The Thessalonians # 15a (1 Of 2)

As far as we know, this was the last time Paul communicated with them. You can sense the love he had for them as you read this last chapter he wrote to them.

There are many things that take place in a church that are not obvious, but one thing should be obvious to all, and that is the love God’s people have for GOD and HIS PEOPLE.

God’s Word says, John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." A church that has that kind of love can win multitudes to Christ.

However, the church that does not love like that will be a stumbling block to a lost world.

Illus: A deplorable incident occurred in the life of Prime Minister Mahatma Ghandi of India. He told in his autobiography that during his student days in America he was interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert.

Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.

One Sunday he went to a church to see the minister and ask for instruction on the way of salvation and other Christian doctrines, but when he entered the sanctuary the ushers refused him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. He said that he left and reached the conclusion, “If Christians have caste differences, I might as well remain a Hindu.”

Only God knows the people who have been turned from God because God’s church did not reach out in love to them.

It was obvious that Paul loved the church in Thessalonica and it was obvious that they loved him.

He not only loved those dear folks, he had a lot of CONFIDENCE in them. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? Look at...

I. HIS REQUEST

Look at verse 1. We read, “Finally, brethren, PRAY FOR US...” This simple request reveals FOUR things.

A. HIS CONFIDENCE

Now I know some people I could ask a lot of things of, but I would never ask them to pray for me. Why? Because, many of those people, if they are saved, they are so backslidden that I could not have any CONFIDENCE in their prayers.

Paul was probably like us in this. We do not waste time asking people to pray for us if we do not have CONFIDENCE in them as Christians.

When a people ask you to pray for them, that is one of the highest compliments they could offer you. They are letting you know they have confidence in you.

And, when Paul asked those Thessalonians to pray for him, he was expressing that he had confidence in them as Christians. Even though they were young converts, Paul knew God heard the prayers of RIGHTEOUS people. HIS REQUEST REVEALED HIS CONFIDENCE! Another thing that REVEALED HIS CONFIDENCE in them was...

B. HIS CONFESSION

DID YOU KNOW THAT WE ALL NEED PRAYER?

If Paul had not needed the prayers of others, he would not have wasted his time writing and asking them to pray for him.

Illus: Often when missionaries come through our churches they will ask us to PRAY FOR THEM. Why? Because they are confessing to us that they are facing things in their lives and they need our prayers.

Paul is considered, by many, to be the greatest personality who ever walked on this earth besides our Lord Jesus. Yet, that great man of God asked those young converts to pray for him.

Any time you find a man who ranks in greatness when it comes to spiritual matters, you will find that man has built his life around prayer. Paul felt that he could not get enough prayer in his life.

This is the man who writes to churches and tells them he does not CEASE praying for them. I am sure he spent many hours of prayer, seeking God for others, and on his own behalf.

Still he felt the need for more prayer in his life, so he asked the dear Christians in Thessalonica, “...PRAY FOR US...”

You see, some people are so proud that you could tell them, “I am praying for you,” and they would look at you with a “That’s nice,” smile on their face, but would immediately change the subject to something they feel is really important.

Paul requested THEY PRAY FOR HIM because HE RECOGNIZED GOD WORKS THROUGH PRAYER! His REQUEST also revealed...

C. HIS CONCERN

There was another reason Paul requested that they PRAY FOR HIM. Paul was a SEASONED PASTOR. A seasoned pastor knows many things young pastors do not know. For example, he knew if God’s people were not spending their time talking to God about each other, they more than likely would spend their time talking to each other about each other.