Pray For All People
Introduction:
Consider the following quote:
“The ministry of prayer is the most important service that the Church of Christ can engage in.” (Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes)
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT
Pray For All People
2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Examine the Scriptures:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT
Pray For All People
2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
“First of all” signals that a number of instructions follow. The fact that Paul mentioned prayer first indicates its priority in importance.
Prayer is an activity Paul regarded as of primary importance in the total ministry of the church.
Prayer is foundational to the life of the church.
- The ministry of prayer is the most important service that the Church of Christ can engage in.
Christians should pray all types of prayers for all people.
Even those we may disagree with.
“for all people” emphasizes no exclusion—prayer is not limited to believers or friends.
- Pray for all people.
Read from the NIV:
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. (NIV)
Paul calls for all sorts of prayers for all sorts of people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf,
Just as Christ intercedes for us.
Romans 8:34 NLT
34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading (interceding is used in the NIV and ESV) for us.
There are many various needs within any body of believers.
Many times individuals do not even know they have these needs.
Pray on behalf of others.
Remember:
Psalm 121:1-2 NLT
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
- Our help comes from the Lord.
and give thanks for them.
Thanks giving should be an important part of our prayers.
Philippians 4:6 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Colossians 4:2 NLT
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
- Thanksgiving should be an important part of our prayers.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority
The Ephesians church was to pray for everyone, but especially for the leaders of civil government.
According to the Scriptures, how should we feel about governing authorities?
Romans 13:1-7 NLT
Respect for Authority
13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
1 Peter 2:13-17 NLT
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
- Scripture tells us to “give respect and honor to those who are in authority”.
*The Ephesians were even to pray for the salvation of the Roman emperor, Nero, who was in power at the time Paul wrote these words. Nero was a cruel and violent blasphemer and persecutor of the faith.
Suggestions:
Pray that our leaders come to faith in Christ. Pray that their decisions honor God and allow for the free spread of the gospel. Pray that God would reach into the souls of our local, state, national, and world leaders who don’t know Him. That He would save them, and incline their wills toward His.
Pray that government does not interfere with the activities of the church.
- The Ephesians church was to pray for everyone, but especially for the leaders of civil government. (This certainly applies to us also.)
so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives
Ideally:
The absence of external disturbances.
Allow society to experience peace and order.
Not a life of civil disobedience.
Not a life that agitates or disrupts the national life.
Allow for a society that ensures that the best possible conditions for spreading the gospel exist.
Experience religious freedom.
Freedom to worship and share the Gospel.
- A stable society allows believers to live out and share their faith more freely.
James 4:2 NLT
… Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
So that we can live lives
marked by godliness and dignity.
- Believers are called to live lives marked by godliness and dignity’
godly and dignified in every way.(ESV)
in all godliness and holiness. (NIV)
in all godliness and honesty. (KJV)
in all godliness and dignity. (NASB)
Living in a way that reflects well on the Gospel
Our purpose is to bring the message of reconciliation to all people and to glorify God in all of our relationships.
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
- What pleases God is but intercession for others.
1 John 5:14 NLT
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
- The Gospel is for all races and economic classes.
Share Christ with all people regardless of differences.
- We don’t know who God has chosen.
We are never told to figure out who is chosen—we are told to repent, believe, and proclaim the gospel to all.
The reality is that not everyone will be saved.
Matthew 25:41 NLT
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
Ultimately, God’s choices are determined by His sovereign, eternal purpose.
