Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 18

Paul Request their Prayers for him and those with him Part 2

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. KJV

Paul's initial words of prayer were to them requesting their prayers for him and those with him, but in his true mode, motive, and manner the Apostle cannot spend much time in prayer until or unless he once again crys out to our Heavenly Father for the well being and safety of others, even though he himself was always and at all times in constant danger of his life (as we have documented in previous studies/commentaries), so we again find him turning his prayers back to the protection of the new believers in the city of Thessalonica with these words to begin with, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) (KJV). In the last two (2) studies/commentaries we defined the English phrase 'shall stablish' (Greek word sterizo) and the English word 'evil' (Greek word poneros), but the English word 'keep' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word phulasso meaning to watch, that is, be on guard (literally or figuratively); by implication to preserve; to keep or to save. In other words, Paul again wants to assure these new believers in the Church @ Thessalonica that it is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Himself who will strengthen, set fast, and sustain them in their faith in Him, while at the same time guarding and protecting them from the attempts and attacks by the evil one the devil to turn them away from the truth of the Gospel and even to kill them physically.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is forever 'faithful' and this English word is translated by the Greek word pistos meaning objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believing, faithful, sure, and true, just as Paul even made known to the carnal Corinthian Church concerning our Lord Jesus' faithfulness to them with these words, "And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless {and} irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship {and} participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) (Amplified Bible). Paul is confident in these believers (not because of them, or because of himself, Silas, or Timothy), but because he has 100% assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ will make known to the inner man and inner woman of everyone of them in the Church that what Paul has taught them in person and by these letters are His will and commands, so Paul now writes these words to them, "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you." (2 Thessalonians 3:4) (KJV).

Paul completely trusted our Lord Jesus Christ concerning these believers in Thessalonica, that is, he was fully persuaded that they would see Paul's letters to them as not being from Paul, but as being from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His direct commands to them, just as our Lord Jesus Himself directed the first Apostles to do just before He Ascended back to Heaven with these words, "Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close {and} consummation of the age. {Amen (so let it be).}" (Matthew 28:20) (Amplified Bible). These believers and we believers today left on our own would never give any time, talents, or treasure to God the Father, but because our Lord Jesus has confirmed to us that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), then we can be confident in Him working in us and for us as Paul declares to these believers in Thessalonica with these words, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5) (KJV).

The English word 'direct' is translated by the Greek word kateuthuno meaning to straighten fully, that is, (figuratively) direct: - guide. In other words, when our Christian walk becomes crooked, curved, and even corrupt, it is our Lord Jesus Christ always there with us to bring us back into the 'narrow way' (Matthew 7:13-14)  by His loving hand of grace and even His stern hand of correction by chastening (Hebrews 12:5-11). It is always and at all times up to each one of us to keep ourselves in the love of God, that is, to guard our inner man and inner woman from corruption that will put a cover over God's love to us and in us, for only when we are obedient to His Will and His Word will we know by experience the love that our Lord Jesus Christ has for us and shows to us every day and at all times when we can see it, sense it, and succumb to it. When we do this then we can also be enabled by Him to live constantly in 'patient waiting' for Him and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word hupomone meaning cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting), for living outside of the 'love of God' does not bring to us endurance or cheerful hoping, but it brings only regret for our wrong direction, repudiation of the truth of the Word of God, and rebuke by the chastening hand of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"They had disorderly men, wicked men, and the evil one or the devil, to contend with; God alone could support and give them the victory; He had promised to do it, and He might ever be confided in as being invariably faithful." Adam Clarke

"Not primarily in you, for you have hearts like others, but in the Lord. It is remarkable that when Paul expresses the utmost confidence in Christians that they will live and act as becomes their profession, his reliance is not on anything in themselves, but wholly on the faithfulness of God. He must be a stranger to the human heart who puts much confidence in it even in its best state." Albert Barnes

"The Apostle gathers up the whole sum of his desires for his friends, and presents to us the whole aim of our efforts for ourselves, in these two things, a steadfast love to God, and a calm endurance of evil and persistence in duty, unaffected by suffering or by pain. If we have these two we shall not be far from being what God wishes to see us." Alexander MacLaren

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…