Pray for All People

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

This prayer is:

Practical

Inclusive

Beneficial

As we think about prayer today and look at what Paul has to say to Timothy let’s consider our own prayer lives and what we might need to change or grow in.

PRAY

READ

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Prayer is First

If prayer is to be a priority in the life of the church and the Christian, how do we do it?

Verse one sets out these elements of prayer:

Supplications

Prayers

Intercessions

Thanksgiving

Paul’s emphasis is not so much on an orderly form but each of these builds on one another within prayer. Making requests, talking to God about those requests, praying for specific people, and giving thanks for what God has done and what how his perfect will is going to be worked out in each and every situation.

What we pray:

Matthew 6:7–15 ESV

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

It is important to note that Jesus is clear. You don’t conjure God up through your words or emotional utterances. He is already there.

The pattern of this prayer is:

Worship

Submission

Trust

Repentance

Forgiveness

Requests

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This prayer includes:

Worship

reasonableness

talking to God

Making requests of God

Trusting God

Paul reminds us of Jesus teaching that the Lord is near. We don’t have to beg, plead, repeat ourselves, whip ourselves into a frenzy to get God’s attention. Our prayer is focused, intelligent, and humble. It is worshipful, filled with joy, and thanksgiving.

Who do we pray for?

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

We pray for all people:

All ethnicities

All skin colors

All education levels

All economic levels

All “good” people

All “bad” people

All friends

All Enemies

All means All

This includes rulers and authorities that aren’t doing that well.

Paul wrote this during the reign of Nero. During this time history reveals that the overall view of Christianity in Roman culture was negative. This is what led to Nero using the Christians as a scapegoat for the fires he set in AD 64.

This same ruler who would dress believers up in animal skins and let dogs tear them apart and hung Christians on crosses at parties during the day and lit them on fire at night for lighting.

If we are going to pray for such a leader, what is it we are praying?

As we pray for all people, we pray for their salvation and submission to the Lordship of Jesus.

The goal of this is similar to what Jeremiah wrote to the Israelites who would go into exile.

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

As Christians we seek to live:

peacefully

quietly

godly

dignified

This is our goal for praying for them. Just as the Israelites were to seek the welfare of the nation they were exiled in, we are aliens and strangers in this world and we are to seek the welfare of the city we live in.

Remember the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Remember Daniel and lions den.

We submit to the government as an authority until that authority attempts to supersede the authority of God. But notice how they did it.

PRAY

So church, what are we to do?

How are you doing in your regular prayer life?

How important are our men’s and women’s prayer gatherings?

How important is our involvement in our community?

We are not called to isolate but to evangelize, to serve, to bless, and to PRAY for our community.

As we move into communion, How is your prayer life. As we remember the sacrifice of our Savior, and express gratitude for the forgiveness and grace he provided are we praying as we ought?

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