A note from our Pastor:

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

1 Timothy 2:8

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle Paul shifts his focus to instructions regarding public worship. Keep in mind, the Apostle was writing this letter to Timothy in order to instruct him as a minister but also to prepare him to charge other men to be ministers and pastors. In other words, this letter is a series of instructions on a variety of topics related to the church.

As the Apostle begins with his instructions for public worship he comes back to the subject of prayer. In the early verses of the chapter the Apostle had taught the need to pray for all men and the types of prayers. Those teachings apply to all people and not just for public worship. Now he instructs men to pray every where. This verse is in regards to public prayer as part of public worship.

The teaching was important because in accordance with Jewish custom it has previously been taught that prayers were only heard if offered from the temple in Jerusalem. However, the early church often did not have a designated meeting place. Unlike what we envision today the community of believers was unable to go to a church building. The early church was meeting in houses and any other places available to them and the Apostle is encouraging the community of believers by telling them their prayers are just as powerful and are heard by God from wherever they are offered.

The second part of the instructions is to pray without wrath or doubting. Apparently it was common in that day, as it is today, for people to pray not for blessings but for judgement or even destruction of their enemies. The Apostle declares prayers of this nature to be against the teachings of Christ and, thus, not a proper way to engage in public prayer. Furthermore, the public prayers should be an expression of faith and belief in God and his blessings for his people.

Public prayer in the worship service is a unique offering. While prayer is a private matter this form of prayer encourages the congregation to come together and thus it should be embracing of all. Let us give careful consideration to the nature of the public prayer we offer.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah