PRAYER IN THE GROWTH OF THE CHRISTIAN

1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-13

12/57

 

The burden on the heart of Paul for his new converts.

 

2:7,8c,11   A mother for her child, a father for his children.

 

2:18  Sought to visit them twice, but Satan hindered.

 

3:1-5  Unable to go himself, but his dearly beloved son in the faith, Timothy, left alone in Athens.

 

3:6-3 - Acts 18:5  Paul in meantime in Corinth, in affliction, much discouragement.  But Timothy's report:  gospel sounding forth, new converts, grown in grace, mastered in the faith...Paul filled with gladness, comforted.

 

3:7,8  ...now we live...  Not exaggeration.  His life took on new color, strength.

 

Paul in Corinth, unable to go to Thessalonica, gives himself to prayer for them.  If could not go, yet he could directly influence them by his prayers.

 

Note: The changing, moving, outreaching influence of prayer.

 

      1.  At home, incapacitated, limited in activity, cannot go to church, cannot do what otherwise would do.  Downcast.  But could become a great means of helping the work of Christ by the reaching out of the arms of intercession.  Many a minister, an intercessor behind him. 

 

      2.  After we are gone, God remembers that prayer.

 

            a.  Coulter Happen:  O Mother, do you see from heaven!  Your prayers have been answered.

 

      3.  Those far away.

 

            a.  Leader of an infidel club to Moody, Pray it on for me.

 

            B.  George Mueller, 5 men laid on his heart to pray for them.

 

18 months, 1 converted.

 

5 years more, another converted.

 

12-1/2 years more, another man.

 

40 years, said felt encouraged, sure of receiving the answer for the other two.

 

Notice what he prayed about:

 

3:10  might perfect that...their perfection in the faith.

 

3:12 increase in love...  The exhibition of that perfection.

 

3:13 ...establish your hearts...in holiness...  Established in holiness.

 

Paul's emphasis upon evangelism.  But also upon teaching.

Paul's emphasis upon conversion.  But also upon growing.

 

Compare:  The birth of a child.  But also the growth...

 

Hebrews 6:1ff

 

So many to me.  My life powerless.  Lacking.  Not connected.  Something more.  The fullness of the Spirit.  Baptism of Holy Spirit.

 

The means of this grace:  Prayer and the will of God.

 

The two first and essential means of grace are the Word of God and prayer.

 

      1.  By these come conversion.

 

1 Peter 1:23,25, John 1:18...by the Word of God...

Romans 10:13  ...whosoever shall call...  Prayer.

 

      2.  By them we also grown, mature, are sanctified.

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, but we cannot grown in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ except we speak to Him.

 

Ephesians 5:26  Ye are, sanctified, ye are cleansed with the washing of water by the Word.

 

John 17:17  Sanctify them through the truth:  Thy Word is truth.

 

We must have the two.

 

If study the Word, do not pray, become puffed up with knowledge.

 

If pray without reading the Word, we shall be ignorant of the mind, will of God, become fanatical, liable to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. 

 

The modern pulpit.

 

Educated, learned, many times brilliant, but weak in prayer.  The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer.  The learned young graduate of Union Seminary...versus Jesus, Paul poring over the Holy Scriptures, giving themselves to prayer...

 

      a.  Richard Cecil:  1748-1810  English preacher of great ability:

 

There is a manifest want of spiritual influence on the ministry of the present day.  I feel it in my own case and I can see it in that of others.  I am afraid there is too much of a love, managing, controversy, maneuvering temper of mind among us.  We are laying ourselves out more than is expedient to meet one mans taste and another mans dislikes.  The ministry should find in us a simple habit of spirit and a holy but humble indifference to all consequences.

 

      b.  William Penn of George Fox: 

 

But above all he excelled in prayer.  The inwardness and weight of his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and behavior, and the fervorness and fullness of his words have often struck even strangers with admiration.  The most awesome living, reverend frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say, was his prayer. And truly it was a testimony.  He knew and lived nearer to the Lord than other men, for they that know Him most will see most reason to approach Him with reverence and fear.

 

      c.  William Carey's brotherhood, Serampord:

 

Let us often look at David Brainerd in the woods of America pouring out his very soul before God for the perishing heathens.  Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness.  A heart given up to God in closet religion - this, more than all knowledge, or all other gifts, will fit us to become the instruments of God in the great work of human redemption.

 

      d.  Richard Newton

 

The principal cause of my leanness and unfruitfulness is owing to an unaccountable backwardness to pray. I can write or read or converse or hear with a ready heart; but prayer is more spiritual and inward than any of these, and the more spiritual any duty is the more my carnal heart is apt to start from it.  Prayer and patience and faith are never disappointed.  When I can find my heart in frame and liberty for prayer, everything else is comparatively easy.

 

 

      1. Submission.

 

Thy will be done.

 

            a.  Woman sick, asked, willing to live, die, which!  Answered which God pleases.  But, said one, if God should refer it to you, which would you choose?  Truly, replied she, I would refer it to Him again.

 

      2.  Waiting in faith.

 

            A.  Teacher, said a bright, earnest-faced boy, Why is it so many prayers are unanswered?  Bible says ask..seek..knock?  Did you sit by fire some evening, loud knock, answers, nobody, hear steps of mischievous boy - knocked, ran away.  Ask, do not expect, knock but do not mean to enter...