************ Sermon on 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 ************
By: Rev. Adrian Dieleman
This sermon was preached on February 22, 1998
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
verses 1-2
"Pray for Our Missionaries"
I Prayer Partners of Missionaries
A Today is the beginning of Mission Emphasis. This means we think about missions and missionaries, evangelism, and witnessing. Now, I am going to quiz the congregation to see how well she knows our missionaries:
1. Hold up the pictures of each of our missionaries. Ask people to identify them.
2. I am missing the picture of one of our missionaries — which one? (Rev. Hans Uittenbosch)
3. Tell me where each of our missionaries works. (Rev. Uittenbosch works with seafarers in Pompano Beach, Florida.)
Why do I give this quiz? Because Paul tells us, on this Mission Emphasis Sunday, that we are partners in the Gospel with everyone of our missionaries. And, I am sure everyone agrees with me that we should always know our partners.
We are partners with our missionaries through the quotas or ministry shares that we give to Home Missions and World Missions. We are partners with our missionaries through the monies that we give to The Bible League. We are partners with our missionaries through the Faith Promise offerings that we hold throughout the year. We are partners with our missionaries through the letters that we write to them.
B This evening, however, Paul focuses on an entirely different area. He tells us we are partners in the Gospel, we are partners with our missionaries, when we pray for them.
"Finally, brothers," says Paul, "pray for us ..." In the Greek language the word for pray expresses continuing action. So a better translation might be, "keep on praying for us ..." The church of Thessalonica had already been praying for Paul and Paul now asks the church to keep on praying for him and his work. The church of Thessalonica had already been in partnership with Paul and Paul now asks the church to keep up that partnership.
You should realize that at the time Paul wrote his letter the church of Thessalonica was a very young church. Most, if not all of the Christians, had been Christians for a year or less. But Paul had taught them well. So they made prayer a priority. They were praying for Paul and his missionary work.
I think we all realize that prayer is one of the pillars of any church. It is prayer that keeps a church strong and unified. It is prayer that gives a church a vision for ministry and mission. It is prayer that allows a church to draw on the power of Almighty God. And, when there is a lack of prayer there is a lack of power and a lack of passion for ministry and missions.
The church of Thessalonica had made prayer a cornerstone of its life together. Through the ministry of prayer this church was in partnership with Paul in bringing the Gospel.
A couple of weeks ago I asked if this church is a praying church. Since then a number of you have responded to me about this. And your last pastor confirmed what you said. So I have to say that this is a praying church.
This evening, you and I are also been called upon to be in partnership with our missionaries. We are to be their partners in and through and by prayer. But are we? In our prayers, do we pray for our missionaries?
This may not sound glamorous or exciting to you especially when you think of what is done by our missionaries. Last week you heard some of the exciting challenges faced by Ken & Sally Vanderwal in the Honduras. In their letters Ted & Josie Boswell tell us about the ups and downs of missionary work in Japan. Kevin & Gerry Adams have written us about new believers in the Granite Springs Church in Rocklin, CA. Rev. Uittenbosch has all sorts of stories to tell about his contact with Seafarers in Florida. Rev. & Mrs. Elmer Tandayu have been richly blessed in their ministry to the Filipinos in Long Beach, CA. And Mr. Mario Batac is hard at work in his church-planting ministry in the Philippines. Next to all of this, what can possibly be exciting or glamorous about prayer? But prayer for missionaries and pastors who bring the Gospel sure is necessary. That is one of the most important things we can do in our partnership with our missionaries.
The people in the pew who pray for missionaries and pastors, do you know what they are like? They are like the poles which hold up the electrical wires along the road. They are not the power or electricity itself; nor are they the wire that is used to carry the electrical current. They are not the power of the Gospel; nor, are they the means that the Lord uses to bring the Word. But they hold up the wires upon which the divine power runs to the hearts of men. Through their fervent, heartfelt prayer for those who preach the Gospel they make conditions favorable for the preaching and spread of the Gospel.
C Church history is full of examples where the faithful prayer of those in the pew bore much fruit on the mission field. The best example I can think of is the Moravian Community of Herrnhut in Saxony. In 1727 the Community consisted of only 300 souls and was being torn apart by disagreement and bickering. Yet, in the 65 years from 1727 to 1792 this church sent out 300 missionaries to the ends of the earth and was used of the Lord to convert thousands. It is doubtful if any other church has ever taken the missionary mandate as seriously as did the Moravians. They sent out 1 missionary for every 60 members whereas the average in most Protestant churches is 1 missionary for every 5000 members.
What happened to this church? What caused her to come alive and send out such an incredible number of missionaries? What made this church such an evangelizing church? It was prayer which made the difference in this church! You see, in 1727 the members of this congregation of believers commenced a round-the-clock "prayer watch" that continued nonstop for over a hundred years. On August 27 of that year 24 men and 24 women covenanted to spend 1 hour each day in prayer for the church's mission and missionaries; each couple was scheduled for a different hour so there would be round the clock prayer. That is when this church came alive.
Imagine what would happen to the efforts of our missionaries if we prayed for them 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Imagine what our missionaries could all accomplish. Imagine the lives that would be touched, the souls that would be won, the people that would be changed because God's people "back home" are praying for those who preach the Gospel. Imagine the results if we prayed constantly for our missionaries.
D Our text says, "Finally, brothers, pray for us ..." Paul is speaking here. When we think of Paul, we think of Paul the Apostle, or Paul the convert who at one time had persecuted the church, or Paul the prisoner who ended up being killed by Caesar. But first and foremost we need to remember that Paul was a missionary. It was Paul, for instance, who could take more credit for the missionary work of the early church than any other person. It was Paul, if you remember, who brought the Gospel to Asia and Europe. It was Paul who was planning a missionary journey all the way to Spain. It was Paul who preached the Word in season and out of season. It was Paul who endured hardship, who did the work of an evangelist, who discharged all the duties of ministry (cf 2 Timothy 4:2-5).
It is Paul the missionary who is speaking in our text. He says, "Brothers, pray for us ..." This is not the first time Paul had asked for prayer upon his missionary efforts.
(Rom 15:30) I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
(Eph 6:19) Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
(Col 4:3) And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
(1Th 5:25) Brothers, pray for us.
Paul saw an interdependence, an interconnectedness, between himself and the church. Paul did not see the work of missions as the work of individuals who were out on the mission field alone; rather, he saw it as a partnership between the missionary and the church. That is, as he did the work of a missionary, the church back at home did the work of prayer. When it comes to missions there are no Rambo type figures who go in by themselves with all guns blazing. Rather, they go in as partners with those back home who uphold them and encourage them in prayer.
E In asking for prayer, Paul was admitting his dependence on God. He knew that it was only God Who could bless his work as a missionary and make it a success; that's why he asked for prayer. Jesus taught us that we cannot accomplish anything of lasting value apart from Him. We are totally dependent upon Christ to do His work through us. Remember the words of Jesus: "Apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).
In asking for prayer, Paul was also admitting his dependence upon the churches. He needed their prayers. He wanted their prayers. So he asked for their prayers.
Paul, then, depended upon both God and the church for the success of his missionary journeys. That's why Paul was not hesitant to ask for prayer. In fact, the prayer of the saints, of the churches, was a vital ingredient in his formula for missionary success.
II Pray that the Message May Spread and be Honored
A There is a partnership, a three-way partnership between the missionary, the church, and God. The missionary proclaims, the church prays, and God blesses.
Now, what is it that the church is to pray for? Paul tells us. First of all, "pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored."
Paul asks the church of Thessalonica to pray and to keep on praying that the Gospel may "spread rapidly." This makes me think of the speed-skating competition at the Winter Olympics in Japan. The skater is in a race. She is skating as fast and as hard as possible. She is going for the gold. She is trying her hardest and doing her best. Pray, says Paul, that the Gospel may spread as quickly as the skater skates her race. Pray that the Gospel spreads like wildfire. Pray that doors will be opened. Pray that opportunities will arise. Pray that our missionaries will be given chance after chance to preach and proclaim and witness.
B But it is not enough that the Gospel be spread quickly. It must also "be honored." So Paul asks, "pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored." That is, pray that people will respond to the Gospel in repentance and faith. Pray that people will respond to the Gospel in obedience. Pray that people will believe in Jesus and ask Him Who died for their sins and rose for their justification to come into their hearts.
According to Paul, this is the way the Thessalonian Christians responded to the message of the Lord. He asks, "Pray for us that the message of the Lord may ... be honored, just as it was with you."
Do you remember what happened when the Gospel came to Thessalonica? The book of Acts tells us:
(Acts 17:4) Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of Godfearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
In his first letter to Thessalonica Paul describes it this way:
(1Th 1:5-6) ... our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction ... in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
The Thessalonians knew and had experienced the power of the Gospel. They knew and had experienced the changes that the Gospel makes in the lives of people. So Paul asked that they pray that the same power and changes be experienced by others.
III Pray for Deliverance from Evil
A There is a partnership, a three-way partnership between the missionary, the church, and God. The missionary proclaims, the church prays, and God blesses.
Now, what is it that the church is to pray for? Paul tells us to not only pray that the Gospel may spread rapidly and be honored, but also to pray about opposition to the Gospel. "And pray," says Paul, "that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith."
Paul is thinking of those evil men who oppose the Gospel. We know that Paul was opposed by the Jews in many of the cities he came to; in fact, they caused riots in their opposition to Paul and the Gospel message. He was also opposed by pagan worshipers.
Paul knew what was behind the attack of these evil men. Paul knew that his real struggle was not against flesh and blood but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12). Paul knew that his real struggle was against Satan and his demons.
Anytime you seek to spread the Gospel, you can be sure there is going to be a direct attack from Satan who will oppose you. Satan tries anything to stop the evangelization of others. Satan does not want the Gospel message to spread quickly. Satan does not want anyone to honor the Gospel message by responding to it in repentance and faith.
B Satan and the forces of darkness attack the spread of the Gospel in many different ways. In the life of Paul, for instance, we see persecution, imprisonment, death, hunger, riots, and beatings. In the Honduras the Vanderwals can tell us all about poverty, crime, political unrest, and false Christians. But Satan also uses homesickness, health problems, family concerns, and inter-personal strife to prevent the spread of the Gospel.
C For this reason Paul asked for prayer. "Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith." Pray that the Lord will watch over those who preach the Gospel. Pray that the Lord will provide them strength and protection from the evil one. Pray that nothing Satan throws their way will succeed in keeping them from delivering the message of the Lord.
Conclusion
There is a partnership, a three-way partnership between the missionary, the church, and God. The missionary proclaims, the church prays, and God blesses.
What are we to pray? Paul has clearly told us what to pray.
(2 Thess 3:1-2) Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2) And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
I like to think of our missionaries as being a football team. On a football team you have the offensive line and the defensive line. Paul, if you think about it, is asking us to be partners with our missionaries by praying for the offensive and defensive lines. Verse 1 asks us to partner with our missionaries by praying for the offense: pray that the Gospel will spread quickly and will be honored. Verse 2 asks us to partner with our missionaries by praying for the defense: pray that our missionaries may be strong and courageous against the attacks of the enemy.