Mensa Otabil - Pray for Salvation

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1 Timothy 2:3 and 4: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, if you remember in verse one, Paul says we should pray for all men. Verse two instructs us to pray for kings and for those in authority. Now, in verse three, he’s telling us it is good to do that. Why? He gives us the reason why we should pray in that sequence: pray for all men and for kings, because he says, uh, it is acceptable in the sight of God, who desires all men to be saved.

So, God desires for everyone to be saved, and that’s a very profound truth. God wants the whole world to experience salvation. You know, sometimes we act as if God is pleased with people being condemned, punished, judged, or going to hell, but that’s not God’s desire. He desires for all men-of course, it includes women-to be saved; that all human beings and all people come to the place of salvation, that sin does not rule over anybody in this world. And that’s why we should pray for all people, those high and those low, and we must pray for the salvation of sinners.

You know, sometimes, uh, people who are sinners can be very, very bad. In Paul’s case, he was living under the Roman system, which turned against Christianity and persecuted Christians. But he says God’s desire is that all men will be saved, and Jesus showed us that example when he was on the cross. When he was being nailed, the natural thing was for him to say, «Father, punish these people,» but he said, «Father, forgive them.» On the cross, the thief who was by his side asked for salvation, and he granted him salvation. Why? Because it is God’s will for all men and all women to be saved.

So, one of the reasons why we pray for those in authority is that not only do they themselves get saved, which is important, but also that an atmosphere will be created for the message of the Gospel to be preached for the salvation of the world. Anything that takes people away from salvation, we must pray that it doesn’t happen. So, he tells us then that we must pray that people come to the knowledge of the truth. And that’s important. Why? Because every human being has a hunger in them; in everybody’s heart, there is a desire for the spiritual, for the supernatural, to know God, whoever they think God is. Sometimes that quest drives people, and they read and explore, and they may end up in a wrong belief system or in a false belief system. So, Paul says to the Christians, pray that all these people- all men, all kings, all those in authority- everybody will come to the knowledge of the truth. So, pray that in their quest to know God, they will know him accurately; they will know him in spirit and in truth.

So, why can’t God just do all things by Himself? God does all things by Himself, but he works with us; we are His children here on Earth, and we pray for His will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. So, our prayer is important to the fulfillment of God’s will and purposes in the lives of people and in the world. So, we pray for the whole world, we pray for those in authority that they will make policies that do not hinder the spread of the Gospel, that they will set up systems that facilitate the spreading of the Gospel. I am on television; I am on social media preaching the Gospel. I believe that these are avenues created by God for the sharing of the Gospel. So, these are ways in which God answers our prayers, so that through the natural processes-which we may not even think are spiritual-God is working to make the message of the Gospel and the truth of the Gospel reach as many people as possible, and that is what we pray for. I hope that that will also be your prayer.

Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, thank you for your priceless gift of salvation. Use me to draw people to your grace. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»