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 pathway to success. I believe this is also a pathway for our success as we prepare the church to make its own mark. Timothy had been left at Ephesus to manage the affairs of the church there in the absence of Paul. In this Epistle, Paul directs young Timothy in his leadership role in managing his new 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 the cities of Lystra and Derbe. These cities, Paul visited and evangelized on his first missionary journey. Timothy’s father was a Gentile and his mother was a Jew. Paul was instrumental in making sure that young 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 are to provide that same level of leadership for our church, for our family, love our wives and children, but also to prepare them for the future. I wanted to talk about “A Pathway to Success” as we prepare our Churches to face uncertain times. We must help our members get ready to face a new normal. All of today’s leaders are face the same challenge. It is the one place where we all meet together on level ground. Both clergy and laity tend to error because we fail to use God’s instruction manual. The bible seems to have become old fashion and under used. We fail to realize that God is never caught by surprise. God never needs to edit or rewrite His instructions. His word will lead us to the pathway to success.
Our plans change. Many of our personal goals are too selfish and too limited. 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. How do we prepare our churches for success in a generation that feel the church is optional? How do we prepare our Church to embrace to true mission of the Church? How do we make Christian Disciples during this difficult season?
Lest young Timothy, Paul’s son in the ministry, would start setting goal for his ministry, his church, his popularity and personal interest, Paul offers Timothy “A Pathway to Success.” A Pathway designed to allow God to be at the center of all Timothy would do. Young Timothy needed this advice, not because he was 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 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 influential things that can distract us, turn us, detain us and even stop our progress. Most people 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 our churches for an uncertain future, helping them develop as 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;”
Timothy was 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 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 virus, 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 season! 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. Be 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 some 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 season, it all right to want a better house, get a car, a diamond ring, gold and silver thing. It alright to teach business principles and economic principle but let us also resolve to teach them to pray unceasingly, live righteously, and witness fervently. Let resolve to make the world a better place, 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..."
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 our heavenly Father’s wisdom, we must teach others to prayer unceasingly, live righteously, and evangelize fervently. We can make this world a better place, by being better Christians, that raising up better disciples and who encourage each other to be better followers of Christ, who love their neighbors, who build better communities and make this a better country. It all begins with a better you who pray unceasingly, live righteously and witness fervently. Amen.
