Sermon Tone Analysis

Intercessory Prayer

If we are honest we can all use prayer, private personal prayers between us and God.

Prayers from other people for things we face, prayers for others for the things they face.

Prayer is a common subject in the scripture and common to Paul as he asks for prayer (request) and offered prayer (rendered) for the church.

Prayers already offered to the church

Prayers that they may increase, abound in love (1The3:12)

The Lord cause them to increase and abound in love for one another, and not just stopping there but for all people, just as they were already doing.

Prayers for the Lord to establish their hearts (1The3:13)

Established without blame in holiness, before Jesus comes for His church

Prayers for complete sanctification by God (1The5:23)

sanctified and preserved complete, soul, body and spirit, without blame

Prayers that they be counted worthy (2The2:13-14)

Chosen through the gospel, called through the gospel, so that they could be counted worthy and able to standfast.

Prayers that the name of the Lord be glorified in them, and they in Him (2The2:14)

Called through the gospel so to gain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in them and they in Him!

Prayers for comfort of their hearts so as to establish them in every good work (2The2:16-17)

I need to give you just these verses.

So, do you think prayer was important to Paul?

In our passage today you will see Paul asking for prayer and offering prayer, so now may we look at our passage.

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(Other scriptures referenced Col1:9-11; Col4:12-13, Rom15:30-33; Eph5:18-20; Col4:2-4)

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Preachers praying for others was not uncommon then and set an example for today.

Paul prayed for his brethren often (Col1:9-11)

As did Epaphras (COl4:12-13) just to name a couple

Preachers need prayers also, Paul’s prayer request here is not uncommon either, he did not hesitate to ask for prayer.

We know there is power in prayer.

Paul asked those:

In Rome to pray for him (Rom15:30-33)

Asked those in Ephesus to pray for him (Eph6:18-20)

And those in Colosse to pray on his behalf (Col4:2-4)

Prayer Requested

Many have a hard time asking for personal prayer.

We can ask for prayer for others, but personal prayer, that is something hard to ask for.

Paul is not shy about it, nor shy for the reason asking for prayer.

Notice the elements of the request

This is a prayer request, and it is specific

sometimes we pray in such generalities we fail to be specific in our prayers for we lack faith, trust, confidence that God will hear and answer our prayers.

Be believe he hears, but not ours

We believe he answers, just not ours

We believe He can do all things, just not for us

Paul is specific in his prayers here and may we learn to be specific in our prayers making all requests known to God!

Prays that the word of God may spread rapidly (v.1; 1Cor16:9; 2Cor2:12; Col4:3)

We know from 1The1 that they would was received in tribulations but went out to all Achia and Macadonia.

There is further evidence in Corinth

He wanted prayers for open doors for the word, may we seek the Lord in prayer for that too.

Not just an open door, but a door that the gospel, the mystery of Christ could be shared.

Prayers for the men of God to be rescued (v.2; Act17:5-10; Act17:13; Eph5:19-20)

Delivered, rescued from unreasonable, wicked men (v.2) again not an uncommon thing for he had been

Chased out of town from Thessalonica (Act17:5-10) and then followed him to Berea (Act17:13)

Prayers for deliver where possible (v.2) also prayers for boldness when necessary (EPh6:19-20) for the truth of the matter is when we look at is not all are of faith, not all are believers or followers of God’s Word.

Miles Pearson says “Preachers often bear the brunt of resistance and persecution in reaction to the gospel; such men are not super heroes so they need our prayers.”

Think about this, Paul, the apostle, writer of 19 of the books in the N.T. who was called, set apart, taught by Jesus, empowered by the Spirit felt incomplete and inadequate without prayers of the brethren, how much more today do preachers, including me, need your prayers.

Prayer rendered

Praying for one another is a good thing, here it is even a practiced thing, may it be a personal thing too.

Prayer was personal to Paul and he prayed from his heart to theirs and for theirs.

A prayer of confidence and faith (v.3; 1The5:24; 2The2:17; 1Pt5:10)

Paul prayed about the faithfulness of the Lord, not just here, but previously too

and not just Paul, but Peter too

May we have prayers of faith for one another that God who is faithful will bring to pass His good and perfect will that will confirm, strengthen and establish us.

A prayer for protection (v.3; 1Cor10:13; 2Pt2:9)

Protection from any temptation that may come that we not be overtaken by them (1Cor10:13)

Then in the words of Peter!

A prayer in the Lord concerning them (v.4;

Php1:6-7; 2The1:3-4)

They they do the things that the Lord commands of them, and of us too.

We know it is already evidences by their growing faith

Illustrated by their abounding love

Demonstrated by their enduring patience, but better yet, let me give you the scripture.

Their past performance gave some simple confidence about their future faithfulness; just as it did for Paul and the Philippians too.

Knowing of the Lord’s faithfulness to provide, the faithfulness of fellow Christians provides a great confidence we can have regarding our future, just as the church at Thessolonica did.

A prayer for them (2The3:5; 1Chr29:18-19; 1Kng8:57-58; Php2:13)

That the lord would direct their hearts.

It is one thing to aim our hearts in the right direction; but another to seek and ask Gods help, his assistance in this area like David did in (1Chr29:18-19) where David prayed for Israel and for Solomon.

Then there is another good example of Solomon praying for himself and Israel in fact let me give you that one.

Solomon says incline our hearts, Paul says direct your heart, so very similar is it not?

Of course it is.

We needs prayers , need God’s help to do good, don’t we?

A prayer for the love of God and the patience of Christ (v.5; 1The4:9; 1Jn4:9-11; 1Jn3:16-18)

The kind of love that God has for them; for it was God who had taught them (1The4:9)

Kind of Love that God demonstrated through Jesus

Don’t we all need, want to display, demonstrate and receive this kind of love?, but wait there is more

Part of our kind of love like this is demonstrated by laying down our lives, our wants, our desires for the brethren and their needs.

A prayer info the kind of patience Jesus displayed (Heb12:1-3; 1Pt2:21-23)

The kind of patience that Christ displayed by enduring the shame and going to the cross for us so that He could be the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb12:1-3)

Displayed love will include some suffering for the purpose in which we were called.

it calls for faith for us to keep entrusting ourselves to Him who judges righteously.

A prayer needed so that their light could continue to shine regardless of circumstance (2The1:4)

May we have that prayer offered for us too that regardless of circumstance or situation, persecution or affliction that we can endure.

So, I think we can know that they, as well as us today need to have God-like love Christ-like patience and this should be prayer for every preacher and every servant of the Lord who labors in love.

Application Section!

We all need prayers, may we all seek prayer, offer prayer and be faithful in prayer

Prayers for preachers that the gospel may be unhindered and spread rapidly

Prayers that preachers not be hindered by the world and protected from the perverse and evil men.

And that preachers pray that the Lord direct them in their own spiritual growth

And that we all, including preachers, may grow in love of God and patience of Christ.

May we be a people who say

Encouragement/invitation; (invitation slide: prayer for self prayer for others) song (exit slides) prayer