A RARE LOOK AT A PASTOR'S HEART

1 Thessalonians 2

In this message we are going to boldly go where no layman has ever gone before. I want you to see something that no layman has ever seen in its fullness because it is something which is extremely rare and is very closely guarded by those who possess it. Because of this our view must be from a distance. What

I want us to see is something that cannot be bought. It cannot be purchased at any price. This rare possession is only given to a select few and it can only be given by the One who created it. This priceless possession to which I'm referring is what is known as a "Pastor's Heart."

 A pastor's heart is like no other heart. Physically it may appear to be the same, but spiritually, God has done a supernatural work.

 We must never forget, that although God has done a supernatural work in regards to their heart, Pastors Are People Too!! They have FEELINGS. They have EMOTIONS. They have GOOD DAYS and BAD DAYS.  They have times of GREAT JOY as well as times of GRIEF. They are COMMON, EVERYDAY, ORDINARY people, with one exception. They have been extended the highest calling that any human being could ever experience, they've been called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to pastor one of the Lord's churches.

In 1 Thessalonians 2, I believe the Apostle Paul gives a Rare Look At A Pastor's Heart.

I. PAUL AND HIS COURAGE vs. 1-4

Paul was courageous:

A. In spite of Oppression v. 2a

1. Paul speaks of being "...shamefully entreated" at Philippi.

2. This happened back in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, and thrown into   prison.

3. The shame of it all was that it was totally undeserved and it was made to be as disgraceful   as possible. All of the punishment was inflicted publicly.

4. And do you know what the awful crime was? Paul commanded a demon spirit, in the name  of Jesus Christ, to come out of a young slave girl.

B. In spite of Opposition v. 2b

1. Those preachers who will dare preach the TRUTH will most certainly face opposition from  the world. But what the world doesn't understand is that they need the TRUTH and that   the only thing that can heal this nation is the TRUTH.

2. The pastor who preaches the TRUTH will also be opposed, oftentimes, by those in the   church.

3. Paul speaks of "Alexander the coppersmith" who "greatly withstood" his preaching.

ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago, Sonny Jurgensen, one time quarterback of the Washington Redskins, was being attacked by the fans sportswriters alike because his team was in a slump.  Somebody asked him if all the flack he was receiving bothered him and he said, "Naw, not me. I've been in this game long enough to know that every week the quarterback is either in the penthouse or the outhouse." (The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, page 373)

C. Because of his Divine Obligation v. 4

1. Notice Paul's attitude toward the ministry.

2. He considered himself a trustee or a steward of the gospel.

a. Listen to Paul's words in 1 Timothy 1:11-12 "According to the glorious gospel of   the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me   faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

b. Paul considered it an honor to think that God could trust him with the gospel.  What an incredible responsibility.

3. It was this responsibility that enabled Paul to be courageous in his preaching. Paul's  aim in preaching was not to flatter men or to win their applause. He knew that the primary  purpose of preaching was not necessarily to make people HAPPY but to make them HOLY.

4. Listen to 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,  and stewards of the mysteries of God.   Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.   For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is   the Lord."

5. Faithful pastors, like the Apostle Paul, know that they have a divine obligation to fulfill and   that one day they will be called to give an account before God. To the faithful pastor, his standing before God is much more important to him than His   standing before men.

II. PAUL AND HIS CAREFULNESS vs. 5-6

Paul was careful concerning 3 things:

A. Manner of Speech -- "For neither at any time used we flattering words..."

1. The Greek word for "flattering" is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. It means  that Paul did not praise them for their wealth or their talent or their accomplishments and  conceal from them the painful truth concerning their sinfulness.

2. Paul simply preached the TRUTH. If in preaching the truth, some were exalted, so be it.   If others were condemned, so be it.

B. Motive for Service -- "...nor a cloke of covetousness"

1. In other words, Paul didn't put on a pretense or an appearance of piety in hopes of gaining  great wealth.

2. As a matter of fact, he constantly warned of such men.

a. Titus 1:10-11 "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially  they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which   they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."

b. 2 Peter 2:3a "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make   merchandise of you..."

3. Paul wasn't in the ministry for the money. He proved that in verse 9.

4. By trade, Paul was a tent maker. He made tents to support himself and he preached out of   necessity. Paul said "...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel."

5. Any God-called pastor will preach whether he gets paid or not, but when the church is   able they ought to pay the pastor and take good care of him and his family.

ILLUSTRATION: Man in Cincinnati who shook his head no when I said that. I knew what "school" he was from. "Lord, you keep him humble and we'll keep him poor."

 ILLUSTRATION: Some people expect their pastor to have the grace of a swan, the friendliness of a sparrow, the strength of an eagle, and the night hours of an owl---and some expect such a bird to live on the food of a canary. 1001 More Humerous Illustrations For Public Speaking, pg. 238)

C. Ministry to the Saints

1. Paul's greatest desire was to be used of the Lord and to be a blessing to those to whom he   ministered. According to verse 6, the last thing he wanted to was be a burden to the  churches.

2. Paul had the authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ to demand certain things of God's  people in terms of his provision, but he chose not to because he knew the churches needed  the money more than he did and he didn't want to be a burden.

3. I personally know of numerous times when Bro. Landis has given up his own salary in   order that the needs of the church might be met. I know of instances in which he and Mrs.   Landis have given out of their own pockets to meet needs that should have rightfully been   met by the church.

4. I want to go on record as saying that Bro. Landis has NEVER been a burden to this church,   and that he has given far more to FBC than he has received.

III. PAUL AND HIS CHARITY vs. 7-8

Paul LOVED those to whom he ministered. This is evidenced in two ways:

A. Ability to be Gentle

1. Make no mistake about it, when it came time to mow the grass a little short so to speak,   Paul could do it. But he could also be gentle.

2. This gentleness suggests a certain sensitivity that Paul had for the needs of the  Thessalonians. He compares it here to the care that a nurse or a mother would have for a   child.

3. God has developed within a mother the ability to recognize certain needs that her child   might have and along with that, the ability to supply those needs.

4. By the same token, God has supplied His men, with the great gift of sensitivity. That's   what we call a "Pastor's Heart" and I believe our pastor possesses such a heart.

ILLUSTRATION: A curious onlooker was watching a man as he was driving a group of sheep across a field, and all the time he was yelling and screaming and beating a stick on the ground. Finally the onlooker said, "I thought shepherds led their sheep." The man replied, "I'm not the shepherd, I'm the butcher." (1001 More Humerous Illustrations For Public Speaking, pg. 238)

5. Paul was to be commended for having he compassion of a shepherd and knowing when to   be gentle with the flock.

B. Willingness to Give v. 8

1. There are many men today who are more than willing to preach and to give out the gospel,   but that's as far as it goes.

ILLUSTRATION: The pastor in Guymon who would not visit in the hospital because he didn't want to get sick.

2. I believe our pastor, as a true man of God, has gone well beyond the point of giving   the gospel and has given himself to FBC. SO HAS HIS WIFE!

3. While all of that sacrifice has been done willingly and lovingly, there have been times   when it's been taken for granted.

4. 2 Corinthians 12:15 "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more   abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."

5. Let's not take our pastor and his wife for granted.

V. PAUL AND HIS CHARACTER v. 10

The testimony of any pastor is of utmost importance. Not only to his people, but to the community   as well.

Paul speaks here of walking "holily, and justly, and unblameably."

A. Holily

1. Holily speaks of his relationship with God.

2. He lived a life separated from the world and totally set apart for God.

B. Justly

1. Justly speaks of his life before men.

2. In all his dealings Paul was just and honest.

3. Paul's testimony in 2 Corinthians 7:2 was, "we have wronged no man, we have corrupted   no man, we have defrauded no man."

C. Unblameably

1. Unblameably speaks of his standing before both God and men.

2. Paul said in Acts 24:16 "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience   void of offence toward God, and toward men."

D. The devil is constantly trying to destroy the testimony of God's man. Our responsibility as church   members is to uphold and protect our pastor's testimony.

1. In the Community -- 1 Timothy 5:19 says "Against an elder receive not an accusation..."

2. In Prayer -- Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."

V. PAUL AND HIS CONCERN vs. 11-12

The desire of any pastor worth his salt is to see his people walk worthy of God.

No self-respecting father would want his son to do anything that would embarrass him or bring  reproach upon the family name. By the same token, no self-respecting pastor would want a church   member to do anything that would embarrass the church or dishonor the church family.

Paul expressed his concern in three ways:

A. He Exhorted the Thessalonians

1. This speaks of his guiding and directing through teaching.

2. Ephesians 4:11

3. Apostles, prophets, and evangelists are all separate offices. Pastor and teacher however are  one in the same. Your pastor is to be your primary teacher.

B. He Comforted the Thessalonians

1. Paul could sense when there was a need for a gently arm around the shoulder of a brother   in the church at Thessalonica. As we said earlier, Paul knew when to be gentle.

2. In times of affliction and adversity, Paul was there to encourage, console, support, sustain,   hold up, lift up, relieve, and ease the pain of the Thessalonians believers.

C. He Charged the Thessalonians

1. The word "charged" is a much stronger word than the other two used in this verse.

2. It conveys the idea of warning as father would warn a child who was in danger of injuring   themselves.

3. Part of the pastor's responsibility is to warn of impending danger. To point out potential   hazards that may lie in the way of God's people. Those warnings are not always heeded   nor are they always appreciated, but Praise The Lord for a pastor who is faithful to preach   the Word and is careful to warn God's people.

VI. PAUL AND HIS CONVERTS vs. 13-16

A. They were Converts of the Word

1. What excited Paul about those who were converted during his preaching was the fact that   they accepted his preaching as God's Word.

2. They didn't get saved as a favor to Paul because they liked him, they got saved because  Paul preached the Word of God and they accepted it as the Word of God and it brought   conviction to their hearts.

3. I like what one Bible commentator said:

"he who embraces religion from mere respect for a pastor, parent, or friend, or because  others do, may abandon it when the popular current shall set in a different direction, or  when his friends shall embrace different views; but he who embraces religion as the truth  of God, and from the love of the truth, will have a faith, like that of the Thessalonians,  which will abide every trial."

4. It is natural to always have a special place in your heart for the one who led you to the Lord   or the one who was preaching when you got saved, but if you're merely a convert of that   individual, then when they're gone, you're gone. But if you are a convert of the Word of  God, then regardless of what may happen in terms of people, your commitment will remain  the same because you're committed to never-changing Word of God.

B. They were Converts To The Way

1. They became "followers of the churches of God."

2. Real salvation will result in a changed life.

ILLUSTRATION: The story is told of Charles Spurgeon and a friend walking down the street when along comes a drunken man staggering past them. Spurgeon's friend turned to Mr. Spurgeon and said, "Isn't that one of your converts?" Mr. Spurgeon said, "It must have been. He sure wasn't one of the Lord's."

  3. Christianity is a way of life, and nothing thrills the heart of a pastor more than to see those   converted under his ministry, living the way Jesus would have them to live.

VII. PAUL AND HIS CROWN vs. 19-20

A. The joy of any pastor's heart is not the titles that men may bestow upon him or the great numbers   he may run in Sunday School, or the massive amount of money received for the cause of world-   wide missions.

B. The joy of a pastor's heart will be to see in heaven those who were saved under his ministry.  Those who accepted his preaching and teaching as the truth of God's Word. Those who brought   honor and glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

C. I like what Matthew Henry said, "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."

D. God help us to live our lives in such a way that when our pastor stands before God to give an   account of our life, he may be able to do it with joy and not with grief, for that would  be unprofitable for us.

CLOSING: What Does a Preacher Do With His Time?

The preacher is a teacher, though he has to solicit his own class. He heals without pills or knife. He is a lawyer, a social worker, an editor, a philosopher, a salesman, a handy decorative piece for public functions, an entertainer, a chairman of the building fund and a first-class janitor.

People come to him and he goes to the people. He rejoices when they rejoice and weeps when they weep. He visits the sick, marries the young, buries the dead, prepares and delivers speeches to every organization under the sun, and tries to stay sweet when he is abused for not calling on certain people. He helps plan the program of the church and meets with every group he can, which may mean that some nights he must attend two and three meetings.

When he lies down at night, he is burdened and prays for certain "sheep," their weaknesses, their problems, and their absence from the service. And, oh yes, in his spare time, he prepares and delivers several sermons, Bible lessons, radio programs, class messages, etc. And when Monday comes and some chap roars, "What an easy job you preachers have!" he tries to smile and keep sweet.

 Have you ever heard the above question asked? Or the remark made thoughtlessly, "What an easy task the pastor has! He speaks about 20 minutes twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday with the rest of the week all his own!"

However, with all these aggravations, many would rather be divinely called ministers of the gospel than be anything else.