2 Thessalonians 1-3

There are a lot of significant thoughts about the return of the Lord Jesus in 2 Thessalonians, but there is something else of great importance that we can be doing right now. We can be praying for missionaries.   

We talk a lot about the need for praying for missionaries.  We also need to talk a lot about how we should be praying for them.  Here is an acronym, taken from Scripture, that may be of some help. The acronym spells PEWBOARD.  It reminds us that although it may seem insignificant to us that all we are doing is sitting on a pew, we can be a vital part of missionary work.  We can pray.  

There are a lot of missionary agencies, boards, and sending societies, on which we will never serve, but just because we are on the “pewboard” doesn’t mean we are ineffective in supporting those on the front lines.   All throughout the epistles we read of personal prayer requests from that great missionary – the Apostle Paul.  His specific prayer concerns can be a pattern to help us to pray productively for missionaries. Notice two of them from our reading today, in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. 

Personal lives - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 – “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹Indeed, 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. ¹⁰He 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. ¹¹You 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.”  Obviously Paul’s personal life was extreme.  He told his readers they must help.  So must we. 

Explicitness or clarity - Colossians 4:3-4 – “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— ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

Workers - Matthew 9:38 – “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Boldness - Ephesians 6:18-19 – “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . . ¹⁹and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,”

Open doors – Colossians 4:3 – “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.” 

Acceptance by believers - Romans 15:30-31 –“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 . . .   and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” 

Rapid spread of the gospel – 2 Thessalonians 3:1 ^{– “}Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,   

Deliverance from unbelievers – 2 Thessalonians 3:2 – And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.” [NIV]  See also 2 Cor. 1:8-11 above. 

Do you have a favorite missionary?  Why not use this acronym as a biblical prayer guide and pray now and often for that missionary and others God brings to mind?

Paul Thompson