Paul is saying: these are the characteristics I demonstrated, that gave me the ability to influence people. As you look through it, you see a whole number of things…
1) Pure motives. Genuine interest in people. No deceit; error; uncleanness; trickery. Not trying to prove he's right; not trying to get a scalp; I won someone to the Lord kind of thing. You've got to have a genuine love for people, and only God can give us that.
2) He was God honouring in his ministry.
“We speak not as pleasing men, but as pleasing God who tests the hearts”.
He sought to please God alone, and is willing to face rejection. He didn't flatter people. He didn't try to influence them to get their money; didn't try to persuade them to accept him. He just spoke the truth, despite their reaction.
“we had a fair few reactions that we suffered before, despitefully treated, and much conflict when we were with you.”
In Philippi, they were all thrown into jail; and they got beaten up in jail. He's playing it down, but he's saying that when you speak the truth, and seek to engage people, and not trying to just please them or be nice to them - there will be reactions, and you've got to learn just to handle that, because you're seeking to honour God.
3) “We're gentle, like a nursing mother cherishes her children”. He gives a picture, or metaphor there, of how you treat people: like a mother would hold her child; very precious, and very tender. He's saying: that's how he's like with people - easy to talk to, easy to relate to, a tender heart, and a real love for them.
He spoke of having an authentic lifestyle. He said: we laboured day and night, that we might not be a burden to any of you. He worked, so he could support himself, so he could then give his ministry, without expecting anything back from anyone. A lot of people don't do that today, they want everyone to carry them, and do things for them rather than working, so you've got something to give.
4) Finally, he says “we endured conflict”. He had a positive attitude, when he faced conflict. If you read Paul's stories of conflicts, he would have been the hardest person to be with, because everywhere he went, there was a fury stirred up against him, because he was bold. He just boldly proclaimed the gospel, and demonic spirits stirred the people up. They would shout! There was one stage there, where the people were dragged into the middle of the arena, and they just shouted for two hours non-stop - didn't even have a chance to say what was going on. In the place he gets stoned, and dragged out of town, he just… they gathered around and prayed. He got up and carried on to the next town. It's unbelievable commitment to win people, despite being knocked back. We get knocked back, but it's nothing like that. It's just bad attitudes, and stupid people, doing stupid things. But the lesson here is: no matter how people react, you’ve just got to be able to endure it, because of Christ - and he's saying the Crown of Rejoicing awaits a soul winner.
So those are some things to think about: our motives in working with people - that what we do is honouring to God; and doesn't hold back the truth in any way. When working with people, you're gentle with them; not hostile and argumentative. That our lifestyle speaks a message, that people can see in our life that we're genuine and authentic; and then when there's difficulty, we don't get wimpy, and draw back, and then get sad… somebody hurt me, and I'm offended kind of thing.
When you look at his story, and you see what people are like today, it's kind of… oh my, come on guys, come on, toughen up! So that’s the second crown.
The third crown is called the Crown of Righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Finally, there's laid out for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day; and not only to me, but to all who love His appearing”.
I love these statements: “I've fought the good fight”. This is a good fight! It's a fight to gain territory, to get freedom for yourself, or freedom for others. It's a race you're running, that requires endurance, because it’s a marathon. Many start well, but a lot don't see it to the end. When I think of all the things in our life that's sad, it's the ones that didn't see it through - who started with us, and then when the difficulties came, as they always come… they walked away. They saved themselves, and that's very, very sad, and I feel a grief when I see that kind of thing happen. He says: he's finished the race, he kept faith! In other words, the only way you can really keep in the race, and keep in the fight, if is you hold onto God. He declared how he lived a right life. He engaged spirits. He persevered. He overcame temptation. He completed the course, meaning he's completed his assignment right until the very end.