Apostolic
Prayer Requests
2
Thess 3:1-5
The passage for
today is the first 5 verses of Second Thessalonians. By the versification
familiar to us, it is the beginning of the final chapter. This was likely
selected because this section begins with the word, "Finally." But,
as the influence of Paul is displayed in other places, it is only the beginning
of the final things in the book. It is as if Paul always has one more thing to
add. This is good. He understands God's people need to be taught and to be
taught many things.
Yet, in these
verses there is a refreshing shift of focus from the church to the needs of the
Apostolic Band (Vss 1-3), then back to the church (vss 3-5). In the middle of
these words is an important statement for all to confess--the Lord is faithful.
It would do us well to commit that one truth to memory.
Let's read the
text:
1. The Request
2. The Reasons Why
3. Confidence in the Lord
B guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing
and will do the things that we command.
The Future of the Church in Thessalonica
Let's take a look at the text:
1. The Request
2 Thess 3:1 Finally, brothers,
pray for us,
The apostolic expectation would have been that
the believers would be praying for them because of two things: 1. The command
for them to pray for the Apostles in 1:5:25 and as part of the command to them
to pray without ceasing. The work of the apostles was one of the foremost
subjects of their prayers. The church would have often prayed for their work.
After all, it was this work that brought Paul and others to their city, and to
their synagogue where many if not all of them heard the gospel which was
accompanied so effectively by the work of the Spirit.
Paul and the others want to remind them one
more time the importance of this act--among them the prayers of others had been
fulfilled, now they were to pray that the same message and ministry would go
out among others. And, they could have a role in that through their prayers.
SO too, can the churches of our day pray in the
same manner. Yet, we don't pray for the Apostles as a group, they are no more.
We pray for the Apostolic gospel--that it might continue to go out in the
world. This message of good news is able for one of the traditions handed down
in perpetuity to the true churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The message of the Apostles has been tweaked in
our day. Some have added to it trying to make it easy and more palatable to
others. The message of the apostolic gospel is not the message of
easy-believism--accept Jesus into your heart, or merely believe that Jesus was God's
son--it is the full-orbed message of the Apostles--a gospel that required
repentance and faith in order for the one believing to receive all of the
benefits and blessings that accompany true repentance and faith. This is the
very power to become the sons of God--to be a part of the family of God, to be
justified in the sight of God as sins are forgiven and we become accepted in
the beloved One--Jesus himself.
The people they want to pray are these brothers
who have been adopted by God. The natural family is eclipsed by a spiritual
family of those God has so acted and is at work changing them, make that
transforming them by his good news. He is making them complete to be perfect
once they reach heaven's glory.
It is likewise important to pray for our leaders
both in the secular realm and in the church. Paul commands in 1 Tim 2 that
prayers be offered especially for those in authority. We do this for the
benefits peace and prosperity bring to the church--we live lives enhanced by
the freedoms we enjoy, even though the gospel almost always has more affect
during times of difficulty and strife.
Spiritual leaders need our prayers. A couple of surveys done in the last decade
showed that church leadership was one of the least prayed for categories during
personal prayer. The leading prayer requests were for health and material
goods. The church-at-large has lost the importance of praying for our leaders.
Please remember to pray for Sam and I regularly. We need your prayers to
accomplish what we are supposed to do. Pray not just fr our health, which is a
legitimate need, but pray that we would be spiritual examples to each other and
the entire flock here at HBC. It is for your good and ours.
Pray for us for some of the same reasons we
find in our passage:
2. The Reasons Why
In General 2A.1b that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
Some of you will remember the elongated point I
made about the first generations of Thessalonian believers as being more noble
than the Bereans. That is what Paul is remembering as these wods were written.
They were there. They experienced the belief of the jews from the synagogue and
the riotous tumult from the others. Compared to the effects of the apostolic
ministry in other places, the gospel had a quick effect among them--in two
weeks time, or as the text of Acts 17 tells us on three consecutive Sabbath
days. It is remarkable that a church would come into existence spontaneously
after such a short time. Yet, the small apostolic band accepted their
professions and credible because they perservered through much difficulty. The
Word of God among the Thessalonians spead ahead and was honored because it
accomplished exactly what it was sent forth to do--to call men and women to
repentance and faith.
They were to pray that the ministry of the
Apostles would continue to be as it was found in their fair city. And, as you
know from the historical sections of the Scriptures, the gospel was not
received like this in all, or even most places. It was received in a unique
manner in Thessalonica--pray that it would be like wise received elsewhere.
I believe there is application for us in these
words.
A. Evangelistically: That we would bring the
message of God's grace in the Christian gospel to others in accord with this
prayer. It hasn't been my experience, but the prayer is still a good one to
offer. We always pray prefacing, or understanding our prayers with "Thy
will be done." If that is how we pray this pray, leaving the results to
God, then we have honored Him and His good news.
B. Edification: It is still the gospel that
builds us up in the faith. We should pray for it effectiveness in giving
understanding as it affects the way we live and minister to others.
Paul continues with a particular concern for
the Apostolic Band that is still relevant for us today--
One Particular 2B. 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.
We should pray for God's protection. There are
many people in a down economy like this who go around playing on the goodwill
of Christian Churches. Some of those men are wicked and evil men seeking to
fill their pockets while remaining idle. Just a couple of months ago we had a
man come looking for support. He had a line of a job--so he said. When he got
the job he was going to come to Heritage. We haven't heard from him again. He
had a typical polished story with the aim of getting money out of us thinking
we would be getting offerings from him in the future. But, there is much worse
even beyond theft of an item or two. The wicked and evil men of the first
century were unrestrained by the presence of the gospel in their culture. In
our day, they use the presence and vocabulary of God's people to swindle. But, in every age we find them. We should
pray that God would protect us from people like this.
Then there are people like Simon the Magi in
Acts 8 who was wowed by what he saw. He wanted to buy the ability to give the
Holy Spirit. He was even baptized, but it was discovered that his conversion
and interest was carnal and not of faith. He was rebuked sharply. For some time
his profession was credible. But over time, it was shown to be a false one. We
can be fooled by the testimonies and professions of others--over time people
will show if they are living for Christ in accord with his words or living for
themselves using the church for personal gain of prestige. Eventually, those
who do not have faith will be discovered. God will make them known.
As it was then, not everyone who seeks to add
himself or herself to a church is a real believer. This is not something
new--it is quite old. Yet, Paul instructs the Thessalonians with these words,
2b For not all have faith.
Matt 7:21ff are the most sobering verses in all
of Christ's teaching to his disciples. Please keep a finger here and turn back
to Matt 7:21-23:
Jesus has been teaching what we call "The
Sermon on the Mount" to his disciples after he made the final cut of who
would be traveling with him all the time. Peter, john and James were there and
so was Judas. Picking up in verse 21, we read:
It is not enough to call Jesus Lord, there is
more to being a real believer than that. Jesus continues….
Those who rightly believe will find themselves
living a very different way--they will live in the way of Jesus--by doing His
will.
22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your
name?'
They will argue with Jesus in their delusion.
We did this, we did that and we cast out demons and did mighty works--isn't
that enough evidence of what we are for you to let us into your heaven?
The answer is a difficult one…..
The presented their case with what most would
view as righteous acts. But, they were not what God desired or wanted. They did
not have faith--they did not trust in God for their soul's salvation. Even
though they did apparently righteous acts, they were wicked and sinful--having
not gotten it right.
The Lord does what is right and ultimately
good…. We ought to have confidence in Him--Point 3….
3. Confidence in the Lord
Generally: 3 But the Lord is faithful.
The Lord is faithful to the Godhead, himself,
his word, his purposes and his people. He can be trusted to do all his holy
will. He will not alter it one little bit. What He has put in motion will
surely come to pass. God cannot change or he will no longer be God, or at least
the same God we professed. He can be trusted to be faithful….
Also in the Particulars A 3b He will establish
you and
This has the idea of establishing them
further--of continuing to straighten their foundation. As God has begun to do
this, so He will continue to. There are many metaphors we could borrow to
illustrate this. Philippians tells us of the work He has begun, He will
continue it until the day Jesus returns. It is an establishing work in us and
around us to stabilize us. Many times we will not even perceive God is at
work--but He is and will always be.
B guard you against the evil one.
This is an image or a warrior at the ready to
protect against a foe ike we find in Jesus' earthly life. Here it is a guardian
against the evil one. The Devil cannot afflict God's people at any time without
his knowledge of it and without his approval as we find in Job's life. This is the apostolic prayer for them as a
church.
Perhaps we don't pray for this enough. Surely
the Evil One has been active in many ways without overwhelming us. He has duped
some into doing his work--others who know of our experiences have seen this and
enquired.
May The Lord give to us a guardian to protect
us from the Evil One and his minions and give us his Spirit to further
establish us in the truth.
This is in line with the Apostolic prayer for
their church. These words show the high view of this little fledgling church.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing
and will do the things that we command.
Paul wrote similar words to Philippi, they
always obeyed. What more could an apostle ask for? Real obedience to tangible
commands is a goal of the church--to be leasing to Him by loving him. What more
could a pastor ask for? Not that a people would be chasing phantoms of their
Evangelical past, but hearing, understanding and doing the will of God. That is
what is desired for……
The Future of the Church in Thessalonica and
Everywhere true churches exist….
5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the
steadfastness of Christ.
This is really a summary of what has already
been said. But not some important observations:
It is the Lord's work.
He is able to direct us.
He directs our hearts to the love of God.
He directs our hearts to the steadfastness of
Christ.
He does not change--he can be trusted to do
what he has promised.
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