Prayer for the Word to Spread

Praying with a Bible

Toward the end of Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he requested prayers from the brethren. One of the reasons why the apostle wanted them to pray was so that the gospel would spread.

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

To “spread rapidly” or “have free course” (KJV) means that the word would be disseminated as widely as possible without being hindered. This would allow as many people to hear the message of the gospel as possible.

To be “glorified” means to be held in honor. Our prayer must be that when people hear the message of the gospel, it is glorified in them. What does that mean? First, consider what it does not mean:

  • It does not mean that they hear it and ignore it.
  • It does not mean that they hear it and argue with it.
  • It does not mean that they hear it and oppose it.
  • It does not mean that they hear it and change the message.

What does it mean for the word to be “glorified”? Notice what Paul added: “just as it did also with you.” How did these brethren in Thessalonica react when they heard the message of the gospel? Notice a few passages from the first letter:

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instructions as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

When the brethren in Thessalonica heard the message of the gospel, they responded in the appropriate way. They forsook their old way of serving idols and began serving the Lord. They accepted the message as being from God rather than from men. They followed the instructions that had been given to them in order to walk in a manner that would be pleasing to God. This led to the gospel being spread in that place and beyond:

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8).

The word of God must be glorified in us just as it was with them. We must accept it as God’s word, turn from sin, and walk in God’s instructions in order to please Him. Doing this will also help the word to “spread rapidly” because we will be about doing the Lord’s work and people will see Christ in us.

So let us take Paul’s prayer for “the word of the Lord [to] spread rapidly and be glorified” and make it our prayer as well. Then let us work to help carry out this desire in our labor for the Lord.


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