Introduction:  You would think that ministry would only be done by those who love God and seek to do everything according to God’s will, but this is not so.  Any ministry that is done by a believer is extremely important, yet when it is done wrong it is extremely detrimental to the cause of the Christ.  May God work in our hearts to help us make sure that we are doing it His way.

1. A WRONG MOTIVE (1 Thessalonians 2:3For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
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1. Not of Deceit
1. Paul’s exhortation was not motivated by a desire to deceive.
2. Our motive should be to tell others the truth, even when it hurts.
2. Not of Uncleanness
1. Paul’s exhortation was not motivated by some wicked desire.
2. Our motive in ministry should be pure.
3. Not in Guile
1. Paul’s motive was not covered up in deceit.
2. Our motive should be obvious to all of those who serve alongside of us.
4. Not of Filthy Lucre (1 Peter 5:2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
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2. A MISPLACED DESIRE TO PLEASE (1 Thessalonians 2:4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
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1. We are Not to Please Men
1. Good men in the Bible did not please men
1. Jesus (Matthew 23:13-26 [13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. [15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [16] Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! [17] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? [18] And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. [19] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? [20] Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. [21] And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. [22] And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. [23] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
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2. Peter (Acts 5:3-9 [3] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? [4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. [5] And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. [6] And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. [7] And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. [8] And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. [9] Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
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3. Stephen (Acts 7:51-53 [51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
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2. Being a man pleaser negates being a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
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2. We are to Please God (2 Timothy 2:4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
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3. A POLITICAL APPROACH (1 Thessalonians 2:5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
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1. No Flattering Words Used
2. The Wickedness of Flattering Words
1. No flattering titles given to men (Job 32:21-22 [21] Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. [22] For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
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2. The wicked speak with a flattering tongue (Psalms 5:9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
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3. Flattering lips are connected to a double heart (Psalms 12:2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
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4. The Lord will cut them off (Psalms 12:3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
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5. The flattering mouth worketh ruin (Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
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6. Flattery spreads a net for your neighbors feet (Proverbs 29:5A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
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4. A DOUBLE LIFE (1 Thessalonians 2:5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
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1. An Outer Appearance – A cloke
2. The Inward Appearance - covetousness
5. A DESIRE FOR THE WRONG GLORY (1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
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1. They Did Not Seek Glory from Men (1 Corinthians 3:21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 4:7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
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2. Glory for Ministry Comes Later (Romans 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
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Conclusion:  Are you serving the Lord?  If so, check your motive.  Make sure your desire is to please the Lord and not men.  Be real and seek not to flatter others.  Do not concern yourself with winning the praise or glory of men.  It is vain.  Ministry is about Christ and others.  It is about eternity.