Pray Without Ceasing II 1 Tim 2:1-4

Pray Without Ceasing II

1 Tim 2:1-4

In this series, I am trying to teach this congregation what it is to pray without ceasing and how to start the process of implementing the idea in your own prayer life. Politics can help us to grow in this area. Believe it or not….

I have been working on this for more than twenty years. It has been a tremendous aid towards an even keel, a peaceable spirit and to think godly thoughts among other spiritual benefits. It takes a long time to break old habits. But, we can start at some point. And, there is no time like the present.

Last week I introduced the idea of continually praying as the NIV and ESV translates it. It was illustrated in a couple of ways. We saw how our observations can help us to be more regular at prayer. We mentioned, ambulances, hospitals, fire trucks and police cars as tools to remind us to pray short prayers for the people involved with what those vehicles represent. I gave you tongue in cheek homework to pray for our Church when you saw churches or steeples. I won't ask you how many times seeing them provoked a prayer. I will tell you it worked for me in about eight or so cases. It would have been more, but that other church buildings remind me to pray for specific individuals already.

Today, I want to look at the idea of praying without ceasing as prompted for those in authority, among other people, as we find instructions in 1 Tim 2:1-4. Please turn there.

There are many things to say about this verse. In order to understand the context, and because there is a therefore, we need to reach back into Chapter One to remind us of the importance of these four verses.

In verses 3 ff that Timothy was to charge some to not teach any contrary doctrines to what had been taught, nor to listen to unprofitable discussions and disputes. But, instead to use what is good to build others up in the faith according to the purpose of love, from a pure heart--being motivated by those inner realities at work in believers--from a conscience that has been cleansed consistent with a sincere faith, knowing some had walked away from these realities to engage in other sinful acts as if they were important. Some wanted to be teachers of the Law without the understanding needed to do so. Verses 8ff are about the Law and the right use of it. People who live as they ought, live in line with its godly teachings and meanings. People who don't live in line with the Law of God, that one thing that defines sin, are the ones who need the Law to point out where they have sinned. 8-11 is a remarkable paragraph I wish more people would familiarize themselves with if not commit to memory. The connection Paul makes is between the right use and understanding of God's Law and the glory of God's gospel and God himself that had been given to Paul's trust as one of the most precious of all things.

Verses 12ff finds Paul thanking God for his grace that saved him as the chief or foremost or leader of all sinners. He was the chief of them--first and foremost commanding others to engage in the same sins Paul thought were so important to further his fallen causes. Vs 18ff are the content of what Paul was committing to Timothy according to godly promises spoken out by God's power about Timothy. Because of this mix of good and evil, Paul writes to Timothy about the important parts of this ministry to which Timothy had been called.

The first important activity for Timothy in the ministry is introduced in the verses under consideration this morning. It is prayer. Pray and preaching are the two most important activities of a gospel minister. We speak to God for men and women and then we speak to men and women on behalf of God. Both are important. Even those who minister to us, need to learn what it is to pray without ceasing. And, I add, they are held to a higher standard to do it. It is a means God uses to convey his grace to his people. There are a few kinds of prayer: private and public; and four kinds used in our passage: supplication, prayers, intercessions and the giving of thanks. Some of these are easier than others. But, it is important to know what we are called, or exhorted, to do.

Let's read the passage before I make some observations and comments:

1 Tim 2:1-4 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.

Let's look at some important truths from these words:

1 Tim 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all

Because of what came before, the first and foremost thing that Timothy is to concern himself with is prayer. This is to be a priority in his life and ministry. It is not an add-on when Timothy finds extra time. This is one of the first, if not the first thing, you should concern yourself with.

An important application or two to all. Make sure your those who look out for your souls have enough time to do all that the risen Lord Jesus Christ encourages or exhorts them to do. If your pastor tells you that he can't do something because it would eat into or take him away for his prayer time, be understanding and thankful for a man who refuses to be called away from the priorities the Spirit of God gives under inspiration for a faithful minister. Pray, especially for men in the ministry is a priority. Prayers of all sorts are a vital part of what he or they need to do. They should not be embarrassed to not take your calls, or answer your notes during time set aside for prayers.

The Apostle exhorts Timothy to make praying important. Even pastoral prayer, or other corporate prayer needs preparation. Have you noticed the pattern of our praying in the worship service? We read a Psalm as a call to worship, hymn, then we pray for God to be present. We read another passage in our consecutive reading, sing a hymn that shares the sentiments of the hymn and then we pray the pastoral prayer for the spiritual needs of the congregation and her life before men in the watching world. We take an offering, sing another hymn that shares the basic content of the message, We hear the preaching and then close in prayer. Some of those prayers need thought before they are prayed. But, our order of worship shows the importance we place on public prayer. We should see it as important and delight that God calls us into his very presence.

Then, there are many other times when we should pray. For now, let its importance and priority suffice.  

Kinds of prayer to show a fullness of public expression. Private prayers may follow these same categories. These four are not exhaustive of all the ways or methods of prayer.

Four words:

that supplications,

A supplication is a request for something that is desperately needed.

In the Scriptures, prayers and supplications are often found together in the same thought. It is often out of ordinary converse with God, that supplication comes. We might be expressing our regular kinds of prayers to God and something special comes to mind. So, our prayer might get a little more intense, or a lot more focused as we change to supplication and then back to prayer. They are often found together. And, these two words are the most often used words for the prayers that we offer. The words ordinary and extraordinary might be used. Pray is the ordinary, but still important communion with God and then something significant comes to mind so we pray more pointed for the extraordinary. We might pray for the church in Maine in general terms and in the middle of praying for the church generally, we might be reminded of an important  pregnancy and pray more vehemently for God to watch over the little one formed in his image. Do you see the difference.

Daniel had been carried off to Babylon. Every day, to make a point about his faith in the God of Israel, he would offer prayers and supplications. He opened the blinds and prayed audibly.

Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Two types of prayer during one time of prayer.

Supplications are also for important requests on their own. It is the kind of prayer that is offered for the other saints connected to us in a church. In Eph 6, this is especially so after praying for them about spiritual warfare and the weapons we have been given:

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-

prayers,

The words offered to God in a regular, habitual or mundane way, are still important. No prayer is unimportant. Some pray is more urgent than others. The prayer that we are reminded to do from ordinary circumstances is akin to what prayers means. Extraordinary requests like Heather's baby or prayer driven by sudden and unexpected news is supplication.

There is also intercessary prayer. Or, here it reads simply:

intercessions,

Intercessions are when we pray specifically for others as individuals or groups. It is often about specific needs, but not always. The prayers of a mediator are prayers of intercession.

Moses prayed thusly for the Pharaoh after being asked politely: Exo 8:28 And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me."

Pharaoh was going to let Moses go a little ways so he could keep an eye on him and either in jest or in truth asked for prayer for himself. He wanted Moses to put himself between himself and God in order to pray to the God of Israel on behalf of Pharaoh. If this was a serious request it is extraordinary. Perhaps, a supplication and intercession at once.

This is also the ongoing ministry that Jesus does in serving his people. He prays for them. It is as if Jesus puts himself in a position between the believers and God the Father in order to pray for them.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus continues to pray for us. And I would add without doing any violence to the Word of God, that is is one of his priorities. He intercedes for us in an unceasing manner. He always lives to pray for us. Do you realize what that means? At this moment as we are looking at the reality that Jesus prays for us, he is interceding for us. He is able to save us, he is able to sanctify us and to come before the throne of God for our good.

And the fourth

and giving of thanks

It is gratefulness to God for all he has done for us, in us and in many cases, in spite of us for our good and for his glory. We see a benefit or a blessing from God and we thank him. Thanklessness is the universal indictment of the wicked in Rom 1:21--they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful. But, became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Of all people, we should be the most thankful. Right after the command to pray without ceasing, we read, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:18. People often ask about the will of God for them. One aspect of it is to pray--to be thankful is to express thanks to God in prayer.

For what should we be thankful? Everything! Good or bad, wanted or unwanted, in everything give thanks.

Listen:

Phil 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.

How comprehensive is this exhortation to prayer? It is a big deal. It is something that ought to be a priority in our lives. Did you hear of some of the benefits of prayer from verse 7? Your hearts and minds will be guarded. God will protect you when and after you pray to Him. It is a promise. Do you want God to be your gatekeeper? Pray to Him, supplicate to him, give thanksgiving to Him. God will send his peace, the sense that all is at rest, there is nothing to be concerned about. God is in control for you and your good, no matter what. With this peace which cannot be fully understood by the likes of us, will protect us in the battles of life.

What an inexpressible blessing it is to be one of God's people. All this and more is our's. The prayers are not offered just for ourselves, but for others. That shows the greatness of God. He uses our prayers to accomplish his will including the blessing of others. How many of the blessings we enjoy in life are from God's hand? All of them. He may have used people as secondary causes. It is God who is the ultimate cause for any good that comes your way and any glory that is realized in the world.

So, we need to know for whom these prayers should be offered, just like Timothy needed to know:

It starts off with A Broad Category:

be made for all men, 

Greek is a categorical language. Collective expressions like this mean all of a group, not all without distinction. That understanding is gotten from the context. But, that does not mean that we shouldn't pray for all men except for this--our prayer would be so general it would lack supplication, intercession and thanksgiving and it would take up too much time and we do not know all men without distinction of qualification. TO have any real meaning and any possibility of being done, it can only mean all of a kind or all of a category.

The text goes on to give Some Specifics:

2 for kings

It starts off with the word for king or emperor. All those in the highest positions of civil government. Where was Paul? Under the Roman government being transported to defend his life and ministry. The Church in Ephesus was in Asia Minor, but a part of the Roman Empire. They would become the main persecutors of the churches like Paul had been in Jerusalem. With this potential in his awareness, Paul commands Timothy and by extension, others, to pray for the Roman monarchs and other rulers. He adds:

and all who are in authority,

Within the various election cycles, it would be good for believers to remember to pray for those in authority and how to pray for them, too.

When you see reminders of the president and others in authority, pray for them. Don't complain about them unless it is to God for breaking his Law.

But the phrase all who are in authority means for all who are in positions of authority over you. It is not just politics. It means at work, at school, at home, at church, etc. Wherever there is someone over you, whether legitimately or not, we are called as believers to pray for them. God will sort out the injustices. TO be faithful to God and those he has allowed to be over us, we must pray for them.

Jefferson once said, Rebellion to tryanny is obedience to God. Well, Jesus said 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you…. (Matt 5:11-12)

Even if things are contrary to what we would want, we are to pray for those who are over us. And, we are to be glad about it. No, that's wrong. It reads, Exceedingly glad! Our reward will come at another time. It will be undeserved because in the end we have only done what is expected of us--no more. But, with some there might be less. All we obtain, is undeserved grace from God.

What benefits are ours. We forget about God's vindication of Himself and his people. But, why pray for all men--kings and all those in authority, including me and others who will serve God by serving you in the future?

Why Pray:

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 

It is not to assert our freedoms and protest about the possibility they may be taken away from us. It is to pray for all sorts of men that we may have the spiritual and physical strength to do what God wants for us--his will. What a blessing it would be to be a part of a group of believers who all together wanted to lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and reverence. What a life it would be to not draw attention to ourselves by claiming any manmade rights for the sake of anything secular. But, to be given freedoms that we might do what we are supposed to do.

With those words from the Sermon on the Mount these ideas are a powerful corrective to many who have become so arrogant before the watching world. We must be careful to want what God wants for us and what he has promised to us.

Some More Results:

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

What is acceptable  and good in this context? Some want to make it the praying. And, there is nothing sinful about right praying. But, grammatically the praying and this sentence are not connected.

What is good and acceptable is that quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. It is nothing more and nothing less. It is what God approves. It is what we should seek.

Some Additional Desires:

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

When we live as we ought, we make a strong argument for the Gospel of God's grace and the salvation it can bring to all kinds of people. God saves sinners through the likes of us living the Christian life in public places without backing down on obeying what God has said.

How you live may be the means to provoke others to inquire as to why you live as you do. As we answer, God may use it to proclaim the truth in a variety of ways to a number of people. Some of you are here because others lived in such a way that you couldn't help but ask about it. And, eventually, you found yourself with faith believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for your own salvation. You may have opposed to what Christianity stands for, if only in your mind. But, God used his people and his Word to break through your hatred of God, for that is what it was.

The gospel still goes forward. We are still called to pray for all sorts of people. It is for our good and the glory of God in saving sinners and preserving the saints.

Thanks be to God!