The longest train ever recorded in history was the Australian BHP Iron Ore. The cars behind it stretched approximately 4.6 miles. To provide some mind-boggling perspective here's what one train-fanatic wrote,
“Driven by a single driver, the line’s 99,734-ton and 682-car train was able to carry 82,000 tons (181 million pounds) of iron ore. The Australian BHP Iron Ore can fit about 24 Eiffel Towers…The weight of this train being the same as about 402 Statues of Liberty.”
Trains are impressive heavy-haulers, but only under the right conditions. On the tracks they’ll whistle while they work but once they’re derailed— they only whistle. Trains don’t work without tracks.
Paul would make an interesting appeal to the saints who met at the infant church family in Thessalonica. He asks that they pray for the powerful gospel to have a straight path so it could move quickly. His exact words were,
“pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified…”
2 Thess. 3.1b
In a simple yet inspired prayer request a practical and profound implication steps out of subtlety— Prayerlessness will hinder the furtherance of the gospel.
Based on this text, the content of congregational prayers may be in need of careful inspection. Reevaluating your evangelistic ministries, online presence, visibility in the community, advertising efforts, kingdom expenditures, and even the dynamics the worship service— all must fall below the prayer line on the priority list.
While Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, God was writing to the rest of us. He reminds us that this request should ring in the prayers of His congregations today. The written petition by itself informs the modern church that this is something that God is willing and able to do for us, He would just have us ask. The powerful gospel needs prayer— like a train needs tracks.
A 21st century church member may occasionally think
The gospel doesn’t seem to be as convicting in my community. It works just fine in other parts of the world, and it worked well in the past— but not so much here and now.
More Reasons Can Be Found
Here: James 4.2-3 Here: Matthew 21.22 And Here: Ephesians 6.19-20
The Preacher Pollard Blog 