Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 19

Paul's 1st Written Prayer for the Church @ Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. KJV

When we last left the Apostle Paul, he informed these new believers in Thessalonica how much he went before the Throne of God the Father in praying that He would open up a way for him to get back to them face to face. Now in the closing of this Chapter of Paul's first letter to these believers, we find Paul's first written prayer for the Church founded in this city of Thessalonica upon Paul, Silas, and Timothy preaching the Gospel of Christ there as he begins with these words, "Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you." (1 Thessalonians 3:11) (KJV). These first words of Paul's formal documented prayer for the saints in Thessalonica is simply just what he declared he did 'night and day' on their behalf. Paul prays first to God and declares Him as 'our' Father, that is, 'our' meaning these new believers in Thessalonica, himself and all the men and women with him as well as all of us that are alive today and are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ (and nothing else or no one else) for our salvation, for it is just as Paul declared to the believers in Rome with these words, "For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God." (Romans 8:15-16) (Amplified Bible).

It is not by coincidence or happenstance that Paul at the same time mentions our Lord, Master, and Savior, Jesus Christ, for in so doing we have here another documentation for all doubters and skeptics to hear that Christ Jesus or Jesus Christ is on the same level as God the Father, even being equal to God just as the Apostle John has already documented for us with these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ and about Him by the Jews, "For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy, torment) Jesus {and sought to kill Him,} because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has worked [even] until now, [He has never ceased working; He is still working] and I, too, must be at [divine] work.' This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him [to do away with Him]; because He not only was breaking (weakening, violating) the Sabbath, but He actually was speaking of God as being [in a special sense] His own Father, making Himself equal [putting Himself on a level] with God." (John 5:16-18) (Amplified Bible). The Apostle Paul uses here the English word 'direct' signifying the desire he had for God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ) to do for him and this English word is translated by the Greek word kateuthuno meaning to straighten fully, that is, (figuratively) direct: - guide. In other words, Paul (having been hindered by Satan) knew that God could squash, suppress, and stomp the actions of the devil that kept him from these brothers and sisters of his face to face removing all and every obstacle in his path. Note: "Almost all the Chapters in both Epistles to the Thessalonians are sealed, each with its own prayer [Bengel]. Paul does not think the prosperous issue of a journey an unfit subject for prayer [Edmunds]. His prayer, though the answer was deferred, in about five years afterwards was fulfilled in his return to Macedonia." (JFB Commentary).

Paul now focuses his prayer to God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for these Thessalonian believers that He would make their faith and love for one another even stronger than it now was as Paul says with these words, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:" (1 Thessalonians 3:12) (KJV). The Apostle Paul knew very much personally of what he here prays for these believers in Thessalonica, seeing that he was vehemently, violently, and viciously persecuting Christian men and women everywhere before he was overwhelmed by the 'love of God' that flowed into his heart or inner man when he met our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road, for it was this same Apostle Paul that wrote these words describing the fruit of the Spirit as such with love being the first in the cluster, "But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]." (Galatians 5:22-23) (Amplified Bible). Human laws are made for the men and women filled with hatred, anger, bitterness, etc, but the fruit that God the Holy Spirit can produce in any believer or follower of Jesus Christ does not seek out other human beings to hurt them or steal from them or to kill them, but only to live peacable with them seeking only their good and not bad for them or to them. Therefore, we find here that Paul prays that the believers love for one another would increase and to abound. This English word 'abound' is not one that we today use that much, but it is translated by the Greek word perisseuo meaning to be in excess, to superabound (in quantity or quality), to be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities. In other words, the more they had fervant love for one another, the less burdensome, baffling, and bitter would the many forms of persecution they received or encountered would seem to them as the Proverb declares, "Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions." (Proverbs 10:12) (Amplified Bible).

Paul again concludes his prayer exactly where he began it and where he always began and ended his prayers for every believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, and that is for their steadfastness, strengthening, and stamina in the faith as he just uses a little different language when he prays, "To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:13) (KJV). The phrase that begins this last portion of Paul's prayer 'To the end he may stablish' is translated by one Greek word sterizo meaning to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, establish, stedfastly set, strengthen. There is never any unclearness in the desires of the Apostle for the saints that now belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, here is no different, Paul is praying that their faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ be made strong (not by themselves), but by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, for this is the theme or unifying idea and desire of the heart of this great Apostle to Christ Jesus our Lord, that He would continue to work in the inner man and inner woman by God the Holy Spirit increasing and strengthening their faith, love, and hope in Himself as Paul said with these words writing to the Philippian Church, "And I am convinced {and} sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] {and} perfecting {and} bringing it to full completion in you." (Phillippians 1:6) (Amplified Bible). Paul uses here another English word that we rarely use today in his prayer for these believers and we believers today and of all time, and that is, 'unblameable' and this English word is translated by the Greek word amemptos which means irreproachable: - blameless, faultless, unblamable. In other words, it is the Grace of God and the God of Grace that makes us able to appraoch Him in repentance and faith and that will present each and every true believer in Christ Jesus our Lord as our only hope, only forgiveness of sins, only way to heaven, and our only salvation for our souls just as Paul said with these words to the Ephesian believers, "That He might present the Church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]." (Ephesians 5:27) (Amplified Bible) and likewise as he declared to the believers in Colosse with these words, "And although you at one time were estranged {and} alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the Body of His Flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence." (Colossians 1:21-22) (Amplified Bible) and finally as the Apostle Jude exalted our Lord Jesus with these words at the end of his short epistle, "Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling {or} slipping {or} falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy {and} exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]--To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might {and} dominion, and power {and} authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it)." (Jude 1:24-25) (Amplified Bible).

"In these words we have the earnest prayer of the Apostle. He desired to be instrumental in the further benefit of the Thessalonians; and the only way to be so while at a distance was by prayer for them, together with his writing or sending to them. He desired that their faith might be perfected, which he could not be the proper cause or author of; for he pretended not to dominion over their faith, nor to have the donation of it, and he therefore concludes with prayer for them. Observe, I. Whom he prays to, namely, God and Christ. Prayer is a part of religious worship, and all religious worship is due unto God only. Prayer is here made to God, even the Father and our Father; and also to Christ, even our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore Jesus Christ our Lord is God, even as God our Father is God. Prayer is to be offered to God as our Father. So Christ taught His disciples to pray; and so the Spirit of adoption prompts them to pray, to cry, Abba Father. Prayer is not only to be offered in the name of Christ, but offered up to Christ Himself, as our Lord and our Saviour." Matthew Henry

"It was no secret what meant the most to the Apostle Paul and high on his list was the steadfastness of all believers in Jesus Christ. Paul did not care about the size of their Church or the design of the building or home they assembled together to worship Christ Jesus our Lord, for these things were of no importance or relevance to this great Apostle of Christ. Paul only cared for faithfulness to Christ by everyone that named His name as we recall these words he spoke firmly, fiercely, and fervently to the believers in Corinth who were all declaring themselves to be endowed with great spiritual gifts, but Paul was not impressed and said so to them with these words, 'Some of you have become conceited {and} arrogant {and} pretentious, counting on my not coming to you. But I will come to you [and] shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will perceive {and} understand not what the talk of these puffed up {and} arrogant spirits amount to, but their force (the moral power and excellence of soul they really possess). For the kingdom of God consists of {and} is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul). Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?' (1 Corinthians 4:18-21) (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…