Intercessory Prayer – Part 4

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2: 1-6, NIV.

My LORD and my God, As we approach Your throne today, we ask for the guidance and enlightenment of Your Holy Spirit as we study Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today we will be looking at the last part of our Scripture:  “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” If we should decide to begin from the end of the text and work toward the beginning, we would first arrive at the conclusion, that God’s plan to save all men was set for a special time. The Messiah did not just appear; His appearing was at the “proper time.” In Galatians 4: 4, we read:  “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law[.]” The testimony of the love of the Godhead for the human race, that He had come to declare, was given “in its proper time.” Yesterday we highlighted the fact that, the plan to save humankind “. . . was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1: 20), Although God is not limited by time, He always works at just the right time!

Once again we notice the all-inclusive language of the apostle, when talking about Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf:  “who gave himself as a ransom for all men.” Repetition in Scripture, as well as in our everyday dealings with one another is not without a cause. It is usually for emphasis, for our awareness, and for our learning. “[W]ho wants all men to be saved;” “who gave himself as a ransom for all men.” You cannot miss it!  The plan of salvation is for all who will accept Jesus as their Savior. No one needs to be lost! The gates of mercy have been flung wide open for everyone to enter! What a God of love, and grace, and mercy!

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus! There is a saying that, “All roads lead to Rome.” But there is only one Way to the Father’s house! And yesterday we mentioned that the Way to the Father, and to eternal life, was through the Truth, Jesus Christ. Throughout the ages, people have always tried to take short cuts to salvation. They have tried self-punishment; their own works of “righteousness,” even self improvement. They have tried to buy themselves into the kingdom, work themselves into the kingdom, or win the right to the kingdom. They have made gods of wood and stone; gods of mammon, or gods after their own image.

But “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4: 12). We are reminded, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Hebrews 7: 25-27). Hallelujah! 

The conclusion of the whole matter is this:  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4: 14-16).

What more can we ask for? If the perfect Son of God is in the heavens above pleading on our behalf, should we not in love, offer intercessory prayer on behalf of all people everywhere – and all those in authority? May God help us to do just that!