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Grace Baptist Church

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We Must Pray

We Must Pray

May 07, 2017

Passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Preacher: Tom Ascol

Series: Life in the Household of God

Category: Sunday Morning

Keywords: boldness, intercession, mission, prayer, supplication, thanksgiving

Detail:

Pastor Tom Ascol continues his series in the Pastoral Epistles with a message centered on 1 Timothy 2:1-7 entitled “We Must Pray.” The sad modern reality is that serious, sacrificial prayer does not seem to be valued as it should be among God’s people. However, as today’s passage shows, God intends for every church to make prayer a matter of chief importance. God calls His people to pray boldly.

As Paul teaches on prayer his first point is that we ought to pray all kinds of prayers (supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings) for all kinds of people. God’s people are to be a praying people. Rather than “all people” (v. 1) meaning each and every person, the meaning is all kinds of people, particularly in this passage, people in authority. Paul’s emphasis on inclusiveness is meant to teach against the elitism that some Jews had relative to Gentiles. Remember, earlier in this book, Paul had taught against false teachers. Here he continues showing that Jew and Gentile, to whom Paul felt especially called to preach, alike should be prayed for and welcomed into the church. One goal and result of this type praying is that believers might live dignified lives, that we might respond in a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified manner. Praying for those beyond our mere realm of personal knowledge helps us respond more properly.

Prayers of this type, according to Paul, are pleasing to God. He judges prayers fitting with His nature to be good. Nevertheless, when Paul says God desires “all to be saved” care must be taken in understanding. It is true that God’s revealed will shows He desires all to be saved but God’s revealed will is not always carried out. The most extreme example of this is the crucifixion of Jesus. God’s revealed will is clear in His Word: “You shall not murder.” Murder is a violation of God’s command. Yet God’s decreed will, that which is in accord with His eternal purpose, saw Jesus murdered. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. A violation of God’s revealed will against murder was part of God’s decreed will for the salvation of those upon whom He has mercy.

God, the only one and true God, has provided salvation through the one mediator, Christ Jesus. A mediator is needed when there is a seemingly irreconcilable dispute between two parties. Our sin had separated us from God and His holiness. On our own, that separation was and is irreconcilable, hence the need for a mediator. God provided that mediator, Jesus, who gave Himself entirely as a ransom for His people. Payment has been made; all that is left is for you to come to Him.

Finally, the type prayers Paul teaches about here are to govern our mission. Just as Paul was sent to preach the gospel to the Gentiles we have a responsibility to preach that same message. Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission, makes plain the responsibility of the saints to go forth with that message. Our mission is big; so must be our prayers. He calls us to pray. Will we, will you, answer responsibly?