What Should I Pray For?

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It continues to be a great privilege to share the Word of God with the saints of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church.

In my studies this week I came across an extended illustration that was so pertinent to the text, that I wanted to share it in its fullness. This comes from R Kent Hughes’ Preaching the Word Commentary and is adapted from a story first given by Theodore Wendel.

“On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur stood a lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and with no thought for themselves went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many of those who were rescued and also others from the surrounding area wished to become associated with the station and to give their time, money, and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The lifesaving station grew.

In time some of the crew became concerned that the station was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more commodious place should be provided as the first refuge of those snatched from the sea. The emergency cots were replaced with beds, and better furniture was purchased for the enlarged building. The station became a popular gathering place for its members, and the decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely. Fewer members were now invested in leaving the plush station to go to sea on lifesaving missions. So they hired surrogates to do that work. However, they retained the lifesaving motif in the club’s decorations, and a ceremonial lifeboat lay in the room where club initiations were held.

One dark stormy night a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and obviously from distant shores. The station was in chaos. The event was so traumatic that the people contracted for outbuildings to be constructed so future shipwrecks could be processed with less disruption.

Eventually a rift developed in the station. Most of the members wanted to discontinue the station’s lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to their normal social life. Some insisted, however, that rescue was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But the latter were ignored and told that if they wanted to keep lifesaving as their primary purpose, they could begin their own station down the coast, which they did. Over time those individuals fell prey to the same temptations as the first group, coming to care more about comforting one another than rescuing the perishing. After a while a few, remembering their real purpose, split off to establish yet another lifesaving station. And on and on it went. Today if you visit that seacoast, you will find a number of impressive lifesaving stations along the shore. Sadly, shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but most people are lost.”

“The Lifesaving Station” parable illustrates something that has been a consistent problem of churches all throughout the history of the church. The point of the parable is to show how easily, unknowingly, and devastatingly an organization can get off track from their original purpose. Its not usually a conscience decision, it happens over time. It happens as the vigor that once drives us fades into comfortability.

As we have been walking through 1 Timothy, we have been reminded that Timothy is working with the church or Ephesus. Ephesus is struggling to maintain its purpose. False teaching has crept into the leadership. But as we have mentioned, that’s not how the church in Ephesus started.

In the book of Acts we see Paul visiting the fledgling group of Christians in Ephesus. He shares with them about the Holy Spirit and baptism in the name of Jesus and then we read this:

Acts 19:8–10 ESV

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

So for about 2 and half years Paul was with the church, preaching and teaching. All of the area hears the word of the Lord that salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone. That word increases and thrives in the area. Paul then leaves to visit the churches in other areas. A year or two later, Paul writes a letter back to the church at Ephesus. It is full of doctrine and application, but doesn’t mention any huge areas where the church has messed up as he does in letters to other churches. This leads us to believe that things are still going pretty well for the church at Ephesus. They are remembering their mission and going forward for the glory of God.

However there is this one note in the book of Ephesians,

Ephesians 5:6–8 ESV

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

When Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians, he doesn’t say that this is currently happening, but he does say watch out. Don’t get caught up in empty words that lead to deception.

If we flash forward roughly another year, Paul writes the letter to Timothy who is in charge at Ephesus that we have been walking through for a few weeks now. You can turn there now. As you do, it seems the Lifesaving station has lost its mission. They have allowed “vain discussions” about “myths and endless genealogies” to captivate their attention. These speculations have led to false doctrine to creep in. Two men in particular, Hymenaeus and Alexander are identified as making a shipwreck of their faith. The entire first chapter lays out the problem of the church at Ephesus. The church is in danger of forgetting its mission and becoming a social club in the midst of a ship graveyard instead of the lifesaving station it is intended to be. Timothy has been charged by Paul to be the one through whom God “rights the ship” and gets the church back on track. Today as we begin chapter 2, we see the very first step of returning a church to order. Begin with me in 1 Timothy 2:1

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

I’ve made it no secret that church revitalization has been a consistent concern, interest, and topic occupying my mind for the last year or so. I believe we’re starting to see some of the fruit from that in the process and strategies that we are beginning to put in to use. To my shame, I’m not sure I have emphasized enough the most basic and first step to anything we do in this life. Prayer!

Really think about what is happening in the church at Ephesus at this moment. False teachers have been taking over, people are arguing over personal preference and off the wall theories instead of worshipping together, two well known members are in error so deep that they are to be removed from the church until they renew their repentance. And on top of that some one put a kid in charge.

So what did Paul say to do? Did he send in the local association leaders to do a health assessment of the congregation? Did he say revise the constitution? Did he say you have to hire a youth pastor? Did he say to write a new members course? Did he say develop a 5 year plan? Did he say to put out a fog machine so the worship feels more mysterious?

No! It was none of those things. Each of those things can be helpful means through which God works in a church, they can be acts of stewardship, except the fog machine part. That’s just silly.

But seriously, while most of those things can be good and beneficial for the church, they aren’t the main thing. They aren’t the first step for reordering and revitalization. Paul looks at Timothy, the young man feeling overwhelmed and under-equipped to accomplish the task set before him, and said the first thing you need to do is PRAY! In the whole section of what we’ll look at this morning Paul says Pray, pray for this, and here’s why you pray for this.

There has been a lot of discussion in the theological realm about the 4 different words for prayer used here in verse one. Paul urges Timothy that Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and Thanksgivings be made.

A lot of folks have attempted to read a lot into this verse. For example, Augustine taught that these words applied to a liturgical administering of the Lord’s Supper. But I think that sometimes in the world of theological thought, we tend to drift into vain discussions and miss what is right in front of our face. What we need to understand from the urging of supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings is that we are to be a praying people that prays together. We can get into the minutiae and talk about supplication being making needs known to God, prayers referring to reverential and worshipful conversation, intercession being confident and familiar in making requests an behalf of others, and thanksgiving being the conveying of gratitude to our loving God. There is certainly value in understanding the depth of what can and should be included in our prayers, but before we can even touch on that, we need to see that Paul’s urging here is a wake up call to simply be a praying people that prays together!

Church, what is your view of prayer and what is OUR view of prayer? There is nothing wrong with having an orderly service, in our service we pray two times, once towards the beginning of the service and again after the service. We have these times planned out, but I sure hope that they have not become rote! Prayer is not intended to be simply a filler between songs or a transition to our invitation. It isn’t inherently wrong to pray in those times, but if the point of the prayer is just to move from one point in the service to another, then it is wrong indeed! Praying is uniting with God! I know in those times of service I am the one praying the “loudest”, but church, I sure hope that I am not the only one praying! The first order of the church is Prayer! It is an honor the Holy God of creation would allow each of us, believers in Him as His priests, to approach His thrown, that He would hear our prayers!

Remember that all throughout the New Testament letters the churches, the groups are told to “pray without ceasing” to “devote yourselves to prayer.” Maybe I am just telling on myself here, but I think that sometimes we undervalue and skip past the importance of prayer. I was cut to the heart this week as I began studying for this message and saw the importance Paul gave to prayer for the right functioning of the church. I hope that today would begin a a revival in all of our prayer lives both as individuals and corporately. And if we are to do this, then we must see what we are to prayer for. That is described at the end of verse 1 and through verse 2.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

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.

What should we pray for? All people. Kings and authority people. For the ability to live peaceful quiet, godly dignified lives.

Let’s look at these categories and then we will see WHY we are to pray for these things.

First all people. David Guzik had a good word on all people, all men. He said, “This tells us whom we are to pray for with these various means of prayer. The idea is that all men need prayer. You have never met someone that you cannot or should not pray for. Most Christians find it easy to pray for their family, friends, and loved ones, but it should not end there. We should also pray for our enemies and for those with whom we have conflict. We should pray for those who annoy us, and for those who seem to be against us. Each of these fall into the category of all men. To pray for all men also means to pray evangelistically. We should pray for our friends who need to know Jesus, for our coworkers, and for others we have regular contact with.. To pray for all men also means to pray for your pastors, to pray for your church, and to pray for other ministries you know and love.”

Church, ask yourself this question, when was the last time, or even has there been a first time, in which you said an intercessory prayer for someone you didn’t know? Have you given a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the person you had an enjoyable interaction with at work?

Once more to my shame, I find it easy to pray for the things I’d like improvement on in my own life. I am quick to pray for my family. I try to remember the needs of our church and bring them before the Lord. But if I am being honest quite often the scope of my prayer quite often stops right there. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. If I’m touching a nerve here, just know as I point one finger out I have three more pointing back at me. But in our prayer request time as a church, we often hear things about the situations of our friends and families. Occasionally we’ll hear a prayer. But it’s even rarer to hear a request for people in general. Church, may we open our prayers to the scope God has called us to do so! We’re gonna get to why we pray for all people in a few minutes, but let’s first note that we should be making supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings to God for ALL people! Let’s widen our prayers!

As we’re talking about widening our prayers, let me bring up something else: Raise your hand if you said a prayer for President Joe Biden this morning? Imprecatory prayers don’t count. Paul told Timothy make supplications, prayers, intercessions and THANKSGIVINGS for all people, yes, and specifically for kings and for ALL WHO ARE IN HIGH POSITIONS. And let’s be real, that includes President Biden and Governor Beshear, Mayor Linda Gorton, Mayor Robert Blythe in Richmond. Senators McConnell and Paul. Representatives Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie, McGarvey, and Rogers. From the stinkin’ liberals to the RINO republicans. We’re to pray for all of them and in the context here, that isn’t just praying for them to taken away so we can “drain the swamp.” I’m not telling you who to vote for, but I am tellin’ you who to pray for. These leaders and the policies they influence have a direct bearing on our freedom and ability to live those peaceful, quite, godly, dignified lives we desire for the glory of God.

And I know what you’re thinking, there ain’t no way I could ever say a prayer of thanksgiving for our current president. Paul didn’t know what the liberals would be doing to America when he wrote this to little Timothy in Ephesus. But get this, when Paul wrote this letter Nero was ruling as emperor of Rome. On the personal side of his life, Nero was bloodthirsty and debaucherous. He attempted to kill his own mother and was know for sexually abusing women and boys. From a ruling perspective he was bloodthirsty and debaucherous. He was the first of many Roman rulers to label the Christians as enemies of the state. The violent history of Rome’s persecution of the Church that began with Nero would continue for nearly 300 years.

My point this morning is not to validate the platform or personality of Emperor Nero or any of our current politicians. My point is that even through sin and misery the Roman Empire provided a useful structure for extending the reach of God’s truth as does and maybe even more so does the freedoms we are afforded in America. Murray notes that “Although the church was facing increasing persecution, Paul’s solution was not to run away from these leaders but to run to God in prayer for them. He asked God for “peace and quiet” because these are the best conditions for practicing, commending, and spreading the gospel.”

So at this point we know we are to pray, pray for all people, pray for our political leaders, and the ability to live peaceful. If this were the end of our text today it should be enough to influence our practice and prayer. “Because the Bible tells me so.” should be reason enough. But God, in His great grace, through the pen of Paul, does not ONLY tell us to do these things that seem counter to our nature and senses, He then tells us why. Look at verses 3-7

1 Timothy 2:3–7 ESV

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.

Pray, pray together as a church, pray for all people, pray for all those people in positions of power, pray that we can live quiet godly lives. Why? Because it is good and pleasing in the sight of the source of goodness! We’ll get into the details of why it is good in a moment, but just think about how relieving it is to know that something is objectively good! We live in a society that tries to make everything grey. Sometimes it can be hard to rightly discern the righteous decision to make. For instance, do I move to this place to get away from deep sin around me or do I stay and evangelize my neighbors? A biblical case could be made for either decision. But what we are talking about this morning is cut and dry and we should praise God for that! If we truly want to follow Him, If we want to please Him, then as we come across this text our eyes should widen! We pray for these things, because they are good and pleasing to God! I want to please God! So let me pray for these things!

But then Paul explains why praying for such things pleases God. He says this very interesting phrase that is the topic of much theological debate: God our Savior, desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. There are some to take this verse teaches universalism, that is to say that because God desires all people to be saved and God is Sovereign, that all people are saved. That would mean it makes no difference if someone believes in God. It makes no difference how comfortable they are in their sin. God will save them. We must reject this interpretation because it devalues the consequence of sin. It is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment. Further, God sent Jesus, that mediator in verse 5 and 6 so that whoever BELIEVES in Him would not perish and receive salvation. The Bible is clear from John 3:18 to Revelation 20, those who do not believe are condemned.

How then are we to reconcile God’s desire for all people to be saved? Well, we need to understand that God takes no pleasure in condemnation as if He is some sadistic kid with a magnifying glass above a hoard of ants. Ezekiel 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”” God has declared to His fallen creature time and time again, repent of your sins, believe in Him, and be saved.

God desired so much for people to be saved that He sent Christ Jesus!

In these verses we are given a brief summation of the gospel!

There is one God. God is Holy and righteous. People are need of salvation because they are not righteousness. Our sin grieves God. He does not delight in punishing sin although His perfect justice demands it! So God sent His Son! To be the mediator! Two important notes on this mediator: 1. The fact that a mediator exists shows us that mediation is necessary! Humans need something to bridge the gap between themselves and God. We cannot do it on our own. We will never be “good” enough! Secondly that mediator is Christ and Christ alone! No man comes to the Father but by Him! He is the Way the Truth and the Life. So we cannot reconcile our relationship to God on our own, and Christ is the only way to reconcile our relationship to God! How did Christ mediate, or reconcile people to God? Through His death on the Cross! Christ being the perfect Sacrifice, GAVE HIMSELF, meaning no one took His life from Him, but He laid it down of His own accord. By laying down His life Christ paid the ransom, to whom? To God, to God the Father, whom our sin had separated us from. Christ came at the perfect time in perfect accordance with God’s Will. And Paul had seen this love and grace of God, experienced this love and grace of God, and now in verse 7 explains he shares the message of the love and grace of God!

You see, Christ is the proof that God desires people be to saved! Not only because it shows The Father sent to Son to provide salvation, but also because when we understand that Christ is fully man AND fully God, that means that GOD willingly gave up His life, gave Himself, so that he could make ransom for sinners like you and me! Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!

Let me say that for every person in this room: you need to know you are a sinner. You have sinned against a Holy God. When your time on earth is done, you will face judgement for every sin you have ever committed. If you stand before God on your own, you will be shown to be guilty. Know that while God does not delight in punishing you, He will do so justly. That is, unless you have a mediator. THE mediator. Jesus Christ. If you repent of your sins and believe in Him, you will be saved. Christ will give you His righteousness. If you aren’t sure you have that Mediator, come speak with me today. Come forward in our hymn of response. As Paul committed his life to teaching this message, I would love to teach you about it as well.

For those who know Christ, who cherish Him as their Mediator, this may have seemed like a bit of a rabbit trail, albeit an important one. But this morning we have seen we are to pray, who we are to pray for, and then we were seeing WHY we are to pray for this.

When we pray, we pray for what we care for. We’ve seen that God cares about the salvation of people. If God cares for that, then church, so should we! Think about how the gospel and the response there of are described in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

We have been given the message of reconciliation. We know who the Mediator is! We know that people receive Him through faith! Church, we have a job to do! We have a message to spread. And the first step in sharing that message is praying to the God whom it all depends upon. We pray for all people seeking them to come to know Christ their Savior! We pray for those in Power that they would use their positions to allow us to provide and atmosphere in which we can share the message of Christ with others. We pray for peaceful, quiet, godly, dignified lives that live in reflection of the grace we have received so that we can be used by God to share that grace with others. Church, let’s get to work by going to God. May this be central in our services and central in lives. To God be the glory.

Let’s pray.