PAUL’S CONFIDENT DEPENDENCY
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on May 22, 2019 under PM Bible Study |
PM Bible Study Group: May 22, 2019 from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Theme: In the light of end-times events, we are to ‘stand fast’ in the faith and ‘hold tight’ the traditions we have been taught in Christ.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
As we have seen so far in our study of this tiny New Testament book, the theme is a call for the believers in Christ to ‘stand fast’ in trying times. The key verse has been 2:15; “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught …” It’s a call from God’s word that we very much need to hear today.
This call was particularly relevant and practical to the Thessalonian believers. Paul and his colleagues rejoiced greatly to see the progress that they had made in the faith—especially since the first letter that he had sent to them. In fact, most of Chapter 1 of 2 Thessalonians is taken up with thanks to God for the faithfulness that the Thessalonians had demonstrated in the face of opposition and harsh persecution. But as Chapter 2 shows us, there was also the problem of the threat of false teaching to contend with. Paul sought to correct the errors that had been spread among the Thessalonians—chiefly because of false letters written as if from the apostles—to the effect that the day of the Lord had come. Paul dealt with this problem by giving them correct teaching in verses 1-12; and then by offering encouragement to ‘stand fast’ in verses 12-17.
And now, with Chapter 3, we come to an additional emphasis. As Chapter 1 dealt with thanksgiving, and as Chapter 2 dealt with doctrine, Chapter 3 deals with exhortation. (And by the way—isn’t that a great pattern to follow? In caring for the other believers in our lives, it’s good to begin with thanks to God for what God has done in them in Christ, and then establish correct doctrine for them concerning Christ, and then—once thankfulness and sound teaching are established—to go on to exhort them to good behavior out of love to Christ.)
In the beginning of this chapter, Paul looks ahead to other places of ministry. The work of spreading the gospel must go forward. He looked down the road to the work that God has for him and his ministry colleagues. But he also looked behind him to the gains that had been made with respect to the Thessalonians. And just as he trusted dependently upon God for the work that was ahead, he also trusted God for the preservation of the work he was leaving behind. The common factor in it all is ‘confident dependency upon God’. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, he writes;
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5).
Paul was an utterly God-dependent man. That is why God was able to do such great things through him. And here, in this passage, we see a picture of his confident dependency upon the Lord. Through his dependency—and through the exhortations, Paul gives the Thessalonians—we learn how we too must trust God in all our labors for the cause of Christ in the lives of others.
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Notice first …
1. PAUL’S CONFIDENT DEPENDENCY FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD (vv. 1-2).
Paul begins by asking prayer for God’s blessing on the preaching of the gospel in other regions. He writes, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you …” (v. 1a). You might say that the level of our dependency upon God is shown by our desire for the prayers of others.
Paul starts this request off by saying, “Finally, brethren …”; and in this, he demonstrates a clear sense of partnership with the saints—calling them ‘brethren’. The word ‘Finally’ can be translated by the phase, ‘In this connection …’; and it would point the words of verse 1 back as a logical outcome of the things Paul stressed in the last verses of chapter 2. Back there, he exhorted the believers not to let go of the things they learned, but to ‘stand fast’ and ‘hold the traditions’ that had been passed on to them. A key part of ‘standing fast’ and ‘holding on’ to the things we have gained in the gospel is that we keep faithful to pray for that gospel to spread further and change the lives of others. And so, he exhorts, “pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you …” (v. 1b).
And look carefully at the list of things Paul asks prayer for. Paul first asks for the Thessalonians to pray “for us”—that is, the gospel workers themselves. It may be that they thought back and remembered the courage and boldness of the apostle Paul and his ministry partners when they first came to Thessalonica. It may have been tempting to think that a man like Paul didn’t need much prayer. But clearly he did—and he greatly desired the prayers of the saints for his life and the lives of the others. And then, notice that he asked for prayer for the message that they preached. He asks that it be given ‘wings’ by the Lord and that it be made to spread “swiftly” (that is, in an unhindered and rapid manner). Paul wanted as many people to hear the gospel as possible—and as soon as possible. And finally, notice that Paul asks prayer for those who hear it; that it “be glorified” (that is, well-received, and trusted, and obeyed) “just as it is with you”. In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul wrote about how the Thessalonians “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9); and that is the response that he trusts God for—and asks prayer to God for—with respect to those who will hear this ‘swiftly spreading’ gospel. He would have wanted others to also “welcome it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13); and that others would see their faith grow “exceedingly”, and the love of every one of them abound toward one another (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Now; that’s Paul’s prayer with regard to the gospel message that he and the others preached. He asks prayer that others will receive it as they themselves did. But he also asks prayer for protection, while preaching it from, those who are hostile to it. He goes on to ask prayer “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith” (v. 2). The Thessalonian believers would have also known a thing or two about this. After all, Paul began this second letter by saying to the Thessalonians;
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
It would not only be among the unbelieving people of the city of Thessalonica that resistance to the gospel would be encountered. And so Paul asks that he and the other preachers be delivered from “unreasonable and wicked men”. The opposition of those who are hostile to the gospel is a result of the devil’s blinding both their minds and their wills; so that they neither understand, nor are willing to submit to the light of God’s grace. And Paul even puts this in an almost understated kind of way; “ for not all have faith.”
Paul was a man who, throughout his ministry, demonstrated a dependency upon the prayers of God’s people—not only for the success of the gospel that he preached, but also for the protection of God in his preaching of it. It is a part of the strategy of our prayers for the gospel to ask for both the success and safety of its preachers. In Ephesians 6:18-20; Paul writes;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Similarly, he wrote to the believers in Colossae and asked;
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak (Colossians 4:2-4).
If Paul—in his day—was so dependent upon the prayers of God’s people for the spread of the gospel, can we be any less so today?
Now; verses 1-2 have their focus upon the gospel going forward. But what about the work that it has already accomplished? In verses 3-5, we see …
2. PAUL’S CONFIDENT DEPENDENCY FOR WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND (vv. 3-5).
Paul rejoiced greatly in the spiritual gains that the Thessalonians had made. And he didn’t want those gains to be lost. But even that was not ultimately dependent upon himself. He trusted that God would establish the believers in Thessalonica in their faith—and keep them strong and solid in that faith.
Note first how, in verse 3, he trusts God to establish and protect them. He writes, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (v. 3). His confidence was not in his own teaching or preaching abilities, or on the impact he had on the Thessalonians, but on God who Himself loves them and is faithful to them. Paul recognized that God loved them more than even he did—and that He was able even to protect them from a powerful spiritual enemy who viciously hated them. His attitude toward them was of the kind of confident dependency that he expressed in Acts 20. Just before leaving the pastors in Ephesus—believing that he would never see them again—he said;
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:28-32).
Not only did Paul trust God to establish and protect the Thessalonian believers, but he also trusted God to enable them to be obedient. In verse 4, he writes, “And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.” He not only had confidence in the Lord’s ability to establish them in their faith, but also to empower them for obedience in that faith. He trusted God (not them, or himself, but God) that they would do in the present, and will also do in the future, the things that Paul and the other missionaries commanded them. He was confident that the God who gave the gospel, and blesses its spread, will also see to it that its goal is accomplished in the lives of those who believe it. As Paul wrote in Titus 2;
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).
And finally, note that Paul trusted confidently in God to guide and direct the hearts of his precious brothers and sisters in Christ. In verse 5, he closes by saying, “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” In this closing ‘prayer/wish’ for them, Paul expresses his confident trust that God Himself—who loves these believers infinitely—would Himself “direct” or “guide” or “make straight” their hearts. He began a good work in them, and He will complete it. Here, we see their beliefs of the mind (establishment in the faith, v. 3), their conduct of the life (obedience to commandments, v. 4), and their attitude of soul (direction of heart, v. 5), all being entrusted to God’s mighty care. This ‘care’ involved their being directed by God to love one another with the love that is modeled after God’s own love; and the patience (in trials) that was modeled after Christ’s own patience in suffering.
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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; if someone so great as the apostle Paul expressed such confident dependency upon God—both for the spread of the gospel message and for the growth of the saints who hear it—then can we depend upon God any less?
Let’s show our confident dependency by our faithful prayers for the work of the gospel!
EA
