June 12, 2022
Morning Service

As we completed chapter one of Paul’s letter to Timothy (and to us), he encouraged us to “wage the good warfare.”  We dug in a little deeper and found that Paul not only explained what “spiritual warfare” is, but also equipped us to fight well (Eph. 6).  We do not fight against an enemy of flesh and blood, but we battle “against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”  This battle, I believe, is becoming much fiercer as time progresses.  Our enemy’s job is to deceive us into accepting things that are evil as good and looking at good things as evil.  We have been equipped with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation to protect us and empower us to fight well.  At the end of this scripture Paul ads in this:

Eph. 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

            Prayer is as vital as the air that we breathe.  “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”  As we enter the daily battlefield we are to be covered in prayers and also cover all the saints who are fighting along with us acting with perseverance and supplication.    Which means we do it with consistency even we are not seeing immediate results and do it asking, pleading, begging in a humble manner.  This theme of prayer continues in our study of Timothy as God is laying out the groundwork for what His church should look like.

 

1Ti 2:1-3 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,

            Paul again reaffirms this as truth as he exhorts us to pray first.  Our prayers are to be again a conversation with God asking Him to intervene in our lives and in the lives of “all men.”  Many times our prayer life can become very self-centered, but as it is plainly defined here we are to pray for the needs of everyone.  Brother Steve reveals his heart as he asks for prayer of people he has met on Facebook.  This is using social media in a positive way to share the love of God with others who are in need of prayer.  Sister Dorothy’s prayer list displayed in the back is also a testament to her diligence in prayer for others.  I love in Denny’s prayers he always mentioned those who are lost and asks God to speak to them.

            Paul also commands us to pray for those who are in authority over us.  It is much easier to just talk about them and discuss all they are doing wrong than to pray for them; shame on us!  Pray for those GOD has put into authority.  No one holds that position without God making it happen.  We are to pray for them so that we may “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”  At this time Nero, a notoriously ruthless and cruel man, was the one in authority over the church.  Many Christians died at his command, but yet the Word commands us to pray for such a one.  Can you imagine how difficult it would be?  Only by the Spirit can we do this.  Our light shines as a church as we pray for those in need, those in authority, and those who despitefully use us.  Verse 3 confirms that in saying “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”  I love it when it is spelled out so simple for us.  We are pleasing God when we can sincerely pray in this manner.  Paul now gives us a bit of a revelation into the heart of God.

 

1Ti 2:4-7 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.

 

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

            Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it.  His heart’s desire is that “all men are saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth and repentance.”  How comforting is that as a follower of His?  The One we are following came to earth to make things better giving to us love, hope and peace.  He is our “Mediator” repairing our broken relationship with our Father which came through our sin.  He went to the cross and paid our debt in full opening up a path to salvation and He desires that all would follow it.  Paul continues with his instruction to the church on prayer.

 

1Ti 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

            God’s desire is for His house to be a house of prayer.  A place where we are freely able to reach out to Him in the right attitude, without wrath or doubt, and lift our hands and hearts before Him.  Paul told the Philippian church this:

 

Php. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            “Don’t worry, pray about it.” God commands us to “let our request be made known to God.”  That obedience is then rewarded with “the peace which surpasses all understanding which will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  That is why we give everyone and opportunity to share the needs that are on their hearts with each other during prayer requests.  As we share the needs, we also share the burden of carrying them together.  Grace does a wonderful job with the prayer chain as well and it is such a comfort for me to KNOW my church is praying at the very moment I am needing it.  Prayer changes things and gives us the peace of knowing God hears our requests.  James speaks directly to the church as he commands us to pray:

 

Jas 5:13-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.  (14)  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  (15)  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  (16)  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

            This is the scripture that we obey as we anoint those with special needs.  They ask and come before the leadership of the church to be prayed over anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.  This “prayer of faith saves the sick and the Lord will raise him up.”  When you come, you must believe, have faith, that God will hear and answer your prayer for James also tells us that he who doubts “is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”  “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!”  Our prayers done fervently, effectively, in faith, and in humility change things (avails much).  Paul here tells us to “pray always” and in his letter to the Thessalonians he said “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17) Lets’ look at how Jesus taught us to pray.

 

Mat 6:5-8 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  (6)  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  (7)  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  (8)  "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

            We are not to pray to be heard by others but only God.  Take a special time to get alone and quiet with the Lord and share what is on your heart with Him.  He promises to “reward you openly” for doing this.  Talk to Him like you talk to your best friend; being open and honest and not just saying the things you think He wants you to say.  He already knows your needs, but desires you to hand them over to Him through our prayers.  Peter tells us to “cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” (I Pet. 5:7) Our Lord does not grow weary in hearing our troubles, but desires us to tell Him.  We speak to the Lord through our prayers and He speaks to us through the Word.  Prayer is to be an important part of our worship service and prayer is to be an important part of your relationship with Jesus.  Join me as we close praying in the manner Jesus taught us to:

 

 Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  (10)  Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.