The First Battle
1 Timothy 2:1-8
February 7, 2010
Last week we concluded Paul’s opening remarks to Timothy
In which he revealed the problem and challenged Timothy to solve it.
Ephesus was a fruitless church.
Namely because they had teachers of bad doctrine in their midst.
Timothy was called to turn things around there.
• He was to instill the standard of godliness in that church.
• He was to purify the teaching ministry of that church.
• Ultimately he was to restore the church to a place of fruitfulness.
This would not be an easy task and therefore
Paul concluded his opening remarks by saying:
1 Timothy 1:18-19 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”
Paul wanted Timothy to lace up his armor and get ready to fight.
He was a soldier for the kingdom and it was time to take his stand.
And now that Timothy is presumably ready for the battle,
Paul moves on to the specifics of what to do.
That then brings us to “The First Battle”.
This is where Timothy was to begin.
That is indicated by the words in verse 1, “First of all…”
Sometimes when dealing with a reformation project,
The task can be extremely overwhelming.
No doubt Timothy could take the pulpit and wonder where to start.
The answer is PRAYER
And as you will see, not just any type of prayer,
BUT SPECIFICALLY EVANGELISTIC PRAYER.
Timothy needed to begin praying for the lost
And encouraging the men in his church to do the same.
The church at Ephesus had a fruit and godliness problem, it is therefore not the least bit far-fetched to assume they also had a salvation problem.
Paul actually tells Timothy later:
1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
It’s not that Paul or Timothy knew every person who was lost or saved
But basic common sense would indicate
That many of the problems would not be there if everyone was saved.
And so salvation was where Timothy needed to begin,
Not just in his preaching, but also in his prayer life.
Conversely, if the salvation problem were fixed, how much easier would it be to fix all the other problems?
There are 3 main divisions I want you to see tonight.
#1 THE URGENT REQUEST
1 Timothy 2:1
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,”
It really doesn’t get any clearer than that.
A vital prayer ministry was necessary
If the battle for the faith was going to be won.
And here Paul lists four attributes of a solid prayer life.
“entreaties” comes from a word that means:
“to lack” or “to be deprived” or “to be without”
And it therefore indicates a strong SENSE OF NEED
On behalf of the person praying.
It is not just a prayer request for the sake of talking at prayer meeting,
But rather a genuine burden on behalf of the person praying.
I will confess to you that much of the time “Prayer Meetings”
Can tend to annoy me.
(Not just ours, but all I have ever been involved in)
• Spiritual gossip sessions
• Fascination with doom and gloom (no praises whatsoever)
• Must be praying for anyone you add
Most of the time we have far more requests
Than we do praying participants.
It indicates to me a fascination with sharing news
And a lack of burden for actually praying.
Paul is looking for people who are genuinely and truly burdened.
People who are going to pray whether there is a meeting or not…
People who are going to pray whether there is a list or not…
“prayers” is a word that means just what it says.
The only thing to add is that the word is only ever used
In reference to men speaking to God.
The idea here is that people are so burdened
That they actually take the request to God.
They don’t stop when the request is on the prayer list,
Or when they have passed it along on the prayer chain.
They actually pray for the situation.
Paul is looking for people who are burdened enough to actually pray for the lost.
“petitions” is a word that literally means:
“to fall in with someone”
It carries the idea of putting your arm around a person
And not abandoning them.
It speaks of sympathy and compassion and involvement.
It is literally you being so moved with a person’s condition
That you take it upon yourself to carry the need to God.
PAUL IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT PRAYER
Finally:
“thanksgivings” is another word which means what it says.
And therefore it reveals a spirit of gratitude
That God would be willing to hear your request
And furthermore to join you in your venture.
If you had a child with cancer and there was only one doctor in the country who specialized with that particular problem, wouldn’t you be grateful if he agreed to sit and listen to you?
Well, we have the only God who can do anything
About the lostness of humanity,
And so we come with gratitude that He is willing to take our call.
“entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,”
And there we see that everyone needs it.
Furthermore we learn that there is even a CORPORATE SENSE
In which we pray for the lost.
It is a vital responsibility of the church.
The Urgent Request
#2 THE BIBLICAL REASON
1 Timothy 2:2-7
I would certainly hope that there is no one in here tonight
That wonders “why” we need to pray for the lost.
SOME HYPER-CALVINISTS WONDER
Since God is sovereign over salvation,
It only makes that much more sense that we pray to Him
Instead of simply trying to take matters into our own hands.
If no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws Him (Jn. 6:44)
Then it only makes all the more sense
That we spend a great deal of time petitioning the Father.
And so evangelistic prayer is necessary.
But just in case you are skeptical as to why, Paul actually gives four reasons here why you and I ought to pray for the lost.
1) IT PRODUCES PEACE (2)
Paul adds here that not only should we pray for all men, but also
“for kings and all who are in authority”
While verse 1 spoke of praying for the lost in a corporate sense,
Here Paul gets specific.
• Pray for the king.
• Pray for the leaders of the country.
• Pray for the leaders of the town.
• Pray for the leaders of the school.
We certainly know that we are to be in subjection to them.
Romans 13:1-5 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.”
1 Peter 2:13-17 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Scripture is clear what we are to do with those in authority.
And I’ve got to tell you
This is quickly becoming a lost doctrine in the church.
CHRISTIANS ARE DEVELOPING
AN UNHEALTHY FASCINATION WITH LEADER BASHING.
• More and more we hear of pulpits devoted more to political issues than to the study of God’s word.
• More and more we see preachers and theologians showing up on news shows to debate legislation.
We have clear Biblical instruction that we have no right whatsoever to slander the leaders God has placed over us.
Slanders, jokes, and things of the like are utterly offensive to God.
SO ARE WE JUST SUPPOSED TO CONDONE ALL THAT THEY DO?
No.
We pray for them.
“so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
• You aren’t the first person to realize that the government does not promote Christian values.
• You aren’t the first to realize that they even promote things we find detestable.
• You aren’t the first to realize that if they have their way, we may lose the basic freedoms of “godliness and dignity.”
But we don’t change them by slandering them.
We change them with prayer.
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Paul says the same here.
If you want to know why you should pray for the lost,
The first reason is BECAUSE THE LOST ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR WAY OF LIFE.
And since you don’t have the option of removing them from power,
Your only other option is to pray
That they have a change of conviction.
I certainly don’t do this correctly all the time, but I’m going to try.
I think from now on, whenever the conversation goes toward bashing Obama or someone else, I’m just going to ask the person if they would like to stop and pray for him with me.
(That ought to give me ample opportunities to pray for him throughout the day)
Furthermore it is bound to accomplish more than just talking about him.
“It Produces Peace”
2) IT PLEASES GOD (3-4)
Now certainly you and I know that thanks to the work of Jesus,
We are already pleasing to God.
In a positional sense, we are pleasing to Him.
That however does not mean that He is automatically pleased with everything we do in this life.
Therefore we make it our ambition to please Him in the choices we make.
Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
2 Corinthians 5:9 “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
And so we know that in this life we are trying to please God.
Here Paul lists one way in which we can do that,
And that is by praying for the lost.
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”
God loves to hear prayers regarding the salvation of the lost.
That is music to His ears when He hears such prayers.
WHY?
Because He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 33:10-11 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?”‘ “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
Psalms 103:8 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”
You and I both know that God is in the business of saving the lost.
This is His primary concern.
This causes Him greater joy than anything else.
So why wouldn’t He enjoy it when we join our hearts with His
And pray for the lost.
This is what Jesus taught:
Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Again:
Luke 15:1-2 “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
If you are familiar with Luke 15
You know that Jesus then introduced three parables.
The Lost Sheep
The Lost Coin
The Lost Son
To which He would emphatically remind that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who gets saved than over 99 who don’t need saving.
His point was to the religious who had lost contact with the heart of God.
They were so caught up in their religious legalism
That they had forgotten that God by nature is a Savior.
Paul reminds us of that here, and encourages us to do something
That is utterly pleasing to God: PRAY FOR THE LOST
It Produces Peace, It Please God
3) IT PROVES OUR CONVICTION (5-6)
You have to love Paul’s statement here.
Furthermore it is basic Christian theology and one that we would all claim to be in hearty agreement with.
Two truths Paul states here.
ONE GOD
“For there is one God”
ONE WAY
“and one mediator also between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
Do you really believe that people without Jesus go to hell?
Do you do anything about it?
Because to truly believe that hell is bad
And that people without Jesus go there
And then to do nothing about it,
Indicates you to be one cold-hearted person.
Or maybe it is that we don’t really believe hell is all that bad.
Or maybe it is that we don’t really believe that Jesus is the only way.
DO YOU SEE THE DILEMMA?
When we don’t pray for the lost,
Or share with the lost there is only three possibilities.
We don’t believe in Hell.
We don’t believe Jesus is the only Savior.
We believe it but we don’t care. (No love)
That is sad.
Matthew 5:43-47 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
I don’t think any of us want to be like that person.
But if you want to prove your conviction, then pray for the lost.
Praying for the lost to be saved proves that you believe hell is real
And that Jesus saves and that you don’t want men to go there.
The reasons why we pray for the lost
It Produces Peace It Please God It Proves our Conviction
4) IT POWERS OUR MISSION (7)
Paul says “for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle”
FOR WHAT?
He is referring to the salvation of all men.
The salvation that Jesus came to purchase.
Paul says I have been called by God to lead people to salvation.
Not just Jews, but Gentiles as well.
And by the way so have you.
And since that is your mission,
Doesn’t it make sense to do everything you can
To help that mission be successful?
BUT WHAT CAN I DO?
Use trendy music?
Serve pizza?
Where those baddy type jeans?
PRAY
Prayer for the lost is what helps you in your mission
To lead them to salvation.
Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”
Colossians 4:2-4 “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”
Ephesians 6:18-20 “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Paul knew it, and we must know it.
If you wonder why you should pray for the lost, it is clear.
It Produces Peace
It Pleases God
It Proves our Conviction
It Powers our Mission
That’s the reason we pray for the lost.
The Urgent Request, The Biblical Reason
#3 THE OBVIOUS RESPONSE
1 Timothy 2:8
How do you respond to truth like that?
“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”
Paul calls out “the men” because in the corporate worship service,
It is they who are called upon to lead.
Certainly women are called to pray as well, just not to lead out in it at church.
And Paul even tells us how to pray.
PURITY & UNITY
“lifting up holy hands”
This does not mean that we are to lift our hands when we pray.
(Posture means nothing)
Lifting up your hands was a euphemism for prayer.
The point is that when we do it, we must do it from pure motives.
Isaiah 1:15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.”
It is hypocritical to pray for the lost to be set free from sin,
If you desire to remain in it.
Unity
“without wrath and dissension”
In other words we may not be able to agree on everything,
But we all ought to be able to agree that the lost need salvation.
We may disagree on what type of song to sing during the invitation, but we can all pray that they lost come down the aisle.
The obvious response to this truth is that when we come together we pray for the lost with purity and with unity.
This is a clear Biblical command.
And so tonight we are going to change our church policy.
From now on on Sunday night we are going to have a time of prayer for the lost, in which the men in attendance lift up holy hands to God to intercede for the lost.
It may be for the lost in general, or for the lost specifically, but we are going to begin to do this differently.
It doesn’t have to be anything long.
And I won’t force every man to do it, but just know that Paul asked for “the men” to do it.
And we pray with:
“entreaties” – a sense of need
“prayers” – requests made to God
“petitions” – prayers on behalf of the lost
“thanksgivings” – thanking God for hearing us
But tonight we begin to do it correctly.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 “I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”
