The Apostle does not place all the credit for the effectiveness of his ministry on signs and wonders alone. In I Thessalonians 1:5, Paul makes one simple statement that reveals five distinct elements in his approach to winning a city—five keys to a city, if you wish to think of them as such.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The first key he mentioned was the Word. Here he is talking about the gospel message that has been confirmed and proven through the scriptures and then presented within a biblical context. The scripture is full of instruction to avoid various substitutes which can camouflage themselves as worthy ministry material but actually lead to confusion and disqualification of our ministries: philosophy (Colossians 2:8), vain deceit (Colossians 2:8), the traditions of men (Colossians 2:8), the rudiments of the world (Colossians 2:8), enticing words of man’s wisdom (I Corinthians 2:4), profane and vain babblings (I Timothy 6:20, II Timothy 2:16), oppositions of science falsely so called (I Timothy 6:20), fables (I Timothy 1:4, II Timothy 44), vain jangling (I Timothy 1:6), Jewish fables (Titus 1:14), profane and old wives’ fables (I Timothy 4:7), cunningly devised fables (II Peter 1:16), endless genealogies (I Timothy 1:4, Titus 3:9), foolish and unlearned questions (II Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9), teachers having itching ears (II Timothy 4:3), teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre’s sake (Titus 1:11), strivings about the law (Titus 3:9), the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:22, Titus 1:14), the doctrines of men (Colossians 2:22), strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), and even doctrines of devils (I Timothy 4:1).
As has already been mentioned, it would be hard to define Jonah as an evangelist since he brought an oracle of destruction rather than a message of good news. However, we must recognize that the good message is not always a sweet message. In fact, the scriptures teach that the gospel is definitely confrontational and possibly even offensive. It is called a stone of stumbling, a rock of offence, and a stone upon which we can fall and be broken or which will fall upon us and grind us to powder. (I Peter 2:8, Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18) Jonah certainly knew how to hurl that offensive stumbling stone into the pathway of his audience, but he was not alone. Paul described the situation in his day by saying that some preachers were filled with envy, strife, and contention as they preached; but God used them anyway. (Philippians 1:15-18) In this regard, we must remember that Jesus described two very important elements in His parable about sowing seed—the seed and the soil into which it was sown. When He explained the parable, Jesus told us what the seed was and spelled out the significance of each of the four soils. Interestingly enough, He said nothing about the farmer who was sowing the seed. We have no idea at all about the motivation or technique of this farmer. All we know is that he sowed the seed. We must remember that the power of the seed is in the seed itself while the potential for productiveness is in the soil into which it is planted. Once the farmer releases the seed in this parable, he has no more control over its growth. Therefore, it is the gospel and the hearts of the hearers—not the preacher—that make the difference. Of course, this is not intended to negate the significance of the minister, only to emphasize the fact that God’s Word can produce fruit regardless of the pipeline through which it is delivered. Just imagine how much more effective the ministry will be when the power of the Word and the receptiveness of the hearts of the recipients are coupled with a genuine sincerity and skill on the part of the preacher. Unlike Jonah, Paul had a true desire to see people saved and he made a deliberate attempt to relate the gospel to them in a way that they would find relevant and palatable. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (I Corinthians 9:22) Like the Greeks with the Trojan horse and David at the watercourses of Jerusalem when he captured the city from the Jebusites (II Samuel 5:8), the Apostle looked for a way to get inside his target audience’s defenses before he released his assault. (I Corinthians 9:19-23) In many cases, his subjects didn’t even know what had hit them until they were fully in the grasp of the gospel.
Paul’s second key was power. All we need is a quick review of the book of Acts to see that his ministry was indeed accompanied with miraculous events just as we have seen in the previous chapter. (Acts 13:11, 16:16-18, 19:11, 20:9-10, 28:3-6) Next, Paul mentions the Holy Ghost. Since the operation of the gifts of the Spirit seems to have been his topic in the previous category, we must interpret this reference to suggest a fuller meaning of the operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Turning to his letter to the Galatians, we see at least two areas where the Holy Spirit’s influence must be evidenced in a believer’s life and ministry. The first is in chapter five verses sixteen and eighteen: walking in and being led by the Spirit. Such Holy Spirit orchestrated movement is not only vitally important to the success of our personal lives and the productivity of our ministries, but it may also make the difference between life and death. As Paul mentioned in the Galatian passage, the fatally destructive works of the flesh will overcome us unless we walk in the Spirit. The Apostle was directed away from Asia toward a fertile ministry in Europe through the Holy Spirit’s direction. (Acts 16:6-10) The inner voice of the Holy Spirit also warned Paul of the impending danger into which his ship was to sail. (Acts 27:10) The other Holy Spirit quality that Paul discusses in Galatians chapter five is the fruit of the Spirit listed in verses twenty-two and twenty-three. Just as no one cares for a barren tree that does not produce fruit (Matthew 21:19, Luke 13:6-7), people will not be attracted to our lives or ministries unless we manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul follows with the quality of assurance. Even without an examination of some of the key biblical injunctions concerning assurance (Isaiah 32:17, Acts 17:31, Colossians 2:2, Hebrews 6:11, and 10:22), we can recognize from the natural world that we never want to believe what someone is saying if we don’t feel that he really believes it himself. I know that I’d never buy a car from a salesman if I saw him driving another make. Paul was persuaded of the validity of his message (Romans 8:38, 14:14, II Timothy 1:12) and admonished his disciples to be fully persuaded concerning their faith (Romans 14:5). Remember that Jesus promised that signs and wonders would follow the ministry of those who believe—not those who hope or wish. Assurance is the key to success in ministry.
Character is the fifth key that Paul used to open the city of Thessalonica to the gospel. In our Thessalonian passage, he called it his “manner of man.” To get a definition of this term, we can turn to his farewell to the Ephesian church where again he used this same expression and gave a rather lengthy explanation. The purity of his motives and the unselfishness of his service permeate the speech and testify to the quality of life he lived before the people. Who he was backed up what he said. As the old expression goes, he walked the walk as well as talked the talk. Another couplet reminds us that people don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care. Our personal character is likely the most powerful force in communicating to the city we wish to win for Christ. After all, many more people will read our lives than will ever read our tracts.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ…Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God…Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears…I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (Acts 20:18-34)