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This is the audio from the January 7, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More: Pray FIRST”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-5

Today I began a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  As we begin to consider what it looks like to experience the immeasurably more that God desires to do in the lives of His children, we begin with immeasurably more prayer.  This isn’t as much about praying more as it is about seeing God do immeasurably more through our prayers.  We put ourselves into a position for God to work through our prayers when we learn to pray . . .

• Faithfully: — 1 Timothy 2:1

  • We pray first when we choose to pray faithfully in all circumstances.  I suspect there are things in life that most people try to work out on their own without ever considering talking with God about it . . . at least not until we’ve exhausted all other options.  When we grow as one who is faithful in prayer, we realize God has something to say about every detail of what we experience in life.  Rather than live by a “when all else fails, read the instructions”, we find God doing immeasurably more through our prayer life when we live with a faithful commitment to talk with God first about everything.

• Intentionally: —  1 Timothy 2:2

  • We pray first when we pray intentionally for those in authority, but not necessarily seeking the selfish results we often want.  No, the intention of our prayers ought to be the seeking of a peaceful and quiet life that exhibits godliness and holiness in all things.  Particularly here in America, it becomes far too easy to get caught up in politics that often do nothing but cause division and hatred.  Rather than praying for the outcome God desires (peaceful and quiet lives), we pray for an agenda that fits what we think is right.  Because we serve a God who is holy and godly by His very nature, we find Him doing immeasurably more through our prayer life when we pray intentionally for the ability to lead a peaceful and quiet life that represents Jesus.

• Respectfully: — 1 Timothy 2:3

  • We pray first when we pray respectfully in a way that pleases God.  The faithfulness of our prayers and the intentions of our prayers both reflect a respect, or lack thereof, for the One we are praying to.  The outcomes we desire from our prayers ought to be things which please God.  This doesn’t mean we erase our emotions from our conversations with God, rather it is a respect that can both praise and object in manners that recognizes God’s final authority.  There will be times we cry out in joy and times we cry out in anger but our respect will always listen for God’s answer.  We are able to see God do immeasurably more through our prayer life when we seek to please Him in all the ways we receive His responses with respect.

• Submissively: — 1 Timothy 2:4

  • We pray first when we pray submissively to the will of God in all things.  While it is easy to get caught up in debates about what exactly is the will of God in any given situation, a primary will of God stated throughout scripture is that all people would come to know Him through a repentant life submitted to Jesus.  While few would care to admit it out loud, there are people that many would not consider to be wanted by God.  At times we fail to pray that all people be saved because we’ve already decided certain people shouldn’t be, or at least can’t be.  We can see God do immeasurably more in our prayer life when we pray submissively to His will that all be saved and we live as an example of the saving power of God.

• Thankfully: — 1 Timothy 2:5

  • We pray first when we pray thankfully in all situations.  When we start talking about peaceful and quiet lives, about godliness and holiness, about respect, about submission, and about God wanting everyone to be saved, we ought to be led to an attitude of thankfulness to a God who makes all of that possible.  Knowing that Jesus is the mediator between God and mankind ought to fill our prayer life with thanksgiving because we know Him as a loving and fair mediator, full of all wisdom and grace.  Seeing God at work in our own life and in the lives of others ought to produce within us a thankfulness that is in itself proof that God is doing immeasurably more through our life of prayer.

Today, how will you see God do immeasurably more as you learn to pray FIRST?