Christian Prayer: Praying For God's Glory

Title: “Purpose of Christian Prayer: God’s Glory” Scripture: II Thes. 1:11-12

Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 10-24-21

Intro: Throughout his entire ministry many hearers remarked that they were moved by his preaching, but yet still more affected by his praying. D. L. Moody after his first visit to England, being asked upon his return to America, "Did you hear Spurgeon preach?" He replied, "Yes, but better still I heard him pray." A close friend of Spurgeon's, commented on his prayer life, "His public prayers were an inspiration, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still. Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory." At one point, when visitors came from America to see New Park Street Church (Later Metropolitan Tabernacle) When people would walk through the Metropolitan Tabernacle (as New Park Street Church became known), Spurgeon took them to a basement prayer room where people were always on their knees interceding for the church. The famed preacher declared: “Here is the powerhouse of this church. ” The Apostle Paul would’ve heartily agreed. God is glorified through the prayers of His people.

Prop: Exam. II Thes. 1:11-12 will give us 3 Examples of how Christian Prayer Glorifies God.

BG: 1. I&II Thes unique, every chapter has some reference to the 2nd coming of Christ.

2. The church was suffering persecution. Persecution ramps up the believer’s prayer life.

3.

Prop: Exam. II Thes. 1:11-12 will give us 3 Examples of how Christian Prayer Glorifies God.

I. Keep Praying for Your Brothers and Sisters in Christ. vv. 11 a

A. Paul Made it a Point to Continually Pray for believers.

1. Paul states that the times in which believers live are impetus for prayer.

a. “we pray for you always” – Wow! How would that have made you feel to have known that the Apostle Paul said he was praying “always for you”? Pretty good? Why? Because Paul? NO! Because praying TO Jesus for you! Illust: Robert Wright is a pretty quiet and humble man. Many of you may not know him personally. However, he has probably prayed for you. One of Robert’s great desires is to pray daily for the people in this church. He practices what the apostle stated: “We pray for you always.”

b. V.11 – NASB “To this end”, RSV “Thus”, KJV “Wherefore” is a neuter relative that refers the reader back to the previous verses 5-10. It is the linking of a guiding thought. So what was that thought? Well, it was within the context of persecution and coming judgment.

2. This Prayer was written within a Specific Context.

a. What was the context? The context is the 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ – we see that in vv.7-10 (Read). In light of Christ’s coming and subsequent judgment, we need to be people of prayer. In I&II Thes., there are at least 14 separate instances in which Paul reminds the readers of their need to pray. That is a lot of references in these relatively short letters. What does that tell us? Prayer is important. No, prayer is essential!

b. Paul wrote 2 Thess from Corinth in AD 51 within months of writing the first letter. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, Paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions or problems regarding the end times. Several of Paul’s references indicate that some in Thessalonica were deliberately misleading these new believers, even to the point of false teachers forging letters to make them look as if they had come from the apostle.

B. How Should We Follow Paul’s Admonition today?

1. As 21st Century Believers, we too should seek to continually pray for believers.

a. Daily pray earnestly for believers. Look at v. 3 in this chapter. “: “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” We do not know what a believer may face in a day. Life may be altered in a moment. We need to pray. But one of the most important items we need to pray for one another is that our love for one another would grow daily. The world needs to see unified, loving, Christ honoring congregations firmly standing on the WOG.

b. Illust: Pray for Christian leaders. When Roman legions invaded Caledonia (modern-day Scotland) in the late first century AD, it was said by the historian Tacitus that the powerful Celtic chieftain Calgacus emerged and rallied his tribes against the might of Rome, famously declaring, "They make a desert, and they call it peace." Today's Christian leader is likewise making similar stands for biblical Christianity in the midst of a secular desert created by an anti-Christian culture. The Bible describes a faithful pastor as an elder who oversees the flock and the household of God. According to Paul, pastor/elders rule the church (Titus 1:5) and guard the treasures of Christ (v. 9). Additionally, they minister to the people by teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). If ever there was an era in Christian history that believers should be committed to praying for their pastors, it is now. James rebukes our prayerlessness when he says, "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2).