Paul rejoices at the inestimable privilege of his access to the presence of God in worship and in prayer. Look at 1 Thessalonians 3:9. He writes of
all the joy that we feel for your sake in the presence of our God.Do you realize what an enormous blessing it is to have access to the presence of God? When we come to worship, do we really thank him from our hearts that God has received us, together with all the church, into his holy and loving presence where the tree of life is found, so that we might praise him and commune with him and be his people and have his light shine in our hearts? Do we realize what a blessing it is? Are you aware of what an incomparable privilege it is that you and I might come before God?Maybe we get on our knees in a quiet place, maybe you are sitting in a parked car, and you speak to the God of the universe—and because of Jesus Christ, at the throne of grace, he hears you. And thank God, he answers according to his wisdom, not mine. I thank God I cannot say to you he has granted me everything that I have ever prayed for. Well, that would be a disaster. I thank God that his wisdom overrules my folly. But I know through faith that because he is faithful as a Father, and because of what Jesus has secured for me, that my prayers are answered. What a privilege that is, that I have divine power at work through my puny little prayers—all purchased by the Son of God by his death on the cross for us.
Paul says,
Richard D. PhillipsWhat thanks can we render to God for these things?He said,I’ve got pains, I’ve got anxieties, I’m being persecuted, I’m fed up, but I’m in the presence of God in worship and in prayer and ministry.It blows me away. How foolish we are if we take these privileges lightly—if we come to church flippantly, not really seriously; if we come when we get around to it occasionally, but not regularly; if we neglect corporate prayer and private prayer, through which God’s mighty power is secured for our own blessing and the salvation of others.1
9 Quelles actions de grâces, en effet, nous pouvons rendre à Dieu à votre sujet, pour toute la joie que nous éprouvons à cause de vous, devant notre Dieu!