Paul’s Personal Prayer Petition

Text –2 Thessalonians 3:1

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

Introduction: Paul makes a personal prayer request to the brethren there in Thessalonica for the Word of God to have free course. God’s Word had spread throughout the villages in that region because of the faithfulness of the believers. Paul is asking that the same thing might be accomplished throughout the regions ahead in Corinth, Macedonia, Achaia and where ever the Gospel was to be preached. Like this request, we ourselves should constantly be praying the same today for the Word of God. We should never cease in asking the Lord to bless the preaching of His Holy Word no matter where it is preached and where the Gospel is presented.

**The phrase “free course” is translated - τρέχω trecho {trekh'-o}, meaning to run 1a) of persons in haste 1b) of those who run in a race course 2) metaph. 2a) of doctrine rapidly propagated 2b) by a metaphor taken from runners in a race, to exert one's self, strive hard 2c) to spend one's strength in performing or attaining something 2d) word occurs in Greek writings denoting to incur extreme peril, which it requires the exertion of all one's effort to overcome.

I. Prayer For The Preachers Of The Word Of God

A.) Their Discernment Of The Word

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

B.) Their Declaration Of The Word

1 Corinthians 2:1 - And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

C.) Their Duty To The Word

2 Timothy 1:11 - Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2 Timothy 2:2 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

II. Prayer For The Promoting Of The Word Of God

A) Promoting The Gospel

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

B.) Promoting The Truth

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

C.) Promoting The Warning

Colossians 1:28 - Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2 Peter 2:9 - The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

III. Prayer For The Power From The Word Of God

A.) The Power To Convict

Acts 5:33 - When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Acts 7:54 - When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

B.) The Power To Change

Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

C.) The Power To Cultivate

2 Peter 3:1 - This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

James 1:25 - But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.