Title: Longing Prayer
Let’s look at 1 Tim 1 to understand the background of today’s scripture (1 Tim 2:1-4; Jms 5:16). Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, and made Timothy, who was going to Macedonia stay in Ephesus. He explained that it was to avoid Timothy falling into other teachings, endless genealogy stories, or meaningless arguments (1 Tim 1:3-7). Therefore, in Macedonia, it can be thought that these things were prevalent among the churches or church members.
Then, Apostle Paul explained 2 aspects about the law. Firstly, the law is a good thing. Since the law itself is the word given, amid God’s love, to set God’s people upright, only with the word of this law can we stand upright.
Secondly, the law is for sinners. In other words, keeping only what was said in the law or becoming a legalist is not the final goal. He is saying that if we receive grace, believe in God, and become righteous, we must follow the gospel of God (1 Tim 1:8-11).
And finally, there were those in the church who have abandoned faith and good conscience, such as Hymenaeus and Alexander. So, Apostle Paul warned Timonthy to be careful not to be tempted (1 Tim 1:18-20). Then in 1 Tim 2, Apostle Paul began to explain the importance of prayer. Therefore, we can understand that we must pray in order not to fall into the temptations of those who have abandoned faith and good conscience (1 Tim 2:1-4).
Dear all, do you want the kingdom of God to come true on this earth? Do you want God’s will be done? Do you want to do God’s work? Do you want your problem solved? Do you want to be set free from difficulties? Then you just have to pray. Nothing happens without prayer (Psa 50:14-15; Mat 18:19).
The founding pastor explained, “Those who are alive are those who believe and pray. But those who are dead or those who do not believe do not pray.” In other words, a person who prays becomes a believer and a living person, and a person who does not pray becomes an unbeliever and a dead person.
If God is alive in us, our prayers are joyful and exciting. It is not a prayer that we do as an obligation, but it comes out of our lives happily and voluntarily. However, if you are doubting whether God is alive, your prayers will be doubtful and at times you may think that your time to pray is a waste of time. You may pray because the pastor says so, but you may feel like finishing prayer quickly and do something else (Deu 4:7).
What should be the content of prayer?
1 Tim 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties (land) prayers, petition (and) thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
Apostle Paul tells us to do 4 things: entreaties, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving.
Entreaties-Hel) Desis – Desperate (longing) Request
Prayers-hel) proschke – calling on God
Petitions-hel) enlyuksis – a meeting with God, intercession
Thanksgiivng-Hel) Eucharistia – Gratitude
We can break this down into three things :-
- Sacrificial Elements (Heb 13:15)
In other words, there must be contents that blesses (praises) and give thanks to God.
- Confession of Faith (Rom 10:8-11; 1 Joh 1:8-10)
In other words, there must be a part of confessing one’s sins and repenting.
- Request
Lastly, we must tell God what we want and what we are asking for.
Supplication- 恳求
恳-earnest, desperate, longing
求-seeking, asking
= means earnestly seeking/longing prayer
So, let’s learn about the prayer of supplication (Gen 25:19-21). God promised Abraham through the covenant of the torch that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. And, miraculously, Isaac was born. Now, according to God’s word and promise, Isaac’s children should be born, right?
However, after Isaac married Rebekah, he had no children for 20 years. Isaac married Rebekah at the age of 40, and he was childless until he was 60 years old. So, by the age of 40, just getting married and not having child for the next 20 years, how frustrating would that have been to Issac? More seriously, Rebekah did not know how to pray and didn’t pray about this situation. The Bible says that Rebekah was barren, yet if she doesn’t pray, it shows that it is the situation where there is no solution.
After waiting for 20 years, Isaac started to pray. Here the Hebrew word ‘atar’ means to intercede, it also includes the meaning of pleading/longing. The Bible records that God heard this longing prayer, and because of this longing prayer, an answer was received, and Jacob and Esau were obtained (Gen 25:26).
As we have seen above, longing prayer brings God’s special grace. First, the prayer of supplication must begin with the motive of acknowledging human limitations and wanting to be resolved in God’s way.
Second, the prayer of supplication is the prayer of weeping and crying out (Heb 5:7). Third, the prayer of supplication is a prayer that springs up according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).
Dear saints, how many problems are in front of us that we cannot solve? I believe that now is the time for us to do longing prayer. And, I believe that when we do longing prayer, no matter what problems there are, they will surely be resolved (Jms 5:16).
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 