Start with Prayer

Context

Today, we will continue in the study “How to Share Christ.”

What was the content of last week’s study?

Our Commission

What were some of your takeaways?

All believers are called to take the gospel, the message of reconciliation, and to make disciples. It’s not just a job for professional ministers and missionaries. The work is far too great for just a select few.

In light of last week’s reminder that we are called to be faithful witnesses and disciple-makers, this week’s lesson will remind us where we must begin if we are to be effective and faithful in the work.

The Point: God calls us to pray for others’ salvation.

Introduction

Whom do you know that’s really dedicated to something? How do you know that they are dedicated?

The way that they use their time. The way that they use their money. They talk about it often. That to which they are dedicated affects the way that they structure their lives.

Example: How can you tell a dedicated chiefs fan?

Are we dedicated to the commission that God has given us?

If so, it will show in our prayer. If not, we ought to repent before God, and ask for Him to empower us by His Spirit in order to be dedicated to praying for the lost and pursuing them with the gospel.

Let’s take a moment now, as we go into our study, to ask for God’s forgiveness for our sin (in this area and others), and to ask Him to guide us as we study and strengthen us to dedicate ourselves to His mission.

Prayer:

Read Life Connection

Read Setting

1 Timothy 2:1-8

Read the entire passage.

As we have already mentioned, prayer is an essential part of our lives as Christians, but we often struggle to make praying a daily priority.

Here in chapter 2, Paul is giving Timothy instructions about how he can “wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.” (1:18) As Timothy seeks to be faithful in his Christian walk and as a church leader, he will need to be a man of prayer and instruct others to do the same.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Have someone read vss. 1-2.

In vs. 1, what word and phrase indicate the importance of prayer in the Christian life?

First of all - the priority of prayer is here indicated.

urge - Paul also used this word in vs. 3 of chapter 1 when he wrote “I urged you …remain at Ephesus” so that Timothy could deal with false teachers there. The word implies urgency and encouragement.

What we see with these two words is that prayer is not a vitamin supplement to the healthy daily diet of the believer. It is not something that we add on optionally. Rather, it is an essential part of our relationship with Jesus and our service to Him.

So, we see the importance of prayer.

In vs. 1, what words does Paul use to describe prayer?

supplications - a request for God to grant something

prayers - generic word for prayer

intercessions - prayer on behalf of another

thanksgivings - prayers of thanksgiving; attitude with which we pray

We can see these distinctions, but the point that Paul is making here is that our prayers should include a wide variety of prayers.

This is something that makes sense just in the context of daily life.

For example, what kind of prayers were you as a class likely to pray on April 11th when you were able to come back together after over a year of social distancing and zoom? (Thanksgiving)

What kind of prayers are most appropriate when you get a prayer update during the week about a family who has sick loved ones or unsaved family members or friends? (intercessions)

So, we are to pray all kinds of prayers in all different circumstances.

For whom are we to pray?

“for all people.”

Does Paul mean that we are to pray individually for all 7.6 billion people in the world today?

More likely, Paul is here indicating that our prayers are not just to be for our families or other believers. Rather, we are to pray for the poor in society, the lost in society, the governing authorities, other nations, etc. He also could be indicating, given the history of conflict between Jews and Gentiles, that believers are to pray for every nation and ethnic group, not just their own.

In fact, on whom does Paul focus the believers’ prayers in vs. 2?

kings and all who are in high positions.

We are to pray for those in authority. Why?

“that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

We ought to pray that governing authorities would lead and govern in such a way that Christians can live obedient Christian lives in witness to the world without coming up against opposing governing forces.

Just this week, Dale sent out some information about the persecution of Christians in China. This persecution is going on throughout the world. We are to pray that these governing authorities would govern in such a way that Christians can live their lives in obedience to Christ in a peaceful and quiet way, in all godliness and holiness.

So, Paul instructs believers to pray in all kinds of ways for all kinds of people, specifically governing authorities, so that they can live godly and holy lives in witness to Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3-4

Have someone read vss. 3-4

What is Paul describing here as good?

Likely he is describing all of vss. 1-2 as “good.” It is good that believers pray together in all kinds of ways for all people, including governing authorities.

How else does Paul describe the prayer of believers in vs. 3?

It is pleasing to God our savior.

Do you often think of God being pleased when you pray, both individually and when we pray together as a church?

I don’t. But I think that I would be more motivated to pray when I remember the fact that it is pleasing to God. He is pleased when His children come into His presence.

Prayer is not an exchange like putting a dollar into a vending machine in order to get a can of pop. Prayer is us speaking to the very God who is our Savior—who has loved us with an everlasting love.

He speaks to us in His word, and we respond to Him in prayer.

Why is prayer for all people pleasing to God?

Because God desires for all people to be saved.

Again here, Paul is saying that God desires for all people without distinction to be saved, meaning people from every tongue, tribe, and nation, who trust in Christ and repent of their sins.

We see this reality fulfilled in Revelation when we read in Revelation 7:9 that the apostle John saw before the throne people from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes.”

What does God desire for all people?

to be saved - saved from sin and death. Saved for eternal life with Christ.

to come to a knowledge of the truth - This is how people are saved, by coming to an understanding of the gospel message and believing it.

So, Paul can say that the prayers of believers is good and is pleasing to God because of God’s desire for all people to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:5-7

Have someone read vss. 5-6.

What is the foundation of our prayer lives?

This conviction that Paul spells out in these verses.

There is one God

This phrase explains why we as Christians pray for unbelievers to come to faith in Jesus - because there is only one true God. We pray for Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, ancestor worshippers, etc. because they all worship false gods and are under the wrath of the One True God.

They cannot be in right relationship to this One True God without the One whom Paul calls “the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Is this not the problem that all false religions are trying to solve: how can we be in right relationship to god or our concept of God?

Paul here says that Jesus is the only mediator, the only go between, who can solve the problem of our sin and separation from God.

He expounded on this idea elsewhere in Ephesians 2:13-17 “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

How does Paul describe the work of Jesus in vs. 6?

ransom - Jesus gave himself as the price for our sin that we might be freed from sin and death.

This testimony was given at the proper time simply means that the crucifixion of Christ and the witness provided by the apostles and the early church all happened according to God’s plan, will, and timing. It was not random and did not catch the Father off guard.

How is the truth declared in vss. 5-6 the foundation for our prayers?

First, we cannot come into the presence of God except on the merits of Christ and the price that He paid for us. Without His sacrifice, we would have no right to be in God’s presence.

Second, we can pray for God to save unbelievers and empower the mission because there is a means of salvation, and only one. The lost can be saved because God has provided the means!

How does vs. 7 fit into Paul’s exhortations here?

It describes his relationship to the message that he has just written about.

God appointed him as a messenger to proclaim the message (preacher), with authority (apostle), and to teach the truth to those who believe that which is false (teacher of the Gentiles).

Why does Paul stress that he is telling the truth and not lying?

There were false teachers in Ephesus (as seen in chapter 1) who would have been working against the message of Paul and would have been opposing Timothy specifically as the leader trying to correct the false teaching.

Paul is stressing the truthfulness of what he says to bolster Timothy’s courage in the message!

1 Timothy 2:8

Have someone read this verse.

Here Paul is returning to the topic of vss. 1-2 with his exhortations for the believers. He inserted a note on theology in vss. 3-7.

As a result of the truth that he has just reminded the believers of, Paul shares his desire that men everywhere (in all churches in all places) should pray.

What is the significance of praying with “holy hands without anger or quarreling?”

Our prayers should come from hearts and lives of integrity.

Images from the Old Testament:

Aaron - Lev. 9:22

Ezra - Neh. 8:6

David - Psalm 28:2

Jesus - Luke 24:50

Application

In light of the difficulty of establishing consistent daily prayer, what are some ways that you have worked to be consistent?

Why is a good understanding of Scripture so vital to our prayer lives?