Prayer & Ministry

This prayer expresses vulnerability, care, compassion, love, and longing - all in truth.

This is a far cry from any concept of a “professional” minister. His ministry doesn’t exist to remain at a distance from those he cares for. He isn’t too important for these “baby” Christians that he sends an representative or ideas in a book.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 “17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

Prayer and ministry arise out of a passionate affection that seeks the good of others.

What ministry is not:

A profession that I seek self-fulfillment from.

Not working some angle for its own benefit.

To receive praise

To receive gratitude

Like opening the door for someone and they don’t say thank you.

“I gave up my time, I did this and that for you, you didn’t even say thank you!”

To be liked and gain acceptance.

The point is: ministry is service, serving people for their good.

Not, something that advances my career or reputation. Because then I will pick and choose whom I serve and how.

The question then becomes: how can I be most useful here to you?

Not, how can I feel most useful? Not, what do I get out of it?

As you are following along, you can recognize that ministry requires the Christian activity of dying to self.

The goal is: how can I best glorify God by serving His people, for their good?

Not, how can I get the most appreciation, fulfilment, etc.?

This is not to deny that when you seek God’s glory, serve others for their good - you will find fulfilment, you will receive praise and gratitude, but we don’t do it for that! That is not a motivator or reason for our ministry. Love is the motivator.

So whether any fulfillment or praise or gratitude comes or not, matters not.

Here we see the Apostle Paul who’s deep love and affection for the Thessalonians ensures that they are not existing to serve his ego or give him a sense of importance or satisfy some longing for fulfillment but rather, he is truly agonizing over his concern for the well-being.

He wants to be with them for their own good.

Jesus, chose to be with us for our own good.

Ministry does not exist for me or you. Whatever I seek to gain from ministry becomes an idol in place of God.

Prayer and ministry arise from delight at the good report of the Thessalonians faith and love.

Recall that he was (Acts 17) with them for only a short time. How were they doing? Paul and his companions were distressed about them. Concerned for their faith. Did the tempter succeed?

He receives good news, he said “Now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord” (3:6-8)

For some people the only interesting news is bad news.

It is incredible to see so many Christians gain a sudden interest in a ministry or minister that has fallen into a scandal. They are quick to rise up and say something. DA Carson said it best, “The only time we should ever put someone down is when we are putting them down on our prayer list.”

Yet, at the sound of good news, their interest seems to wane.

How different is Paul, the report of real growth in love and faith caused him to celebrate and moved him to pray.

He is also not silent about this report and his joy from the report.

He directs his thanksgiving to God for their growth, and tells them.

This does two things, it encourages them and humbles them.

How might your families be transformed if there was more recognition of growth than mistakes.

How might our ministry teams, our small groups, and congregation be transformed by telling others how thankful to God you are for them (actually thanking God).

Paul’s prayer and ministry is a product of his passion and real love for people. If we are going to do prayer and ministry well, we must continue to grow in this same love. And tell people, I am thankful to God for you because of X, Y, Z.

Prayer is not a substitute for ministry.

“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

I do not find any concept of those who are sent and those who are senders.

Of course, I am not saying that everyone is a missionary.

Jesus didn’t have some disciples stay behind and pray while others did ministry.

We are all called to ministry and prayer.

Saul / David.

We take down the giants in the name of Jesus - prayer & ministry.

This mindset of prayer / ministry ought to be in all of us.

For one, we cannot long pray for someone without longing to serve them and help them.

Of course, we won’t be able to minister to every person we ever pray for but we can do something.

Pray for your wife/husband and then serve for their benefit.

Pray for your children and serve them.

Pray for your neighbors, bake them some cookies, offer to wash their car or mow their lawn.

As we pray for the poor, pray and then go serve at food bank or soup kitchen.

As we pray for troubled youth, pray and then go serve in a youth program or something.

Pray for your fellow believers, then find out how you can serve them.

Pray and write a card, pray and start a small group, pray and befriend a wandering young christian. pray and encourage, pray and be there.

Pastor Josh, this takes a lot of time and effort and energy and cost. Yes, ministry is inconvenient.

At Church of Grace we have so many ways to serve.

Motel Church

Jail Ministry

Crisis care

Handyman service.

Assisted living and memory care ministry

We pray and do.

In other words, our church is not self-absorbed, working some angle for our own benefit, and whatever we do beyond these four walls is not an add-on project but it is the embodiment of God’s love where we engage others in loving service. The world is seeking authentic people whose proclamation of their trust in Jesus is backed up by their ordinary but self-giving acts of grace, justice and compassion.

Pray that Love would increase and overflow.

“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

The church has mastered the “supply what is lacking in your faith.”

We all have been there, being vulnerable and sharing with someone when it is followed by being preached at.

yes, I know.

Yep, got it.

Then it ends and got no where.

"Rarely does a response make something better. What makes something better is connection"

He didn’t just write some simple platitudes down to send to them. Or give them some bible verses to memorize and demand they figure it out.

Timothy, his brother and one he deeply cares about, went and entered into their situation amid the unsettling they faced.

Who does this remind you of? - Jesus.

The Law was given through Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

We often miss the first part - empathy. The four areas of empathy:

Ability to take other person’s perspective

Staying out of judgment

Recognizing emotion in other people

Communicating it

Then, after connection is made, is a time of encouragement for both parties, and knowledge and instruction shared.

Challenge / Question / Reflection

Who have you been praying for but now need to go serve?

Who have you been preaching to but now need to connect with?