PRAY FOR US

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5, NLT)

1.  When is the last time you ask someone to pray for you?

“We ask you to pray for us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, NLT)

Why don’t we?

a.  We Forget

b.  We Fall out of the Habit

c.  We are too Proud

Ask Someone to Pray for You Tonight

2.  Commit to praying for people rather than criticizing them

“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? … each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall … the Kingdom of God is a matter … of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:10-13, 17, NLT)

3.  Pray that …

“Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, NLT)

a.  The Word of the Lord will spread rapidly.

b.  Pray that the Word of the Lord will be honored.

c.  The Word of God is honored by being …

• believed
• accepted

Where are you praying that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly?

Who are you praying for to accept the Word of the Lord?

You can change eternity for someone through prayer.

4.  Pray for protection from evil

“Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.” (2 Thessalonians 3:2, NLT)

a.  Not everyone is in favor of what you do for Christ.

b.  If someone doesn’t want to change the gospel is an enemy to them.

c.  Will I have the strength to prevail?

5.  The Lord is my confidence

“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3–4, NLT)

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NLT)

Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God; and he that trusts God, obeys God. Charles H. Spurgeon

“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5, NLT)

Confident in …

a.  God’s faithfulness

b.  In the face of evil

c.  In the power to do what God commands

d.  In what God does in my heart

• To know what to do today and tomorrow
• To direct my heart into Christ’s love and perseverance

Confidence: “It is not a gift that Jesus gives, it is a gift that Jesus is.” –Lloyd John Oglive