[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, as he concludes his remarks to the Church, he has clearly saved some very vital information to the end of the letter.[/x_custom_headline]
[x_blockquote cite=”2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV” type=”left”]“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”[/x_blockquote]
The word “finally” literally means: to the last issue at hand. This means that although the letter is concluding, Paul still has something of great importance to say.
And the first thing Paul says is: Pray for us. So clearly Paul is looking for some truly committed prayer partners from among these believers. And he is looking for prayer warriors who are strong believers, who are truly dedicated to the things of God and committed to their man of God, not the flighty types who can never be counted on for anything in church.
Until Christians realize both their value as a prayer partner, as well as their responsibility to be in the place of prayer daily for their pastor, the ministry will make a smaller impact than it should be making in their community. Because prayerlessness is powerlessness.
Is your pastor getting hammered by people and situations devised by evil spirits every week, all because you have not taken personal responsibility to be in prayer for him or her? If you are waiting until you feel like praying before you pray for them, it may be a long wait. Especially if he or she has recently been teaching something in your church that rubs you the wrong way, or if they have made some decisions that you did not like. Then you may not feel like praying over them at all.
So again, Paul isn’t looking for the weak and easily offended people to join his prayer team, but for champions in Christ who will rise up and take their place in their prayer closet. Are you one of these people for your pastor?
The next thing Paul says he needs prayer partners for is to pray that the Word of God may have free course. So what exactly does it mean for the Word of God to have free course? Well, Ralph Earle in his book, Word Meanings in the New Testament, defines “free course” as: to run; to proceed quickly and without hindrances.
The Word of God must run and spread rapidly! And the runners, the messengers, are the preachers. So this means your pastor is one of those individuals who has a divine calling to run quickly with the Word of God.
And this also means that your pastor must have the supernatural strength, anointing, and provision to see to it that the Word spreads rapidly far and wide. And furthermore, that it brings forth fruit in the lives of all those who hear it.
I see many pastors today who are just worn out from doing on the things in the church that others should be doing but refuse to do. Because of this, their strength is limited, slowing their pace in running with the Word of God. And in some cases, the provision necessary to do the job is not sufficient. These are issues that true prayer partners are on top of daily, never allowing their man of God to deal with them alone.
This phrase “free course” also means to be without opposition. Now truthfully there is really never a time when we are without opposition, however the prayer support of strong believers will minimize the opposition.
The Word of God is the main thing. It must go forth in full freedom. If the Word of God is not flowing freely then nothing else that is done in the church even matters.
As a minister, you don’t just want anyone praying for you. You want people praying for you who truly know how to pray, who know the Word of God, and who are walking closely with the Lord Jesus Christ themselves. And this is the type of individual that Paul was reaching out for among the Thessalonians.
[x_blockquote cite=”2 Thessalonians 3:2 KJV” type=”left”]“And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”[/x_blockquote]
The same type of people who hindered Paul and his ministry, both to the Thessalonians and to others, is the same type of people who hinder ministry and the local church today. Both wicked and unreasonable people are the source of hindrances to the ministry. And it is important to understand that this group of people can be both inside and outside of the church, coming against the pastor and the Word of God he is proclaiming.
“Unreasonable men” are carnal believers who refuse to mature spiritually. And carnal believers can be harmful to the church, because they often maintain a baby attitude about everything.
Unreasonable believers are out of place so to speak, or more accurately, out of order. They are people with disobedient mouths and attitudes, and they usually spoil things for everyone in the local church, and create unnecessary problems for the pastor.
Unreasonable people are those who can never be pleased and refuse to be made happy no matter what a pastor does or says. Unreasonable people drain the pastor’s time, energy and anointing. And unreasonable people also drain the congregation of their zeal, too.
So then who are the wicked people Paul mentions? “Wicked men” are unbelievers who are intent on hurting and hindering the ministry.
Wicked people seek to harm, hinder and even destroy the work of God if they can. These are bad, evil and lawless people. And wicked people are found throughout the Bible attempting to destroy the ministries, reputations, and even the very lives of God’s ministers.
Again, it is your faithful prayer support that produces the deliverance for your pastor. So get busy praying over these matters of great importance.
