A People Of Prayer
1 Timothy 2:1-6
INTRODUCTION:
A. I hope you have been able to keep up with this series from 1 Timothy.
1. In finishing chapter one we have looked at the reason for Paul’s writing this letter.
2. Some folks in leadership positions had forsaken the foundations of the faith and had been teaching false doctrine.
3. Paul writes to Timothy telling him to get the church in shape, so to speak, by putting an end to false teachings and then strengthen her with the gospel, and the word of God.
4. He is to lift up grace and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and war the good warfare of faith.
B. With this stated Paul now turns to some very practical ways to win the war.
1. Beginning in chapter 2 Paul will be speaking directly to Timothy, and thus to the church, giving God’s way of conducting “church – worship.”
2. We know this because Paul states in 1 Tim. 3:14-15 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
C. So what is it that Paul tells Timothy?
1. Well he begins with what might be one of the hardest things to do – prayer!
2. In our current vision statement for First Baptist Church of Mascoutah we have the vision: we want to be A place where prayer is so infused into [our] very fabric that nothing takes place that has not been birthed in prayer and bathed in prayer from its inception to its completion.
3. We believe prayer is import, at least on paper.
4. This is why I think this will be a great message for us – A People of Prayer.
D. This morning we will be looking at three things Paul brings up in our passage:
1. The Exhortation To Prayer
2. The Purpose Of Prayer
3. The Foundations Of This Type Of Prayer
E. So lets get started and see what the apostle Paul has for us this morning in the arena of A People of Prayer.
PRAYER
Since we want to be a People Of Prayer, lets begin by considering
I. THE EXHORTATION TO PRAYER, 1 Tim. 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority;….
A. As Paul dives into the body of his letter to Timothy he begins with an exhortation that is based on the foundation set in chapter 1
1. Paul is going to exhort young Timothy – other translations use the word “urge”
a. The Greek word “parakaleo” has a wide range of meaning but seems to mean to draw close or to come along side to give encouragement, strength or exhortation
b. Paul wanted Timothy, and us to hear and be encouraged by what follows
2. However it is the phrase “first of all” I want us to think about
a. This phrase could mean one of two things:
1) First, chronologically
2) Or first in rank or importance
3) Considering the context it would seem it is meant to be an exhortation for Timothy to make the subject of highest priority – first in rank or importance
b. Of all the topics Paul is going to write to Timothy about in this letter, this one is to have first priority: in his life and in the life of the church
c. What is that topic? PRAYER!
B. Please take time to note the content of prayer: 4 things are mentioned:
1. Supplications: This could be humble entrance into God’s throne room to speak to Him about our needs (and our wants)
2. Prayers: according to John MacArthur, the Greek word translated “prayers” is only used in reference to God and thus seems to be directed at worship and reverence
3. Intercessions: prayer that is lifted up on behalf of someone else
4. And, finally, thanksgiving – being thankful is an area we can fall short in very easy if we are not careful – we get caught up in the supplications and intercessions and we can over look it, yet it is very important.
C. But also note The Beneficiaries - Paul exhorts Timothy, and the church to pray for:
1. All men – our prayers are not to be selective to those who we like and want to pray for but for those we don’t like and don’t want to pray for: both the saved and unsaved alike.
2. And then he gets a little more specific: kings, and for all in authority.
a. Think about this: the Caesar’s were in power and people treated them as gods – furthermore it was Nero who was in power at the time of this writing and he was notorious for his cruelty to Christians
b. This would be applicable to us as we are encouraged to pray for our president, congress, Supreme Court, governors, state legislatures, mayors and aldermen.
3. And folks we are to do this as a church!
D. So prayer is to be first and foremost as Timothy tries to bring this church around!
So we have seen the Exhortation to Pray, we now need to see
II. THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER, 1 Tim. 2:2-4 …that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. We see here a two fold purpose
A. The first is in connection to our life: without dragging this out we might say we are to pray for the means to live a life that is glorifying to God and will allow us to be a witness to others
1. Hence we pray for our leaders that we might have an environment that allows us to live “Quite and Peaceable”
a. It means praying for a life that is not disturbed by outward or inward disturbances
b. When we are praying for all men and our leaders we can focus on living lives that are not manipulated by our outward circumstances and inward feeling
2. We are also to pray for them that we might live this life in a godly and honest manner - that is submitting to the authorities that be and the laws of the land that do not violate God’s law.
3. The whole purpose is that God’s people might be put into a position to do the second purpose
B. Praying for our witness and the salvation of all men to include our leaders.
1. When the church lives a life in all godliness and honesty we are in a position to pray for the salvation of men
2. We, as the church, are to pray for all men including those who are in positions of leadership; that God would allow them to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
3. John Kitchens writes, “Apart from Christ we are held under the lie propagated by the ultimate liar, the devil.”
4. The goal of their salvation is to deliver them fully into the truth.
Now both the exhortation and purpose of this type of praying are set upon
III. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS TYPE OF PRAYER, 1 Tim. 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all,…. There are four given in our text:
A. First, There is one God – the singularity of God - in a society where the king was declared to be god and there was a multitude of gods to be dealt with – this truth was to be firmly established
1. There is little difference today, though we might not see our president as god, there are plenty more to go around: self, money, comfort, relaxation and recreation, sports, family and the list goes on
2. The church needs to remember there is but one God and He is sovereign!
3. Since there is only one God, and He desires all to be saved, then prayer to Him for all men is in order!
B. Second, …one mediator between God and men… the exclusivity of Christ
1. There are not many ways to God – there is only one who can bring us to God
2. The term “mediator” speaks of one who is in the middle – a middle-man if you will
3. He came to establish a new covenant between man and God
4. It was Jesus who said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
5. And it was Peter who said, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
C. Third, …the man Christ Jesus;…. The humanity of Christ
1. Jesus was born of woman and entered into our world as a human being (yet without sin)
2. It was this special aspect of Christ (who was fully divine. also) that allowed Him to stand in man’s place bearing God’s wrath for the sins of all mankind!
D. And it is this very fact that brings us to the fourth foundational truth, the sacrifice and sufficiency of Christ, Who gave himself a ransom for all….
1. It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34
2. It is Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection that makes eternal life possible
3. Paul who wrote: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9, 13
4. Through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Christ did all that is necessary for our salvation.
CONCLUSION: so in closing
A. The final words of verse 6 are to be testified in due time.
1. Church the time is now - we are to be a People of Prayer and I want to encourage you to pray
a. Pray when you gather in your Sunday School classes
b. Pray when you gather at events and fellowships together
c. Pray for the salvation of all men and those who are in leadership positions
d. Get a burden for the lost and lift them to God!
2. Our nation needs us to be a church of prayer
B. Based on the four truths we just covered, I want us as the church, to pray
1. We are going to lift up supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks to God for the purpose of drawing all men to God and seeing them come to salvation and the full knowledge of the truth!
2. If you are here this morning and do not know Christ as your Savior and Lord, this prayer is for you!
C. May God grant us answers to our prayer this morning and salvation to the lost!
