*** 1 timothy 2:8

The Worship of God by all!

(1 Timothy 2:8

1 Timothy 2:8 NRSV

8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;

In chapter two Paul focuses on the will of God for all, the work of God for all, and then he switches focuses and moves to the worship of God by all. God has a will for all mankind. God desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The work of God is seen in the payment of Jesus Christ as our ransom to redeem us from sin. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ died for all men so that all men can be saved. In this verse Paul makes a shift to the church. It is the privilege and responsibility of every child of God to worship God. So in this passage we learn about the worship of God by all His saints.

After attending church with his daddy one Sunday morning, before he went to be the little boy knelt beside his bed and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today, but I wish that You were there.” Sadly, that is the truth in many of our churches! We are to worship the Lord Jesus Christ as His people and honor His name. This is a call to every Christian of every church age. Worship is central to who we are and what we do! Worship is such an important matter in the life of any church that we can do nothing individually or corporately without first experiencing worship on a daily basis. Men have died over the right to worship in the past and yet many refuse that right every Sunday and every day.

God’s word lays out what God expects from His people in His house. The word of God instructs us how we should conduct ourselves individually in the house of God. 1 Timothy 3:14–15 says, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Paul declared the priority of prayer, purity, and personal reflection in true worship. Christians are to worship God in the right manner and with the right motives. I want to challenge the men to lead in worship in the family, in the home, and in the church. Do we worship the Lord in accordance with the Scripture and under the guidance of the Spirit? This verse gives us some instructions to the church about the aspects of true worship. Speaking to the church; this passage deals with the worship of God by all.

I. The aspects of true worship. (8)

A. There will be supplication in true worship. (8a)

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere,”

In response to the will of God and the work of God in sending Jesus Christ to be the ransom for us we ought to worship Him. In light of Who God is and what God has done we are to be worshiping God in Spirit and in truth. Paul instructs Timothy to instruct the Ephesians about true worship. Ephesus was full of pagan worship, prostitute worship, goddess worship, and all kinds of depraved worship! Many of these Christians had come out of such a past lifestyle where they worshiped any and everything. We learn from the word of God that there is a proper and improper way to worship. We are to worship the right One and we are to worship the right One in the right way!

The first aspect of true worship is supplication. In the previous verses Paul had already requested that prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. Here we learn that prayer is to be prevalent when the people of God gather to worship God. Desire: (KJV: Will; NASB: I want) boulomai, boo’-lom-ahee; middle of a primary verb; to “will,” i.e. (reflexive) be willing, be disposed, minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will (-ing). This word means “to will deliberately and expresses the deliberate exercise of the will. We must understand that Paul was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So we understand that this was not a personal desire or preference of a worship style or method by Paul. This word speaks of God’s will expressed through God’s servant.

Paul was a man of God who had a great desire to see the people of God doing the will of God. In this verse Paul addresses the men first. Men: aner, an’-ayr; a man (properly as an individual male) fellow, husband, man, sir. This word refers to an adult male or husband. This tells me that the men are called on by God to lead in prayer in the public assembly of the saints. Not just any men and all men, there are some requirements to lead in public prayer and we will see them later. The word of God clearly teaches us that the men are to be the spiritual leaders in the home and in the church. As men we are to take the lead and worship the Lord.

It is the will of God for the men to be involved in worship. We are to actively participate in worship. EXHORTATION: MEN! Do not sit idly by and indifferent to what is going on! The men are exhorted to pray!

Paul mentions the first aspect of true worship and that is prayer. Pray: proseuchomai, pros-yoo’-khom-ahee; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:—pray (x earnestly, for), make prayer. This word is in the present tense in the Greek language which indicates that prayer should be a consistent and habitual practice when the church meets together! When we come together for worship how often do we pray? Do we pray for God to speak to us? Do we pray that God would be glorified through us? Do we pray about what we are to give? Do we pray for those who sing? Do we pray for the preacher? Do we pray for the Spirit of God to fall? Do we pray that lost sinners would be saved? Prayer is a key essential for worship to take place. God’s children must communicate with God if we are going to worship the Lord Jesus Christ and hear from heaven.

My preaching and Evangelism Professor at School was Dr. Jumper. Dr. Jumper taught us some principles of implementing a structure for powerful praying. He stressed the importance of prayer during the worship service. Dr. Jumper believed that prayer should be ongoing before and during the worship of God. I remember him teaching us to gather people who you can trust to pray and who loves to pray.

During the worship service have at least two people in a room praying for all aspects of the worship service. They are to be specific in their prayers and be consistent in their prayers. They were to pray for the singing, the preaching, the giving, and that God would have freedom to work, to convict, to restore, to save and to set free. Each time the church met there would be ongoing prayer. These folks would rotate and would not be absent from every service, but be in prayer for the service during their time. How often do we pray during the worship of God? Do we pray only when others lead in prayer?

Without supplication there will be no true worship! We cannot worship God if we do not talk to God in prayer. Men, are we failing the Lord by failing to pray? We are exhorted to pray and that is an all encompassing exhortation! Paul instructs the church to pray everywhere. In every place that the church of Jesus Christ gathers together consistent and fervent prayers should be made. Every: means any, all, every, the whole. Where: (KJV: place) topos, top’-os; a spot is a larger but particular locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figurative condition, opportunity. This word is where we get our English word “topography” which is the art of showing in detail on a map or chart the physical features of a place.

The word of God teaches us that in every place that the church gathers men should pray. Every worship place that the church of Jesus Christ gathers should be permeated with an atmosphere of prayer. Supplication must be made if worship is to take place. It is a shame when the announcements take longer than prayer in the house of God. Jesus quoted from the Prophet Isaiah 56:7 when he said in Matthew 21:13, “And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” We must come to meet with God’s people with an attitude that we are going to meet with God and the men must take the lead in this. Men, we must prepare to worship the Lord and that means much more than getting up, getting a shower, and coming physically to the house of God. We must never neglect that, but we must prepare ourselves spiritually to come into the presence of the Lord. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “If we spent more time preparing to pray and getting our hearts right before God, our prayers would be more effective.” We must seek the Lord in prayer and be serious in our prayers. The Bible teaches us that there will be supplication in true worship. We also learn:

B. There will be sanctification in true worship. (8b)

“lifting up holy hands,”

The men are instructed to pray everywhere the church meets lifting up holy hands. Paul reiterates the purpose and power of praying by exhorting them to pray and how to pray. The men were instructed to lift up holy hands; which pictures a person that is right with God. This signifies that the men that pray are to be sanctified. Lifting: epairo, ep-ahee’-ro; to raise up (literal or figurative):—exalt self, poise (lift, take) up. In true worship holy men of God will lift up holy hands to God. Many Baptist today show no expression of worship to God. Folks don’t want to show any emotion because people are worried about what man might think instead of what God thinks. King David rejoiced at the answer of prayer and in Psalm 28:2 he says, “Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” His son King Solomon learned to approach the Lord from his daddy. The Lord allowed Solomon to build the temple of the Lord. At the completion and dedication of the temple of the Lord Solomon approached the Lord in prayer with lifted hands.

2 Chronicles 6:12–19 says, “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands 13 (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); 14 and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16 Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David. “18 But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 19 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:”

We need to remember that Paul exhorted the men to lift up holy hands. There were not to come before God with dirty, unclean, and unworthy hands. Holy hands signified a holy life set apart and separated for the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy: hosios, hos’-ee-os; right; consecration; purity from defilement), i.e. hallowed (pious, sacred, sure) holy, mercy, shalt be. Psalm 24:3–4 says, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.” Our hands are not made holy by our work, but by His work. Our hands are not made ready by our strength, but by His Spirit. Our hands are not made clean by our preparation, but by His propitiation. Do you have holy hands? To worship God we must live godly lives. Many lost people come to church every Sunday but they cannot worship God because they do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Many believers come to church on Sunday’s but do not worship God because their hands are stained with sin, defiled by sin, and corrupted by sin. 1 Peter 1:15–16 says, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.” What does it mean to be holy? What does it mean to have holy hands? ]

John Phillips wrote, “Clean hands symbolize an impeccable outward life; a pure heart symbolizes a clean inward life. So lifting up holy hands may be an open, symbolic declaration of a clean life.”

Without sanctification there will be no true worship of God. We are to live holy lives in this world that represents our position of Jesus Christ. H. A Ironside said, “God has never promised to answer a prayer that comes through unclean lips. True prayer must be backed up by a holy life.” Paul encouraged that the men live holy lives and when they come in the worship service not to hold back; not to be ashamed of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but to lift up holy hands to the Lord. We are to lift up holy hands to the Lord!

• Psalm 63:2–4 says, “So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”

• Psalm 134:1–2 says, “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.”

• Psalm 141:2 says, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

We are exhorted to lift up holy hands to God in prayer. There is nothing wrong with us lifting our hands in the worship of God. God is more concerned about the condition of our heart than He is about the position of our hands. God wants us to live holy lives in this world. When we live holy lives in the world we can lift up holy hands in worship. Are we worshiping the Lord in Spirit and in truth? Is the Lord pleased with the manner of our worship? Is the Lord pleased with the method of our worship? Is the Lord pleased with the motives of our worship? We’ve learned that there will be supplication in true worship; there will be sanctification in true worship; and we also learn:

C. There will be self-examination in true worship. (8c)

“without wrath and doubting.”

The men are exhorted to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. We are to examine ourselves as we come into the house of God to worship God. Each and every time we come to worship God we must examine ourselves.

I heard about this little boy years ago who came into the local drugstore and used the phone. The boy was overheard by the Pharmacist says, “Hello, sir, I was calling to see if you needed a lawn boy. Oh, you have one. Well, is he adequate? Oh, he is! Thank you, I was just checking.” The pharmacist said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get the job son.” The boy replied, “Oh, no sir, I’ve got the job. I was just calling to check up on myself.” Paul tells the men what to do and how to do it. How often do we come to the house of God and examine our own lives?

Biblical Illustration: Isaiah records how his life was changed as he came into the presence of God and realized who he was and repented and was cleansed by God. The Bible records in Isaiah chapter 6 in the year King Uzziah died that Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and Isaiah said in verse 5: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” The Lord sent an angel and took a coal of fire and touched the lips of Isaiah and he was cleansed. After Isaiah had been cleansed by the Lord he was able to listen to the Lord. Isaiah heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then Isaiah said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah got right with the Lord and he worship the Lord and was of service to the Lord.

Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” There is self-examination in true worship. The Bible tells the men to pray everywhere lifting up holy hands to the Lord without wrath and doubting.

Paul clearly exhorts the men to do away with wrath before they can worship. Wrath will hinder your worship of the Lord. Wrath: orge, or-gay’; violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment, anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath. This word refers to our specific attitude toward other people. If you have anger in your heart toward anyone you will not pray effectively for anyone. Wrath is a work of the flesh and it will stifle prayer in the Spirit. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,”

A visitor in Europe noticed that many of the old cathedrals in France where beautiful on the inside, but their exterior was distasteful. The buildings had carvings that depicted wild animals with hideous features. The man asked about this and was told that the buildings in the Middle Ages were designed to represent man’s carnal appetites and prejudices. They were place there to remind all who came to worship that they should leave all bitterness and wrath outside the sanctuary if they ever hoped to receive God’s blessings.

Paul tells the men to pray with holy hands lifted up without wrath and doubting. Doubting: (NASB: dissension; NLT: controversy) dialogismos, dee-al-og-is-mos’; discussion, i.e. (internal) consideration (by implication purpose), or (external) debate,-dispute, doubtful (-ing), imagination, reasoning, thought. This word refers to internal disputing about someone or something else. This word could also refer to “skeptical questions or criticisms.” Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

It takes a clear and conscious effort for us to come before the Lord in worship without wrath or doubting. We must consciously examine ourselves at we come into the house of God. Before we can be concerned about the externals we must examine the internal and make sure we are right with Jesus. In true worship there is supplication, sanctification, and self-examination.

A business man on a trip visited a church near his hotel and soon realized that he didn’t care for their style of worship. About the only thing he liked was the pastor’s sermon. Sensing a common bond with the pastor, he thought he would offer some free advice on how they might improve their worship. While visiting with the pastor briefly after the service the pastor realized the man was frustrated about some preferences regarding worship. Rather than listen to a list of grievances the pastor asked the man, “What was it you think the Lord didn’t like?” The man was totally unprepared for that question. He cleared his throat and mumbled a bit and then confessed, “I don’t suppose there was anything the Lord didn’t like. I was talking about me, but it really isn’t about me, is it?” He spent the rest of that day thinking through every detail of the service and couldn’t find a single thing the Lord would have disliked. In fact, the only disparaging thing he discovered was his own critical spirit.

That is what God didn’t like and that was the most important truth of the day. We must make sure that we personally examine ourselves as we come into the house of God to worship. Jesus is not honored by the critical, cold, and the calloused. He’s not glorified by the defiled, dry, and the doubting. He’s not magnified by the filthy, the fussing, and the fighting. Have we examined ourselves? Do we pray? Are we living holy lives? Are we lifting holy hands? Is there bitterness and anger in your heart towards anyone?