Sermon: A Starting Place for Successful Ministry
Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6
1Ti 2:1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Introduction: The Apostle Paul who had invested so much in the life of young Timothy, helps him prepare for a new beginning by offering him a starting place for success. I believe this is also a starting place for successful ministers as we prepare others to make it on their own. Timothy had been left at Ephesus to manage the affairs of the church; there in the absence of Paul, who in this Epistle directs him as to how to manage this assignment. How exciting it must have been for Timothy to take the leadership in this Church. Paul had met him and his family on his first trip to Lystra or Derbe. These cities which were visited and evangelized by Paul on his 1st missionary journey. Timothy’s father was a Gentile and his mother was a devout Jew. Paul was instrumental in making sure that Timothy was circumcised according to Jewish custom and then ordain for ministry by the laying on of hands by the presbytery. This was done so that young Timothy would be free to minister among Jews and Gentiles without opposition.
We as leaders are to provide for the next generation, our Churches, and our families as best we can, but also to prepare them for the future. I wanted to talk about “A Starting Place for Successful Ministry” as we prepare the church to face uncertain times. We must help our generation get ready to face the future. All leaders face the same challenge. It is the one place where we all meet together on level ground. Both saints and sinners tend to make mistakes because we fail to hold to the only training manual we have: The Holy Bible. Without the word of God as our guide, many of my personal goals become selfish and limited. Our goals become worldly, we wanted to buy a house, or get a new car, or make more money, in other words most of my goals early on were all about me, myself and I. How do we prepare our sons to be men of God? How do we prepare our daughters to be women of God?
Lest young Timothy, Paul’s son in the ministry, would start setting goal for his ministry, his church, his popularity and personal interest, Paul give him “A Starting Place for Success.” A Starting Place designed to allow God to be at the center of all he would do. Young Timothy needed this advice, not because he is young, restless, unruly or carnal. On the contrary, Timothy is quite a good, godly young man, raised by a godly Grandmother and mother, who walked in the faith, taught him the scriptures and to strictly observed the Jewish rituals. Yet every new beginning requires a new focus.
Any time, we undertake new responsibilities, begin a new year, take on a new job, or desire to improve or change, we need a new focus. Every day, we experience things that can distract us, turn us, detain us and even stop our progress. Every one of us desire to see a better world, filled with better family. The apostle Paul gives us some specific things we can do to help the world be a better place. Listen as Paul offers young Timothy three powerful suggestions in the text. If Timothy and the Church he leads are to be successful in this phrase of ministry, he must teach them first, To pray unceasingly; Second, To live Righteously, Godly and Honestly; and Third, To evangelize fervently. If you and I as godly leaders are to be successful in preparing the church for the future, helping them develop into fruitful and faithful leaders, then we must teach them these same things. First, to pray unceasingly; Second, to live Righteously, Godly and Honestly; and Third, to evangelize fervently. Paul exhorts him to see that prayers should be made for all men.
1.To Pray Unceasingly – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority;”
You can do a thousand things, second, but first of all pray! Timothy is exhorted to pray and give thanks for all men using all kinds of prayer, especially for kings and magistrates and all who are in authority. Pray with Supplication that God will supply the needs. Then prayers, petitions for the conservation or increase of what good things we have. Next, intercessions- prayers for others, to avert of evils from them, or the gathering of good things upon them. Finally, giving of thanks; blessings God for good things bestowed upon ourselves or others.
If we are going to make a difference in this world, WE MUST PRAY UNCEASINGLY. At a time when it is easy to complain about the government, or police brutality, or injustice, or march or resist, we are urged to pray. “I urge that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority.” Today, people are willing to march, protest, complain, rally and to huddle together, but usually, it is not for prayer. They are generally huddled together to play something, to attend something, to watch something, but seldom to attend church and pray. However, we are charged in scripture again and again to pray. What can we do this year about the violence, crime, poverty, police brutality, injustice….pray!
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Phil. 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Heb. 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” If we believe this and believe in our all-powerful God then we must pray as never before in this Year! Not only must we pray unceasingly, we must live righteously.
2. To Live Righteously - “That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” God wants us to be godly people, holy people, and righteous people. Our lifestyle should be godly, mindful of God and Honest, thoughtful and considerate towards others. We should be different from most people of the world. We should be different in traffic, in the mall, on the job….Be a shining example of kindness and of selflessness.
Faithfulness to prayer not only changes things, and others, but it changes us and our disposition. Paul says that the Christians might “lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.” As Christians, we should conscientiously attend to all our duties to God and man, without being molested or a molester. The object and aim is to live in “quietness and security” to be satisfied. Our disposition should be a quiet, peaceable, and devoutly pious life, submitting to human authority, as far as consistent with godliness. We should strive to obtain favor with God and man. In a world that has gone mad, God needs a people with some sense. We can live content life, free from stress and unrest. Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Let us choose to we pray unceasingly, to live righteously and finally, to evangelize fervently.
3. TO EVANGELIZE FERVENTLY Vs. 3-4 “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
God wants all people to be saved, not just a select few. God wants to save the oppressed and the oppressor; the housed and the homeless; the down and out and the up and out…every one! And evangelism is the proclamation of good news. Being a good newer! Evangelism is presenting a witness for Christ with the idea that perhaps others will come to believe in Him, trust and obey Him and be saved. And People need the Lord. America needs Christ! Someone has well said, “Nature forms us. Sin deforms us. Education informs us. BUT ONLY CHRIST TRANSFORMS US.”
I believe this! Don’t you believe this? I believe in the power of Christ to save a person and sanctify them. But it won’t happen unless we do something to point them to Christ! The sad truth is most Christian people do little or nothing to present a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. While the unbelieving world is shouting out its message, we go to church but do little outside the church to spread the message of Christ. The world around us seems to be falling apart…. violence, tragedy, destruction of every kind, but Jesus is still the answer. It’s all we have to give…yet, it’s all we need! And if all we’re doing is saying "Amen" to the sermon inside the church and doing nothing outside the church to witness then we’re not reaching people for Christ.
When I see many young people dying in the street, with parents weeping and wailing, I wonder how many tried to tell their children about Jesus. How many showed as much concerned while they were living as they do in front of the TV Camera? This year, it all right to want a house, get a car, a diamond ring, gold and silver thing. It’s alright to teach business principles and economic principles, but let’s also resolve to teach them to pray unceasingly, live righteously, and witness fervently. Let resolve to make the world a better place one person at a time, God being our helper. The Lord doesn’t expect us to do everything, but He does expect us to do something. He expects us to be more alert to the opportunities around us to pray, live and witness for Christ.
I Pet. 3:15 "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..."
Pr 17:6 “Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.”
A man’s descendants ought to be his honor and comfort in old age. They should be educated in such a manner as to display confidence, good conduct and an attitude that reflects well on their parents.
The children’s duty is to be a credit and comfort to their parents. They should accept this as a superior obligation. By the same token, Parents should act in such a manner that their children may respect them and be respected for their sakes, and have cause to rejoice in their relation to persons of such piety and wisdom.
As we attend to the dictates of heavenly wisdom, we must teach our children to prayer unceasingly, live righteously, and evangelize fervently. We can make this world a better place, by being better leaders, raising better children to be better people.
During the history of Israel and many nations, the sins of rulers and distinguished persons were often the means of destruction for those who followed in the path. As leaders, we must be mindful that there are multitudes who will imitate our example. Listen again as Paul offers young Timothy three powerful suggestions. If Timothy and the Church he leads are to be successful in ministry, he must teach them, to pray unceasingly, to live righteously, and to evangelize fervently. If you and I as godly leaders are to be successful in preparing the church for the future, helping them develop into fruitful and faithful leaders, then we must do the same!
