1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Introduction:

Paul says much in the few verses that we have read, but the main emphasis that I see is that of prayer.

Prayer is what the modern church talks about much and does so little of it.

There are so many prayer promises in the Word of God, such as:

Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

On and on the list could go of Bible verses that commend prayer to the child of God.

The prayer-less Christians is:

A destitute one (no joy)

A defeated one (no victory)

If we could do one thing and had to leave off many other things we do, prayer should be that which we would chose above all other activities.

Prayer calls down heaven’s help.

Prayer touches the heart of God.

Prayer reinvigorates, revitalizes and renews the heart.

No one every really gets anywhere spiritually who does not make much of prayer.

Let’s look at some of Paul’s pastoral instruction as to how we can get somewhere spiritually.

It is good to God when we pray to him about others and concerning our needs. He knows what we need, but He has designed that we come unto Him to receive what we stand in need of spiritually and materially.

Someone has said, "A child of God can see more on his knees than a philosopher can see on his tiptoes."

Note:

Prayer was so important to Daniel that he chose to spend a night in a den of lions than to go through the day without praying as usual.

A. Supplication- speaks of praying for personal needs.

B. Prayers- basically means to "ask". It is words addressed to the true and living God.

D. Giving of thanks- We are such an ungrateful people for what the Lord has given to us in America and as a born again people.

We should give thanks for others. See Rom. 1:8

Thank  God for others (1 Cor. 1:4), and for the grace of God that saved them and motivated them.

Thank God for grace given to others (for receiving the Word of God as they should (1 Thess. 2:13)

Thank  God that the people’s faith is growing (2 Thess. 1:3).

Note:

If you recall, Nero was emperor at the time Paul wrote this letter (54-68 A.D). Persecution was a growing threat to believers. Nero was cruel. He needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64 A.D., so he blamed it on Christians. Persecution erupted through the Roman Empire for believers. Christians were denied privileges in society and also were publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals. Yet, Paul say they were to pray for leaders who were over them.

Note:

We certainly need to pray for many of governmental leaders. Some of them are good men and others have the morals of a junkyard dog.

If it were not for laws and those to enforce them, we could not live a quiet and peaceable life (v.2).

It is acceptable to God for His people to pray.

I believe verse 2 includes praying for your pastor.

A. Salvation Implies Knowledge

B. Salvation Implies Truth.

C. Salvation Is For Whosoever Will

A. One God

B. One Mediator

The mediator is a man, the God-man.

C. One Christ Jesus

IV. What is Preachable?v.6

"Ransom"------for all.

Payment given for a slave or prisioner.

Paul loved the term "preacher."

Count on words of the Bible, whether Jesus spoke them or Paul.

Let’s move forward and know what is acceptable, desirable, unchangeable, preachable, and dependable.