PRAYING 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1

Over the past months we have been digging into several apostolic prayers together to see why we should pray them, and how we can use them as we pray. Praying Biblical prayers is such an important foundation for our personal prayer lives as well as for corporate expressions of prayer. Today we are looking at 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

“Finally brothers, pray for us that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.”

This apostolic prayer gives us incredible language for intercessory prayers, especially for those who are laboring in the mission field.

Just from reading the text we know that the book of 2 Thessalonians is written by Paul and fellow laborers to the Church of the Thessalonians (1:1). Paul begins the letter by acknowledging and thanking God that their faith is growing abundantly and their love for each other is increasing (1:3). This is the fruit of the gospel! He also says that he boasts about them to other churches because they have had steadfast faith in the midst of persecution (1:4).  Obviously the Word of God has made a great impact in this city. (You can read all about it in Acts 17). 

Paul goes on to encourage the church with the truth about Jesus’ second coming to help them in the midst of their current sufferings. He points their eyes to when Jesus will be revealed “with his mighty angels in flaming fire” (1:8) and reminds them of His great power and might. He then encourages them to stand firm and hold to what they have been taught (2:15). 

As we get into the prayer in chapter 3 Paul turns from praising the church in Thessalonica to instead asking them to pray for him and Timothy. This is a beautiful example of the Church praying for the laborers in the harvest. He asks the church to pray that the Word would run swiftly as happened among you. Paul is saying - “Look how the Word of God has been glorified in you, pray for that same thing to happen with us as we continue to preach the gospel.” 

Now that we’ve seen the context, we know that Paul sees the fruit of the Word running swiftly as: 

1) faith growing abundantly

2) love for one another increasing 

3) steadfastness in persecution 

We can then take these truths as prayer points for whatever topic or people we are praying for. I love to use this prayer when I am praying for missionaries and laborers of the Gospel. I pray that God would do the same work of salvation and deliverance he did in my heart, in the hardest and darkest places. I pray that as the Word of God is preached in Turkey, in China, and in Iraq, that those who hear would have faith that grows abundantly. I pray their love would increase for each other and that they would be steadfast in persecution. I pray for those who share the gospel to be delivered from any evil scheme of the enemy. 

I love to imagine in detail what it actually looks like for my prayers to be answered. In faith I ask God to build His Church and for Jesus (the Word) to be glorified. Praying these words from the Scripture helps me to agree with God’s heart and gives me confidence that my prayers will be answered. I encourage you to use 2 Thessalonians as you pray for the nations, for laborers and even for your own cities and churches.