PRAY-ERS: PART 5

Introduction

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Pray

Intro: How do you learn a skill?

By accident? By practice? yes, those could true. But we often learn things by watching and being instructed by others.

Paul shows us what to pray for in this passage today.

2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12

TO THIS END WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOU: This is Paul’s intro to a prayer that he prays for the church in Thessalonica. It is wise for the church to look at Paul’s prayers like this one and to pray this over one another and the church

He begins with “to this end we always pray for you”. This is a result of what Paul just explained in the previous section. He outlines the judgment of Christ’s coming and what that will entail for believers and non-believers.

Those who have rejected the gospel will be punished eternally.

Likewise, the saints will marvel at Christ due to his triumph and his glory.

Because of this truth, the return of christ and the judgment of sin, Paul prays for the church.

Paul’s prayer is divided into three sections and is a model prayer that we should pray for and over one another.

THAT GOD MAY MAKE YOU WORTHY OF HIS CALLING: This is the first section of the prayer and it is a plea that God would sanctify His people, therefore making them worthy of his plan of salvation.

This is an amazing prayer for Paul to pray over this church. It is the plea that God would finish the work that he began. He is asking that God would continue to sanctify His people.

The idea of “Calling” needs some attention. What does it mean? and why does Paul pray that the church would be made worthy?

The biblical usage of the word calling is very different than the way we use it typically. Scripture refers to calling as God “Calling out” his people from sin. It is the work of salvation.

Romans 8:29-30:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Galatians 1:13-15 :

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

Paul is not saying that the church can somehow become worthy enough to be called. Or, that the church deserves to be called

Galatians 1:13-15

Rather, Paul is praying that the church might live up to this calling that they have recieved. They have already been called so he prays they would live in the same manor.

Paul prays that God would make this way of living possible.

This would entail believers living in a way that pleases God and therefore God judges them to be living worthy of the calling

Ephesians 4:1 :

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

Practically, as we pray this we are praying that we would be what we have been declared as, children of the most high. We are praying that we would be transformed and renewed and glorified one day. This prayer is a prayer with eternity in mind, which is far greater than the now.

We should be increasing in the fruit of the Spirit, self denial, faith, knowledge of God’s word, and trust in Him.

This cannot be done by our own strength, this is why we pray this.

AND HE MIGHT FULFILL EVERY DESIRE FOR GOODNESS AND WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER: This is Paul’s second part of the prayer and it is for God to bring the good desires of the saints to fruition by His power.

It is important to note that Paul makes an assumption that the church has desires to do good. This would mean that our desires change as a result of being called and sanctified.

As Christians we are to have desires that reflect God’s desires. We should be thinking about our neighbors, we should be concerned with our holiness, we should care for our church.

We should be developing as Christians. The longer we live with Christ the closer we should be growing to him and the more we should look like him.

James 2:17-20:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Paul also prays that this work would be done by God’s power bringing it to fruition.

The prayer implies that God must bring our desires to do good to life. That it is Him who makes these desires possible.

Psalm 127:1 :

1  Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

It also tells us that God will do this work in us. That these desires that come from faith and are good, we should pray that God brings them to pass. What a prayer!

James 4:3 :

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

SO THAT THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS MAY BE GLORIFIED IN YOU, AND YOU IN HIM: This is the conclusion of the prayer and it is the logical ending to such request.

The chief end to this prayer is that we glorify Jesus Christ. The chief end to all things is that we glorify God. We do not have desires to do good and we do not do good works to bring glory upon ourselves.

What does Paul mean by “and you in Him”?

Paul is not walking back his first answer but emphasizing the glorification of believers at the return of Christ

Romans 8:30 :

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Conclusion

What a prayer for you to pray over yourself, others, and this church.

We have the mission to REACH, RAISE, and RELEASE disciples that make disciples. This is a good desire and work that is produced by faith . Pray that God would bless that!