1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:02,640 How's the first year as a church been? 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,200 If you're visiting, maybe this is your first week. 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,120 You just missed our birthday last week. 4 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:12,040 We celebrated. We had some BBQ thanks to the 5 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:14,720 Jacksons. Whoever made the banana pudding, 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,720 that was delicious. One of my favorite desserts. 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,680 Much to be thankful for. Maybe you've been asked that 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,400 question a few times in the last week. 9 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:25,680 How's the first year as a church been? 10 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,120 How would you answer? I can say without a doubt that 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,920 when I reflect back on the last year, I have 1000 reasons to be 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,480 thankful. Just a few because that would 13 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:42,560 take the whole sermon. 1 is even before we planted, so many 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,400 churches have been praying for us, partnering with us, cheering 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,560 us on from the sidelines. It is a beautiful picture of the 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,680 Kingdom of God and the Catholicity of the Church. 17 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,800 You know the the truth is too. It seems like especially after 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,600 the services, we actually like one another. 19 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,480 The end of the service doesn't just disperse and everyone run 20 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,240 to their cars. It takes a bit to get out of 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,400 this, this building. Thank the Lord for that. 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,640 I've been blessed by the sermons, especially Bobby's 23 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,680 preaching through a probably a month on self denial and Mark so 24 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:25,040 rich, the series in Habakkuk Brothers, so many of you, the 25 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,600 devotionals you've given the first one and then the second, 26 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,720 praise the Lord. So encouraging. 27 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:38,040 The singing though, wow, seriously, even today, just a 28 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,200 little taste of heaven. The church I grew up in, mainly 29 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,760 the singing happened up here, very little singing happened 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,400 down there. And I just praise God when I 31 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,880 look around while I'm singing, I just see Saints belting out 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,600 praise to the Lord and to one another. 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,040 So many of you throughout the week, you're reading the Bible 34 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,440 together, you're studying scripture. 35 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,440 I heard a few of you brothers are memorizing the whole book of 36 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,440 Colossians. Wow. 37 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,440 Children's ministry. Thank you for serving this 38 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,000 church and the children and teaching them the gospel. 39 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,880 I'm grateful in our first year we have lay elders Ashok and 40 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:23,120 Brandon serving the church faithfully, much to be thankful 41 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,400 for. What if we ask that question? 42 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:31,120 How's the first year been to the Church of Thessalonica? 43 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,960 If you have your Bible, go ahead and turn to 1st Thessalonians 44 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,760 chapter 3. How would they respond? 45 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,560 What would they say? How's the first year been? 46 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,040 You know, based on the letter itself and on some historical 47 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,480 background we get in Acts chapter 17, I think they would 48 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,560 respond something like this. I think they'd tell us about 49 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,400 their conversion. They did not plant like us with 50 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:05,600 50 Bible believing Christians. They planted with brand new 51 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,080 converts. Paul, Silas and Timothy had come 52 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,160 to Thessalonica and over 3 Sabbaths they preached God's 53 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,600 word and persuaded them of Jesus Christ. 54 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,600 And they turn from idols and the next Sunday they're worshipping 55 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,720 Jesus. That's how their church was 56 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,640 planted. But they'd also tell us about 57 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:31,160 their suffering their first year. 58 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,600 They might say, well, our first year has been the hardest year 59 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,960 of our lives. We follow Jesus Christ and we've 60 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:43,440 gotten a lot of suffering, which Paul actually told us is exactly 61 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,280 what might happen. And Paul told us it's actually a 62 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,040 normal part about being a Christian. 63 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,200 He said follow me as I follow this suffering Savior. 64 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,880 They would also tell us, though, about their hope in the midst of 65 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,920 their suffering. Paul reminded them in just their 66 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,520 few short months together, constantly, week after week of 67 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,440 the certain return of Jesus Christ, that day when he will 68 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,840 make all things new. They were a new church plant, 69 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:19,880 but they had their minds on heaven from the beginning. 70 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,320 But the Thessalonian church would also tell us about Paul's 71 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:32,080 sudden departure. One day Paul was here preaching, 72 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,560 and then the next day he was gone. 73 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,240 Our leader, he skipped town, travelled to Berea. 74 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,240 We haven't heard from him since. People are starting to talk. 75 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,920 Paul, that guy who came through town, you think he was 76 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,760 legitimate? Maybe he had hidden motives. 77 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:53,520 Do you think Paul really loved you? 78 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,320 Where's Paul now? And how would Paul have 79 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:04,000 responded to those accusations? First Thessalonians is part of 80 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,680 Paul's response in Chapter 1. Paul says he's been so 81 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,080 encouraged by their faith night and day. 82 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:16,040 He says he remembers them, him, Silas and Timothy in prayer. 83 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,160 It's like he's working through his mental membership directory 84 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,120 of the first church in Thessalonica, just thanking the 85 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:28,000 Lord for their faith. He even says godly gossips been 86 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,520 spreading about their church throughout the whole region. 87 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,360 People are saying, have you heard about the church in 88 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,760 Thessalonica? So much so that Paul says this 89 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,960 Church of all the churches in the New Testament is an example. 90 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,440 And in chapter 2, Paul even defends his ministry to them. 91 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,280 He says, guys, you know me, God is my witness. 92 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,160 I shared the word with you, I shared my life with you. 93 00:05:55,160 --> 00:06:01,840 And he would tell them, I tried to come visit you, but Satan 94 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,720 kept hindering me from coming. I couldn't come. 95 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:11,720 And that's why in the first part of chapter 3, Paul explains why 96 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,240 he sent Timothy to them. He was worried about their 97 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,400 faith. They were baby believers. 98 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,800 They just learned to swim. He feared they might be crushed 99 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,320 under wave after wave of suffering. 100 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:31,000 He was scared of Satan's schemes that Satan might try to snuff 101 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:38,200 out their few months old faith. And today we hear Timothy's 102 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,680 report back to Paul. And let me tell you, it's good 103 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,080 news. So turn to chapter 3. 104 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:51,040 Look at verses 6 to 13. Listen as I read God's word. 105 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,880 But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us 106 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,840 the good news of your faith and love, and reported that you 107 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:08,560 always remember us kindly and long to see us as we long to see 108 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,920 you. For this reason, brothers, in 109 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:17,040 all our distress and affliction, we have been comforted about you 110 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:22,760 through your faith. For now we live if you are 111 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:27,920 standing fast in the Lord. For what Thanksgiving can we 112 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:32,960 return to God for you? For all the joy that we feel for 113 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:38,280 your sake before our God as we pray most earnestly night and 114 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,320 day, that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking 115 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,960 in your faith. Now. 116 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,960 May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our 117 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,560 way to you. And may the Lord make you 118 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:59,640 increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we 119 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:05,920 do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless 120 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:11,040 in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord 121 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:19,600 Jesus with all His Saints. Friends, did you hear Paul's 122 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:24,920 heartbeat? Here's a shepherd who loves his 123 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,080 sheep. Verse 6, we long to see you. 124 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,039 Verse 7, we have been comforted about you. 125 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,760 Verse 8 We live if you are standing fast. 126 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:45,880 Verse 9 What Thanksgiving can we return to God for you for all 127 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:53,360 the joy we feel for your sake? How much can you really love 128 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,120 someone after only spending a few months together? 129 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,800 Ask Paul. Apparently a lot. 130 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,120 Ask the Thessalonians. They did not have to guess about 131 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:08,080 Paul's affections for them. He loved them, so he was 132 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,440 concerned about them, so he longed to see them, so he didn't 133 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,880 stop praying for them. This is how Paul ministered in 134 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:22,120 light of that day, that day when Jesus Christ would return. 135 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,560 And here's how you should respond in light of Paul's 136 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:29,320 letter. Here's the main point. 137 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:36,000 In hope of glory, let your faith be a comfort and be a friend 138 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,560 that prays. I'll repeat it. 139 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:44,880 In hope of glory, let your faith be a comfort and be a friend 140 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:49,000 that prays. .1 of 2 verses 6 to 10. 141 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:54,760 Faith that comforts. Faith that comforts. 142 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,480 We need to remember a little context as we dive in. 143 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:03,040 Since it's been about a month, remember that Paul could bear 144 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,960 the silence no longer. He needed to find out about 145 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,600 their faith. That's why he sent Timothy. 146 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,840 And keep in mind, Paul likely waited a while for Timothy to 147 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,680 return. It was a 200 mile trip from 148 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:22,240 Athens to Thessalonica. That's about 10 days of travel. 149 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,720 Timothy probably stayed a few days or maybe even a week with 150 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,400 the Thessalonians. Then there's the ten day return 151 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,840 trip. So it's likely that Paul's been 152 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:37,960 waiting for at least a month. He's like that parent who's 153 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,960 waiting to hear from their first child off at college. 154 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,160 He's anxious to get anything, a text message, a phone call to 155 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:51,800 hear about how they're doing. And when Timothy returns, Paul 156 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,000 hears good news. Look at verse 6. 157 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:59,920 Timothy brought good news. That's how Paul describes 158 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,880 Timothy's report. Every other time Paul uses that 159 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,440 word, he's talking about the preaching of the gospel. 160 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:13,320 But here he uses that word to show just how good Timothy's 161 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,640 report was. When you're sitting in the 162 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:23,520 waiting room, what a relief when you finally hear good news. 163 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,680 That's how Paul felt. Paul knew that the Thessalonian 164 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:30,240 church was suffering for the gospel. 165 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:35,320 But notice Paul's relief did not come from the end of their 166 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:40,000 trials. It came verse 6, from the growth 167 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:45,080 of their faith and their love in the midst of their trials. 168 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:51,000 Now, when we see a brother or sister in trouble, we so often 169 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,000 want to end their troubles. But Paul's response should 170 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,600 challenge us. He cares most about their faith 171 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,720 and their love. Brothers and sisters, what's 172 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:11,160 your aim in your discipline? What's your dream for your 173 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,000 disciple? What's the best news you could 174 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:19,040 hear about them? Is it that they have no more 175 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:24,560 major illnesses or sicknesses? Or that their health struggles 176 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:29,680 have ended, or that they finally found a job, or that they're 177 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:33,840 moving up the corporate ladder? That they're able to live a 178 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,560 comfortable life? That they're respected in the 179 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:40,160 community? That they finally finished that 180 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,880 degree? That they're successful. 181 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:49,760 The top of Paul's list of priorities was spiritual growth. 182 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:58,480 So think about the last year. Have you grown in faith and in 183 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,840 love, or is that brother or sister that you've been meeting 184 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:08,640 with growing in their faith towards God and their love 185 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,520 towards the Saints? Let that be the aim of your book 186 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:16,200 studies and your Bible studies and your lunches together and 187 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,240 coffees and dinners and the 15 minutes you have before and 188 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:23,480 after the service. Aim at their faith and their 189 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,680 love. Those are the two issues on 190 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:31,840 which life depends. The Thessalonians were growing 191 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:36,000 in faith and love and their growth was a comfort to Paul. 192 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,800 Remember Paul's visit before he came to Thessalonica. 193 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,800 Before Paul came to Thessalonica, he was persecuted 194 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,800 at Philippine. In Thessalonica, he was chased 195 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,880 out of town by the Jews. After Thessalonica, those same 196 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,040 Jews followed him to Berea and chased him out of Berea. 197 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,840 What I'm trying to say is Paul had his own troubles, he had his 198 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:06,080 own problems, and yet in his distress, in his afflictions, 199 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:12,720 who's he concerned about? Their faith and he's comforted 200 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,400 by their faith. Brothers and sisters, by what 201 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,520 are you comforted? I trust today that you've come 202 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:28,080 to church with your own problems, your own troubles, 203 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,880 your own distress and affliction. 204 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,720 But if you're in Christ, not a day goes by where your heavenly 205 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:42,240 Father has forgotten you. Not an hour passes where your 206 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,840 Father in heaven does it know just what you need. 207 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:51,360 Not a minute. A second lapses where your 208 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,160 heavenly Father isn't orchestrating everything around 209 00:14:55,160 --> 00:15:01,800 you for your good. And one of the ways that God's 210 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:07,680 comforts suffering Saints is by turning their concerns from 211 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,120 themselves to their brothers and sisters. 212 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,920 Are your relationships in the body after one year together, 213 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:22,440 deep enough that the faith of your fellow members could bring 214 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:27,200 you comfort? Have you put in the time and the 215 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:32,280 effort to know these Saints and their struggles? 216 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:37,840 And if you have, and so many of you have done that, if you've 217 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,440 not settled for surface level conversations, if you have 218 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,720 opened up your home and your heart to the Saints of this 219 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:49,080 Church, you may find that though you have your own problems, 220 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,520 their faith actually brings you comfort in them. 221 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,320 Brothers and sisters, does your faith comfort? 222 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,600 Could it be said of your faith that it lifts hearts in 223 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,800 distress? Could it be said of your faith 224 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:14,080 that it brings sighs of relief? Could it be said of your faith 225 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:22,160 that it comforts the afflicted? When your faith grows, comfort 226 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,440 spreads throughout the congregation. 227 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,840 When you stand firm in your faith, hearts are strengthened 228 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,680 throughout the church. When you trust the Lord in the 229 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:40,400 midst of trials, you remind all of us that God is trustworthy. 230 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,920 Do you see the mutual encouragement at play in Paul's 231 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,840 ministry here? Verse 6. 232 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,920 He longed to see them. They longed to see him. 233 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,720 Verse 7, he's comforted in his distress by their faith in their 234 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,920 distress. Verse 8 especially look there, 235 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:04,480 he lives if they're standing fast in the Lord. 236 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,599 It's like Paul's saying I'm doing well. 237 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:12,160 If you're doing well, I can face another day. 238 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,599 If your faith is flourishing. Paul's ministry is a two way St. 239 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:23,760 His happiness is bound up with theirs and any parent can 240 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:30,360 understand this. Kids, youth, this is how your 241 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:34,400 parents feel about you. Maybe you're wondering or even 242 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,480 saying verbally to your parents. Mom and dad, do we really have 243 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,680 to go to church today? Do we really have to study the 244 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,720 Bible together again and sing together and pray together? 245 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:52,400 Do we really need to? Kids, Your parents care about 246 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:58,040 your spiritual well-being. They want you to stand fast in 247 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:03,000 the Lord, to faithfully follow Jesus, to refuse the lies of 248 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,280 Satan and the world and your flesh. 249 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:08,640 And that's what we all want for you. 250 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,880 We all want you to follow in the faith of your parents. 251 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,200 Parents, what keeps you up at night? 252 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,280 The well-being of your children. What helps you sleep soundly at 253 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,840 night? The well-being of your children. 254 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:31,480 When Paul heard Timothy's report, you better believe he 255 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:36,080 slept soundly that night. And brothers in the church, if 256 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,960 you aspire to be an elder. Pastoring is like spiritual 257 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,800 parenting. Paul's already said this in his 258 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,400 ministry. He said his ministry was like a 259 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,960 nursing mother caring for her infant. 260 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:54,120 He said his ministry was like a faithful father individually 261 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:57,680 instructing his children. His ministry was one of deep 262 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,560 affection, Paul told the Thessalonians. 263 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:07,560 You've become very dear to me. So brothers, if you aspire to be 264 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,640 a pastor, know this Parenting is one of the training grounds for 265 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,200 pastoring. If you want a pastor, you need 266 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:21,320 to love like a parent. Friends, Can you imagine getting 267 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,840 this letter? Seriously, most of us don't 268 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,080 write letters anymore. We send texts, some of us even 269 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,120 e-mail. It is not the same. 270 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,960 When Hannah, my wife and I were dating, we live long distance. 271 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:41,000 We would write each other letters, long letters, love 272 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,520 letters, effusive with affection. 273 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,440 We've tried to even write our kids letters as they grow up. 274 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:52,200 We have little journals for them where we write every once in a 275 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,120 while. Hannah often reminds me, it's 276 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:57,400 been a year, Michael, you need to write in our journal to the 277 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,440 kids. What if you received this 278 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,520 letter? What if our church got this 279 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,480 letter in the mail? What if you got this letter? 280 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,080 How encouraging would that be to your faith? 281 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:16,160 To have somebody saying this about you and your walk with 282 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,720 Jesus. Paul is gushing with 283 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,400 Thanksgiving about the Thessalonians. 284 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:28,480 All he could do look at verse 9 was thank God for them. 285 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:33,600 He's overjoyed to hear about them and how they're doing. 286 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,120 He started this letter by thanking God. 287 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,960 Chapter 1. As you probably know, most of 288 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,120 the epistles start with Thanksgiving. 289 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,720 Few of them have the Thanksgiving leak into the 3rd 290 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,720 chapter. He's so thankful for them. 291 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:52,320 And after hearing Timothy's report, he has even more reasons 292 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,880 to thank God for them. It's as if he couldn't thank God 293 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,760 enough. It's as if his lips could not 294 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,120 possibly match the joy that's in his heart. 295 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,720 It's as if Paul is swept up in gratitude. 296 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,880 I wonder, when you look around this church, does your heart 297 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:22,200 overflow with gratitude? Think of the things Paul thanks 298 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,080 God for. Not an increase in church 299 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,280 membership, Not an increase in giving, not even a place to 300 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,440 gather. Though of course we should thank 301 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,440 God for every one of God's gifts. 302 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:38,120 Paul thanks God for unquantifiable spiritual 303 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,400 realities. He thanks God for their faith 304 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,960 and their love. I hope you see here. 305 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,440 Paul as a mature Christian is easily edified. 306 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:55,960 Paul as a mature Christian traces his joys back to God in 307 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,880 Thanksgiving. Paul as a mature Christian 308 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,280 edifies others with his Thanksgiving. 309 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,720 Brothers and sisters, do you want to grow in maturity? 310 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:12,720 Thank God for God's people. Then tell God's people what 311 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,360 you're thankful for and you will grow. 312 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,320 Thank God for God's people today. 313 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,200 Tell God's people today what you're thankful for. 314 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,480 Text someone after the service. Write them an e-mail. 315 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,640 Send them a letter. Even better, thank them in 316 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,720 person for God's grace in their lives. 317 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:40,800 If you do that, you will blow wind in their sails. 318 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:46,400 They will soar because of your Thanksgiving to God on their 319 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:52,040 behalf. Notice in verse 10 how Paul's 320 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,640 Thanksgiving is a product of his prayer. 321 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,280 Paul prayed often for God's people. 322 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:02,120 How often? Verse 10, night and day. 323 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:05,000 Paul could not have prayed more often than he was praying. 324 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,440 He says verse 10. He prayed most earnestly. 325 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,400 Paul could not have prayed more earnestly than he was praying. 326 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:18,240 Paul was pleading with God on their behalf and he pleaded to 327 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:23,320 God, one, that he would just see them face to face, and 2nd, that 328 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:27,160 he would supply what's lacking in their faith. 329 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,200 In other words, there was more they needed to learn, there was 330 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,120 more they needed to apply, there was more they needed to grow. 331 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,600 They had gaps in their godliness, holes in their 332 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,560 holiness. In other words, they were just 333 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:49,360 like us. You know, I reached the colossal 334 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:52,160 height of 5-10 in the 10th grade. 335 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,880 My dad's 58. My mom is shorter. 336 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,800 I was excited. I even towered over my friends 337 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:05,000 for a few months, and then I stopped and they kept growing. 338 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,200 I was hoping to get a few more inches, but God is sovereign. 339 00:24:12,120 --> 00:24:17,080 Christians, on the other hand, never stopped growing, and every 340 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,280 Christian in this room has room to grow. 341 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,560 Pastors need to make progress too. 342 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,160 Paul tells that to Timothy in chapter First Timothy 4IN other 343 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,520 words, God can teach old dogs new tricks. 344 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:37,600 And God so often uses other Christians to teach us through 345 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:42,920 frequent encouragement, through gentle admonishment, and even 346 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:47,040 through correction. So brothers and sisters, where 347 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,240 are your gaps? How can you grow? 348 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:56,920 Who has God sent to help you? Paul prayed for their growth. 349 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,360 Notice here his conversations with them. 350 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,040 There were always 2 levels. There was the horizontal 351 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,720 dimension, and then there was always a vertical 1. 352 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,560 He fueled his ministry to them with prayer. 353 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:15,040 Brothers and sisters, let your ministry to the church be fueled 354 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:20,080 by prayer, Prayer, prayer. Lessness reveals pride, 355 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,360 self-reliance, a lack of love. Would you really want pastors 356 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:30,440 who seldom pray for you kids? Would you want parents who never 357 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,320 pray for you? Elders? 358 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:40,320 Isn't our job too weighty and us too weak for us not to pray? 359 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:46,520 Parents, isn't your job too important and your wisdom 360 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:51,000 lacking for you not to pray members of this church? 361 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,400 Would you want a church filled of people who don't pray for 362 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,960 you? Pray for the members of this 363 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,000 church. Plead with God in prayer. 364 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:04,560 You may be unable to be physically present with a 365 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,600 suffering St. but you can plead with God in prayer. 366 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,280 You may be worried about your children and what will become of 367 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,920 them. You can plead with God in 368 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,120 prayer. You may be out of wisdom and 369 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:24,720 advice to give a friend in need. You can plead with God in 370 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,080 prayer. Brothers and sisters, do not 371 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:35,160 neglect the ministry of prayer. One of my favorite preachers is 372 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,240 Charles Spurgeon. I may be guilty of quoting him 373 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:39,440 in every sermon I've preached here. 374 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,560 I'm not sure. Spurgeon pastored in London in 375 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,840 the late 19th century. I've actually never heard him 376 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,440 preach. I've only read his sermons 377 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,080 because there's no recordings of his sermons, though there are 378 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,240 rumors that some exist. I would love to hear those. 379 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,320 But even reading Spurgeon, you can understand pretty quickly 380 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,960 why they call him the Prince of Preachers. 381 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:07,720 The brother could preach Christ. However, when the American 382 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,960 evangelist DL Moody visited Spurgeon's church, he travelled 383 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:15,680 4000 miles. He said what impressed him most 384 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:21,120 was not the sermon nor the singing, but Spurgeon's prayer. 385 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,760 I wonder what it would have been like to sit in the Metropolitan 386 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:31,480 Tabernacle and listen to Spurgeon's pastoral prayer, to 387 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:36,440 hear Spurgeon approach the throne of God and plead with God 388 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:42,240 on behalf of his congregation. And what would it have been like 389 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:47,360 to hear the Apostle Paul pray for his people? 390 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,240 Brothers and sisters, we don't have to wonder. 391 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:57,000 In verses 11 to 13, we hear Paul's pastoral prayer. 392 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:03,480 We've heard how Paul prays. Now let's hear Paul pray .1 was 393 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,480 faith that comforts, .2 is friends that pray. 394 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:17,240 Friends that pray. Listen again to Paul pray 395 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:23,200 starting in verse 11. Now might may our God and Father 396 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:27,280 himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may 397 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:31,040 the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another 398 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:35,840 and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your 399 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:40,240 hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the 400 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,520 coming of our Lord Jesus with all His Saints. 401 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:51,560 What a gift to hear Paul pray and learn from Paul's prayer. 402 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,400 His prayer is simple. It's directed to God, It's 403 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:02,400 focused on others with spiritual requests and aimed at heaven. 404 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,360 We'll walk through Paul's prayer and then we'll end with three 405 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,720 applications on prayer. Now notice in verse 11, Paul 406 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:15,160 directs his prayer to God the Father and the Lord Jesus. 407 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:20,760 As you know, it's blasphemy to pray to anyone other than God, 408 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:24,800 but it's right worship to pray to Jesus because he is God. 409 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:29,320 In fact, many prayers in the New Testament are to Jesus. 410 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,800 The New Testament ends with a prayer to Jesus. 411 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:38,240 Come Lord Jesus. And notice Paul's first 412 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:42,480 petition. He asked God the Father and the 413 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,600 Lord Jesus to direct his way back to the Thessalonians. 414 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,440 If you look back in chapter 2, verse 18, Paul tried to visit, 415 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,720 but Satan kept setting up these roadblocks. 416 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,040 He couldn't come. So Paul places his longed for 417 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:03,080 visit in God's hands. In verse 12, we see Paul's 418 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:07,200 second petition. He focuses on others and he 419 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:10,760 makes spiritual requests. He asked the Lord to make their 420 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:16,080 love increase and abound for their own church and beyond. 421 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,800 First for the church, then for the world. 1st that it 422 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:24,400 increases, then that it overflows. 423 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,120 And remember, life was not easy in Thessalonica. 424 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:33,840 They were persecuted for their preaching, yet Paul prayed that 425 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,200 they would return hatred with love. 426 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,680 Or as Jesus said, he prayed that they would love one another and 427 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:47,280 even their enemies. Finally, look at verse 13. 428 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:53,600 Paul aims his prayer at heaven. What's the purpose of Paul's 429 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:59,120 prayer? Look at verse 13 so that God may 430 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:05,720 establish their hearts blameless in holiness when Christ returns. 431 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:12,440 This is the fourth time in three chapters where Paul brings the 432 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:17,680 future to bear on the present. He not only cares about their 433 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:22,560 first year as a church, he also cares about the last day when 434 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,440 they'll stand before their Savior and give an account. 435 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:31,360 In other words, Paul prays that God would keep working in their 436 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:36,640 lives until they share in Christ's glory. 437 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:42,520 He prays for that day when prayer will be no longer needed. 438 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:51,040 Friends, this is what our lives come down to that day when we'll 439 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,800 stand before the Lord and we'll give an account. 440 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:03,640 Friend, will your heart be blameless in holiness before the 441 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:10,520 Lord on the last day? The one who made you is the one 442 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:12,840 who you will stand before and give an account to. 443 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:19,840 He made you to trust Him, to believe in Him, to have faith in 444 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:26,040 Him, to love Him and to love the people He's made to hope in Him, 445 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:31,520 to Orient and orchestrate your entire life around his purposes 446 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:38,200 and His goals. But friend, each of us have 447 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:42,120 walked not with God in faith, we've walked. 448 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:46,200 In our own wisdom, we've loved what's forbidden. 449 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:51,080 We've hoped in what is fading, in things like money and 450 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,080 politicians and pleasure. The Bible calls this sin. 451 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:01,400 Sin is anything that you do that does not result or proceed from 452 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:05,680 faith in God. Even the good things you do, if 453 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:09,760 they're not done in faith towards God, they're sin. 454 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:16,080 And because of this, we deserve justice, wrath, judgment. 455 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:21,000 That is what awaits every non Christian on the last day. 456 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:27,760 God's just wrath. And yet the good news that Paul 457 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:32,360 preached is that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to live 458 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:37,480 perfectly in holiness, A blameless life on our behalf. 459 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:42,920 Jesus Christ died on the cross and bore God's wrath himself for 460 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,360 all who would call upon the name of the Lord. 461 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:49,880 So friend, if that's you, turn from your idols, turn from your 462 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:55,320 sin, and trust in this Savior. If you call upon the name of the 463 00:33:55,320 --> 00:34:00,920 Lord today, you'll be saved. You can look forward to His 464 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:07,680 return with joy. Brothers and sisters, what is 465 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:13,600 our grounds to pray? Is it not the Gospel? 466 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:19,080 How could we possibly approach the Creator of the universe in 467 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:24,000 prayer apart from the Gospel? Because of what Jesus has done? 468 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:29,480 Because God is now our loving Father, because Christ is our 469 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:34,480 gracious mediator, because the Spirit Himself dwells in us. 470 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:39,120 On that basis, we can approach the throne of God. 471 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:46,440 On that basis, we can pray. So how should we pray? 472 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:51,199 Here's three ways we can apply Paul's prayer to our prayer. 473 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:57,480 First, pray for God's guidance. Pray for God's guidance. 474 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,320 Verse 11. It's so simple. 475 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,320 Paul found himself in a place where Satan had pinned him. 476 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:07,280 Satan employed every effort to keep him away. 477 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,400 So what did Paul do? He prayed to the one who is 478 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:17,360 sovereign over Satan. Think about your own life right 479 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,280 now. Where are you pinned? 480 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,000 Back against the wall? Have nothing else to do? 481 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:28,280 Do you want to walk in your own wisdom, or do you want God to be 482 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,840 the one to guide you? You've planned your steps. 483 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:35,920 Pray that the Lord would direct your path, especially when you 484 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:39,240 face the impossible, when you're out of options, when you're 485 00:35:39,240 --> 00:35:44,200 crushed under your burdens. Prayer places the impossible 486 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,480 into the all powerful hands of God. 487 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:52,560 Prayer delivers your burdens into God's throne. 488 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:58,560 Prayer is the best option when you're out of options, when you 489 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,600 pray and when you pray for guidance, you are actually 490 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,160 accessing the infinite storehouse of God's wisdom. 491 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,640 Pray and prepare to be surprised. 492 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,600 Pray for guidance. Second, pray for love to grow 493 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:19,600 and overflow. Verse 12, That's what Paul prays 494 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:23,520 for, their love, that it would abound, that it would go beyond 495 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,080 themselves and even to the world. 496 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:29,440 Pray that for the members of this church. 497 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:33,480 Pray for husbands. Pray for husbands to 498 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:38,120 sacrificially love their wives. Pray for wives to joyfully love 499 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,600 their husbands. Pray for families to love one 500 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,240 another. Pray for love that is evident, 501 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:49,360 obvious, and visible. Pray for those especially that 502 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:55,240 you find hard to love, and you may find that your love is the 503 00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:59,360 one that seems to grow. Pray for this, husbands. 504 00:37:00,240 --> 00:37:02,640 Husbands, pray for your wives together. 505 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:06,760 Spend time together in prayer. Bring your burden to the Lord 506 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,760 together. Fathers, pray for your families. 507 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,680 Pray in their presence. Let them hear you. 508 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:16,240 Pray for them. Wives, pray for your husbands. 509 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:20,560 When you pray through the membership directory, you might 510 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:24,760 not even know what to pray for. Pray spiritual requests on 511 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,360 behalf of the congregation. Learn to pray by Scripture. 512 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:32,440 Learn to pray by Paul's prayers. Learn to pray by the Lord's 513 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:36,600 Prayer, personalized scripture to your needs. 514 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:40,120 Learn to pray to our prayer meeting. 515 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:44,560 Come, come not tonight, come the next week when we bring our 516 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:46,440 request to God together as a church. 517 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,720 Learn to pray. It's been so enriching to hear 518 00:37:49,720 --> 00:37:54,560 members praying Scripture based on our request back to God. 519 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,200 Learn to pray there. Learn to pray in our services. 520 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:03,240 Brothers and sisters have edified my heart over and over 521 00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:07,320 again as they've LED us to the Lord in prayer. 522 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,760 And pray for our love as a congregation. 523 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:13,360 Pray that it would spill out beyond our congregation to this 524 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:18,840 school, to our neighborhoods, to our workplaces, even to the ends 525 00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:22,520 of the earth. Pray for our love. 3rd And 526 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:26,960 finally, aim your prayers at heaven. 527 00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:33,640 For Paul, the second coming of Christ was so weighty that it 528 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:36,680 pulls everything in its direction. 529 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:42,720 He knows these suffering Saints need a ballast in their storms. 530 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:47,560 They need wind in their sails so they can reach heaven's shores. 531 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,040 Pray for your brothers and sisters that they will stand 532 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:55,880 before the Lord proud and unashamed on the last day. 533 00:38:56,320 --> 00:39:00,640 Pray that until Christ returns that they will walk with holy 534 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,120 hearts before their God and their Father. 535 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:09,000 Pray that their profession of faith would continue in a life 536 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:14,720 of faith until He comes. Pray for suffering Saints that 537 00:39:14,720 --> 00:39:18,400 they would view every one of their sufferings in light of the 538 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:24,760 coming glory that awaits them. Aim your prayers at heaven, 539 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:29,400 brothers and sisters. Jesus is coming back soon. 540 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:36,400 Glory is coming. So until that day, let's pray 541 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:41,080 that we'd have faith that comforts and that we'd be 542 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:46,480 friends that pray. And how will God answer all of 543 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:52,800 our prayers on that day? He's already told us when we see 544 00:39:52,800 --> 00:40:00,160 Him, we shall be like him, blameless in holiness. 545 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:15,360 Let's pray. Father, we pray that You would 546 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:20,000 bring heaven to bear on our hearts, and that by doing so You 547 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:24,240 would give us great hope in the midst of our trials and our 548 00:40:24,240 --> 00:40:27,560 troubles. Would You grow us in our faith? 549 00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:33,080 Would we have such faith that it would be a comfort to our 550 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:34,800 brothers and sisters in this church? 551 00:40:35,720 --> 00:40:40,800 Would You increase and abound our love for you, for one 552 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:45,080 another, for the ends of the earth we pray in Jesus name, 553 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:46,280 Amen.