We are continuing in our study of prayer as part of the PPOG or the Predestination provided by God for the believer in eternity past for the purpose of determining just how and what we should pray for as we function in his plan for our lives.
At the moment we are examining Paul's prayers, and we have seen in our study of his prayers in Eph 1:18; Eph 3:14; Phil 1:3; and Col 1:9; that the focus of his prayer was for believers to appropriate by Grace the spiritual resources that God has provided and be enlightened, empowered and enabled to advance in God's predetermined plan.
We are continuing in our examination of Paul’s request for prayer support in 2Thes 3:1-5; where he makes a request for prayer support for the word to be spread rapidly and glorified.
Last time we left of on the phrase "not all men have faith, but the Lord is Faithful" we saw that In the original Greek, because there are no verse breaks, the word order is "not all have faith, faithful, however, is the Lord,"
This juxtaposition of words in the original language emphases the antithesis between faithless men and the faithful God, 2Tim 2:13; God is always faithful.
Since the Lord is faithful, he will be the one who will "establish them or fix them firmly" in a solid stability of well-grounded faithfulness.
As we have seen, faithfulness is the production of the Holy Spirit in the believer Gal 5:22; and is produced by God as the believer resides inside the PPOG for their lives John 15:4.
The Lord will also “protect” them. The word translated “protect is the Greek word “phulasso” that is used to describe the protection provided by a military detachment or guard detail assigned to protect and defend. Believers are protected by the power of God. 1Pet 1:5;
God is faithful to protect and defend believers from “the evil,” which in this case is a reference to a specific source of evil.
In our passage, Paul is either describing a specific human agent of evil such as Alexander the coppersmith 2Tim 4:14-15; or to Satan 2Thes 2:9; the source of all evil, who deceives the world Rev 12:9; with his "light" 2Cor 11:14-15; and is described as the “tempter” in 1Thes 3:5; who seeks to distract believers from God’s PPOG for their lives. 1Pet. 5:8;
Jesus had prayed that the Father would keep believers from the Evil One John 17:15; and prayed for Peter's doctrine not to fail when he was tested by Satan. Luke 22:31-32; and of course it did not. Prov 24:16; Rom 14:4; John 21:15--17;
God's protection and defense of believers from Satan is answer to TLJC's prayer, which of course will be answered.
The apostle John also assures believers that under God’s care Satan would not be able to “touch” them 1John 5:18;
2Thes 3:4; Paul has confidence in God regarding their persistence in his instruction and their consistent function inside the PPOG for their lives.
The Greek word "poieo" translated "do” occurs twice first in the present active indicative and second in the future active indicative.
This is similar to what Paul wrote to the Philippians Phil 1:6;
The coordination of human and divine responsibility is seen from the mandate for believers to “stand firm” in 2Thes 2:15, relying on God's enablement and provision. Phil 2:12-13; through their positive volition to apply the Faith Rest Drill. Eph 6:13;
Paul is confident that believers are doing and will keep doing what God's faithful ministers command because God is empowering them to do so.
This confidence is not because they have any inherent natural stability of character or ability, but because of their relationship with the Lord, who is the sufficient source of power for all His people. Gal 5:10; Philemon 21;
They have already shown growth in faith and love but they can also continue to make progress through the continuous grace provision of TLJC. 2Thes 2:17; as a result Paul is confident in the Lord regarding their continued progress.
Remember "doing" in the spiritual life or the PPOG is the believer functioning in faith under the PMA of Bible Doctrine. John 6:29; John 6:40; Col 2:6;
2Thes 3:5; As believers think about and contemplate the Lord's faithfulness that is directed toward them which irrevocably establishes them, they are naturally lead to praise, thanksgiving and intercession.
When the words or thinking of TLJC abide in the believer's soul the believer's petition will be answered. John 15:7;
Paul's desire is for "the Lord" who is "the faithful and true witness" Rev 3:14;b"to direct your hearts into or toward, or in relation to "the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.
The Spirit gives this direction as He leads Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18; as believers walk in step with Him. Gal 5:25;
The phrase "into the love of God" includes the following ideas:
That they might come to know the love of God toward them, 1John 4:19; Rom 5:8;
that they might learn to personally love God, Eph 3:19; John 14:15; 1John 2:5;
that they might impersonally love each other, and all men, after the pattern of His love. John 13:35; 1John 4:20;