We Are All Called To Be Intercessors

I Timothy 2:1 "I exhort therefore,

that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and]

giving of thanks, be made for all men;"

Paul is now giving some last minute instruction to Timothy.

"Supplications" in the verse above, means prayers, or requests. In

this particular usage, "intercessions" means prayers. Intercessory

prayer is generally when you are praying for someone else, not

yourself. This would be the proper usage here, since the prayers were

for all men. There are many different types of prayer, and perhaps,

that is what is intended here. There is prayer of adoration to God,

there is prayer for a specific request, and there is prayer for

others. There are many other prayers. I think I love the prayer where

I do not want anything from God, but just to visit with Him. These are

usually the sweetest times. Paul, possibly, is telling Timothy here,

that the church will be just as strong as the prayers that are prayed

for it.

I Timothy 2:2 "For kings, and [for] all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and

honesty."

It is especially important to pray for those who rule over us. If

the leader of the country is a tyrant, it is not very likely that you

would live a peaceable life. Pray for the Lord to lead the king to

peace in the country. A godly king makes it pleasant for all of his

subjects. At the time this was written there was much persecution of

the Christians. Leaders, who were led by every little whim of

circumstance, could make it very difficult to be a Christian. It was

important to pray for the king to be fair and godly in his dealings

with the Christians. Paul would know of the hardships of kings who

were influenced by ungodly people. He had been imprisoned several

times. Some times he was held for a long time in prison because the

ruler would not make a decision to release him, fearing the people or

rulers over them. Paul used the fact that he was a Roman to save

himself several times.

I Timothy 2:3 "For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of

God our Saviour;"

We had said in an earlier lesson, that even though we could not

respect the man in office, we must respect the office. Really men are

in office, because God allowed it for a reason. We should not speak

against those God has put in power.

I Timothy 2:4 "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come

unto the knowledge of the truth."

We will see from the following Scriptures just how important it

is to the Lord for all to be saved. John 3:17 "For God sent not his

Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through

him might be saved." II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning

his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-

ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to

repentance." What is the knowledge of the Truth? It is to know Jesus

Christ who is the Truth. It is God Himself who wants all men to be

saved.