PRAYER THAT PLEASES GOD

1 Timothy #2

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

(1 Timothy 2:1–7, NLT) “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.”

1.  PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE

(1 Timothy 2:1, NLT) “First of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”

a.  Focused requests

b.  Intercession

c.  Thanksgiving 

2.  PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY

(1 Timothy 2:2a, NLT) “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

3.  PRAYER THAT PLEASES GOD

a.  Have a good reputation. Why? In Order that we may live peaceful lives of godliness and dignity

(1 Timothy 2:2b, NLT) “…so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

b.  This is pleasing to God

(1 Timothy 2:3, NLT) “This is good and pleases God our Savior…”

c.  Because God wants all people to be saved

(1 Timothy 2:3–4, NLT) “…  who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

“There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” –A. T. Pierson

4.  THERE IS ONLY ONE MEDIATOR

(1 Timothy 2:5–6, NLT) “For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

(John 3:16, NLT) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

5.  PRAY WITH HOLY HANDS AND HOLY HEARTS

(1 Timothy 2:8, NLT) “In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.”

a. Holy hands = holy lives

b.  Lifted hands = ready to receive

c.  Be free from anger and controversy

6.  GROW IN GODLY RELATIONSHIPS

(1 Timothy 2:9–15, NLT) “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.”

a.  Men and Women together reflect the image of God

(Genesis 1:27, NLT) “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

(Galatians 3:28, NLT) “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

b.  In marriage and ministry roles are based on creation order

(Ephesians 5:21–25, NLT) “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her”

GROWTHWORK

1.  Soak your life and our church family in prayer

“I have long wished to see you, Mr. Spurgeon, and to put one or two simple questions to you. In our country there are many opinions as to the secret of your great influence. Would you be good enough to give me your own point of view?” After a moment’s pause, Spurgeon said, “My people pray for me.” (In Iain, Murray, The Forgotten Spurgeon [Banner of Truth], p. 44)

2.  Allow God’s Word to confront you

3.  Examine your attitude toward the opposite sex

4.  Your family is a blessing.  Be a blessing to your family