Hi guys, great to see you here again. Have a blessed Bible study.

Here you can find the transcript.

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1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Interesting points:
1. In these verses Paul builds on topic of praying for everyone – men, women, rulers, and those in authority -- corporately as a church, noting that this endeavor is good and pleases God who wishes to reconcile all mankind to Him. Isn’t it interesting that the order is (a) to be saved and then (b) come to a knowledge of the Truth?

2. We can infer from this verse that prayers which are aligned with God’s own heart are good and please Him. This makes sense: God is good so if we pray in alignment with His Word/ what He shares with us, our prayers will be good. Additionally, such prayers demonstrate obedience and also reflect a desire to fully identify with our Heavenly Father. The best way I can explain His derived pleasure is comparing the way we earthly fathers take pleasure when our children copy our best attributes in dealing with others -- like protecting/helping those in need, being kind, solving problems, etc.

3. Several Bible Scholar commentaries on Verse 4 focused on why not all men are saved if God wants/wills it. Consensus lies with the understanding that God, who already knows (and chose) who will be saved by their choice to follow Him, wants both men and women, rich and poor, ruler and the ruled, from every tribe and every nation to reconcile with Him. Without prayer, the Church limits its ability to evangelize; after all, He speaks to the heart even as we utter His Word and testify to the Truth.

4. Once someone is saved, God desires that they come to a knowledge of the Truth. On this side of Heaven, we can only come to “a knowledge of the Truth”, not knowing Him fully. As Jesus is the truth, it is essential that we grow in knowledge and intimacy of Him or we can become like the seeds that fall on rocky soil, get choked by weeds or eaten by the birds (Matthew 13:1-23).

Application.
Brothers, what a fantastic reminders of (a) prayer setting the conditions for evangelism (and realizing it is God who convicts and converts and not our words/presentation!!!) and (b) God’s desire that each of us come to a knowledge (intimate relationship) with Him!
Rather than fearing the reaction of others when we introduce others to Christ or even getting upset if they don’t accept Him, let’s commit to praying for them first. That way we can be sure that it is God who goes before and uses us to “sow” His Word. And when we go, may we be ready to help those who accept Jesus as Savior how to “come to a knowledge of the Truth” by showing them how to start studying His Word.