Yesterday I was privileged to lead a prayer meeting for global leaders and on the video call were many who were seeing God do amazing things but in very difficult places to share the gospel. The risks are high and they suffer right alongside the persecuted because they are right there. It was a huge privilege.
Paul has been writing to the Thessalonians basically saying you will be vindicated when Christ returns. He then leads us to see how he prays for them and how we should do too.
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1 v 11-12)
Here are the 6 prayers Paul prays:
- He prays that they will be worthy of His calling.
Isn’t this going to happen anyway? “All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering, v5” If it is going to happen then why pray? The answer is that this is the heart of the whole Bible story. Aligning with the plan of God. Look at the very last verse of the Bible in Revelation 22 v 20: “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Praying for what is going to happen anyway. It is to share in the plan and purpose of God.
- He prays that their every good desire will bear fruit.
In my prayer meeting yesterday we heard of an initiative of focused evangelism over 50 days in Sierra Leone in non-Christian communities leading to the planting of churches. We heard of Vision 300 which is the raising of 300 Gideon’s to reaching the least reached people in India with a desire to see signs, wonders and miracles upon miracles. Good desires!!
- He prays that their every faith deed will bear fruit.
I’m staying thinking about the prayer meeting but it helps to give an example of what Paul is praying for and how we should pray too. We prayed for an initiative in Myanmar as the Christmas outreaches will start soon amongst the villages who have never heard of Christ. It is risky and it takes faith.
- He prays that Jesus will be glorified in them.
A church planter in a very difficult situation told of 2 Buddhist girls who have just become saved. One because Jesus kept showing up in her dreams and the other because she got sick and needed an operation but had heard that Jesus heals and he did and she didn’t need the operation! Can you imagine these 2 girls? Can you imagine how much of the presence of Christ is currently being seen in their life. They are shining bright the power of Christ!
- He prays that they will be glorified in Jesus.
Sitting in that prayer meeting which we do every month listening to one another, iron sharpening iron, I understood what it is that we be glorified in Jesus. These Church planters and Pastors working in the suffering places of the world only have Jesus as their source. He is everything. Who they are in Jesus is all that matters. Christ is all to them.
- He prays according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no worthiness without grace; there is no goodness without grace; no successful faith steps without grace; no glory without grace.
Missions Paul 