Praying with Paul June 4, 2017

“Lord Teach Us to Pray”

A Study in the Exposition of the Prayers of Paul:

6/4/2017

Jon Norton

Paul Prays That he might be able to strengthen these believers.

– “as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”

1. Paul and his companions clearly made it a priority to consistently be praying for the Thessalonians.

2. This was reflected in the heartfelt prayers that they were praying.

3. They were not casually petitioning, they were more in a pleading state.

4. This was rooted in the fact that Paul had affection for them and knew of the threats that they faced.

5. Paul’s priority in prayer was reflected in the consistency of his pattern.

6. He was praying night and day.

7. The word that we commonly use to describe this type of behavior would be “Earnestly”

8. The earnesty of his heart was echoed in his prayers.

9. This does not mean that Paul was out walking around in a meditative like state all or most of the time.

10. It also does not mean that Paul was exclusively praying for the Thessalonians.

11. Paul had many, many burdens of prayer for so many people that he committed himself to in prayer.

12. But, praying for them was a consequential element of his day

13. His life was marked by this element of his day.

14. Paul and his companions also had a deep longing in them to see the Thessalonians brought to full maturity in Christ. He yearned that they would be fully sanctified.

15. His love for them is re-iterated several times as we see how he desired to be in direct contact with them.

16. Not merely through letters. But rather face to face.

17. Letter writing and sending a messenger was a very valuable resource in that day and age.

18. But it did not satisfy the longing that was in Paul’s heart as he truly desired to be face to face with them.

19. This desire is demonstrated in his desire to see them discipled.

20. What does it mean to be discipled?

21. Essentially it means to supply what was lacking in their faith.

22. Paul was not speaking to the Thessalonian Believers shame.

23. This was not a rebuke to immaturity as we see in other places.

24. He wanted to the aim of their work accomplished.

25. Which is for believers to be complete and mature in Christ.

26. This, at its core, is exactly what we should desire for ourselves.

27. Not only do we see that this is what Paul said to them in his letters to them but also in his prayers for them as well.

28. D.A. Carson states “What us remarkable in this petition is not only the light it sheds on what Paul thinks is important and on his commitment to brothers and sisters in Christ but also the way it mingles intercessory pray and his own service.”

29. Effectively Paul was modeling a petition in prayer along with biblically reasonable proposals for their being answered.

30. We must recognize that our “proposals” are at the mercy and good pleasure of God.

31. Pray is a petition with a readiness to act.

32. Prayer was neither dismissed as wishful thinking of thought to be a replacement for action.

33. “For Paul, prayer is not a substitute for Christian service; it is part of it.”

Responses:

Paul and his companions prayed both earnestly and consistently. How should this pattern of service to others impact our own?

Paul longed to see the Thessalonians made mature in Christ and he sought to put feet to these vigorous prayers. What are you prying for others in view of the expressed will of God for the church and this world? Also, are you praying in lieu of action or in anticipation that it will better inform and strengthen you action?

– “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.”

1. Paul transitions from the discussion of prayer to the act of prayer and it was first for himself and his companions.

2. But it was rooted in the affection, concern, delight, and hopes expressed in the preceding verses (3:9-10)

3. Ultimately it was for the Lord’s glory in their service to the Thessalonians.

4. It is a good point for us to recognize he prayed with a view to that which was enduring, beyond himself, and with a view to the glory of God in service to others.

5. Paul was also making a hopeful petition that was reasonable and consistent with the expressed will of God.

6. The precise will of God is only made plain when we see God’s providence actually unfolding.

7. Paul was not making some selfish or misguided position.

8. Neither was he declaring to the Thessalonians and God what he will do.

9. Rather, he was submitting in hopeful prayer (as we should) that the Lord might be pleased to provide the means for him to return to them in service.

10. Seeing them face to face and supplying what was lacking in their faith.

11. It is also very helpful for us to recognize that Paul knew the route to access the Thessalonians.

12. He knew what supplies and resources they would need for travel.

13. He knew the potential dangers and perils were on this path as well.

14. Paul was humbly submitting to the Lord that he might direct their paths.

15. Paul recognizes that he was in need of God’s kind help to accomplish God’s desired purposes.

16. Paul was less of a “man on a mission” than he was a man who was in submission; this submission was clearly demonstrated in his praying.

Elements of Paul’s Prayer:

He prayed for himself with a view to the glory of God in others.

He demonstrated consistency with the revealed will of God.

He was rooted in humble submission to the Lord.

Point of Insight:

We must recognize that it is not “those who cannot pray” rather it is also when you cannot you still have an amazing service to render by continuing to pray. It is as foolish to look down on the position of “only being able to pray” as it is to look at someone and say that they only have the ability to read their Bible. Often times one or the other of these two things is harder than the other.

Point of Response:

1. Praying for ourselves by no means has to be a selfish discipline.

2. We petition God as the person who knows our own needs the best.

3. We know our weaknesses, our desires, our hopes, etcetera better than anyone.

4. But, we can also learn from Paul how he prayed for himself in part to be useful for kingdom work beyond himself and for the benefit of others.

5. How does Paul’s example here impact how we pray for ourselves?

6. Paul clearly prays in accordance with the expressed will of God and in trusting God. Do we discipline our prayers this way?

7. If we don’t, how might we improve?

8. Do you tell yourself that prayer is a small service or a meaningless service perhaps?

– “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,”

1. Paul’s petition transitions from one that helps the Thessalonians to one that is directly for them.

2. He is directly asking that the Lord would mature and strengthen them in the foundation of obedience, namely the exercise of love for others (which itself is enabled and informed by their love for God).

3. Note the generous language that Paul is using in his prayer for the Thessalonians.

4. It is not just nice poetry.

5. Rather it is that he is earnestly praying for them.

6. He was petitioning not only that they would love one another and others, but would increase and abound in such actions.

7. Paul was essentially praying that their love for others would mimic the profound and generous outpouring of God’s love in Christ for the church.

Three elements of applying love within the body of Christ as demonstrated here:

1. Love one another “increase and abound in love for one another”

2. Love others “increase and abound in love for… all”

3. We love you “increase and abound in love… as we do for you”

Elements of Paul’s Prayer:

1. Petitioning for the Thessalonians: praying for overflowing obedience in loving one another and others.

2. Petition for the Thessalonians: providing instruction and being an example to the Thessalonians.

Response:

Loving one another has become a consistent theme in our attention to the elements and disciplines of prayer as modeled by Pau. How does your praying reflect your theology and practice of loving the church and the members that make up that church?

Paul says that these believers will be so strengthened in heart that they will be blameless and holy when the end comes.

– “so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

Paul concludes the prayer with the affirmation as to why he was praying this way:

So that the Lord may establish their hearts blameless in holiness before their God and Father.

Now note that this goal or driving emphasis of the Thessalonians being fully prepared complete and in standing before God was again with an eternal perspective that was definitely rooted in the time of Jesus’ glorious return, “at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

Paul’s understood the sure hope of the saints being glorified, even the necessity of it if they were to be in and enjoy the Lord’s presence.

He also recognized the progress and process of sanctification – being increasingly conformed to the image of the Son and that is both the work of the believer and the work of God.

At the end of Sanctification, the believer is completed in this process and he beholds their Lord face to face.

Our natural bodies will be transformed into a supernatural form fit for eternity when the mortal puts on immortality and the petition of “may their hearts be blameless” becomes the reality of “actual hearts blameless” in holiness before our God and Father.

- “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”

Elements of Paul’s Prayer:

Petition for the Thessalonians: for the completion of the Thessalonian’s sanctification.

Petition for the Thessalonians: with a view to Jesus’ glorious return.

Response:

Paul prayed with precise goals in mind – are you praying with a view of precise goals in mind? Goals that are biblically informed, and Christ exalting? In what way and how might you improve in this area of prayer?

Paul prayed with a view to Christ’s return and the readiness of the believers for that glorious moment –does the Lord’s return properly consume your attention and hope in prayer? In what way and how might you improve in this area of prayer?

Paul closes his letter, with the same emphasis that he climaxed this prayer in chapter three, with petition for their being fit for the Lord’s return and a sure confidence in the Lord’s accomplishing this very work.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”