I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
How carefully do you listen to the prayers of the various brethren who take part in the Assembly’s weekly prayer meeting? I am sure you have noticed a great difference in the prayers, as various ones will have different needs and burdens on their hearts. Some will pray especially for the Gospel and those who preach it, and some will pray for the needs of the Lord’s people. Some will have a special burden about specific situations of people, while others will pray mostly in general terms. Some will march briskly through their prayers while others will lurch through in a scattered fashion. All in all, there is plenty of variety as a prayer meeting unfolds. But there are some things that are – or should be – consistent in all of those prayers. Our text identifies these.
To clarify, this verse is speaking of public prayers, which is why the emphasis is on the men. The Greek word used here identifies the participants as males. Much as the women at the meeting are praying silently, and in agreement with what is audible, God’s holy order is that the women maintain silence while the men speak. God’s order would also dictate that the participation is not to be limited to one or two men, but is open to each and every male who is in the fellowship.
While the privilege and responsibility of public prayer are not limited to those in specific positions within the Assembly, they are limited in other ways. The first of these is the character of the person who is to pray. The expression ‘lifting up holy hands’ speaks of this character. This means that anyone taking part must not be under discipline for sin or misbehaviour, nor must they be involved in any form of animosity or open disagreement with any other member of the fellowship. Holy hands are not defiled hands, and if the person has a clear conscience before men and God, he may, and should, pray.
The second restriction is the absence of wrath. How utterly inappropriate it would be for someone to stand and pray at an Assembly prayer meeting while harbouring angry and/or vindictive thoughts toward anyone, Christian or otherwise. Wrath is wrong in a prayer meeting, just as it is wrong in any part of the life of a child of God. The spirit in which public prayers should be made is that of total humility toward God and total charity toward men.
The third limitation is that of the doubter. The Greek word is actually that of reasoning. And we know that prayer does not involve reasoning, but it involves faith. Reason would declare that prayer is useless and that nothing can be accomplished by asking of God. But faith knows that reason is wrong, and that doubting is futile. He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
The public prayers of God’s people are important to God; that is why He gives us guidelines for them. – Jim MacIntosh