WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT PRAYER (PART 2) !

WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT PRAYER (PART 2). Prayer, accompanied by obedient surrender to God, touches heaven. In Paul's writing to the young minister Timothy, he had a number of instructions regarding prayer. At This Time Timothy Was the Pastor of a New Testament Church. PRAY FOR HEADS OF GOVERNMENT: (1 Timothy 2:1-2). "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all goodness and honesty." Too often we put ourselves first in our praying. In fact, sometimes that is as far as we ever get -- just praying for ourselves and our own personal lives and needs. But here Paul the apostle instructed Timothy, ". . . FIRST OF ALL, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving up thanks, be made for all men." Then he became more specific and said, "For kings, and for all that are in authority. . ." In that day, people were ruled by kings. This would be comparable to presidents and other heads of government in our day. Why did Paul say we should pray for those in authority ? ". . . That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." Whatever happens in the nation we live in affects all of us. God is concerned about us, and obedience to the God kind of faith touches all heaven on our behalf. And whether or not our leaders are Believers, God will do some things for our sake. We notice that intercessions is mentioned here. When Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, God came down and talk with him before destroying those wicked cities that were filled with homosexuality and lesbianism and every other kind of sexual immorality. Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy the cities if as many as 10 righteous people could be found, and God said, "I will not destroy it for 10 sake" (Genesis 18:32). There are more than 10 righteous people in the United States, so we need not to frightened, but we do need to intercede for our country and the heads of government. God will do something just because we ask Him. The enemy of all humanity has blinded the minds of them that believe not ! Therefore many are confused about their sexuality; and about the God kind of faith ! PRAY WITH HANDS OUTSTRETCHED TO HEAVEN: (1 Timothy 2:8). "I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubting in their minds, lifting up holy hand." The amplified Bible. Everyone will agree with the first part of Paul's statement to Timothy -- that men everywhere are to pray. But notice Paul also gave some explicit instructions on prayer: ". . . Lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." The King James version. We would all encourage people to pray without doubting. Doubting what ? Doubting the Word of God, which is the object of the God kind of faith. Jesus said, ". . . Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and SHALL NOT DOUBT in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith" (Mark 11:23). Certainly we also can see the necessity of praying without anger and doubting. If I encourage people to follow two thirds of Paul's instructions in this verse, then we also should obey his third admonition: ". . . Lifting up holy hands. . ."