A SHEPHERD'S DESIRE FOR HIS FLOCK (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5)
INTRODUCTION:
Paul truly felt that he was the shepherd of the church in Thessalonica and several times in his first letter he spoke to these new believers as their shepherd or pastor. Paul with his companions Silas and Timothy had brought the message of the gospel to the Thessalonians. Then for an undisclosed time Paul lived in Thessalonica and taught the new believers the Word of God and discipled them in living the Christian life. Then Paul and his ministry partners were forced to leave Thessalonica due to severe persecution that could have ended in their deaths if they had stayed. Paul then wrote his first letter to them after Timothy had returned bringing a good report concerning the church. Paul’s first and second letters were written from the heart of a shepherd to his flock and show the great concern he has for them. Paul used his letters to encourage the new believers, to assure them of his prayers for them, to clear up some doctrinal issues and to exhort them concerning living the Christian life in a way that is pleasing to God. Paul in his first letter spoke not only of the responsibilities that a shepherd had concerning the flock that God has entrusted into his care, but he also spoke of the responsibility of the flock concerning their shepherd. Paul had said in the end of his first letter in 1st Thessalonians 5:12-13, “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, NASB95)[1] When both the shepherd and the flock under his care each carry out the responsibilities for one another as clearly laid out for us in God’s Word, then God blesses the church and makes it powerful, effective, and joyful.
In our passage this morning we will see additional insight, directly from Paul’s shepherd heart, regarding what any devoted, dedicated shepherd desires from the people of his flock. In this passage we find four desires that Paul had for the believers in Thessalonica. He desired that they pray for him, that they would trust the Lord, that they would obey God’s Word, and that they would grow in the Lord. Let’s pray and then turn to our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to 2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5,
“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5, NASB95)[2]
PRAY FOR US (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-2)
Paul begins this chapter with the word translated “finally” which literally means “for the rest” or “besides that.” Paul uses this word to transition from talking about eschatology to more practical matters, things that concern the Thessalonians right now. He has made clear that they are not in the judgment time of the day of the Lord, this being understood he now changes to those things that he as their shepherd desires for them.
Paul again addresses them as his brethren in the Lord, and then asks them to pray for him and his companions. Paul’s writings show that he was without equal when it came to effective ministry, his natural abilities alone were huge, he had the best rabbinical training, he was intelligent, a logical and persuasive thinker and communicator, he was spiritually perceptive and possessed a lot of experience in missions and church planting. But Paul knew that all of these together were worthless and ineffective without God’s power. Paul had told the Colossians in Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” (Colossians 1:28–29, NASB95)[3] Paul understood that he could not place his confidence in his training, or intellect, or experience, because he knew that if he was to accomplish what God had called him to do that it had to be in the power of God at work in his life—a power that energized his natural giftedness for supernatural impact. Because Paul relied fully upon the Lord and His power for every aspect of his ministry, he often requested those to whom he had ministered to pray for him. As your shepherd like Paul, I need your prayers, I cannot do this ministry in my own strength, I need God’s power just like Paul did, one of the responsibilities you have concerning me is that you pray for me. While we are on this subject of prayer might I add that not only do I need prayer, but each person in this room needs prayer, and not just when they share a prayer request, we as a community of believers need to be praying for one another daily. Pray for me, pray for my family, and pray for one another. The word translated “pray” in this verse is in the present tense in Greek which means Paul was asking the Thessalonians to “continually pray” or “to make prayer a constant pattern in their life.” If you do not regularly pray for me and others in the church, you need to begin.
Paul gave the Thessalonians two requests to pray for him and his companions. The first was for the success of the message of the gospel, which Paul called the word of the Lord. Paul’s request and desire was that the word of the Lord would spread rapidly and be glorified. The phrase translated “spread rapidly” means “to speed on” or “to make progress.” Paul wanted the Thessalonians to pray that the message of the gospel would advance like a strong runner, moving forward unobstructed and unhindered, he wanted the gospel to be constantly gaining new ground. This was Paul’s heart concern that the preaching of the gospel would produce new believers, new disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul much later wrote to the Ephesians and said in Ephesians 6:19, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,” (Ephesians 6:19, NASB95).[4] The second part of Paul’s first request was not only would the gospel message spread rapidly, but that it would also be glorified. To be glorified means to be praised, honored, and exalted. Paul always wanted the gospel message to be received with the proper respect and honor, that those who heard it would accept it and affirm it as the saving truth of God. Paul knew that wherever he went and preached the Gospel that there would be those who would reject it, deny it, and blaspheme it. But he also knew there would be Gentiles and Jews that would embrace it in faith and hold it in high esteem as the truth of God. This is what had happened in Thessalonica and Paul wanted the Thessalonians to pray for this kind of reception again, and he reminded them that this is what had happened in Thessalonica. When Paul, Silas, and Timothy first preached the gospel in Thessalonica, both Jews and Gentiles believed. It was only later as more and more Gentiles put their faith in Jesus, that some unbelieving Jews violently objected to what was happening. But Paul recalled the overall positive response of the Thessalonians and wanted that to happen among other peoples in other places.
Paul’s second request is one that we should always pray for each other and that you should especially pray for me. Paul asked the Thessalonian believers to pray for the safety of the gospel messengers. If you read through Paul’s missionary journeys in the book of Acts, you will quickly learn that he constantly faced hostility in his ministry. Because of this Paul asked that the believers pray that he and his companions would be rescued from perverse and evil men. Paul was not concerned so much about his personal safety, but he wanted God to protect him while he ministered otherwise those to whom he was ministering would not hear the message. Paul identified for us the source of the danger they were facing, and it was perverse and evil men. These two adjectives describe for us men who are unrighteous, improper, aggressively wicked, men controlled by Satan who sought to prevent Paul and his companions from preaching the saving message of the gospel. Satan will do and use anyone in his power to try to stop the message of Christ from being preached. Paul asked them to pray that they would be rescued from these men. Paul cautioned the Thessalonians that “not all have faith.” Paul wanted them to understand that not all who hear the message will believe, and those who reject it may be hostile to the gospel and to the messengers of the gospel. Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray that as he preached the word of the gospel, it would go forth triumphantly and would be unhindered, and that it would be believed.
TRUST IN THE LORD (2nd Thessalonians 3:3)
Paul’s next desire for the Thessalonians believers is that they trust in the Lord in all circumstances. Remember that when Paul wrote this letter he was in Corinth, so he had no way of knowing how strong the Thessalonians trust in God would be through all the trials and persecutions that they were facing, would their trust remain? Paul seeks to reassure them that no matter what difficulties they my face, that the Lord would be faithful to accomplish His purposes for them. Toward the end of Paul’s life, he testified to the truth of the Lord’s faithfulness, his testimony is recorded in 2 Timothy 4:16-18 where he wrote, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:16–18, NASB95)[5] Paul found God to be faithful and the Thessalonian believers would find Him to be faithful as well. As believers trust in God’s spiritual provisions, we will always be able to handle the assaults from the world’s evil system. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB95)[6] This is just one of many verses that affirms the faithfulness of the Lord on our behalf. Paul in 2nd Thessalonians 3:3 tells us how the Lord will demonstrate His faithfulness to those who have put their trust in Him. Paul writes that God in His faithfulness will strengthen and protect you from the evil one, which is most likely a reference to Satan. Paul is speaking of the Lord establishing us on the inside, giving strength to our inner convictions so that we can stand firm in the face of trials and persecution, and He is guarding or protecting us from the outside as we stand in the armor, He has provided for us, the Lord shields us from external attacks. We see this described in greater detail in Ephesians 6:14-17 where Paul writes, “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:14–17, NASB95)[7] Jude in his benediction summarizes this idea of God strengthening and guarding us when he wrote, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,” (Jude 24, NASB95)[8] Paul promised that the Lord is faithful and encouraged the believers to trust Him in all circumstances.
OBEY GOD’S WORD (2nd Thessalonians 3:4)
Paul’s third desire as the shepherd of the flock of believers in Thessalonica was that they would continue to be obedient to God. Paul and his companions had confidence in the Lord that was based on what the Thessalonian believers were already doing, how they were obeying the things that Paul had taught them from the Word of God, and what he had commanded them to do in his first letter. Paul writes that because they are consistent in their obedience now that this gives him confidence in the Lord that their obedience to the Lord will continue, and they will continue to do what they had been commanded from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Paul as their shepherd, who had spent time with them teaching and explaining the Word of God had the authority to command that they obey.
God’s Word is filled with commands for obedience. David in Psalm 19:8 described the entirety of God’s Word as a command when he wrote, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8, NASB95)[9] Jesus in one of His last conversations with His disciples in what we call the Great Commission defined as commands the many things that He had taught the disciples, and He expected believers to obey them. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20a, NASB95)[10] Even the gospel contains the commands to repent and believe. It is the duty of every Christian, just as it was the duty of the believers in the church in Thessalonica to obey the commands their shepherd gives them from the Word of God. Whether that be in person or by other means.
GROW IN THE LORD (2nd Thessalonians 3:5)
The apostle Paul was so confident in the Lord’s faithfulness to His people and based on the joy the Thessalonians displayed in obeying God’s commands, Paul anticipated the best from the Thessalonians. But as their shepherd he desired a fourth thing for them and that was that they would continue to grow in the Lord. Because of this desire he asked that the Lord direct their hearts to that end, to growing spiritually. The Greek word translated “direct” is a word that means “to make straight.” Paul used this same word in 1st Thessalonians 3:11 when he wrote, “Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;” (1 Thessalonians 3:11, NASB95)[11] In this verse Paul uses it to indicate the removal of all obstacles and hindrances as someone opened a pathway or road. Paul did not want the spiritual progress of the Thessalonian believers to come to a halt or to be hindered in any way, but instead that the Lord would clear the way so that their hearts would move into the love of God. The grammar of the phrase “of God” in Greek can either mean “into God’s love for the believer,” or “the believer’s love for God.” Because the Greek grammar allows this to mean either, Paul used this to convey a complete, well-rounded sense of truth to the Thessalonians. Paul desired that the flock under his care in Thessalonica go down a pathway deeper and deeper into God’s love for them, which in turn would cause them to love Him more and more.
Second, Paul desired that the Lord would direct the Thessalonians hearts to grow stronger in the steadfastness of Christ. The steadfastness of Christ is the steadfastness which our Lord exhibited, his endurance as described for us in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, NASB95)[12] The Thessalonians were to observe it, copy it, and reproduce it. The secret of endurance in the Christian life is intimate knowledge of the God who loves us and endured for us. Paul desired that they learn from the Savior’s example and continue to grow and move forward in love and patient endurance even under persecution.
CONCLUSION:
In these first five verses of this chapter Paul gives us an excellent example of a shepherd’s genuine concern that his flock prosper spiritually and in so doing each become a contributing participant to the edification and glorification of the church. As the shepherd of this church, I can echo Paul’s desires. I desire that you pray for me regularly, not only for me but for all those who are a part of this church. This is your duty that you must carry out on a regular basis, on a daily basis. I desire that you trust in the Lord in all circumstances and experience His faithfulness in your life. I desire that you live in obedience to the Lord and obey what is taught from the Word, and finally, the overarching desire is that you grow spiritually, that the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, so that as you experience His love in your life, you love Him more and more. And that the Lord direct your hearts into the steadfastness of Christ, that as you understand more and more what Christ endured on our behalf, you draw strength from that truth by the power of the Holy Spirit so that you can endure in Christ’s patience all the trials and persecutions that may come into your life.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.