Introduction

Dr. Warren Wiersbe was an American ordained minister, pastor, Bible teacher, theologian, author of the “Be” series and a radio minister. I cut my spiritual teeth on his “Back to the Bible” radio series. He often told this story of how he did not take in consideration men and their qualifications to pray. He learned it well when he called upon a man one Sunday morning to open the service in prayer. The man begged the pastor’s pardon and refused to pray. He stated that he and his wife had a heated argument in the car on route to church and that he could no less please her so he should call on someone else who would actually have God’s ear. This may sound pretentious but the husband was on Biblical ground. Paul addresses this principle to men in this passage but first he concentrates on…

I. Jesus, the Way of Salvation. Vv.5, 6

1. Paul restates the simple truth of what Jesus said in John 14:6,’ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The statement is revolutionary to the world we live in today but none the less it is true. We do well to pray that people awaken to this simple but powerful truth. It is narrow-minded by today’s standards to believe in only one way of salvation. The world wisdoms and great minds deem there are many paths to the same door. It sounds good and what the world desires to hear but not the truth.

2. Paul doubles down on this truth stating there is only one God and His choice of one mediator, the man Christ Jesus. He is the Eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. Folks Jesus is fully God and fully man and he is glorified and resurrected. Christ gave himself as a ransom to redeem a lost humanity back to His father.

3. In vv. 6 we read,” Who gave Himself a ransom: Jesus gave Himself as a hostage, as a payment for our sins. He put Himself in our place and received the punishment and wrath from God that we deserved. This is the basic message of the gospel. Jesus said himself in Mark 10:45, For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. No one will ever be turned away because Jesus paid the debt for all. His sacrifice is sufficient enough for all but effective only to those who believe. Romans 10:9, 10
Paul concludes with…to be testified in due time. II Thess. 1:10 is a good explanation of the passage.

II. Paul a messenger of Salvation. Vv.7

1. This was the message Paul was commissioned to preach. For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle: Paul stated this in Acts 26:15 -19 when he appeared before King Agrippa giving his testimony and commission. — Paul tells Timothy this narration to reaffirm the principle that we keep the mission given to us pure…he does not lie. We must be truthful with the message and never bend it truths.

2. In verse eight we come back to the matter of prayer, a vital attribute in bringing people to Christ. Paul states it is the role of men in leading prayer when the church gathers. That the men pray everywhere: This carries the idea of “in every church,” not “in every place.” Paul’s focus is on what the church does when it comes together for meetings. The idea that we should pray constantly and that prayer should be a normal part of our lives wherever we go. This is good and valid; but it is not exactly what Paul means here.

3. Paul makes it clear that men should take the lead at meetings of the congregation. Since the lifting up of hands was a common posture of prayer in ancient cultures, this text speaks of men leading public prayer. Dr. White translates the idea of the text: “The ministers of public prayer should be the men of the congregation.” The Greek uses the word “aner” (a – na-a’) it is a masculine noun and a reference to one’s sex, and so to distinguish a man from a woman. It is also translated husband. Note a verse like Galatian 6:7 or Matthew 7:12 uses the Greek word ä’n-thro-pos meaning humanity. So, this is the role and responsibility of the man to lead in prayer to be an example of prayer. When a church has no men in leadership who pray its ministry becomes powerless and ineffective.

4. E.M. Bounds known for writing 11 books, nine of which focused on the subject of prayer emphasized the need for a ministry of prayer within the church. He wrote, “It may be laid down as an axiom, that God needs, first of all, leaders in the church who will be first in prayer, men with whom prayer is habitual and characteristic, men who know the primacy of prayer. But even more than a habit of prayer, and more than prayer being characteristic of them, church leaders are to be men whose lives are made and molded by prayer, whose heart and life are made up of prayer. Paul also states qualifications exist for men praying because there are general hindrances that effect our praying.

III. Ethics in Praying affecting Salvation.vv.8
1. Lifting up holy hands: Hands that are lifted up must be holy – hands that are set apart unto God, and not given over to evil. So a person living in un-confessed sin is rebellion against God as well as living in an unsaved condition when knowing better. Psalms 66:18 – If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination
2.Without wrath; “Having no vindictive feeling against another person; harboring no unforgiving spirit. In Matt. 6:9-10; after explaining the proper attitude for prayer, Jesus went on to give the disciples a pattern for prayer. Then he concluded in verses 14, 15 talking about an unforgiving Spirit will hinder your prayers.

3. Doubting: is a lack of faith and God cannot honor that prayer. Read with me from Hebrews 11:6 also Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. When we pray angry, or pray without faith, we can do more bad than good – especially when the prayer is public.

4. A wrong relationship between a husband and wife. This is mostly a man’ responsibility.
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. I Peter 3:7
5. Having other gods & idols in our hearts cause God to refuse to listen to our prayers.
Ezekiel 14: [2] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [3] Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? What idols do you have before God? Every one that is demolished brings him new treasures of grace and removes another hindrance to a productive life of prayer!
6. Lack of compassion for poor & needy: Proverbs 21:13 [13] Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Application:
What is keeping you from prayer? Whatever it is keeping you from prayer is not worthy to be compared to what God has for you by the power of prayer. Everything holy, good and worthwhile can be grasp by prayer. It is important that you pray both private… and united in church.
Conclusion:

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be; it is fervency of spirit which availeth much. — gospel