A Missionary Prayer
2Thess 3:1,2 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
While it's interesting to speculate about how exactly God involves himself in the process of causing the message to spread rapidly and be honored as it had been in Thessalonica, the fact is that these are legitimate and indeed authorized and recommended subjects of prayer. We should not be content with the slow dissemination of the gospel, but rather should pray for its rapid spread.
However, in saying "rapidly" Paul did not mean to imply shallowness to the communication of the message. In this fast-paced world we should be careful not treating the gospel like fast-food. Rather the gospel is to be communicated clearly and comprehensively. (If you asked the apostle John to preach his gospel he would go on for 21 chapters) And it should be communicated boldly, with an effort made to win a hearing. And when embraced, there should be a concerted effort to establish it in the lives of the believers. Paul would often spend years in a location preaching and discipling individuals. So while we pray that the message may spread rapidly, we pray also that it may preached and understood comprehensively, and that those who spread the message may be respected and committed to the establishment and maturing of those who accept the message, as Paul set forth in his example with the Thessalonians.
Likewise, pray that the message may be embraced not simply as an interesting idea, but as a life-changing conviction, as it had been among the Thessalonians. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. These days such an embracing of the gospel is yet to be experienced among many, even among "Christianized" countries, let alone those cultures which are closed and hostile to the gospel in which Christians seemingly cower in secrecy. How far have we come from the example of New Testament Christianity! So there's plenty of room for prayer along these lines.
And pray that the messengers may place their confidence in God in protecting them from wicked and evil men, and that God would show himself to be strong on their behalf in this regards.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
2Thess 3:1,2 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
While it's interesting to speculate about how exactly God involves himself in the process of causing the message to spread rapidly and be honored as it had been in Thessalonica, the fact is that these are legitimate and indeed authorized and recommended subjects of prayer. We should not be content with the slow dissemination of the gospel, but rather should pray for its rapid spread.
However, in saying "rapidly" Paul did not mean to imply shallowness to the communication of the message. In this fast-paced world we should be careful not treating the gospel like fast-food. Rather the gospel is to be communicated clearly and comprehensively. (If you asked the apostle John to preach his gospel he would go on for 21 chapters) And it should be communicated boldly, with an effort made to win a hearing. And when embraced, there should be a concerted effort to establish it in the lives of the believers. Paul would often spend years in a location preaching and discipling individuals. So while we pray that the message may spread rapidly, we pray also that it may preached and understood comprehensively, and that those who spread the message may be respected and committed to the establishment and maturing of those who accept the message, as Paul set forth in his example with the Thessalonians.
Likewise, pray that the message may be embraced not simply as an interesting idea, but as a life-changing conviction, as it had been among the Thessalonians. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. These days such an embracing of the gospel is yet to be experienced among many, even among "Christianized" countries, let alone those cultures which are closed and hostile to the gospel in which Christians seemingly cower in secrecy. How far have we come from the example of New Testament Christianity! So there's plenty of room for prayer along these lines.
And pray that the messengers may place their confidence in God in protecting them from wicked and evil men, and that God would show himself to be strong on their behalf in this regards.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
