has called us to His kingdom and glory. The Gospel calls us into the kingdom and state of grace here and unto the kingdom and state of glory hereafter, to heaven and happiness as our end and to holiness as the way to that end. What is our great Gospel duty - that we walk worthy of God, that the temper of our minds and tenour of our lives be answerable to this call and suitable to this privilege. We should accommodate ourselves to the intention and design of the Gospel, and live suitably to our profession and privileges, our hopes and expectations, as becomes those who are called with such a high and holy calling." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 7

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 4

1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 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. 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. KJV

After the conversion of these people in Thessalonica who made up the body of believers in the Thessalonian Church, Paul immediately desired to be (to them) as a Father and Mother would be to their new born baby nurturing them spiritually in the Word of God by the Grace of God helping them develop and grow into mature faithful believers and followers of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Just as the new Mom and Dad instantly, immediately, and even instinctly see their child as helpless and vulnerable to all sorts of danger, so did Paul see that these new babes 'in Christ' were spiritually in danger from the certain and imminent attacks spiritually that would come to them from the devil and his principalities and powers because they had been snatched from his jaws by hearing the Gospel of God making them adopted sons and daughters of God the Father (Romans 8:15), so Paul says this to them reminding them of his desire among them, "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." (1 Thessalonians 2:8) (KJV).

The English phrase 'being affectionately desirous' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word himeiromai (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) meaning (a yearning; of uncertain affinity); to long for. Therefore, we see the connection from verse 7 where Paul said, "as a nursing mother cherishes her own children", so does Paul have this same affection, yearning, and longing for these newly born believers in Jesus Christ who were delivered from eternal death in hell and the lake of fire as Paul wrote using these words to the Colossian Church, "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:12-14) (Amplified Bible).

Thus, we now also understand that Paul would have protected these new beleivers (from spiritual danger) with his own life just as a Mother or Father would fight to physical death to protect the life of their son or daughter whom they love so dearly, so did Paul love these new believers in Thessalonica just as much (if not even more), just as the Apostle John  declared that we Christians should be regarding one another with these words seeing that we are depised by the world, "Do not be surprised {and} wonder, brethren, that the world detests {and} pursues you with hatred. We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]." (1 John 3:13-16) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now reminds them of how he worked for his living and did not receive resources from them free of charge as he declares with these words, "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." (1 Thessalonians 2:9) (KJV). Paul did not want these new believers to be burdened or feel imposed upon financially so soon after their conversion from worshipping idols (where they no doubt spent enormous amounts of money to appease these false gods) to now worshipping Christ, instead Paul wanted them free of any need to support him or those with him financially, but he wanted them to be without these concerns so that the Word of God would take root in them as he Paul taught it to them. Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ does not absolve or free us from the everyday needs and necessities that are involved with this earthly life as pilgrims, we must still eat and sleep and pay our bills that we would have a home to eat and sleep in daily. With this in mind, Paul reminds them of his conduct among them of working for his own food and shelter and as he lived among them 'night and day' as he declares because he did not want to 'be chargeable' to them.

This little English phrase 'be chargeable' is translated by one Greek word epibareo meaning to be heavy upon, that is, (regarding money) to be expensive to. Instead of being a financial burden to these new believers in Thessalonica (like their worship of false gods surely was), Paul was 'labouring' night and day. This English word 'labouring' is translated by the Greek word ergazomai meaning to toil or work as a task, or occupation. The English word 'travail' is translated by the Greek word mochthos meaning to toil or work hard with difficulty; wearisome labor. Paul spent long hours teaching this 'babes in Christ' the Word of God and spent long hours working with his own hands making tents to sale to earn money for his own room and board, he probably had to travel, that is, walk to different cities to sale his tents and then return to Thessalonica to teach God's Word to the new believers, this was surely 'wearisome labor' for the Apostle seeing how his body had been often bruised, beaten, and battered by hateful unbelievers for his preraching the Gospel of God (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

"Combined with Paul’s strength of purpose there was the sweetness and tenderness of a nurse. Self-denying labor for his own maintenance took from his eyes their needed sleep, and was another proof of his sincerity and devotion. There was no harm in receiving gifts, but Paul was most anxious to do nothing that would invalidate his testimony, or be unworthy of the Master he served. Admirable example for us all!" F. B. Meyer

"To be willing to communicate the knowledge of the Gospel was in itself a strong proof of love, even if it were attended with no self-denial or hazard in doing it. We evince a decided love for a man when we tell him of the way of salvation, and urge him to accept of it. We show strong interest for one who is in danger, when we tell him of a way of escape, or for one who is sick, when we tell him of a medicine that will restore him; but we manifest a much higher love when we tell a lost and ruined sinner of the way in which he may be saved. There is no method in which we can show so strong an interest in our fellow-men, and so much true benevolence for them, as to go to them and tell them of the way by which they may be rescued from everlasting ruin." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 6

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 3

1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:  KJV

Paul continues to bring into the believers at Thessalonica remembrance of his conduct when he was present with them by saying, "Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ." (1 Thesalonians 2:6) (KJV). Paul was never an ambitious man desiring personal success and achievement who sought after glory or praise for himself, but his praise was always for our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it was His Glory Paul sought to be made known among believers and unbelievers alike. The English word 'glory' is translated by the Greek word doxa meaning (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively) to obtain honour, or praise, or worship. In other words, Paul was not of importance or significance, but the person whom he preached about was of utmost importance and significance to every sinner on the earth because He (Jesus) died on the Cross of Calvary for every individual person's sins as if they were the only human being alive on planet earth just as Paul declared to the believers in Corinth with these words, "For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:5-7) (Amplified Bible).

Paul discovered early on (after his conversion) that the words he preached and the words he wrote were not coming from his great earthly mind or intellect, that is, his own knowledge and intellectual ability, but it was God the Holy Spirit who spoke and wrote through him just as He had done hundreds and even thousands of years before Paul through men like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, for the same God who energized these great men of the Bible, was now working out His Will through the Apostle Paul and what great blasphemy and pride would it be for Paul to declare himself to be some great man, he was nothing but a lump of clay in the Potter's hands just as Isaiah spoke with these words, "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8) (Amplified Bible) and likewise just as Jeremiah spoke with these words, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:6) (Amplified Bible). As an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul had authority directly from our Lord Jesus to receive whatever he wanted and needed materially from the Churches in order to live upon, but Paul used not this authority, but instead worked at his profession or skill of tent making to earn money in order that he would never be regarded as a charlatan, that is, a flamboyant deceiver who attracts followers with tricks or jokes being a covetous man using his position and authority to enrich himself at the expense of others, but Paul did just the opposite of this as he declared to the brethren of Ephesus when he departed from them for the last time when he said to them, "I coveted no man's silver or gold or [costly] garments. You yourselves know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs and those [of the persons] who were with me. In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive." (Acts 20:33-35) (Amplified Bible).

Remebering these words of our Lord Jesus made Paul conduct himself in the following manner when he was among these Thessalonians, "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:" (Thessalonians 2:7) (KJV). Paul was not like some today who are in the hierarchy of many Church Denominations Priests, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, etc, who think nothing of demanding from those under them regardless of the circumstances and when their demands are not met exactly imposing harsh penalties, hard or even impossible to bear. Paul had the authority of an Apostle, but he had the heart or inner man of just another humble undeserving brother 'in Christ' and so he conducted himself always with this in mind as we recall his gratefulness of even being forgiven by our Lord Jesus when he said these words to brother Timothy, "The saying is sure {and} true and worthy of full {and} universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15) (Amplified Bible). Because Paul saw himself as the worst sinner on the planet, it was utter foolishness for him to act in any pompous, pontifical, or portentous way with other forgiven sinners, that is, puffed up or proud or high and mighty as if he were somehow better than others because he was chosen by God/Jesus to be an Apostle.

There was never any bowing to Paul when he entered a room or kissing his ring or any sort of outward worship of him (for he was just a brother in Christ like any other) as we recall how he and Barnabas immediately corrected the people in Lystra after our Lord Jesus healed a crippled man through Paul as documented by Dr. Luke, "Now at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked. He was listening to Paul as he talked, and [Paul] gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed, Shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked. And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, lifted up their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian language, The gods have come down to us in human form! They called Barnabas Zeus, and they called Paul, because he led in the discourse, Hermes [god of speech]. And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was at the entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the [city's] gates and wanted to join the people in offering sacrifice. But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothing and dashed out among the crowd, shouting, Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these foolish {and} vain things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that they contain." (Acts 14:8-15) (Amplified Bible). Paul was among the Thessalonians as a Mother would be with her children nourishing and nurturing helping them to grow in their faith in Christ and teaching them the Word of God that they might grow up thereby into spiritual maturity. It was never the desire of Paul to take from them their material goods, but his desire was to give to them his knowledge and understanding of God's Word that they would be enriched spiritually for many years to come.

"Paul was no seducer or deceiver seeking to make himself wealthy by fleecing or duping people to send or give him money for a prophecy over their lives or to give them a prayer hankerchief that would bring them physical healing in return for them giving him money for his ministry, but Paul was just a sinner so grateful for his redemption and forgiveness by Christ that he wanted everyone to know this great lover of the souls of men Christ Jesus our Lord as he did and so he went about declaring the Gospel of Grace and teaching the unadulterated Word of God and nothing else." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 5

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 2

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: KJV

When we last left Paul's discourse here concerning his conduct among the people of Thessalonica, we found him denouncing any form of cunning, craftiness, or chicanery being associated with himself or the men who were with him and their preaching of the Gospel of Christ, now Paul goes on deeper and more specific with his only motive for coming to their city with his message and it is, "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 4:4) (KJV). Paul declares to them that it was God who trusted him with this most important and critical redemptive saving message to humanity (Acts 9:6 & Acts 9:15), therefore, it was God only whom Paul was to please. The English phrase 'we were allowed' is translated by one Greek word dokimazo by implication meaning to approve. The English phrase 'to be put in trust' is translated by one Greek word pisteuo by implication meaning to entrust, that is, to confide in someone or to put something into the care or protection of someone. In other words, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ trusted the Apostle Paul to handle the Gospel of Grace with honesty, sincerity, and truth just as he declared to the believers in Corinth when he wrote to them these words, "For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the Divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity {and} the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight {and} presence of God." (2 Corinthians 2:17) (Amplified Bible).

It was not Paul's intention to hurt the feelings of the men and women in the city of Thessalonica, but it was Paul's intention and purpose to only declare the Gospel as he received it directly from our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is God/Christ who knows the 'hearts' of all men and women. This English word 'heart' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kardia meaning (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind), therefore, we see that it is utter foolishness to prostitute the Gospel of Grace for personal gain, greed, or glory because the persons true motives are always known by God, even if he or she can fleece or rip off many people as the Apostle Jude wrote of such men and women with these words, "Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah!" (Jude 1:11) (Amplified Bible). However, this was not Paul as he affirms himself to them in even more detail with these words, "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:" (1 Thessalonians 2:5) (KJV). Paul did not approach the city and engage in conversation with the people there and use flattering words praising them and feeding their vanity to win favor with them, but instead he declared that they were sinners (just as he was) in desperate need of the One True and Only God's forgiveness, which was then and is now found only in, by, and through Jesus Christ (John 14:6), here Paul reminds them of his actions among them as he declares here that they knew.

Paul also wanted to remind them that as an Apostle of Christ, had he every right to receive material things from them, but he declined to do so, just as he did in the city of Corinth as he wrote to the Corinthian believers with these words, "For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it [only] for oxen that God cares? Or does He speak certainly {and} entirely for our sakes? [Assuredly] it is written for our sakes, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest. If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits? If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ. Do you not know that those men who are employed in the services of the temple get their food from the temple? And that those who tend the altar share with the altar [in the offerings brought]? [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel. But I have not made use of any of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me [now]. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone make void {and} deprive me of my [ground for] glorifying [in this matter]. For if I [merely] preach the Gospel, that gives me no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings (the Gospel)! For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have my pay (my reward); but if it is not of my own will, but is done reluctantly {and} under compulsion, I am [still] entrusted with a [sacred] trusteeship {and} commission. What then is the [actual] reward that I get? Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the Gospel), I may offer it [absolutely] free of expense [to anybody], not taking advantage of my rights {and} privileges [as a preacher] of the Gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:9-18) (Amplified Bible). Note: "What a vivid and graphic contrast we find in this man Paul verses the many men we see today who flaunt about in their $3,000 suits and drive around in their Rolls Royce and fly far and wide in their private Jets announcing that this is the lifestyle that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ wants, wishes, and wills for every Christian on earth to live and if you just sow a seed (money into my ministry) or pay me for a prophecy God will turn it over tenfold and you too will have the earthly things that I have in Jesus Name! If you believe this, then you believe in the Tooth Fairy & Santa Clause!"

"Paul preached in great conflict of soul because of his passionate desire for the salvation of men. In this, many of the notable servants of God have shared; and we shall not attain to the great end of our ministry unless the seeds we sow are steeped in prayers and tears. The Apostle viewed the Gospel as a sacred deposit left with him by God on man’s behalf, 1 Thessalonians 2:4. Do we sufficiently realize that as Christ is our Trustee, entrusted with God’s gift for us, so we are executors of His bequests to our fellow-men, who will have serious charges to bring against us if we hoard for ourselves what was meant for them? The questions which should sustain and quicken us are: 'What does God think of my service?-Is He pleased?'" F. B. Meyer

"The Apostle Paul was no extra ordinary Christian, he just believed God and His Word and desired to order his life accordingly. By no means was he perfect and let us never place him on a pedestal to be worshipped. Paul was no more a saint than you reading Christian friend or I writing am, but what made him stand out was that he was 'all in' for Christ because he knew that there were men, women, boys, and girls who would believe by hearing his message of the Gospel and it was predestined for him to speak this message to them, so no matter the consequences to himself as he declared with these words to Brother Timothy he endured attacks, 'Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David, according to the good news (the Gospel) that I preach. For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction {and} even wearing chains like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained {or} imprisoned! Therefore I [am ready to] persevere {and} stand my ground with patience {and} endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with [the reward of] eternal glory.' (2 Timothy 2:8-10) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…