Introduction. Read 1Tim2v1to8.

One of the great differences between the teaching of Jesus and Paul is that Jesus told stories to illustrate one important truth whereas Paul conveyed many truths in the space of only a few lines. Paul actually leaves the expositor with far more to do. The apostle is so concise it is not always easy to work out what he is saying. Warren Wiersbe identifies six lessons about prayer in 1Tim2v1to8. This exposition borrows heavily from his treatment of the passage.

(A) The Priority of prayer. I urge then first of all ...

I entirely concur with Wiersbe's caustic remarks on this subject: It is sad to see how prayer has lost importance in many churches. "If I announce a banquet," a pastor said, "people will come out of the woodwork to attend. But if I announce a prayer meeting, I'm lucky if the ushers show up."

The annual fortnight I spent for 20 years at a Christian camp was easily the most productive in terms of the number of conversions experienced. Every morning the skipper walked round the camp site waking up the workers for a 7am prayer meeting. We sat around in a circle - some still half asleep - to pray for the boys and girls in our charge. We prayed in the round so nearly everyone prayed. The prayers were not long or eloquent - but they were in earnest! That prayer meeting was a priority and one of the reasons for the camp's success.

The period in the last 40 years when my own small church had greatest blessing was during the ministry of Simon Ladd. Here was a young pastor who recognised the importance of the prayer meeting. His talks were concise - leaving a good long time for prayer. Everyone was encouraged to pray briefly. The attendance grew and grew and for a time the spirit of prayer infected our church.

Today the prayer meeting is a threatened species. So called 'with it' churches are phasing it out in favour of discussion groups, bible studies and socials. Even in the main worship services the preacher has usually given little thought to the content of his prayer. Last Sunday was a welcome change. Our speaker, Pastor John Skull, introduced three topics he was going to pray for: the global threat of militant Islam, the work of carers in our society and the preservation of freedom of speech. As a consequence his prayer held the attention and sympathy of the congregation.

(B) The forms of prayer. ... requests, prayers, inercessions and thanksgiving.

It is worth dealing with each term Paul uses separately:

(1) Requests. We make requests when we ask God for help born of a conviction that we cannot deal with life and its challenges ourselves. I have often made requests - for help: to care for my demented father, to control a difficult class of children, to speak with a church member about their behaviour, to conduct the funeral of an unbeliever, to chair a potentially difficult church meeting. Whenever we feel our own inadequacy we are able to make request of God the Holy Spirit's assistance.

(2) Prayers. When we offer prayers it is like holding a conversation with God. We should sometimes be like children returning from school telling mum or dad how their day has been. When friends get together they talk about their shared interest. Christians can just chat to God about his business - the various activities of the church - their witness as Christians in the world. So when we have a particularly uplifting time of worship I tell God about it. Last night I told God how pleased I was that poor old Peter - in the fell grip of Alzhiemer's disease - was so full of joy at our prayer meeting and made a lovely, moving intercession to God's glory.

It is very sad when a husband and wife stop talking to one another. It is a sign that the relationship is in trouble. In just the same way, a red light is flashing when we stop chatting to God.

(3) Intercessions. Intercessions are like prayers but of a more intimate and confidential nature. If you have a very close and dear friend you might be able to tell that friend things that you would tell no one else. When we make intercessions to God we tell him about aspects of our lives that we could not share with anyone else. God is the ultimate confidant. We talk to him about our secret sins, the shameful things we have done, our hopes and fears, discouragements, disappointments, hurts and failures. It undoubtedly helps to pour out our troubles to a loving Father in heaven.

(4) Thanksgiving. We should never omit thanksgiving from our talk with God. There is a time for looking back in gratitude. Periodically I thank God for: a Christian upbringing, an excellent education, my 37 years as a teacher, a good pension, the ability to play hockey and cricket into my 60's, all the lovely things God has made that I am still able to enjoy and for 70 years of peace.

There is a time for being grateful in the present. Today I had a nice omelette for lunch, a friendly chat with my neighbour and an hour or so working in the garden in gorgeous, warm spring sunshine. As I sit before my computer I am thankful that Jesus is my Saviour, my sins are forgiven, God is my father and I am a member of his family.

There is a time for looking forward in gratitude. I nearly always remember in my public prayers that Jesus is coming again and that when I see him I will be like him and then for ever with him. What a simple but amazing promise, that we shall be forever with the Lord.

(C) The Objects of prayer. Prayers .... be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

There are three objects of prayer:

(1) Everyone. Now it is obviously absurd to think in terms of praying for every single individual in the world. We probably only know a few hundred people. But it does mean that we should not exclude anyone in need of our prayers. We shouldn't just pray for our family, friends and fellow Christians but also our neighbours, colleagues at work, sporting teammates, people in the news, people who report the news and so on. There are a lot of people to pray for!

(2) Our rulers. We are to pray for our rulers whoever they may be. Paul expected the Christians of his day to pray for Nero who was persecuting the church.

The reason it is so important to pray for rulers is that we depend upon them for the rule of law and our security. It is this that allows us to live peaceful and quiet lives. This is what innumerable people the world over long for. The population of Iraq has not benefitted from the deposition and death of Saddam Hussein. There has been near anarchy in that country and Christians have been driven out in huge numbers. Hussein maintained law and order. The same has happened in Libya. Since Gaddafi was toppled civil war has made it impossible for the population to live peaceful and quiet lives.

War and especially civil war are the ultimate horrors. Civilised behaviour is abandoned in war. Law and order breaks down; people live in fear of their lives. War is no friend of the Christian church. It is significant that the early spread of Christianity was facilitated by the rule of law in the extensive Roman Empire. The First and Second World Wars in Europe did no favours to the Christian church which has been in decline for a century. I am sure that the two terrible wars contributed to this decline.

(3) Mankind's highest good. When we live peaceful and quiet lives we have every opportunity to develop godliness and holiness. I do not think fighting in the trenches in the First World War was conducive to godliness nor was bombing the hell out of European cities in the Second World War compatible with holiness. It is significant that relatively few of those engaged in combat are keen to share their experiences.

Godliness never forgets the reverence due to God, the rights due to man or the respect due to self. (William Barclay). Godliness describes the character of the man who never fails God.

Holiness is possessing the right attitude to God and men. It never forgets the honour due to God or the dignity of man.

Now these are fine words but may not mean much. They are too general. I would say that the truly godly and holy man is one who practices the 8 Beatitudes. He is: humble hearted, aware of and sorry for his failings, self-controlled, eager to do good, kind-hearted, activated by the best of motives, willing to help others succeed and safe to persecute. See my expositions on the Beatitudes.

We are apt to pray that members of our families succeed at school, college or work; we pray for better health for the sick - but do we often pray that those we know will develop outstanding characters? When did you last ask God for more humility for yourself?

(D) The outcomes of prayer. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Prayer is good and pleases God because:

(1) It reveals a concern for others. It is good policy to have a list of people to pray for and to select 3 or 4 a day to bring before the Lord.

(2) It expresses a concern shared by God. He is God our saviour with the desire and ability to save absolutely sinful, men and women.

(3) It plays a part in achieving the will of God and the salvation of others. It is God's will that:

(a) All men should be saved. This is a truth also recognised by Peter in his second epistle: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Pet3v9.

I am not going to deal here with the age old controversy between Calvinists and Arminians. I have covered this ground in my exposition on: Romans9v1to29. In this passage Paul is telling Timothy that our prayers for the lost play a part in their salvation. There would be no point praying for the salvation of members of our family or our friends otherwise.

(b) Those who have been saved will come to understand the great truths of the Christian faith. We are very much in the will of God when we pray that preachers, teachers and authors will demonstrate the relevance of Christ's teaching and encourage believers to respond positively to it.

I shall never forget the huge benefit I received from reading Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. I was especially challenged by his exposition of Mt5v38to42. I hope that some of my studies in Luke achieve the same end - for example, my exposition on hiding your light under a bucket: See Luke8v16to21. One of my favourite expositions is Jesus' teaching on the bruised reed and smoking flax. See Mt12v20. This should cheer any Christian up and motivate for service. I was blessed in producing it!

(E) The motivation for prayer. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. And for his purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle - I am telling the truth, I am not lying - and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

We are encouraged to pray because:

(1) We have a mediator. This mediator is:

(a) Unique. There is only one. That is what Paul writes: For there is .... one mediator between God and men. There are not many mediators: saints, angels, priests or charismatic pastors. There is just one - the man Christ Jesus; to claim a need for others is to insult him.

(b) Human - the MAN Christ Jesus. Our mediator knows what it is like to be a man. He knows better than anyone what it is to be tempted. Jesus experienced the full strength of temptation because he never gave in to it - unlike us! Our great high priest is not unsympathetic to our weaknesses. No angel could intercede for us like Jesus does.

(c) Privileged. Jesus is in heaven at God's right hand. He is in a position of influence and power where he intercedes for us and with us.

(d) Committed. Jesus' great work as God's son on earth was to give himself as a ransom for all men. He paid the price to free us from slavery to sin. It was an historical event - a once and for all transaction - given in its proper time. Jesus is vitally interested in the outcome of his saving work and promotes it in his Father's presence.

(2) Certain Christians are called to be heralds. It is their responsibility to proclaim the saving work of Jesus to sinful men. Others are teachers who help believers to mature and grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ.

Paul was both an evangelist and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. As such he was always asking for the prayers of the saints. He wrote to the Ephesians: Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make know the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph6v19.

We should continue to pray today for all those who preach the gospel and teach about Jesus. We should pray because in ways we cannot understand - IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. If it made no difference why would Paul invariably ask the churches to whom he wrote to pray for him?

(E) The attitude of prayer. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

We should pray:

(1) Reverently. This is what Paul means by lifting up holy hands in prayer. We should always remember to whom we come. This is why Jesus taught us to pray: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name ... ." Our prayers should be earnest and not frivolous. I manage to pray like this in public. Indeed some of my fellow Christians find my prayers more helpful than my sermons! However this is not always the case at home. I sit down, close my eyes, and after a while my concentration flags. If I am not careful I find myself falling asleep.

(2) Without rancour or anger. There used to be a man who attended our prayer meeting who would get worked up in his public prayers and angry with us for not sharing his legalistic beliefs. Sometimes he got angry with God for not putting him in charge of world affairs. If only he, Jack Finch, had God's power for an hour many enemies of the truth would wish they had never been born.

Perhaps, we are more likely to pray with rancour in our private prayers. This was the case with Elijah. He had won what he thought was a great victory over the prophets of Baal but it hadn't made any difference. He was the only one left who had not bowed the knee to Baal. He'd had enough and asked God to take his life. God had to teach Elijah that he wasn't in the spectacular events - the earthquake, the fire or the rushing wind. More often than not he was in the still small voice - the still, small voice that meant there were 6000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal.