1 Tim 2:1-7 - Leverage Your Triggers (Pray for All People)

Introduction:

Who (individual or category) do you find it difficult to pray for? I’m not talking about imprecatory prayers—prayer that requests that God would bring calamity or hardship to someone.

I’m talking about the person or group you would find it most difficult to “turn the other cheek” and genuinely ask Oliver Twist’s famous line, “please sir, I would like some more.”

One week ago today I was filling my car and I overheard a conversation at a nearby pump. One person was wishing a “happy celebration” to another person who was equally vocal that he did not recognize that designation. We’ve all heard the Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays debate and mused “what is the big deal about being wished a happy time frame that you do not celebrate?” Is it possible for the person receiving the greeting to truly experience happiness or merriment during that time, even if he or she does not see that event as important? When do we say “thank you” and move on? When do we insist on clarifying our position?

I did a quick computer search for the various days of recognition other than “Pride Month” and found there are no less than 35 dates this year designated to bring attention to those who identify themselves by a sexual identity. From coming out, to pronouns, to history, to pride, to visibility, to [no] silence: some are a day, some are a month. But each of these dates may be celebrated by someone Paul has in mind when writing this text.

Perhaps you find it easy to offer prayers for people who publicly identify in ways that you find difficult to understand. But is it equally easy to pray for the person who votes differently, has the “wrong” logo on his helmet, or has skin tone or citizenship from a faraway place? What about the person who prays to a different god?

6 times in these 7 verses we find the word all or every. The same mercy and grace that we talked about last week that extended both to murderous Paul and the evil Ephesians, Paul tells us today to offer prayers and thanks for all people. But notice there is also a command for supplications and intercessions for all people. The period of this sentence has not yet appeared.

TRANSITION: Let us look closer to see what God’s Spirit expects from EACH of us for ALL the others.

Our God Urges Prayer for Others (1 Tim 2:1-2)

Last week I introduced us to the idea of emphatic position since ancient handwriting did not have a way to highlight or make text bold. Placement in the order of sentence is one way to give emphasis. Another is to state “this is important”. That is what the Holy Spirit prompts Paul to write at the very beginning of today’s text.

He doesn’t prioritize kindness, politeness, or acceptance. He challenges that no matter how you feel about another, you are urged to pray for him/her/them.

Not only are these prayers a priority, but they may also be a correction. We noticed in the first chapter of this book that Timothy’s big challenge was to refute false teaching and false teachers. The New American Commentary supposes that Paul is likely refuting the poor application of false teaching—that we can be selective in prayer. False teachers tend to polarize people, so it would be quite possible that those with a shipwrecked faith are those who only pray for a limited type of people.

4 Requests for ALL People (1 Tim 2:1)

What are the differences in these 4 words? Are they synonyms used for emphasis? Are they a smorgasbord so that we can choose what types of prayer to offer depending upon our opinion of the person?

After reading several opinions, I conclude that I most closely align with Dr. George Knight

These four terms delineate aspects of what should mark prayers: [supplications], making requests for specific needs; [prayers], bringing those in view before God; [intercessions], appealing boldly on their behalf; and [thanksgivings], thankfulness for them.[i]

Supplications

Prayers

Intercessions

Thanksgiving

4 Requests for AUTHORITY People (1 Tim 2:2)

I noticed early in my study of this passage a comma and 3 words that we may. As we consider local elections in less than 8 weeks and national elections in November, you may desire that your candidate of choice would be more or less peaceful, more or less quiet, more godly, and more dignified.

But the Word here is not a call to pray for them to manifest these 4, but for US to live this way. Whether the mayor is peaceful or aggressive, we pray for him to rule in a way that permits us to be peaceful. Regardless of if the Governor is quiet or cantankerous, we pray that she rules in a way that permits us to be quiet. Whether the Senators are godly or worldly, we pray for them to rule in a way that permits us to be godly. Whether the politician is tactless or dignified, we pray for him/her to rule in a way that permits us to be dignified.

Peace

Quiet

Godly

Dignified

TRANSITION: Whether we are talking about people we tend to ignore in our prayer or those who have influence on our lives, we pray for others because…

Our God Is Pleased with outcomes (1 Tim 2:3-6)

All people to be saved (v.4a)

Let me make a point now that could have been made earlier in v.1 – all people (ESV), all men(NASB), everyone (CSB & NIV).

The very fact that Jesus spoke about one in paradise and one in torment indicates that not everyone goes to Heaven.

Is that due to some inability on God’s part or some shortcoming or decision on man’s part? Does God’s sovereignty mean that He brings to completion all of His desires?

Let me state clearly and without wavering, the fact that some people spend eternity separated from God is purely due to human rebellion and NOT ANY INADEQUACY within God’s character or ability!

Just because God loves all and desires all, does not mean that all are saved. Only those who respond to His gracious offer through repentance and faith have their names written in the Book of Life. God’s love has been rejected by men and women ever since the first man and woman were presented with a choice.

All people can mean either “each and every person” or “every type of persons”. It can either be collective (as a group) or distributively (as individuals). I can show you commentaries written by people smarter than I am who hold to each position. Whatever limits may exist, I’m sure God’s mercy is much more expansive than if either you or I were in charge of distribution.

Desires/wants – There is a range of 11 different words that Paul could have used in this sentence. The range is from “having a preference” to “only listening to one side”. On this scale from preference to obstinate, Paul uses the softest word possible.

My wife prefers brownies, cookies and ice cream without nuts. My nephew has a physical reaction and has been taken to the Emergency Room for eating nuts, so he chooses to avoid anything that is made in the same kitchen where nuts are present. Ann and Paul have differing levels of want in relationship to nuts in their food.

4. The level of God’s desire here in v.4 is NOT to the extreme where He is determined to make it happen. He lavishly provides, offers and calls us to receive a gift, but it is never given contrary to personal response.

5. There are MANY whom God loves, but they choose not to receive that love. Christ’s death is sufficient for all, but not all respond to that sacrifice with faith and repentance.

6. We cannot read these 7 words in a vacuum from all else that God has revealed about himself, because not all people realize the next outcome.

All people to know the truth (v.4b)

1. Response is optional but Truth is overarching. ext

If “fake news” was the catchphrase 4 years ago, artificial intelligence is the threat today. Dark web, deep fake, messaging and talking points are intended to make us question what is real. Have you heard the terms gaslighting or catfishing? Catfishing is to manipulate another person by pretending to be someone you are not. Gaslighting is to say things to make a person doubt how things are or have been.

2. Our God has no need to hide from the truth. He desires that all people would come to the knowledge of the truth. Because it is ONLY when we recognize the truth of who we are (sinners in need of grace) and what Christ has done (died, buried, and rose again) that we can enter into God’s desire that we be saved.

All people to exalt Christ Jesus (vv.5-6)

1. Notice the order of words in v.5. While many claim to have a path to God, there is only one mediator from God to man!

2. When He came to the earth He created, He gave himself as a ransom. His ransom was sufficient and offered to all and received by those who are adopted into His family.

TRANSITION: Because our prayers are to have no limitations and because Christ’s ransom has no limitations, God wants humanity to know this and…

Our God SENDS Preachers & Teachers (1 Tim 2:7)

God sends (Apostle)

The word apostle refers to persons who are dispatched for a specific purpose, and the context determines the status or function expressed in such Eng. terms as ‘ambassador, delegate, messenger’ [ii]Text

In the Gospels disciples were sent out as apostles. Those who were face-to-face apostles with Jesus appoint others to go out with the message. Sometimes these people are ordained, others times they just go!

People need to hear (preacher)

My $50 dictionary says this word does NOT mean a Bible college or seminary graduate. It is not a pope or bishop. It is one who makes public declarations, especially of a transcendent nature, herald, proclaimer.[iii]

If a shepherd boy can ask a lamb “Do you see what I see?” then you and I can go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is king.

People need to understand (teacher)

We live in an era when it is popular to claim each person has his or her own truth. And those who once accused others of denying the science are now speaking contrary to the biology that presents itself. But in a world of “my truth”, Paul underscores a need for clear understanding and authoritative proclamation.

Paul says, when I remember Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom, I know I was sent to proclaim and explain while asking people to place their faith in the truth.

Conclusion:

As yards all around us are sprouting signs of political contests, as logos all around us are changed for the month of June, we are reminded that competitions is not reserved for the court, the mat or the field of play.

It is quite human to have emotions rise when our intended outcome is challenged by another. The task of today’s text is for us to respond to those emotions in a way that pleases our God. Fortunately for us, we are clearly informed that prayer for all pleases our God.

Exactly how can/should our emotions be leveraged for good actions? I return to Dr. Knight’s description of the 4 words in v.1

· Specific needs – His specific needs are probably not your specific needs. She may not even be aware of what she needs most. We can (should) pray for God to reveal and provide what that person needs most.

· Before God – This is NOT a social networking post or a press release. I have heard lots of “prayers” that are really just speeches. Words pretend to be directed to God, but are really intended to be heard by those around. We must remember to whom we are speaking when we speak on behalf of all people near or far from us.

· Boldly – the prayers we offer on behalf of others should not be so polite that they lose their strength.

About 7 years ago I had the privilege of meeting recording artist Mark Schultz. In a private banquet he told the story behind his song “He’s my son.” When Mark was a youth pastor in Nashville, there was a family in his church whose young son developed cancer. After visiting the father in the hospital, Mark put his friend’s anguish into lyrics.

Can you hear me? Am I getting through tonight? Can you see him? Can you make him feel all right? If you can hear me, Let me take his place somehow See, he's not just anyone, He's my son

We should pray for others with the same boldness as a father praying for his son’s battle with cancer.

· Gratitude – We offer prayers of thanksgiving for those to whom we can offer Christ. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for those who enable us to live peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified lives.

[i] Knight, George W. 1992. The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press. [ii] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 122. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [iii] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 543. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.