The Prayers of God's People

Have you ever found yourself so concerned for someone or something that you found yourself continually interceding to God for that person or situation?

One of the hardest things to do is watch people you love go through difficult times and be unable to change their situation, or be unable to change our own situations. Feeling powerless as we—or those we love—go through hard times, we can quickly become frustrated, scared and sad.

However, it often seems like it is only when it is us or someone we love that we remember or find it easy to pray like this. However, we are to do so much more than that.

This morning, we are going to be in 1 Timothy 2.

1 Timothy 2:1–7 NIV

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

In chapter 1, Paul was writing about heretical teachers that Timothy was dealing with in Ephesus. This first passage of chapter 2 is meant to be practical steps for Timothy to take in order to resolve the conflicts and build a strong and effective church. This last part is where I believe these words are helpful for us today.

There are three themes in these verses that I want us to explore this morning:

Verse 1-2 - The command to pray is given.

Verse 1 -

Urge - try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something.

Petitions - prayers for others based on specific needs

Prayers - all forms

Intercession -

To intercede means “to intervene on behalf of another.” We see this in many different places throughout the Bible, like when Moses intercedes on the behalf of Israel. Just like Moses interceded for the people of Israel, we see the Philippians going to God in prayer on behalf of Paul. This is important because God partners with His people in order to bring about His desires. There is a direct correlation between the prayers of God’s people and His actions. In prayers of intercession we should seek to be aware of God’s desires for someone and join Him in what He is doing. It does not mean manipulating God to do our will, but rather becoming aware of God’s desires for someone and joining Him in that. Psalm 100:5 says, “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Thanksgiving - prayers of gratitude - one we can so easily forget - thanking God for anything and everything

ALL people - All people - the human race - this shows the extent and intention of God’s grace - no one should be excluded - including lost and broken people

Verse 2

Kings & all those in authority - however, Paul was likely not just talking about the emperor, but also the local leaders - such as those in Palestine, including Herods we see mentioned in the gospels.

It is important to note a cultural difference - praying for versus praying to those leaders such as the emperor as pagans did.

in all godliness and holiness

godliness - appears 13 times in the epistles. When something is repeated, it is usually because it is something that we should take note of.

In Hellenistic culture, godliness would have referred to an attitude of respect toward elders, the dead, one’s homeland, rulers, authorities, and of slaves to masters. However, Paul is referring to godliness that comes from knowing and obeying God - the source of godliness is the salvation that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Faith which is expressed in active obedience leads to godliness

Holiness refers to respectability, seriousness, appropriateness, reverence, propriety, or dignifty. Involves worship and respect for teh holy.

Holiness is both outward and inward. Our inner relationship with Christ is to impact our outer relationship with others. This should be contagious to others.

These terms were common in that culture, but we see Paul here expressing these concepts in terms of the day that would help people understand. Living godly lives leads us to make the gospel appealing to others

Lastly, the word “all” - godliness and holiness should permeate every aspect of our lives.

Verse 3-6 - Prayer for all is grounded in God’s desire to save all

good and pleases God - something that God welcomes and accepts

wants all people to be saved and come to knowledge of truth

Paul’s own story - ALL people - but we have to make the decision to do so even after an encounter with God - all people have access to relationship with God himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

knowledge - learning something new (tell a bit of my own story about learning)

truth - must be the content of this knowledge - the gospels - the story of God into which we are woven - the story is God’s

Verse 5 and 6 give the theological backing for this

one God and one mediator Jesus Christ - only way to the father is through the death and resurrection of Jesus

one God - points back to the Shema - to the God of Israel - this is important versus the pagan gods of the day - the one true God

Let’s not overlook the mediator Jesus Christ - the go-between - the mediator - Jesus had to become human in order to fulfill this role to know human weakness - but he lived a sinless life in obedience to his father - he had to die in order to fulfill this role - there was no other way

Once again we see this idea of all people - notice how many times all people is brought up? There’s a theme that we see wrap up in verse 7

Verse 7 - Paul’s and our mission is linked to God’s will to save all

for this purpose.....

herald - made official public announcements

apostle - identifies mission, but also authority - especially called to preach to the Gentiles

clear to separate himself from the false teaching of the day - I am telling the truth, not lying

true and faithful teacher - refers more to contents of his teaching - faith leads to salvation, built upon the truth of the gospel

We are told in 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” Then Hebrews 4:16 says, “Come boldly to his throne of grace.” When we are praying God’s heart for his children, we can come to Him confidently. Even in hearing this, we don’t always feel like we can go confidently to God in prayer because we worry we will pray for the wrong things. Often times we will, because none of us can discern the will of God perfectly; however, we can trust God and know that He is good—that He will not give someone something they don’t need or that isn’t good for them simply because we asked for it. Romans 8:26-27 tells us that when we don’t pray for the right things, or don’t know what to pray at all, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God! And Romans 8:34 says that Jesus in interceding for us as well!

So let us boldly approach the throne of God through prayer: for ourselves, for one another (both those within and outside of our body), and for our city and our world. Let us give thanks for the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ who intercede for us, and for our God who hears every word of our prayers.

But let us also, in this season of thanksgiving, to pray prayers of thanksgiving - being thankful for the things that God has done and is doing not only for us, but for the sake of his kingdom.

“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”—E.M. Bounds (https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/what-churches-need)

COMMUNION

RITUAL

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray:

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND SUPPLICATION:

Holy God,

We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.

By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

EXPLAIN ELEMENTS

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

CONCLUDING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND COMMITMENT

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

sing - I Will Praise Him