1
TIMOTHY 2:1-4
PRAYERFUL
PREPARATION
Susan: We will begin this passage with a few
definitions of words that we sometimes assume we understand.
Webster’s 1828 American
Dictionary of the English Language:
EXHORT',
verb transitive egzhort'. [Latin exhortor; ex and hortor, to encourage, to
embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to
give strength, spirit or courage.]
1.
To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or
to any laudable conduct or course of action.
I
exhort you to be of good cheer. Acts 27:22.
Young
men also exhort to be sober minded.
EXHORT
servants to be obedient to their masters. Titus 2:6.
2.
To advise; to warn; to caution.
3.
To incite or stimulate to exertion.
EXHORT,
verb intransitive To deliver exhortation; to use words or arguments to incite
to good deeds.
And
with many other words did he testify and exhort Acts 2:40.
The New Strong’s Exhaustive
Concordance of the Bible
SUPPLICATION:
1162
– dĕēsis – from 1189 – a petition: prayer, request, supplication
1189
– dĕŏmai – to beg (as binding oneself) i.e. petition – beseech, pray (to), make
request
PRAYERS
4335
– prayer (worship); by impl. An oratory (chapel):—pray earnestly, prayer
INTERCESSIONS
1783
– ĕntuĕxix – from 1793: an interview, i.e. (spec.) supplication:—intercession,
prayer.
1793
– ĕntugchanō – to chance upon, i.e (by impl.) confer with; by extens. To
entreat (in favor or against):—deal with, make intercession.
1
Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications1162,
prayers4335, intercessions1783, and giving of thanks, be
made for all men;
Susie: Paul encouraged Timothy to pray as well as
to teach others to pray. The exhortation, the encouragement, the instruction he
gave to Timothy applies to all believers, to all of the Messianic community,
followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Susan: Paul describes three attitudes of prayer
that should all be done in the context of thanksgiving. We are to come humbly
as beggars because we are incapable of earning God’s favor by our deeds. It is
only by His mercy and grace that we can approach Him at all.
Susie: This is why many of us kneel or bow our
heads when we pray, as a symbol of humility.
Susan: We are to be lost in adoring our First
Love, the Lord Jesus, the One who sacrificed everything to redeem us.
Susie: Our prayers should include praise for who
God is as well as for what He has done in the past and will do in the future.
Susan: Intercession is pouring your heart out to
God on behalf of someone else’s challenges. But, also, thanking Him through the
trials to victory.
Susie: The part of the Strong’s definition that jumped out at me was that intercession
could be for or against. I may be interceding
for God to move in a life or interceding against the enemy.
Susan: If we position ourselves in a framework of
thanksgiving, we are trusting that the Lord hears and will answer His children.
He may answer yes, no, or wait.
Susie: These prayers are to be made for all
people (men means mankind). Lest we think we should pray only for believers,
look at the next verse!
1
Timothy 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Susan: If things are going well for the leaders
of your country, things will be better for you. Christ expects His followers to
obey this mandate to pray for those in authority.
Susie: One may say it is difficult to pray for
and on behalf of a leader who is not a Christian or perhaps even antagonistic
to the faith. Paul was telling the Ephesians to pray for Emperor NERO! You
know, the one who burned Christians alive as torches! What can we pray for a
king or president who is not a believer?
Susan: We need to pray that he or she comes to
know Jesus in a personal, undeniable, tangible way as Savior and Lord.
Susie: We can pray the Lord grants them wisdom in
their position. This is not just for national leaders, but can encompass local
leadership as well. Not only for politicians but for all in authority,
including the leadership of our churches.
Susan: Pray for those who lead our cities, our
nation, and our world. A quiet life refers to external circumstances, those
controlled by others.
Susie: Peaceable refers to internal calmness.
When we are praying for those in authority, it is with the understanding that
God is in control which brings great inner peace.
Proverbs
21:1The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he
turneth it whithersoever he will.
Susan: Godliness is hard work especially when He
asks us to thank Him in and for things that do not make sense to our finite
brains (i.e. phantom pain, school shootings, tragedies).
Susie: Godliness is first and foremost an
attitude of the heart. Keeping our focus on Jesus, listening to the still,
small voice of the Holy Spirit, and trusting that our Father works everything
for our ultimate good and His glory.
Susan: Honesty is living out that holy attitude
as a living beacon for the Lord and His kingdom purposes.
Susie: Honesty could be translated “moral
earnestness” and is living out godliness among people. It is behaving like a
believer in our earthly relationships.
1
Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Susan: This righteous living is approved and
endorsed by Jesus.
Romans
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.
Susie: The only way to achieve godliness is to
have God’s Holy Spirit controlling your life. It cannot be done in your own
strength.
Romans
8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Susie: Our faith in the Lord, our trust in Jesus,
brings the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Therefore, until we act by faith, we are
not pleasing to God not matter how “good” society may think we are.
Hebrews
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
Susan: The Holy Spirit woos us into the
commitment to Jesus and to walk in obedience thereafter.
1
Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
Susie: The King James Version may seem to say
that everyone will ultimately be saved, but this is not the case.
1
Timothy 2:4 (ESV) who desires all people to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
Notes
from John MacArthur Study Bible:
The
Gr. word for “desires” is not that which normally expresses God’s will of
decree (His eternal purpose), but God’s will of desire. There is a distinction
between God’s desire and His eternal saving purpose, which must transcend His
desires.
Susie: The Father, in His love, wants the Gospel
message presented to all people, in all places. However, not everyone will
receive it, believe it, and trust in Jesus. What, exactly, is the truth they
are to teach?
Susan: The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus is
the One and Only Begotten Son who came to earth as a man, lived perfectly
according to God’s laws, and died as the perfect Lamb of God to pay the ransom
for our sins. His body was laid in a tomb for three days. Then God raised Him
from the dead, and He appeared to over 500 people before ascending to the
Father’s right hand to make intercession for all who believe.
Susie: The Holy Spirit gives us the faith to
believe these truths and accept God’s free gift of salvation from sin. Once we
have trusted the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, we are assured we will live
with Him forever.
QUESTIONS
1.
Write
a definition of exhort and example sentences in your own words.
2.
What
are the differences between supplication, prayer, and intercession?
3.
Does
one type of prayer seem easier to you than another? Why or why not?
4.
Should
we pray only for fellow believers? Why or why not?
5.
Why
should we pray for our president and other national leaders?
6.
Who
ultimately controls the president?
7.
Does
God promise that all people will be saved? Back up your response with
Scripture.
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