Bruce Atkinson
What happens when the men pray?
Men need to track how prayer transforms their circumstances, and even more importantly how the act of praying transforms themselves, says Bruce Atkinson, from Elim's Kensington Temple.
I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
Q. What happens when the men pray?
A. We don’t know because they haven’t tried it yet.
In the second chapter of first Timothy Paul encourages a great multiplication of prayer; the expected results are a political atmosphere conducive to Christian discipleship and a demonstration of fruitful evangelism. In the second half of the chapter, Paul addresses first the men and then the women about issues specific to each gender.
This being an MPower article it is the concern that Paul raised with the men that interests us. Paul spoke specifically to the men about the matter of prayer; it seems he didn’t need to raise it with the women. Sounds familiar to us today perhaps? Or was this just an issue in Paul’s day?
Generally speaking in the European church today the ladies both outnumber and outshine the men in their fervency and frequency of intercession, but imagine if we men began to seriously heed Paul’s call.
Paul had to give a specific word to the men regarding prayer because they weren’t properly activated in it. Paul promised that as they lifted up their hands in prayer - anger, frustration, disappointments and doubts would all be dealt with through the power of God. The things that usually keep men from praying are also the very things that can only be dealt with through intercession.
Men, can’t you see that your present frustrations and discouragements are intended to be the fuel for passionate intercession?
Leaders beware of circulating self-fulfilling mantras like ‘Men are more practical, women are more spiritual and that’s why men don’t pray as they ought’. That’s actually a belittling of both sexes.
Believing Prayer is the most practical activity on earth today. It does seem however that Paul was encouraging a special focus on helping the men to pray, and maybe this is an emphasis that we should also adopt and purposefully concentrate upon - just as Paul did?
Prayer is often more caught than taught and ‘believing prayer from the heart’ is contagious. Men instinctively recognise a genuine prayer anointing and respond to it, and testimonies of answered prayer need to be trumpeted aloud. Men need to track how prayer transforms their circumstances, and even more importantly how the act of praying transforms themselves.
Keep putting your men to work in the labour exchange of intercession and let’s not give up on them.
Q. What happens when the men pray?
A. More than you could possibly imagine.
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