Evangelistic Praying, Part 1
1 Timothy 2:1
This morning we return to our study of 1 Timothy and we find ourselves at the beginning of chapter 2...1 Timothy chapter 2.
As we begin to focus on verses 1 through 8 which will be our theme for this Lord's day and next, it will take us two Sundays to really examine the intent of this text, I want to begin by just giving a personal word of testimony, if I might.
As I was studying through this week in this passage and this happens to me all of the time, but it seems specifically this week that the Holy Spirit laid a weight of conviction on my own heart in regard to this passage, more than others that I can think of recently. But as I was studying, I was really convicted in my own heart of my personal failure to fulfill what the Word of God says here. The text basically calls us to pray for the lost, as we shall see when we look at it. And I was reminded of how little I do that very thing. And I suppose because of that, I was exercised in my spirit to spend perhaps an unusual amount of time in this text, sort of wrestling between interpretation and conviction, thinking about what the text meant and then thinking about how in my own life and in the life of the church and even in the life of my own family we could begin to apply these things in a way we had not done in the past. And it's took me, because of that, a rather long time. In fact, yesterday I spent the entire day locked up in my study, laboring over the text and what I would share with you on this Lord's day and next. And I really couldn't let go of it.
My wife, Patricia, said it's very unusual for you to do that. And she really kind of queried me about why that was happening...was I slowing down in my mental processes in my latter years...or what exactly was going on. But I tried to share with her that there are times when you get into a passage of Scripture and you can't let it go maybe for the reason that it doesn't yield its real fruit to you until there's a sort of a break through. There are other times when you study a passage and it doesn't let you go, it holds you there because you're captive to its convicting truth. And I think...I think that's where I was. I don't know that I really thought that through until I was thinking about it just this morning in the first service, that I found my own heart captive to the passage and my own sense of conviction rising that this is something that I desperately needed to hear. And if I did not really find in my own life a commitment to obedience in this regard, I could well be sure that those I had taught for these number of years might be a little on the short end of this as well. And so I was greatly encouraged in my spirit to share with you today and next time what I believe the Spirit of God is saying in this regard in relationship to evangelistic praying.
I don't know that I can put any blame on this but I remember some years ago being given a book written a very reputable Christian writer. It was a book dealing with the matter of prayer. And in that book he tried to point out the fact that there is nothing in the Word of God calling us to pray for the lost. In fact, it was a thesis of the book that the only prayer related to evangelism was a prayer given by our Lord Jesus to us when He said, "Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into His harvest" and that what we're to do is not pray for the lost, but pray for the laborers to reach the lost.
Furthermore the thesis of the book was to go ahead and evangelize and that was what we were called to do. And there are myriad of scriptures that impel us in that area. And I suppose in a sense that that trustworthy writer sort of settled that issue in my heart that maybe praying for the lost wasn't of great consequence. Obviously all of us pray for the lost that we know around us, or people who carry a great part of our heart because of love or relationship. But I guess I just sort of set that aside. And it's easy to do that because fervent evangelistic prayer is indeed an exercise of spiritual commitment that takes time and great energy and is rather easily set aside, especially if there's a way in which you can justify that. And so I confess to the Lord and to you that I have not perhaps in my own life been as faithful as I should have been to this matter of evangelistic prayer and the Spirit of God is speaking to my own heart about this. I felt compelled even this morning at our table as our little family gathered for breakfast to read the passage to all of us and then to spend some time in prayer for those that are without the Savior...trying to immediately put into practice the intent of what the Apostle says to Timothy here.
Obviously prayer for the lost, no matter what we might believe about it in terms of its biblical teaching, is a part of our lives. It goes without saying in the Christian community that when we have someone dear to us who does not know Christ, it is the most natural thing to pray for their conversion. And it's really not that to which I speak, nor that to which the text speaks. The issue in the text is not so much a command for us to pray to God about people we love that they might be saved, but to understand the scope of evangelistic praying...to understand the intent of the heart of God and the universality of gospel provision that compels us to pray on a far wider scale than we perhaps have understood.
Every week we receive on the registration cards hundreds of names of people to pray for, people that you suggest to us who do not know Christ and you want us to pray. And on Wednesday often a sheet comes out with nothing but names on it, in one whole section just names of people that you're concerned that would be saved. And you know and I know and we all know that salvation is a sovereign work of God and we must go to God and ask Him to save, for that's His prerogative.
And I also realize that monthly we receive a prayer calendar and part of that, some of the days of the month are involved in praying for nations and peoples and mission fields who do not know Christ. I know in our radio ministry, we receive bags of letters every day encouraging us to pray for people who are without the Lord.
Because of this it's essential for us to understand what the Bible teaches about such prayer. Is it legitimate? Is it necessary? Can we really pray for a person's salvation? For the salvation of a city? Of a state? Of a nation? Of a tribe? Can we pray on those kinds of broad terms and does that have any significance in the mind of God? Does that in any way lend itself to the salvation work of God?
If indeed God answers the prayer that we pray for someone's salvation, then we must be committed to doing that. But what does the Bible say? Well, let's go back in our thinking, back to the first set of books in the Scripture, the Pentateuch, the books of Moses, and we find in the book that we call Numbers chapter 11 verses 1 and 2 and also in chapter 14 verse 3, you don't need to look it up, in those two places in Numbers, Moses prayed. And he prayed for the unbelieving complaining unthankful Israelites. And his prayer was basically for God not to consume them in fiery judgment.
In fact, in chapter 14 of Numbers and verse 19, he cried out to God with these words, "Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy mercy." And here is Moses the prophet of God, the statesman of God, the man of God who is given the responsibility of leadership among the people Israel and the passion of his heart is to cry out to God for the salvation of that nation. This is evangelistic praying.
In 1 Samuel, I would draw your attention to that text. You might turn to chapter 12. I share with you the testimony of Samuel in chapter 12 and verse 23. And Samuel says on behalf of his people, "Moreover, as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way, only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things He hath done for you but if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed both you and your king."
Now Samuel goes one step beyond what we saw in the Mosaic text to say it is not only a matter of importance to pray for you, it is a sin not to pray for you. God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you that you would fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart. And if you don't do that, you'll be consumed in your wickedness. That is an evangelistic prayer...that is a prayer for the conversion of unredeemed people in the nation Israel.
In Jeremiah's prophecy, in two places, we find a most interesting insight into this. It comes in a reverse manner. In Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 13, verse 12 talks about the wickedness of the people. And now, says God, the Word of the Lord coming to Jeremiah according to verse 1, in verse 13 God says, "Because you have done all these works and I spoke unto you, rising up early and speaking but you heard not. And I called you but you answered not." In other words, because of your obstinate wickedness, "therefore will I do unto this house which is called by My name in which you trust and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers as I have done to Shiloh. I will cast you out of My sight as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim."
Notice what he says to the prophet Jeremiah. "Therefore do not pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me for I will not hear thee."
Now the point that I want you to notice is that it was part and parcel of the life of the prophet to be crying out to God on behalf of his people. And you know that from reading the testimony of Jeremiah. You know how he weeped bitter tears for the salvation of unredeemed Israel. You know how he cried out to God that they would be brought to faith in the true God and would come away from disobedience and wickedness. But they have been so long in their sin that God tells the prophet to stop praying and stop crying out to Him.
Notice in chapter 14 and verse 10, "Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander. They have not restrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them. He will not remember their iniquity and punish their sins. Then said the Lord unto me, Stop or do not pray for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry. When they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword and the famine and the pestilence. Then said I, Ah, Lord God, stop praying for the people." Jeremiah was a man given to pray for his people and only God could stop him.
The Psalmist in Psalm 25:22 cried out to God these words, "Redeem Israel, O God." Now in all of these instances you have illustrations of men praying for the salvation of a whole people, of a nation. Samuel in 1 Samuel 7 and verse 5 called all of the sinning people of Israel to gather at a place called Mizpah. And he called them all to turn to the Lord with all their hearts. He was crying out for their salvation. It was to be a great evangelistic meeting. And he said to them if you will turn to the Lord with all your heart..quote: "I will pray for you." In other words, I will pray that God will be merciful and forgive your sin.
Hezekiah, the king, knowing the wickedness of the hearts of his people saw them all coming into Jerusalem, gathering for the Passover. And he realized that they were all there to do their religious duty. In 2 Chronicles chapter 30, the text says as he looked at the people, he noted that they had not quote "cleansed" themselves. They were an impure and wicked people, carrying out an external and hypocritical religious ritual. But their hearts were not right. And so, Hezekiah turned to God and he prayed for them these words, "The good Lord pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God." And here is a king praying for the salvation of his people.
I'm reminded also of the prayer of Daniel in that great ninth chapter, particularly verses 17 to 19 where Daniel prays evangelistically. "Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant and his supplications and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline Thine ear and hear. Open Thine eyes and behold our desolations and the city which is called by Thy name, for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses but for Thy great mercies." Then this, "O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, hearken and do, defer not for Thine own sake. O my God, for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name." And he calls out for God to forgive his sinful people and restore them and their city and their worship.
And then in the New Testament we find the testimony of Stephen. Stephen prayed what amounts to an evangelistic prayer in Acts chapter 7 and verse 59 and 60. Stephen was being crushed under the stones of those who were stoning him to death for what they saw as blasphemy. In truth it was the gospel of Christ. They were stoning him to death. And as he was stoned...being stoned to death he asked that the Lord Jesus would receive him and then he prayed this marvelous prayer, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Lord, don't hold them responsible for this sin." Which is to say, "O God, be merciful to these sinners." Which is a prayer of evangelism. He prayed for their forgiveness, their salvation at the gracious and merciful provision of God.
I'm reminded also of the Apostle Paul in Romans 9 who talks about sorrow and great heaviness of heart. And the heaviness of heart and the sorrow comes because he says, "I could almost wish myself accursed for the sake of the salvation of my kinsmen, the Jewish people, the Israelites." And then in chapter 10 verse 1, he says, "My heart's desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved."
Paul prayed for the nation Israel. Stephen prayed for the salvation of those who killed him. Daniel prayed for the salvation of his people. Hezekiah prayed for the salvation of his wicked and unfaithful people. Samuel did and Moses did. And this is not an uncommon thing. And those are only samples of such evangelistic praying.
I believe the Bible does teach that we are to pray for the lost. I believe it comes clear in the text before us. Let's read verses 1 through 8, you follow carefully as I read and listen to what the Spirit of God says.
I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and dignity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. For this 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 sincerity. I will therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dissension.
Now Paul is instructing Timothy in these eight verses regarding the matter of praying for the lost. That is clearly the intent of the passage. But this is just one part of the whole letter, and we must set it in context. Remember this, Paul has completed his third missionary journey by the end of the book of Acts. He is put in prison in Rome. After an imprisonment period in Rome, he is then released. Upon his release he goes to Ephesus. There he meets Timothy. There, I believe, Paul dealt with Hymenaeus and Alexander, putting them out of the church because they were heretical and apostate leaders. Paul then left Ephesus after doing that, but he left Timothy in Ephesus and said I want you to set the rest of the things that need to be said in order in order.
So, Timothy has remained at Ephesus. Paul has gone on west. Being gone just a brief time, Paul writes a letter back to Timothy. That letter is 1 Timothy, and in this letter instructs Timothy as to the specific matters which he must give himself to in the church. Many things were wrong in the church at Ephesus. And there was much work to be done.
In chapter 3 verse 15, Timothy is reminded maybe of his central responsibility, to teach the people how they ought to behave in the house of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. He is to set that church right for its own sake and for the sake of its testimony to the rest of the churches and to the world as well.
So, Timothy then is left in Ephesus. He has served the Apostle Paul well...perhaps as long as 15 years. He knows his heart. Paul knows that he knows that and yet Paul writes this letter to him just to affirm and strengthen his hand and as well to give to the people in the church a word from Paul in order that they might be encouraged that Timothy acts not on his own but under the authority of this great Apostle.
Now in our study of chapter 1 we noted there were many things wrong in the church. I only remind you of some of them. False philosophies were rampant in the church. There were religious views that contradicted the true gospel of salvation so that the basis of the Christian faith, the saving grace of God in Christ was being muddied up and people were not teaching true salvation. There was a misuse of the law by people who thought themselves to be teachers of the law but had no idea what the intent of the law was. There was a tolerance of sin. There was a lack of holiness. There was hypocrisy. There was involvement with demonic error and seducing spirits. There was a denial of the truth about who Christ Himself really was. There was apostasy and the rejection of God's Word. There was the abuse of the role of women. There was sin and corruption among the elders and pastors. There was unsound teaching and heresy. There was perverted worship. There was materialism, a desire for money and earthly gain. There was worldliness, pride, intellectualism and a general discontent with the will of God. Now that's a church in trouble...every way you look at it.
And Timothy is left there to get that church in line with God's will and God's purpose. As we looked at chapter 1 verse 18, we were reminded that Timothy had