Most of us genuinely believe in the power of prayer. But all too often our good intentions fail us. Here's the unfiltered truth. There's a world of difference between admiring prayer and practicing it. between knowing its power and tapping into it.
Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindahl describes a season when Paul was miles away from the people he deeply loved. They were suffering and he couldn't fix it.
Well, Paul wasn't powerless, and neither are we. Let's discover what happens when ordinary believers petition God on behalf of those we love. Uh Second Thessalonians chapter one, we find. The Apostle Paul praying for these people. He really loved them.
You can, but it's hard to pray for someone you don't love. Love really helps. It kind of greases the skids. He has a love for these people. Paul is in Corinth.
You may not know that. He's busily engaged with four other people in ministry, Aquila and Priscilla, a husband-wife team. Silas and Timothy, that's why he includes them in the opening. A statement, a salutation, Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the church.
So he's with Aquila and Priscilla and Silas and Timothy, and you know, Corinth. Fast lane city. They're busy, they're involved, there are all kinds of things happening. They're switching from the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus, and people are growing, and pressures are mounting. Offense is occurring and growth is happening and He stops to write a letter.
He's just been to Thessalonica.
So he sends them a letter of love in the first letter, and then he hears about things that have arisen, so he sends them a second letter. In between the two letters, he's heard that the pressure has mounted. In fact, the persecution and the affliction is greater than ever.
So he tells them in verse 3 that he gives thanks to God for them. In verse 4, he speaks proudly of them. And then verse 11, he prays for them. Before we analyze the prayer, let's take a look at verse 11: the word always. He's back at 1 Thessalonians 5, 17.
He's practicing what he just wrote. I'm praying always. To this end, we pray for you always. Don't miss the consistency of that word. You know, I would much rather know that a person prayed for me every day than to know that he set aside a.
An hour's time once a month. I do a lot better knowing I'm being upheld one minute a day. Then I am. one hour a month. It's wonderful to know that it can be spread through the day and through the month and through the year.
You've raised your family, put them on your prayer list and pray for each child. If they're married, pray for their marriage. Pray for their maids, pray for their children. In a situation, or they're in a situation that is threatening and difficult to Pray for that. Situation just on a regular basis, the always I didn't want to miss.
Now, three things he prayed for in verse 11. Maybe you've already noted them. Verse 11. To this end, we pray always that, here's the content. One?
Our God may count you worthy of your calling. Two? We pray for you always that our God might fulfill every desire for goodness. And three, we pray for you always that our God. May fulfill Every desire you have for the work of faith.
with power.
Now, some of you look at those words just like I did the first time I saw them. I thought, oh, big deal. Boy, this is going to be a great sermon. I can hardly wait for this one. And you know, the more I dug into it, the more significant it became.
The Bible is like that. On the surface, it may seem like a lot of religious words. But it isn't. There's depth. for the searcher.
To this end, we pray that our God. Maybe Count you worthy. of your calling. Let me put it in these words. I am praying that in God's estimation, You may live and act as it becomes those who have received such a high calling as you.
What is their calling? Their calling is to be kingdom people. People who have been initiated into the kingdom. By suffering. That's what he says in verse 5, isn't it?
This is a plain indication of God's judgment.
So that you may be considered worthy. of the kingdom of God. Verse 11, I pray that our God may count you worthy of such a calling. That God may observe your suffering and, in His estimation, Find you worthy of that calling. as a kingdom member.
I think that is significant. Philippians 1:29 says, It is not only for us to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His name's sake.
Now, I emphasize that because I don't believe we inform new Christians of that truth. I think we leave a lot of them with the impression that if you'll just come to know Christ. All or most of your problems will be solved. But the Bible doesn't teach that. The Bible says it is not only for us to believe in Him, but also to suffer.
I've never met a Christian that had depth who hadn't suffered. I never met a Christian who was generous who hadn't suffered. I've never met a Christian whose life had really counted for Christ who didn't know in a rather regular basis. Suffering. Hardship.
Affliction, to use the words of this passage, affliction. Could it be that this is the fellowship of his sufferings mentioned in Philippians 3:10? that I may know him, the power of his resurrection. The fellowship of his sufferings. Paul first prays that God would, in his estimation, find them worthy of such a calling.
Are you impressed? with the fact that he doesn't pray that their pain will stop. He doesn't pray that their suffering and affliction would end. You see, that's what we in our flesh pray for. Mm-hmm.
Soon as we know someone is hurting, we pray that the hurt will stop. As soon as we discover that one of our own is going through a difficult time, we pray that they'll be relieved of it. You don't always have biblical justification for that kind of prayer. Never once in this passage or in any other in the letter does Paul pray, Lord, take away the affliction that they're going through. He prays, May you see your way through it.
May you grow by leaps and bounds. May the Lord look upon your response and say, worthy.
Now that is a worthy member of my kingdom. Try that on the next time one of your own goes through a time of suffering. It'll change your whole perspective, frankly. The second thing he prays for is that God may fulfill every desire for goodness. And what in the world does that mean?
Well, the word desire means... to resolve. They had resolved, apparently, I take it from the way he writes this. They had resolved that goodness would be one of the things that would mark their lives as believers. Paul knew that what they were going through would help make that happen.
So he says, may our God Fulfill your resolve. For goodness. Goodness is so general it seems to lose its significance. But it isn't a general word. At the heart of the word, in most cases in the New Testament, there is generosity.
One who has become open-handed and great-hearted. Remember what it's said of Barnabas in Acts 11:24? He was a good man. and full of the Holy Spirit.
So we're not surprised when you find Barnabas Used mightily of God. He was a. Good. Man. Great-hearted.
generous. By the way, This is a good time to ask a question. What have you resolved? before God. in recent days.
In the old days, it wasn't uncommon for godly men and women to make statements about their philosophy of life. They would even write them down in journals. resolved. Such and such. One great man wrote something like Resolved.
I will do what is right. Even if I'm around those who never do what is right. I will do what is right. What is a resolve that you have placed before your God? One of theirs was apparently to become known for their goodness.
Generosity. Paul says, I pray that this might help make that happen. It's a good discipline to ask your children what their resolves are this year. or that particular period of time in their life. And pray to that end, When things occur in their lives, pray that what is happening might help them reach their resolve.
It sure does take the selfishness out of prayer, I'll tell you. I found myself praying that our daughter's pain would go away. Oh okay. It happened to have been an appendectomy that she went through and was on her right side and got to where she couldn't even lift her leg. He had no trouble knowing it was related to that side right here.
He'd push as only a doctor can push. And is it there? Yep, yep, that's it. That's it. Right there.
And they went on to say in this particular book how How grateful we are to be for pain.
Some of you are going through pains in your life that you've been through before. They're not physical. But they're deep pains. You haven't learned yet, so the pains come back. And it will come again.
And it will come again. And the physician will continue to push you. Yeah, that's it, that's it.
Well, you remember your resolve. Yes. Yeah. This is still a problem. This is still a problem in your life.
He prays that God would Fulfill every resolve that have for goodness. And thirdly, he prays. that God will fulfill their work of faith. You may remember in the first letter to the Thessalonians, he said, I constantly bear in mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and steadfastness of hope. One verse three.
He says here in this prayer, I pray that your experience will. Fulfill your work of faith. I find that wonderful, beautiful. They're going through this tough time, and they want to be known as people who walk by faith. Their testimony has spread throughout the region, and here they are, plunged in difficulty.
The average, casual, superficial onlooker would say, What a shame that they've got to suffer like that. Paul says, how great it is. Because as this life of yours is forced to depend on God, your faith will be stretched. and your muscles of trust will grow. And the word will spread.
And I can't overlook that last word in verse 11. with power.
You know what the Greek word is? Dunamis. You know what we get from that? Dynamite. Isn't that great?
That it will all be done with dynamite. And when I check up on you Thessalonians, it'll be a dynamite report. Your work of faith will expand. I tell you There is nothing predictable about The right kind of prayer. God is full of surprises.
God's special and it seems preferred way to work is to surprise us. Have you noticed that? Just about the time you think you got him figured out, comes in the back door and delivers there. You thought it was going to be the front door. These people don't know what God has.
He has the audacity to pray that they'll be worthy of their kingdom calling and they'll realize their resolve and they'll become people whose walk is enhanced by the afflictions they're going through. That's gutsy praying. Never once does he say, take away the hurt. We want relief. God wants deepening of character.
We want out. God wants us through. We want to say it's over. God wants to say it worked. And when we pray, Then it all It all makes sense.
Notice the purpose of it all in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you. Blessed be the name, blessed be the name of the Lord. You know a good synonym for name? Reputation.
Okay. That, as a result of what you go through, God's reputation will be in lights. People will look back and say, my, didn't God get glory out of that? Wasn't God obvious in that action? Yeah.
I know some of you are going through some very, very tough times. I know that.
Some of you are unfulfilled in your work. Others of you have lost your job.
Some of you find yourself in marital situations that are unbearable, and others of you are in physical difficulty, and you can't seem to get out of it. It's threatening.
Some of you are failing either in school or at work. or in your venture. And you know you're failing. And you're right next to Panic Palace. Just about to move in.
And I want to tell you that the only way you're going to get through it is to take it to God. is to take it to him in prayer. And not to read about it, not to study about it, but to do it. And get specific. I find wonderful results and accomplishments as I go through this letter.
You don't see them all as results of prayer, but they are. Look at chapter 2. I find, in fact, no less than six of them. Chapter 2, verse 2: that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure. I'm sure he prayed for that for them.
One of the results of intercession is that we stop being shaken from our composure. Ever been shaken from your composure? Sure you have. You've gotten a hate letter. A hate letter shakes your composure.
It's not signed. And you swear you're not going to read it, and then you memorize it. And you're not going to think about it. You mention it to everybody you see. It's shaken your composure.
Prayer will keep you from being shaken. When you get bad stuff, pray. Give it to God. He's well able to handle it. He gets hate letters all the time.
And he'd handle it. He knows what it means to be misunderstood. He knows how people respond when they don't have all the facts. Chapter 2, verse 15.
So then, brethren, stand firm, hold to the traditions which you were taught. That's a result of prayer. When I pray, I don't get shaken and I don't get loosey-goosey. I stand firm. and the traditions that I have been taught.
It's verse 17. Comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. That's a result of prayer. Comfort and strengthening of the heart. stronger heart muscles.
Prayer does that. When I take it to God, my heart is stronger than it was before. Chapter 3, verse 1. Pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified. When you pray, the word of the Lord is spread.
I can't explain how it happens. I just know that it is. The spreading of the word occurs when you pray. That's another benefit of intercession. Verse 2: that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith.
Pray. When you pray, that results. That's a result. Deliverance and protection from evil. See how he says in verse 3: The Lord is faithful, he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
When you pray, You build a deliverance and protection system. around another person. Chapter 3, verse 16.
Now may the Lord of peace himself. continually grant you peace. Peace in every circumstance. You see how that reads? Grant you peace in every circumstance.
Isn't it great to be around people like that? Um It's just wonderful to find some folks who live in peace in every circumstance. I have to tell you, I usually see this among missionaries. That's one of their great qualities. They just live in peace in every circumstance.
Part of the reason is they're not connected to the things of this world. Most of them. They put that to bed. If your circumstances become all the world to you, then you'll never have peace. If your circumstances are in the hands of the Lord, then peace is possible.
he can take them and change them and use them. I want to give you three tips when praying for people that have worked for me. And um Maybe they'll work for you. Certainly better than sitting with arms folded watching someone else fish. It's a good thing to get involved yourself.
Number one, read the kingdom. into their situation. Read the kingdom. Into their situation. Look at what they're going through through kingdom eyes.
Suffering is part of kingdom life. That'll give you depth. You'll have pity without it. You'll get depth when you read kingdom into a person's experience. You meet up with a person who's lost his job, you'll see only pity coming from you until you read through those eyes of yours kingdom.
Press the kingdom into the unemployment. Press the kingdom into the pain of the life. That's the second point. Reflect on the person's faith as much as you do on the pain. The pain is there, but the faith is growing.
That'll give you peace. When you read the kingdom into a person's situation, you'll gain depth when you reflect on the person's faith. Rather than just his pain or her pain, you'll have peace. that you wouldn't otherwise have. And help me, by the way, if I may return one more time, and I won't again, to my daughter.
I gained a real sense of peace. when I saw that the pain that she was going through was going to be in her favor. She was going to be a stronger woman. She was going to be a better wife. She was going to be a better mother.
In fact, there's an irony to it when my wife called our Our children's aunt, Cynthia's sister. hazel She was reminded by Hazel that that's what happened in her mother's case when she was carrying Cynthia. She said, don't you remember? She said, Mom told us that When she was carrying you, she had an appendectomy. It's interesting how that worked.
Her mother and Father. hadn't told anybody that they were married. And so they ran away and got married. And Later on, she became pregnant. Then she had this epidectomy.
and they had to tell everything.
So along with saying to her folks, I have to have a surgery that also said I'm married. and also can have a baby. A few other things we want to toss in here while we're at it. You know, and the whole story unfolded, Cares' face just lit up. as she got beyond her pain.
felt connected to her mother and what she had gone through. It's great how God does things like this. Third, remember the ultimate goal is glorifying God. not being happy. Our ultimate goal in life, will we ever learn it?
Lord, will we ever learn it? Is to glorify God. God. not necessarily be happy. I have no stick of dynamite to toss in your lap, but I'll tell you what, if I did, I would.
Aren't you glad I don't? But I'm not even sure that that would Get some of you to fishing. I wish it would. Let's bow together. Got your eyes closed and your heart right with God.
It occurred to me recently that the only way we get into God's family is through prayer. By prayer, we invite the Lord God. to invade our lives. In prayer, we acknowledge our need for a Savior. In prayer, we Come to the cross.
and we embrace him who died for us. In prayer we thank him. for accepting us. We've exhorted Christians all the way through this message to pray. I want to tell you who were lost.
that this is the prayer God hears from you. Lord, I'm a sinner. And I come to you just. as I am. And I ask you to take me.
Save me. Wouldn't you like to do that today? You're surrounded by Christians who, if they knew your need, would just be praying. For you. Constantly.
But it may be a secret. Not very many people may know you're lost. But there's no secret to God. Come to him now. Lord, it's as if we have been on sacred ground as we have talked.
and thought about Prayer. It's what your son did the night before the cross. Lord, if it's possible for the Cup to pass from me may it pass from me. Nevertheless, not My will, but yours be done. And he prayed for us as well.
Pray to keep us. From the evil one. to take us out of the evil world. And so it's appropriate this day that I pray for. All who hear these words that you would minister and strengthen and encourage.
as a special friend of ours. Dear God. Mm-hmm.
Thank you for hearing the prayers of the lost, for bringing them into your kingdom. Keep them strong as they grow in your family. And now, the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Strengthen you in every good word and work. and honor his name.
through our lives. We pray for Jesus' sake. Amen. Shucksman Dahl has reminded us today that prayer is not passive. It's not a last resort.
Prayer is the most powerful thing you'll ever do for another person and for yourself. The God who heard his son pray for Lazarus to leave the tomb hears you as well. You're listening to Insight for Living. We're just getting started with an eight-part series through Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians. It's a series Chuck titled Steadfast Christianity.
One of Paul's overarching themes in this letter is leadership. Paul was the mentor to these young believers. just as Nehemiah was a leader to the construction crew in Jerusalem. Remember that Old Testament story? the wall around their city was nothing but rubble.
After its destruction, the town was totally exposed, and the opposition was fierce. But Nehemiah had a vision, a plan, and an unshakable confidence in God. In just 52 days, the impossible got done. Today we'd like to send you Chuck's book, Hand Me Another Brick. In it, he unpacks the leadership genius of Nehemiah.
And shows you how those same principles can work in your church, your ministry, and your life today. It's our gift to you when you support Insight for Living with a generous donation. You'll find us online at insight.org slash donate. or you can request the book in a letter by sending a donation to Insight for Living. Post Office Box 5000.
Frisco, Texas, 75034. In addition to Chuck's book, Hand Me Another Brick, both Searching the Scriptures Bible Study workbooks for 1 and 2 Thessalonians are available for purchase. These are spiral bound, designed to lay flat on your lap or on the table where you can easily take notes as you read through Paul's two letters. To have them sent to your home, call us at 800-772-8888 or go online to insight.org slash offer. I'm Bill Meyer.
Join us when Chuck Swindahl brings his trademark clarity to one of the Bible's most prophetic chapters. Thursday on Insight for Living. The preceding message, Praying for Others, a Must, was copyrighted in 1986, 1991, 2002, 2024, and 2026. And the sound recording was copyrighted in 2026 by Charles R. Swindahl, Inc.
All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited.
