2 Thess. 1:3-5, 11-12  3 We are bound to thank God always for you, my brothers, as it is right, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you abounds toward one another;  4 so much so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you endure.  5  For this is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer,. . . . . Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The calling of the Thessalonian believers

Ø       A calling to a life of suffering -- in all your persecutions and tribulations which you endure.  5  For this is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer

Ø       Response of the Thessalonian believers -- your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you abounds toward one another;  4 so much so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith

Paul’s Prayer Request -- pray always for you that

Ø       our God would count you worthy of this calling, and

v. 5 ‘. . . that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer . . .’

o        Walk in a manner which manifests our love for God and desire to serve Him in every aspect of our lives

Ø       fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and

o        The good pleasure of God denotes his gracious purposes towards his people, which flow from his goodness, and are full of goodness towards them

o        The life of the Thessalonian believers, even in their suffering, was a demonstration of the good pleasure of God’s work in their lives.  The ability to understand this truth was the foundation of their ability to walk worthy

Ø       fulfill the work of faith with power

o        Believers are to walk in faith, trusting God each moment and knowing that it is through the power of the Spirit working in our lives that we are able to have patience and faith in all the persecutions and tribulations which we endure.

Purpose

Ø       12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My God and Father, I ask that my faith will grow exceedingly, and my love will abound for one another and that my patience and faith will grow in all my persecutions and tribulations which I endure.  It is my desire that You, God, will count me worthy of the kingdom of God and your calling in my life, for which I also suffer and that You will fulfill all the good pleasure of Your goodness and the work of faith with power in order that the name of my Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in me according to the grace of my God and the Lord Jesus Christ.