Why Powerful Prayer to Advance the Gospel Is Right

Powerful prayer is our season ending, year ending focus today. You know, this is the time of the year where people look forward to the dawning of a new year. With that, they become reflective. They become goal oriented because they realize that the currents of the past year led them to places that they were not happy being. Some of these new year type resolutions deal with course corrections. You know, making a clean, fresh start. The prospect of heading in a direction they knew they should have been going all along buoys them. It’s a hopeful, energizing time, this New Year’s piece. We should encourage it along. The Lord knows we need all the help that we can get. Now, you know how this New Year’s celebration works, right? On the last day of the year at the stroke of midnight in Times Square in New York City, multitudes cheer, horns sound, whistles blow, and people laugh and cry for joy. Amidst the celebration are the shouts of “Happy New Year!” This spectacle is repeated in succession in the various time zones from the Atlantic Seaboard to the far western reaches of Hawaii. We say, “A New Year has come!”

Now what?

Are all things right now that clock has struck 12 on December 31st with your freshly minted resolution in hand? Of course not, the stroke of the hour simply has marked the dawning of another day. Once the fireworks are spent and the confetti has fallen, you are left with your naked decision: “I’m going to read the Bible through in a year” You must ace this.

If you don’t fall back into the same old rut. No, years become new only if we make them so. Resolutions for new days, new beginnings, opportunities, and dreams are not to be made only in the moment’s excitement; but long after the glamor is gone these resolutions are to become the order of each day. This is the stuff of life.

What if you can’t think of a resolution of consideration? Might I suggest one?

As we move on to 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2, we come upon Paul’s request for prayer so that the gospel could quickly move forward. Do you think that might be a resolution worthy of consideration? Pray that the gospel would go forward quicker than ever before? Do you think this is a resolution you can carry forward into a new year and maybe beyond that? Why such a resolution — well first, you have Bible for it — that’s what Paul did. Second, you are a lover of God’s Word and you cherish it to such a degree that you want others to hear this good news. Third, you highly esteem the heavy price God paid that we might have it. Is there a chance that this year is the year where you lay aside selfish ambition and allow God’s will to become supreme? Is this the year you elevate the perpetuation of the gospel to its rightful place in your life? Well, those are good questions. So let’s home in on Why Powerful Prayer to Advance the Gospel Is Right — that’s our focus on this year end episode of Light on Life.

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Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Will you accept the New Years challenge of praying for laborers so the gospel will go forward speedily?

Join the Conversation

Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Share a testimony about how the Lord God has answered your prayer for the gospel going forward speedily. Share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Second Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Prayer

Let’s pray.

Father God, thank you for bringing us into another year full of expectations. You’re always moving as time tunnels forward towards eternity. Thank you for being the captain of the ship. Thank you for being our leader and our guide. Thank you for your perfect will. Thank you for how you brought us through this past year. All praise and glory goes to you in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Podcast Notes

Powerful Prayer: Praying for Speed

2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 (ESV) — Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray about the gospel in such a way that there would be an acceleration of the message.
He used the words ‘speed ahead.’
Did you know Paul is the only New Testament writer who ever asked for the prayers of those to whom he wrote?
Peter never asked for prayer.
John never asked for prayer.
Jude never asked for prayer.
None of these men asked for prayer in the letters they wrote.
Is that compelling or even odd to you?
There must be a reason.
What is it?
I wish I could tell you.
Peter and John were standing right there when Jesus said the same thing Paul requested the Thessalonians pray about.
That the gospel would go forward.

Matthew 9:36–38 (ESV)— 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

One thing we can say about praying for others so that the Word of God speeds ahead is that the Greek word for prayer used is in the present tense.
Present tense means an action is to be an ongoing affair.
So, we should pray that the Word of the Lord advances via fellow believers with speed and we should keep praying this.
The Greek word ‘speed’ is the one we want to look at and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The word ‘speed’ means to make rapid linear movement.
It means to run, rush, or advance.
So, Paul is requesting help from heaven for the message that comes from heaven.
The Gospel needs to spread out in a hurry – it needs to run, rush, and advance.
But how does it do that precisely?
The gospel is words — these words are a message — a message from heaven — a good news message from heaven.
This message has to be spoken.
The news comes on at 6 PM everyday all over the country.
You turn on the TV and there are two people vocalizing news.
It’s mostly bad news but they are broadcasting it.
They feel this information needs to get out to the public.
So, in exchange for a rate of return, broadcasters will put themselves out there.
The good news from heaven is a message that needs to be spoken — it needs to be vocalized.
It needs to be broadcast.
The gospel can’t advance without speakers — those who speak the good news — those who transmit heaven’s message.
Laborers, is another word for these individuals — that’s what Jesus called them.
Isaiah, speaking by the Spirit of God, tells us that these laborers are beautiful people.

Isaiah 52:7 (ESV) — 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

The Hebrew word publishes is the word ‘shama.’
The root word found in the word ‘shama’ [you know the root word carries the basic meaning of a word] means to hear.
Add the prefix or suffix to this word ‘to hear’ yields ‘to cause to hear peace.’
Publishers cause peace and salvation to be heard.
These ‘good news speakers’ or publishers, as the scripture calls them, have beautiful feet.
Beautiful feet is symbolic language for beautiful people.
So, now we have a definition of what genuine beauty is in God’s eyes.
It’s a person who publishes the gospel — who shares the Jesus’ salvation story.
Paul knew this, and it was part of his conversation.
Listen to his message to the believers in Rome about this beauty piece.
He starts out in chapter 10 and verse thirteen.

Romans 10:13–14 (ESV) — For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?

There’s the hearing, publishing, piece we saw in Isaiah.

Romans 10:14 (ESV) — And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

You see, vocalization — preaching — is necessary for people to hear the message.

Romans 10:15 (ESV) — 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

There’s those beautiful feet again that belong to those beautiful people.
So, God needs feet — your feet.
The gospel is foot-powered.
Prayer propels this foot power to its optimum speed.
Paul wants divine intervention so that the gospel can reach optimum speed.
He wants the Word to spread rapidly, to run, to have rapid, unimpeded progress.

Powerful Prayer: The Word Needs No Help

Psalm 147:15 (ESV)— 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

Now we see it.
The Word itself, or rather Himself, needs no help with speed.
Speed is inherent in the Word.
It’s the nature of the Word.
The Hebrew word for swiftly means ‘with haste or speed.’
So, now we have a question, right?
If the Word runs swiftly, if it is its nature to move with haste and speed, then why do we must we pray that it does?
The answer is in the verse we started with.

pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead.

Read it carefully.
Paul said pray for us.
He didn’t say pray for the Word.
The Word coming out of God’s mouth is already moving with speed and haste.
That’s what Psalm 147:15 said.
God’s Word is a Ferrari compared to the words of men.
The words of men?
They are broken down clunker cars in comparison.
Actually, God’s Ferrari is a chariot that operates where the speed of light is the zero mark on his dash.

Psalm 107:20 (ESV) — He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

This healing heaven sent word is moving with rushing speed and haste.
It’s barreling towards disease with one intent.
Total obliteration.
Well then, how come there is still disease?
The answer? not enough beautiful feet.
That brings us right back to Paul’s prayer request — pray for us.

Powerful Prayer: Praying for Deliverance

It’s the ‘us’ that needs to be moving.
It’s the laborers that need to go forth.
The impedients to the laborers must be removed.
Paul said, pray for us that we may be delivered from wicked men because all men do not have faith.
Wicked men inspired by the devil are holding back the Word.
The Word is revving its engines waiting for the driver to get in the car and drop the hammer.
Now, as we said, Paul is the only one in his letters who asked for prayer.
His request takes different forms but it pushes towards the same point.

Romans 15:30–32 (ESV)— 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

Paul is praying for deliverance from his enemies.
Why?
Just to get out from underneath the pressure?
I mean nobody enjoys being persecuted and locked up.
But, that’s not the reason Paul wants relief.
He wants to take the shackles off the Word.
Why? — so that the Word can go barreling the lane with speed, causing salvation, bringing deliverance, and setting the captives free.
You see, if opposition bogs you, if you cannot focus on your mission because of the enemy’s distractions, the Word of God slows down.
Beautiful feet need a clear path to stay beautiful.
They need the obstacles removed — make a straight path for the Word.
If gospel publishers must slog through a bunch of mud, slime, and quagmire, the effect of the gospel slows.
Now, here’s the truth — Satan can slow things down, but he can’t stop what’s coming.

1 Thessalonians 2:17–19 (ESV) – 17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

He may occasionally slow things down.
But he can’t stop it.
If he could have, he would have done it already.
How does Satan try to hinder us?
Paul says ‘Pray for us that we might be delivered.’
Delivered from the un-renewed minds of unbelievers.
That’s who Paul points his finger at — the unbelievers in Judea.
Judea is an extensive region — meaning there was a pile of opposition.
Paul is asking that this opposition might melt away under the heat of the powerful cries of Gods people.
God’s people understanding — that their prays are part of advancing the Kingdom is vital.

Powerful Prayer: Paul’s Common Request

This kind of request, pray that we might be delivered from wicked people impeding the gospel was a common request of Paul’s.
To the Corinthians Paul wrote.

2 Corinthians 1:7–12 (ESV) — 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Burdened to the point that you thought you might die from the pressure — that’s super-sized affliction.

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Paul’s confidence is in God to deliver him but, his focus is the gospel going forwarded speedily, unhindered.
People coming to Jesus — Gentiles missing hell and gaining heaven.

11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. — 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Pray that we might be delivered is prayer that the gospel flourishes as it was designed.
You know, there were four letters that Paul wrote to churches while he sat in a jail cell.
He was impeded — his beautiful feet were stationary.
We classify these letters as Paul’s Prison epistles [epistles are letters].
They are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Paul’s feet were confined — he was still working on the problem — he was writing letters!
Those letters carried the Word forward.
They have transformed countless lives of men.
You would think prison would dampen the spirits of a man wanting to carry the gospel to the world.
But Paul’s confinement did not restrict the gospel as the enemy had hoped.
Let me know what you think here.

2 Timothy 2:8–9 (ESV) — 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

The Greek word ‘bound’ means tied up or restrained.
The messenger may be bound, the feet may be confined, but the message never is.
And with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the Day.
You know we have had a time in history when they tried to confine the Word — eliminate the Word — burn the Word.
This period of time was known as the Dark Ages.
It’s an appropriate title since we know the entrance of God’s Word brings light.
Forbid the Word and you forbid the light.
During these Dark Ages, basic reading and writing was discouraged.
Only 10 percent of the population was literate.
These are historical facts.
Even after the Dark Ages passed dictators have tried to wipe out God’s Word.
But look what I have right here in my hand – a Bible.
It didn’t work — nothing can stop the Word.
Nothing can stop this mighty moving force.
People even today try to dismiss the Word saying its precepts are dated.
Light is never out of date.
I heard one gentlemen advocating for less restrictions on pornographic type material.
He said the Bible is just Victorian in its concepts.
No, the Bible is right about sex — 1000% right.
Wrong sex will lead you to wrong places.

Proverbs 5:3–5 (ESV) — 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol;

Talk about wrong places – forbidden sex will take you straight to Sheol.
Sheol is hell just in cause you are unaware.
No, we don’t need fewer restrictions on sex — we need more.
The ratings in the movie and TV industry need to be tightened.
Deliverance that only comes by the Word is always contemporary.

Powerful Prayer: The Prison Epistles

In each of these prison letters, Paul asks for prayers of deliverance.
Wouldn’t you?
To the Philippians Paul writes.

Philippians 1:18–21 (ESV)— 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

To Philemon, Paul writes.

Philemon 22 (ESV) — 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

To the Ephesians Paul writes.

Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV)— 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

And then, finally, to the Colossians.

Colossians 4:3 (ESV)— 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison

Paul’s focus was the Word – ‘pray for us that we may be delivered.’

Powerful Prayer: Conclusion

In this New Year, I am asking you today, will you put a renewed focus on praying for laborers?
Will you realign your priorities and shift the life giving Word to the top of your list?
Please pray for this podcast.
Please pray for the removal of the impediments to its progress in the nations of the world.
Pray that doors would open.
Ask the Lord for opportunities to see that His message is unshackled.
Pray for beautiful feet.

Now Father, God, as we close this year out, we join in prayer together for the free flow of your Word to the nations. Raise up people to carry it. Elevate people to places of influence so that the Word may continue to bring salvation and deliverance. We ask you today in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Why Powerful Prayer to Advance the Gospel Is Right.
You guys have a great God week – a great new first of the year week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

#S4-024: The Good News Is the Bad News Was Wrong [Podcast]

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References:

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why Powerful Prayer to Advance the Gospel Is Right

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Fifty-Two

by Emery Horvath

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