Paul’s Prayer for the Thessalonians

Word association…what comes to mind???

End Times…

Judgement…

New Earth…

Rapture…

Resurrection…

Redemption…

Retribution…

I am sure that on each point a few words or ideas may have come to mind. And rightfully so that we think of different things with each one. Yet let me ask: Was one of them motive to pray? I don’t wish to sound like a Sunday School answer: pray always (although the Spirit did say that through Paul after all). But I do not wish to bring prayer up as the “easy church answer.”

Paul’s Eschatology (belief about the world’s end)

Turn in your Bible to 2 Thessalonians 1. If you happen to be an eschatology addict you have probably read the text numerous times. Personally, this is not a passage I was overly familiar with until I found the prayer at the end of the chapter which Paul makes to God for the church at Thessalonica.

Take a moment to read 2 Thessalonians 1.

Do you see how Paul’s teaching on Christ’s return (beginning in 1:7b) serves as an explanation of how God will bring full relief to his afflicted saints (1:7a). Thus Paul’s statement about The End, that is Christ’s return, is not the goal of the text but instead to demonstrate God’s plan to rescue his people from this momentary affliction, while yet using the affliction in the moment for our good.

Paul unpacks this for us in 1:11-12.

Paul’s Prayer

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling

Once Paul has given his detailed description of Christ’s return as the means of God relieving his afflicted saints Paul circles back to the teaching of 11:5-6. Namely Paul once again speaks of God making his people “worthy of his calling.” In 11:5-6 Paul notes that it is by the various kinds of sufferings in this life that he molds us.

God uses the suffering we face and experience due to our devotion to Jesus. The very suffering inflicted on us by the world or even provoked by the devil because of our allegiance to Jesus is yet meant by God for our good. For, it is amid affliction that our desire for Jesus grows. In the trials and brokenness of this world we look with greater hope and anticipation for Jesus to come for us.

In this, God is working so as to continually make his people ‘ ‘worthy of his calling.” That is in God’s work in our suffering he is molding and shaping his church into what he has designed and what he desires. There in we become worthy (fit; appropriate; aligned) with what he has called us to. What we were when he called us is not who we are now, and what we are now is not what we will be tomorrow. The experience of suffering is one such tool used of God to develop his church.

Hear Paul in Romans:

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…

Romans 5:3-4

Therefore, we the church need a corrected view of suffering that aligns with scripture. In our thinking may pain provoke us to persevere. Let sufferings stimulate our souls to strive forward. In the Now let us know God is not absent when we feel neglected.

…and may fulfill every resolve for good…

Paul’s prayer is that God would work to bring to fruition the good desires and pursuits of the church. He does not ask God to bless every endeavor voted for in the business meeting. He makes a prayer that should model submission toward God. It is a prayer that at the heart says: God if this goal or project be your will then please bless and “fulfill” it; if not let it pass away. In this we see:

• a) the need for God’s power to be with us to do what is good and best in his sight.
• b) there is freedom in knowing that a pursuit that seems good to us may meet with failure because it is not ultimately good, that is, God’s desired will. If its failing is because God has not blessed it we should willingly release it.

…and every work of faith by his power,

In this we not only recognize that faith leads to works, but that it is done in the power of God. We need to pray for God’s power to so work as to enable good works from our faith and that they be effective, and of benefit to the church.

Therefore, the church, in its pursuit of good must trust that God knows best. Therefore, what we may perceive as good may not be in the big picture. We should desire that God only bless and fulfill our pursuits that align with God’s plan.

Further, we are to pray for God’s power to do that which is in fact aligned with his will.

This passage points us to the church’s need for the all-knowing God who knows what is truly best, and the all-powerful God to enable us to do what is in fact his will.

…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wishes the church to be worked in and on for God’s glory. God’s honor and praise needs to be the goal of the brethren, therefore prayers for it should be made.

The church needs to pray that God would shape in them the desire to honor him, their Lord, in all things pertaining to the church. The church is made by God and for God. May we desire to operate in that design for his glory.