“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. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” (2 Thess. 3:1-5)

The Apostle Paul uses the expression “Finally brethren” in his epistles to draw a conclusion to a particular matter of great importance. This is “the rest of the matter” until further instructions are given. These “finalities” are of great importance to all of us as believers. What is the first of these admonitions? “Pray for us.”

This was his first and most needed request of the Thessalonian believers. This request was not for personal reasons, but for particular premises in the work of the Lord. The preeminent result was “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” This showed there were people of this nature in Paul’s time. The amount and intensity of such men is prevalent in “our times” as well. Why were these people so unreasonable and wicked? The answer is forthcoming: “For all men have not faith!” Even today, there are some who have “faith,” but are not “faithful men.”

It is wonderful that we are told: “the Lord is faithful”. However, we must be faithful to his Word. We are told in this passage of Scripture that “the word of the Lord may have free course and may be glorified, even as it is with you, and that you might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” God’s preservation is amply seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where we are told: “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.”

The “finalities” of these wonderful portions of Scripture is found in, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thess. 3:5).

Remember Paul’s admonition, “Finally brethren, PRAY FOR US!”