Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 17

Paul Request their Prayers for him and those with him Part 1

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. KJV

Paul the 'great Apostle', so we think of him today and in many times even earlier than ours, but he was not great because he was a great man, but he was great because he was empowered by God the Holy Spirit, yet even with this reality, the great Apostle Paul needed and more than needed wanted the prayers (for him and those with him) from every believer he communicated with and even these young believers in the city of Thessalonica. Paul had just finished another one of his prayers for these new believers in Thessalonica and immediately upon doing so he makes a request for their prayers for him with these words, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:" (2 Thessalonians 3:1) (KJV). Even though Paul had spoken by the power of the Holy Spirit and a man was blinded who opposed Paul and his preaching of the Gospel of Christ, however, he still needed and wanted these believers prayers. Why? Because God the Father's ears are at all times tuned into hear the petitions made to Him from any of His adopted sons or daughters. Paul knew that his strength, steadfastness, and sustenance spiritually was all tied into and connected with the lives of other faithful believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Notice what Paul request their prayers for him be about 'that the Word of the Lord may have free course', for the devil's main objective is to silence the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that sinners will not hear and will not be saved. The devil affirms Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and every other form of false worship or spirituality because that keeps sinners from the One and Only Truth Jesus Christ who only can save, sanctify, and secure sinners eternally. The little English phrase 'may have free course' is translated by one Greek word trecho which is a primary verb meaning to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively), that is, to go on swiftly, without any interruption.

In other words, Paul wants them to pray for our Heavenly Father to protect him and those with him from being confined so that they are not able to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth as he declared did happen for some time keeping him from the brothers and sisters in the Church @ Rome as he wrote with these words also requesting their prayers for the same purpose, "Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ's name has already been known, lest I build on another man's foundation; But [instead I would act on the principle] as it is written, They shall see who have never been told of Him, and they shall understand who have never heard [of Him]. This [ambition] is the reason why I have so frequently been hindered from coming to visit you. But now since I have no further opportunity for work in these regions, and since I have longed for enough years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing [through Rome] as I go [on my intended trip] to Spain, and to be aided on my journey there by you, after I have enjoyed your company for a little while." (Romans 15:20-24) (Amplified Bible). Paul wants them to pray also that the Gospel 'be glorified' among all the sinners who hear it and obey it and are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb our Lord Jesus Christ. The little English phrase 'be glorified' is translated by one Greek word doxazo meaning to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application): - to magnify. In other words, Paul wants to not only be able to proclaim the Gospel in many places, but he wants to see the Gospel (as it can do and does in the inner man and inner woman of repentant sinners) be glorified in the lives of every person that believes.

Just as he saw with some who believed in Antioch as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "As they [Paul and Barnabas] went out [of the synagogue], the people earnestly begged that these things might be told to them [further] the next Sabbath. And when the congregation of the synagogue dispersed, many of the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to continue [to trust themselves to and to stand fast] in the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God. The next Sabbath almost the entire city gathered together to hear the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God]. But when the Jews saw the crowds, filled with envy {and} jealousy they contradicted what was said by Paul and talked abusively [reviling and slandering him]. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly {and} boldly, saying, It was necessary that God's message [concerning salvation through Christ] should be spoken to you first. But since you thrust it from you, you pass this judgment on yourselves that you are unworthy of eternal life {and} out of your own mouth you will be judged. [Now] behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has charged us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring [eternal] salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified (praised and gave thanks for) the Word of God; and as many as were destined (appointed and ordained) to eternal life believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Jesus as the Christ and their Savior). And so the Word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through Christ] scattered {and} spread throughout the whole region." (Acts 13:42-49) (Amplified Bible). The continuing of this is exactly what Paul seeks their prayers for to our Heavenly Father and this is exactly what the devil wants to stop.

The next portion of Paul's prayer request concerned their prayers for him and those with him to be delivered from the instruments of the devil, that is, the two-legged devils that do the physical work for him of persecuting all believers and trying to do anything to stop them from declaring the truth Jesus Christ throughout the earth as he says to them with these words, "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." (2 Thessalonians 3:2) (KJV). Paul from the very beginning of his walk with our Lord Jesus Christ was under the attack of the devil through the two-legged devils trying to kill him everywhere he showed up and it continues up to the point of this letter written to the believers in Thessalonica around A.D. 50, which meant Paul had been a Christian now for almost 20 years, yet he is still pursued by men belonging to the devil to silence him. The little English phrase 'we may be delivered' is translated by one Greek word rhuomai meaning to rush or draw (for oneself), that is, rescue: - deliver. The English word 'unreasonable' is translated by the Greek word atopos meaning out of place, that is, (figuratively) improper, injurious, amiss, harm, unreasonable. The English word 'wicked' is translated by the Greek word poneros meaning hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, figuratively calamitous; - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked.

In other words, even though some men hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they do not receive it and therefore have no real faith in the One True God, so they belong to the devil and they do his bidding under the sun by going about to murder those who belong to and love our Lord Jesus Christ, for this is what Paul meant when he said this to them in his first letter, "For you, brethren, became imitators of the assemblies (Churches) of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, for you too have suffered the same kind of treatment from your own fellow countrymen as they did [who were persecuted at the hands] of the Jews, Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and harassed {and} drove us out, and continue to make themselves hateful {and} offensive to God and to show themselves foes of all men, Forbidding {and} hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles (the nations) that they may be saved. So as always they fill up [to the brim the measure of] their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last [completely and forever]! But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a little while in person, [of course] not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great longing to see you face to face, Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered {and} impeded us." (1 Thessalonians 2:14-18) (Amplified Bible).

"Paul always wanted the prayers of other believers 'in Christ' for him because he knew that prayer is the one thing the devil cannot stop a child of God from doing, so he exhorted these believers in Thessalonica to pray for him and those with him to be able to continue to get the Word of the Lord out into the world that the elect (who are appointed unto salvation) will hear and believe just as he prayed for those in the Church @ Rome to do also with these words, "I appeal to you [I entreat you], brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by] the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf. [Pray] that I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable {and} graciously received by the saints (God's people there), So that by God's will I may subsequently come to you with joy (with a happy heart) and be refreshed [by the interval of rest] in your company. May [our] peace-giving God be with you all! Amen (so be it)." (Romans 15:30-33) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…