March 7, 2004



Praying…With Evangelism in Mind* (part two)
1 Timothy 2:1-4

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority… so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

Comprehensive Praying
Paul uses four words for prayer in this verse.
· Requests are petitions for the deep spiritual needs of others.
· Prayers, the general term for prayer, was to include general praying for all people.
· Intercession, a word for praying for believers, was the challenge to pray for the deep spiritual and physical needs of believers.
· Finally, Paul included thanksgiving. We are to pray with a heart of gratitude to God and actually voice our thanksgiving to Him for answering prayer each day.

Special Requests
Paul challenged Timothy to pray for everyone and then he added a special request…especially for “kings and those in authority.”

We may not have a king in America but we have men and women in places of authority. Let’s take the instruction seriously. Take the time to pray for the President of the United States, our state, and our local government officials today.

Could I ask you to also pray for those who lead our church as well? Pray for the staff, our lay leaders, and deacons as we seek to give direction to the ministry. As you attend your Bible Fellowship Class and Worship, pray for your church and church leaders.

Remember, the goal of it all is that God wants people to be saved! (read the verses again!)

Father, please give wisdom to those in places of leadership. I pray that you will surround them with wise counsel. Move in our confused society to establish a clear vision of what is right and true. Father, in the middle of it all, use this time in our country to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus!

I pray this prayer in His Name, Amen