First of All

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Introduction:

• Who wants to be a millionaire? Put the following events in the order in which they occurred.
• John F. Kennedy is assassinated (11/22/63) (4)
• The Bay of Pigs (1961) (2)
• Elvis appears on the Ed Sullivan show (9/9/56) (1)
• Michael Jordan is born (2/17/63) (3)
• What is the first thing you do when a crisis occurs?
• What is the first thing you do when you get sick?

I. The Primacy of Prayer

A. “First of all”

1. Could mean first step in a list of things that must be done

2. Could mean the most important step

B. Prayers and spare tires

1. We usually only use a spare tire when we need

2. Most pray only after all earthy methods have failed

3. We should pray before we try earthly methods and while we try earthly methods

C. Types of praying

1. Supplications

2. Prayers

3. Intercessions

4. Giving of thanks

D. Pray comes before any other church activity

1. Paul is beginning his manual on church order

2. He reminds Timothy that before any organization is established, you must first pray

3. Before any method is used, you must pray

4. Before any philosophy of ministry is adopted, you must pray

II. The Recipients of Prayer

A. “All men”

1. God desires the salvation of all men

2. We are to pray for our enemies as well as our church family

a) This develops character in us

b) This develops the correct attitude in us toward our enemies

c) This may result in a change in our enemies’ attitude toward us

B. “Kings, and authority”

1. Nero was possibly in charge now and Paul says to pray for the psychopath

2. We are to pray for our leaders even when we disagree with them politically

a) As a conservative and a Christian, I have a lot of disagreements with the present administration

b) However, I am to pray for them

III. The Goal of Prayer

A. Live a quiet and peaceable life

1. This is the lifestyle of a Christian

2. We are not to be busybodies or rebel rousers

B. Live in godliness and honesty

1. Deliver us from evil

2. Deliver us from hypocrisy

C. Salvation of men

1. God wants all men to be saved

2. God wants all men to know the truth

a) There is one God (Deut. 6:4)

b) One mediator

(1) Jesus is the only way to God

(a) Acts 4:12

(b) John 14:6

(2) Jesus is the God-man

c) Jesus gave Himself

(1) No one took His life

(2) He did what He did willingly

d) Jesus was our substitute

Conclusion:

• We are to pray first
• We are to pray mainly for the salvation of men that they might come to the truth
• We are to pray without wrath (imprecatory Psalms) and doubting
• Challenge: Pray five minutes every day for the next month for an enemy and for the lost.