ROLE OF MEN IN PUBLIC PRAYER

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8

As we began this journey 8 weeks ago –

Remember that during Paul’s 3rdmissionary journey – Paul leaves Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus – Timothy is the Pastor over this church. False teachers needed to be dealt with swiftly as to not lead many astray with false doctrine. Paul deals with a lot of that in chapter 1 as mentioned. Now Paul turns his attention to church order and function. He begins what we call chapter 2 of his letter with First of all. He goes from “among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. To – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,”

So, as we begin – Let Us Pray!

Public Prayer in Church and Role of Men

1 Timothy 2:1–8 – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

This section of Scripture has 4 major parts –

1. Offer Prayers for all people – the Greek word for all means all

2. God wants all men saved – the Greek word for all means all

3. Jesus gave life as a ransom for all – the Greek word for all means all

4. Paul was called to teach true faith to gentiles – everyone – the Greek word for all means all

I. THE SUPPLICATION—vv. 1–4

1. Prayer—v. 1 – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

First I urge you – parakaleo – one who has authority to demand but instead requests action

What is Paul requesting – what is the priority that the false teachers and false doctrine are dealt with – PRAYER

Deesis – deh ay sis – entreaty to God for man (12 of 18 NT references)

Proseuche – pros yoo khay – prayer addressed to God – asking God for His Help (14 of 36 NT References)

Enteuxis – ent yook sis – conversations, petition, supplication – (2 of NT References)

Eucharistia – thankfulness – the giving of thanks! (12 of 15 NT References)

Be given on behalf of all Anthropos – human beings – all human beings – each and every ethnicity and class – from kings to peasants from holy people to sinners

Intercede on their behalf.

Philippians 4:6-7 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We get the ACTS acronym –

Acknowledge God for who He is, His Characteristics, His Goodness – His

Confess – confess your sins to God

Thanksgiving – Give God thanks for answered prayers, unanswered prayers, the blessings in your life, the blessings others experience, thanking Him for His love, forgiveness, His presence in your life

Supplication – a big word for petition – we generally stay here in prayer – asking God for stuff – should always ask for others first and then if there is time – asking for self

Paul says our prayers should cast a wide net – v2 –all those in authority, v3 - all nations, all people to receive salvation and Godly knowledge and wisdom, v6 – Jesus gave His life as a ransom for all people – not just the Jews, not just those to come to church – all people

2. People—v. 2 – for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Romans 13:1 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Prayer for leaders, and that we may live in peace. Do not oppose the leaders. Pray for them.

What would happen in our country if believers –for just 30 min everyday spent time in Godly prayer – would we be divided over the definition of a woman or would our debate be over where to send the next group of missionaries?

SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL PRAYER AND WORSHIP SESSIONS HAVE BEEN AT MENS RETREATS WHEN MEN WORSHIP UNABANDONEDLY AND DIG INTO PRAYER.

3. Plan—vv. 3–4 – This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This is Good – what is good? That we pray – Pray that the leaders will come to the truth of knowing God.

II. THE SALVATION—vv. 5–6

1. Lawyer—v. 5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Christ our lawyer pleads before God on our behalf.

One Way, One Mediator, One God.

Clearly all roads do not lead to heaven – there are not many paths to God – there is one – Jesus Christ – Paul reminds us of it here

Jesus said in John 14:6-7, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

2. Love—v. 6 – who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Christ gave Himself for all men.

John 3:16:18 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Romans 10:13 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

1 Peter 1:18-19 – knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

III. THE SURRENDER—vv. 7–8

1. Person—v. 7 – For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Paul both an apostle and preacher of God’s Word. Next to Christ, Paul was the greatest preacher that ever lived. Yet, he was very humble.

Paul reminds Timothy, the church at Ephesus – that he was appointed by Jesus Himself to be a apostle and it is the truth – he is not lying –

Paul chose to stand on the truth – preach and teach the truth –

2. Purity—v. 8 – I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

In v1 – Paul said Anthropos – all people, mankind

Here in v 8 – Paul says aner – males, husbands – specific

This is a call for men to step up to the plate and be the spiritual leader God has called them to be; too many men in Ephesus regulated and handed that over to the women –

This is not saying only men should pray – it is saying that men should be involved in Public Prayer

Men are you involved in praying in the church and for the church? Why not? – the Greek word for every place, everywhere – pas topos - means all places, all means all.

All places men should lift holy hands and pray – what do you pray about? Go back to verses 1-7 Paul has already told us and laid it out!

National and local leaders, their moral compass, Congress, Supreme Court and Judges, Putin, Zelensky, and Xi Jinping, school board and superintendents, sheriffs and deputies, pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, youth group leaders, people in the church, people who left the church, people who want nothing to do with God or church that they will be saved.

Could the problems we are having here in the US are due to the weakness of Christian’s prayers or even the prayerlessness of the God’s people?

Based on our prayer life in private and our prayer life in public –– are we making it a priority to pray to God and worshiping God? Do we pray in public or only at home and church? How do we recognize the Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient God? In prayer how do we embrace His Power, His Presence, His Perfectness, His Holiness?