Pray for the Word to Spread

Transcript

GR 44
7/14/1974
Pray for the Word to Spread
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Gil Rugh

We're ready to look into chapter 3 this evening as we pick up with, and center our attention, on just the first five verses tonight, in the apostle’s closing remarks as he finishes up this letter.

Let's just have a word of prayer together. Father we do thank you for the sweetness of our fellowship with you and Lord for the fact that the more we mature in our relationship, the more we appreciate what you've done for us. The greater our love is for you. We pray that you will bless us in our time in the word this evening. We ask that you give us insight and understanding again we'll gain a greater appreciation of what you've done for us and what you are doing for us even now. We pray in Jesus name. Amen

Tonight chapter 3 begins, finally brethren, and it does not mean that Paul has said everything important that he has to say. It's a rather usual expression. Paul used it when he began chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians. Finally, and usually it marks the transition from the doctrinal point of the epistle or emphases of the epistle to what we might call the practical application, the more personal word. So the matters he has to say here are important and merit attention, but he has moved from the main thrust of the epistle, the doctrinal deviation in regard to the prophetic matters of the day of the Lord. He had settled that issue in chapter 2 so now he can move into other areas.

Last week we looked at verses 13 through 17, where Paul gave thanks to God for the choosing of the Thessalonians and we talked a little bit about God’s work in electing them. From the beginning, choosing them for salvation, and calling them through Paul’s gospel.

Now Paul turns and asks the Thessalonians, as chapter 3 begins, to pray. The first two verses form the content of his prayer and then verses 3 to 5 he talks about God's faithfulness. So God is faithful and the Thessalonians are to pray. And the two go hand in hand, and again we see the balance in Paul.
It is not a matter, we have to pray in order that God will be faithful, we pray because He is faithful. And again we often want to back up and say well, if He’s faithful He's going to get it done why should I pray? Well, we're back to what we talked a little bit about last week, that God ordains the means as well as the ends. The ends are settled and the means He going to use is our prayer.

Alright, looking at these opening verses then, Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you. To pray for us is present tense and it’s an imperative, a command, Brethren keep on praying for us. Paul may have heard that the Thessalonians were praying so he's exhorting them to continue in prayer for us. A strong exhortation. Not please pray for us, not just urging them to do something, but almost a command. In fact, a command to keep on praying for us. It's their responsibility to pray for Paul, just as Paul had noted in verse 13 of chapter 2, that it was his responsibility to pray for them. So it's a mutual obligation here, so Paul is completely in line in giving this exhortation and command. Pray concerning us. And two areas that he mentions first, in this first purpose of this prayer, the content of it is, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly. That the word of the Lord may spread rapidly. You'll note in the margin of your Bible that it has a note, a little numeral 1 beside “spread rapidly”. Then over by verse 1, literally run, that the word of the Lord may run. Spread rapidly gives the idea of the free spread of the Word without hindrance, without obstacles, that it will spread quickly and rapidly in many places.

It is not a new metaphor but one that's picked up from the Old Testament really. Psalm 147 uses this same expression. Psalm 147, verse 15, verse 12 picks up with Praise the Lord, 0 Jerusalem! Praise your God, 0 Zion! then some of what God accomplishes. Verse 15, He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. A picture of God’s word running, spreading rapidly, wherever it is sent.

Over in 2 Timothy, back behind 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, in chapter 2, verse 9, we have the opposite of this, the negative side. Verse 8, Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of the Lord is not imprisoned. So there the negative aspect the word of God is not imprisoned. The positive side it runs, it spreads swiftly. The picture of God’s word as an athlete running and no obstacles that can slow it up or keep it from accomplishing God's purposes. That shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish what I have intended and prosper in the areas where I have sent it, God spoke to Isaiah. So this is the first thing you ought to be praying about, that the Word of God may run. Now it is. I just quoted from Isaiah’s prophesy where God does say that His Word will accomplish what He purposes, but still the Thessalonians are to pray in order that this will be accomplished. That God’s purposes for His word will be fulfilled. The definitiveness of it, the assuredness of it, is to be an encouragement to prayer not a hindrance.

Second area is that it be glorified. That the Word runs and that the Word be glorified. Now we have the word run. The word is called active, present active. Now the word be glorified is passive. Now you remember active voice the subject does the acting and here the Word of God is acting it is running. But in being glorified it’s viewed as being acted upon. I take it what is in view here is the response of those among whom the word spreads. It will be glorified by their response to the word. As men respond in faith to God’s word, God is glorified, His Word is glorified, and He receives the honor and glory for it. So this is the picture, that men will respond to the Word in faith and thus the Word will be glorified. This is made clear by the end of statement of verse 1, just as it did also with you.

Now look over to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, to see the word of God with the Thessalonians and how it was glorified among them. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, picking up with verse 6, you also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit. So as they received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Spirit they became examples to believers in Macedonia and Achaia for the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you in Macedonia, Achaia and every place and so on. So the response of faith to the word of God by the Thessalonians had caused the Word of God to be glorified and magnified. Paul says now you Thessalonians, pray that this is accomplished where the Word of God spreads in other places. That it be glorified, and again we see the ultimate purpose in God’s work for His own glory. It’ll be glorified by the salvation of those who respond in faith. But the ultimate purpose even of their salvation is the glory of God because when God’s Word is magnified and glorified, God Himself is glorified.

Alright, so they are to pray in order that the word would run and that the word would be glorified. The first area they pray in then regards the message. The Word of God, dealing with something supernatural in that the origin is God. It’s His Word and that’s why it can run, that’s why it is worthy of being glorified and will be glorified. But secondly there's a more personal request. Paul asks that they pray for him as well in order that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men. So second area, I want you to pray for me as the messenger. For we who will be spreading the Word because the way that the Word of God runs is that men appointed by God carry the Word. Paul was one of these appointed messengers so he needed the prayers of the Thessalonians, and other believers, in order that we might be delivered. It means to save, rescue, preserve, to deliver. The idea of protection for the Apostle Paul and he needs delivered from men, who are perverse and evil. King James had that word perverse as unreasonable. Basically the word originally meant to be out of place something that was out of place, and then came over to use in the moral realm. Someone who was out of place morally was evil or perverse. So Paul says we need your prayers in order that we might be spared from men who are evil and perverse. In line with that the word evil, the common word for evil following perverse, some had divided this up where perverse refers to their behavior. Evil, the word evil, that’s used here refers to their character. So both in character and in conduct they are perverted and evil. The reason is for not all men have faith, and because there are some who do not believe. Paul needs protection and keeping by God because those who do not believe respond negatively to the Word. They refuse to respond positively and believe so they respond negatively. Natural outgrowth of this is the persecution of those who carry the message.

It is not possible for a person to be neutral. As much as people like to think they are, they are not. So those who have not believed have a negative reaction. Some of this negative reaction is more overt and clear and thus the persecution of the Apostle, so he says we need protection. Divine protection and thus we want you to pray for us. So you pray for the word as it goes forth and you pray for the messengers who will carry the Word.

Now Paul moves on in verse 3 to give the other side. Even though the Thessalonians have a responsibility to be in prayer, the success or failure does not rest with them but with God. That’s why the success is assured. Note verse 3. But the Lord is faithful, now there's a play on words here we don't pick up in English. The last word of verse 2, faith, the first verse in Greek of verse 3 is the one translated faithful. If I'd say those words, the faith at the end of verse 2 is (histis) and verse 3 begins with (histos), the only difference is an “o” before the final “s” instead of an “i”. So you can see these words are brought right together as Paul wrote this letter. Not all men have faith, faithful however is the Lord. So that striking contrast of the opposition that comes because men don't believe, but Paul is focused upon the faithfulness of God, and that guarantees the success of his mission. The success of the Word as he goes forth.

The Lord is faithful, faithful is the Lord. Note, the areas He is faithful will manifest itself, Who will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. So you note Paul is not just talking about himself. He’s prayed that he be preserved but it also includes them and so he talks about the faithfulness of God. He says God’s faithfulness will result in your protection and keeping. God is faithful he will strengthen, a word that means to set up to establish. To strengthen is the picture of one being firmly planted, immovable, given the strength necessary to stand, not falling back, not retreating, but God is faithful and thus He will strengthen.

So you note the Thessalonians are going to stand. They’re going to stand because God will strengthen them. But another word of encouragement here, He just doesn’t strengthen them, stand them up there and then leave them. He strengthens them, plants them firmly, and He will protect you. So it’s not just now I’m planted here firmly and now on my own, I’m sure I can withstand the assault. He’s planted me firmly but now He’s standing guard to keep me and protect me. The word to protect you, the word that means to watch, to guard, to defend, to protect. So the picture of me being planted there unmovable and now God standing guard to protect me. That pretty well makes me an immovable unshakable force because God has strengthened me, established me, and God stands there to protect me. They’ll have two-fold guarantee of victory. God has strengthened me, and now God stands to protect me and keep me, and thus I am sure I will be kept from the evil one.

This word guarded is used several times of different individuals. I thought I would just mention a couple to you because it's encouraging to see how God guards his people. Over in 2 Peter chapter 2, in verse 5 its used of Noah, 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 5. In verse 4 we're told that God did not spare angels when they sinned but He cast then to hell. Verse 5, He didn't spare the ancient world, so God didn’t spare angels. God didn't spare the ancient world, but God preserved, God guarded, or protected. That’s the word we have over in 2 Thessalonians. Noah was preserved because God was protecting him. Over in John chapter 17, verse 12, Jesus says that during His earthly ministry He was the one who guarded or preserved the disciples. John chapter 17, in verse 12 praying to His Father, verse 12, John 17; While I was with them I was keeping them in Thy name, which Thou hast given Me; and I guarded them. There’s our word. Note the results. I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. The only one who perished was the one who was appointed to perdition, Judas. So Christ, when He guarded the disciples, they were guarded. You know in our day if you are an important person, and maybe have enemies, you hire a bodyguard. Well we, as believers, have a bodyguard who is impenetrable, never fails, never caught off guard. No one ever sneaks through His defenses. You read in the paper periodically about a leader in some countries who has been assassinated in spite of the fact that his bodyguards are present. Well believers are never snuck up on, you know, if that’s a good way to put it, never surprised because He guards me. You think of the impact of that statement, He guards me. Paul then, writing to the Thessalonians, says the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you. Now you note His strengthening and His protecting does not depend upon my faithfulness. It’s not, He will strengthen and protect you if you do such and such and such and such.
He will strengthen and protect because He is faithful and it’s His character that is at stake. He must be faithful even when I am not. God can never be unfaithful and I'm thankful as a believer that my protection, my strengthening from God doesn’t depend on me but it depends on His faithfulness. Familiar with the promise, the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. That’s in 1 John chapter 4, verse 4. Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. So our victory is secure. I take it that the one we're talking about at the end of verse 3 is the devil. God will strengthen and protect you from the evil one referring to the devil Satan, and his assaults. He can assault, he can try but there's no hope for him. I could storm Fort Knox, I could do it, but there's not a chance in the world that I'm going to conquer it. That’s the way the devil is. He can rant and rave and array all his forces, but he just can't defeat me, because God is faithful and He will secure me. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 16, you can just jot it down, we won't turn to it, there we have the same expression. The evil one referring to Satan obviously. In Ephesians 6, the only other time Paul uses this expression incidentally in his writings, there obviously refers to the devil as well.

Alright verse 4. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you now. You note, the Lord is faithful and we have confidence in the Lord concerning you. Not we just have confidence in you that you're really going to hang in there, and boy when it’s all over you'll come through. Paul says I have confidence in the Lord concerning you. The reason the Apostle Paul was so positive concerning the Thessalonians was he was confident in God. If it depended on the Thessalonians, Paul would have known the outcome. He says I'm confident. We are trusting the Lord concerning you. The idea we have confidence in the Lord concerning you. What? That you will do, that you are doing, and will do, what we command. Paul says I am confident, your believers thus the children of God. God is faithful. He's at work in your life, so I have confidence and trust that God is going to continue to accomplish His purposes in your life. You will do as you have been doing. So two things brought in here. Their conduct has been good, you are doing and will continue to do what we command. You cannot get away from the fact that when God speaks that requires listening, that requires obedience, and the Apostle Paul recognized that he was God's spokesman. So he does not mellow what he says here. That you are doing, and will continue to do, as we hoped. As we urge, as we plea, as we command, is the word, because he was Gods spokesman. And what God had to say to the Thessalonians was a command. This is what you do as believers and I'm confident you will do it, because my confidence is in God.

Alright swing back in verse 5, and may the Lord direct your hearts. You will note the emphasis in verses 3, 4 and 5 has been on what God is doing. Verses 1 and 2 the Thessalonians are to pray. Then in verses 3 to 5 it’s God who is accomplishing and working out His purposes and plans. He's faithful. Paul has confidence in Him, and now His prayer that the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. To lead, the idea of making straight, correcting the roads before one to smooth them out in days when we didn't have paved roads, to open the way. To lead, to direct, now here, God to direct your hearts, to direct you. To work in your inner man into two areas. Into the love of God, and into the steadfastness of Christ. So you note, it’s God who's going to accomplish the work to bring them into this area and I take it he's talking about the love shown by God. The patience shown by Christ, not primarily taking about their love for God, but God's love for them. This characteristic of God is to become true of them. The love shown by God is to be true of them as well. God's love will characterize them. The same idea as we talked about this morning, where we're being molded and conformed to His image, so I become like Him. So now His love characterizes me.

Paul says I'm confident that the Lord will direct, and this is my prayer, that He will direct you into His love and into the patience of Christ. To love as God loves, to be patient as Christ is patient, would summarize it. To love as God loves, to be patient as Christ was patient. And those two things go hand in hand. These people under persecution, under difficulty, to love as God loved. Those are your enemies who are persecuting you, you love them as God loved them, and during this time of tribulation and persecution, to be patient as Christ was patient.

The word that means to abide under, to bear under. It doesn't mean that God's going to take away the difficulty. He's going to give you the strength. He's going to strengthen you to bear up under as Christ was strengthen and bore under or was patient, steadfast during trials and difficulties. So again it depends on God and Paul's going to be praying for them that the Lord will direct. It expresses a wish, the form used here. May the Lord direct your hearts, expresses the desire or wish of the Apostle Paul, that the Thessalonians would be growing and maturing in order that God's love would characterize them, that Christ’s patience would characterize them. This would enable them to stand and be the testimony that God intended for them to be at Thessalonica. They were molded and conformed to Him and to His image.

It's also going to form the background for what he has to say that in some commands regarding their conduct. You keep this in mind because we’re going to start talking about some unruly brethren who didn’t conduct themselves the way they should. Paul says throw them out. You may say, we just said love like the Lord loved, right, throw them out? No conflict at all. We need to have this balance often. We talk about loving like Christ loved and that means become squishy and tolerate anything among believers. Paul says love like God loved and throw them out. That’s the way it is. Manifest your love. Kick them out, they’re not welcome. Talking about believers now, professing believers at any rate, for leading unruly lives, then they are disciplined by believers as God would have them disciplined. There will be continuity and follow through. I think you and I should be encouraged by this.

Our responsibility is the same. You pray for me and I pray for you. We pray for the word as it goes forth and praise the Lord. I have the privilege of being part of what He’s going to do with His word, and yet the success or failure of it does not depend on me because there would be no success, only failure if it did. I have part in the blessing of the working of the word of God because I pray for the word as it goes forth and the those who minister the Word. But its God in His faithfulness that determines that the Word of God will accomplish His purposes. So, you and I can only be winners. We can’t lose. Gods going to do it anyway so what I want to do is get in and pray about it so that I can be in on the victory. Isn’t that something! Gods going to do it anyway but He gives me credit for praying about it. How ridiculous! You know that’s like somebody saying, I’ll give you ten dollars for preaching this morning. I already preached this morning give me the ten. That’s what God says. Victory is a settled thing because it depends on My faithfulness. Now you pray and you get to share in it. That’s great! Can’t lose, only win, and that’s the victory you and I have in Christ. The privilege of praying for one another and then sharing in what God is doing as He accomplishes His purposes.

That’s what we have been doing at Indian Hills, that’s the joy and privilege we’ve had together. You pray for me; I pray for you its God who works. Its God who uses his Word but what happens, we share in the victory and have the joy of being part of what he is accomplishing.
Let’s pray together. Father we do thank you for your faithfulness, Lord for the work that you’re doing in our lives, Lord we recognize that its supernatural it’s not believable from the human standpoint and the human aspects, but Lord we thank you for what you are doing through the power of the Word. Lord for the privilege of being involved in sharing the Word, of seeing the Spirit use the Word to transform lives; Lord we ask that we might be faithful in praying for one another. Lord thank you for the privilege of being part of what you are doing through prayer, of praying for the Word, Lord of praying for one another. Lord for the confidence and assurance we have in praying knowing that it depends upon you and not on us, that your Word will accomplish you purposes. Lord we thank you for the privilege of being part of the victory that you are accomplishing in lives. Lord, for the joy that we share as together we fellowship under the control and direction of the Spirit and the sharing of the Word with others, we pray in Jesus name. Amen