2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-5

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
(26/04/98, MAY 2, 1998, 2003/2004 2015

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus.—The same company that is mentioned in the First Epistle indicating that
this Second Epistle was written before the end of the second missionary journey, for after that time we do not
read of Silvanus being in the company of Paul.

While the Epistle specifically speaks of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, chapter 3 includes 5
commandments (3:1-15)
A. To pray (3:1-2)
B. To put confidence in apostles (3:3-5)
C. To correct the disorderly (3:6-10)
D. To command the idle (3:11-13)
E. To discipline the disorderly (3:14-15)

In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, the apostle Paul admonishes the Thessalonians about prayer. It is interesting that Paul
wrote to suffering people, a people whose life was difficult at best (2 Th. 1:6,7). It was of this people that Paul
begged prayer. It was a people that knew how to pray!

You must pray.

What are you to pray for?
Paul gives specific instruction on who must pray, who is to be prayed for, and what is to be prayed for.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5: “Finally, brethren, pray for us(Keep praying for us), that the word of the Lord may have
free course (Keep running freely), and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men (men that are out of step with God): for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is
faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you,
that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love
of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

1. Who is to pray? Brethren –

a. People who know the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Remember that Paul says in verse 2 that
“all men have not faith.”
b. Mathew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.”
2. Who is to be prayed for?
a. Paul says “Pray for us”! verse 1
b. Ga. 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” How can we do that?
c. 1 Ts. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

3. What is to be prayed for?

a. That the word of the Lord may have free course, 1.
i. Paul speaks of the progress of the Gospel.
ii. Free course signifies that the Gospel may run swiftly throughout the world.
(1) The idea is the rapid and victorious propagation of the Gospel even in times of great
opposition.
(2) Imagine a messenger that runs with everything he has to deliver a message.
(a) Remember 2 Sm 18 as the two runners Ahimaaz and Cushi ran to take the news of
Absalom’s death to David.
(b) Now think of the wonderful message that we have to deliver to the lost.
b. That the word of the Lord may be glorified, even as it is with you.
i. The word of God is glorified when people repent of their sins and put their faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Acts 13:46-49 “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of
God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be
a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life
believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”
ii. The word of God is glorified when people obey its commands, 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12. “Wherefore
also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good
pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be
glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
c. That we may be delivered, 2.
i. Unreasonable men - men that are out of place, and out of step with God, strangers. Eph. 4:18
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the
good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may
be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
ii. Wicked men - perverse men Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”
iii. Men without faith – “for all men have not faith” At the same time that Paul asks prayer he knows
very well that not everyone believes and that many will reject the Gospel.
d. Other places with other requests
i. Ro 15:30 “ Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit,
that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;”
(1) As those that be in an agony
(2) It is a military word indicating a united effort in a battle.
ii. Ro 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I
have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God,
and may with you be refreshed.”
iii. 2Co 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of
many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
iv. Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
v. Heb 13:18 ¶ Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
vi. Pray for Labourers - The Lord Jesus says in Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly
is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers
into his harvest.”

You must pray. You must pray that the word of the Lord will have free course. That it will be glorified. That
the servant of the Lord will be free from the attacks of men who have not Christ as their savior. Let us fight the
warfare for the souls of men on our knees praying for one another. Let us use our lives, our mouths, our talents,
and our resources to spread the Gospel as it has free course to reach even unto the uttermost part of the world.
Let us pray.