Showing posts with label supplications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplications. Show all posts

Saturday, July 20, 2013

I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men

Believers are encouraged to pray for all men, evidence that God is all inclusive and desires that everyone knows about the truth of Christ. Specifically we are also called to pray for our leaders, for the practical purpose that good leadership will ensure a peaceful society so that believers can promote living godly lives. History have shown that leaders who are hostile to faith in God naturally results in persecution of believers.

Paul encourages the male gender especially to pray outwardly with lifted hands. He also suggests the female gender to dress appropriately to be consistent with their professed faith. A somewhat more controversial discussion seem to indicate that Paul was teaching that women should not be teaching nor placed in authority over men. Certainly there have been women leaders and teachers in the very early church but it is not clear if Paul viewed this as an exception to the rule. Also it is interesting to note that Paul mentioned it was Eve who was deceived, not Adam.




1 Timothy 2
Pray for All Men

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ[a] and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men and Women in the Church

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What Shall I Render to the Lord

The psalmist expresses his close relationship with God. He knows that the LORD hears him whenever he prays. Although he feels he is at the lowest point of life, even like death, he knows the LORD will lift him up again.

In response to this, the psalmist is full of thanks to God. He has experienced God's wonderful salvation and mercy and knows that there is nothing that he can pay God with. And so he declares himself to be a servant to God. He will praise and give thanks to God.


Psalm 116
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.

9 I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.

10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”

11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?

13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,

19 In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Because You, LORD, Have Helped Me and Comforted Me

The psalmist calls on the LORD to hear him, preserve him, be merciful to him, knowing that God is good and forgiving. He praises God that there is none like Him, and all nations would one day come and worship and glorify Him. The psalmist shows his genuine desire for God by requesting God to teach him God's ways so that he can walk in Truth.

The psalmist describes his challenges including people wishing to harm him. But he continues to call on God, depending on God's character of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, mercy and truth. He trusts that God will strengthen him and comfort him.


Psalm 86
A Prayer of David.


 1 Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me;
         For I am poor and needy.
 2 Preserve my life, for I am holy;
         You are my God;
         Save Your servant who trusts in You!
 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
         For I cry to You all day long.
 4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
         For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
 5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
         And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
        
 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
         And attend to the voice of my supplications.
 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
         For You will answer me.
        
 8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;
         Nor are there any works like Your works.
 9 All nations whom You have made
         Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
         And shall glorify Your name.
 10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;
         You alone are God.
        
 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD;
         I will walk in Your truth;
         Unite my heart to fear Your name.
 12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
         And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
 13 For great is Your mercy toward me,
         And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
        
 14 O God, the proud have risen against me,
         And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
         And have not set You before them.
 15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
         Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
        
 16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
         Give Your strength to Your servant,
         And save the son of Your maidservant.
 17 Show me a sign for good,
         That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
         Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

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