An Equal Opportunity Gospel

Sermon Title: An Equal Opportunity Gospel

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Date: August 3, 2003

Context of Scripture:

What are some of the requirements that we have in order for us to listen to someone and really take to heart the things that he saying? I would look at that person’s authority, I would look at his credentials, and I would have to consider his past accomplishments.

All of these things are found in Paul’s introduction in his letter to Timothy. he relays the fact that he was appointed by God, he shares his testimony to a degree and that could be considered as credentials, and Timothy already knew all about Paul’s ministry.

I wonder how much of the things that we listen to would pass this test? How often do we check out the authority by which someone speaks, too often we just take that for granted. We might look at a diploma as a good reason to except someone as an authority, but what about their grades or their life experience? Too often we accept things at face value and in doing so allow some things to enter into our minds that should never be there. How much of what we consider gossip would be eliminated if we just checked out the source they’re authority, and their knowledge about subject.

This morning, we’re going to be looking at Paul’s letter to Timothy chapter 2,verses 1 through 8. Paul’s authority is obvious, his credentials are sound, and his ministry of bringing the word of Jesus to the world is without question.

Let us stand in reverence to the reading of God’s Word?

Scripture Reading:

1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Sermon Introduction:

I have entitled this morning’s message, “an equal opportunity gospel”, for good reason. God’s word was valid when it was given to his anointed, God’s word was valid for the previous generations, his word is valid for today, and it will remain valid for whatever generations may still come. God’s word is valid for all nationalities, it is valid for all races, all ethnic groups, all social classes, and it does not vary according to economic stature. If there is anything in this nation that is equal opportunity it is God’s word. And it is God’s word that this nation is trying the hardest to set aside.

Have you ever gone into a store while you are shopping for clothes and saw something that was labeled, “one size fits all”? How ridiculous can somebody get? How dumb do we look? There is no way that you’re going to create any article of clothing that fits someone who was 125 pounds as well as someone that weighed 225 pounds. It just doesn’t work!

Mankind just does not have the ability to be equal and fair in all things. We have a problem with pride, we have a problem with jealousy, and we have a big problem with ego. This has been the case since the garden of Eden, and it will continue to be a problem until Jesus returns. What we need to do is to model ourselves after Jesus so that we see everyone equally. We are to see everyone equally all the time, and that includes our time of prayer. We need to pray for those that we like and we need to pray for those that we dislike, and if we have an intense dislike for someone we need be pray for ourselves.

If we follow Jesus’ example, we will pray for the fortunate as well as the unfortunate. We will pray for the popular and the unpopular. We will pray for those that are easy to pray for and for those that are difficult to pray for. If we follow Jesus’ example precisely, we will find that we are praying for those that Jesus would want us to pray for.

I think at times we are guilty of spiritual prejudice. We choose who we think is worthy of prayer, of deliverance, of forgiveness, and in so doing it is as if we are selecting who is worthy of salvation. We seem to forget the Scripture that tells us not to judge or face the same judgment ourselves.