***** 2 THESSAALONIANS 3:1-5

Working together for the Kingdom!

(2 Thessalonians 3:1–5

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 (NRSV)

1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, 2 and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

We are in the greatest business in all of the world. We are doing the greatest work of all time. The churches work is the Lord’s work. We have the distinct privilege to work with and for the Lord.

For God’s work to be done in God’s way the church must come together. We must lay aside our differences, our desires, our discrepancies, our dysfunctions, our doubts, our denials, and deficiencies. For the cause of Christ, we must come together as one to carry on the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way.

Throughout the centuries Satan has sought to divide the church and devour the church and render the church ineffective. Satan can not get the soul of a born again Christian, but he can hinder us from winning others to Jesus. Satan seeks to divide the church, distract the church, and ultimately defeat the church. We need to be reminded that we are more than conquerors and that the victory is the Lord’s. Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world.

We need to be committed to the Lord’s work, we need to be surrendered to the Lord Jesus, and we need to work with one another for the kingdom. It is an indictment against the church and the Lord will claim to know and serve when we cannot get along and we fuss and fight, backbite and bicker, we grumble and gossip, and we spit and split. When we do these things they give a bad testimony to the world and bring dishonor on the Lord Jesus. We need to resolve that we are going to work together for the kingdom. We need to be under the authority of the Lord Jesus so that we can work together. We will never successfully work together until we are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to work together for the advancement of the kingdom of God. The church at Thessalonica was under persecution from without and that is not always a bad thing. Pressure upon us can help us draw together. Adversity has away of bringing out the best in us. When a church works together God’s word is honored and God’s work is done.

During World War II, a church in Strasburg, Germany, was totally destroyed; but a statue of Christ which stood by the altar was almost unharmed. Only the hands of the statue were missing. When the church was rebuilt, a famous sculptor offered to make new hands but, after considering the matter, the members decided to let it stand as it was—without hands. They said, “For Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work on earth. If we don’t feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, entertain the stranger, visit the imprisoned, and clothe the naked, who will?”

That’s a great picture of a church what was serious about their work for the kingdom. Are we serious about the Lord’s work? Are we working together for the kingdom? This passage reveals some facts about working together for the kingdom.

I. The heart of God’s servants. (vs. 1–2)

A. He desired prayer concerning the Word. (1)

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,”

When Paul uses the word finally he calls attention to the last portion of the letter. What Paul was going to teach them was very important. Paul had reminded the Thessalonians of who they were in Christ Jesus and now he reminds them of what they are to do because of who they are. He called them brethren. Throughout both letters to the Thessalonians Paul recognized them as brothers and colaborers for the cause of Christ. Throughout the 1st epistle and even in the 2nd epistle Paul set the example by praying for the Thessalonians.

In this verse we see that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were not above prayer. They needed prayer and they requested prayer. Paul calls for the church to pray for them. Pray: (proseuchomai, pros-yoo’-khom-ahee;) from Greek (pros) and Greek (euchomai); to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:- pray (x earnestly, for), make prayer. This word is in the present continuous tense which refers to continual prayer. When we pray for others it helps us in what we’re going through in life. A Good Word: Assuming a burden of prayer for others lightens the loads on others.

In this passage Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray in two areas. First He asks the church to pray that God’s word would advance. Paul desired prayer concerning God’s word. “pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,” In this passage we see the heart of the apostle as he desired that the word of God would advance and be glorified.

When we pray we need to pray that God’s word would find a home in the hearts of those who hear. Run Swift: (trecho) means ‘to speed on or to make progress.’ This is an athletic term which refers to a swift winning race. Paul wanted the word of the Lord to have free reign in everywhere that the servants go. In Acts 19:20 the Bible says, “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” Ephesians 6:18–19 says, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel”

Paul wanted the word to go and to grow. He wanted the word to be glorified. Glorified: (doxazo) means to be praised, honored, and exalted. This should b the heart of all God’s children that we would have a deep desire that God’s word would go forth and be honored and glorified. How can the word of God be glorified? D. Edmond Hiebert wrote, “The Word is ‘glorified’ honored and admired for its inherent qualities, when men see a demonstration of its transforming power in the lives of believers.”

Paul wanted the word of God to be glorified wherever it was proclaimed. When the word of God is heard and believed and lived out then it brings glory to God. Jimmy Draper wrote, “When the world is able to see that God has done a work in our lives, then the Word of God is glorified because it is demonstrated in our lives. God intended that His Word be received gloriously in our hearts and be manifested for all to see.” Is the word of God being received and glorified in your life?

Paul goes on to testify that the word is being glorified in the lives of the Thessalonians. In the last part of verse 1 the Bible says, “just as it is with you.” Can someone testify of our lives and this church that the word of God is being honored and glorified in the lives of the members of your church?

Paul testified in 1 Thessalonians 1:6–9: “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,” What is our reputation and testimony today?

In verse 1 we’ve seen that Paul desired prayer concerning the Word. Next, we see:

B. He desired prayer concerning the workers. (2)

“and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.”

Paul also wanted the Thessalonians to pray that the servants would be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. We should pray that for other Christians and for Christian leaders as well. Christian leaders face attacks from the enemy. We know that the Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers of darkness. But we also know that Satan uses flesh and blood people to persecute and attack God’s people.

We are not in battle with people that’s attacking us, but what is inside those people. The devil fills many people and prompts them to do what they do and say the things that they say. The devil got such a hold on some people that they don’t even realize that Satan is using them.

Paul requested that the godly Thessalonians would lift up the servants of God to the throne of God so that they could be delivered from wicked men. Delivered: This word means “to rescue.” We all at times need to be rescued from danger. When we are living for Jesus and seeking to honor Him then we will face spiritual attacks and we at times will need Him to reach down and rescue us from danger.

Paul uses two terms to describe these ungodly enemies. Unreasonable: (atopos;) from Greek (a) (as a negative particle) and Greek (topos); out of place, i.e. (figurative) improper, injurious, wicked:- amiss, harm, unreasonable. These folks are those who talk out of school. They are out of line in their attacks of God’s servants. Paul desired to be delivered from such men. Paul was focused on the will and work of God and he didn’t want to be hindered and sidetracked by these attacks from the ungodly. All of God’s servants need prayer for deliverance from unreasonable men and that includes me.

Paul not only calls them unreasonable, but he also calls them wicked men. Wicked: (poneros) means “malignant or aggressively wicked.” Prayer can accomplish what no man can accomplish. We call upon the Lord for deliverance and He is able to rescue us. Paul was going to the right Source in the right way. Do you know any wicked people? Do you know folks that are full of the devil? John Phillips wrote, “Satan is a skilled player on life’s chessboard. He knows how to move his men to check the advance of the gospel. But he is no match for the Holy Spirit. Prayer can annul even his formidable advantages.”

Paul reminds the Thessalonians, “for not all have faith.” Not everyone is our friend and not everyone is on our side. Not everyone will believe the truth and they do not understand us because we do love Jesus and live for Jesus.

In verses 1–2 Paul reveals the heart of God’s servants.

In verse 3 he reveals:

II. The help of God’s servants. (3)

“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

Paul had a pastor’s heart and in the midst of requesting prayer for himself, he remembered God’s saints and encouraged them. The Lord is faithful and we would all do well to remember this. God is in time, on time, every time. He can be trusted because He is faithful. When we get down and discouraged and we’ve been attacked we just need to remember that the Lord is faithful.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that when we need help we have a Helper. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In verse 3 the Bible magnifies the source of our help. The Lord Jesus is faithful and Paul reminds the Thessalonians of this fact. He will establish and guard us from the evil one. Establish: (sterizo, stay-rid’-zo); (histemi) to set fast, i.e. (literal) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figurative) to confirm:- fix, establish, steadfastly set, strengthen. This is the same word Paul used in verse 17 of chapter 2. Paul prayed that God would establish the Thessalonians in every good word and work.

Now Paul encourages the Thessalonians with the fact that God is faithful and He will establish them so that they will not fall prey to the devil. Good news; good news! God will not only establish them and us, but He will also guard them and us. Guard: phulasso, foo-las’-so); probably from Greek (phule) through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. be on guard (literal or figurative); by implication to preserve, obey, avoid:- beware, keep (self), observe, save. God is well able to guard us from all evil and that includes the evil one.

The Omnipresence and omnipotence of the Lord comes out in this verse. He is all powerful and He is everywhere present. The Rev. John G. Paton, a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, told a story involving the protective care of God in sending His angels. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see the attackers unaccountably leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ, and Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, ‘Who were all those men you had there with you?” The missionary answered, ‘There were no men there, just my wife and I.’ The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard—hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station, so the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did the Rev. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them.

Paul says that God would establish and guard them from the evil one. So far we’ve seen the heart of God’s servants, the help of God’s servants, and next we see:

III. The heeding of God’s servants. (4)

“And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.”

Notice that Paul’s confidence was in the Lord. That should be a good lesson for us. Man may let you down, but Jesus will never let you down. Paul’s confidence was not in the Thessalonians, but his confidence was in the Lord of the Thessalonians. In this passage Paul states his confidence in the Lord that the believers would continue to heed what they have been taught. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “We cannot have confidence in ourselves, but we can have confidence in God for ourselves and for others.” Paul had confidence in the Lord that the Thessalonians would continue to obey the word of God as they had in the past.

As pastors and teachers that preach and teach the word of God that confidence is not always prevalent in today’s churches. EXAMPLE: Many times pastor’s try to preach to people that are indifferent and apathetic towards the things of God. Many times people are not interested in hearing the word of God.

When folks don’t bring their Bibles to church, when they turn to look at the clock on the wall, leave after Sunday school and do not stay for worship, and when they are very sporadic in their attendance then pastor’s and teachers lose confidence that people will heed God’ s word.

Paul knew that the Thessalonians had heard the gospel, believed the message, and was born again. Paul knew that the gospel message took root in the lives of the Thessalonians and they had been changed and their lives gave evidence that Jesus had saved them and changed them. Paul knew that the Thessalonians had heard and heeded the message and now he was exhorting them to continue to heed what they had been taught. It is a logical progression that says we must hear before we can heed and we must believe before we can obey.

If someone has an urgent message for us and they call us, we must answer the phone to get the message. Answering the phone is not the only thing we must do, we must also believe what we are told if we are going to take the necessary actions. I have a friend that owns a farm. He told me about one of their trucks catching on fire and one of his friends happen to see the truck in the field on fire. The man reported the fire to my friend and he responded and put the fire out. If my friend didn’t believe the message of his friend and didn’t heed the message given to him, the truck and the crops in the field would have been lost.

When it comes to the word of God, it always pays to hear and heed what the Lord has to say to us. Paul says in the last part of verse 4, “both that you do and will do the things we command you.” Command: this word is used of a military order passed down from a superior officer. In our armed forces when an order is given by the superior officer that order is obeyed. The privates do not argue with the officer or debate about obeying. As privates in the Lord’s army we need to learn this principle. We are to obey what the Lord teaches us in His word. Are we heeding what the Lord commands us?

We’ve seen the heart of God’s servants, the help of God’s servants, the heeding of God’s servants, and lastly we see:

IV. The heading of God’s Servants. (5)

‘Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”

Paul had confidence in the Lord that they Thessalonians would continue to obey the word. Now Paul gives a word about the servants heading. What direction are they going? What direction are we going? Who is in control of our life? Paul makes a profound statement concerning the Lord’s work in taking us to where He wants us to be. We need to believe if we will do the submitting the Lord will do the directing.

Paul makes a great pronouncement. Direct: kateuthuno, kat-yoo-thoo’-no;) from Greek (kata) and Greek (euthuno); to straighten fully, i.e. (figurative) direct:- guide, direct. When we pray for one another we ought to pray 2 Thessalonians 3:4 for each one of us. May God do the directing and guiding.

I saw a tag on a car that read: ‘God is my co-pilot.’ That may sound nice and comforting to know that God is with us on the journey, but God doesn’t want to be a copilot. He should be the One at the helm, He should be the One at the wheel, and He should be the One with the reins. Which way we are heading is determined by who is driving! Who is at the wheel in your life? Is God directing the affairs of your life?

Paul wanted God to “direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” Notice this great truth: Without the Lord’s direction we could never have the love of God in our hearts. That is why there is so much bitterness, hatefulness, unforgiveness, and dissension in families, with neighbors, and in some cases in some churches. God needs to have reign in our hearts so that He can take our hearts and make our hearts into what He desires.

God will always direct submitted and surrendered believers into the love of God. If we have the love of God in our hearts it is because God is at the helm. When the love of God is in our hearts we will have an urgency to reach the lost, we will have compassion on the hurting, we will be sensitive to the needs of the helpless, we will share our resources for God’s glory, and we will seek to love others as Jesus does.

Not only will God direct our hearts into the love of God, but He will also direct our hearts into the patience of Christ. John MacArthur wrote, “Paul wanted the Thessalonians to increasingly understand how patient Christ was with their sins, problems, and struggles and to understand better His own endurance in trials, so that they would have greater spiritual endurance.” When God is at work in our lives we begin to love like never before and we find ourselves having the patience of Christ in the midst of trials and tribulations. God always guides us into Christ- likeness. Are you growing in your faith? Are you becoming more like Jesus? Thomas Constable wrote, “Meditation on the love of God and the patient endurance of Christ motivates Christians to obey His Word and to endure trials patiently.”

When we think about how Jesus suffered at the hands of sinful man and endured the cross, despising the shame, bled and died for our sins, then we should rejoice in the Lord and hang in there when we face trials of any sort. We are to work together for the kingdom. We are to be surrendered to the King so that we can carry on the King’s work in the King’s way. We need to pray for one another, we need to ask God for help in trials, and we need to obey what the Lord directs us in His word.