Empowered Prayer: Living Worthy of God's Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Conduit for God's Purposes

Prayer is not merely a ritualistic practice but a vital means through which God's purposes are fulfilled in our lives. It is through prayer that we align ourselves with God's will and invite His power into our daily experiences. Even though God's plans are certain, He has ordained that they come to pass through our prayers, making prayer an essential part of our spiritual journey. This understanding calls us to engage actively in prayer, not as a passive resignation to fate, but as a dynamic participation in God's work. As we pray, we are not only communicating with God but also being transformed by His presence and power. [04:27]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." (Colossians 4:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make prayer a more intentional part of your daily routine, inviting God's power and presence into specific areas of your life today?

Day 2: Embracing Our Divine Calling

Our calling as believers is multifaceted, encompassing salvation, sanctification, and ultimately sharing in God's glory. This calling is not based on our merit but on God's grace, and being made worthy of it means being suited for it through God's transformative power. To be made worthy is not about earning our place in God's kingdom but about being shaped by His grace to reflect His glory. This transformation involves fulfilling good resolves and works of faith, which are empowered by God. As we embrace our calling, we are invited to live out our faith with the assurance that God is at work within us. [07:06]

"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house." (Hebrews 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively pursue your calling today, trusting in God's grace to transform and empower you for His purposes?

Day 3: Trials as Instruments of Refinement

Trials and afflictions are not meaningless; they are designed by God to refine us, knocking off the edges of unbelief and unholiness, making us fitted for His kingdom. This process is part of being made worthy of our calling. Through trials, our faith and character are tested and strengthened, allowing us to grow in our relationship with God. As we endure hardships, we are reminded that God is at work, shaping us to be more like Christ. Embracing trials with faith and perseverance enables us to experience God's refining power in our lives. [08:49]

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you view a current trial in your life as an opportunity for growth and refinement, trusting that God is using it to shape you for His kingdom?

Day 4: Relying on God's Power for Transformation

It is only through God's power that we can fulfill good resolves and works of faith. Our transformation and ability to live out our calling depend on His power working in us, which we access through faith and prayer. As we rely on God's strength, we are empowered to overcome challenges and pursue the good works He has prepared for us. This reliance on divine power is not a sign of weakness but a recognition of our need for God's presence in every aspect of our lives. By trusting in His power, we are equipped to live out our faith with confidence and purpose. [09:07]

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's power rather than your own strength? How can you invite His power into that area today?

Day 5: Living in the Reality of Glorification in Christ

The ultimate goal of our calling and transformation is that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us and we in Him. This glorification is both a present reality and a future hope, as we live out our faith in anticipation of His coming. As believers, we are called to reflect Christ's glory in our daily lives, allowing His presence to shine through us. This involves living with a sense of purpose and expectation, knowing that our lives are a testimony to His grace and power. By embracing this reality, we are encouraged to live with hope and joy, confident in the promise of our future glorification with Christ. [09:49]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect the glory of Christ in your interactions and decisions today, living in the reality of His presence and future hope?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, we delve into the profound prayer of Paul for the Thessalonian believers. Paul prays that God would make them worthy of His calling and fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by His power. This prayer is not just a wish but a deep theological insight into how God’s purposes are fulfilled through prayer. Paul’s prayer is anchored in the ultimate goal that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in the believers and they in Him. This glorification is not a distant hope but a present reality that believers are called to live out through sanctification and faith.

The calling Paul refers to is multifaceted. It is a call to salvation, sanctification, and ultimately to share in the glory of God’s kingdom. This calling is not based on our merit but on God’s grace. To be made worthy of this calling means to be suited or fitted for it, not to earn it. God, through His power, shapes us to be appropriate for His kingdom, often through trials and afflictions that refine our faith and character.

Prayer is central to this process. It is through prayer that we align ourselves with God’s purposes and invite His power into our lives. Paul’s prayer is a model for us, showing that even though God’s purposes are certain, He has ordained that they come to pass through our prayers. This is a call to active participation in God’s work, not passive resignation.

The essence of being made worthy is not about becoming deserving but about being transformed by God’s power to reflect His glory. This transformation involves fulfilling good resolves and works of faith, which are empowered by God. As we pray and trust in God’s power, we are being prepared for His kingdom and His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. The Purpose of Prayer: Prayer is not merely a ritual but a means through which God’s purposes are fulfilled. Even though God’s plans are certain, He has ordained that they come to pass through our prayers, making prayer an essential part of our spiritual journey. [04:27]
2. Understanding Our Calling: Our calling is to salvation, sanctification, and ultimately to share in God’s glory. This calling is not based on our merit but on God’s grace, and being made worthy of it means being suited for it through God’s transformative power. [07:06]
3. The Role of Trials: Trials and afflictions are not meaningless; they are designed by God to refine us, knocking off the edges of unbelief and unholiness, making us fitted for His kingdom. This process is part of being made worthy of our calling. [08:49]
4. The Power of God in Our Lives: It is only through God’s power that we can fulfill good resolves and works of faith. Our transformation and ability to live out our calling depend on His power working in us, which we access through faith and prayer. [09:07]
5. Glorification in Christ: The ultimate goal of our calling and transformation is that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us and we in Him. This glorification is both a present reality and a future hope, as we live out our faith in anticipation of His coming. [09:49]
** [09:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Introduction to Thessalonians 1:11-12
[00:39] - The Purpose of Paul's Prayer
[01:15] - Understanding "To This End"
[01:55] - The Dual Meaning of the End
[02:26] - Glorification in Christ
[03:13] - The Role of Prayer in God's Purposes
[04:00] - The Necessity of Prayer
[04:45] - God's Power in Making Us Worthy
[05:07] - The Nature of Our Calling
[06:15] - Salvation Through Sanctification
[06:30] - Called to Holiness
[07:23] - Being Made Worthy
[08:30] - Trials as a Means of Refinement
[09:49] - Conclusion and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12

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Observation Questions:

What specific things does Paul pray for the Thessalonian believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12? How does this reflect his understanding of their spiritual journey? [00:21]
According to the sermon, what is the ultimate purpose of Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians? How does this relate to the glorification of Jesus? [02:26]
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, what are the elements through which believers are saved, and how do they relate to the concept of calling? [05:40]
How does Paul describe the process of being made worthy of God's calling in 1 Thessalonians 2:12? What does this imply about the believer's journey? [06:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the relationship between prayer and God's purposes? Why is prayer considered essential even when God's plans are certain? [04:27]
What does it mean to be "made worthy" of God's calling according to the sermon? How does this differ from the idea of earning God's favor? [07:23]
How do trials and afflictions contribute to making believers worthy of God's kingdom, as discussed in the sermon? What role do they play in the process of sanctification? [08:49]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's power is involved in fulfilling good resolves and works of faith? How does this empower believers in their spiritual walk? [09:07]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you align your prayers more closely with God's purposes, as Paul models in his prayer for the Thessalonians? [04:27]
Consider the concept of being "made worthy" of God's calling. What areas of your life might God be refining through trials to make you more suited for His kingdom? [08:49]
How can you actively participate in God's work in your life, rather than passively waiting for change? What steps can you take to invite God's power into your daily decisions and actions? [04:45]
Think about a recent trial or challenge you have faced. How might this experience be part of God's process of sanctification in your life? How can you respond in faith and trust? [08:49]
Identify a specific good resolve or work of faith you feel called to pursue. How can you rely on God's power to fulfill this resolve, and what practical steps can you take to begin? [09:07]
How can you live out the present reality of glorification in Christ in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to reflect His glory more fully? [09:49]
In what ways can you encourage others in your community to understand and embrace their calling to salvation, sanctification, and sharing in God's glory? How can you support them in this journey? [07:06]

Sermon Clips

We always pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of Faith by his power so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:18:04]

The purpose of this that Clause here that he's praying for is this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him which is exactly what he has just said he's going to come to be glorified in his Saints and to be marveled at in all who have believed. [00:133:59]

Because God has ordained that His Highest purpose has happened through prayer I mean what does the Lord's Prayer mean when it says Lord teach us to pray and the first thing he teaches is pray for this Hallowed be your name well if God is committed to any purpose in the universe it is the hallowing of his name. [00:240:48]

We pray that God would make you worthy of his calling what is this calling in the next chapter we see a picture of it like this, second Thessalonians 2 13-14 we ought always to give thanks to God for you Brothers beloved by the Lord because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through sanctification by the spirit and in belief in the truth. [00:307:44]

He called us to be saved through sanctification to be saved for his kingdom for his glory through sanctification and here it is now in first Thessalonians 4 where we see sanctification for God has not called us to impurity but for Holiness in Holiness that is sanctification. [00:375:78]

To make worthy of something God has already done decisively unilaterally omnipotently decisively namely call us out of Darkness into light and to his kingdom what it means to make us worthy of that is not that we become deserving of it we didn't deserve it before it happened we don't deserve it now. [00:455:22]

The suffering here the Affliction in the preceding verses is designed by God to knock the edges of unbelief and unholiness off of our lives so that we are fitted, fitted and made suited for the kingdom of God or the way it says here may he make you worthy of his calling. [00:515:15]

He's going to fulfill good resolves or resolves for good he's going to bring about works of Faith by his power we don't become deserving undeserving people get power through faith and we're going to pick it up there next time but let's just review here the end to which he is aiming is this glorified in you and you in him. [00:547:62]

And he praised that purpose of God down into reality and he does it by asking God by his power through our faith to make us suited or fitted for the calling to Salvation through sanctification namely his kingdom and His glory. [00:589:01]

So father show us now to what in Paul is praying what it signifies and teaches us that he is praying what the calling is and what it is to be worthy of this calling show us these things help us to live these things walk in these things by faith I pray in your power in Jesus name amen. [00:42:48]

The end is that we would be fit to Marvel at him and thus glorify him at his coming to that end he's praying is that what he means or lots of people think it refers forward to this right here to what end do I pray namely that our God may make you worthy of his calling. [00:92:46]

So he is praying here for the purposes of God because God has ordained that his purposes His Highest purposes come to pass through prayer and the other reason that prayer is so crucial here is that all of this Making of You worthy of his calling is going to happen by his power and that's the only way it's going to happen. [00:267:12]

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Empowered Prayer: Living Worthy of God's Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Conduit for God's Purposes

Day 2: Embracing Our Divine Calling

Day 3: Trials as Instruments of Refinement

Day 4: Relying on God's Power for Transformation

Day 5: Living in the Reality of Glorification in Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Empowered Prayer: Living Worthy of God's Calling

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