`What is Christian Worship?’ Series: What is Intercessory Prayer?
1 Timothy 2: 1-8
You might like to begin by asking the question: What is intercessory prayer? The simple answer is that it is “praying to God on behalf of someone else.” In intercessory prayer we allow the needs of others to take preference over our own needs.
Intercessory prayer is sometimes called “standing in the gap”. Do you find this a helpful picture?
We live in a broken world, but as Christians we can be confident that God is at work in the midst of all the chaos and sadness. It is through intercessory prayer that we can join with God in bringing healing to our broken world.
The Bible has many examples of people praying to God on behalf of others – and often we read of powerful answers to those prayers. What do the following passages teach us about intercessory prayer?
Genesis 18.22-26
Exodus 32.11-14
1 Kings 18.38, 39
Why do you think God chooses to work through people to accomplish his purposes on earth? Is God “taking a risk” by working in this way?
Our KEY PASSAGE is 1 Timothy 2 verses 1-8. READ this passage now.
Don’t get too involved in the use of the term “men” – let us accept that our prayers should be for all people.
Paul is sharing what is of first importance in his heart and mind. Is there any difference between supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving thanks (1)?
Paul encourages us to pray for ALL PEOPLE. Is that realistic? Are there people you struggle to pray for?
Why should we pray for those in authority? What should our prayers involve (2)?
What do verses 3 and 4 say about the GOAL of our prayers?
Paul asserts (5-6) that there is not only one Saviour but also one mediator between God and us – Jesus Christ. This is an issue hotly disputed today and the status of other religions, and the relationship of Jesus to them, is a lively issue. Where do you stand on this?
From verse 8 onwards Paul turns to the respective roles and appropriate behaviour of men and women whenever the church gathers for worship. This is not the time or place to discuss this – our focus this week is on INTERCESSION. However the following point from John Stott may be helpful: “There is no difference between the sexes either in the divine image we bear in our status as God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ. Every idea of gender superiority or inferiority is ruled out from the start.”
How do we go about being an intercessor? One commentator suggests:
Get informed – learn the facts; listen to the news; get updates from prayer partners
Get inspired – what is God saying to you about this issue?
Get indignant – express your feelings honestly to God
Get in synch – engage with others
Here is the challenge: Am I /are you prepared to “stand in the gap” for your family; for your friends; for our broken world?
PRAYERS:
You might like to focus on one specific area of the world – perhaps somewhere that has been in the news recently. Try to “stand in the gap” as you bring that situation before God. And make a note of what you have prayed for, and come back in a month’s time to see if those prayers have been answered in any way.
If you have time, you might like to imagine you have been asked, as a group, to lead the intercessions in church in a few week’s time. Choose a particular issue and work through how you would present your prayers. Would you use any visual material? Would you have a set response after each prayer? Would you allow for times of silence? Would you find out about the life of a particular family living in that situation? And be realistic – you would only have 3 or 4 minutes!
The following comments are intended primarily for leaders, but are available to all. They are not intended to be the “correct answers” but are offered as a way of promoting discussion.
Genesis 18.22-26: Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah. When God told him about the impending doom of Sodom and Gomorrah he was able to look away from his present predicament (not having a child) and instead interceded for the city so that God’s judgement might pass over it.
Exodus 32.11-14: When the Israelites started to worship a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, God was rightly angry – they had just been freed from slavery in Egypt. Moses stood in the gap on behalf of the Israelites and pleaded with God not to destroy them. As a result God relented – the Israelites were not destroyed.
1 Kings 18.38, 39: Elijah called out to God to reveal his power to the Israelites so that they would know who was the true God – and God responded in a mighty way. God works with his people to accomplish amazing things on earth. A little later God answered Elijah’s prayer for rain.
Paul is sharing what is of first importance in his heart and mind. Is there any difference between supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving thanks (1)?
Supplications – simply asking for something. Prayer must never be just about asking, but the Bible does encourage us to ask.
Prayers – refers to all our communication with God
Intercessions – requests we make on behalf of others
Giving thanks – an essential part of our Christian walk with God
One translation of verse 1: “In the first place, let me remind you that the Church’s public prayers must be made expressly for all men, from the Emperor downwards.” There is no-one who can be excluded from our prayers.
We should also pray evangelistically – i.e. for our family/friends/others we have regular contact with – for those who need to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Why should we pray for those in authority? What should our prayers involve (2)?
At the time Paul was writing, Christianity was not an illegal religion in the Roman Empire, and was considered a branch of Judaism. Even so, early Christians were often accused of undermining the state because they claimed a higher Lord other than Caesar. In reality Christians were supporting the state by being good citizens and praying FOR the Emperor, not to him.
We should not expect any “special favours” from the government, simply to be left alone to live out our faith.
Look at Romans 13 verses 1-7 for further evidence that we should pray for those in authority over us.
What do verses 3 and 4 say about the GOAL of our prayers?
Our prayers for those in authority should also include a desire that they come under the authority of Jesus and so allow the gospel to be proclaimed freely. God may “desire all to be saved” but he won’t fulfil this desire by making us into robots that are simply programmed to worship him. There has to be an element of human response to the gospel.
Paul asserts (5-6) that there is not only one Saviour but also one mediator between God and us – Jesus Christ. This is an issue hotly disputed today and the status of other religions, and the relationship of Jesus to them, is a lively issue. Where do you stand on this?
There are 3 main positions:
Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and that salvation is by faith in him, and him alone. This is usually termed EXCLUSIVISM, but it does sound negative and elitist. However the truth is that the offer of salvation is available to all – no-one is excluded. Paul was an exclusivist. He lived in a day when there was an abundance of religions and ways of salvation but he insisted there was only one mediator.
Jesus Christ is the Saviour but he saves different people in different ways, especially through their religion (INCLUSIVISM)
PLURALISM, a view gaining popularity in our world today. Different religions are tolerated and they have saving validity, so denying the uniqueness of Jesus.