These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
I Timothy 2:1-8
Review…
- The first lesson – the Word of God…
- Timothy was not to waste his time teaching the ideas of men / fables – endless genealogies…
- Instead he was to AWAYS TEACH the WORD of God!
- Because only the Word has the power to give a pure heart / good conscience / sincere faith!
- The second lesson – the Grace of God…
- Paul gave a résumé for ministry…
- It is by the GRACE of God – we receive the POWER of God – through FAITH in God…
- That is what equips and allows us to SERVE God in effectively!
- Paul was the PRIME example – he was the greatest of all sinners…
- Yet he had been saved to show NO ONE was beyond the power of the GRACE of God!
- Paul told Timothy to be ready for the battle…
- There would be those who were NOT going to like the message of GRACE…
- Teachers of the LAW – those who held onto legalism / tradition (teachings of men) …
- Paul warned Timothy to make sure not to shipwreck his faith…
- Instead fight with a good STRATEGY (battle) – from FAITH and a GOOD CONSCIENCE!
The third lesson – be a man of prayer… (6 points)
- 1st – Paul urged Timothy to PRAY… vs. 1 (2 points)
- 1st – THEREFORE – I exhort (parakaleō) you to PRAY…
- Anytime we come across the word THEREFORE in the Bible…
- We need ask the question – what it is THERE FOR – it is pointing to something…
- Paul here is pointing us back to the previous chapter!
- Paul constantly (present) wanted Timothy to be in prayer…
- Why was it so important for him to PRAY – perhaps two reasons!
- At the end of chapter one – Paul removed Hymenaeus and Alexander from the church…
- I am sure it was not an easy decision – one Paul PRAYRED a lot about first!
- We are often are called on to make hard choices in life…
- But before we make those choices – we need to be on our knees in prayer…
- We want to make sure we are not following our ideas – but rather following God!
- 2nd – We are at WAR – I Timothy 1:18
- Paul also had told Timothy he was to wage a good warfare…
- The battle we fight is not against the people who are against us…
- We fight a battle against the spiritual powers that are influencing / blinding those people!
- Often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we get caught up looking at the people…
- But they are deceived – being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
- If we get upset / argue with what they do or say – we miss the real enemy!
- The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
- Rather than get upset with the people – PRAY for them…
- Taking on the real problem by breaking out the big guns – PRAYER and the Word!
- II Corinthians 10:3-5 – “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…”
- 1st – THEREFORE – I exhort (parakaleō) you to PRAY…
- 2nd – How we PRAY… vs. 1 (4 points)
- 1st – All Supplications – praying for the needs of others…
- Note this is not PRAYING for our needs – end of verse one – needs of ALL (other) men!
- God promises to provide for all of our needs – but not necessarily our wants…
- Luke 12:31 – “Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
- If Hallel asked me for P500 to buy school supplies – I would not hesitate…
- But if she asked you for P500 to buy candy and sweats – I would not give it!
- Not because I do not love her – but because I know not EVERYTHING is good for her!
- In the same way if we ask God for selfish things – silence will be His only reply!
- James 4:3 – “You ask and do not receive, because… you [want to] spend it on [yourself].”
- As we live for Jesus – we can ask for anything and God will give it – John 15:7
- Because we are going to be asking for the things that God knows are best!
- God does not just want to provide for our daily needs – He has a far greater plan!
- He wants to give us His whole kingdom – bless us beyond imagination – Luke 12:33
- The only reason He would not give us something is He knows it is not good for us!
- But God does not give us what we WANT – only what we NEED…
- Therefore – if we do NOT have it – we must not NEED it!
- 2nd – PRAYERS – conversation with God…
- PRAYERS – 37x in NT – to address a conversation with God…
- The typical view of prayer is coming to God with a list – needs / wants…
- It is treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
- As if somehow if we recite some words to God once or twice a day – it is enough…
- Rarely do we take the time in prayer to listen – it is a one-way conversation…
- It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
- Prayer is not a ritual – it should be a conversation…
- If I told you I had a VERY good friend – who I NEVER talk to – you might think that odd!
- John 15:15 – “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends…”
- God desires to hear from us – build a relationship with His kids!
- But how can we have a relationship with God – if we never get a chance to talk to Him…
- Telling Him about our day – getting to know the God who created us…
- Taking the time to listening to the wisdom He has for our lives!
- When we have a good day / when we have a hard day…
- When we do not know what to do next – find a quiet place and PRAY!
- PRAYER is not something we do – it is the definition of how we live our life!
- PRAYERS are not to be repeated…
- Matthew 6:7 – “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.”
- Its Ok to repeat a prayer – Jesus asked the Father 3 times to take away cross…
- It is OK to ask for the same thing more than once – the persistent widow – Luke 18:1-8
- But the idea of scripted prayers is just silly – that is a speech – not a prayer…
- And we must be careful not to make prayer a ritual rather than a conversation…
- Imagine if a friend came up to you the same time every day and said the same thing…
- Never any variation – never waiting around for a reply – no relationship!
- When we simply repeat ourselves out of habit there is no conversation!
- Praying in groups – or public prayer…
- There is nothing wrong with having a group conversation with God…
- But watch the motive of the heart – do not pray to impress others…
- Matthew 6:5 – “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them…”
- People who use big words – tremble their voice – to sound more spiritual…
- God is not impressed – at best they are acting like a fool embarrassing themselves…
- Prayer should be natural – simple conversation with God – no matter who is there!
- 3rd – Intercession – talking to God about others…
- Intercession – 2x in NT (both in I Timothy) – to have a conversation about others…
- I cannot tell you the number of times I have be praying – and God brings someone to mind…
- There is no reason for me to remember the person – it is the Lord stirring my heart!
- We often talk to people about Jesus – but we forget to talk to Jesus about the people!
- God sees everything – nothing is hidden from him – Hebrews 4:13
- The Lord knows when people are hurting – when there is a need…
- Intercession is not about us telling God what is going on – telling Him there is a problem…
- Intercession is about God directing us – Him telling us where the needs are!
- 4th – Giving thanks – for what God has ALREADY done…
- Everything we have we received from God – so it is not ours to glory over…
- Our intellect / our ability / our family / our country – all were given to us!
- We have nothing that we have not been given – so all the credit goes to God!
- I Corinthians 4:7 – “What do you have that God has not given you? If all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
- Yet perhaps you may have noticed – we rarely thank God in our prayers…
- Funny how we are never happy with what we have – only with what we do not…
- But if we focus on what we do not have – we will have an empty miserable life…
- It is when we give thanks for what the Lord has given us – we are blessed!
- 1st – All Supplications – praying for the needs of others…
- 3rd – Who we PRAY for… vs. 1-2 (3 points)
- 1st – PRAY for ALL men…
- The ones we like / and the one we do NOT like…
- Let us be honest – there are LOT of people in this life who we do NOT like…
- Perhaps they have HURT us – said something bad ABOUT us – or just RUB us the wrong way!
- But the Love of Jesus – loves others in spite of what they have done!
- And when we PRAY for others – in spite of what they do – we show we are His kids!
- Luke 6:28-29, 35 – “Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you… and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest…”
- 2nd – PRAY for kings…
- God appoints all governments…
- Romans 13:1 – “There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
- People tend to be critical of their governments – looking for the flaws…
- And to be honest since governments are full of people – it is easy to find the flaws…
- Yet rather than attack the men God has put into power – we should pray for them…
- Being critical of them changes nothing – praying for them can change everything!
- Leaders represent the heart of a nation…
- Any nation that chooses an ungodly leader – is doomed to suffer at his hands…
- It can be tempting to base our vote on things other than a politician walk with God…
- But those things pale in comparison to their relationship with Jesus!
- Proverbs 29:2 – “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
- 3rd – PRAY for all in Authority…
- AUTHORITY – 2x in NT – those who are elevated – or rule over others…
- People do not see the Lord – but they do listen to and follow their leaders…
- Therefore – leaders will receive greater judgment because of their influence on others…
- PRAY for those who are leaders – that they will be righteous and God fearing…
- Pray because if they are not – they will be held accountable!
- James 3:1 – “[Leaders]… shall receive a stricter judgment.”
- 1st – PRAY for ALL men…
- 4th – What we PRAY for… vs. 2-4 (3 points)
- 1st – INTERNAL transformation… vs. 2
- Two words that describe what happens in the HEART of someone DEFINED by PRAYER…
- QUIET – only here NT – to be still – avoiding the TRIALS of life…
- PEACEABLE – 2x NT – to be compound word – to BE / IMMOVABLE…
- Life can have a tendency to throw challenges / problems our way…
- We tend to spend much of our time worrying about those problems…
- The problem is worrying about our problems does not help – it makes things worse
- It robs us of our PEACE and QUIET in life – makes us anxious!
- It can even make us physically sick – upset stomach / high blood pressure!
- Proverbs 12:25 – “Worry weighs a person down…”
- Instead of worrying we should PRAY!
- Worry is the opposite of TRUST – we are worried because we are not trusting in God!
- So instead of killing ourselves by worrying – run to Jesus and find peace!
- When we pray to God – we find whatever burden brought us to prayer is gone…
- Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
- We no longer see our problems – instead our God who is greater than any problem!
- Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…”
- 2nd – EXTERNAL transformation… vs. 2-3
- Two words that describe what happens in the LIFE of someone DEFINED by PRAYER
- All GODLINESS – living a life that is pleasing to God!
- REVERENCE – 3x NT – living a life that is not rebellious towards authority!
- Meaning we have a right relationship with God and with men!
- Which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God…
- GOOD – kalos – emphasizes the outward appearance of the goodness…
- ACCEPTABLE – the way we live our life is accepted by God!
- I could hand you a set of keys and tell you they open a door to amazing riches…
- But until you went and actually put the keys in lock – you would not get what was inside!
- God has given us the power to live our lives for Jesus – live a Holy life!
- The key that God has given us access this power is PRAYER…
- Power to know God – and live a life that is pleasing to Him…
- Power to be acceptable – avoid the sin that we seem to so easily fall into!
- 3rd – Transformation of OTHERS… vs. 4
- God wants ALL men to be saved – come to the KNOWLEDGE of THE truth…
- KNOWLEDGE – epignōsis – the complete experiential knowledge
- God wants everyone to go to be saved – II Peter 3:9 – everyone in heaven…
- God wants to use us to share the hope of the Gospel with the world – Romans 10:15
- But how can we know who to share with – unless we are PRAYING for them…
- We pray for others to be saved – not because God might overlook them…
- But so that we are ready to share with them – when God tells us it is time!
- 1st – INTERNAL transformation… vs. 2
- 5th – Who we PRAY to… vs. 5-7 (3 points)
- 1st – There is ONE God – and ONE mediator… vs. 5
- MEDIATOR – a person who can give us access to God…
- The problem is we have all sinned – Romans 3:23 – and been separated from God…
- To stand before God now – would be to face the wrath and judgment of God…
- Therefore – we need a mediator – someone to go before God on our behalf…
- Someone to bridge the gap – give us access to our Holy God!
- Do not trust or pray to someone else other than God…
- There are many people who pray to saints to help get them live a better life…
- Men or women who lives such pious lives they have extra good works…
- After they die – they become a mediator between a holy God and us
- An attractive idea because it seems like they can relate us – they are sinners too…
- And it allows us to put someone between us and the conviction of God!
- But it is a FALSE teaching – they do not hear your prayers – and cannot help!
- 2nd – The man Jesus Christ… vs. 5-6
- Jesus gave Himself a RANSOM for ALL…
- There is no other way to be able to approach God – than through Jesus!
- Jesus did all the work for us – Jesus died on the cross so that we could come to God…
- But if we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
- The one and only way to talk to God – is through faith in Jesus Christ!
- It is only through Him we have complete access – to our Holy and Perfect God!
- John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- When we pray – pray to the Father / Son / Spirit
- Prayer is most often directed toward God in heaven – Our Father – Luke 11:2
- But we also see prayer directed to Jesus – like peter walking on the water…
- Matthew 4:30 – “He was terrified and he shouted, ‘Save me, Lord!’”
- But we also see prayer directed to the Holy Spirit –
- We pray for the Holy Spirit to come and fill us / empower us to serve the Lord…
- We can pray to the Father / to the Son / or to the Spirit – because they are one!
- 3rd – Paul was appointed by Jesus… vs. 7
- He emphasized he was speaking the TRUTH – not LYINY – God called him to be…
- APOSTLE – one who is sent out as an ambassador for Jesus …
- PREACHER – 3x NT – noun form of the VERB to preach – telling unbelieverS about Jesus…
- TEACHER – one who explains to believers the meaning of the WORD / Jesus!
- Everything that Paul did was ALL ABOUT Jesus!
- Acts 4:12 – “There is no other name under heaven… by which we must be saved.”
- 1st – There is ONE God – and ONE mediator… vs. 5
- 6th – Where we PRAY… vs. 8 (4 points)
- 1st – The Location – I will that men (gender specific) pray EVERYWHERE…
- Many people have the misconception that WHERE we PRAY matters…
- As if PRAYING in church is somehow more effective that PRAYING at home!
- God does not care about geography – He wants us to pray EVERYWHERE!
- God is not concerned about WHERE we PRAY – He just wants to make sure THAT we PRAY!
- 2nd – The Position – lifting up holy hands…
- Not that there is a special or required position when it comes to pray…
- We often encourage people to – bow their heads / and close their eyes – no distractions!
- But we see example in the Bible of praying while standing / sitting / lying on their face!
- God does not listen to a prayer made on your knees any more than praying standing…
- But practically speaking I find it best not to pray lying down – tend to fall asleep…
- Better to walk and pray – or on our knees – it helps keep us attentive!
- But it is not about the position of our body – it is the position of our heart – I Samuel 16:7
- You cannot have a bad prayer – if you have the right heart!
- HOLY hands – confessing our sin…
- Because it is sin that keeps us from hearing from the Lord – leaves prayers unanswered…
- Our prayers hit the ceiling of our sin – and we end up talking to ourselves!
- Psalm 66:18 – “If I had… sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.”
- 3rd – Not with WRATH…
- Matthew 6:13-14 – “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
- If we are unwilling to forgive others – then our Father will not forgive us…
- If we are struggling with un-forgiveness/bitterness – take it to the Lord in PRAYER…
- It is almost impossible to stay angry with someone we are praying for…
- As we realize all we have been forgiven – God will give us the grace to forgive others!
- 4th – Not with DOUBTS – James 1:6
- If we doubt God is willing / or able to help us – we are not going to pray very much…
- If God does not answer after one prayer – we give up and assume prayer did not work!
- But God does not call us just to pray – God calls us to be a people of prayer…
- We need to be persistent in seeking the Lord – do not ever give up!
- I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing…”
- 1st – The Location – I will that men (gender specific) pray EVERYWHERE…