"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE DESIRE OF GOD"
1st Timothy 2:4 “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(Taken from today's reading in The One Year Bible 10/17/14)
Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:
Paul was writing this and 2nd Timothy to a pastor named Timothy. He wrote him to encourage him during a difficult and challenging time in his life and ministry. And, to give him very specific guidelines about how to conduct himself in the church. And how the church was to conduct itself in doing the will of God. Chapter 2 starts off by placing prayer in the church as a priority of ministry. And then Paul begins speaking about God's nature and desire for men to be saved. This one short and simple verse is filled with profound truth about our God.
And, it is a verse that I hope will encourage you to pray for anyone you know who needs to be saved.
1. God has desires just like we do.
1st Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
We are made in the image of God.
We have desires and so does God.
Desire here means, desirous, would to like to do a thing, be fond of doing. take delight in, have pleasure.
God clearly takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
He does not want man to die in his sins, because then man would be separated from God forever.
What God desires and takes great pleasure in, is a person being saved from their sins.
Christ came to save His people from their sins by dying on the cross to pay for their sins.
God wants all men to be saved.
2. God's desires have to do with the greatest need mankind has.
1st Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
There are many things that a person needs in life.
But the greatest of all needs is to have their sins forgiven,
God desires or wants this for all men as well.
He also wants all men to understand the truth.
The truths is "Jesus Christ" .
Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers.
They cannot understand the truth.
But, God wants them to understand it.
3. God clearly desires that all men would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
1st Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Having said what has been said, it does not mean that all men will automatically be saved.
Though God desires all men to be saved, they must first repent of their sins, and believe in Jesus Christ.
If a person will do that, then God's desire will be met.
Some Questions:
1. Who do you know that needs to be saved?
2. Do you have children, siblings, or parents that need salvation?
3. Are you encouraged to know that God wants them to be saved?
4. Do you want them to be saved?
5. You and the Lord are synchronized together in this desire.
6. Will you pray for the persons you have in mind who need salvation?
A Prayer:
Father, how great, gracious, and generous You are. We human beings compared to You are no comparison. You are holy, and we are sinful. Yet You love us and You desire that all men would be saved so that they could be with You forever and ever.
You have gone so far as to send Your own Son to the cross in order to make salvation possible. You use prayer to advance the expansion of Your kingdom. We pray that You might place a new Godly compassion within our hearts that will cause us to be more prayerful.
That we might pray along the lines of Your desires and Your will.
You desire that all men be saved, and we know many who need salvation. Lord, may be grow in our steadfastness to pray for them.
Save now O Lord, Save now.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
