What is Paul's First Exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1?

First of all pray.  That’s what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:1-2a:

 I exhort, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position,...

I like how straightforward Paul is here. Prayer is not a last resort, but it should be our first course of action. In chapter 3 of the Life-Study of 1 Timothy Witness Lee points out that in this section Paul is reminding his co-worker that in God's work prayer is first and teaching is second.  On page 28 he describes the differences between the different types of prayer listed in the above verse, and I particularly liked the one he gave on intercession:

 The Greek word rendered "intercessions" means approach to God in a personal and confiding manner, that is intervening, interfering, before God in others’ affairs for their benefit (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of 1 Timothy. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1980, Print).

  Paul mentions here that our prayers are not just for our own needs and problems but on behalf of kings,  political rulers,  and for others' salvation. The phrase on behalf of makes me visualize the kind of prayers that can intervene or interfere in a nation or person's desperate situation.

   During these past few weeks I’ve been reading a book called The Meaning and Purpose of Prayer (from a conference Witness Lee gave on prayer in 1956!)  This excerpt on page 30 relates how important our prayer and intercession is to God.:

  “If man does not pray, God will not work; if no one prays, God has no work to do. At any given time God must find some people or a person to co-work with Him to pray for what He intends to do on earth….The extent to which we pray is the extent to which God works. Those whom we touch in prayers are those on whom God works, what we pray for is what God does, and how we pray is how God fulfills. This is a great principle of prayer" (Lee, Witness. The Meaning and Purpose of Prayer. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 2013, Print).

You can  also listen to live excerpts from these messages on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon on The Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  You will enjoy listening to both  the excerpts  from these spoken messages and the helpful and enlightening commentary of the radio hosts.

List of Other Life-Studies on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, & Philemon:

What is Paul's First Exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1?
How Can You Be Nourished With the Words of the Faith in 1 Timothy 4:6?
Looking at the Church's Decline in 2 Timothy
From the Life-Study of 2 Timothy - How Did Paul Inoculate the Church Against Decline?
Why is the Word Healthy Used So Much in the Epistle to Titus?
Why  Should You Avoid Questionings in Titus 3:9?
What Does the Account of Onesimus Show Us in the Book of Philemon?

Other Related Posts on Prayer:

From the Life-Study of Matthew:
What is the Crucial Significance of Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13?
Have You Seen the Battle Between the Two Kingdoms in Matthew 12:26-28?

From the Life-Study of Luke:
Why is Persistent Prayer Important in Luke 18:1-8?

From the Life-Study of Acts:
How is Acts a Book on God's Move & Prayer?
Seeing God's Move & Satan's Frustration in Acts 14

From the Life-Study of Galatians:
How Do We Practically Enjoy Grace in Galatians 5:18?

From the Life-Study of Ephesians:
How Do We Apply the Armor of God in Ephesians 6?

From the Life-Study of Philippians:
Why Does Paul Put Anxiety and Prayer Together in Philippians 4:6?

From the Life-Study of Colossians:
From the Life-Study of Colossians - What Happens When We Pray?
What is Christ Doing at the RIght Hand of God in Colossians 3:2?

Other Posts:
Why Prayer Matters
Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 
Hearing God   (From Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Vol. 18 - Tell Him)