1. GREAT PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE

2. PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS

3. “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV

4. “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” Thessalonians 2:13 NIV

5. Their Work produced by Faith
They had real Faith in the Word of God
They believed what Paul had taught them came from God – 1 Thessalonians 1:3a; 2:3-6, 13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
They received the message with deep conviction – Thessalonians 1:4-5

6. Their Work produced by Faith
Their strong Faith moved them to do God’s work
They became imitators of Paul and the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 1:6
They became a model to all the believers – 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Corinthians 8:1-5

7. Their Labor prompted by Love
They truly Loved God and others
These Christians understood that loving God and others are the two greatest commandments in all the Bible! – Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10
Paul prayed that the Lord would make their love increase and overflow – 1 Thessalonians 3:12

8. Their Labor prompted by Love
Their sincere Love gave rise to action
They labored to live holy and blameless lives out of their love for God – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
They labored to help the poor, the oppressed, and the afflicted out of love for their neighbor – 1 John 3:17-18
They labored to serve and encourage their church family out of love for the brotherhood of believers – Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11

9. Their Endurance inspired by Hope
They were convinced that there is life after death
They believed Paul’s teaching about the hope of Heaven – Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
They also believed Paul’s teaching about Judgment and Hell – 2 Thessalonians 1:3-9; 2 Peter 3:10-16

10. Their Endurance inspired by Hope
That strong conviction energized them to persevere
To endure all the hardships they faced – 1 Thessalonians 2:14; Thessalonians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
To resist all the temptations Satan threw at them – Thessalonians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 10:13
To persevere to the end in doing the work of God! – Hebrews 10:35-39; Revelation 2:10

11. “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may the God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” Thessalonians 3:10-13 NIV