1 Timothy 2:1-8: Praying for the Sake of the Gospel
1 Timothy - Spiritual Leadership in God's Church • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 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. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
I. We are Urged to Pray for the Sake of the Gospel
I. We are Urged to Pray for the Sake of the Gospel
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
So, we are to pray to God for the salvation of the lost. This is the first major thing to consider in this entire passage, which we will talk about this week.
The second major thing to consider is that we are to pray to God for the salvation of the lost because God desires the salvation of the lost.
A. The Priority of Prayer
exhort (παρακαλέω parakaleo) - appeal, implore, urge
There is a passion in this word. This was not a mere heartless command. Paul was imploring them to be on their knees in prayer for the spread of the gospel to the lost.
“first of all” - of a prioity
Our primary function in the world is the spread of the gospel. We need to recognize our complete inadequacy for the task. We need to be people of prayer.
B. The type of prayer
1 Timothy 2:1a - Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
supplications (δέησις deisis) - urgent request to God to meet a need
The source of this word has to do with lack or being deprived of something.
In the context of the spread of the gospel to the lost around us, we recognize that their need is great. And we recognize that we can’t do anything about it. So, we pray. We pray to God to enable us to share the gospel accurately and compassionately. AND, we pray that God would move in the hearts of the lost to bring them to repentance and faith. The need is great. So, our praying should be great.
prayers (προσευχή proseuche) - a request to God
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
This word is only used in reference to God. It has to do with us being not only concerned with the great need of the lost, but also with the fact that their rebellion is against God. We are ultimately concerned with the glory of God.
intercessions (ἔντευξις enteuxis) - a formal petition on behalf of another
Used only here and in chapter 4
5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
The idea behind this word is that you are intimately involved with this person, there is genuine care and concern. Our prayer for the lost is not a cold, heartless formula. Our prayer is passionate. Our prayer is caring. It is Paul in Romans 9
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
giving of thanks (εὐχαριστία eucharistia)
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We are thankful to God for the opportunity of being involved in His plan of salvation. We are thankful when God uses us to bring the gospel to people we care for and see them repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
II. We are to pray for all types of people
II. We are to pray for all types of people
1 Timothy 2:1b-2a - for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority
A. Generally - for all men
God wants all me to be saved
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
God commands all men to repent
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
B. Specifically - kings and all who are in authority
not just the ones you like! We are to pray for all who are in authority.
That means that we are to pray for our President, no matter which party he represents…even when we don’t like his politics…even when we don’t like his character. We are to pray for him.
We are to pray for the Congress, who makes the laws of the land and represents the people. We are to pray for the Courts who interpret the laws.
We are to pray for the state and local leaders. We are to pray for the police who enforce the laws.
How should we pray for them?
Pray for wisdom - that they would pass and enforce just laws.
Pray for their salvation, which is really all that matters.
That’s really what Paul is aiming for in this passage. Notice he doesn’t say that we are suppose to pray for their removal or their judgment. In fact, as Christians, we supposed to be the most loyal people in the country.
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
We are to pray for justice and, ultimately, for the salvation of our representatives.
III. The Result of our Prayer for the Sake of the Gospel
III. The Result of our Prayer for the Sake of the Gospel
1 Timothy 2:2b - that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
quiet - without outside disturbance
peaceable - without inside disturbance
in all godliness - we are to live for the glory of God. That is why we are called Christians. When someone thinks of us, we are to examples of holiness. We are to be the type of people who are continuously turning from ourselves and to God. This is our attitude.
We are also to be different in our actions. This is what Paul means by “reverence”. Our proper attitude towards God is to affect our behavior.
4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.