“…I EXHORT (parakaleō: to instruct or urge with comfort) first of all that SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS be made for ALL MEN, for kings and ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY…For THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD our Savior…” (1 Tim. 2:1-3) Paul is instructing Timothy to lovingly urge his listeners to give:
- SUPPLICATIONS: deēsis, entreaties or petitions. Supplication means to petition or entreat someone for something. Strictly speaking supplication is not another form of prayer but AN ATTITUDE that accompanies prayer.
- PRAYERS: proseuchē, prayer is communicating with. Communicating is exchanging information with one another. The LORD says, “Call to Me, and I WILL ANSWER YOU, and SHOW YOU great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3)
- INTERCESSIONS: enteuxis, a coming together. To intercede means to PLEAD or mediate on behalf of another person. Intercession is not normally a one-off prayer. It requires persistence.
- THANKS: eucharistia, thankfulness, gratitude. Thanksgiving should be a REGULAR PART of our talking to God. Thanksgiving is an all-inclusive act that involves praise, worship and honor of God.
These instructions are for ALL PERSONS, including all those in leadership (regardless how we feel about them).
FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR…(1 Tim. 2:3)
-Bill Stockham