Pray!

Paul wrote a letter to Timothy to tell him how to handle the church at Ephesus. The primary problem was false teachers, but the real problem was the pagan culture. Much like our own, the church at Ephesus was surrounded by pagan beliefs. How were they to handle that problem?

So Paul wrote:

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people (1 Tim 2:1)

Want to know what to do about America, its sin, its moral decay, its evil politics, its murdering babies, its discarding of Christ, and on and on? Pray. Pray big time. Pray a lot. Pray continually. Pray supplications for averting of evil and prayers for obtaining good from God and intercessions on behalf of others and thanksgivings for mercies received. Pray. Pray for those in authority (1 Tim 2:2). Even Trump. Pray for the salvation of others (1 Tim 2:3-6). Even Trump. Even Pelosi. Even AOC. (Wouldn't it be better to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt 5:44) than fight and fume over them?)

He goes on to say:

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling (1 Tim 2:8)

That's interesting. "Lifting holy hands." What's that all about? In Isaiah God told Israel, "My soul hates your new moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to Me. I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. Yea, when you multiply prayer, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood." (Isa 1:14-15) Yikes! These people were praying and feasting and doing "good things." God wasn't interested. Why? "Your hands are full of blood." So Paul tells us to pray lifting holy hands. When we pray, we need to have our hands clean, so to speak. And when we pray, we need to do so without anger or fighting. Seriously, that seems to be a problem for us.

Jesus said, "My house shall be a house of prayer" (Luke 19:46) and gave multiple exhortations to pray (Luke 18:1). Paul said to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17). In the midst of telling the Ephesians about spiritual warfare he wrote that they should be "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints" (Eph 6:18). Why is it, then, that most churches have given up on prayer meetings? Why is it so hard to get Christians to pray? Why do I struggle with praying continually and consistently? Because prayer is a primary weapon, a fundamental power, an underlying tool God has given to accomplish what He wants to accomplish and Satan wants us to stop that. Don't let him.

Pray!