Proper Response to Good Spiritual Leadership: 1 Thess Lesson 18

The Proper Response to Good Spiritual Leadership

1 Thessalonians 2:13-14

 Before we read our text this morning I want to make a couple observations. We have spent several weeks looking at the Apostle Paul as a spiritual leader. I have shared with you my opinion that, apart from the Lord Himself, Paul was the greatest spiritual leader to ever have an impact on the church. As good as he was as a spiritual leader, there was only so much he could do. Even the best spiritual leaders are not guaranteed success. (Jesus had Judas Iscariot) One of the most important factors in the success of the spiritual leader is the willingness of the followers to listen, understand, and obey what the spiritual leader is teaching. Followers must respond properly to good spiritual leadership.

 I am not discounting the importance of the work of God in the heart of the followers. Nothing of real spiritual value is accomplished unless God does the work in the heart. But this does not negate the responsibility of the follower to be eagerly and energetically engaged as a learner, a disciple, a follower and an imitator of his or her spiritual leader. We are going to see, in these verses we read, that this is exactly what the response of the Thessalonians was to Paul’s spiritual leadership. They played a role in their spiritual success. Their response was critical to the results.

 On the other hand, there is a spiritual leader greater than Paul. He is a spiritual leader to humanity. He is God the Father. Being a Spiritual Leader who possessed omnipotence, omniscience, and who is absolutely sovereign over everything that has or will happen in the course of human history, God chose a specific people to be His followers. From all the nations of the earth God chose the nation of Israel. Romans 9 tells us that to them He gave every spiritual blessing, every opportunity, everything they could have possibly needed to be good and faithful followers. (adoption as sons, covenants, temple service, promises, and the Christ) Yet, they were unfaithful. They would not listen. They would not understand. They would not obey.

 Was that the fault of the Spiritual Leader who was the sovereign God of the universe? Blame for the failure of the people of Israel cannot be laid at the feet of their Spiritual Leader. It is laid on the people themselves. The people of Israel refused to respond to all that God had provided as the Perfect Spiritual Leader.

 So as we read these verses, we will see a stark contrast. This is a contrast between the Thessalonians, who had very limited opportunities, but in whom God was glorified, and the Jews, who had every opportunity to glorify God, but who refused the opportunity and find themselves the objects of God’s just wrath. Please stand with me as we read verses 13-16.

 This passage describes for us the response to good spiritual leadership. There is an appropriate response. There is a God-honoring response. There is a response that produces blessings for the followers and glory to God. The appropriate response is a source of tremendous encouragement to the spiritual leader. The spiritual leader will not stop giving thanks to God when he sees this response.  This is the response we will look at today in verses 13-14. This is the response I want for each of you.

 Next week we will come back and look at the inappropriate response. This was the response of the Jews. This was the response that resulted in judgment. This was the response that produces the wrath of God to the utmost. And I will hasten to say from the beginning that we need to be humble and honest in how we hear the message from this passage. We need to ask ourselves whether we are responding like the Thessalonians, or the Jews.

 Missing from this passage is a description of the middle ground. Paul does not tell us about a group of individuals who were hearing sometimes and trying from time to time to put some of what they heard into practice. He doesn’t tell us about those who listened to some of the instruction and dismissed the part they didn’t want to hear. He doesn’t describe anywhere in these verses anyone who straddled the fence. He describes a spiritual reality. We are either like the Thessalonians in our response, or we are like the Jews.

 So look with me at the details of the response of the Thessalonians to the good spiritual leadership provided by Paul. Verses 1-12 gave us a very insightful profile of good spiritual leadership. The results are not based solely on what the spiritual leader does. There is a necessary response to that leadership. Beginning in verse 13 Paul describes how the Thessalonians responded to his leadership. 

 The first thing to notice from this passage is that the response of the Thessalonians was the reason for Paul’s constant thankfulness to God. Paul says, “For this reason we also constantly thank God…” Paul is about to give that reason. Before we look at the reason I want to point out that Paul was constantly thanking God for what had happened and what was continuing to happen in the lives of the Thessalonians.

 These words made me think back to chapter 1, verse 2, where Paul said, “We give thanks to God always for all of you…” A spiritual leader will find it easy to constantly give thanks to God for the things his followers are hearing, understanding, and applying to their lives. Spiritual leaders know what it is to invest their lives in some who don’t get it. Spiritual leaders, especially pastors, know what it is to invest in the lives of people who fail to bear the fruit as they should. They know what it is to invest in people who decide they don’t like it under their care anymore and take their families to another church to sit under someone else’s spiritual leadership. This hurts. And it hurts for a long time. It is disappointing to invest in someone for years and see them still doing many things that displease the Lord.

 So believe me when I say that it is encouraging to see followers taking the word of God and embracing it and applying it to their walk. That is the stuff of which mountaintop experiences are made for the spiritual leader. I understand why Paul was so thankful. Improper responses grieve the heart of the spiritual leader. Proper responses rejoice the heart of the spiritual leader.

 So what was Paul so thankful for? He tells us in verse 13. “…that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God…” 

 When Paul spoke as an Apostle of Christ, he knew that he was speaking the word of God. He understood that the revelation he had been given was from God, so when he spoke he was speaking, and or writing, the word of God. He was one of those men described by Peter as one “moved by the Holy Spirit (who) spoke from God.” (2 Pet. 1:21) In 2 Peter 3:14-16 Peter affirms that the words written by Paul were Scripture. Paul was speaking the word of God.

 Today there are many people who still claim to stand up and speak the word of God. They reject the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture and say that God still speaks. The biggest problem with their claims is that they are speaking things that God would never say. God has said what He is going to say and we have it in the 66 books of the Bible.

 A spiritual leader today isn’t speaking the word of God unless he is speaking directly from the Bible which is the word of God. When a faithful servant of God studies the Scriptures and stands before the people of God and proclaims accurately the word of God, it should be received for what it is, not the words of man, but the word of God.

 Paul was thankful that the Thessalonians “received” the word of God they heard from him and “accepted” it as the word of God. There are three words in our text that describe what was happening in regards to the word of God. It was heard. “You received the word of God which you heard from us…” That word simply describes the physical faculty of hearing. Paul wrote to the Romans explaining the importance of “hearing” the word of God. Romans 10:14 says, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?” Nothing happens if the word is not proclaimed.

 It is not the preaching of the word that produces the important results. It is the receiving of the word that results in the word of God performing its work in those who believe. The word “received” is “paralambano” in the Greek.  It is a compound word using “para” which means “near” with “lambano” which means “to receive.”  The Thessalonians were receiving the word of God into their own possession. They were receiving it into their minds, and being taught what it says, and embracing it.

 Paul used this same word “received” in Galatians 1:12 to describe how he came to understand the gospel message he preached. He says in Gal. 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached to me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul heard this gospel from Christ and he received it. He didn’t just hear it. Paul embraced it and took it to heart and it changed him dramatically, forever. This is the what it means to “receive” the word of God.

The verb Paul uses in our text is an active voice participle. The active voice reveals to us that the subject is responsible for the action of the verb. The subject of the sentence is “you.” When “you” received the word of God… The Thessalonians were responsible to hear and receive the word of God.

The fact that it is the word of God is of no small significance. Because it is the word of God it is without question as to its authority. Because it is the word of God it is as perfect as its Source. Because it is the word of God it doesn’t simply contain truth, it is truth itself. John 17:17 records the words of Jesus. “Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth.” Because the word of God is the word of God it can be trusted. If the word of God is wrong God is wrong and if God is wrong He cannot be trusted. The word of God is clear. The testimonies of the Lord are making wise the simple. (Ps. 19:7) I could preach all day regarding the Bible as the word of God.

The third word used in our text describing the response of the Thessalonians to the word of God is “accepted.” Not only had they received the word of God, which they had heard from Paul, they had “accepted” it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God.” This word “accepted” means to accept deliberately and readily. It is to receive and admit as true with the heart and mind. It includes the idea of approving, embracing, and following. The same word was used in 1 Thess. 1:6. 

Those who do not accept the word of God are not the children of God through faith. If all you do is hear the word and you do not accept it readily and deliberately and embrace and follow what it teaches, your problem is a spiritual problem at the deepest level. You are lost. Paul explains this clearly to the Corinthians. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.” 

So listen to me. If all you do is come and hear the word of God, but nothing ever really changes, you need to take a serious look at the condition of your heart. Look at what Paul says in our text. He declares, in no uncertain terms, that the word of God “performs its work in you who believe.” The word “performs” is “energeo” and it means “working, effective, operative.” If the word of God is being heard, received, and accepted it will be doing something. It will be producing results. It is spiritual seed sown. When spiritual seed falls in the soil of spiritual hearts, fruit will be produced. 

What does the word of God do? It saves us.  "You have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable," 1 Peter 1:23 says  "That is through the living and abiding Word of God."  James 1:18, "He brought us forth by His Word."

Furthermore, it blesses us.  Luke 11:28, "Blessed is the one who hears the Word of God and obeys it."  It teaches us, 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching." It also reproves us.  "It is profitable for reproof." It also corrects us.  "It is profitable for correction.” It also trains us in righteousness.  "It is profitable for training in righteousness." It also perfects and equips us that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of God working in us also guides us.  Psalm 119:105, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light to my path." It counsels us.  Psalm 119:24, "Thy testimonies also are my delight, they are my counselors." It revives us.  Psalm 119:154 says, "Revive me according to Thy Word." It makes us fruitful.  Colossians 1 says, "The Word of truth which has come to you is constantly bearing fruit.” It grows us up.  First Peter says, "We're to long for the pure milk of the Word whereby we grow." It warns us.  Psalm 19:11, "By the Word Thy servant is warned." It rewards us.  "In keeping them there is great reward," same verse.

The Word of God works in us to judge us.  Hebrews 4:12 says, that “it pierces as far as the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." It sanctifies us.  John 17:17, Jesus prayed that marvelous prayer, "Sanctify them by Thy truth, Thy Word is truth." It purges us.  John 15:3, "We are cleansed by the Word." It frees us.  John 8, "The truth shall make you free, John 8:31 and 32. It enriches us.  "Let the Word of Christ richly dwell in you, leading to all wisdom, teaching, admonishment, psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, thanksgiving."

It gives us joy.  John writes, "These things I write that your joy might be full," 1 John 1:4. It protects us.  "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." It strengthens us. Psalm 119:28, "My soul weeps because of grief, strengthen me according to Thy Word." It makes us wise.  Psalm 119:97 to 100, "Oh how I love Thy law, it is my meditation all the day, Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies for they are ever mine.  I have more insight than all my teachers for Thy testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the aged because I have observed Thy precepts.” Yes it makes us wise.

It prospers us.  "The man who is in the Word will be like," says the psalmist in Psalm 1, "a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yield its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither and whatever he does he prospers."  In Joshua it says in chapter 1 verses 8 and 9, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous."  You will have success. It performs something else, it gives us hope.  Psalm 119:147, "I have hope in Thy Word."

And that is not an exhaustive list.  The Word performs.  It does work in us.  The verb translated “performs its work” in our text is a present tense, indicative mood, middle voice verb. The present tense indicates continuous action happening at the present time. The word is always doing its work in those who believe. The indicative mood is the mood of reality or certainty. This is the best indicator of a valid relationship with God through faith. If the word is doing its work, that is the indication that we have believed. The middle voice means that the subject of the sentence participates in the action of the verb. We participate by opening it, reading it, hearing it preached, receiving it, accepting it and taking it to heart and putting it into practice.

If you are to respond properly to good spiritual leadership, you must receive the word of God, accept it for what it is, and make sure it is performing its work in you. If we only hear and we do not receive and accept and take it to heart and apply it, we are forgetful hearers who delude themselves. We are hard soil hearers. We are not like the Thessalonians.

In verse 14 we find that this work which the word performs in those who believe does a couple of noteworthy things. Paul writes, “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.” This is the second time Paul has pointed out that the Thessalonians were “imitators.” He commended them back in chapter 1:6 saying, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord…” The word translated “imitators” is the word from which we get our word mimic.

It is unlikely that many of the Thessalonians had ever been to a church in Judea. Yet, the believers in Thessalonica had become just like the believers in Judea. The reason is easy to understand. The word had performed its work in the believers and they were all like minded. They were all hearing, receiving, accepting, and putting into practice the same word of God. The word of God was working to make them like minded and alike in their walk. They were all walking in a manner worthy of the God who calls them into His own kingdom and glory.

If you respond as you should to good spiritual leadership, and you hear, receive, and accept the word of God, and the word of God does its work in you who believe, there will be a consistency in the walk of those who are truly a part of the church of God in Christ Jesus. It won’t matter if the church is in Judea, Thessalonica, or Muskogee. This is what the word of God will do in the lives of believers who are filled with and led by the Spirit of God.

One of the things I have enjoyed from time to time over the years is going to the Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church in California. It is so encouraging to go fellowship with like-minded pastors and lay leaders in churches from all over the world. One thing you see is that they are all very much alike because they are all focused on the word of God. I enjoy the same thing at another conference that Donna and I attended last fall. It is encouraging to join with thousands of others who believe like we believe and walk like we walk. As others describe what they believe and how they worship and walk, it sounds as if they are describing my own life.

The proper response to good spiritual leadership involves responding properly to the word of God. That proper response to the word of God will make us like minded and alike in our practices with other faithful followers of Christ. You might summarize this like-mindedness as unity. Finally, it will also equip us to persevere in the face of suffering which results from persecution.

Paul writes in verse 14 of the Thessalonians, “for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your countrymen, even as they did from the Jews.” The churches of Judea endured sufferings at the hands of the Jews of Judea. That persecution was originally spearheaded by one Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul the Apostle of Christ. You can read about that persecution in Acts 9 and following. The church in Judea was hated and persecuted by the Jews. God used that to facilitate the spread of the gospel. As it spread to places like Thessalonica, the fellow countrymen of the Thessalonians responded with opposition, hatred, and persecution. This is why Paul was only in Thessalonica for a short time.

The inevitable result of hearing, receiving, accepting and living by the word of God is that you become like genuine believers and this will always put you at odds with the world. The more the church looks and acts like Jesus, the more the world will respond to the church like it responded to Jesus. They hated Him and killed Him. They will do the same to a faithful church. If we are not responding properly to the word of God, which is doing its work in us who believe, we will not be ready to remain faithful.

The church needs spiritual leaders who will learn from the example of Paul and lead according to the pattern set forth in the first 12 verses of 1 Thessalonians 2. But the church does not just need spiritual leaders who will follow the example of Paul. The church needs people who will follow the example of the Thessalonians. The church needs people who will hear, receive, accept and put into practice the truth of God’s word, because it is not the word of men, but the word of God. The church needs people in whom there is ample evidence that the word of God is performing its work in those who believe. 

My prayer for this church is that you will always respond to the word of God the way you should. Hear the word, receive the word, accept the word, and order your walk according to the word so that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who has called you. This is how we can be sure that we will become imitators of other faithful followers of Christ. This is how we know that you will be equipped to remain steadfast in the face of suffering.

The application of this passage is straightforward. How are you responding to the preaching of the word of God? Are you paying attention so as to make sure you hear what is preached? Are you receiving and accepting it for what it really is, not the word of man, but the word of God? Do you take it to heart and seek to put it into practice and walk according to what it teaches? Is there consistent evidence that the word of God is performing its work in you?

If others were to see your life, especially that part of your life that is lived in private, would they see an imitator of Christ, or would they see an imposter? If you are truly an imitator of other faithful followers of Christ, the evidence is seen not just in your public life, but also in your private life. 

If you are to be ready when the suffering comes from persecution, you must be one who responds properly to the spiritual leadership God has provided.

Let’s pray.