I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In 1Timothy 2:1-4, the apostle Paul gave the following instructions for Christians:

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

B.      Let us carefully examine these instructions for our own understanding and practice.

II.      PRAY FOR ALL MEN

A.      It must be a priority for Christians to offer prayers on behalf of all men.

                                                             1.      Notice that Paul said, "First of all…,” which indicates that this practice of prayer for all men must be a high priority and concern for Christians.

                                                             2.      Consider the particular types of prayer that are to be given by Christians on behalf of all men.

a.       Entreaties ("supplications” in KJV) are expressions of need.  These are sometimes given when the need is known, but the way of supplying the need is unknown.

b.       Prayers are any communications addressed from man to God.

c.        Petitions ("intercessions” in KJV) are prayers for specific purposes.  These are requests to God for specific blessings, such as food (Matt. 6:11).

d.       Thanksgivings are expressions of gratitude to God for His many blessings.

                                                             3.      Christians are to offer these prayers on behalf of all men without exceptions, including enemies (Matt. 5:43-48).  Such prayers are offered with a view to God’s desire that salvation and knowledge of truth would come to all men.

B.      It is especially vital for Christians to pray for all who are in authority.

                                                             1.      We do not have kings in our nation, but there are many leaders in authority who need our prayers.

a.       We should pray for the President as well as our governors, local executives, and law enforcement officers who are responsible for carrying out the laws of the land.

b.       We should also pray for our legislators (federal, state, local) who are responsible for writing the laws of our land.

c.        Finally, we should pray for our judges (federal, state, local) who are responsible for rendering binding decisions based on the laws of the land.

                                                             2.      Remember that "the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (Jas. 5:16).  Therefore, the many effective prayers of many righteous persons can accomplish much more among those who are in authority in our nation.

III.   PRAY WITH PURPOSE

A.      In a generic way, our prayers for "all men, for kings and all who are in authority” may be given for their wellbeing.

                                                             1.      It is good both to pray and to work for the peace, safety, health, and prosperity of others (Rom. 12:14, 17-21; 1Cor. 9:22; Gal. 6:10; Tit. 3:1-2).

                                                             2.      Certainly, our obligation to respect civil leaders and to "honor the king” leads us to pray for the wellbeing of all who are in authority (Rom. 13:1-7; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

B.      However, 1Timothy 2:1-4 directs us to pray for these men so that we may have the opportunity to "lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

                                                             1.      A quiet and tranquil life is one is free from both external harassment and internal disruptions.

a.       Freedom and protection from persecution and outside interference promote the blessings of a quiet and tranquil life.  We have been blessed in this nation to enjoy such liberty.

b.       Quietness and tranquility also come about from our personal conduct.  We are instructed by God "to make it [our] ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to [our] own business and work with [our] hands” (1Thess. 4:11) and "to work in quiet fashion and eat [our] own bread” (2Thess. 3:12).

                                                             2.      For a Christian, a tranquil and quiet life is characterized by godliness and dignity.

a.       Godliness is the quality of being directed by God.  It is the disposition of a person who is always focused upon the will of God in all that he does.

b.       Dignity (honesty in KJV) is worthiness of reverence and respect.  A person is truly dignified if he walks in a manner worthy of the calling of God (Eph. 4:1; 2Thess. 1:5).

                                                             3.      Consider the prayers that we should give on behalf of persons in authority that may lead to tranquil and quiet for us.

a.       We should pray that only godly and dignified persons will occupy the places of authority.  Consider the qualifications for Israel’s leaders given in Exodus 18:21 – "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.”

b.       We should pray that the persons who already occupy places of authority would be godly and dignified or that they would turn to God if they are ungodly or undignified.  Remember, God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

c.        We should pray that the persons who occupy places of authority will always execute the laws, compose the laws, and judge by the laws in ways that comply with the will of God.

d.       We should pray that the persons who occupy places of authority will remember that God is "ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations” (2Chron. 20:6; see also 1Chron. 29:11-12) and that this principle still governs all lands: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

e.        We should pray that the persons who occupy places of authority will recognize when they and the nation have failed to honor God and that they will seek Him again.  May we all remember how God said of Israel that if "My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (1Chron. 7:14).

IV.    CONCLUSION – LIVE THE PURPOSE

A.      It would be irresponsible and unfaithful to pray for a tranquil and quiet life only to live in an ungodly and undignified way.

                                                             1.      It is God’s will that we should have tranquil and quiet lives, but this is not for our own selfish pleasures.  Instead, this opportunity is for us to work and serve for God’s glory and honor.

                                                             2.      God has blessed the United States with liberty, and that liberty was accepted and preserved in the fear of God from the beginning of the nation until recent times.  Now our liberty is often abused for godlessness, wickedness, and evil, and our tranquility and quietness are in jeopardy.

a.       The peace, prosperity, and security of this land was not given to this nation so that its people could practice abortion, homosexuality, fornication, divorce, drunkenness, atheism, humanism, or any other godless thing.

b.       Let the warning of God to Israel in Deuteronomy 8:19-20 be a warning to us as well – "It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.  Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.”

B.      Rather than misusing God’s blessings, let us seize the opportunity of a tranquil and quiet life for God’s glory and honor.

                                                             1.      Prayerful, quiet, and tranquil lives conducted in godliness and dignity are "good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1Tim. 2:3).  This should be our mode of life because we want to please our God.

                                                             2.      As we live such lives, we will bring glory and honor unto our God and we will help to accomplish His desire for the salvation of all men in Christ and the knowledge of the truth.

a.       "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

b.       "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1Pet. 2:12)