Preached at Christ Church, Billericay 5 Nov 2023
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Revolution
Last time I spoke, I started with a pop song. So, I thought I’d try again, as that one wasn’t really loved by many of us.
The Beatles sang:
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all wanna change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all wanna change the world
The song is called Revolution, and it was the ‘B’ side to “Hey Jude”. It’s a protest about violent revolution, and particularly Chairman Mao.
Guy Fawkes
Today, we remember another violent revolutionary – Guy Fawkes. He was caught under the House of Lords with a lot of gunpowder. While I was on holiday in Sussex the other week, I learned that the gunpowder was made in the town of Battle. That’s where the abbey was built to atone for the deaths caused in the 1066 incident. But back to Guy. You may see effigies of him today, on the bonfire, as we remember his failure.
Gunpowder Plot
Guy Fawkes, and his co-conspirators had rented an undercroft, and filled it with gunpowder, after failing to get help from the Spanish government. Their aim was to remove the protestants (particularly James I) and make England a Catholic nation once again.
After an anonymous tip-off, the building was searched, and Guy was the unlucky man who had been left minding the gunpowder.
Bonfire celebrations
The lighting of bonfires, and the burning of effigies, was started the following year as an official celebration. Fireworks were added later.
Violent Revolution
An attempt by one group of Christians to kill another group of Christians always seems to me especially sad, as they both should know that God doesn’t work that way. Violent revolution rarely has any real effect anyway, when you look back on it. Mostly, one despot is replaced with another, and the common people are just as oppressed as they ever were.
Personal Revolution
There is another way, and it is the way that Paul is trying. His approach takes much more planning and much more hard work. It is also genuinely effective in the long term. It delivers real change for people. Paul is trying for a personal revolution. A revolution in the lives of each of the people he meets, similar to the one he, himself, had experienced.
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
In the chapter that we read from today, Paul is reminding the Thessalonians of his ministry amongst them. He was there with two others, Silvanus (or Silas) and Timothy. At the beginning of the chapter, he reminds them that they spoke to them despite strong opposition. The evangelists had come from Philippi, where they had also suffered insults. He tells them that their motives were not to please men, but to please God. They have not used flattery, or tried to hide greed. They have been gentle with them, and Paul compares the three of them to a mother caring for her small children. The missionaries shared with them, not only the gospel – which of course is why they are there – but also their life.
Work and mission
Now, we arrive at verse 9, where Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they worked ‘night and day’. This way they cannot be accused of living off, or even getting rich off, the people they are ministering to.
Paul is not against ministers being paid for their work, as we can read in
1
Timothy 5:17-18
17
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of
double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while
it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his
wages.”
Not sure if I’ve ever been compared to an ox before.
Anyway, so ministers are due their wages, but for his mission, as an apostle and evangelist, it is not appropriate.
Hard Labour
In Paul’s day, all Jewish youngsters were taught a trade. We know that from Acts 18:2b-3, where he got together with other tent makers in Corinth. Paul was not afraid of hard physical work. His skill would provide a basic income, the materials – leather, rope, twine, could be bought locally, and the tools were easy to pack up and transport.
He would effectively set up a business, rent a workshop, and somewhere to live. Then he could start trading and finding customers. Here his integrity would be under constant scrutiny by the towns folk, and all he did business with.
The evangelism would take place on the Sabbath, or in the evenings, if time permitted.
Greeks and Physical Labour
The Greeks despised hard physical work, and saw it as something to be done only by slaves. So, this in itself meant that Paul and his companions were like nothing the Thessalonians had seen before. They would have known about the Jews, and other roaming religious speakers, but judging from what we hear, these all expected payments for their so-called wisdom.
Reflect on God’s planning?
It’s worth stopping for a moment and looking back at how God’s plan has worked for Paul.
Everything he needs to be the Apostle to the gentiles has been provided. His parents even taught him a trade that would be compatible with the role and allow him to work while travelling around the empire.
Verse 10
Verse 10 is a strong reminder for them of how he behaved. If it wasn’t the case, there would be no point whatsoever writing it in the letter, they would see the falsehood and ignore everything else he said. So Paul is clearly telling them the truth.
You are witnesses, and so is
God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who
believed.
Challenge 1
I wonder how many in the church today can honestly claim to be “holy, righteous and blameless” in all their dealings with the believers. In a world where there is so much factionalism and disagreement about almost any little thing, we still have to maintain our integrity – our holiness, our righteousness and we need to ensure we are blameless, not just when out there evangelising, but with all that we do with and for the believers.
That’s the first challenge these verses have for us.
Verses 11 & 12
In verses 11 and 12 Paul reminds the Thessalonians how he behaved to them – like a father. Someone who is always encouraging and comforting, and urging them to live lives that are worth of the God who calls them into His kingdom and His glory.
Most of the gods the Thessalonians knew would require specific religious observances at specific times. The Roman emperor Caesar, the latest god to be proclaimed, required loyalty at all times. Caesar already had a kingdom and a glory, that extended to the edges of the empire. Beyond those requirements the people could live as they chose, there was no call to honesty or fairness. Paul’s God requires even more of them, not just loyalty, but a whole lifestyle that is worthy of Him and His glory, that extends across the whole of the world (known or not in Paul’s time).
Challenge 2
That is the second challenge that these verses have for us. Do we live our lives in such a way that we are ALWAYS honouring God, in every aspect of our lives?
Outcome
The final verse of our reading (verse 12) shows the outcome of Paul’s work, his tent making and his evangelism, because they go hand in hand. His words and his argument are backed‑up by how he lives, so that the truth and love of God can shine through him. Here’s what it says:
And we also thank God
continually because, when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it
actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
Personal Revolution
And there it is, the personal revolution that has come to each of the Thessalonian believers. God’s word – who we know as Jesus Christ – is at work in each one who believes.
It’s the word that they heard from Paul, who made it possibly for them to hear it by being there, and being a role model for them. He rose to the two challenges. He was holy, righteous and blameless, and everything he did was honouring to God and His Glory.
As a result, the Thessalonians were able to listen to him and hear God’s words through him. So, they could answer God’s call on their lives. They experienced the personal revolution that is accepting Christ Jesus into their lives, just as we have.
That's how you change the world!
Amen.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RaiQ807O9I from 19:26 to 32:27
References
https://genius.com/The-beatles-revolution-lyrics
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/new-testament-1-thessalonians-29-13/
https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2020-10-26/1-thessalonians-29-13-2/
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