First, Let Us Pray

1 Timothy 2:1-7
By Vander Warner, Junior

SPACE We Christians have a habit of beginning every thing, every committee meeting, every Bible study, and every worship with prayer; if not the very first thing it comes shortly thereafter. It is not just a good way to begin things it is the Biblical way, but there is far more than the chronology of prayer here involved.

The entire book of 1st Timothy is basically about maintaining the truth in a culture where false teachers abound. Paul is engaging Timothy in that battle. In chapter one verses 18-20 he says “This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy…war a good warfare.” Then Paul says “first of all,” pray “for all.” And for us to be good soldiers in a time of “ship wrecked faith,” in a time of a radically secularized culture, a time of lighting fast change, nationally and personally I hear Paul’s call clearly in my own soul, “First, let us pray!”

While attending a conference at the Billy Graham center for discipleship, The Cove, my own heart was warmed when at the end of an anointed presentation the call to prayer came. We were to pray. No directions were given as to when or where for the moment. I noticed out of the corner of my eye movement as a tiny gray haired lady, who had arrived in a wheel chair, took the hand of her friend requesting aid in going forward. She slowly, laboriously, dragged one foot after the other until she arrived at the altar where she slowly descending to her knees bent way low in prayer. My heart pounded, my thoughts raced as I thought “That is it, whatever it takes, we must engage God in our needs. And we need to pay whatever cost of humility is required to get before Him. Now!”

It is not easy in our technologically dominated, if not ruled, society to even realize our need to pray. The atmosphere is not conducive to the reflection the quietness of prayer. We are rushing on to something else, we detached from our inner man, and thus God is not in our thoughts, if we are thinking at all. We are so entertained that we are disassociated from the inner and still small voice. We are typically observing, not engaged, even at a place of worship. I had a gentle and clear reminder of that recently. I was teaching the Bible at a Christmas gathering of senior adults from across the South at the Southern Baptist’s assembly grounds in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Here is what came to pass: The speaker was dramatizing the life of Handel, composer of “The Messiah.” She had told us of Handel’s agony and ecstacy while he worked day after day alone before the Lord on that grand oratorio. She reminded us that when he had completed the work Handel wept with joy as he experienced the presence of God the Father Almighty. She sat down and the music of the Hallelujah Chorus filled the spacious auditorium. I was thinking how fitting, good planning, concluding with his masterpiece. I was also thrilled with the spiritual reality Handle had experienced. I sat tearfully. Then I noticed two elderly people to my left stood, then one in front of me, then others; and it dawned on me, they are observing the time honored tradition of standing while it is presented. The queen had done so when she heard it for the first time. Then we all stood until the end. I realized I had forgotten. I was spiritually short-circuited by the fact that it was on the screen, and I was just watching. I quickly became engaged. I then thanked God for the “gray hairs,” who had not forgotten, who were engaged and did as they had always done, they recognized the praise unto our ever present God. We need to keep people like that around us. You see, one of the things prayer is, is openness to our Lord. And praying incessantly means at least, being always open to His presence, His promises, His surprises. And nothing causes more joy than when He shows up! Nothing!

One other window through which to look at this exhortation of Paul to first pray: It occurred to me while on a preaching mission with a dear friend years ago. Dr. Ralph Neighbor, Jr. and I were traveling in Haiti, the Dominican, and Jamaica. We were having a personal time of Bible reading and prayer. I opened the Bible and began reading. Ralph, looked at me with a smile and asked, “Vander may I show you something?” He reached over, closed the Bible held it between his hands and said, “Someone taught me this.” Holding the holy Word of God, that blessed Book out before him, he looked heavenward and prayed, “Father, as I open your Word to hear from you, I ask the sweet Holy Spirit, its author, my teacher to show me things I could not otherwise see. Teach me Oh Holy Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen.” Of course I have never forgotten that. First, let us pray!

In the passage in First Timothy, Paul lists four kinds of praying: “supplications”, that is specific prayers; “prayers”, that is pray in general; “intercessions,” that is Jesus kind of praying, prayer for others; “giving of thanks,” that is prayer worshipping, the spirit of prayer the Father adores. I want to mention just one insight regarding intercessory prayer. The word in the old language means to “throw oneself into.” It is the same word as used in Romans 8 where the Holy Spirit is said to “make intercession for us.” Think of that our praying for others is throwing ourselves into it for them. Think again, the Holy Spirit throws Himself into the gap for us. I can get happy about that. I know of nothing through which I have to go in which I don’t want the dear Holy Spirit to be all mixed up in. First pray for the one our Lord left us to guide and guard, and goad us on to get in on what is going on in our lives.

Paul exhorts us to pray for those in authority that they will be saved, because there is no other way for them to be saved aside from the “one mediator” between God and man, and he tells us that that is the secret of a “quiet, peaceable life marked by all Godliness and honesty.” Well who can deny that more prisons, more police, and more punishment has not produced the quietude we desire? First let us pray, and pray for those in authority that they will get saved.

Paul gives us three characterizations for those who pray. He says pray lifting up holy hands; I take that to mean clean lives with nothing between us and the Lord. Miss Bertha, the great missionary, said, “Keep your sins forgiven up to date.” Pray without “wrath”, i.e. everything right between you and your brother. Remember Jesus said when you get ready for mountain moving there are two things here is how Mark puts in eleven verses 24, 25: “What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. And when you stand praying forgive.” I am convinced that the cloud of prayer that goes up in churches by the thousands around the world is blocked, hindered by this truth….we need to forgive.

Paul puts these two together in the Timothy passage no wrath and no doubting.

I heard Miss Bertha talking with a convicted saint once who had just asked her what to do about doubting. Miss Bertha raised her voice and asked pointedly, “Who do you doubt?” Doubt yourself, yes, God no!

My young nephew was visiting from Washington State. He had gotten his life turned around and was living joyously in his first love experience. He developed a severe tooth ache. He came into my study and said, “Uncle Van, I’ve a toothache.” I said, Well I’ll call our dentist.” He looked deeply at me and quietly said, “I’d rather you first prayed.”

First of all everywhere and at all times and places let us pray!

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