Praying with Power for All People

1 Timothy 2:1-8

Introduction

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. … If God is not first in our

thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place

the remainder of the day." E.M. Bounds

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work;

prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers

"Prayer is weakness leaning on omnipotence."

W. S. Bowd

Introduction

"No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts

will supply its lack." E.M. Bounds

Introduction

"Intercession is truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed

to intercessory prayer. No continent - no nation - no

organization - no city - no office. There is no power on earth that can

keep intercession out." Richard Halverson

"Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound

up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express

our love for them." John Calvin

"Our prayer must not be self-centered. …*we must be+ so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need

as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most

powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them."

John Calvin

Introduction

“When prayer has become secondary, or incidental, it has lost its

power. Those who are conspicuously men of

prayer are those who use prayer as they use food, or air,

or light, or money." M.E. Andross

Introduction

“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”

Charles Spurgeon

Introduction

"Talking to men for God is a great thing,

but talking to God for men is greater still."

E.M. Bounds

Introduction

“I have seen many men work without praying, though I have

never seen any good come out of it; but I have never seen a man

pray without working.”J. Hudson Taylor

Introduction

• Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines to master.

• Yet mastery requires a determined act of surrender.

• Therefore, it is one of the most difficult disciplines for us to master.

Introduction

• Prayer is critical to living a blameless life and leading a blameless church.

Introduction

“What the church needs today is not more machinery or better,

not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—

men of prayer, men mighty in prayer" E.M. Bounds

Prayer Language

• Supplications (ESV)

– entreaties (NASB), requests (NIV)

– “an entreaty for a particular benefit or need” - Knight

– a prayer that “gives prominence to personal needs” -Wuest

Prayer Language

• Prayers

– “to bring those for whom one is praying before God for his general blessing and care” – Knight

– good wishes, blessings on people

Prayer Language

• Intercessions (ESV)– plead for God’s mercy upon them (NLT)

– “*an+ ‘appeal’ with a note of urgency and boldness of access… *with+ a concern for others and perhaps particularly for their plight or difficulty.” – Knight

– “to fall in with a person, to draw near so as to converse familiarly…approach God in free and familiar prayer” -- Wuest

Prayer Language

• Thanksgivings

– “expressions of gratitude… to God on behalf of all.” – Knight

Prayer Language

• All of these words are plural

– There are a lot of prayers going up

– There are a lot of pray-ers

– There are a lot of people being prayed for

Prayer Targets

• People who have been disciplined out of the church (1:20)

– That they would learn and return

– That they would right the ship of faith

Prayer Targets

• People who are leaders in the national government (2:2)

• People who are in high positions of local civil authority (2:2)– That they would lead wisely

– That they would create a peaceable, free society

– That they would protect innocents and punish evil-doers

Prayer Targets

• People who need to be saved (2:4-6)

– That they would understand the truth

– That the Spirit would convict them

– That they would experience and come to appreciate God’s love for them

Prayer Targets

• People who are in positions of ministry (2:7)

– That they would feel the weight of appointment

– That they would proclaim truth

– That they would represent Christ well

– That they would teach only faith and truth

Prayer Targets

• People who are in disagreement with you (2:8)

– That the disagreement would not lead to sinful anger

– That there would be swift resolution

– That forgiveness would be extended

Conclusion

• Prayer is critical to living a blameless life and leading a blameless church.

…so, pray.

• I want my prayers to be faithful, pleasing, and unrestrained.

• I will pray for people with power.

“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray

will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”

Andrew Murray