I Timothy 2
I Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Text: I timothy 2:1-8
Illustration: In 1517 there was a great riot in London, in which houses were sacked and a general insurrection reigned; guns in the tower were thundering against the insurgents, and armed bands were assailing them on every side. Three hundred were arrested, tried and hanged; five hundred were cast into prison, and were to be tried before the king, Henry VIII. As he sat in state on the throne, the door opened, and in they came, every man with a rope about his neck. Before sentence could be passed on them, three queens entered, Catharine of Aragon, wife of the king; Margaret of Scotland, sister of the king, and Mary of France. They approached the throne, knelt at the feet of his majesty and there remained pleading until the king forgave the five hundred trembling men.
The story of Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah is found in the Bible in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 18:16-33. In this passage, God informs Abraham that He plans to destroy the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, out of concern for his nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom, pleads with God to spare the cities if even a small number of righteous people can be found there. He engages in a dialogue with God, asking if He would spare the cities for the sake of a decreasing number of righteous people, eventually settling on ten. However, as the story unfolds, the cities are ultimately destroyed due to their wickedness, but Lot and his family are saved. The passage illustrates Abraham's intercession and God's mercy and justice.
Intercession Defined
Explanation: A. Intercession is the method for invovleing God's followers more completely in the totality of His plan. In no other way can the believer become as fully involve with God's work, especially the work of world evangelism, as in intercessory prayer.
Highest Plane
At its foundation intercession is prayer for someone else.
It is to mediate, to stand between a lost being an almighty God, praying that this person will .. ' come to know about God and his salvation. Redemption
This is the highest form of prayer because like at no other time you can be active in the redeption process for the soul of lost. Service
Prayer is the foundation of all Christian ministry. You can not help someone until you have prayed for them.
Not all can sing, preach, go door to door, but all can prayer. /
High water Point
Intercession is the broadest scope fo prayer. Ther is not other mode of prayer that reaches out to all the world as intercessory prayer.
"Prayer must be broad in its scope - it must plead for others. Intercession for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer... Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men." - E.M. Bounds
Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
Our prayers hold life for the lost. AT. Pierson says,
"Every step in the progress of missions is directly traceable to prayer. It has been the preparation for every new triumph and the secret of all success." - A.T. Pierson
Intercession is far more than just praying for others. Interceding is engaging in actual spiritual battle. There is a certain spirit of authority that must accompany a good deal of intercession. A.J. Gordon,
"We have authority to take from the enemy everything he is holding back. The chief way of taking is by prayer, and by whatever action prayer leads us to. The cry that should be ringing out today is the great cry, Take, in Jesus' great Name!" - A.J. Gordon
//. Prayer Centered on Others
Four Prayer that I can pray for others.
I. Prayer for workers for the harvest.
"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:38
II. Pray for open doors.
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
III. Pray for Fruit that Remains.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
IV. Pray for Strength in Evangelism.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
You may be noticing a theme in the types of prayer i included.
Consider the purpose of this text
In Chapter 1 Paul is strengthening Timothys resolve the teachers that slide into the church. False teachers have come into the church dividing it with a doctrine that excludes people from the saving of Jesus Christ based on the law.
Paul reminds Timothy that this is a misuse of the Law. The Law was not to push people away from the Gospel, but to convince sinners of their need and therefore bring them to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.
He concludes chapter 1, reminding us who is most affected by false teaching. You see the problem with false teachers is that it asserts a Savior that false. So Paul gives us a beautiful poem honoring Christ above all false teachings and teachers.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
It is protection of Gods glory that Timothy is encouraged to stand
Correct teaching about the Torah will lead people to see the grace of God revealed in the Messiah who came to save sinful, broken people. So Paul calls on Timothy to shut these men and their false teaching down.
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
To this end Paul guides Timothy to make the church a place of selfless prayer.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
He then addresses very specific problems in this church caused by the false teachers.
First of all, he calls Timothy to hold regular church prayer gatherings to pray for the governing leaders of Rome and for peace.
Because peace in the land creates an ideal setting for Jesus' followers to keep spreading their message about the God of peace who wants all people to be saved, the God who sent Jesus as the only mediator to give his life as a ransom for all, in contrast to the false teachers.
Paul reminds Timothy that God wants to rescue the whole world. Prayer is going to keep this at the forefront of their minds.
Let us consider tonight the participation that Christ gives to his congregations. To join the one Mediator in his grand work of Mediation for man. We stand as little examples of him when we are participants in Prayer.
Decide to step into your place as a Prayer Partner.
It is not something you need to become. You already are you have the grace that Christ extends so you are perfectly suited for the work of intercession.
Join God’s people in the process of Prayer.
Our church gathers together every Sunday Morning at 9.15. This is not so we can feel superior to those that come in at 10:30. It is for the purpose of seeing Christ’s glory extended due to our obedience to his will.
Make obedience a daily practice.
You don’t have to wait till Sunday.