Lessons on Prayer (4)

If I were to ask you this morning, what is the greatest need of the church today in 2020... what is the greatest need of MBC today in 2020, what would you say? Maybe a clear vision statement? A strong leadership team? A modern building? Better preaching, more times of fellowship, less activities, more modern songs, more traditional songs? What is the greatest need for the church, for this church in moving into 2020 and beyond?

I wonder how many of us would answer that question with ‘prayer’! Don Carson in his book ‘A Call to Spiritual Reformation’ says..Writing a century and a half ago, Robert Murray M’Cheyne declared, “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is, and no more.” But we have ignored this truism. We have learned to organize, build institutions, publish books, insert ourselves into the media, develop evangelistic strategies, and administer discipleship programs, but we have forgotten how to pray. What we need more than anything else is to rediscover the power, necessity, centrality, privilege, struggle of prayer! We need to learn again that we are helpless without the power of Almighty God, and therefore we must seek Him in prayer!

That’s why we’ve wanted to start this year off taking different passages in the Scriptures that model for us, or teach us about prayer. So this morning we turn to another one of Paul’s prayers, this time in ...

Paul brought the gospel to the city of Thessalonica during his second missionary journey that we can read of in . And it wasn’t your average summer team! Mobs, uproars, riots!! You could be forgiven for reading and thinking, maybe it was a mistake for Paul and Silas to go there! And yet, in the midst of the chaos, God was using His gospel to draw men and women to Himself, and a church was formed there!

This is the second letter that we have recorded that Paul has written to this church. And in it, we see again the priority that Paul gives to prayer! As we’ve seen over these last few weeks, Paul realises that his work doesn’t end in proclamation, it continues into prayer! The work that He longs to see done, is only possible by the power of Almighty God! Therefore Paul seeks Him in prayer! So there’s 4 things for us to see this morning...

The Air of Paul’s Prayer (v.3-10)

Now what do I mean when I say the ‘air’ of Paul’s prayer?! Every time we bow down before the Lord, there is a certain air that surrounds us, that fuels us, that shapes how we pray. We breath it in and then that impacts what comes out in our words. Let me give you an example, If you live and breath in a world that doesn’t really extend beyond your own life and situations, then your prayers will be shaped by that. They focus on you, on your world, and never really extend outside of that border. If you breath in an air of prosperity, then you’re prayers will focus on, be shaped by health, wealth, comfort, both for yourself and others…It would be interesting to take time to think over the last week and think about who you’ve prayed for, and how much of what you prayed was shaped by this! Or maybe some breath in the air of religiosity, the prayers offered are shaped by cliche and empty repetition, they sound the same day and day and seem more like a task to been done, than a relationship to be cultivated!

What is the air we breath as we come to pray?! Look at what we see from Paul here, v.11…to this end we always pray for you… What end? What is it that is shaping this prayer? Well to find out we look at what comes before, and as we do we see the air of eternity that fuels Paul here.

In v.3 Paul is rejoicing in the evidence of salvation he sees in these believers, their faith is growing abundantly (flourishing, growing wonderfully), their love for one another is increasing (sound familiar doesn’t it)! And that gives Paul the confidence to then lift this church up as an example for others in how they are standing strong in the face of persecution and trouble. Now when you read you’ll not be surprised at all, that this church is facing such opposition! But as they do, they’re not wavering, they’re continuing to grow, to deepen in their faith in Christ, to grow in their love, commitment, involvement, support, care of one another!

We all know that when trouble comes it is used of God to either refine & prove our faith, or reveal that faith to be not genuine. We see that in Peter’s letter also...In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ()

Here these believers are standing firm, and that is evidence that they will be counted worthy of the kingdom on that day when Christ comes! They’re not made worthy by their perseverance, rather its the proof! God by His grace is keeping them! And it’s that very coming of Christ that Paul focuses on here! It’s that future, cosmic event that gives shape to what Paul will ask the Father for, on behalf of these believers!

Look at what Paul has in his mind in v.6-10...

Christ’s return will usher in that time of judgement! And it will be both a terrifying and glorious event! For those that have stood firm, kept the faith, not lost hope in Christ, it will mean relief from the affliction of the present. The persecution, the trouble, the hardship involved in following Jesus has a time limit! And relief is on it’s way!

What a thought! I’m sure many of you have read the news stories from Open Doors, Release, Barnabas Fund, Voice of the Martyrs... Even today there are people being driven from their homes, attacked in the streets, beaten, locked up, even killed! All because they following Jesus! But relief is coming, and it’s coming when He Himself returns! Imagine the scene, imagine the joy, imagine the celebration!

And it’s not only relief, but v.10…those who have believed will marvel at Him! We’ll be in awe at His appearing! I don’t know if you’ve ever been out in the car late at night and broken down. And you phone through to the insurance people who tell you there’s someone coming. And then after waiting in the darkness, suddenly you see lights ahead! And it’s the pick up truck! He comes to bring relief, and as you see him in a small way you marvel!

When Christ appears, all those who have believed , who’ve had faith, who’ve trusted in this gospel message will marvel! We’ll stand in awe as the King of King comes in glory!

But look at what this day holds for those who aren’t in Christ! .v.7-9...

Part of the relief for the believer will be the destruction of the enemy! God is not mocked, He is just, and those who afflict His people, He will afflict! …vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’ For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants,… () Those who don’t know Him, and don’t obey and trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ, will face unimaginable punishment!! The irony here is that those who don’t want God, will be banished from His presence! Facing an eternal misery away from the very source of glory, goodness, light!

Do you see what’s at stake here, do you see the air that Paul is breathing as he comes before the Lord in prayer?! What is shaping His petitions for the church in Thessalonica? It’s not ‘your best life now’, not a belief that God wants your life to be healthy, wealthy and full of comfort! It’s the reality of eternity, the coming of Christ and the glory or horror that will mean!

Let me ask you this morning? When was the last time the coming of Jesus shaped how you pray for you spouse, your children, your work colleagues, your neighbours, this church? When was the last time the return of Christ impacted what you ask for as you or others are in the midst of suffering and trials? We must pray with the end in view! We must pray with the coming of Jesus giving shape to what we ask!

The Focus of Paul’s Prayer (v.11)

So to this end Paul prays, but what is it he asks for? v.11...

In light of what is coming, in light of the reality of eternity, Paul asks 2 things here…firstly that God may make these believers worthy of God’s calling...

If Christ is coming, and with Him judgement, then Paul’s deepest concern is not that these believers have their difficulties removed, it’s not that those who persecute them will leave them alone, it’s not that they’ll be healthy in the midst of it all! Paul asks that they will continue to bear fruit! He asks that the evidence they’ve shown that proves God is counting them worthy, will remain and increase, that God will through these trials continue to make them steadfast, faithful, firm, trusting in the gospel, and therefore make them worthy of this great calling! And it’s only God that can do it!! That’s why he asks!!! It’s not within their power, or our power!!

I don’t know what it’s like for you, but I know that when faced with trials that pale in comparison to what these believers, and many other believers face, my default setting is, ‘God get me out of this, remove this, relieve me of this’! And yet it’s through the trials that we learn steadfastness! It’s through the trouble that we’re refined and proven! When we have the end in view it greatly changes what we ask for now! There may be that part of your husband/wife/work colleague/friend that you really struggle with. And in everything we get to cast our cares upon Him, because He cares for us! But don’t let your request be shaped by the here and now, think deeper, think harder, think about the end! Let that shape your requests!

And for parents here, there are so many concerns we have for our kids, so much we want for them! When they face exams, when they fall out with friends, when they get bullied, when they fall in with bad company! Fight the temptation to pray breathing in the air of here and now, ‘just fix it, just make it go away’! And pray with the coming of Jesus in mind! What must God do in them to ready them for that day!!

Paul also asks that God may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power…Now this is a really beautiful picture and request! Because it assumes that when we are truly in Christ, when we’ve been born again, then we’ll have desires to do good, longings to carry out works of faith! Life won’t just be about us and our little kingdoms, but rather God will birth in us plans, dreams, ambitions to do great things for Him! Now that doesn’t necessarily mean huge dramatic works, it will often be simple, silent, faithful acts! We know from ...For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. God has prepared for us good works, so that we might do them. And we also know that ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (). God has prepared work for us, and given us the good desires to serve Him, now Paul asks that He would in His power fulfill them, complete them, accomplish them!

What a beautiful picture, and what a focus here! As you pray down the members’ list, as you lift up brothers and sisters in Christ… ‘Lord would you continue to fill them up with good desires, and by your power give them success in every work of faith!!’ Today when they step out in some way in faith, add your power to it!!’ Let’s pray like this, let’s lift our eyes from just the temporal, and pray with eternity in sight!

The Goal of Paul’s Prayer (v.12)

Why is Paul praying is such a way, what is the end result that he’s working towards? so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him...

Paul wants all honor and glory to go to Christ! He wants these believers to be counted worthy, to live in such a way that others will look on and Jesus will be lifted up! As people see the fruit in the church’s life, and their steadfastness even in the face of trouble, they will recognise that this is Christ’s doing! As Jesus Himself said, In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. () And as these believers grow in such a way, not only is Christ being glorified inn them, but they too are be glorified in Christ! They’re being changed into His image, from one degree of glory to another, that will all end on praise to His great name!!

For Paul it’s all about Christ!! On Thursday night we met had marriage prep with 2 couples. And the main point of that evening was the fact that in marriage, ‘It’s not your party’! It will never be about you, and if you make it about you you’ll be miserable and have a terrible marriage!! We were all made for another! It’s all about Him, not just in marriage, but in every area of life! And like Paul, we want our prayers to mirror that truth!! Pray in everything to the great end of God’s glory!! That’s the goal, that’s the end game!!

The Power of Paul’s Prayer (v.12)

Finally, look at what Paul looks to for power and enabling in what He asks…according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s all by grace, everything we ask for, every need we have, everything God calls us to, it is never within our power or ability, it is always only by the great grace of God!! He gives what we don’t deserve, all because of what Jesus has earned! D.A Carson says ‘We become fruitful by grace; we persevere by grace; we mature by grace; by grace we grow to love one another more, and by grace we cherish holiness and a deepening knowledge of God. Therefore Paul reminds his readers at the end of his prayer that everything he has asked for is available only on the basis of grace. The Savior himself cannot be glorified in our lives, nor can we be finally glorified, apart from the grace that he provides’

‘Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be’! But aren’t we just so encouraged to know that God has revealed Himself as, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…and from his fullness we have received grace upon grace!

We depend on grace, but that is the very thing that He delights to give! So let’s ask!! Let’s pray!! Let Christ’s return be the air we breath as we come to Him, Let it shape our requests! Let the goal always be His glory, that’s why we exist! And let grace be the what we throw ourselves on in complete dependence!