MESSAGE 20 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:25-28: THE FINAL COMMENTS TO THE THESSALONIANS – PRAY, GREETING, AND CLOSING GRACE
[A]. PAUL’S REQUESTED PRAYER
{{1Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.”}}
This is only a short verse, a short request, and Paul does not elaborate on prayer points, but at this time in his ministry - this being the earliest letter - there were lots of points to pray for. He was active in the proclamation of the gospel; his enemies were prolific; his needs often were not met; his health may not have been good. We know from his letters that Paul prayed daily for all the churches. This was a man sold out for God. His own prayer was for all the saints. In this very letter, just two verses back, he prayed for those at Thessalonica.
Surely, is it too much to ask that prayer be made for him? Paul, in all the strength of his gifts and his office, still felt his dependence on the prayers of the Church, and through this means, he had fellowship with brethren in Christ however distant. Paul expressed this again in {{Hebrews 13:18 – “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honourably in all things.”}}
Barnes wrote the following – [[“He was a man of like passions as others: liable to the same temptations; engaged in an arduous work; often called to meet with opposition, and exposed to peril and want, and he especially needed the prayers of the people of God. A Christian worker, surrounded as he is by temptations, is in great danger if he has not the prayers of his people. Without those prayers, he will be likely to accomplish little in the cause of his Master. His own devotions in the sanctuary will be formal and frigid, and the word which he preaches, will be likely to come from a cold and heavy heart, and to fall also on cold and heavy hearts. There is no way in which a people can better advance the cause of piety in their own hearts, than by praying much for Christian workers.”]]
Paul does not request prayer just for himself. He petitions on behalf of his fellow labourers with the word “us”. If we go back to the opening verse of this letter we read – {{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”}} Silvanus and Timothy were with Paul when writing this letter. When he evangelised among the Thessalonians in the first instance, he was accompanied by Silas. We know at other times he also had as companions Barnabas, Mark, Luke, Epaproditus, possibly Titus, and probably others.
I would think there is an example in this that we should pray for those actively engaged in Christian service, especially those who labour wholeheartedly for the Lord. We must pray for one another. Pray for God’s blessings on each other. Pray for Christian growth in each other. Pray for God’s protection and His will in each life. These are the days we need to support each other in prayer because we are under attack and we need to be strengthened by our Lord. Demonic power is rising.
I found the following three descriptions of prayer on an internet site –
(a). Prayer is asking and receiving. According to E.M. Bounds, “Prayer is the outstretched arms of the child for the Father’s help. Prayer is the child’s cry calling to the Father’s ear . . . Prayer is the seeking of God’s greatest good, which will not come if we do not pray.”
(b). Prayer is approaching God’s throne. According to Spurgeon, “True prayer is an approach of the soul by the Spirit of God to the throne of God.” It could be said it this way: “it is the approach of the Holy Spirit in our soul that drives us to the throne.”
Again Spurgeon writes, “True prayer is a spiritual business from beginning to end, and its aim and object end not with man but reach to God Himself.” Yes, we enter into the courts of heaven to do business, spiritual business with God. Thus prayer should be regarded as a spiritual business meeting in the heavenly places with God.”
(c). Prayer is our service due Him. According to E. M. Bounds, “Prayer is not a duty which must be performed, to ease obligation and to quiet conscience . . . [it is rather] a solemn service due to God, an adoration, a worship.”
{{1Thessalonians 5:27 “I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.”}}
[C]. PAUL’S LETTER HAD TO BE READ TO ALL
Some versions have “I charge you” but adjure is a lot stronger and is definitely the correct word. It is as much as to say, “I put you on your oath before the Lord to do this,” an extraordinary expression, and one dearest to Paul’s heart. Paul regarded the contents of his Epistle of importance for all without exception. The Apostle felt a closeness to these Thessalonians and he was disappointed that he was unable to return when he wanted to.
Furthermore, there was sorrow and confusion amongst the bereaved members of the Church about the state of their departed loved ones, and they may have been absent from the Church meetings, so Paul wanted the letter read in their hearing, so they would not miss the consolation designed especially for them. Another point was that in these days not many could read as we also get from {{Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it for the time is near.”}}
[D]. THE RECIPIENTS OF GRACE ARE KEPT BY GRACE
{{1Thessalonians 5:28 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”}}
With these words, the letter to these precious saints ends. What better way than to commend them into the caring grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was grace that saved them in the first place and it is grace that will sustain them through this life, and it is grace that will usher them into the very presence of the Lord when that time comes in God’s program for His dear people. It is exactly the same for us and exactly the same for every born again Christian of any age.
C. H. Spurgeon tells of an occasion when he was riding home one evening after a heavy day's work and feeling very wearied and depressed, until the verse – “My grace is sufficient for you,” came to him. He immediately compared himself with a little fish in the Thames, apprehensive, lest drinking so many pints of water in the river each day, it might drink the Thames dry, and hearing Father Thames say to it, “Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for you.” Then he thought of a little mouse in the granaries of Joseph in Egypt, afraid lest it might, by daily consumption of the corn it needed, exhaust the supplies and starve to death; when Joseph came along and, sensing its fear, said, “Cheer up, little mouse, my granaries are sufficient for you.” Or again, he thought of himself as a man climbing some high mountain to reach its lofty summit, and dreading lest he might exhaust all the oxygen in the atmosphere, when the Creator, Himself, said, “Breathe away, O man, and fill your lungs ever. My atmosphere is sufficient for you.”
Grace is one of the common words of the New Testament letters where the whole meaning of grace is developed. Paul has favourite words and ones I see at the forefront are grace, mercy and peace. In nearly every one of his letters, Paul used grace and peace in the greeting as he does in this letter – {{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”}}
The Greek word means a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, the display of God’s kindness to us who don’t deserve anything. It is God’s kindness, freely extended, to give Himself away to people because He is always leaning toward them, and has the suggestion, that God wants to be near His people. Nearly always in the New Testament, the expression used is the “grace of God”, but on one occasion it is used of the Lord Jesus Christ, a verse where His full title is used. It is this one – {{2Corinthians 8:9 “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”}}
One commentator, McLaren, said, [[“And what do we mean by grace? We mean love in exercise to inferiors. It is infinite condescension in Jesus to love us. His love stoops when it embraces us. The highest, stoops and stands upon the level of the lowest. ‘Grace’ is love that expresses itself to those who deserve something else. The deepest motive, which is the very key to the mission of Jesus Christ, is the exhibition of a love that, stooping down to us, forgives. ‘Grace’ is love that, stooping and forgiving, communicates its whole self to unworthy and transgressing recipients.”]]
D. L. Moody wrote – [[“A man can no more take a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough today to last him for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs to sustain life for a week to come. We must draw upon God's boundless stores for grace from day to day, as we need it.”]]
In Romans we learn that justification is a gift of God’s grace (3 v 24); we are justified by faith because faith introduces us into the grace we stand upon (5 v 1-2); God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ has abounded to many, bringing life. (5 v 15). In Ephesians 2 v 8, Paul explains that the riches of God’s grace has brought us redemption through Christ’s blood, and forgiveness of sins, and that grace is the gift of God that saves us through faith.
"DIP IT UP" – [[I read of a ship years ago, which was in distress on the high seas because her supply of fresh water had run out. The crew was liable to die the most horrible of deaths by thirst, and that with water all around him. When hope was almost given up, they sighted a ship in the far distance. At once they hoisted signals of distress. The only answer they got was, "Dip it up." What heartless mockery to tell people to dip up buckets of salt water! They signalled again, but the same answer came back. In despair, they lowered a bucket. Imagine their amazement and their joy when the water proved to be fresh, living water. There was, in reality, no miracle or mystery. They thought they were on the high seas, whereas, in fact, they were at the mouth of the mighty River Amazon. Are we not often in the same case as that? Life all around seems dead and dull and dry. We feel inclined to throw things up in despair. Yet all the time infinite resources of a good and loving God are around us. We need to draw on Him.”]] (The Bishop of Stafford.)
God’s grace is freely available for you in endless measure. His grace is sufficient always. May we NEVER lose sight of the inexhaustible grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
