The Protections Prayer Brings
February 2, 2025 Preacher: Luis A. Cardenas Series: The Prayers of Paul
Topic: English
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We have been working our way, one week at a time, through each letter of the Apostle, Paul looking at what we can learn about prayer. Sometimes, we see Paul describing his own prayer life, and sometimes we have direct instruction about prayer, but I hope it’s all been helpful up to this point.
Romans through 2 Thessalonians were letters written to local churches, but now we come to his letters written to individual men. Today, our focus is the letter known as First Timothy.
Timothy was a younger man whom Paul had left in charge of the Ephesian church. The church was fairly new, and so, Paul writes to Timothy giving him instruction.
In one sense, Paul’s instructions are focused on the organization, or the structure, of the church, but more foundationally, Paul’s concern is the protection of the church. Improper church structure both comes from and leads to an unhealthy or, worse, a heretical church. Paul wanted to make sure that the church had leaders and structures in place that promoted proper doctrine and proper living.
Looking at the passages dealing with prayer in this letter, we find that prayer is a major way the church is protected. And the same is true in each of our lives. We need prayer to protect ourselves against our sin and against our own foolishness.
We’re going to be looking at 5 passages in the letter that mention prayer, and in each of them, we’ll see the kind of protection prayer offers.
Number one, prayer protects us from unhealthy self-exaltation. Prayer protects us from unhealthy self-exaltation.
Look at chapter 1 of the letter, verse 12. First Timothy 1:12. Paul has already instructed Timothy about false teachers, and then he says this. Chapter 1, verse 12—I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, [13] though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, [14] and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul was rightly angered by the threats of the false teaching, but that didn’t mean he was arrogant. These false teachers exalted themselves saying they were righteous. Paul, on the other hand, gives thanks to God for His mercy. Paul knew that he didn’t deserve salvation. He was an enemy of Jesus Christ. He even helped put Christians to death. But God showed him mercy.
And the same mercy God showed Paul is what God shows to everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ. Look at verses 15-17—The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. [16] But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. [17] To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul doesn’t praise Himself; he praises God. Paul’s salvation, just like anybody else’s salvation, is an example of God’s beautiful patience and mercy.
Don’t let yourself forget that. None of us deserve to be saved. We deserve God’s judgment for rebelling against Him. We sin by nature and by choice. But even while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
Giving thanks to God for your salvation battles against the tendency to self-exaltation. That kind of prayer will protect you. You can’t exalt God and exalt yourself at the same time.
That’s true in your prayer life, and it’s true in worship music as well. Be aware that not every song that gets labelled as “Christian Music” is going to help you worship God. Sometimes, what you find is religious or Christian language, but it’s promoting self-exaltation and self-promotion. And then, that kind of language makes its way into your theology and into your prayers.
It leads to verses being taken out of context, like Philippians 4:13 which says "I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Set in its context, Paul is talking about facing both the good times and the bad. So, don’t use that verse to say that you’re about to hit a home run. That verse applies just as much, maybe even more, if you get struck out and lose the game. Because in your weakness, Christ is shown to be sufficient.
Exalt God in your worship and in your prayers, and that will keep you from exalting yourself.
Our second passage on prayer comes in chapter 2. And the lesson is this: Prayer protects us from unproductive self-empowerment. Prayer protects us from unproductive self-empowerment.
Chapter 2, verse 1 gives us this instruction—First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people
Paul wants to make sure that this church’s life is marked by prayer. And the verses that follow make it clear that the kind of prayer Paul has in mind is prayer for the salvation of others.
What we need to care about most, as the people of God, is that more people will come to know Christ and grow in Him. That’s the priority of the church. We are here to make disciples and to grow them.
But what can happen over time is that a church says it cares about evangelism and discipleship, but it gives its resources to ministry programs and to social causes.
Ministry programs are good when they proclaim Christ and teach good doctrine. But they’re not truly productive when the programs become an end in themselves.
So, whether it’s a Christmas program or a soup kitchen or an after-school program, we always want to make sure that the goal of a church ministry is evangelism and discipleship. We want out money and our energy focused on having people think what a great church we are. We want them to know what a great Savior we have.
The mission of the church is not to fix society’s problems. It is to proclaim Christ. Our goal is not to see the world get better. It is to see people come to faith. And that’s why we pray.
And in verse 2 Paul gives the most extreme examples of that, which is the political leadership. Look at verse 2. This is who is to be included in their prayers. Verse 2—[pray] for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Praying for the king might lead to a change in the king. God can turn his heart wherever He wants. But praying for the king will also lead to a change in us. Paul says that these prayers lead us to “a peaceful and quiet life.” Confidence in God leads to peace and tranquility, and those are the opposite of rebellions and revolutions.
This doesn’t mean we can’t act or speak out about a change we believe would honor God, but it means that we need to be careful about how we do that and about the energy we give to a temporal cause.
Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. There have always been governments that frustrate the people. There has always been corruption. And if you think president Trump is a disaster, or if you think president Biden was a disaster, just consider what was happening in the time of Paul.
Paul calls for prayer for all men, and he gives the most extreme example—the Emperor of Rome which, at that time, was a man named Nero. The first part of Nero’s reign was generally mild, but Nero’s legacy includes is one of sexual perversion and brutality.
He had his own mother and wife put to death. Under his reign, came the great fire of Rome in 64. And in order to divert some of the blame, Nero blamed the Christians and incited persecution against them. His attacks on the Christians were so severe that many believed he was the Antichrist.
Some Christians were given to be eaten by dogs. Some were crucified, and they were burned alive. Some were even burned and used torches for light in Nero’s garden parties.
What should a Christian do under a ruler like that? Start a revolution? Paul says, “Pray for the king, and for everyone in authority. Lead a peaceful and quiet life.”
Self-empowerment won’t be eternally productive. But the prayer of a righteous man will accomplish much.
Listen to how Paul continues in verse 3. Why should we pray for the salvation of others? Verse 3—This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Who is going to change the world? It’s not us. It’s Jesus Christ. Let’s preach Jesus Christ—who died and rose and will come again—and let’s pray that God will work in His perfect way.
We don’t need self-empowerment, we need to trust in Christ.
Let’s move on to a this protection that prayer gives us. Prayer protects us from unhealthy self-exaltation. It protects us from unproductive self-empowerment. Number three, prayer protects us from unacceptable self-focus. We are protected from unacceptable self-focus.
Paul wants a church that gives to God acceptable worship. And when the focus is on ourselves rather than on God, we are not going to worship as God requires or deserves. This is what Paul addresses in verses 8-10. He talks about men and women.
He writes—I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; [9] likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, [10] but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
A man might come to church thinking he is religious, but then get into arguments with other men. That type of division inhibits worship in the local church. You can’t expect to be fighting with a brother and have God accept your worship. Fights happen when two parties are more focused on themselves than on God.
A woman might come to church thinking she is religious, but if her heart’s desire is to draw attention to herself, she’s not worshiping either. The things Paul lists there about braided hair and gold and expensive clothing were ways that some women would flaunt themselves in church. Today, that would also include clothing that’s intended to showcase a woman’s body. Not only is that a temptation for the men, but it’s also a detraction from the focus on God.
The people of God are a holy people. And when we gather, there should be prayer. But it should be a prayer of holiness and purity and unity. If we remember that, we will be kept from focusing on ourselves which does not lead to worship that God accepts.
The fourth passage on prayer in the book is the opening paragraph of chapter 4. Paul is addressing the false teachers again, and he talks about prayer.
Let me read it first, and then I’ll give you the lesson we can take away. First Timothy 4:1-5—Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, [2] through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, [3] who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. [4] For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, [5] for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Here’s a lesson I think we can take from this: Prayer also protects us from unprofitable self-denial. Prayer protects us from unprofitable self-denial.
You should know that Jesus calls us to self-denial. But that doesn’t mean that all self-denial is good.
These false teachers had come into the church adding works to salvation. They took things that God had created for us to enjoy, and they prohibited them. They probably said they were carnal or sinful. And they exalted themselves because they didn’t partake.
How does Paul respond? He says, “No, marriage is good. And food is good. But we need to receive it with faith and with thanksgiving.”
How do you keep yourself from losing self-control at a meal? You pray to God, and you give Him thanks for what He has provided.
I remember about 10 or 12 years ago I was early for my FLG, which was hosted in another home. And I took one of the kids there to a donut shop to buy donuts for the group. And on the way back, as the kid is holding that beautiful, promising, glistening pink box, I said, “Do you know what the Bible says about donuts?” And he looked up at me with almost a frown, and he said, “That we shouldn’t have any.”
And I said, “No, it says that donuts are good, and we need to receive them with thanksgiving.”
Some people live their life like that. They think that if they enjoy something too much, God is going to be mad at them. Well, He won’t be pleased if you don’t remember Him, but He’s not going to be displeased just because you enjoy His good gifts. Enjoy the gift! Just enjoy it appropriately and with faith and with thanksgiving.
Self-denial, simply for the purpose of inflicting personal pain is not going to profit you. Speaking of this at the end of Colossians 2, Paul says, “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
In Hebrews 13:9 we read—Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
In other words, don’t look to food to be your source of comfort, whether you’re eating something or not. Look to God. And if you’re going to enjoy a delicious meal, you can do it with a clen conscience if you believe that’s what God would have you enjoy, and it you thank Him for His provision. Don’t eat mindlessly, and don’t abstain mindlessly either. Neither of those is going to help you.
The final lesson for today is this. Prayer protects us from undignified self-indulgence. Prayer protects us from undignified self-indulgence.
This comes from chapter 5 as Paul describes what a godly widow looks like. These are the women the church should promote and support.
First Timothy 5:5—She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, [6] but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
There’s a reminder there that being old doesn’t automatically make you holy. An older widow at that time would presumably weakened physical strength, and she would have no income. She can’t support the church financially, and she can’t help is many visible ways. But that doesn’t mean she’s not useful to the church. She might be on the receiving end financially, but she can be on the giving end with regard to her prayers.
What can an elderly woman do in a home all by herself with no restraints on her schedule? Well, she could give herself to wine and to the local gossip, or she could dedicate herself to prayer. In more modern language, she could browse the internet and social media and play Candy Crush for hours, or she can pray.
Paul says that godly widow hopes in God and continues in prayer night and day. He doesn’t say that it’s easy, but it reveals where this woman’s priorities are. If she is given over to, or dominated by, self-indulgence, Paul says she is dead even while she lives. She makes no contribution. She’s like gangrene in the body of Christ. She’s useless. And she might even be dead spiritually, and not be a true Christian.
You don’t have to be an old widow for that possibility to be true. All of us can easily give ourselves over to our own desires rather than to prayer.
If we could tally the hours spent in prayer this past week by all the members of our church, how do you think that would compare to the hours spent watching videos and movies? We’d probably be ashamed. I know I would.
Prayer helps us fight that tendency. It helps move us toward God. It helps aligns our priorities. And our own regularity in prayer will reveal our true spiritual state.
So, let’s take a moment right now to pray. You can pray individually. You can pray as a family. But in response to what we’ve covered today, and in preparation of the Lord’s Supper, let’s confess our sin, let’s ask for God’s grace, and let’s commit ourselves again to the holiness and the mission of Jesus Christ.

More in The Prayers of Paul
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The Values of a Healthy ChurchJanuary 5, 2025
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