• What is going on in these verses?
  • Paul wrote to instruct Timothy concerning the care of the church at Ephesus.
  • This is a formal instructive letter that deals mostly with the nature of pastoral conduct.
    • Nothing is more important than to use prayer, this means of grace that gives us access to God. Christians should pray especially for all of those in authority.
    • In urging Timothy to pray, Paul reminded him that God ‘desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’. Christ ‘gave himself a ransom for all’ and this involves not only preaching but, praying, which should be done peacefully and faithfully everywhere. The message to preach and to support in prayer is of ‘one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus’.
    • Timothy must’ve taken care that this was done.
  • There must be prayers for ourselves for one; it’s implied. We must also pray for all men, for the world of mankind in general, and for particular people who need or desire our prayers.
  • Our duty as Christians is summed up in two words: godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, good conduct toward all men. These two must go together; we’re not truly honest if we’re not godly and don’t render to God His due, and we’re not truly godly if we’re not honest.
  • Prayer consists of various parts, of supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings; because we must pray for the blessings we want, as well as be thankful for blessings already received; and we’re to take to task judgments which our own sins or the sins of others deserved; which means we’re to stop sinning and correct the wickedness of sin.
  • That which is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior we should do, and should be abounding in.
  • One reason why all men are to be prayed for is because there is one God and that God bears a goodwill to all mankind. There is one God and one only, there is no other, there can be no other because there can only be one immortally infinite. There is one Mediator, Jesus, and that Mediator gave Himself a ransom for all.

The design of the Christian religion is to promote prayer; and the disciples of Christ must be praying people. Pray always with all prayer, Ephesians. 6:18.
-Matthew Henry

• What is God’s word saying?
  • I may not be a preacher or minister to a church body, but I am a women’s ministry leader. I need to be in prayer always.
  • I need to work diligently at not sinning; because I have a Savior who has wiped away sin. I must accept any judgment against my sin.
  • I need to lift up the leaders and pray for them.
  • I praise GOD for sending Jesus, the Messiah, to be my once and for all Savior. He is my Redeemer. I am redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.
  • There’s no special specific cookie cutter prayer… I simply need to include:
    1. praise and worship; devotion
    2. requests
    3. thanksgivings
    4. always end prayer: In Jesus’ name, amen (or some variation of it.)

Prayer: Dear ABBA YAH, I praise and worship You. I ask and lift up my leaders and others who need it. You know them intimately in detail. I do not. I thank  You for placing me in this position and that You use me for Your grand purpose and plan. Thank You for meeting my needs and others. You are awesome and amazing, YAH. I lift up the readers that they will learn from this blog and seek You and be open to You in their lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.