PRAYER OF A SERVANT

1 Timothy 2:1-8

Introduction: This chapter of 1 Timothy is a challenge to Timothy to pray.  If the servant of the church is going to be effective, then he must be a man of prayer.   Many times we give mental assent to prayer.  We know it works.  We know that God is a prayer answering God.  He answers in one of three ways: Yes, No, or wait.  We read of the great men of the Bible who were men of prayer.  Outside of our Lord Jesus, I think one of the greatest men of prayer in the Bible is Daniel.  As you read through that book, you find lots of references to prayer.

      Prayer is the key that opens the door to heaven.  Prayer is what puts us in the throne room with our Heavenly Father.  The church ought to be known as a place of prayer.

  Paul wrote this epistle as well the others to help the young pastor with problems in the church.  If there had not been some problem, Paul would not have mentioned.  In these verses that we have chosen for our text, it must have been the area of prayer.

      Paul gives a basic principle for the conduct of the ministry of the church in 1 Corinthians 14:40 which says "Let all things be done decently and in order."  Paul hurts a similar note in this epistle in chapter 3 and verse 15 when he pens these words:  “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

      The church is an organism.  Some preachers use this de-emphasize the importance of organization.   They try to say that we ought to allow the Spirit to have freedom.  I agree up to a point.

Every living organism that becomes disorganized will die.  That is the action of cancer in the body.  Cells are organized to function in a certain sense.  When they do not, the organism dies. 

      Let me see if I can illustrate in this matter.  Our pancreas secretes insulin.  This controls the blood sugar in the blood.  Too much insulin will decrease blood sugar and you could die.  Too little and the same effect can be seen.

      I believe the Holy Spirit will have freedom in our organization.  I have seen and read about some of those so called freedom of the Spirit services where the church moves away from the standards of God's Word and moves into pure emotion without really helping anyone.

      To counteract this tendency, Paul will draw our attention to responsibility of servant of the church to do that must be so much a part of our lives: pray.

      Several questions come to mind when you deal with this section. Let's ponder them, as I will try to answer them. 

1. What messages does the church send to the community when we refuse to obey Paul's admonition to do things "decently and in order"?

2. What is the responsibility each of us has in our church as pray-ers?

3. Of the types of prayer that Paul mentions in this passage, which one do we tend to focus?  Why is that?

      As I was working on this message, I mentioned Daniel as a great man of prayer.  I was thinking of one of the greatest compliments I have ever heard said of a preacher.  R. A. Torrey preached D. L. Moody's funeral.  This was one of statements he made about D. L. Moody.  "D. L. Moody was a better pray-er than a preacher.  Even though he won many to Christ with his preaching, it was his prayer life that changed his ministry.  Now, would not that be a great compliment to be paid to a man of God.  Moody made himself a servant to the church.  Part of his servanthood was found in his prayer life.

I.    THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER

                          Vs. 1-3

      A.  Prayer's place  vs. 1

             The words "first of all" quickly indicates that prayer

is the most important parts a church can have for its community.  It has lost its importance in many churches.  If I would announce on the radio, put in the newspaper and hand out flyers about a gospel sing or a free supper, you would have a hard time finding a place to sit or park for that matter.  But let's say I would advertise in those three media a community prayer meeting, some of our own folks would not show up.

      Part of the shame is found in misplaced priority of public prayer.  Some preachers spend more time with the announcements than they do in public prayer.

      Prayer is as much of the ministry as preaching the word.   Acts 6:4

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

      I read a statement that has spoken to my heart this week.  Warren Wiersbe said this:  "Some pastors spend hours preparing their sermons but never prepare their public prayers.  Consequently their prayers are routine, humdrum and repetitious. I am not suggesting that pastors write out every word and read it, but that he will think through what he will pray about.  This will keep "the pastoral prayer" from becoming dull and a mere repetition of what was "prayed" the previous week."

      Is there something that the church should remember also?  Church members also need to be prepared to pray.  Our hearts ought to be right with each other and with God.  We must really want to pray and not pray simply to please people or fulfill a religious duty.  When a local church ceases to depend on prayer, God ceases to bless its ministry.

      What are the types of prayers listed here?  I will not go into great detail with the explanation of these types. 

            1.  Supplications carry the idea of the "offering a request for a felt need".  This is on behalf of others.

2.  Prayers emphasize the sacredness of prayer. It is that act of worship.  It is not an expression of our wants and needs.

             3.  Intercessions is those petitions or the listing before God the needs and wants,

       4. Giving of thanks is the missing part of most prayers.  We are not only thankful for what He has done for us but also God is.

                          Phil. 4:6

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

                  B.  Prayer's people  vs. 2

          1.  "All men" This shows us that no living person is       outside the influence of believing prayer. 

         2.  "For kings, and for all that are in authority"

      I believe this is speaking of governmental authority.  Without going off on a rabbit trail, let me ask this: When was the last time we prayed from those who are in authority. God created civil authority.  It is their job to protect the citizens.  But some of the decisions that they have made that we do not agree may be because we failed to pray for them.

      Paul does not give an exhaustive list of people to pray.  He really summed it up in those three words "for all men".

      C.  Prayer's purpose vs. 2b

          1.  "That we might lead a quiet and peaceable life"

      This does not mean the government will never bother us.  At the time of this epistle, Nero was on the throne.  He was one of the biggest killers of Christians in that day.  Yet they are commanded to pray for him.  Quiet refers to the circumstances around us and peaceable refers to the calm attitude within us

          2.  It is also that we might live godly and honest.  This refers to the life of our Saviour and how He lived.

4. Prayer’s praise vs. 3

            Paul tells us that are good and acceptable in the sight of God.  This is one of the times that Paul something good in this book.  It emphasizes the idea of something of itself good, not just good in its effects.  Certainly prayer of itself is a goodly practice, and brings with many good benefits.

            These prayers always please the Lord.  It pleases when His children pray as He has commanded.   True believers pray in order to please God.

II.  THE PERSON OF PRAYER

                          Vs. 4-6

His name is Jesus.  What is the person of prayer’s description?

                  A.  He is merciful.  Vs. 4

      It is His desire that men, women, boys and girls to be saved. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

                                                1 John 2:2

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

                        1 John 4:14

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

                        2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

      This is why He came to earth.  On the day of His death, the thief on the side of Him asked to be in heaven with him.  I believe that Jesus may have smiled and said that this is why He came.  All the pain, shame and suffering may have seemed small at that moment.  It is similar to the pain and suffering a mother goes through when she gives birth.  The moment she sees that child, she forgets the pain she just went through.

                  B.  He is mediator. Vs.  5

      A mediator is one who stands between two parties or persons as the organ of communication or the agent of reconciliation.  Man left God when he sinned.  Christ’s death brought man back into perfect fellowship with God.

                  C.  He is master. Vs. 6

      His death is that ransom that was paid for our salvation.  It is what makes Him our Master.  He is to be the Master of our lives.  He is to be the Master of our love.  He is to be the Master of our lips. He is to be the Master of our liberty.

      Since he is our Master, he placed the ministry in our care.  Paul says he is a preacher which is the herald of the king, an apostle (one sent with a special commission) and a teacher.  It was his job and ours also to give the truth to the lost.

 

III.  THE POSITION OF PRAYER

                          Vs. 8

1. A lifting of hands  vs. 8

            We assume that prayer is only done with our heads bowed, folding our hands and closing our eyes.  This is basically a tradition.  It is commanded in the Scriptures.  We do find various positions mentioned in the Bible. 

1. Standing with outstretched hands

                              1 Kings 8:22

“And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven”

                        2. Kneeling Daniel 6:10

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

                        3. Standing Luke 18:11

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

                        4. Sitting 2 Samuel 7:18

“Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?”

                        5. Bowing of Head Genesis 24:26

“And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.”

                        6. Lifting the eyes John 17:1

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee”

                        7. Falling on the ground Genesis 17:3

“And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying”

      The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.  In a radio broadcast where the preacher was making reference to this poor publican.  Why is it that he would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven?  Because he knew if he did, he would be looking into the face of Holiness and he knew he did not measure up.  This is a beautiful picture of the posture of a heart broken before God.

                                    Lifting of holy hands is symbolic of clean hearts. 

After this is exactly what must be lifted up.  It is also symbolic of a blameless life.

                  B.  A loosing of hatred  Vs. 8b

      This is being on good terms with another.  A person who is constantly having trouble with other believers, who is a troublemaker rather than a peacemaker, cannot pray and expect to get answers from God.

2. A leaving of helplessness (and doubting)

                                    Vs. 8c

      A wavering heart, which is a doubting heart, gets nothing from God.  The word “doubting” means also disputing.  If we have anger in our hearts toward others, then we can expect no answer to our prayers.  Believers can disagree without getting disagreeable.  One of the lowest forms of being disagreeable is name-calling.  This never accomplishes a single good. We have a clear command from the Lord.

                        Philippians 2:14

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings”

Conclusion:  We know the servant wants to be effective especially in his prayer life.  Effective praying demands that I have a right relationship with God as seen in the words “holy hands”.  It also demands a right relationship with my fellow believers.  It is seen in the words “without murmurings and disputings”.

      Jesus taught the same truth in Mark 11:24-26.  His words are thus:  “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

      If we spent more time preparing to pray and getting our hearts right before God, our prayers would be more effective.  May we be servants who are pray-ers.