We are accepted by God the moment we accept Jesus Christ. This is just as when Jesus came of age and was baptized before he did any work of ministry in Matthew 3:17 And behold, there was a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” But Jesus did go on to preach the gospel of the kingdom and was even obedient to death. Paul’s prayer for them was not that they be saved, they are saved, but that in Christ, in 2 Thessalonians 1:12 he (the Lord) might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power”. After accepting Christ, our role in the earth is to stand and to pray as Paul did in 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 “that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored … 2 and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people”.
That You May be Considered Worthy of the Calling
2 Thessalonians 1:1–12
Paul continues his prayer for them in
2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 for which purpose we also pray always for you, that you may be considered worthy of the calling of our God, and he might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power, 12 in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This began with his prayer for them in 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 and included his admonition to them in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “that you progress even more” and again in 1 Thessalonians 4:10 “to progress even more”. There is in them, the fruit of faith and endurance that others can see in
2 Thessalonians 1:4–5 so that we ourselves boast in you in the churches of God about your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring, 5 a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering.
They Did Not Accept the Love of the Truth
2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
The Thessalonian church understood that there was opposition, there was affliction. Paul explains the spiritual force behind it in
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is at work already; only the one who now restrains will do so until he is out of the way
There is one, Satan, that brings “lying wonders”, “unrighteous deception” in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10. But every person still has the ability to choose. There are those that in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 “did not accept the love of the truth so that they would be saved” and in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 “who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness”. For those who refused the truth, in
2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 And because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness.
God Has Chosen You as First Fruits
That the Word of the Lord May Progress
2 Thessalonians 3:1–5
Paul asks for prayer in
2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored, just as also it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, for not all have the faith.
but why would he ask this? Isn’t the Lord able to do whatever he wants? We sometimes forget that Satan has dominion in the earth (see Jesus temptation in Matthew 4:8–10, see the response of the demons in Matthew 8:27). But Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in
Matthew 6:9–10 Therefore you pray in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be treated as holy. 10 May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
In Christ, we have dominion on the earth and can invoke God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven” and we can invoke that will now. This is why Jesus said in
Luke 10:2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.
and this is why Paul asks them to pray “that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored … and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people”. These are prayers for us to continually bring before the Lord in
Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Working with Quietness, Eat Your Own Bread
2 Thessalonians 3:6–15
May the Lord of Peace Grant You Peace
2 Thessalonians 3:16–18
The One Who Began a Good Work Will Finish It
Philippians 1:1–8
Filled With the Fruit of Righteousness
Philippians 1:9–11
The Progress of the Gospel
Philippians 1:12–17
Study Verses
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1–12 That You May be Considered Worthy of the Calling
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 They Did Not Accept the Love of the Truth
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 That the Word of the Lord May Progress
Today’s Reading
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
- Philippians 2:1-17