Question 1:
Who do you know that’s really dedicated
to something?
THE POINT
God calls us to pray for
others’ salvation.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
I’m not alone. Many people struggle with prayer. In addition to the challenge of finding time for focused prayer, many struggle with what to pray. Praying for our own personal needs may be easy, but what do we pray beyond that? We can certainly pray for others, and when we see obvious, physical needs, we know what to pray. But we should pray for others in another way that’s not as obvious as physical needs.
We should pray for the spiritual needs of others, and we can begin by praying for their salvation.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
In these verses, Paul talks about the importance of prayer. Paul began with “first of all,” underscoring for Timothy that the first order of business in the church is to pray. Prayer should not be treated as just something we use to kick off our Bible study group or “filler” between songs during the worship service. As Paul told the Colossians: “Devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). “Devote” is a strong word, calling us to be continually diligent in prayer. Paul underscored this diligence when he told Timothy to lead the church to make prayer the first priority.
Prayer is how we communicate with God, but we often treat it like a monologue, focusing on our own needs and concerns. The ultimate goal of prayer, however, is to connect with God, to seek Him and His wisdom. When we do that, He is glorified as our prayers align with His will.
Paul identified several types of prayers. “Petitions” are requests for needs. In general, our “prayers” are requests or thoughts expressed to God. “Intercessions” are prayers we present to God on behalf of others. It is our privilege to intercede for and pray on behalf of others. And “thanksgivings” remind us to be grateful for who God is and what He has done and can do. Paul was not giving us an exhaustive list of ways to pray, but his list emphasizes the comprehensive nature of our prayers. The call to pray is a serious one that incorporates all aspects of prayer.
It’s not beneficial for our prayer life to focus on one type of prayer. Effective prayers include petitions, intercessions, and thanksgivings—all forms of prayer.
Question 2:
How would you describe the
different types of prayer included in these verses?
Jesus came to earth because God loved the world, and believers are expected to carry on His ministry to the world. One way we do that is through our prayers. Whether we agree with who they are or what they stand for, we’re admonished to humble ourselves and intercede with the Father on their behalf. As we focus our prayers on the urgent spiritual need for others to draw near to God, we become filled with Christ’s compassion for them.
We are to pray compassionate prayers for all—and that includes our leaders. As we pray for them, we should remember God has appointed them to the positions they hold. God is in control and has a plan for our leaders (Rom. 13:1-2). Paul’s heart was in evangelism, sharing the message of Christ everywhere. Paul was writing during the reign of Nero, a harsh ruler who persecuted Christians when it suited him. Paul’s reminder to pray for leaders would certainly include praying for their salvation, but those prayers could include praying for their leadership and policies. What leaders do can greatly benefit the spread of the gospel. We should pray for leaders because what they do can help us “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (v. 2).
1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
I’ve had a few injuries that required care from a chiropractor or physical therapist. The goal of their therapy was to provide relief from pain and restore alignment. Those injuries often caused chronic discomfort until damaged parts of my body were brought back to healthy alignment.
We often need spiritual alignment as well. It’s good to check ourselves to ensure that what we seek from God is in line with what He desires. Paul was clear on one thing God desires: He “wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Therefore, we should align our prayers with His desire and pray earnestly for the salvation of others.
Question 3:
How does prayer align our desires
with the desires of God?
We can know that God’s desire is for all to be saved because “there is one God” (v. 5). Since there is only one God, He has a singular purpose and desire. His desire does not just apply to the Jews but to all people He created in His image. God also made that salvation available through “one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” Our culture says there are many ways to God, but God provided only one way to a relationship with Him. Salvation is through Christ and Christ alone, who “gave himself as a ransom for all” (v. 6). Christ’s work of salvation is available to all.
We can be an agent of life transformation as we align ourselves with God’s desire by committing to pray for others to know and accept Jesus Christ. We should be diligent and take full advantage of the partnership we’ve been given. Through our prayers, we partner with God in advancing His kingdom.
1 Timothy 2:7-8
7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
Paul acknowledged that he was divinely appointed to preach the truths he mentioned in verses 5-6: the good news of the gospel. His mandate was to spread the message to the Gentiles of God’s love and redemption for all. Paul didn’t go exclusively to the Jews; rather, the Holy Spirit led him to step into the culture of the Gentiles to share the same truth about Jesus that he shared with the Jews.
Verse 8 starts a new thought from Paul, but what follows was based on what he had written in the first seven verses. He began with “Therefore,” meaning “based on what I’ve just written, this is what you should do.” His instructions in verses 8-15 are for both men and women, but he began with the men.
Question 4:
Why is prayer an important step
in sharing the gospel?
Paul had stressed the focus on our prayers, and now he told the men how they were to pray: “lifting up holy hands without anger or argument” (v. 8). This is not an emphasis on the posture of prayer, but on our character. To have holy hands is to be morally pure. Paul had already told us to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (v. 2), so to do so in moral purity without dissension among ourselves would certainly aid the reception of the gospel by others.
Because we will face all kinds of challenges, we need to be “prayed up.” We cannot live, engage, or witness to the world in our own abilities. At the heart of prayer is a dependence on the Holy Spirit who empowers us to witness. Four truths arise out of this passage—four ways we can pray:
- We are to pray for all people: family, friends, enemies, and those who rule.
- We are to pray for people to come to faith in Christ. Even as we pray for them in other ways, our ultimate aim is to align with God’s desire that they experience His salvation.
- We are to pray with confidence for their salvation because Christ paid the ransom for them through His death.
- We are to pray for ourselves and others who share the gospel—all who are called to be “heralds” of the truth of Christ.
Question 5:
What are some ways our group can
be more evangelistic in our prayers?
PRAYER MATTERS
In each circle, write the name of someone who needs your prayers, especially for salvation.
As you place a finger over each circle, think about that person and pray, asking God to work
in that person’s life for salvation, to meet needs, or other matters God brings to your heart.
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts
may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is
in the one who hears it and not in the one who
says it, our prayers do make a difference.”
MAX LUCADO
LIVE IT OUT
How will you put into practice praying for the salvation of others? Choose one of the following applications:
Make time. Set aside a specific time each day for focused prayer. We make appointments through the day and commit to meet this appointment every day.
Make a list. Start a prayer journal, listing specific individuals for whose salvation you are praying. Include the names of those in authority too. One option is to use the prayer pages on pages 6-9 of this book.
Make contact. God often uses us to do more than just pray; He uses us in the answer. As God gives you opportunity, talk with those for whom you’ve been praying.
Trust God to give you the words to say in sharing Christ. Some prayers may seem harder to pray than others; we often think of ourselves first. But we should pray for the spiritual needs of others, and begin by praying for their salvation.
Teacher Notes:
Click Play to Watch
Indiana Jones runs down
a street and rounds a corner, finding himself face to face with an Arab
swordsman. He skillfully brandishes his sword. Indiana Jones just rolls his
eyes and pulls out his revolver. Boom – that’s the end of the swordsman.
Did you know that scene
was not intended to be in the original movie? An incredible sword
fight was choreographed. As a joke, Harrison Ford used the gun; he pulled it
out and shot the guy, who played along. The producer liked the scene so much he
left it in the movie.
I like the scene
because it’s a picture of the Christian life. Something that looks
menacing can be neutralized with a superior weapon.
In the Bible, prayer is
described as our divine and uniquely powerful weapon.
Consider some of the
things the Bible says prayer alone can do: change reality, heal the
sick, and control the forces of nature. Prayer has brought back
the dead. It keeps us alert, keeps us sober-minded, guards
us against temptation, and releases our fears and frustrations.
Perhaps most significantly of all, prayer can hurt the enemy,
restricting his activity and reclaiming hostages from his camp.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, then, I
urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a
tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
1.
We are to pray for all people.
- We are to pray for all those in authority even
if we don’t like them or agree with them.
We are to pray
compassionate prayers for all—and that includes our leaders. As we pray for
them, we should remember God has appointed them to the positions they hold. God
is in control and has a plan for our leaders (Rom. 13:1-2). Paul’s heart was in
evangelism, sharing the message of Christ everywhere. Paul was writing during
the reign of Nero, a harsh ruler who persecuted Christians when it suited him.
Paul’s reminder to pray for leaders would certainly include praying for their
salvation, but those prayers could include praying for their leadership and
policies. What leaders do can greatly benefit the spread of the gospel. We
should pray for leaders because what they do can help us “lead a tranquil and
quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (v. 2).
Prayer is how we
communicate with God, but we often treat it like a monologue, focusing on our
own needs and concerns. The ultimate goal of prayer, however, is to connect
with God, to seek Him and His wisdom. When we do that, He is glorified as our
prayers align with His will.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
This is good, and it
pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and
mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a
testimony at the proper time.
2.
We are to align our prayers with
God’s desire for all people to be saved.
We often need spiritual
alignment. It’s good to check ourselves to ensure that what we seek from God is
in line with what He desires. Paul was clear on one thing God desires: He
“wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (v. 4).
Therefore, we should align our prayers with His desire and pray earnestly for
the salvation of others.
We can know that God’s
desire is for all to be saved because “there is one God” (v. 5). Since there is
only one God, He has a singular purpose and desire. His desire does not just
apply to the Jews but to all people He created in His image. God also made that
salvation available through “one mediator between God and mankind, the man
Christ Jesus.” Our culture says there are many ways to God, but God provided
only one way to a relationship with Him. Salvation is through Christ and Christ
alone, who “gave himself as a ransom for all” (v. 6). Christ’s work of
salvation is available to all. We can be an agent of life transformation as we
align ourselves with God’s desire by committing to pray for others to know and
accept Jesus Christ. We should be diligent and take full advantage of the
partnership we’ve been given. Through our prayers, we partner with God in
advancing His kingdom.
1 Timothy 2:7-8
For this I was
appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore, I want the men in every
place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
3.
We are to pray for ourselves and others in
sharing the gospel.
- We too have a place in the great ministry of
proclaiming the gospel, being on mission, and teaching faithful and truthfully
what we have come to know about Jesus, the Savior.
- Prayer is to be a consistent practice in our
lives, both privately and in settings with one another.
- When we pray, we need to pray with attitudes
turned toward the things of God and with a spirit that honors the relationship
we have with Him and honors the gospel.
Paul acknowledged that
he was divinely appointed to preach the truths he mentioned in verses 5-6: the
good news of the gospel. His mandate was to spread the message to the Gentiles
of God’s love and redemption for all. Paul didn’t go exclusively to the Jews;
rather, the Holy Spirit led him to step into the culture of the Gentiles to
share the same truth about Jesus that he shared with the Jews.
Four truths arise out
of this passage—four ways we can pray:
- We are to pray for all people: family, friends,
enemies, and those who rule.
- We are to pray for people to come to faith in
Christ. Even as we pray for them in other ways, our ultimate aim is to align
with God’s desire that they experience His salvation.
- We are to pray with confidence for their
salvation because Christ paid the ransom for them through His death.
- We are to pray for ourselves and others who
share the gospel—all who are called to be “heralds” of the truth of Christ.
Wrap it up:
Some prayers may seem
harder to pray than others; we often think of ourselves first. But we should
pray for the spiritual needs of others, and begin by praying for their
salvation.
We have likely heard it
said (and maybe even said it ourselves), “There’s nothing left to do but pray”
or “All we can do now is pray.” Both statements seem to suggest that prayer is
a last resort after we have expended all our efforts, exhausted all options,
and whatever else we were depending on has failed us. Such is hardly a biblical
view of the place and significance of prayer. Prayer is the beginning point.
How can a person know what to do who has not prayed for wisdom and guidance on
how to act?
In terms of sharing the
gospel, prayer also is the beginning point and the most important element of a witnessing
plan. From this study we see at least three directions our praying should take
as we consider sharing the gospel.
1.
Pray for the individual to whom the gospel will
be shared—no matter who it is or what kind of person it is. Bringing the person
before the Lord is critical.
2.
Align your praying with what God desires. He
wants all kinds of individuals to be saved. If that is the desire of our
hearts, then pray for all kinds of people—even those we may not like.
3.
Join with others in prayer that enhances the
gospel message, honors God, and points others to Christ, who gave Himself
freely on their behalf.
What is the focus of
your praying? Is it only for your needs? Are you praying that someone be saved
and brought into a right relationship with God through Christ Jesus?
Why Prayer is So Hard?
1.
It’s so strange. When
I was in a restaurant once with a group of guys, we decided to say a blessing
before we ate. Since we were in the middle of a restaurant I said, “Why don’t
we just say our own blessings today?” So, we bowed our heads, closed our eyes,
and began to say our own grace. Now, I’m like you – my blessing is not just,
“Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub. Yeah, God.” I take a minute while I say
it, and so did my friends. In the middle of our grace, the waiter walked up and
asked, “What’s the matter?” For a whole minute, he walked around the table
asking, “What’s the matter? What’s the matter?”
2.
It’s a discipline.
Let’s be honest – we’re short on discipline. The bottom line though, is this: you’ve
got to pursue prayer, first and foremost, as a discipline – not as an
experience.
3.
It’s so difficult to pay attention. Is
it hard for you to pay attention when praying? I hope I’m not the only one. I
admit that for me, invisible, formless, shapeless beings are hard to focus on.
There are times I have gotten the feeling that maybe I’m talking to the
ceiling.
4.
There are more enjoyable things to do, and
other occupations cry louder for my attention. For most of us, we’re
in too big a hurry to get something done because it’s more fun to take out the
list of things to do and cross them off than it is to spend time in prayer.
5.
You think you can get more done by
yourself. A famous British general once said, “I’ve noticed that in
battle God always seems to be on the side of the army with the heaviest
artillery.” I think for each of us there has come some big event in life, and
we forgot to pray. The event came and went, and went okay. Then we begin to
suspect prayer wasn’t as crucial as we thought, and maybe we’d get more done if
we quit wasting time on our knees; just got out there and did stuff.
Look at Matthew 6:5-13.
There you’ll find three qualities of prayer that we are to have.
1.
To pray privately.
(5-6)
“And when you pray, do not be like the
hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners
to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in
full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your
Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.
2.
To pray genuinely, personally, earnestly,
honestly, and reverently. (7-8)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like
pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not
be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
3.
To pray with variety.
(9-13)
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Praying as the Lord
taught will give us the groundwork for an improved prayer life, and help us use
our superior weapon. Prayer makes God’s resources available to us, which were
otherwise unavailable – physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional resources.
Edward MacHenry Baumn,
a Civil War chaplain, was well known among his men because every day during the
war he would arise at 4 a.m. and pray until 7 a.m. He once wrote, “The whole
force of Bible statement is to increase our faith in the doctrine that prayer
affects God. It secures favors from God which can be secured in no other
way, and which will not be bestowed by God if we do not pray.” Prayer is
admittedly hard, but it is rewarding.
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