Standing In The Gap

1 Tim. 2:1-6 ESV

Standing in the Gap Even When I Don’t Want To!

1 Tim. 2:1-6 ESV

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Good evening The View! Welcome to The Gathering, this is our one-hour service. So, I will not be in front of you very long. I want to first take the Time to thank our Pastor, my friend brother, our lead pastor Gregory Perkins. The give him a round of applause. I also want to thank the Elders, Pastors, and Minsters for allowing me to speak to you this evening. Finally I want to thank you, I know I say this every time I speak, but that is because I truly mean it. With out you guys showing up we would be speaking into an empty room. Seeing as our time is short let get into the message.

Let us pray!

Grab your bibles, phones, iPads, or tablets and turn with me to 1 Tim. 2:1. As you are turning there let me ask you a question: How many times do you stand in the gap for your friends or families? Or do we understand what standing in the gap really means. We like to throw words and terms around in the church, but do we really understand what the meaning or the impact these statements are supposed to have. I mean think about it we say things like “I am blessed and highly favored,” what is that supposed to mean? Or here is another one “I will pray for you,” but are we really praying for that person. And then there is “Stand or Standing in the Gap.”

This is what I am going to be talking about tonight, what does Standing in the Gap means and how that looks in our lives. Yes I did say OUR LIVES, because I have to be reminded of this and have to live this out just like you. So the title of the message tonight is Standing in the Gap, For those I don’t agree with!”

Now to our Scripture:

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Some background on where we are at currently in this section of scripture. Paul’s letter to his young protégé who he left to pastor the church at Ephesus. In first and second Timothy Paul is providing Pastoral Oversight, just a side note it is important for pastors to have one pastors or multiple pastors that have insight and have the ability to speak into the life of pastors. We see Paul doing this with Timothy and Titus, this is also the same example that our very own Pastor, Pastor Perkins has a group of men that speak into his life, and they also have the ability to tell him when he is stepping out of the will of God. The is what we are seeing Paul is doing with his protégé. At the end of chapter 1 in 1stTimothy Paul says some import statements that will help understand what Paul is referencing to in chapter 2.

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1]

See Paul understood what the value and importance of recognizing who he was before he became the Apostle Paul, remember his was Saul the accuser, the same Saul who came to kill Christians, this was the Saul that gave the approval to kill one of the first martyrs Steven in the book of Acts, because Steven was sharing his faith. Paul knew that it was only through God’s grace and mercy that he was able to turn his life completely around. Now that we have some context lets look at our verses.

Stand in the Gap can be defined as follows: To expose oneself for the protection of something; to make defense against any assailing danger; to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter.

Point 1: To stand in the Gap you must be willing to Pray!

Vs. 1: First of all: There is some discussion that when Paul uses the term “First of all” may mean either first in sequence or first in importance. The predominant usage of Paul elsewhere is that of sequence or time, although there are possible exceptions (e.g., Rom. 3:2; perhaps 1:8 [similar to our text]; according to BAGD also Rom. 1:16; 2:9f.; 2 Cor. 8:5, and our text). In the light of Paul’s predominant usage, we should probably understand the word in a sequential sense here, but with the qualification that what is placed first in sequence may be so placed because it is also considered first in importance. This is what I feel Paul is trying give us, his sequence and importance. When we breakdown the next section of this verse you will see why I believe his is doing both.

Vs. 1 I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people: This formula was often found in Hellenistic diplomatic letters sent by authorities to those under their control, “urging” them to do something. Given the nature of those documents, what the inferiors were urged to do was obey what was in fact a tactfully phrased order. Paul is urging his reader and eventually readers that praying and interceding for other believers it vital to the life of all believers. The believer must be willing to place ourselves into harms way when we are standing in the gap for our friends and families. While I mean that this is not a physical sense of harm way, even though this is a possibility, I am speaking mostly in the spiritual sense, but this is just as problematic because this puts us in the sight line of the devil. The last thing the devil wants is to have believers praying but praying for our brothers and sisters that are not able to fight at this time. We must be willing to step in and Pray for the individuals that cannot pray for themselves, make intercession for them. We never know how long someone has been fighting something, we don’t know how much they are beat up of how tired they might be. YOU stepping in and being that voice that they need may be the only reason that are able to beat that situation!

Illustration: We have spent the last month going through Spiritual Renewal, in this time we spent asking for God to change our hearts and to renew us. One of the first ways we can act on this month is by standing in the gap for others. In my life I cannot tell you how many time I have people stand in the gap for me and my family when we were beat down and couldn’t stand. This is why its so important to have people to help us. To be there for us. When we are two weak to stand, our brothers and sisters are there to help us stand and fight.

Point 2: To stand in the Gap you must be willing to Pray For Those in Leadership, Even Though You Might Not Like Them!

Vs 2 for kings and all who are in high positions: So, I might start to ruffle some feathers right now, but let me ask this question, How many of us Pray for our President? What about the last President? Not for failure either, we are called to pray for our leaders no matter if we like them or not, for them to be successful. We are not called to pray for their failure. Paul urged the church to especially pray for those in authority. Godless Emperor Nero was on the throne at that time, and yet the believers were supposed to pray for him! Even when we cannot respect men or women in authority, we must respect their offices and pray for them[2]. Dr. J. Vernon Magee states it likes this: “Paul says that Christians are to pray for public officials, and I take it that he meant that the prayers were to be made in the church. To bring this up–to–date, he is saying the Democrats ought to pray for the Republicans, and the Republicans ought to pray for the Democrats. Many years ago a famous chaplain of the Senate was asked by a visitor, “Do you pray for the senators?” He replied, “No, I look at the senators, and then I pray for the country!” That is exactly what Paul says we need to do. We need to pray for our country, and we need to pray for those who have authority over us. If you are a Republican and a Democrat is in office, pray for him. If you are a Democrat and a Republican is in office, pray for him.

“For kings.” Paul says we are to pray for the kings who rule. You may ask, “Yes, but are we to pray when the government is a corrupt one?” Paul is saying we are to pray even if it’s a corrupt government. We are to pray for whoever is in power. Remember that the man who was in power in Rome when Paul wrote was bloody Nero, yet he says we are to pray for kings, whoever they are.[3]” If you have any questions about this Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-7, he details that we are called to pray for our government officials. This is to include anyone who has authority over us. This is not always easy to do. Remember Paul had been a prisoner, he was chained next to Roman guards he was beaten, shipwrecked, and had all kinds of adversities just because of his faith. And yet he tells us to pray for our leaders. If we want to stand in the gap, we must be willing to pray for our leaders even if we don’t like them!

Vs. 2 that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way: When we stand in the gap for everyone, whether its for people we know or for individuals we don’t know, and for all our leaders. This leads us to live out a peaceful life. When we are standing in the gap we are taking the reasonability from our shoulders to the shoulders of God. Honestly God shoulders are much larger than mine anyways so I would much rather have him shoulder than me. In fact, it is for our own good that we do so: “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:2b, niv). The early church was always subject to opposition and persecution, so it was wise to pray for those in authority. “Quiet” refers to circumstances around us, while “peaceful” refers to a calm attitude within us. The results should be lives that are godly and honorable.

To be sure, Paul has not named all the persons we can and should pray for, since “all men” covers the matter fully. We can’t pray for everybody in the world by name, but we certainly ought to pray for those we know and know about. Why? Because it’s a good thing to do and because it pleases God.

Point 3: Standing in the Gap brings unbelievers to the Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Vs 4 “ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”: He “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” This statement is in accord with John 3:16 and with the declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 that Christ died for all. Salvation has been provided for all, but only those who accept it are saved. In particular, it is prayer for the salvation of individuals and officials that Paul has in mind. He wants all sorts of persons to be saved, Kings, and all in high positions as well as other sorts of people. That is a vital fact to remember. Often, we complain about those in high positions, but we do little about it. The average person asks, “Well, what can I do anyway?” Here is the answer. God, who brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees, is greater than any individual and can surely intervene in the life of high officials in our country today. Instead of wasting breath on complaints, it would be better to breathe petitions for the salvation and direction of those in power, that we may lead a peaceful and calm life. Since God has chosen to save men and women by human instrumentality, in answer to prayer and the preaching of the Word, as a part of His providential governing of the world, it is up to His people to pray for their salvation. When we stand in the gap live are changed forever!

Illustration: Who stood in the gap for you? In my life I am still not sure if it was my mother, grandmother, or grandfather that was praying for me. There were times that I know I should have either been arrested or dead because of some of my most idiotic decisions. I know if it had been because of them I know my life would look completely different then what it looks like right now. So who are you going to stand in the gap for because of who stood in the gap for you?

Application:

The final question we must ask is So What? After all that you have told us tonight, Minister Nick, so what is the point and what does this mean for my life? Well, I am glad you asked, In order for us to stand in the gap we must understand that we must be willing to pray for others! It all starts here we must be willing to pray for others and not just for the things that we need. We know that when we do this this will place a target on our backs that the devil will attack because the last thing, he wants to see is believers praying for each other. Then we must pray for all leaders even if we don’t like them. Doing this allows us to live in a peaceful life. It takes the weight and responsibility from our shoulders and place the weight and responsibility on to God’s shoulders. The last thing is that when we stand in the gap the lives of unbeliever’s lives are changed for eternity! This is the prize for all, the celebration someone coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 1:12–17. [2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 215. [3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy/Titus/Philemon), electronic ed., vol. 50 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 36.