How many of you recognize this place?  Disneyland - Anaheim.  Main Entrance.  How many of you have been there?  Standing at the entrance there - looking around - what do you see?  All kinds of fun stuff.  The Monorail.  The train.  Souvenir stands - all kinds of over priced stuff.  Maybe a few Disney characters walking around.  Disney’s California Adventure.  Downtown Disney.  Hecka fun stuff.

If you’re facing the train station what’s just to the left or the right of you?  These?  Right?  The tunnels leading from the entrance into the park - the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.

What would happen if we just stood there and never went through those tunnels?  We’ve made it through the turnstiles - technically we’re in Disneyland - surrounded by all that hecka fun stuff.  But we’ve missed out on the bulk of what Disneyland is all about.

That’s where so many Christians are today.  Technically they’ve made it through the turnstiles.  They’ve given their lives to Jesus - received Him as their savior - they have some experience with the life as a Christian - the church and her traditions - maybe even knowledge of sound theology and doctrine.  By God’s grace there’s no doubt that they’re saved.  They’re heaven bound.

But there’s tons more that God has for us.  And way too often we settle for so much less.  They’re seeing only the entrance - not the whole Kingdom of God.  There’s so much more that we miss because we’re content with the basic things - the first things - and not going on to the deeper things that God has for us.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)  Nehemiah exclaims, “The joy of the Lord’s presence is your strength even in the worst circumstances of life.” (Nehemiah 8:10)  Jesus said, “I came to give life in abundance - life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

If we’re really honest - words like victory - joy - strength - fullness of life - just don’t seem to fit our day to day experience of life in Christ. 

We’re getting hammered and wondering where God is.  Or, life in Christ is something that we do because our faith is a part of our lives.  But its hard to see it as the foundation and means and strength of our lives.  There are times when life in Christ seems like an obligation - a burden - not the victorious - overcoming - God empowered life that we long for.

This morning we’re coming back to our study of 1 Thessalonians and living victoriously as Christians.  More than just living we want to live the victorious life that’s available to us in Jesus Christ.  To take advantage and experience all that God has for us in Jesus.  Not just living - or getting by - or just hanging in there - but living the victorious life that God makes available to us in Jesus.

Please turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 3 - starting at verse 9.  If you need one - please feel free to use a Bible somewhere under a chair in front of you.   If you don’t have a Bible please feel free to take that one home with you.   This morning we’re looking at what it means to be Victorious In Prayer.  Let’s say that together.  “Victorious in prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 3 - starting at verse 9:  For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before out God on your account.  As we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Let’s pause there.  Verses 9 and 10 focus on Paul’s Attitude In Prayer.  Let’s say that together.  “Paul’s attitude in prayer.”

We need to make sure we’re all together on some background.

The city of Thessalonica is where?  Northern Greece.  It was the capital of the Roman Province of Macedonia.  In Paul’s day it had a population of up to 200,000 people.  It was a major crossroads and harbor.

In Acts 17 we read that Paul had come to Thessalonica after being persecuted and driven out of Philippi - which is where?  Just to the east of Thessalonica.  Paul stayed in Thessalonica for about a month.  In that short time he led a number of people to Jesus - established the church there - and taught the believers the great doctrines of our faith.

At the end of those few short weeks the Jews of Thessalonica created a riot and led a mob against Paul and his companions.  In the face of great opposition - Paul, Silas, and Timothy escaped at night and fled to the town of Berea.  Which is where?  Just to the west of Thessalonica.

Where - once the Jews of Thessalonica found out where they had gone - the Thessalonian Jews followed them to Berea and stirred up the crowds there against them until Paul was forced out of that city.  From there he went to Athens - which is here.

In Athens Paul - at the Areopagus - Paul gives his famous speech about “An Unknown God.”  Remember that?  “The God you worship in ignorance I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23).  Great sermon.  Great apologetics.  Fell  flat on deaf ears.  The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of the city ridiculed Paul for his teaching of the resurrection.

In the midst of what was a heart breaking and lonely ministry Silas and Timothy head back up to Macedonia.  Timothy to Thessalonica.  Silas probably traveled through there to Philippi.  Then Paul moves down to Corinth.  Which is here - about 200 miles from Thessalonica.  (Acts 18)

Are we together?

For about 18 months Paul is in Corinth.  Probably between 49 to 51 A.D.  Which is where Timothy meets him - in Corinth Timothy brings back a report of what’s happening in Thessalonica.  When Paul writes in verse 9 - “What thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account” - Paul is writing in response to Timothy’s report. 

The Thessalonians were going through tremendous trials because of their belief in Jesus Christ.  These believers were hounded, pressured, afflicted, arrested, imprisoned, brutalized, martyred for their faith.  But they hadn’t given up.  They hadn’t caved in.  They kept on keeping on for Jesus.  Trusting Him - following Him - living righteously - faithfully - sharing His gospel with others.

In fact, their desire was to encourage Paul.  Paul who has been chased by rioting mobs and lambasted by philosophers - endured caustic hatred and pure apathy - isolation and loneliness.  They were concerned for Paul to stay strong in his following Jesus.  They longed for him with the same passionate desire that he longed for them.  That’s the report that Timothy comes back with.

That report encourages Paul.  Paul is rejoicing - praising God for what he hears.  Paul’s desire - in response to all that - in this letter that he’s writing to the Thessalonians - Paul’s desire is to encourage the Thessalonians to keep on going - faithfully - victoriously.

Part Paul’s encouragement - here in verses 9 to 13 - part of Paul’s encouragement - Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he’s praying for them.

As many of us do.  How many of you - when you hear from someone - maybe you get a text or a email or a facemail - when you hear that they’re going through stuff - how many of you have ever said, “I’ll pray for you.” 

Notice three things about Paul’s attitude in prayer - verse 10.

First, Paul prayed frequently - “night and day.”  Morning and evening.  He’s praying for them.

Let’s be careful.  24/7/365 prayer doesn’t mean driving around in our chariot with our eyes closed in prayer.  Paul took breaks to sleep.

Paul’s talking about his attitude - frequently.  Anyone here ever promise to pray for someone and then forget to pray?  You don’t have to answer that.  Paul never forgot.

While he’s making tents.  Whatever he’s doing.  He’s concerned about the Thessalonians.  Whenever Paul thinks about the Thessalonians - which was frequently - day or night - it didn’t matter.  Paul’s attitude when he thought about them was to pray for them.

When we wake up at night - instead of stressing out about not being able to sleep - start praying.  Whenever people - or situations - come to mind - pray.  Write notes - keep a journal - do whatever it takes.  Pray and keep on praying.

Second, Paul prays “earnestly.”  Earnestly has the idea of prayer on steroids.  Beyond anything we can measure - it exceeds what’s reasonable.  Its emphatic - superabundant - passionately intense.

This was not just a quick prayer before meals or bed.  Paul is aware of their needs.  He’s thinking through their needs and what these people are going through.  He’s praying for specifics.  His heart - his concern - his passion for them comes through in his prayers.  He’s praying for them with the same kind of intensity as if he’s praying for himself. 

Third, Paul prays intentionally.

Paul prays “I want to see your face.”  That was almost a Beetles moment.  “To see” translates a Greek word that has the idea of knowing - eye ball to eye ball - understanding of what makes up the core of a person - what we can’t get with Skype or facemail  We got to be there.

Paul prays:  “I’m asking God that I can come and complete what’s lacking.” 

“To complete” is to equip - to repair - to strengthen - to make up the difference of what should have been there.  “What’s lacking” is what’s deficient - gaps in their understanding of the gospel - areas of faith that still needed to be disciple - areas of life where potentially these Thessalonians could stumble big time.

Too often we pray expecting God and others to act.  “God, take care of those in need.  God, bring comfort to those who are hurting.  God, help so-and-so with what’s going on in their family.  God may people come to Jesus.”  And on and on we pray.

Way too often we’re praying that God would do something and He’s just waiting for us to be willing to be used.  How many of us are really surrendered to God - committed to be used by God in His answer to prayer?  Whatever that may take - whenever - wherever God may call us?

Paul’s prayer wasn’t offered in a vacuum.  His heart was surrendered to God.  His life was passionately engaged in prayer for this church.  At every opportunity he’s in prayer for them.  That attitude is the beginning point of victorious prayer.

Many here today are facing tremendously difficult circumstances in your lives - or in your family or with your friends - the circumstances are very difficult.  Marriages that are less than perfect.  Challenges of growing up and growing out of your homes.  The loss of a loved one.  Illness.  Economic uncertainty.  An impossible situation at work.  Wondering about God’s direction for your life.  You can supply your own circumstance.  Tough hard stuff.  Sometimes even what comes against us because we’re following Jesus. 

The Apostle Paul - as he traveled and shared the Gospel - was imprisoned - beaten - whipped - stoned - shipwrecked - dragged outside a city and left for dead - often hungry - thirsty.  In really difficult circumstances he lived a victorious Christian life.  Paul’s been where the Thessalonians are. 

So when Paul prays - and that’s what we have recorded here in 1 Thessalonians 3 - starting at verse 11 - one of Paul’s prayers - it arouses our curiosity to wonder what he prayed for.  What did he pray for the Thessalonians who were following Jesus in very hard times?  What do we pray for each other that we might live victorious as Christians?

Let’s go on - verses 11 to 13 are what Paul prayed for the Thessalonians - Paul’s Focus in Prayer.  Let’s say that together.  “Paul’s focus in prayer.”

Verse 11:  Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

First - verse 11 - Paul prays that the Thessalonians would Stay Centered.  Let’s repeat that together, “Stay centered.”  Stay centered in God’s will.

During his second missionary journey Paul and his companions had come to the city of Iconium in south central Anatolia - here.  (S9)  There they turned north through central Anatolia.  While there God the Holy Spirit told them not to share the Gospel with those in that area.

Grab that - Who told them not to share the Gospel?  God.

So, they passed on trying to get to the Black Sea - with the idea of going even farther north and sharing the Gospel.  But, Jesus - God the Son -  refused to allow them to go farther.  And so, they ended up going west to the city of Troas - which is on the Dardanelles - here.  (S10) 

Grab that - Who refused to allow them to go farther north?  God.

In Troas, Paul had a vision of a man standing in Macedonia appealing to him saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  So they went.  They went to Philippi and then came to Thessalonica. (Acts 16:1-10)

We know what happened next.  Right?  How Paul ended up in Corinth.

Grab this - Do you see how it was God was directing Paul west to Philippi?  Even to Corinth?  And Paul - listening to God.

In Corinth - while Paul is writing his response to Timothy’s report - this first letter to the Thessalonians - Paul is praying that God would allow him to return to Thessalonica.  Forget all that he had suffered.  He longed to be in Thessalonica - seeing the Thessalonians face-to-face - completing what was lacking - longing to be in Thessalonica less than 200 miles away.

He could have just picked up and went.  But, Paul had learned to follow instructions - to do things in God’s way according to God’s timing.  So, he waited.

In fact he had to wait until his third missionary journey - after having traveled all the way back to Judea and then again through Anatolia - and then to Greece - before God again led him to Thessalonica.

That’s what it means to be centered in God’s will.  Doing what God wants - where God wants us to do it - when God want us to do it.  Our hearts - the core of who we are moves in obedience to what God desires for us.

And that’s hard.  Isn’t it?  I struggle with that tons.

When I’m under pressure my first response is not usually, “Oh goodie let’s wait on God.”  Usually its to get bent out of shape - rant and rave - and try to come up with some really brilliant solution to what’s going on. 

God, with all His foreknowledge obviously never saw this one coming.  Its up to me to come up with the solution and to gut it out with my strength because God could never come up with the answer on His own.

Am I alone in this?

But - as we go along in the school of really hard knocks learning to follow God - learning to pay attention to His word - to listen to His voice - to seek Godly counsel - to understand more of His will for our lives and how He directs us - as we go along through life seeking to follow God - we learn that following God’s will for us is the only way to go through life victoriously.  Amen?.

How significant is it that we pray for each other to stay centered in God’s will?  Hugely significant.

Second - in verse 12 Paul prays that the Thessalonians might Stay Together.  Let’s repeat that.  “Stay together.”

Paul puts it this way, “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another - and for all people - just as we do for you.”

Its been said that the church is the only army that shoots its wounded.  That hurts.  True sometimes.  Isn’t it?  Ever seen that happen in a congregation?

How easy is it - when we’re under pressure - how easy is it for us to turn against each other.

Maybe that pressure is coming from our peers - the pressure to conform to the status quo or what our friends in the congregation want to see happen.  The pressure to stay in our comfort zone.  Maybe that pressure is coming from within us.  Its always seems easier to point our fingers at other people - to point out what’s lacking in their lives - rather than to let God work in ours.  Maybe that pressure is coming from someplace else - just the hard stuff of life.  Sometimes pressure brings out the ugly in us.  May God help those who get hit with the shrapnel.

Church can be toxic.  Ministries come apart at the seams.  There are tons of wounded out there who want nothing to do with the church.

Jesus - speaking of what He considered important for His church - Jesus  said this, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have - what?  Great theology?  Awesome ministry?  A balanced budget?  Packed services of worship?    Love for one another.” (John 13:34,35)

Jesus didn’t qualify that with “But only when things are going smooth.  Only when people are easy to get along with.  Only when things are going the way you think they should.”

There’s a reason why Jesus - on the night He was betrayed - in the upper room at the Last Supper - as Jesus is giving His final pre-crucifixion instructions to His disciples - there’s a reason why as Jesus prays for them - of all the things Jesus could have prayed - integral to His prayer was that the disciples would be one - in the same manner that Jesus - God the Son and God the Father are one.

Why?  God knows all the reasons.  But one crucial reason - is because in the stuff of this life - with all that our Adversary throws at us - with all that we experience - our natural - steeped in sin - tendency  is to selfishly love ourselves - me, myself, and I - at the expense of loving each other.

Which also means - that there isn’t much that testifies more greatly of God’s work within us than His love on display through us.  Our genuine love for each other and others - especially when we’re getting hammered with the crud of life.

The success of a congregation - the victorious life we share as Christians - is judged by how we’re learning to love each other - to forgive each other - to listen to each other - to support and pray for each other - to lovingly hold each other accountable to follow Jesus - to reach out to those in need around us - to stay together walking through the stuff of life together.  To live from the heart the reality of the love Jesus showed us when He went to the cross in our place.

That doesn’t happen because - left to our natural selfish tendencies - we somehow will it to happen.  It happens as we individually draw closer to Jesus.  If we’re all individually moving closer to Jesus - growing deeper in our love and devotion to Him - we’re going to be moving closer to each other.  It’s a God thing.  The more in love we are with Jesus - the more His love draws us closer together.

How significant is it that we pray for each other that we stay together - that the Lord would increase our love for each other?  Hugely significant.

Third - in verse 13 - Paul prays that the Thessalonians would Stay Holy.  Let’s repeat that together, “Stay holy.”

The Great Wall of China is a gigantic structure which cost an immense amount of money and labor to build.  When it was finished, it seemed impregnable.  But the enemy breached it.  Not by breaking it down or going around it.  Do you remember how?  They bribed the gatekeepers.

Someone has said, “A fence is only as strong as its’ weakest link.”  Satan looks for our weakest links.  The place we’re most vulnerable to attack.  And then he’s very subtle.  Our Adversary uses little temptations to lead us into little compromises - that set us up for major sins with disastrous consequences for our lives.

Softball sometimes compromises my holiness.  Just ponder your thought life this past week - or what you’ve said or spent time looking at or things you’ve done.  Pretty ugly sometimes.  Isn’t it?  No matter how intense our desire - how great the realization of need - this daily pursuit of holiness is an ongoing struggle for all of us.

“Established” translates a Greek word that means to be constant - to have set in our minds how we will live and then without deviation living that way.  “Blameless” means without having any fault or defect.  Consistently blameless.

When Paul writes about holiness he’s writing about living apart from sin - never compromising - living righteous - rightly before God - obedient to God - moral purity verses moral failure - staying faithful to God regardless of the temptations around us.

Jesus asked the question - when He comes back for us - “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:8)  Will Jesus find us faithfully trusting Him - serving Him - living as He requires us to live?  Will we remain holy or will we compromise?

During the Last Supper - the night Jesus was betrayed - Jesus turned to Peter and Jesus said to him, “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;  But I have prayed for you.”

What did Jesus pray?  “Father, don’t let it happen?  Father, stop Satan!”  Peter was his most troublesome disciple who denied Jesus 3 times.  Peter, after being imprisoned for nine months -  was scourged - and then crucified.  Satan sifted Peter.

What did Jesus pray?  “I have prayed for you - Jesus said - that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31,32a)

Troublesome Peter - sifted - became the leader of the early church.  Crucified - by Peter’s choice - crucified head down - Peter died testifying of his faith in Jesus and his own unworthiness to die as his Savior had died.  Holy till the end.

For the Thessalonians - who were persecuted - Paul prays that they would remain faithful to God - blameless - holy - prepared and looking forward to the day when Jesus is coming back.   

How are we living our lives?  In whatever circumstances we’re in - will we cave in to the pressure of the onslaught of evil around us?  Or, will we remain faithful.  Living righteous?  Blameless?  Holy?  When Jesus comes will we be ashamed or victorious?

How significant is it that we pray for each other to stay holy?  Hugely significant.

Years ago in a church I was attending the choir conductor took a month off to have a baby.  At the time I was in seminary taking a choral conducting class.  So the conductor and the choir were gracious in asking me if I would step in and conduct the choir.  It was great experience for me and they learned to appreciate the regular conductor a whole lot more.

When we had rehearsals we would pray together.  When we’d share prayer requests most of the requests were for things like “Please pray that my great aunt’s bunions would be healed.”  Bunions - I’m told - can be hideously painful and I have no problem praying about them.

But in the years since - thinking about those requests and countless others through the decades since - in a number of different congregations - in listening to what we often ask prayer for - have you ever asked yourself if just maybe we might be focused on something other than what God would have us focus on?

When we’re getting hammered by the world and our Adversary is coming after us maybe praying about bunions isn’t even close in significance to staying centered in God’s will and staying together in love and staying holy before God.

What Paul is praying for goes deep.  It goes to the core issues of what we struggle with and where we need victory. 

If we’re centered in God’s will and hanging in there loving each other and staying holy before God - whatever our finances are - personal or as a congregation - or with whatever is going on in our families or at work or at school - whatever crud is coming after us - we’re going to be in the place where God is going to lead us His victory.

In whatever circumstance we face we need God - to understand and be led by His will.  We need to love each other - because we need each other.  We need to remain holy - faithful - choosing to keep our eyes fixed - not on the problem - but on the eternal hope that is ours in Jesus Christ.  These are things that we should be frequently - earnestly - intentionally praying for each other.

Whatever happens today - tomorrow - this week - whatever you may be struggling with.  May God open our minds and hearts to stay centered in His will - to become deeper in love with each other - to stay holy - looking to the day of Jesus’ return.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.