KEY IDEA: Constant thanks for new believers – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 (Key v13)

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

— 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

THE WEEKDAY DAILY PATTERN

  • Establish your quiet place. – Find a time and place as free of distraction as possible
  • Minute 1: Ask God to speak to you through His Word; this is a literal prayer request. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Audibly ask Him to remove Satan from your presence. – Resist the Devil and He will flee from you” (James 4:7) “Lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13) Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter; during this time, do not ask Him for anything else. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)
  • Minute 2: Listen to Him through His Word. Read the Scripture, hear what God has said.
  • Minutes 3-5: Pray the words of Scripture, focusing on the Key Idea, and asking Him for clarity.
  • Minutes 6-15: Read and answer the questions and close with the Every Day Prayer, as follows:
  1. Pray for yourself…
    1. …for forgiveness, today
    2. …to hear God’s voice, today
    3. …to respond to His calling, today
    4. …to be free from sin, today
    5. ….?
  2. Pray for others: Thank God for their very existence. Ask for opportunities to share Him with specific unbelievers. Ask to have your love for them increase.
    1. For anyone in the room with you right now
    2. For family (2 or 3 specific people)
    3. For 2 or 3 other specific significant people in your life
    4. To meet someone new with whom you can share the Gospel
    5. …?
  3. Pray for our church:
    1. For unified devotion to worship (Hebrews 12:28)
    2. For unified devotion to prayer, preaching of the Word, and fellowship (Acts 2:42)
    3. For unified devotion obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
    4. That God would glorify Himself in and through our church (Ephesians 3:21)
    5. ….?