The Majesty of Prayer

To understand Paul’s message to the Thessalonians, we must grasp the historical situation of the Thessalonians and the Literary thought of Paul surrounding this passage.

Thessalonica was a city and a church born out of conflict:

They city was founded by Cassander, a Macedonian General in the army of Philip II of Macedon, whose wife was Thessalonike the half-sister of Alexander the Great.

They city was founded in honor of a Macedonian victory on the battlefield.

Almost 3 centuries later, the Holy Spirit through Paul will convict, convert, and baptize enough Jewish and Greek believers within 3 within three weeks to establish a church in Thessalonica.

However, the enemy never always a work of God to progress unchallenged. Acts 17:1-9 tell us that a riot broke out in the streets forcing Paul and his fellow ministers to flee the city:

Take heart in opposition to the will of God.

Consider the churches impediments to the enemies advances.

Not long after arriving in Athens, Paul sits down with his associates to pen this letter we read this morning through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

At the end of each chapter, he encourages the believers of Thessalonica as they face a hostile government and society to live according to the imminent victory in Christ:

1 Thessalonians 1:10

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20

1 Thessalonians 3:13

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Chapter 5 begins with Paul’s focus of the Lord’s return and moves in like to fashion to how believers should live in light of the current truth.

The Majesty of Prayer is Found in a Positive Attitude. (vs. 16-18)

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The Majesty of Prayer is Found in its Accessibility. (vs. 16-18)

The Majesty of Prayer is Displayed in our Actions. (vs. 18b; 12-15; 19-22)

Conclusion:

In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.

Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!” - RWD