“Staying On Course – I & II Thessalonians” Series

Lesson Twelve: “OnStar…How May I Help You?”
II Thessalonians 3:1-5

Conquerors Bible Class – Sunday, October 17, 2021

Our Lesson’s Theme Verse is found in this passage of Scripture…
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course,
and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered
from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”
II Thessalonians 3:1-2
- - - - - - - - - -
Today’s Lesson Thought can be summed up in this one little Question…
“Have You Taken Time To Pray Today?”
- - - - - - - - - -

Lesson: “OnStar…How May I Help You?”

I           : Paul’s Prayer Request
            A: His Concerns
                    - II Thessalonians 3:1-2

            B: His Confidence
                    - II Thessalonians 3:3-4

 

II         : Paul’s Prayer
            A: For The Love Of God
                    - II Thessalonians 3:5a, John 14:15

            B: For The Patience Of Christ
                    - II Thessalonians 3:5b, Hebrews 12:2-3, I Peter 2:20-25

 

Conclusion:

The story is told of a man named William Walford who lived from 1772 until 1850 in Coleshill, England. Mr. Walford was a simple wood carver with no education, yet he had a very sharp memory and he held the reputation of “knowing the Bible from heart”—an impression given by the fact that this humble Englishman was able to quote the Scriptures accurately, including the precise chapter and verse, in spite of his being absolutely blind!

Mr. Walford relied on others to read the Scriptures to him which he then rehearsed and committed to memory as he whittled away on bone to make shoe horns, or on wood to make trinkets to sale. 

Mr. Walford’s mind so dwelt upon Scripture, and his communion with the Lord was so sweet, that this humble little man was often asked to share a sermon at the Congregational services he attended. The overflow of the Word of God from within his heart also came forth in the form of poetry. 

One day around 1845, when Pastor Thomas Salmon visited Mr. Walford, Walford shared a poem about prayer which he had perfected unto memory and he asked Salmon to write it down for him.

Salmon, seeing the beauty of the poem, sent it off for publishing as a poem but it was not until a number of years after Mr. Walford’s death that the poem was set to music by William Bradbury, at which time the poem then flew around the world upon the wings of its popularity and was translated in to several foreign languages. The name of that Hymn is “Sweet Hour of Prayer”.

Listen once again to the words of this poem from a blind man’s heart that is now enjoyed and sung from the lips of Christians all around the world…

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father’s throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To Him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since He bids me seek His face,

Believe His Word and trust His grace,

I’ll cast on Him my every care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 

May I thy consolation share,

Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,

I view my home and take my flight:

This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise

To seize the everlasting prize;

And shout, while passing through the air,

“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Child of God, if other Christians prayed like you pray for others, how would your life be affected by their prayers?

Oh, may our lesson today help each of us, as born again children of God, choose to focus our prayers on the spiritual needs of folks around us instead of just upon ourselves!