We Always Pray for You
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Prayer is a foundational evidence that we know God.
Questions to consider:
Do we know how to pray?
Do we pray with delight and dependence?
Main Points
Main Points
The framework/context of Paul’s prayer (vv. 3–10)
The framework/context of Paul’s prayer (vv. 3–10)
Before we discuss Paul’s prayer, we need to understand that it has a context. He has a way of thinking that inspires him to pray and determines what he prays about. Before he launches into praying, he mentions two things: thankfulness and confidence.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
ESV: To this end we always pray for you, …
NIV84: With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, …
Thankfulness for …
Confidence in …
This framework influences Paul’s prayer life. In other words, being thankful for signs of grace in the Thessalonians and being confident in the future outcome for believers and unbelievers affects the way that Paul prays for people. And I would say that having a similar mindset would affect the way that we pray for people.
The petitions of Paul’s prayer (v. 11)
The petitions of Paul’s prayer (v. 11)
Having looked at the framework for Paul’s prayer, we now turn to the content of his prayer. As we get into the prayer, it should strike us that this is a recurring prayer prayer. He says it himself in verse 11:
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (ESV)
To this end we always pray for you, …
“Always” carries the idea of consistency. It is something that happens on a regular basis. And in this case, it is prayer. Paul, Silas (Silvanus), and Timothy pray regularly for the believers in Thessalonica.
I think it is important to pause and let this fact sink in. Think about something that you regularly do. For example, what do you do every day? Do you: brew coffee, make breakfast, go on a morning walk, get ready for the day, travel to and from work, drop your kids off and pick them up from school, teach your kids at home, check your email, scroll through social media accounts, run errands, make dinner, read, hang out with your family, watch TV, etc.?
Now, can I ask a pointed question? Is prayer in that list of regular activity for you? If it isn’t, then I encourage you by Paul’s example and the example of Jesus to make it regular. To start this, consider adding prayer into the routine of something you do everyday. What do I mean by this?
Take the routine of getting ready, for example. Getting ready has many steps, so think about one of them, like brushing your teeth. Add a little note to the place that you brush your teeth, and on that note write “we always pray for you” or “2 Thessalonians 1:11”. Then under that, write some people’s names. Consider writing the names of the missionaries that we partner with at Living Gospel. Now, whenever you brush your teeth (or do whatever activity you decided on) you can regularly pray for people.
And this brings us to another important question, what should we pray for? So, let’s look at this prayer and see what Paul and the others pray for.
In this, we will see two petitions (or requests), two goals, and an overarching basis (something that enables the prayer). First, let’s look at the two requests that he makes.
1. That God may make you worthy of his calling
1. That God may make you worthy of his calling
Continue reading in 2 Thessalonians 1:11:
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (ESV)
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, …
The first thing Paul prays is that God would make these believers worthy of their calling. This is an interesting request that deserves some unpacking.
not “worthy enough to be called” — Paul knew from his own calling that he wasn’t worthy when he was called on the Damascus Road
these believers are Christians (they are already called), and the request is that God might grow them in demonstrating and living the things that please him (like Eph. 4:1.
we aren’t naturally worthy of God’s grace; Paul wants us to become worthy of what it means to be a Christian
this must be connected with his earlier framework about increasing signs of grace and eternal values; it isn’t about worldly values: success, popularity, wealth, health, beauty, happiness, etc.
it’s a prayer to grow in Christian maturity: “increasingly holy, loving, full of integrity, self-denying, bathed in the knowledge of God and his Word, delighted to trust and obey our heavenly Father”
it isn’t try harder at these things; its a prayer for God to help us become these things
Application: Do you pray this for the people in your life?
2. That God may bring to fruition every good, faith-prompted desire
2. That God may bring to fruition every good, faith-prompted desire
In addition to praying that God would make these believers worthy of his calling, we see a second request:
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (ESV)
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, …
Here, we see Paul praying that God would empower us in every good, faith-prompted desire. Again, this deserves some unpacking.
this is a belief that God’s people have been transformed to the desire level—which means our plans and goals become Christian or Christ-like
these desires might start to sound like: I wonder how I can witness to my neighbor? I wonder if I can start a small group in this neighborhood? I should think about how I can help that elderly man down the street who just lost his wife. How might I be able to get to know the other high school kids on my block? What can I do to welcome new people at our church? What can I do to make disciples of all nations?
no one person can do everything; but all can do something; Paul expects that Christians will explore and practice these Christ-like desires.
Paul takes this presupposition and prays that God will take these desires and purposes and bring them to reality
here’s the reality, we can have all sorts of great ideas about what we should do as Christians and never get around to doing them. Or, we can have ideas and immediately start organizing how to do them and only seek God’s approval through prayer in a secondary or off-handed way.
here’s the truth, unless God works in us and through us, our works and plans won’t have any lasting spiritual, people-changing effects
Example of praying Ps. 127:1 for the development of leaders and a church in AZ; it had to be submitted to God
Application: We must go over our own priorities and agendas and those of the missionaries connected to our church and ask “What should we be attempting for Christ’s sake?” And when we find answers to these questions, we should intercede with God that he would bring these good plans and purposes to reality by his power. And for our missionaries, we don’t just listen to their reports and read their letters and think, “what a great story.” We must hear their plans and intercede that God would bring these faith-prompted acts to fruition.
Implications and Applications
Implications and Applications
Pray together for the Living Gospel missionaries.
Pray for our missionaries & one another:
For their requests
For God to make them and you worthy of your calling
For God to empower their and your faith-prompted plans
Conclusion
Conclusion
Extra Main Points:
Extra Main Points:
The goals of Paul’s prayer (v. 12a)
The goals of Paul’s prayer (v. 12a)
1. Jesus to be glorified in believers
1. Jesus to be glorified in believers
2. Believer to be glorified in Jesus
2. Believer to be glorified in Jesus
The basis of Paul’s prayer (v. 12b)
The basis of Paul’s prayer (v. 12b)
That the grace of God in Christ Jesus (may this be the enabling factor)