Watchman Radio Hour

David Schultze: Welcome to the Watchman Radio Hour. Coming to you from Portland, Oregon, here in the beautiful Northwest. This is David Schultze, your announcer. The Watchman Radio Hour is a production of Watchman Radio Ministries International, an evangelistic ministry reaching out to the peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And now, here's our speaker, Alex Dodson, to bring you this week's message from God's word.

Alex Dodson: Our scripture reading today, let us turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, and we will be reading verses 8 and 9. Let us hear the word of God.

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you that we can put our full confidence in everything that it says. And now, Lord, as we come to study your word, we pray that you would send the Holy Spirit in great convicting power. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Some ministers today seek out high salaries to support their lifestyle. Some preach a health and wealth gospel to bring in the cash. The ministry of the apostles was far from such modern-day notions. They gave themselves sacrificially to the people they came to serve with the gospel. They even refused a salary to keep from burdening their people while they ministered to them. In order to do that, they had to work with their hands right alongside their people.

This sounds so odd today when some ministers won't preach unless they are paid a high salary. This kind of thing of sacrificially serving their people is so far from the modern health and wealth gospel, which promotes lavish lifestyles and emphasizes material prosperity. Yet the apostles carried on their work without complaining, without being a burden to their people.

The lesson to be learned from these early Christian leaders is not that ministers should not be paid for what they do, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. The lesson to be learned is that sacrificial service is okay. It's okay to lay down your life for your people. That's our calling as ministers of the gospel.

Again our text says in verses 8 and 9 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you."

The apostles shared the gospel through sacrificial service. Today we can learn from the apostles what sacrificial service is. We can learn how to identify with a people that we might reach them with the gospel. From their example, we can see the emptiness of the health and wealth gospel and how it makes selfish and materialistic Christians. Let us see in the first place they shared their lives with the Thessalonians.

Again verse 8 says, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." They backed up the gospel with their lives. They became the servants of the people they ministered to. The Geneva Bible note one on this verse says to have the flock that is committed unto him in more estimation than his own life.

They followed the example of Christ. In Mark 10:45, it says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Their lives backed up their message. Leon Morris writes, "The verb rendered preached is that which signifies the action of the herald. It is the function of a herald simply to pass on the words given to him.

And so Paul thinks of the preacher as one who passes on the gospel of God. This conviction that the message comes from God is fundamental to effective preaching. And the message must indeed be that which comes from God. But what gives Christianity its power is the fact that the gospel is of God. Any trifling with it is bound to result in loss of power."

They identified with the people they were seeking to reach. In 1 Corinthians 9:19 through 23, it says, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, though I myself am not under the law, so as to win those under the law.

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law, though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings."

Paul became a servant to the people he was seeking to reach. He identified with them and came alongside them to win them to Christ. And then let us see in the second place they supported themselves while preaching the gospel. Verse 9 says, "Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you." They worked night and day.

William Hendrickson writes, "The word of endearment 'brothers' is very fitting, especially in the present connection. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had placed themselves on one level with the laborers of Thessalonica. They all worked for a living. Yet more is implied. The bond is spiritual; they are brothers in Christ.

The expression 'toil and hardship' refers not so much to the labor and weariness connected with tentmaking as to the entire thought expressed in the sentence, namely that the missionaries had been working by night and by day and had been preaching besides. It must have been very hard indeed to find time for all this and not to break down under the load.

Yet for the sake of the gospel of God and out of love for the Thessalonians, most of whom were ordinary laborers, the burden had been gladly borne. Note 'the gospel of God.' Had it been from men, for example from traveling philosophers, the Thessalonians would not have been treated with such consideration."

Leon Morris says this: "The two words rendered 'labor' and 'travail' occur together also in 2 Corinthians 11:27 and 2 Thessalonians 3:8. The former word is derived from the verb meaning 'to strike.' Thus properly it means a blow. It comes to denote the result of a blow and thence work which produces such an effect. It denotes work which produces weariness, wearisome toil.

The other word is from a root giving the idea of difficulty. It brings before us the thought of that labor which is an overcoming of difficulties. The combination of the two stresses the fact that the work which the preachers had done had not been token work, something in the nature of a public show to demonstrate their willingness. It had been laborious toil. They had to work hard. They had also had to work constantly night and day."

Matthew Henry writes, "He denied himself the liberty he had of taking wages from the churches. To the labor of the ministry, he added that of his calling as a tentmaker that he might get his own bread. We are not to suppose that the apostle spent the whole night and day in bodily labor or work to supply the necessities of his body, for then he would have had no time for the work of ministry.

But he spent part of the night as well as the day in this work and was willing to forego his rest in the night that he might have an opportunity to do good to the souls of men in the daytime. A good example is here set before the ministers of the gospel to be industrious for the salvation of men's souls, though it will not follow that they are always obliged to preach freely.

There is no general rule to be drawn from this instance either that ministers may at no time work with their hands for the supply of their outward necessities or that they ought always to do so." The apostles were diligent and willing to work as they preached the gospel among the people. And then let us see that their purpose was not to be a burden to the people they were seeking to reach.

The Geneva Bible note one on verse 9 says to depart with his own rights rather than to be chargeable to his sheep. John Calvin writes, "For ye remember, brethren. The object of these remarks is to prove his previous statement that he did not spare himself in order to spare them.

He must certainly have burned with an amazing and superhuman enthusiasm in doing even manual labor along with the task of preaching in order to earn his livelihood. In this respect too he refrained from claiming his rights, for it is the law of Christ, as he also teaches elsewhere, that every church furnish its ministers with food and other necessities.

In refraining from laying a burden on the Thessalonians, therefore, Paul does more than the responsibility of his office could require him to do. In addition, he does not merely decline to cause public expense but avoids burdening any one individual. There can be no doubt that there was some worthy and particular motive which induced him to refrain from claiming his rights, for in other churches he exercised the privilege according to him as the others had done.

He took nothing from the Corinthians so that the false apostle should have no handle for gloating in this regard. In the meantime, he did not hesitate to ask for what was necessary from other churches. For he writes that while he expended his efforts upon the Corinthians without cost to them, he robbed the churches which he did not serve.

Although therefore he does not give his reason here, we may nevertheless conjecture that Paul was unwilling to have the Thessalonians minister to his needs lest such an action should put a hindrance in the way of the gospel. This too should always be a matter of concern to good pastors, not only that they should run with vigor in their ministry but also that they should remove all obstacles in their cause as far as they are able."

Leon Morris writes, "What is plain is that Paul and his companions had worked and had worked hard to support themselves and to see that no burden was placed on their converts. Their hearts went out to the people they were seeking to reach. They wanted to set a good example to them and not bring any burden upon them as they preached the gospel to them." Thirdly, let us see some weaknesses in modern-day ministry.

First, there are pastors burdening their people with too high salaries. The gospel ministry calls for sacrifice, not luxury. In order to support their lifestyle, some pastors seek out higher salaries. Though the salaries they receive may be adequate, they want more. This is in contrast to some pastors in poorer countries who have to do secular work along with their pastorate to support themselves.

This is a set pattern in some countries. What's wrong with living on a lower salary that the gospel may be preached? Some churches cannot afford the salaries that pastors are now asking for. Sometimes the pastor has to leave because the church can't afford to meet his salary expectation. Today's pastors can learn from the apostles' commitment, sacrifice, and dedication to the gospel ministry.

John Piper wrote, "When Paul was willing to suffer for Christ, he showed the nations that Christ is more precious than comfort and security and prosperity. In other words, the infinite value of the wisdom of God is revealed not in Paul's prosperity but in Paul's pain and his prison. That's where it shines because this is the wisdom of the cross, and we are called to pick up our crosses and display to the demons that we treasure Christ more than any human comfort."

Hudson Taylor wrote, "Is there anything of value in Christ's service which costs little?" And again he says, "The less I spent on myself, the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become." And then there's the deception of the health and wealth preachers. Some seek wealth for themselves by giving a burden to the ones they preach to.

Though often denied, this seems to be the effect of the health and wealth gospel. There's a great emphasis on giving to get God's blessing. However, in the end, the main one blessed is the preacher who receives from those he preaches to. There is much deception in the health and wealth gospel.

Those being most deceived are those who hear that gospel and act on it. Giving to get is not the message of the gospel. The message of the gospel is to take up the cross and follow me. The health and wealth gospel produces a weak church. It produces Christians who shun the cross and seek out their own prosperity and well-being instead.

Where is the cross in today's health and wealth gospel? It's not there; it's a crossless gospel. Matthew Henry wrote, "Being affectionately desirous of you. The apostle had a most affectionate love to their persons and sought them, not theirs; themselves, not their goods; and to gain them, not to be a gainer by them or to make a merchandise of them.

It was their spiritual and eternal welfare and salvation that he was earnestly desirous of. He was willing to spend and be spent in the service of men's souls." Should we expect to live without sickness in this life? The health and wealth gospel promises a life without sickness. Should that really be our expectation as Christians?

We definitely should cultivate good health and fight diseases and prevent them as much as we can. However, that doesn't mean we can claim perfect health in this life. Sometimes the cross comes in the form of sickness. Sometimes the Lord uses sickness to get our attention and bring discipline upon us. In Psalm 119:67 and again in 71, it says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."

Was a life without sickness bought for us on the cross? Health and wealth preachers often use Isaiah 53:5 to teach that perfect health is the right of every Christian since it was bought for us on the cross. Is that really what Isaiah 53:5 teaches? That verse says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

The main emphasis of this verse is on deliverance from sin. Jesus died for our sins to heal us from the guilt and power of sin. Ultimately Christ's death on the cross provides for us a perfect body at the resurrection, but not before. There is no promise of perfect health in that verse. Jesus did come to destroy the works of the devil, and we can say that because of the fall, sickness and death came into this world.

As the kingdom of God progresses in the world, we can expect the world to be a better place and that sickness and disease will decrease and ultimately death will be destroyed at the resurrection. With the spread of Christianity, better health for all has resulted. Medical missions has brought better and healthier lives to millions in the world. There is no doubt that where the gospel comes and its teachings applied, people will have better and healthier lives.

Yet that is not to say that the message of the health and wealth gospel is true. Preachers of that gospel deceptively promise something that they cannot deliver. Nor is that to say that the Lord does not heal in answer to prayer. He does, and he commands us to pray for the sick.

In James 5:14 and 15, it says, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." This verse encourages us to pray for the sick and expect healing.

However, there's nothing in that verse that promises the Christian perfect health. It even implies that sickness will come to us. The health and wealth teachers deceive us when they tell us to claim perfect health because of the atonement. Statements like that are not completely honest and tend to mislead the ones that are being preached to. No one has perfect health in this life. There are no Christians who have perfect health.

Some have much better health than others because they practice healthy lifestyles, but no one is promised perfect health in this life. Disease and sickness are a result of the fall, and all creation is subject to disease and sickness. Only after Jesus returns will disease and sickness be completely gone. In Romans 8 in verses 18 through 22, it seems to point to the resurrection as the time when all disease and sickness will be finished and gone.

This applies to the whole creation. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." We await a day when all sickness and disease will be gone forever.

We look forward to that day, and it will come, but not until the resurrection. The health and wealth preachers promise something that they can't deliver. Their message is a message of deception. Contrary to the apostles, the health and wealth preachers do not seek the best interests of those they preach to. They bring deception and many times profit from their hearers. The apostles did not do that. They came among their hearers as servants who sacrificed to bring their hearers to Christ.

Now let me ask you today, do you know Christ? Have you received him as your own personal Lord and Savior? He is able to save you completely and promises you a sure and certain resurrection after death. He does not promise that you will be wealthy and in perfect health in this life, but he promises you eternal life and a new body at the resurrection. And he calls you to the life of the cross. Would you come to him now? He calls out to all who are weary and heavy laden to come and find true rest in him.

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the promise of the gospel that promises us a sure and certain resurrection at the end of this age. We thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are going to return and that you're going to come again. And that when you come, that you will give those who know you and who have put their trust in you a new body that will live forever. We thank you for the promise of the resurrection, and we ask these things in Christ's name. Amen.

David Schultze: We hope this week's broadcast has been a blessing to you. If you have any questions about Mr. Dodson's message, please write us. You may email us at info@watchmanradio.org. Our mailing address is Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251, Portland, Oregon, 97213.

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