Bible Study - Share (3) - Start with Prayer - 1 Timothy 2:1-8 - May 2, 2021

 Bible Study – Share (2) – Start with Prayer – May 2, 2021

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “How to Share CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Timothy 2:1-8.

GOD calls us to pray for others’ salvation.

Our overarching theme is “How to share CHRIST.” Step one is prayer. We as Spirit-born Christians must be in unity and harmony with GOD. We must ask GOD to examine our hearts and intentions and reveal anything that disrupts our relationship with HIM or others. Why?

Prayer is a dialogue. We go into the presence of GOD as HIS children through the miracle of Spiritual Birth. We go into HIS presence freely as recorded in Hebrews 4:14-16:

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

We confess our sins, make our requests known to GOD and listen for HIM to respond. How does HE respond? Any way HE chooses that you will listen e.g., in a still small voice, whisper, a knowing or assurance within our innermost being (the eyes of our hearts) and ways that you know it is GOD WHO is speaking to you.

When we approach GOD, nothing is off the table. Speak to HIM with boldness. But keep in mind what HIS answers can be – Yes, No, Wait.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:1-2:

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, ² for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 

As Spirit-born Children of GOD who desire to serve GOD and minister to fellow people upon earth or ourselves, we can approach GOD 24/7.

Ephesians 3:12 - ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

In 1 Timothy 2, verses 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul stated “first of all” and then “I urge” you as Christians to make the following:

Petitions or supplications – carry the idea of certain definite needs to which only GOD can respond. Specific situations.

Prayers – Carry the idea of more general requests or needs that are always present such as our need for more wisdom, boldness or greater commitment.

Intercessions – pleading in the interest of others. Nothing is held back. JESUS intercedes for Christians before GOD when Satan accuses us of the sins we commit e.g., Sins of omission and commission.

Thanksgiving – Expressed gratitude. Blessings that come from GOD circle back to HIM or are returned to HIM as the source from which they came. Paul began with petition and came full circle to end with thanksgiving. We begin with making our requests known to GOD in the form of petitions, supplications, prayers, intercessions and end with thanksgiving. GOD is the power that moves the mountains or honors the requests we make to HIM. HE answers the door when we knock, therefore we end with thanksgiving.

As Christians, do we believe that GOD is on the throne and that we can approach HIM 24/7 with our requests? I have heard some people say, “I do not want to bother GOD with the small things in life.” What! Don’t be ridiculous! HIS desire is for you to come to HIM with all of your needs. Why? It is because HE loves you and wants to maintain the right relationship with you.

As a parent, have you ever told your son or daughter when something happened, “you should have come to me immediately before it became a larger issue? Go to GOD, “FATHER, I have a boo-boo and I want you to know about it.”

We are to pray -----

For everyone including those who have authority over you – kings, bosses, any one with authority over you – police officers, judges, kings, family members and the list goes on.

When we take matters to GOD, how does GOD look upon them? As a nuisance or as we read on ------

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:3-6:

³ This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

You may have a friend or loved one who does not know JESUS as his or her Savior. WHO desires for that person to come into a Spirit-born relationship with GOD more than you do? GOD! When it comes to salvation, GOD is with you when you pray for the Spiritually lost. GOD desires for all to know HIM and to come to the knowledge of the truth. What is the truth? Let’s read on in verses 5 and 6 ---

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

We hear of various religions worshipping god or gods. There is only one true GOD and that is YAHWEH and one mediator, JESUS. Why is JESUS the only way to GOD? It is because GOD sent JESUS to earth to be born of the Virgin Mary to live in the flesh, 100% human, to be tempted as humans are tempted, yet without sin. JESUS, the second Adam, had to be sinless, perfect, the acceptable sacrifice to GOD for the sins of mankind. HIS blood had to be shed because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. When JESUS gave HIS sinless life upon the cross, in essence, all who accept JESUS as their Savior were at the foot of the cross. When JESUS died their sins were blotted out and they became sinless. How can that be? Make a guess, as we read on---.

Second Corinthians 5:21 - ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him we (all who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God.

This is GOD’S redemptive plan which HE backs up with a guarantee. What is the guarantee? You guessed it, if you said the indwelling Holy Spirit, WHO seals us and indwells us. Consider Romans 8:15-16:

¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[i] Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

GOD’S redemptive plan is just that, “GOD’S plan.” It is not some plan created by the human mind but created by GOD because of HIS love for all the people of earth as written in John 3:16-17:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

GOD’S redemptive plan unfolded at just the right moments according to GOD’S timetable. Why? So, man cannot say it is our plan.

When JESUS gave HIS sinless life upon the cross, HE broke the sin barrier that separated mankind from GOD. Now the pathway between mankind and GOD is open for all to come to GOD through faith in JESUS. That is all it takes – faith that JESUS was and is the one true SON of GOD WHO came to earth in the flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and gave HIS life for the redemption from sin of all who place their faith in HIM.

What do you get when you place your faith in JESUS? Forgiveness for all your sins – past, present and future, eternal life, Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family, full access to GOD 24/7 and so much more.

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:7-8:

⁷ For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth;^[a] I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Instructions to Men and Women

⁸ Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. 

This is the prayer all brothers and sisters in CHRIST need today. Lifting up our hands “without anger or argument” for the healing of attitudes toward each other but with the intention to solve the issues we face in today’s world.

The Apostle Paul was appointed a herald. A herald would go before a king to announce to people that the king was coming. Then, Paul acknowledges that he is an Apostle. Some Christian leaders in Paul’s day disputed his claim to being an Apostle. That is why Paul inserted (I am telling the truth; ^[a] I am not lying). His defense is written below:

Let’s read Acts 9:4-6; 10-17:

 ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Verses 10-17:

¹⁰ There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.

¹¹ “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. ¹² In a vision^[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Verses 22-25:

²² But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plot. So, they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

The scripture following this event is found in Galatians 1:1-2:

Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers who are with me:

Verses 11-24: The Origin of Paul’s Gospel

¹¹ For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. ¹² For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ¹⁵ But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.^[d] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas,^[e] and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

²¹ Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. ²³ They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.^[f]

What a testimony. Paul’s testimony is also recorded in Acts 26 as he spoke before King Agrippa. In Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC) in Operation Timothy, we were taught to use Paul’s testimony to use when giving our testimony basically a little of our old life before CHRIST, what led us to consider CHRIST, receiving CHRIST as our Savior and life since CHRIST came into our hearts. We were taught to have a fifteen to twenty testimony and a 3-minute testimony, when time was of essence.

Our lesson focused upon prayer. Those of us who know the truth of JESUS are commissioned to share this truth as GOD, via the Holy Spirit gives each of us opportunity to share this truth. When we begin each day, one of the first things we need to do is pray for the opportunity to share JESUS with those who are in need. This may be personally or through our actions. Blessings!!!