"We Lift Our Hands"

1 Timothy 1:16 NKJV

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

This is the theme driving the second chapter of Paul's letter to Timothy. As before, he is continuing to build on his two fold theme: we are to live in a manner that expresses our ministries of both "word" and "walk". We do this, not only to serve God, but also to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Focus of the Chapter:

Unity in Fellowship

1 Timothy 2 NKJV

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

When we read this passage, we often tend to focus on reading it as a prescription. It often becomes a lesson on how women should carry themselves in Christian gatherings. Though there is a lot to unpack in this passage about women and their apparel, and how they carry themselves, that should not be our focus as we read this passage.

Suffice it to say that we all have our weaknesses and follies; we are human beings. We have our pride and selfishness to deal with, and as we come together to pray, we ought to set aside our foolish tendencies.

For you women, set aside your concerns about being around others. I know that the first thing my wife thinks about when our family walks out the door - doesn’t matter where we’re going - is how we all look. That’s a perfectly legitimate concern; but as we intercede with God in prayer, our focus cannot be on what we look like, or how we are being perceived. I can tell you for a fact that people will always remember and value your attitude and actions more than how you looked while doing it.

For us men, we ought to step forward instead of leaving the work of the ministry to others. Step up and lead; Step in and lend a hand. This is especially hard for us men when it comes to the ministry of the Word…and let’s set our frustrations - our wrath - aside. Let’s set aside our doubt when we approach God in prayer, interceding for the world!

You see, Paul’s focus as he wrote this passage was not on giving Timothy pointers on how to control the women in the gatherings of believers; he was trying to teach Timothy the priority of prayer in the gathering of the unity of the Body of Christ.

Paul framed the concept of the ministry of works - the ministry of doing and going - as a side effect of the prayer life of our gatherings. The message of the one Mediator who gave Himself as a ransom for all is spread through the life of the believer that is actively interceding for humanity through prayer. For this reason, Paul prioritizes prayer for ALL MEN as he begins to outline the expression of the whole Church, the Body of Christ.

A Case Study in Numbers

Numbers 14:11–19 NKJV

Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

Conclusion

I hear a lot of believers passing around the idea that these are the end times, or that this is all a sign of the end. However, I would like us to reconsider how we frame what is happening all around us.

As we experience everything going on around us, please don’t look at each other and say, “Well, we tried.” Instead, know this: God has placed you here, in this time, with a purpose! He has had in mind this moment, since before you were born. Don’t you think that you may be able to impact this world for God’s glory at such a time as this?

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NKJV

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.