“Praying For One Another” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

TRANSCRIPT

Date: November 19, 2025 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Recently, someone asked me to give them a list of the books that radically and drastically changed my life. While I’m still working on that list, the one very near the top is a small pamphlet by a Methodist-Episcopal pastor named E.M. Bounds, entitled “Power through Prayer.” The implications of this book were essential not only to my preparation for the ministry but also to my personal life. A particular paragraph from the book has stuck with me for years. I come back to this short paragraph regularly to be reminded and convicted of my deep need to become a pastor marked by passionate, persistent prayer. Bounds says: “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use – men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.” On Wednesday at 6:00 PM, we will conclude our sermons on “Paul’s Passionate Prayers.” In our next sermon, we will study 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 under the heading of: “Praying for One Another” Please forward this study guide to those you think might be interested.

Recently, someone asked me to give them a list of the books that radically and drastically changed my life. While I’m still working on that list, the one very near the top is a small pamphlet by a Methodist-Episcopal pastor named E.M. Bounds, entitled “Power through Prayer.” The implications of this book were essential not only to my preparation for the ministry but also to my personal life.

A particular paragraph from the book has stuck with me for years. I come back to this short paragraph regularly to be reminded and convicted of my deep need to become a pastor marked by passionate, persistent prayer. Bounds says:

“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use – men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.”

On Wednesday at 6:00 PM, we will conclude our sermons on “Paul’s Passionate Prayers.” In our next sermon, we will study 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 under the heading of: “Praying for One Another”

Please forward this study guide to those you think might be interested.

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”

The Church at Thessalonica was a very young Church, but also a very active Church, especially in their mission to spread the gospel.

But the Church was going through some very tough times.

At least seven times in the New Testament, Paul asked those to whom he was writing to pray for him.

Paul made two prayer requests:

Paul ended his second request with a brief request for prayer for himself, then turns his heart back to the Thessalonians.

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How to access the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us:

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