This week I heard a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher teaching saints to follow "Paul’s proper pattern for prayer." He read 1 Tim 2:3-6.
1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
It was typical of a ‘mid-Acts-er’ to stop short of a ‘Pauline’ verse he didn’t want (vs.8):
1 Tim 2:7-8 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
During my nearly 30 years of deception by ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine, I never saw even one so-called ‘grace believer’ follow Paul’s instruction of lifting up holy hands in prayer.
Though our heavenly Father bids us to bring every care to Him in prayer .... ‘mid-Acts-ers’ believe it is a waste of time because they say, "God’s not doing ‘that’ (whatever ‘that’ may be) today."
They sure don’t listen to Peter:
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
.... and neither do they listen to ‘their own apostle Paul’:
Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We have a record of one of Paul’s requests .... but ‘mid-Acts-ers’ would never use Paul for a pattern in a prayer about going on a trip:
Rom 1:9-10 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Philemon prayed for Paul to come and visit him:
Phile 1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
Oh, no! Could any of these ‘Pauline’ examples be considered prayer for ‘traveling mercies’?
