Praying for All Men

I Timothy 2:1-4

There has been a common theme in the last several Christian books I have read.  I will tell you what it is in a moment, but first I want to let you know the scope of topics I have read about.  One book was advice on preaching.  Another book (currently reading) is about the difference in Revival and Revivalism.  The third book is an autobiography of Hudson Taylor.  These are all on different topics within church work and yet they all share the common theme of the necessity of prayer.  That shouldn’t be surprising though.

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Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I Timothy 2:1–4

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Paul told Timothy to pray for all men.  Social status, degree of influence, friend or foe, who they are does not matter. The reason for this is that God wants “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. We tend to forget that our greatest weapons are the Word of God and prayer.  We neglect reading God’s word and hiding it in our hearts.  We also neglect going to God in prayer, other than to present Him with our list of wants like He is Santa Claus.

James wrote, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:15 LSB).  If we are told that our prayers “can accomplish much”, why don’t we pray more?  Why is it our last resort?  We don’t pray because we lack faith.  We do not believe God is going to hear and/or answer our prayers.  That is not a God problem; that is an us problem.

Jesus, when confronted by the mob in the garden, told his disciples to put away their swords.  Did they not know that He could pray and His father would send more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:52-53)?  Jesus said He could “pray” and He had access to more than 72,000 angels.  He did not pray for this because it was not God’s will.  That is what gets us into trouble many times when we pray.  We ask for things that are contrary to God’s will.  James also said on the issue of prayer, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

Rather than pray for a wish list, we should pray for God’s will to be accomplished in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  We should pray this for our leaders at all levels of government.  We should pray this for our enemies.  Jesus, when teaching His disciples how to pray, said “your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  If that is the example He set, it is the example we should follow.

I mentioned that I am reading the autobiography of Hudson Taylor.  He begins his book by telling of his conversion experience.  He says that he had given up on religion and had no use for it.  However his mom kept praying for him.  One day while she was away visiting some friends for an extended period of time, she excused herself from the table and went to her room to pray.  She told God she was not getting up off her knees until her son was saved.  At the very time she was praying this, Taylor was bored and picked up a Bible Tract to read.  Thinking he would put it down the moment it got overly religious, he began reading.  However, God answered his mother’s prayer that day and Taylor received Christ’s redemption for his sins.  God answers prayers!

Father, I want to pray like Hudson Taylor’s mother.  I want to be fervent in my prayers and to judge You faithful who have given us Your promises.  I want to pray for your will to be done in my heart and in the world around me.  I thank You for the prayers I have seen You answer in recent months.  Increase my faith!