BIG IDEA:
SPIRITUAL FRUIT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD RIGHT NOW
Hiebert: “The eschatological picture just held before the readers to encourage them in their affliction now furnishes motivation to pray for them. It is characteristic of Paul thus to turn his teaching into prayer. His teaching was given in a spirit of prayer. He felt no inconsistency between the assurance of the divine working in them (1 Th 2:13; 4:9) and fervent prayer for them (1 Th 5:23-24). He regarded such intercessions for the elect (1 Th 1:4) as necessary links in the chain of salvation stretching from eternity past to eternity future.”
I. NEED FOR INTERCESSORY PRAYER
“To this end also we pray for you always”
II. NEED TO MEASURE UP TO THE STANDARD
“that our God may count you worthy of your calling”
III. TWO ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT
A. Its Intrinsic Character – Providing the Motivation
“and fulfill every desire for goodness”
B. Its Powerful Dynamic – Providing the Execution
“and the work of faith with power”
IV. ULTIMATE GOAL = GLORY TO GOD
A. “in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you”
B. “and you in Him”
Hubbard: “… points up the intimacy of union between Christ and his Church. As Christ reveals his glory in the Church, so the only glory the Church can claim is in him. That such a sharing of glory can take place is due to (according to) divine grace.”
V. SUPERABUNDANT RESOURCE
“according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”
Morris: “Paul is not seeking for some merely human reformation, nor for some pious thinking. He wants to see that fruit of goodness that can come about only when the power of God is operative in men’s lives.”