2 Thessalonians 3 (1)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3.1-3.

Reflect.
1. What do you see when you think of the Word of the Lord running swiftly and being glorified? What does this have to do with you?

2. Why are “unreasonable and wicked men” a potential obstacle to the spread of the Gospel?

Meditate.
Paul shows us how to pray for those who are our shepherds in the Lord. Theirs is a ministry of the Word, that its presence and effects may increase and swiftly work to transform our churches into congregations like the one to whom Paul wrote in Thessalonica. 

As the Word impacts lives, it results in God being glorified in those thus impacted. Preaching, teaching, counseling, evangelizing, sharing our experience of the Word: These are the ways the Word runs. And not only through the shepherds of the church, but from all the people of God as well. Pray for your shepherds, but pray for yourself and your fellow believers as well, that the Word may increase in and through you unto the glory of God.

We expect opposition to the Word, so we’re neither surprised nor dismayed when we encounter it. As we pray for ourselves and one another, we should seek boldness and patience to persevere in our witness, even though many of those with whom we talk will not be interested in our faith.

We are delivered from the opponents of the Gospel when we are not cowed by their threats and we continue to love them despite however unreasonable and wicked they may become toward us. We need prayer for this kind of courage and consistency. The Lord is faithful to empower us as His witnesses (v. 3; cf. Acts 1.8), but He expects us to seek His power in prayer, and to intercede for one another, that the Word and glory of God may advance in all our lives. If we will seek Him and continue bearing witness to His Word, He will establish us and guard us from unreasonable and wicked men, as well as from the devil.

Prepare.
1. How should you expect the Word of God to run swiftly and be glorified in your life? In your Personal Mission Field?

2. Why is it important that Christians pray for their shepherds and for one another with respect to the ministry of the Word of God?

3. How is God faithful to establish and guard us? What does He do? Knowing this, how should we approach the work of growing in the Lord and being His witnessess? 

Let us always pray for fortitude in our temporal labors and trials. Let us offer prayers for one another. Let my prayers be offered for you, and yours for me. And, brothers, do not think that you need my prayers, but that I have no need of yours. We have mutual need of one another’s prayers, for those reciprocal prayers are enkindled by charity and—like a sacrifice offered on the altar of piety—are fragrant and pleasing to the Lord. Augustine (354-430 AD),Sermons 13.10

Lord, I pray that Your Word would run swiftly and that You would be glorified in me today as I…

Pray Psalm 33.
Central to this psalm is the reliability of the Word of God. Rejoice that His Word is right, His counsel true and everlasting, and His mercy available to all who fear Him and wait on Him.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 33 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout!  His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word; let all on earth in Him confide.

He nullifies the nations’ plans; forever stands His sov’reign Word.
All they are blessed who with Him stand – the chosen people of the Lord.

God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love; 
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. Moore

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Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).