Mensa Otabil - Praying Without Wrath And Doubting
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We’re still learning about prayer from 1 Timothy chapter 2. Paul the Apostle is writing to Timothy, who was pastor of the church in Ephesus, and he’s telling him how to conduct the church. There are several instructions he’s given to him, and we’re focusing on this one in chapter two. So we look at verse eight, which we examined yesterday, but we’ll look at it again today: «I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.» Our attitudes in prayer affect the answers we receive or how God responds to our prayers.
The Lord Jesus Christ clearly taught that forgiveness is essential in prayer. He taught it in the Sermon on the Mount and elaborated on it in the prayer he told the disciples, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. He emphasized teaching it in many parts and in response to many questions, highlighting forgiveness as a prerequisite for prayer. Therefore, we cannot avoid this topic; Christianity does not encourage unforgiveness. Prayerfulness requires forgiveness; it is inherent in the Lord’s Prayer.
Here it is reiterated that when we lift up holy hands to God, it should be without wrath and without doubting.God says when we come before Him to pray, we do so without wrath. In other words, we cannot allow our anger and pain to drive our prayers. Sadly, a lot of prayer these days is driven by wrath. Anger, frustration, and a determination to get even against someone often become the focus of our prayers. There are many instances where prayer points and topics are introduced that are rife with anger, wrath, and vengeance.
However, the Scriptures are very clear: you cannot pray those kinds of prayers, calling fire on your enemies or destruction upon them. Both the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and the apostles He chose, who laid the foundation of our faith, instruct us to pray without wrath.If there is wrath or anger in your heart when you turn to prayer, you should not verbalize it in your prayer; it is not part of the way we pray as Christians. Be mindful of this, no matter how strongly you feel about seeing someone pay for what they have done wrong to you; you cannot make that part of your prayer.
Secondly, we pray without doubting. The word «doubt» in this context, as found in the New King James, can be somewhat misleading; it refers to being of two minds or having two opposing positions. It would be better to interpret it as disputing, meaning quarreling. Thus, when we come before God in prayer, we do not present our quarrels-"but God, this one says that, and that one says this; settle our quarrel for us, O Lord.» God does not settle quarrels for us in prayer. In prayer, we do not express our wrath or our disputes before the Lord.
The Lord desires the church to be in unity. He says that when two of us agree concerning anything on earth and we pray, He will do it for us in heaven. Therefore, as much as possible, we should endeavor for the unity of the body of Christ among Christians. Prayer meetings should not become a place to settle disputes and quarrels or issues we have with others. Of course, if someone is teaching false doctrine, we must caution the individual and address the matter directly with them, not in prayer. When we come together in prayer, we do so in unity and love, praying through forgiveness, not through wrath or disputing.
Paul tells us to lift up holy hands and pray without wrath and without disputing or quarreling. That is not what prayer is about. Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, let the lifting up of my hands be as a sweet and holy fragrance before You. In Jesus' name, Amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.