This is good 1 Timothy 2 v 1-7
God sent His Son into the world to save sinners (1 v 15) so they can receive eternal life (v 16). What does He want us to do with that life during our time on earth?
Read 1 Timothy 2:1
Prayer
Notice the “then” in verse 1. Paul’s words today link back to what he’s just said about struggling on in the faith and never shipwrecking it (1 v 19-20).
• What does Paul “urge” first of all (v 1)?
• Who is this to be done for in particular (v 2)?
• When we pray for them, what are we asking for (v 2)?
• Why is this “good”?
• verse 3
• verse 4
Paul’s logic is: if authorities maintain peace… we can get on with living clear Christian lives… and in such conditions others are most likely to hear and see “the truth”, and be saved… which pleases God. So, we should get praying!
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TIME OUT
It’s easy to be negative or cross about our rulers, and to think today’s governments are particularly ungodly. But the Roman Emperor when Paul wrote to Timothy was Nero, who was about to start burning Christians alive. If Christians then could pray positively for and about their leaders, then we certainly can.
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PRAY THRU
Use verses 1-4 as a basis for praying for, and about, your country’s leaders.
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Witness
Our aim should be that all people “come to a knowledge of the truth” (v 4).
• Why?
• v 3-4
• v 5
Jesus is able to stand between God and us, bringing us into relationship with each other.
• What has Jesus done in the past that enables Him to do this now (v 6)?
• Why is the job that Paul has been given (v 7) therefore of crucial importance?
We are not apostles, as Paul was. But we can be “heralds”, telling those around us that there is only one God, and only one way to be brought into relationship with Him—through faith in Christ Jesus. And we can be “teachers”, telling those who
already know Jesus more about Him.
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APPLY
God wants those around you to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth (v 4).
• Who could you be a herald to today?
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