"Entrusted" ...to mediate

1 Timothy 2:1-7
Vrs 1 Paul’s first line of offence against the false teaching is to urge Timothy to pray. You have been entrusted with a relationship with the Lord and relationships with others so you need to go to the Lord on behalf of them.
He Lists some Synonyms for prayer on behalf of others.

God puts you in relationships to live out an example of Christ. One of the things Christ does on our behalf is mediates (go between to the Father) for us. We can be an example of that mediation by lifting up those who we know in prayer even if they don’t trust in Christ or believe in the power of prayer.

People cannot refute our prayers

Sidlow Baxter “Men my spur our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons…but they are helpless against our prayers”

Vrs 2 For people in charge, if the people in charge live peaceful, quiet, Godly, dignified lives there is extreme benefits.

Many times people struggle with those in authority, they criticize, resent or even hate.
Jesus says “pray for your enemies” Why?

William Law says it this way “There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as prayer for them”

Vrs 3 here is the result.
1. “good” for us. If your boss, teacher, parents, civil leaders, church leaders respond to the call of God to follow Him it makes your life “good”
2. “pleasing” to the Lord

Before we move on in the text I want to pause and give you some helpful tips for prayer. Because John Bunyan said “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day”
Tips

1. Set aside a specific time or activity (Jesus in the morning)
2. Pray right away (if someone asks you to pray)
3. Journal (gives you the ability to see how God has been working in your life)
4. Change things up if you feel stale
5. Pray relationally to keep on track (circle)

Why pray?
1. Response to our salvation
Vrs 4 the Gospel is a free and universal offer to everyone. One of the false teachings or misconceptions that arose is God only desired to save the Jews not the Gentiles.

“knowledge of the truth”
Keys truths to understand and accept in order to be saved…GOSPEL
-I am a sinner
-Jesus is God
-Jesus paid for my sin with His death burial and resurrection
-I need to trust Him for my salvation

Results of that is…
-I am a new creation (born again as John 3 says)
-I can never lose my salvation (john 10 in His hand, Eph 4 sealed with the Spirit)

2. It gives glory to God
Vrs 5 “There is one God” This is why we don’t pray with people of different faiths. They are not talking to God. We do not pray with…Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, etc.
“One mediator” You cannot communicate or have a relationship with God unless it is through Christ.

3. He listens (When we pray by the Spirit through Jesus and to the Father)

4. Following Christ (a mediator)
Vrs 6
“Ransom” purchased our release from sin. High cost
As a Christian there is a cost to lifting others up in prayer…it takes time, effort and finding out their situation and life details. Jesus was willing to go the distance for us. (John 17 records His high priestly prayer)