In today’s passage we can learn about prayer from Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians. As we think about our own prayers, we should ask, “Who are the characters in my prayer life? What am I praying for? Why am I praying for these things? When do I pray for these things?”
(A) Prayer: Grounded in Genuine Love for Others (1 Thess 3:8-9)
What has happened in the book of Thessalonians thus far?
The Thessalonians suffered persecution and Paul is worried about their faith in God and whether they had been shaken. In the second box, there is separation. Paul is no longer with the Thessalonian church, but has a great desire to see them face to face. His solution is to send Timothy on a journey to establish and exalt their faith so that no one would be moved in their affliction. Timothy returns with good news and Paul is comforted. This is the context in which Paul is praying.
Paul reacts to the good news of their faith with thanksgiving and joy (1 Thess 3:8). It is a life-giving encouragement to Paul that the Thessalonians stood fast in Christ, as it meant that they held on to God’s promises. In particular, Paul is thankful that they are “standing fast in the Lord”. Paul is thankful that God had kept the church steadfast in their faith.
What does it mean that they were standing fast? We know that the Thessalonians were suffering affliction, and so they were subjected to poor circumstances and troubles. Paul’s desire was thus for them not to waver or sway from Christ. To stand fast in the Lord meant that they were to continue to trust in Christ and in the promises of the Gospel. We saw in 1 Thess 1:9-10 that they stayed faithful to Christ by not turning back to their former idols. The suffering and circumstances that they faced did not lead them to let go of God’s promises. Instead, they leaned on the truth that Christ saved them from their sins, and held this truth as worthy of their suffering. This is what it means practically for us not to be moved.
And so we see Paul’s great love for the Thessalonian church. If Paul did not love them so, he would not have expressed such concern for them and their spiritual well-being. In light of this love for the Thessalonians, we see how he prays for them, as an example for us to pray as well.
(B) The 4Ws of Paul’s Prayer (1 Thess 3:10-13)
One simple way of unpacking and understanding Paul’s prayer is to ask 4 Ws — who, when, what, why.
Who is in Paul’s prayers?
Firstly, God the Father, and Jesus Christ is mentioned in 1 Thess 3:11. The actor in Paul’s prayer is God. Paul asks for God to do things. God is thus recognised as the sovereign actor in our lives. How often do we pray for people to move instead of praying for God to move?
Next, Paul also speaks of himself and his companions and the Thessalonians are also the people he is praying for. Paul’s prayer was addressed from the three authors of Thessalonians. When we pray do we pray in a group. The Thessalonians are in Paul’s prayer. Are other people in our prayers? Sometimes we even mention ourselves more than God. Are we praying to ourselves, and to our own desires, instead of God’s desires?
Bible teacher John Piper describes prayer in this way: ““Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need.” Sometimes we ask, “If God knows what we need and want, is prayer counter-intuitive?” We can think about prayer not being about changing God, but changing ourselves and our hearts to recognise that we are dependent on God. When we pray, we admit that we are dependent on God and need him in our lives.
When does Paul pray?
In 1 Thess 3:10, he says that they pray “most earnestly night and day”. Paul prays regularly and earnestly. He was not just praying flippantly, but was intentional and genuine in his concerns. Do we ever offer to pray for somebody and then forget to pray or follow up with them? Paul here is earnest and remembers people for whom he prays for.
Paul prayed all the time in a rhythm, yet maintains his passion in his prayer. Sometimes we pray consistently, but then lose the heart for the people we pray for. Other times, we pray with great passion, but soon fizzle out. May we pray consistently and fervently for the people we love.
What are the things Paul prays for?
One thing that Paul prays for is for God to direct their way to the Thessalonians to supply what is lacking in their faith. Paul is concerned about their growth as Christians. He wants to help them grow in their faith in Christ and he longs to do this in person. Their saving faith was not in question (1 Thess 1:4-5) for they bore fruit that all could see (1 Thess 1:7-8) but since Paul had to leave prematurely due to the Jewish opposition (Acts 17), they have much more to learn about their faith in Christ. Paul wanted to perfect their faith in Christ, to teach them even more about the implications of the gospel in their lives.
This is what we read our Bibles for, we are looking to grow as Christians, and to love the truths and promises of God. Paul is not only concerned with their conversion. He is also concerned with their sanctification and growth. Are we the same? Are we looking to grow as Christians? Are we looking to help others grow? In fact, he prays for exactly for that next.
Paul also prays that Christ will make them increase and abound in love for one another (believers) and all, just as Paul and his companions love them. Paul prays for God to make them increase and abound (it is overflowing) in love for one another and all. This love is not reserved for your best friends or families. Paul prays for them to love even people who are hard to love, their enemies. Jesus himself taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44)
The application and implication of this verse is astounding. Do you realise that God has control over our love for others? Do you pray for your love for people regularly As we struggle with unhappiness, bitterness, anger against someone, this verse also challenges us to try parying for them. How does praying change your attitude towards them?
Remember that Paul has commended the Thessalonians for their “labour of love” earlier in 1 Thess 1:3. Paul illustrates this love for the Thessalonians in his own love for them. He wants to them to love all as much as he loves them. Love is a trait of the those who follow Jesus. Jesus tells us that the defining trait that disciples of Christ will have is their love for one another (John 13:34-35).
Why does Paul pray for these things?
Paul prays these things so that their hearts may be blameless in holiness before God (1 Thess 3:13). Paul does not pray for their circumstances to change, or for their affliction and suffering to go away. It is not even about them doing stuff. It is not about actions but about their hearts (motives, desires, thoughts).
Paul is also a realist about suffering (c.f 1 Thess 3:3). He knows suffering will come and he isn’t praying that it will go away. If we imagine and yearn for our suffering to go away in this lifetime, we will be disappointed. Suffering will come and we need to learn to suffer well by standing fast in the Lord as the Thessalonians have done.
These verses also teach us that holiness is the mark of those who participate in the second coming of Christ. The word “saints” in 1 Thess 3:13 literally means “holy ones”. Our salvation is all of grace. Not only is God the one who brings people who encourage our faith, and makes us abound in love, God is also the one who establishes hearts blameless at the second coming of Christ. Paul is praying with regards to their status before God at the coming of Christ. Holiness is important because all must come before Christ the Judge (c.f. 2 Cor 5:10). How are you praying with eternity in mind? He is ultimately concerned not with their physical well-being but with their spiritual one because it has eternal consequences. He knows that Christ must establish them blameless in holiness (Lev 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16).
What does it mean to be blameless in holiness? How can one be so? Look at what Paul prays for before this: He prays for their love to increase and abound for all. Holiness involves having a love for others. It means having an interest in the lives of others, to seek the good of others. This means one has to turn away from oneself to love others. It can and will involve some sacrifice on our part to love all. How to know you are growing in love? When you are less concerned with self- comfort and fulfillment, when you spend more time with other people in their needs.
As we read this prayer, we see that Paul was concerned about the Thessalonians’ physical and spiritual well-being. He prayed regularly that he might be able to meet them to love them, and that they too will love so that they can establish their hearts in holiness. Likewise, we should pray regularly and earnestly for the people whom we love. We should also pray for God to increase our love for all peoples, so that we can establish our hearts blameless in holiness at his second coming.