“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power…”
Paul’s second petition was that God would enable the Thessalonians to fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness.
and fulfill
God wants to “fulfill” something in us. He wants to do it to the full. He will complete the job. He will do the most for you, not the least. He wants the best for us, not the worse.
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).
all the good pleasure of His goodness
The Holy Spirit here declares that, through him, the Thessalonians would bring “the good pleasure of goodness” to fruition in their lives. “Goodness” is more than kindness, for it can include stern qualities (Matthew 21:12,13; 23:13-29). In every case, it includes the idea of giving or generosity. This is a quality of a person filled with the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
All goodness in us comes from God’s grace, not from self.
“Good pleasure” means a good desire. Paul prays that their will would line up with their calling.
Principle:
The spirit of generosity comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Application:
Do you want to fulfill the purpose God has for you? Do you want to be so given to God that you will do anything that He asks? God wants our best. Our best can only come from the filling of the Holy Spirit. God will work in your life if you act in His power, allowing His Spirit to work.
