Sermon Tone Analysis

Thessalonians Series #8

*A Shepherd's Prayer*

*2 Thessalonians 3:1-5*

 

We have such a sweet closing to this and many of Paul's letters.

Here it is as if thinking ahead, he realizes he is about to close this letter and he doesn't want to close it.

He loves these people and he doesn't want to let go.

His Pastor's heart comes out in these first 5 verses of Chapter 3

*Read 3:1-5*

 

*1.

Request for Prayer*

* *

  *A.*

*Needed*

    1.

I *need* your *prayer* as your *pastor* and *leader*

    2.

*daily*, weekly, *when* I *come* to mind, "*help* *him* *Lord*" - I heard of a *young* *preacher* who had a *sweet* *sister* that sat right down front and *encouraged* her young *Shepherd* along each Sunday.

His *messages* *weren't* that *perfect* or beautiful, but *when* she felt he *needed* it, she would say, "*Help* *Him* *Lord*".

Every *now* and *then* when he *didn't* *quite* get it right she would say "*Forgiven* *him* *Lord*."

Till *one* *Sunday* he really was *fired* up and *preaching* against specific *sins*, she was *right* *with* him "*help* him Lord, "help *him* Lord", "that's right, *help* *him* *Lord*" until he went *TOO* FAR and *stepped* on *her* "pet *sin*" to which she quickly *replied*, "*oh he's on his own now Lord.*" 

 

    3.

I *Need Your Prayer* - I only "*LOOK*" Confident - you *don't* *know* how many times on the *inside* I am insecure and *frightened*.

*Wondering* if I will have a *job* *tomorrow* or if you *will* still *love* me *if* I *get* into a "*no* *fly* *zone*"

    4.

*Pray* for *me* - you may *find* that *if* you *pray* for me my messages will *get* *better*.

Or just *maybe* if you pray *hard* for me, you will *expect* to *get* something and *God* will *give* you something

 

*Ephesians 6:19,20* - says "/Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."/

* *

*  B.*

Prayer For the *Gospel*

    1.

that the *gospel* may *spread* rapidly

      a.

every *ministry* goes through *seasons* of *growth*, *decline* and *plateau*

      b.

pray with *urgency*

*- *Do you *understand* the *reality* of what *Satan* is *doing* and *trying* to do in the *world*?

- *Scripture* says that he comes to "*steal*, *kill*, and *destroy*" but I *don't* *think* we really *believe* that

- have you *looked* *around*?

*Who* do you *think* is the *author* the *Lies* this world is believing?

- "If I *work*, *harder*, make more *money*, *forget* about my *family*, get *ahead*, so I can *provide* *more* and more, then I will *REALLY* be *happy*" - *Who* do you think is *telling* that Lie?

- "My *kids* *don't* *need* ME around, they *need* *things* FROM me"

- *Who* do you think is *telling* that LIE?

- "This *marriage* *isn't* *what* I *thought* it would be so I'm just *going* to get *out* and *start* over, *I'll* be *better* off, my *kids* will be *ok*, I can get *something* better, I *don't* need to *keep* my *covenant*"

- *Who* do you think is *telling* that LIE?"

- "You *don't* *need* to *wait* until you get *married*, have fun, *test* the *waters*, see if you are *compatible*"

- *Who* is *telling* that Lie?

- "These *substances* I'm putting in my body *won't* *hurt* me, they *help* me, they help me *relax*, they *help* me get *through* the day, and besides, I *CAN'T* *Lick* this habit, so I'll just *make* the *best* of it, and it *won't* *effect* my *witness* and my life"

- *WHO* do you think is *telling* those lie?

 

*John 8:43-44* /"44why is my language not clear to you?

Because you unable to hear what I say.

45You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire.

He was a murderer from the Beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is not truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies, 46Yet because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!'/

 

- *Satan* is a *murderer* in that he *conspired* to *convince* Adam and Eve to *NOT* *believe* God and they *sinned* which brought *death*

 

- He *lied* to *them* he *lies* to *you* and *me* and he is lying to this *world*

 

- You *want* to *short* *circuit* Satan? 

*Tell* the *Truth* - *Speak* the *Word* of God

- You *want* to *short* circuit him at *work*, *Spread* the *Truth*

- *who* is the *Truth* - Jesus Christ, the *Son* of God, *Speak* *Jesus* into your *circumstance* if you want to *defeat* the Liar

 

- Your *Office* *needs* more Jesus

- Your *classroom* *needs* more Jesus

- Your *Marriage* *needs* more Jesus

- Your *Home* *needs* more Jesus

- Your *Neighborhood* *needs* more Jesus

- Your *election* *booth* needs more Jesus -

*Speak* the *Truth*, Live by the Truth, *speak* it and *live* in with *honor*, *dignity*, *humility*, and *love* and *TRUST* GOD to *deal* with the *results* - *trust* God with your *Job*, your *pocketbook* your livelihood

 

*Hebrews 4:12 - */"the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."/

- Let me *just* *say* *here,* that we often *LET* *FEAR* Affect *how* we vote -

 

We *vote* for a *Democrat* because we are *afraid* of the *Republicans*

We *vote* for a *Republican* because we are *afraid* of the *Democrats*

We *vote* for *ungodly* people who *don't* *match* our belief systems and *values* because we are *afraid* to *lose* a couple of *dollars*

 

*LIVE* by the *Word* of God *and* as The Writer of *Hebrews* goes on to say

 

13- /Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."/

*Stand* on the *Word* of God, Jesus Christ,

*Trust* in your *High* Priest Jesus Christ

 

And *God* will *honor* you

 

We *need* to *Speak* the Truth, *Spread* the *Gospel* of Jesus Christ

 

      c.

the gospel *doesn't* *need* to spread *rapidly* *because* this preacher or this church needs *notoriety*.

It *needs* to spread rapid*l*y because the *message* is *needed*.

It is the *life*-*giving* *message* that the world *needs*

 

    2.

That it may be *honored - NOT that we *may be blessed but that *IT, the Gospel, *may be blessed

      a.

*blessed* - happily *received*, *worshipped*, *praised*

      b.

*who's* going to be "*blessing*" or honoring the Gospel?

That *only* happens in the *heart* that *receives* it

*Why?

John 1:12* /"to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God -"/

      c.

*pray* for the *soil* that *receives* the seed.

d.

*pray* for *fallow* ground to be *broken*.

- It may be a *painful* *circumstance*,

- *may* be a *tragedy* that *breaks* up the ground

- *whatever* it *takes* to cause the *seed* to fall on *fertile* ground and grow

 

    3.

just *as* it *was* for you

      a.

*don't* *forget* what Christ did for you

- *Eph 2:12-13* /"remember that at hat time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the Blood of Christ."/

b.

*don't* lose your *excitement*

      c.

don't *become* *callous*