Represent Christ By Caring
Notes
Transcript
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
Title: Represent Christ By Caring
Title: Represent Christ By Caring
sermon focusing on caring for the body of Christ by praying. Praying brings tranquility and calmness. Praying carries God’s will to fruition, and it helps to unify the church. Therefore, the saints of God should not only start with prayer but end with it.
Introduction: Someone said, “I did this to show you that I care.” People have delivered flowers and candies for this very reason. According to John 3:16, God gave His only begotten Son to show that He cared. So, what do saints do to show that we care? Paul sheds some light on how to answer that question.
Saints Care about the Concord of God’s People
Saints Care about the Concord of God’s People
Paul gives Timothy, a young pastor, instructions for the church in Ephesus. He wants to see the church prosper and fulfill God’s purpose for it. In order for this to occur, Paul begins to list what needs to happen within the body. He calls for the saints to care for others. How? Look at verse 1.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
The Apostle gives a group of synonyms for praying and urges that this be done for all types of people.
1 Timothy 2:1 (ES1T): The plural forms of the four nouns imply that there be more than one such prayers, and they also suggest that this involves a number of people in the congregation
Supplications is a type of prayer that entreats or makes a request with urgency based on a presumed need on behalf of all types of people.
Prayers
intercessions is to intercede before God on behalf of all types of people
Thanksgivings is expressing gratitude for benefits or blessings (of others or what He did for others)
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
Paul provides an example of a neglected segment of people. He focuses on praying for rulers,
Proverbs 8:12-16 (NKJV) 12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge [and] discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom; I [am] understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV) Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin [is] a reproach to [any] people.
Proverbs 20:26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Proverbs 25:5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
Proverbs 29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Proverbs 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
which brings calmness, peace, and concord to the body of Christ. God is pleased when His church is functioning effectively.
As saints, we show that we care for our brothers and sisters' peace and harmony in the body of Christ by standing in the gap for them and asking God to work in the hearts of authority figures.
Saints Care about the Completion of God’s Will
Saints Care about the Completion of God’s Will
Paul told Timothy that God wants all types of men to be saved.
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
God wills or desires all men, He wants
bosses and workers
doctors and nurses
teachers and students
plumbers and electricians
factory and office workers
rich and poor
famous and non famous people
Peter expresses the same message in 2 Peter 3:9.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
God wants them to come to know the truth because the truth will set them free.
A follower of Christ hears God’s desire
A follower of God through Christ understands the Father’s will
God’s desire becomes the believer’s desire.
And you know what God wants, He is going to get.
So, we tell sinners the message
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
I know that people have made gods to their liking to fit their wants and desires.
But saints must care more about God and His will than we do about others.
There is only One God and one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ.
The only one way for men, women, boys, and girls to be reconciled to God is through Christ Jesus
Christ declared that He IS the Way the Truth and The Light
Christ gave His life as a ransom for all. We also pray to God that a door of opportunity will be opened and that we boldly share the gospel.
Apply: Disciples of Christ will you change your prayers so that the content within your prayers express
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Disciples will you change what you delight in and say
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
Disciples will you surrender to the LORD so that He can
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Saints Care about the Connection of God’s People
Saints Care about the Connection of God’s People
for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
In chapter one, Paul addresses a group of individuals, of which he names two, who have rejected the faith. Here he provides his calling and credentials, showing that he was appointed a preacher and sent to be an apostle.
Paul magnifies his ministry to the Gentiles and his message of faith and truth to all people. Paul stops to express again the reason he is giving these instructions. God sent him to say what he is saying about prayer in the church.
With his resume in mind, Paul gives more instructions. Look at verse 8
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
He desires that men in every meeting place to lift holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Here Paul calls for the men to lead in public worship. He uses the phrase everywhere or in every place which signified the official assembly of the saints.
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
Paul now adds their character and not their posture. He shows their manner of conduct and activities by the words lifting up holy hands
MacArthur Bible Studies: 1 & 2 Timothy Bible Passage
“holy” means “unpolluted” or “unstained by evil.” “Hands” symbolize the activities of life; thus “holy hands” represent a holy life. The basis of effective prayer is a righteous life (James 5:16).
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Look back at the text
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
“Wrath” and righteousness are mutually exclusive (James 1:20; see Luke 9:52–56). A better translation for “doubting” is “dissension,” and it refers to a hesitant reluctance to be committed to prayer. “Effectual, fervent” prayer is effective (James 5:16). The two refer to one’s inner attitude.
It is the wrath and dissension questioning that the church should be concerned about.
James says
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Praying together helps to connect His people.
Look at what the church did immediately after the ascension of the LORD Jesus
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Look at chapter 4
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Prayer fueled their sharing of the Word.
Conclusion: Christians have espoused these words, “Much prayer, much power; little prayer, little power; no prayer, no power.”
Could it be the church have little to no power because we did not care enough to pray?
Let’s us bow down on our knees and make requests, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all
showing that we care about the concord of God’s people, completion of God’s will, and the connection of God’s people