Building a deepening relationship requires vulnerability. When one person trusts another with their fears, doubts, concerns, dreams, etc. Churches must do this. We must lean-in to each other and share ourselves with each other. How else can we be of one mind? Paul set the example of sharing, to the point he was willing to be vulnerable by sharing his fears and doubts with this infant church in the Thessalonica. And just as he proved to be an encouragement to them through the message that he sent, they proved to be an encouragement to Paul by the report that Timothy brought back.
In this give-and-take between Paul and the Thessalonians, both were encouraged. This models how fellowship and vulnerability work in the church: we share our doubts and discouragement, our blessings and our rejoicings; and we pick one another up in the process. The Apostle Paul seems to be one of the most transparent men who ever lived. To read his letters is to see into his life. He willingly shares his doubts, hopes, concerns, joys, sorrows, and weaknesses. We see all of this in 1 Thessalonians. But all of the things that Paul shares about himself, perhaps the most profound is his prayer life. Through reading his prayers, or at the least, the elements of his prayers, he reveals his heart for God and his heart for people.
Take time and read 1 Thessalonians 3.9-13. There we find some key elements of Pau;’s prayer for this church. I believe it should be the prayer model we use for our churches as well.
First, be thankful for others. “For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;” (9). Paul was thanking God for the joy that he had from Timothy’s report. People can bring heartache, but they can also bring us joy. We ought to take time to rejoice more! We tend to suppress the joy that God brings— when someone begins to cry for happiness, we say ‘sorry for crying’. Yet we rarely say sorry for complaining?!? Something is wrong with the way we view people and our inter-responses. We tend to express more fully our emotions when a person brings us less than joy. Your concentration on this matters. Instead of dwelling on the negative, suppress and ignore it. Then take time, every time, to thank God for others (be specific). Always thank God for the joy others bring to us—this should create a new habit of Christ-likeness in us.
Secondly, pray for spiritual growth. “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (10). They prayed night and day for: 1) see them; 2) disciple them. The word “perfect” is maturity— Their faith needs to grow, so pray to that end. Do you have a problem with a believer? Either they or you, or both, need to grow up in Christ! Be humble and pray for that specifically. Instead of complaining— pray.
Third, pray for direction. “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” (11). He still wanting to go and see them, but was still prohibited. What do you do at this point? Sit and do nothing? Push on and find a way? Paul put trust in God’s ability to lead and guide their continued desire. He specifically asked God to— “direct our way”.In Proverbs 3.5-6 we read these same things. We also pick this up in Psalm 37.1-7. Both of these passages tell us to not only ask the Lord for the direction, but when asking for directions, you wait, you listen, and then you rest in Him. Anyone can ask, but He is looking for someone who will ask for Him to “direct” them. Just about the only way you will do that is if you trust (rest) in Him (Psalm 37.3,7). By the way— peace only comes from the Holy Spirit when praying—Philippians 4.6-7.
Fourth, pray for love to increase. “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:” (12). Increase and abound (up and up) in love. 1) one toward another; 2) to all men. This is done by example— “even as we do toward you.” How did Paul love them? He loved them tenderly as a mom and dad (2.7,11). He wrote letters, sent Timothy on 2 dangerous visits, saying that he loved them, etc. He basically loved them how Christ loves us— unconditionally and proved it! (Matthew 22; John 3.16; 1,2 John)
Fifth, pray for continued preparedness. “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.” (13). “to the end” means— the goal. The goal was that He may establish their hearts. Why? He is coming back and you will give an account. Prepare for this meeting and prepare others for this meeting was Paul’s message. This is where our hope exists. We have hope because this life isn’t the end, just the beginning. Preparing for this and continued preparedness for others is not only essential but uplifting. It would do us some good to turn off the news and talk about some heavenly eternal things for a change. I also want to stand “unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” I want this for every believer of the assembly I am covenanted with. How about you? This isn’t threatening to the Disciple of Christ. No. Conversely it is encouraging!
All of this praying has an end-goal. It is not so that you will live a comfortable, educated, disciplined life; but a life that you will be proud to give an account for.
Notice the intensity of the prayer in verse 10— “Night and day praying exceedingly…”. The word “prayers” is: δεόμενοι (denomai). It means to make request or petition (literally to beg). The greeks used it as: ‘to bind oneself to’. This my friends is intercession—to bind yourself to another. This is the spirit of this letter to Thessalonica and this text specifically. He said “exceedingly” which is: ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ (hyperekperissou). The word ‘hyper’ is just as it sounds— in excess, super, above or beyond. The second part— perissou is abundantly excessive, beyond the norm, preeminently. Then we add the ‘ek’ which is from, or out of, but most often used as completion of a task. Which is why ek is used with perissou— to bind yourself until complete.
Lost yet? Let’s put all of that Greek together and make it 21st century bite-sized. Paul said: ‘We are tied to you; begging God excessively beyond the norm with abundance, until He completes you.’
Is that how you pray for disciples? Is that the kind of relationship we have in our churches? Like that—for someone else?
Pray Hard!