Auditory Chapel

# 51 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (1 Tim 2:1) We've covered what it means to supplicate, today let's look at the word “prayers.” It's odd that prayers gets a mention here because after all, aren't all these things, (supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks) prayers? Isn't this a little redundant? What does it mean to include “prayers” in this mix? The word in the Greek is very broad and it means “worship” or auditory chapel. Perhaps the best way to get a handle on this aspect of worship is to see how the word is used elsewhere in Scripture. In Acts 10:4b we read, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. In Re 5:8 prayers are likened to incense wafting up to God, “and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. In Ge 8:21 Noah's burnt offering was described as a pleasant smell to God: “And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Notice the idea of “up” in the matter of prayers. These expressions are directed toward God! I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that “prayers” in Scripture are Holy Spirit prompted expressions of praise that waft up toward God! In other words, they are praise and worship, and that's what sets them apart from these other elements. They can be organized expressions such as Noah's offering or the singing of Psalms, or they can be spontaneous bursts of lauditory remarks about our great God, the main thing is they are heartfelt! And Paul strongly encourages them to be included in our worship services. No wonder the Psalmist writes in Ps 147:1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. Spoken or sung, praises waft their way heavenward to God and they are a soothing aroma to Him. They are pleasant and beautiful gifts to our loving Father!