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1 Finally, [loipon] brethren, [adelphos] pray [proseuchomai] for [peri] us, [hemon] that [hina] the word [logos] of the
Lord [kurios] may
have free course, [trecho] and [kai] be glorified, [doxazo] even [kai] as [kathos] it is with [pros] you: [humas]KJV-Interlinear
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us
that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did
also with you; NASB
Paul asks for prayer
from all who hear the word, for himself and for those who are with him in his
ministry.
Prayer is the
ammunition, artillery, fire power, the only weapon that Christians in this
world, possess, for the purpose of obtaining Gods active favor and therefore
blessings for this life.
Paul was a highly
educated man.He had a list of
credentials, position, and status that were longer than ones arm.But none of these qualified him for the
ministry which God required.God had to
literally put Paul in the dirt and blind him in order for him to see and
understand.Far too often people are
impressed with talent, accomplishment, titles and such, that
come from this world.But just as often,
these things become barriers and obstacles that severely limit mans
comprehension and application of truth, knowledge, and wisdom.
This does not mean that
you can quit school, or quit life, and go out into the frontier, in isolation,
and learn about life from the trees and the bears.But what this does mean,
is that we all have obligations and commitments that accompany our God given
role within our spiritual life.
Paul was an
instructor.His obligation, as with all
instructors, was not to get people whipped up into emotional frenzies, but to
prepare himself and then teach the fundamental and advanced principles of
doctrine.Beginning with the gospel so
that people could be saved, and then advancing them, step by step, through
their spiritual life to maturity and completion.
To accomplish this,
Paul did not rely on his extensive academic record, but on prayer.
Prayer which came from
people he knew and from people he did not know.
Col. 1:29
29 And for this purpose
also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. NASB
Pauls ability did not come from his advanced intellect,
but from the power of God, functioning within him.
And so it is with you.As a student without portfolio, you come
before the Lord knowing nothing, and ready to learn everything.That means you keep silent and listen and
learn, and grow up.
But the resources for
this spiritual process within you, comes at a cost, and your cost is
prayer.But not just any prayer, this is
a prayer for the availability of doctrine, for the availability of someone to
teach it, for the resources to make that instruction feasible, and for the
environment which will allow the learning and growth to be easily obtainable.
Prayer, proseuchomai, is in the present tense, which means that it
is prayer that never ceases.Your prayer
is to be continual, day in and day out, throughout your life.This does not mean that you have to pray
every minute of every day, around the clock.That would not be possible, nor even practical.What this means is that you are to realize
that the real resource for the support and the sustaining of your very life, is
Bible doctrine.There is nothing else on
this earth to which you can turn that will perpetuate your life for even a
moment.God does that, not nature.
Therefore, this means
that you recognize that doctrine is your priority, and
that regardless of what you do in life, doctrine will always be scheduled in
your daily agenda, and your prayers will include your plea for a continual and
uninterrupted supply of doctrine and doctrinal instruction.
Bible doctrine is your
spiritual food.Without food you die.
But this food needs to
be available to everyone, not just you.A healthy village, and healthy community, and a healthy society, means
greater prosperity and happiness for all.An unhealthy society means crime, suffering, tyranny, prejudice, and
everything bad that you can think of in life.A starving society turns to cannibalism (spiritual and moral
degeneracy), disintegration, and dies.
May have free course,
means to spread rapidly.With prayer,
and doctrine and instruction, the course of the spiritual life will run like a
tireless runner, gobbling up ground as he advances toward his objective.Doctrine should proliferate as an army advances forward seizing territory and control
over that territory, for freedom, then liberty, then opportunity, then
prosperity, then security, then contentment, and then happiness.
Bible doctrine is the
key to all things good (of an intrinsic nature).Bible doctrine is the key to your life.
Your greatest fear
should never be of the many threats that this world may initiate against you,
but of that which God may withhold from you namely Bible doctrine.
Bible doctrine is the
life blood, the building material, the primary resource for building up your
life.
And be glorified, doxazo, means to achieve the goal of honor, of
magnification, of glory, magnificence, grandeur.And again these are tangible results of an
intrinsic nature. Their value is extreme, undiminished, and eternal.
Glorification in your
life comes as a result of your advancement to spiritual maturity, which means
learning, understanding, functioning (production), and possessing wisdom, true
wisdom.
As
it did with you. The Thessalonians had a rocky start in
Christianity.They had to put up with
many adverse situations.That is the
nature of life.
Many of you live in
relatively prosperous circumstances, but you may still have stressful
situations from family, health, work, and so forth.Many of you live in parts
of the world that are downright unsafe, where just staying alive is a
challenge each day.
But with God, no
situation, no set of circumstances is unmanageable.When you desire doctrine, when you desire a
relationship with God, then He is faithful and will either bring doctrine to you, or you to doctrine.The trip or the logistics may not be what you expect, but the ultimate
result of having the opportunity and availability of doctrine for your life,
will be well worth any inconvenience you may have to endure.
And with God, spiritual
success is always achievable.