1 Thessalonians 3 Part 2 Putting in the Effort for Spiritual Progress

Put in the effort to make progress in our walk with Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 3:8  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.  

Paul reminds all of us about the eternal life that was given to us when we first trusted Jesus Christ. 

Each Christian is somewhere on the path of spiritual growth where we begin as a babe in Christ and make progress toward a full and mature faith.

It is a path that is sometimes marked by ups and downs, twists and turns. Yet, after every twist or valley, our trust in the LORD is strengthened.

Pray for one another seeking God's will to be done.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10)  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 

Paul was full of joy, praise and thanksgiving. When we are most cheerful as Christians we should be most thankful to God who has blessed us and filled our heart with joy.

All things that we rejoice in we should also remember to express thanksgiving to our Father in heaven, from whose hand the blessings have come. 

Paul was so full of joy that he had difficulty finding words to describe how his heart praised God for the Thessalonians.  

He made sure to give God all glory for how the power of the gospel of Christ was transforming their lives. 

He prayed during the night and during the day for that church, and that he might be able to visit them again. 

Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians was fervent prayer. He prayed frequently and earnestly for their spiritual well being.

This is a good reminder for us that when we are most thankful we should always give ourselves to prayer.  

We must pray for those whom we love and care for. 

We must pray for Christians who bring us great joy or who comfort us. 

Praying for one another should be a labor of great love, because each believer in Christ still lives in a world of sin, depravity and evil. 

Thus, we pray for God's mighty hedge of protection around our homes, our families and our church family. We pray for our pastor's protection and for all who minister to us with the Word. 

We face an active, evil enemy of God and of our soul, each day. This is why Paul prayed so much for this church, and we are commanded to pray for one another. 

The early church spent much time in praying for one another. 

Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Prayer was a hallmark of the early church. The first group of 3,000 new Christians dedicated themselves to learning and living by the apostolic truth and to pray for one another. 

Paul consistently prayed to bring his needs to the Lord. 

Romans 15:30-32  Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31)  That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32)  That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.  

Paul asked the church at Rome to pray with him for his needs to be delivered from the unbelieving Jews in Judaea who sought to eliminate the apostle. 

He asked them to pray that the Lord would make it possible for him to visit the church at Rome. 

We must persist in prayer having faith in our Great God. 

1 Timothy 2:1-8  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2)  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4)  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5)  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6)  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7)  Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8)  I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 

Paul instructed young Timothy about prayer. God's will is that all Christians pray for others and for our personal needs. 

Supplication is seeking help from our Mighty God. Our prayers are addressed to our heavenly Father. 

Intercession is when we lift up the needs of others in prayers to the Lord. 

We give thanks to the Lord when we pray for His many benefits, blessings and His care of us.

Paul tells us that such prayer is for all men, for those who are in authority over us. 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

We are to pray with hope and faith in our hearts. If we pray with doubt in our minds, then our prayer is not effective because we are doubting God Himself. 

God can and will answer our prayers according to His will, His purposes and what He deems best for us.

Faith when praying means believing that the Father will hear us and that He will answer our prayer. 

We bring all of our needs, burdens and cares to the Lord in prayer. 

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Paul tells us to bring all of our needs and burdens to the Lord in prayer, no matter how large or small they may be. 

Prayer should always be made with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving to God because Jesus Christ opened the door of heaven so that we can pray to the Father (See Hebrews 4:14-16).

Colossians 4:2-4  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3)  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4)  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

The Spirit of God moved the apostle Paul to write much about prayer. Here we are reminded to continue in prayer, that is, to be ready to pray at all times, in all places and circumstances.

Prayer is an opportunity to express our thanksgiving to the Father for all of His provision for our physical and spiritual needs.  

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12)  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13)  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 

Paul's specific prayer was that the Father would direct his path so that he could return to Thessalonica. 

His prayer for the church was that they would increase in their love for one another and their love for others to whom they could share the gospel. 

He prayed that their hearts would be anchored to the Word of God such that they were committed to obeying the gospel. 

He ended by reminding them once again, that our King, Master and Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. 

We must be waiting for His return with expectancy, as strangers and pilgrims.

We must be watching for His return with great anticipation as we go through this life.

We must keep working for our Lord in all that we say or do, seeking to advance His kingdom.

We must keep meeting together to worship in Spirit and in Truth. 

Let us endeavor to follow hard after our Lord. 

Let us pray as fervently and effectively as Paul prayed for those whom he loved and ministered to.

Bob