A Healthy Church is a Praying Church
Foundations of a Healthy Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsIntercession for all people pleases God who desires all be saved.
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A Healthy Church is a Praying Church.
A Healthy Church is a Praying Church.
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human,
who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Explanation
“First of all then,” Paul is building a case for how the church should
function by:
1. Standing for truth,
2. Opposing false teaching,
3. Boldly proclaiming Christ’s gospel
4. Worshiping Him
Keeping in mind the aim of all this is to be done in love.
The key to this passage is understanding that a Healthy Church prays.
Main Idea: God is Pleased When We Pray
God is Pleased When We Pray for Salvations (1-4)
God is Pleased When We Pray for Salvations (1-4)
How should we pray for?
Petitions, Prayers, Intercessions, and Thanksgiving
These terms vary in their relationship to God.
Prayer and Thanksgiving for the believer
Petition and Intercession the unbeliever.
Who should we pray for?
Everyone. Not literally, but there are many groups we can pray for.
Believers, and unbelievers (Alex and Hymen)
1 Tim 1:4
or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
Paul Concludes in v.7 He is called to preach to Gentiles.
Kings and those in authority
The Gospel can freely move throughout the land in times of Peace.
Why should we pray?
It pleases God,
Salvation can change the political landscape (Nero vs Galerious)
Quiet lives refers to the absence of external disturbances
Peaceful refers to internal disturbances.
We are to evoke change not through loud disruptive protests but by praying.
“Godliness” is all throughout 1 Timothy (once every chapter)
False teachers pendulum swing back to Godliness
Dignified lives = holy behavior before people
It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things.
Oswald Chambers
Illustration.
What if the Church was restored to the place it once was regarding health care and welfare. Imagine
Argumentation
Can God Not Save everyone?
Quote
“The term for “wants” (thelō) should not be taken to support a universalistic idea. The fact that God desires the salvation of all does not decree that all will be saved. God will not override the reluctance or opposition of individuals bent upon pursuing their own way in defiance of God. -Thomas Leah
For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
Passages such as Matt 6:10; 7:21; 12:50 suggest that what God delights in may not always be done by disobedient human beings.
The will of God does not function as a ruthless bulldozer crushing and forcing people to worship Him. God urges us to repentance with his goodness rather than coercing us toward the truth by the application of brute power (Rom 2:4).
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
“Everyone” in this context is people of all nations Kings and authorities
Can God save everyone? Is he limited in ability?
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Application
Pray for Peace. Peace in the Land and Peace in the lives of those who accept Christ.
Pray for Godliness and dignity in your own life: Who is your Nero?
God Was Pleased to Send the Savior (5-6)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human,
who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Mediator: One who intercedes on behalf of two people at odds.
Human Himself stresses the relatability. He fully understands us and fully understands God. If there were another way…
Only One: The Way The Truth, The Life
Ransom: the centerpiece of His role as mediator. He brought peace.
Gave Himself: No angel or lesser demi-God but God Himself can to your rescue.
Argumentation:
Jesus is the only way to salvation, so we pray that lost people come to Jesus, the One true God.
Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Application
When you are going through rough circumstances you don’t have to search the world over for a solution. You just need Jesus. He is interceding from Heaven on your behalf. Call upon Him!
Pray for others to know Christ, then live to show Him He is real.
God is Pleased When We Herald The Savior (v.7)
God is Pleased When We Herald The Savior (v.7)
For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
God is not interested in just seeing people saved. He wants to gift them and connect them into the Great Commission. Go therefore…
Paul knew his calling: Herald (Preacher), Apostle (Sent out), Teacher
He emphatically says its true. Jews could not believe… Gentiles saved.
Illustration:
Over the years sports teams have been invited to the Whitehouse. Some players opt out of going due to personal convictions, prejudices, political differences.
Argumentation:
The doctrine of Salvation tells us a few things about ourselves.
We are sinners in need of saving
We can not save ourselves.
Only Jesus can ransom us
God Radically changes those He ransoms
The late Dr. Donald Barnhouse, greatly admired American pastor and author, once came to the pulpit and made a statement that stunned his congregation: “Prayer changes nothing!” You could have heard a pin drop in that packed Sunday worship service in Philadelphia. His comment, of course, was designed to make Christians realize that God is sovereignly in charge of everything. Our times are literally in His hands. No puny human being by uttering a few words in prayer takes charge of events and changes them. God does the shaping, the changing; it is He who is in control. Barnhouse was correct, except in one minor detail. Prayer changes me. When you and I pray, we change, and that is one of the major reasons prayer is such a therapy that counteracts anxiety.
—Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip
Chuck Swindoll
Prayer gives us the ability to live godly dignified lives.
Lives that bless those who curse us and seek good to those who do evil to us,
because we know we used to be the ones who sinned against God, did evil rather than good and in his mercy He offered you the olive branch of peace but interceding for us.
Application
Healthy Churches
Pray for what pleases God
Live as though we were ransomed
Go out declaring His truth to everyone.
How great is our God.