PRAYER THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

(1 Thessalonians 3:9–13, NLT) “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”

1. Pray endlessly.

(Ephesians 6:18, NLT) “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

2. Pray earnestly.

“Pray earnestly”

(Ephesians 3:20, NLT) “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

3. Pray explicitly.

“…asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.”

a. Pray about the timing.

“Bring us to you very soon.”

b. Pray for overflowing love.

“And may the Lord make your love for one another … overflow … just as our love for you overflows.”

c. Pray for growth.

“And for all people grow and overflow”

d. Pray for the will of God.

“Make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy”

e. Pray with the imminent return of Christ in mind. 

“As you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”