TOPIC:‌"Prayer and the Christian's Confidence"

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌II Thessalonians 1:11-12

 

"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill 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" (1:11-12)

 

‌When one studies all of the recorded prayers of Saint Paul it becomes abundantly clear that they touch every aspect of Christian living. Take the one before us. Here in Paul's prayer he sets forth the ultimate plan and purpose that God has for His people. We as Christians have a confident expectation that one day God will consummate all things in Christ.

 

‌Listen again to the words of the prayer: "that our God would...fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power." Here were Christians whose faith was being severely tested by Satan. They were under harsh persecution. Being under such opposition, Paul prays that they will not be shaken in their faith, and that their confidence will remain firm knowing that God is going to bring His divine purpose to a glorious and victorious conclusion.

 

I.

 

‌Let us consider, first of all, the PURPOSE behind Paul's prayer. His twofold purpose is clarified for us by certain words and expressions in verses 4, 5, 7 and 10.

 

‌The first purpose is because of the GLOOM through which these Christians were PASSING. Paul writes in verse 4: "in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure." We read in verse 5: "the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer." Again in verse 7: "And to you who are troubled." Certainly Jesus envisioned such trials and perils when He declared to them: "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). Or think of Paul's words: "that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

 

‌God never intended that our prayers would always lead to deliverance from pain, persecution and death. True, there will be times when faith will deliver us from such things. But on the other hand, there will be times when our confidence in God will be tested as we pass through these trials. Instead of delivering us from them, He will deliver us through them and in them. This is what the author of Hebrews was driving at when he wrote these words:

 

‌"But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope . . .