Paul Asks for Prayer 1 Thes 3.1-5

Paul Asks for Prayer

I Thes. 3.1-5

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NIV) ¹  Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

• Our prayers directly affect the spread of the Gospel
• The early church faced persecution at every turn
  • Severe persecution
• Paul himself faced extreme physical, emotional, spiritual persecution
  • But he doesn’t ask for prayer for comfort
  • For personal needs
• He prays the Gospel would spread rapidly
  • The Gospel is the only hope of the World
  • It is the churches responsibility to spread the Gospel before Jesus returns
    • God has no other plan but you and me!! 
• Spread rapidly and be honored
  • In church & In the homes of Christians
    • In the Sanctuaries - Before it can reach the streets
  • Spread rapidly – running
    • 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (MSG) ¹  One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master's Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you.
• Just as it has with you
  • This is what happened in Thessalonica – and this is what Paul wants everywhere

Acts 13:48 (NIV) ⁴⁸  When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Psalm 147:15 (NIV) ¹⁵  He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

²  And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.

• Pray for deliverance of wicked and evil men
  • The Pastor, the missionary, the evangelist, the person who loves Jesus and His Word more than anything or anyone else will face persecution.
• Jesus knew it and prayed for them in his High Priestly Prayer
  • John 17:14-16 (NIV) ¹⁴  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
    ¹⁵  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
    ¹⁶  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
• Why would a reasonable person attack someone who preaches and teaches?
  • Love – joy – peace
  • Morality – discipline – salvation and Eternal life
    • Because evil exists
    • Not all have faith
    • The essense of sin is wanting to be God
      • To call the shots
      • To do whatever we want to do without consequence
      • To be our own self-governed person
• People who lack reason, morality, goodness, honesty, conscience and decency are dangerous.
• They are angry – aggressive and without remorse
• Pray for those who love Jesus to be protected so the Gospel will go forward

Its not all bad news!!!...

³  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

• The Lord is faithful!!!
  • He will keep his promises to the believer
    • God will Strengthen you
      • Fix, set firmly, establish; support, confirm.
      • Help us stand firmly in the Faith
    • God will Protect you
      • Guard, defend, watch over, protect, keep safe
        • Psalm 12:7-8 (NIV) ⁷  O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
          ⁸  The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
      • From the evil one
        • Satan – The Devil – The dragon – The Accuser of the Brethren -
          
          

⁴  We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.

• Because this is true – that God is faithful to keep his promises - 
  • We have confidence in the Lord
• God will lead you to obey
  • Continue to obey
    • It is a partnership
      • God will do his part
      • We must do ours
        • 1 John 2:3 (NIV) ³  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  
  • To receive the full benefit of his blessings and promises
    • Conditional Promises

⁵  May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

• God will direct your heart to His love
  • He will lead you to love Him more
• Through trials, troubles, tears and temptations  – we learn to love God more, not less
  • We might not understand everything
  • But we love Him just the same

• God will lead you to persevere just like Jesus
  • To patiently wait for God’s plan to be completed
    • Jesus could have been king – he wore a crown of thorns
    • He endured – waiting for God’s plan to be fulfilled
      • John 17:4-5 (NIV) ⁴  I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
        ⁵  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
  • Through trials, troubles, tears and temptations
    • We can make it!
    • God’s Word is True

God is Faithful to Keep His promises