Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Sermon notes
The prospect/implications of a day of justice in the future prompts constant prayer in the present.
Three petitions. The Apostle prays—and by doing so, encourages them to pray for themselves—three petitions that necessarily belong together. No single petition can be prayed in isolation from the others. There are chain links here that cannot be broken.
- That God would regard them as worthy of their calling. That is, that He would approve them and accept them as worthy of glory. This is obviously linked to the fact of their endurance under trial, v4-5, Matt 24:13. They were pursuing this goal of being found worthy in the sight of God in that day. Cp 2 Tim 1:18, Rev 3:4.
- That He would fulfill His good purpose in them. Their ‘worthiness’ is built upon God working out His purpose in them. Cp Col 1:12. Their endurance/worthiness is the product of God’s purpose being worked out. Cp Rom 9:16, Col 1:29. The work of Divine grace to fulfill His saving purpose in men is a necessity. His purpose is described here as good. Cp Rom 8:28. God’s goodness is at work in them even in the midst of trouble. The Apostle’s desire is for all of this good purpose to be worked out in them. Our burden in prayer should be for complete conformity to the purpose of God. Here is an implied full surrender to the mind of God.
- That He would fulfill the work of faith with power. He prays that God would work in them by His power to produce a full measure of the works/fruits of faith. The works that prove faith genuine are the product of Divine power. Cp 1 Thess 2:13, Eph 1:19-20. Faith is the channel of this power. We must pray with Paul that as we believe God, and become active in obedience, His power will be seen in us to a full measure.
Motive. In these petitions his motive is:
- Glory for Jesus’ name. Everything we do should have this motive, 1 Cor 10:31. The Saviour is glorified when His grace triumphs in the experience of the saints. Cp v10. This, again, is the purpose of God to glorify the Son.
- An experience of glory for these saints in the present. They can know a foretaste of glory while upon the earth and in the midst of trouble.
Grace. This motive is carried through by the grace of God. The grace that flows to saints from the Father and the Son accomplishes in them what Paul prays for.