Scripture Text
1 Tim.2:1-5
Intro: America will
celebrate its 241st year since the declaration of independence from
Great Britain was signed. Faith in God and prayer has played a major role in
the establishment of this nation. Galatians 5:1a “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore.” We are
to stand firm in our Christ given freedom by continuing to spread the gospel by
which we were set free, and by praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it
is in Heaven. Over 300 times in the bible prayer is mentioned. If we love the
freedom we have in this nation we must pray for God to continue to have His way
in America. Only then can we be blessed of Him. Every nation that has turned its back on
God has fallen from within.
1 We are to Pray for all men! 1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort
first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men. It is both a privilege and an
obligation. It is a sheer privilege for us to have audience with God on behalf
of our nation and fellow men. And it is an obligation, too, for we are
debtors to all with the good news of salvation.
a.
There are four aspects of prayer
mentioned in this verse,—supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. In modern usage, supplication
has the thought of strong and earnest request,
making specific requests for specific needs. The word here translated prayers is a very general term, covering
all kinds of reverent requests to God. Intercessions describe petitions in which
we address God as Supreme Authority in behalf of others. Giving of thanks
describes prayer in which we realize the grace and kindness of our Lord, and
pour out our hearts in gratitude to Him for the privilege of coming before His
throne with our needs.
2 We are to pray for those in authority. 1 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) For kings and all who
are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and reverence. Our prayers include Kings,
presidents and all who are in authority. These must occupy a special place
in our prayers. In (Rom. 13:1) Paul reminds us that the authorities that exist
are ordained of God and in (Rom. 13:4) he says they are ministers of God to us
for good. Without government we would have chaos. The NT teaches that a Christian is to be
loyal to the government under which he lives. Part of that loyalty for the
Christian is to pray for all those in our government as commanded in this verse.
A Christian should not engage in revolution or in violence against the
government, but take lawful ways to change government when we believe the
government is wrong. The reason Paul gives for praying for
rulers is that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness [conforming to the laws
of God] and reverence [deep respect for God].
It is for our own good that the government should be stable and God
fearing so that the country is preserved from revolution, civil war, turmoil,
and anarchy and have God’s blessings. We should also pray for those that
protect and serve us, such as our military men and women, firefighters,
policemen and all civil servants.
3 Prayer is the will of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior,
God is pleased and accepts our prayers
when we pray for all mankind, including all who are in authority over us.
Therefore, to pray for all men is to promote the will of God in this regard.
Prayer proves we depend on God for everything that we need in this world! We
don’t depend on mankind alone because mankind is fallible. God alone is Supreme! He is our Savior,
protector, and defender against all evil.
4 We are to pray for a spiritual awakening. 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge
of the truth. We must pray for the salvation of people in America. Only
by being saved will people turn from their wicked ways. No one is beyond
salvation if they desire it. In order to be saved, man must come to the knowledge of the truth. God
does not save men against their will. He does not populate heaven with
rebellious subjects. Man of his own free will must come to Jesus who is: “the
Way, the Truth, and the Life,” because Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ
and Him alone. So we are to pray for lost people to be saved and for God to
open the eyes of the spiritually blind and open their hearts to the gospel
message of Jesus Christ.
5. We are to pray for all mankind to know the truth about salvation! 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) For there is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for
all, to be testified in due time.
God
says He is one; He is the God of all
men, no matter what their race or nationality, and prayer should be made to Him
in behalf of all men. He desires the salvation of all mankind and that they may
know the truth, which is, there is One
God, and there is only One Mediator between God and men, the
Man Christ Jesus. This declares the deity of the Lord Jesus. In order to be
the Mediator between God and men, He
must be both God and Man. The Lord Jesus is God from all eternity, but He
became Man in Bethlehem’s manger for us. He represents the whole race of
humanity. No man can come to God in any other way. (John
14:6)
Conclusion: If we love our nation we will pray for it daily to
come to know the truth of God’s word. Without God this nation will never be
what He intended it to be and that is one nation, under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. A nation established on faith in God and prayer. This
is why we must continue in prayer and continue to proclaim the gospel message
of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Invitation: Have there
been a time in your life where you have stopped and asked Jesus to forgive your
sins and save you from Hell? If not, now is the perfect time to do that. Jesus
said “no one comes to the Father but
by Me.” (John 14:6) God wants you in His kingdom but the choice is
yours to make. How will you respond as we give the invitation to come to Christ
right now?
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