2 Thessalonians Series: Faithfully Praying for Ministers and Local Churches (2 Thess 3:1-5)

Faithfully Praying for Ministers and Local Churches

Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing—and will do—what we are commanding. Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 (NET)

How should we pray for pastors, missionaries, local churches, and parachurch ministries throughout the world? We often struggle with our prayer life, what to say, how to say it, and being faithful in prayer. One of the best ways to develop our prayer lives is by studying the prayers in the Bible and outside of David who wrote many of the Psalms, Paul possibly wrote the second most prayers in Scripture. In 2 Thessalonians alone, he prays four times, intermittingly throughout his writing (2 Thess 1:11-12, 2:16-17, 3:5, 3:16, 18). This is his third prayer in the epistle before his closing prayer in the benediction. However, in this section, we see not only his prayer for the Thessalonians, as he prayed in verse 5, “Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ,” but we also see his personal prayer requests.

It's good to remember as a background to this letter that though the Thessalonians were being persecuted, experiencing false teachers, and interpersonal conflicts with lazy loafers in the church, Paul was also dealing with many difficulties and that he needed grace to be faithful. John Walvoord said this about Paul’s ministry in Corinth and other cities:

The task committed to Paul was a very lonely one: to go from place to place, frequently coming into a strange city where not one person would welcome him. He was not entertained in the best hotel, nor was there any honorarium for him in recognition of his services. He had to find his own way, arrange for his public meetings, and somehow try to bear a testimony for Christ. Apart from fellowship with the Lord, it was a very difficult and solitary task and one in which there were many discouragements.

With Corinth specifically, after Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica because of persecution, he briefly ministered in Berea, then Athens (Acts 17), and at the writing of both Thessalonian letters, he was in Corinth where he stayed eighteen months (Acts 18:11-12). Corinth was not an easy ministry. As in Thessalonica, he experienced persecution. In Acts 18:12-17, the Jews dragged him before the authorities because of his teaching; however, their case was dismissed because it was a religious matter. Paul continued his ministry there, but it was not without conflict. In verse 2, he asked them to pray “that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.”

When Paul said, “pray for us” in verse 1, it is a present tense, command and could be translated to “keep on praying.” He wanted them to faithfully intercede for his ministry and therefore share in the fruit. He knew that prayer was needed to have an effective ministry and that is true for ministers, ministries, and local churches today. Therefore, as we study 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, we see a great example of pastoral prayer and congregational prayer. Through it, we learn how to better pray for our ministers and local churches throughout the world.

Big Question: In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, what principles can be discerned about faithfully praying for ministers and local churches around the world?

To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for Ministers to Faithfully Declare God’s Word and for Its Acceptance by the Hearers

Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you

2 Thessalonians 3:1

When Paul says, “finally,” this does not mean that he is at the end of the letter or giving the final topic. In verses 6-18, he deals with the loafers in the church causing conflict and possibly spreading false teaching (v. 6-15), and then finishes with the benediction (v. 16-18)—the closing prayer. The word “finally,” literally means “for the rest” or “besides that.” In this context, Paul is just changing the topic from the end times and the need for the Thessalonians to stand firm, to his and his teams’ prayer requests and his specific petitions for the Thessalonians.

In verse 3, Paul asked for prayer “that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you.” This shows Paul’s ministry focus. It doesn’t mean that he and his associates never cared for the manual needs of the poor or needy. In Galatians 2:10, Paul said this about his interaction with the other apostles and their encouragement for him, “They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.” It seems clear that in Paul’s travels and ministry at churches, he, along with others, cared for people’s dire needs. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5, Paul gave instructions to Timothy and the Ephesian church about caring for the widows amongst them. However, mercy ministry was not his focus. His focus certainly wasn’t politics, as it is in many churches today, and it wasn’t entertainment which many churches have begun to do to get people to church and keep them. His focus was the preaching of the Word of God because he believed that was God’s means of saving the lost and his primary means of sanctifying the saints.

With that said, Paul also knew that prayer was needed for the ministry of preaching and teaching to be effective. This is why he commonly requested prayer for his teaching of the Word of God. In Colossians 4:3-4, he said, “pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should.” In Ephesians 6:19-20, he said, “Pray for me also, that I may be given the right words when I begin to speak—that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.” The Word must be preached, and God must empower it. Therefore, it is important for God’s people to constantly intercede for the spreading of God’s Word as Paul asked and that it would “be honored” by those who hear it (v. 1). We should pray for the spread of the Word by faithful preachers and Christian workers all over the world, including in our local churches. We should lift up small groups, children’s ministries, youth ministries, and outreaches. God hears, delights in, and responds to prayers for his Word to do its work; therefore, we should pray for this often. When the Word is faithfully preached, church members grow in holiness, love, and unity, and begin to spiritually reproduce. However, when there is a lack of faithful preaching, the members starve, become prone to sin, selfishness, conflict, and even turning away from God altogether. Therefore, we must pray for God’s Word to be faithfully preached and joyfully received, so the church can be healthy and grow spiritually and numerically.

When Paul prayed for God’s Word to “spread quickly” (v. 1), it could be translated to “speed on,” “make progress,” or “run” (cf. Ps 147:15). It was a picture of the God’s Word going forth unencumbered, not being able to be stopped, and that there would be no obstacles or closed doors. No doubt, this included praying for the removal of persecution and spiritual warfare and general ineffectiveness in stopping God’s messenger and the message. In 2 Timothy 2:9, Paul said this about his imprisonment: “I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!” Though the messenger was imprisoned, the message was not. When Paul prayed for God’s Word to be “honored” (v. 1), it means to be praised, glorified, and exalted. Since Corinth was the location for the Isthmian games, he probably was picturing the Word of God running a race, winning, and being honored (or crowned), as unbelievers gladly accepted the gospel, believers were being conformed to it, and people rejoiced to see this divine work (cf. Acts 13:48).

When Paul said, “as in fact it was among you” (v. 1), he was referring to how the Thessalonians excitedly received God’s Word and turned from worshiping idols to the living God. First Thessalonians 1:9-10 describes this great event:

For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Their conversion was widely known and celebrated. Paul desired that God would continue this great work in his present ministry in Corinth, but also probably throughout the Roman empire. In considering this, John Stott said this about Paul’s desire:

Without doubt the apostle is referring to the evangelization of the Roman empire. After leaving Thessalonica and then Berea, he evangelized Athens, the intellectual capital of the empire. He is now in Corinth, its commercial capital, and is experiencing some opposition to the word. Already he is beginning to dream of evangelizing Rome, the empire’s administrative capital, for the main port of Corinth looked north-west across the Adriatic Sea to Italy. He urges his readers to pray that the gospel may run in every direction, and be welcomed.

Certainly, if the Word is to continue to spread without hindrance and be accepted even in unreached parts of the world, God’s people must urgently and faithfully pray. If we don’t pray, God’s Word won’t be faithfully preached, and if it is, people will not accept it. It’s good to remember God’s rebuke of the nation of Israel in Ezekiel 22:30-31, when he said:

I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one. So I have poured my anger on them, and destroyed them with the fire of my fury…

Are we standing in the gap—interceding for our church, its ministers and ministries, and praying for Christian workers throughout the world? Again, if not, God’s Word will not be faithfully preached, and even when it is, it will often fall on deaf ears. We have a responsibility to pray (and preach) so the church will be greatly used and many will be saved.

Our Acceptance

With that said, as we pray for others to accept the faithful preaching of God’s Word, we must ask ourselves, “Are we sitting under faithful preaching, and if not, why not? And if so, are we accepting it?” In 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (ESV), Paul said this to Timothy about the lack of biblical preaching in his time and ours:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Sometimes, Scripture focuses on the fault of teachers, as they teach wrong doctrine. However, in this text, Paul focuses on the fault of the hearers. It’s because many church members don’t really want to know and obey the Bible but instead simply want a message to make them feel good, that they heap up many who either teach falsely or simply neglect teaching faithfully. These hearers will sit years under humorous stories, inspiring testimonies, and hacks for success in this world and turn away from any teaching that truly explains and applies a text, exposes sin, and calls for us and the world to change. In fact, the word “sound” in 2 Timothy 4:3 actually means “healthy.” Instead of sitting under teaching that makes them healthy, many church members will run to teaching that tastes good but starves or destroys their souls. Therefore, as we pray for the faithful teaching of the Bible and its acceptance, we must ask ourselves, “Are we sitting under biblical teaching and are we seeking to do so?” If not, we may be party to the spread of anemic messages in our local churches which are severely weakening our souls and the church around the world. Again, Paul warned that many will not be able to endure sound, healthy teaching and therefore will turn away from it and find those who simply itch their ears. We must make sure that spirit is not in us or those we deeply fellowship with—a spirit that prefers cotton candy preaching which tastes good but rots the soul instead of meatty preaching, which may not be exciting but nourishes and strengthens our spirit. May that be the only type of spiritual food we injest, teach, promote, and pray for.

As we pray for ministers, local churches, and parachurch ministries, we must faithfully pray for the Word of God to rapidly spread and be accepted. Even Christ prayed for this before going to the cross. In John 17:17 (NIV), he prayed, “Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth.” It is by God’s Word that he saves and sanctifies. Are we praying for it to spread, save, and sanctify? In addition, do we desire faithful teaching, are we sitting under it, and are we faithful teachers when God opens the door for us to share?

Application Question: According to Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2-4, it will be hard to find faithful preaching as we get closer to the end times. What are the qualities of faithful preaching and why is it so unattractive to many? What type of teaching would you describe as the kind that itches ears but does not truly nourish the soul? How often do you pray for the Word of God to spread and be accepted? How is God calling you to pray more for his ministers, his Word, and those who hear it?

To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for God to Strengthen and Protect His People from the Evil One

and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3

After asking for prayer for the spread and acceptance of God’s Word, in verse 2, Paul asked for prayers to be delivered from perverse and evil people. The word “perverse” can be translated “unreasonable” (NKJV, NASB 1995). Attacking those who preach God’s Word and his gospel is the most unreasonable thing a person can do, since God’s Word will lead to the eternal salvation of the lost and the sanctification of the saved. Because the preaching of God’s Word is such a good thing, not only is attacking it unreasonable but it’s pure evil.

With that said, since Satan opposes God and everything good, those who seek to spread God’s Word will always experience extra spiritual warfare which may manifest in a multitude of ways. It may manifest as sickness, depression, or conflict with others. Satan often works through people to oppose God’s message, including using other Christians. Satan spoke through Peter to try to get Christ to not go to the cross, and many believers were spreading false teachings in the early church. Since Satan is the interim ruler of this world (John 12:31, 2 Cor 4:4), he will fight vehemently, including sparing no punches, to not lose people, countries, and cultures to God.

When Paul refers to being delivered from perverse and evil people (v. 2), it is not clear specifically who he is referring to. Surely, he is at least referring to the Jews who were persecuting him in Corinth. In Acts 18:12-17, the unbelieving Jews attacked Paul, brought him before the proconsul, and accused him of teaching others to follow God in opposition to the Jewish law. However, since it was a religious matter, the proconsul told them to figure it out themselves. In response, the Jews took the head of the synagogue, Sosthenes, and beat him in front of the proconsul who just ignored them. Since Paul mentions Sosthenes in his introduction to 1 Corinthians (1:1), it’s clear that he had become a believer and that is why the Jews beat him. No doubt, Paul was requesting prayer to be delivered from the unbelieving Jews who attacked him in Corinth, but also unbelieving Jews who seemed to attack him in every city he ministered (Acts 17-18). With that said, when Paul added, “not all have faith,” to his statement (v. 2), some believe he was not just referring to the Jews but those in the church who profess to have faith but do not. Certainly, more harm has been done to the church from within than without. We know from reading 1 and 2 Corinthians that the Corinthian church had many problems, including sexual immorality, conflict, abuse of gifts, and false teachers. Maybe, Paul was specifically referring to the false teachers in Corinth who clearly were not saved. According to 1 Corinthians 15, some were teaching that there was no resurrection at all—that Christ had not been physically raised from the dead and that believers should not expect to rise either. Paul responded to them by saying that if there was no resurrection, then our faith is in vein (1 Cor 15:14). There is no salvation apart from believing in a literal resurrection (Rom 10:9-10). Both in 1 and 2 Corinthians, it’s also clear that some had started to attack his apostleship—apparently declaring that he was a false teacher (cf. 1 Cor 9:1-2, 2 Cor 11:5). Certainly, people were attacking Paul both from within the church and outside the church who did not have faith. Paul wanted God to deliver him from unreasonable, ungodly people or to miraculously change them into reasonable, godly ones by saving them.

Again, we should not be surprised when this happens to us. If we are making progress in the faith, reading the Bible and praying more, trying to get involved with serving and helping others, there will be spiritual resistance in some form or another. Because of this reality, Paul requested prayer for deliverance from the evil people, and in response, he also reminded the Thessalonians that God would protect them from the evil one as well. In verse 3, he says, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” Certainly, his confidence in God’s faithfulness to the Thessalonians was based on God’s character and promises but also his prayers for their deliverance and blessing. In addition, Paul was contrasting God with those without faith who were attacking him. Even as they were unfaithful, God would be faithful to protect Paul and the Thessalonians in response to prayer.

Focus on God’s Faithfulness in Difficulties

As an application from Paul’s reminder of God’s faithfulness to the Thessalonians who were being persecuted, instead of focusing on unfaithful people or difficult circumstances in our trials, we should instead focus on God and his faithfulness. We all have a tendency to focus on the negative, including remembering evil acts and people and rehearsing what we should have said or done. However, instead of focusing on the evil attacks or difficult circumstances, Paul focused on God’s faithfulness and reminded the Thessalonians to do so as well. This should challenge us to do the same. Focusing on God’s faithfulness instead of unfaithful people or difficult circumstances doesn’t mean we forget or neglect them. It just means that the evil person or event shouldn’t be our focus and therefore control our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Whatever our focus is will control our joy and our reaction, whether in a trial or not in one. Since Satan knows this, he wants us to focus on our failures, those who failed us, our unpleasant circumstances, or even himself, so he can control our lives. However, God, in his sovereignty, wants to use trials to help us refocus on himself, including being drawn to greater prayer, time in worship, dependance on the body of Christ, and God’s Word, including promises of God’s faithfulness. For example, in trials, we should remember God’s promise in Romans 8:28 that God works all things for our good. Also, we should remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 which promises that God is faithful to not allow us to encounter trials that we cannot bear through his grace. James 1:5 promises us God is faithful to give us wisdom in our trials as long as we faithfully ask for it. In addition, if we fail in our trials, 1 John 1:9, tells us God is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness, as we confess and forsake our sins. Furthermore, Romans 5:3-4 teaches us that God is faithful to develop inner character qualities in us as we go through trials, including endurance, character, and hope. God is faithful to us in our trials. He will also deliver us from the ultimate trial of death, even as he did with his Son. In 2 Timothy 4:18, Paul said this: “The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.”

Again, we should not be surprised when spiritual attacks multiply as we progress in faith and try to help others progress, but in the attacks, instead of focusing on our unfaithfulness, others’ unfaithfulness, or difficult circumstances, we must focus on God by seeking his face and reminding ourselves of his faithfulness through his Word. That’s part of the reason he allows the trial in the first place (Jam 1:2-4).

Importance of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare

With all that said, Paul’s prayer request for spiritual protection also reminds us how important prayer is in our spiritual war. Prayer is one of the greatest defenses against the evil one and his various attacks. In Mark 9:29, when Christ cast a demon out of a boy after the disciples failed to do so, Christ told them that this kind only comes out by prayer. It’s unlikely that the disciples never prayed to God while trying to cast the demon out, especially after their repeated failures. The problem probably was their lack of praying in general and therefore their lack of power to do this ministry. In context, Christ had left the disciples to go up on a mountain to pray and be transfigured before the three lead disciples (Mk 9:2). While the others were in the valley without their leaders, they probably were undisciplined spiritually and lacking in prayer; therefore, they lacked spiritual power to defeat the enemy. Likewise, when Christ took the three lead disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before he went to the cross, he told them to pray for one hour lest they fall into temptation (Matt 26:41). Each fell asleep instead of praying and therefore fell into sin. Consequently, when Christ was taken by the guards, they all either ran away or denied him. Without prayer, they were unable to stand against the evil one, both because they lacked spiritual power and spiritual protection. Even Christ, when giving believers a pattern of daily prayer, taught us to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:13). Certainly, we should pray this daily for ourselves, our families, our churches, and for those ministering throughout the world. It provides protection from evil and faithful perseverance when we encounter it.

Are we praying for the spiritual protection of our pastors, small group leaders, children and youth leaders, and other ministers? It’s been commonly said that if Satan only had a few bullets, he would take them out to stop their ministry. Consequently, as Paul requested prayer for deliverance, we must remember to pray for the spiritual protection of our ministers, local churches, and Christians throughout the world.

Requesting Prayer

In addition to our need to pray for spiritual deliverance for our ministers and others, we should also be challenged by Paul’s humility, transparency, and willingness to ask for prayer. It’s clear that he was being attacked by those without faith, whether in the church or outside of it, and by alerting the Thessalonians, they could pray for his deliverance. Throughout Paul’s letters, he repeatedly asked for prayer from other churches and individuals (cf. 2 Cor 1:11, Eph 6:18–19, Phil 1:19, Col 4:3, 1 Thess 5:25, and Phile 1:22). In Romans 15:31-32, he requested: “Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you.”

Certainly, one of the great weaknesses of many believers is their unwillingness to transparently share with others and ask for prayer. This keeps many from the healing and deliverance God wants to give them. James 5:16 says, “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” Also, Matthew 18:19 says, “if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” Though this is given in the context of church discipline, the principle certainly applies to other corporate prayers that are in God’s will. There is great power in corporate prayer and yet many miss this power because of their lack of transparency and willingness to ask for prayer. That was not true of Paul. Even though he was a great apostle, he shared his difficulties and asked the Thessalonians to intercede for him. We should do the same when we struggle with sin, health, family or other relationships, and work issues. We should openly share, at least with a few select people, and trust that God’s grace will move on their behalf. Again, James 5:16 says this in the context of confessing sin to others and receiving prayer, “The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”

Are we praying for our ministers and local churches to be delivered from conflict with those who lack faith (either in the church or outside of it)? Are we praying for their deliverance from the evil one? Are we focusing on God’s faithfulness in the midst of our trials? Are we transparently sharing our problems and seeking the prayer of the saints? Often repeatedly doing this will be the door to our personal or corporate deliverance.

Application Question: How can we focus more on God in our trials instead of being consumed with the trials or figuring out how to get out of them? Why is it so important to practice transparency and ask others for prayer? What are some wise principles for doing this, including who to share with and the amount of transparency? Why do many believers not transparently share with others and ask for prayer? Who do you regularly share with and request prayer from? How has that practice been beneficial for you? How is God calling you to more regularly pray for the protection of ministers, local churches, and Christians in general?

To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for God to Enable His People to Mature Spiritually

And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing—and will do—what we are commanding. Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

When Paul said he was confident that the Thessalonians were doing and will do what he commanded (v. 4), this is important. The word “command” was used of a military order from a superior officer. As an apostle, Paul was an official representative of Christ. The apostles, through the Holy Spirit, taught Christ’s commands and eventually wrote the New Testament letters, along with their associates. In fact, 1 and 2 Thessalonians were two of the first New Testament letters written around 50-51 AD. Therefore, by obeying Paul’s commands in both letters, the Thessalonians were obeying God’s Word.

Paul and his associates were confident of the Thessalonians’ continued obedience for two reasons. First, he was confident because they were “in the Lord” (v. 4)—meaning that they were saved and therefore united with Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” Those in Christ are new. Whereas the Thessalonians were previously identified by idolatry, sexual immorality, and other types of sins, in Christ, they were now identified by worshiping and obeying God and loving God and others. It was the promise of the New Covenant. In Ezekiel 36:27, God said this about the New Covenant he would make with people: “I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations.” Obedience to God’s Word will mark those who are saved. That’s why those who live a life of rebellion towards God and his Word and yet profess Christ as Lord, are probably not saved. In 1 John 2:3-4, John said this rather matter-factly:

Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.

Paul believed the Thessalonians were truly saved and elect from before time (cf. 1 Thess 1:4, 2 Thess 2:13). That’s why they were faithfully following God even in the midst of persecution and why he believed they would continue. He said something similar to the Philippians who were also being persecuted but continuing to faithfully obey God. In Philippians 1:6, he said, “For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

With that said, in context, there is another reason Paul believed that the Thessalonians would continue to obey God and that was because he was praying for them. In verse 5, he prays for the Lord to direct their “hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.” Again, this was his third prayer for them in the letter. Though obedience is a mark of the saved because the Holy Spirit indwells believers and works in them to obey God, God still uses prayer to enable believers to faithfully follow him. In 2 Thessalonians 3:5, the word “direct” means “to make straight” and was commonly used of removing objects on a path. Paul desired that all hindrances to the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth would be removed, including spiritual apathy, love for the world, habitual sins, compromising relationships, and lack of faith. Directing their hearts to the “love of God” means that the Thessalonians would love like God loves, including loving their enemies. This was very important as they were being persecuted for their faith and having conflict within the church. Both commonly cause deep anger in people and lead to separation, instead of abounding love and unity. With God, he sent his Son to die for us while we were still his enemies (Rom 5:10). He causes his rain and sunshine to fall on the just and the unjust alike (Matt 5:45), and we should demonstrate this type of Divine love. Likewise, Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that instead of hardening their hearts and withdrawing love because of their inner and outer conflicts to instead overflow with love for God and others, including their enemies. We need to pray this prayer when and wherever there is relational conflict.

Paul’s prayer for God to direct their hearts into the “endurance of Christ” was a petition for them to endure their sufferings like Christ would. While on earth, Christ suffered the attacks of Satan and various evil people. He also suffered from those he loved. His friends denied him in his greatest hour of need, and when he had a chance to escape the cross, he, instead, boldly proclaimed his deity and took the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain that came with his crucifixion. He faithfully endured the cross. Likewise, Paul was praying that the Thessalonians would not turn to the enjoyment of sin and the world in their suffering, become angry at God, turn away from God’s church, or deny the faith altogether. Instead, he prayed that they would faithfully endure sufferings like Christ, and no doubt, become more conformed to his image in the process (cf. Rom 5:3-4).

Paul was confident that the Thessalonians would continue to obey God’s Word both because they were truly saved (as they were “in the Lord,” v. 4) and because of his faithful intercession for them (v. 5). He believed that God sanctified believers through his Spirit, in response to prayer, and by obeying God’s Word.

Are we praying for our local churches and church members to grow in God’s love—loving, forgiving, serving one another, and caring for the lost? Are we praying for the church and its members to persevere in their trials and therefore be sanctified through them (including conflicts with one another, sickness, and even persecution)? As we pray for ministers and local churches, we should pray for them to mature spiritually including them loving God and loving like him and persevering like Christ.

Intimacy with God

Application Question: Other than through the Holy Spirit, Paul’s prayer, and obeying the Word, how would the Thessalonians develop these inner virtues of love and perseverance?

With all that said, though God would use the Holy Spirit, Paul’s intercession, and the Thessalonians’ obedience to the Word to help them grow spiritually, the primary way they would grow was through intimacy with God. Since love and endurance are God’s and Christ’s characteristics, we must be with him to develop them. When a person hangs around somebody with an accent, that person will commonly start to say words with the same pronunciation. When a person hangs around somebody who is typically joyful, commonly that person will start to think and speak in a more positive light. Likewise, as we abide in Christ through studying his Word, prayer, worship, fellowship with the saints, and service, we will start to become more like God, including loving, persevering, and speaking like him. In John 15:5, Christ said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit...” As we abide in Christ, we will produce his fruits, including loving his church, the lost, and those who mistreat us. We will be more prone to serve instead of simply being served or isolating ourselves. We will also more easily forgive others. In addition, trials, instead of pushing us away from God and others, leading us into sin, and tempting us to get angry at God and turn away from him, will turn us more towards God and others. The fruit of perseverance will be born in our lives and the character growth that comes from it. As Paul prayed for God to direct the Thessalonians’ hearts, to clear the pathway, toward their spiritual maturity, it was ultimately a prayer for God to remove everything that was keeping them from a deep intimate relationship with God, that they would enjoy that intimacy, and be changed by it. As they abided in God, love, perseverance, and many other fruits would pour out of their lives to others. We must, likewise, seek intimacy with God so love, perseverance, and other virtues will pour out of our lives.

Are we praying for the spiritual maturity of our leaders, our local church, and the church throughout the world? Though our spiritual leaders may know God deeply, we should pray for an even greater intimacy with the Lord and their transformation into his image. Certainly, Paul’s intercession for the Thessalonians contributed to his confidence that they would continue to obey God’s Word (v. 4-5). Faithfully praying for our churches, pastors, and families will also give us confidence as well, instead of a doubt and suspicion about them which is so common when we see their faults and yet fail to pray for them.

Are we praying for the spiritual maturity of our ministers and local churches? God delights to answer these prayers.

Application Question: What are characteristics of God’s love and how should those characteristics be displayed in our lives? Why are trials and persevering through them so important for the development of Christian character (Rom 5:3-4, Jam 1:2-4)? How has God used persevering through a specific trial to help you grow in godly character? How is God calling you to grow in his love and perseverance in this season of your life? Who is he calling you to love and what is he calling you to persevere through? How is he calling you to be constant in prayer for the spiritual growth of yourself, your local church and its ministers, and churches and their ministers throughout the world?

General Applications

What are some general applications on prayer to help us better pray for ministers and local churches?

• Pray Biblically.

It must be remembered that the majority of Paul’s prayers in 2 Thessalonians came after his teaching of God’s Word (2 Thess 1:11-12, 2:16-17, 3:5, 3:16, 18). After teaching, he prayed for God to empower the Thessalonians to act in line with the teaching, including being empowered to do good works, standing firm in trials, growing in love and endurance, and having God’s peace. We should, likewise, prayerfully read God’s Word, including praying before we read and praying throughout our reading, as we apply the text to our lives, church, family, community, and the world. Scripture should prompt us to pray. If we are unfaithful with reading Scripture, our prayers will commonly be anemic and ineffective. In fact, in John 15:7, Christ said this: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.” Our faithfulness to Scripture will affect the power of our prayer life and our consistency in praying as well (since we often stop doing things or rarely do them if they don’t seem to work.)

• Pray Specifically.

Though Paul was ultimately praying for the spiritual maturity of the Thessalonians, he was specific. He prayed specifically for God to help them grow in his love and perseverance—two characteristics they needed while enduring persecution, false teaching, and conflict in their church. Likewise, he was also specific when sharing his prayer requests for the spread and effectiveness of God’s Word and his deliverance from evil people. We should be specific when praying (and asking for prayer) as well. Certainly, God can use and direct general prayers for “God’s blessing,” but specific prayers are better than general prayers. When God answers them, it enables us to praise God and increases our faith. Specific prayers also help us manage our time in prayer. When God answers a specific request, we can cease to ask it and focus on something else.

• Pray Constantly.

Again, Paul prayed four times in this brief letter. It’s five times if you include his greeting of grace and peace (2 Thess 1:2). Even during his writing of a letter, Paul was constant in prayer. We, likewise, should be constant in prayer not just while studying God’s Word but at all times. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul said, “constantly pray.” To constantly pray, we must set times to focus on prayer, like in the morning, at night, and at our local church prayer meetings, but we should also pray extemporaneously (on the spur of the moment), including giving thanks, confessing sin, and offering requests throughout the day in all our endeavors. To constantly pray, we must do both (having set times and praying extemporaneously). If we are not praying at set times, it will hinder a routine flow of prayer throughout the day. We may actually find it hard to pray and not pray at all.

• Pray Universally (and not just locally).

Paul prayed for the Thessalonian church, but he also requested prayer for his ministry in Corinth. Likewise, for many, it would be a tremendous growth in grace to pray consistently for their local church, which is great. However, since the universal church is Christ’s body and our local church is just a part of the body, we should also pray for the concerns of other local churches and the church throughout the world. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul said this to Ephesians: “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” They were called to pray for “all saints.” We must do the same. We should pray for the Word of God to be faithfully preached and to be well-received, for spiritual protection from the evil one and spiritual growth, including in loving God, one another, unbelievers, and those who persecute them. Also, we should pray for believers’ perseverance through various trials and temptations and their character development. As we pray, we should not just pray locally but universally. We should also pray for special grace and protection over those who preach and teach the Word, including pastors, small group leaders, youth and children’s leaders, and missionaries. As our leaders are faithful, they will greatly help our local churches become so as well.

Application Question: What other principles or practices have you found helpful in developing your prayer life, especially when praying for ministers and local churches?

Conclusion

How can we faithfully pray for ministers and local churches? Often believers struggle with prayer, what to say, and how to pray consistently. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, we have a great example of both pastoral and congregational prayer, as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians and requested prayer for his ministry in Corinth.

1. To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for Ministers to Faithfully Declare God’s Word and for Its Acceptance by the Hearers

2. To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for God to Strengthen and Protect His People from the Evil One

3. To Faithfully Pray for Ministers and Local Churches, Pray for God to Enable His People to Mature Spiritually

Application Question: What aspect of the text or study stood out most and why?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to empower ministers to faithfully preach God’s Word, for unbelievers to be saved, and for believers to grow spiritually throughout the world.

• Pray for God to protect his ministers and local churches from the evil one, including institutionalized and social persecution.

• Pray for God to enable the saints to grow in obedience to God’s Word, love, and perseverance, especially when enduring trials.