Resolve and Do by the Grace and Power of God

Normal Christianity in Extreme Times – 2 Thessalonians Series – Part 3

We Always Pray for You

(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 12, 2013)

[11] To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, [12] 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.

The Apostle Paul believed in the power of prayer on behalf of Christians that were suffering for their faith. In fact, when he wrote to the persecuted church in Thessalonica he said, “We always pray for you.” When Paul preached and wrote, he had a purpose. You can see that in his messages recorded for us in the Scriptures. We expect that his and our prayers would also have a purpose. In preaching, we speak to people (and ourselves) for God. In prayer we speak to God for people. Paul's continual prayers for the suffering church in Thessalonica have at least this one goal: that the Lord would make them worthy of His calling—to be followers of a King who died.

Not everyone in Thessalonica had faith in Jesus Christ. Some did. They were supposed to be different from the others. They were to be people of better resolves—better decisions. They were to turn their good resolves into works consistent with their faith in the cross that saved them. Paul prayed that God's power and grace would achieve this goal in them. It was their only hope.

Why would Paul want this for the church? Why would he want them to make better resolves consistent with their faith in Jesus? Why would he care that they would always be putting those resolves into action? Probably lots of reasons, but here's what he writes: that the name of Jesus would shine gloriously in them, and that they would shine gloriously in Him.

When something shines gloriously it becomes visible in the darkness. A church that faces the darkness and confusion of extreme times needs to be filled with people that are making and fulfilling resolves of faith to love God and neighbor. That is the only way they will shine, and when they shine, the glorious body of Jesus, the temple of the Holy Spirit, appears.

What do you think of Paul's prayer? He does not pray here that their hard times would necessarily be gone immediately, but that they would shine by the grace that can only come from Jesus. That would be worthy Christian living in accord with our calling as followers of the Suffering Servant. What would Thessalonica (your town, church, family...) look like if Jesus were reigning this way today, not only in good resolves, but also in the disciplined and gracious follow-through of His suffering church here? How would His people show forth His glory?

Put the Word to Work: Pray this way for me and for our church. Pray that we would have resolves and follow-through consistent with greater love for God and neighbor.

Singing Psalm 27:4 from Trinity Psalter (Tune: St. John, 66.66.88)

My one desire has been, / Still to the Lord I'll pray, / That all my days within / The Lord's house I may stay, / The Lord's own beauty to admire, / And in His temple to inquire.

A Second Thessalonians Hymn – Verse 3 (Louisville, SM)

Our prayers ascend to God

That they might stand in faith,

According to His perfect love

Empowered by His grace— empowered by His grace.