The Priority of Prayer in the Local Church (2) February 2, 2025

First Baptist Church Leominster

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:53

Good morning, everybody. This morning, we continue our study of 1

00:59

Timothy chapter two. Last month, we began to unpack verses one to seven, which addressed the high priority of prayer.

01:09

In the local church, prayer is one of the most significant and greatest priorities.

01:16

Prayer is the means by which the Lord God advances his kingdom. It's the means by which the

01:23

Lord God advances the cause of Christ. Without prayer, apart from the

01:28

Lord Jesus Christ, we can do nothing. Prayer is the most important thing you can do to serve the

01:37

Lord God. It is the principal means by which we wage the good warfare and hold the line.

01:44

Thus, prayer must be made on behalf of all people, but especially for kings and all in high positions.

01:53

This morning, we will address the reason for this precedence. Why should we pray on behalf of all people, especially kings and all in high positions?

02:04

Please turn with me to the book of 1 Timothy. Let's look at the text together. 1

02:10

Timothy chapter two, verses one to seven. First of all, then,

02:17

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

02:35

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

02:45

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

02:59

For this, I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. I am telling the truth, I am not lying, a teacher of the

03:06

Gentiles in faith and truth. In this passage,

03:11

Paul urges Timothy to pray on behalf of all people, verses one and two, because God desires all people to be saved, verses three and four, because Christ Jesus is the

03:26

Savior of all people, verses five and six, and thus the gospel is to be preached to all people, verse seven.

03:36

In 1 Timothy 2 .1, Paul urged for continual prayers of all varieties to be made on behalf of all people, all people of all different varieties.

03:50

Christians are not to limit their prayers to only those closest to them, but we must pray for all people, saved, unsaved, family, friends, strangers, enemies, the poor, the rich, conservative, liberal, king, or commoner, all people of every tongue, tribe, and nation are to be the content of our prayers.

04:16

Beloved, your prayers in all their diversity are integral to the mission of the church.

04:23

Prayer is important. Evangelistic prayer is important.

04:29

Evangelistic prayer on behalf of our governing authorities is important. The reason for this high priority of prayer is given to us in verse two.

04:42

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings, and all who are in high positions that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

04:59

In contrast to the puffed up and conceited false teachers at Ephesus, who had an unhealthy craving for controversies and quarrels which produced envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction within the church, true believers are to manifest a lifestyle characterized by peace and quiet, a lifestyle characterized by godliness and dignity in every way.

05:33

Prayer for those in authority, for kings and all in high positions, creates socially favorable conditions for the church and for its growth.

05:44

World governments, local magistrates, and political parties can make life very difficult for the church.

05:53

Therefore, we must pray on their behalf so that we may live out our lives and faithfully discharge our duties to the

06:01

Lord God without strife, without hostility, and without opposition.

06:08

A well -ordered government that fulfills its duty to the Lord God will result in a well -ordered and peaceful society which will help advance the work of the church and facilitate the spread of the gospel.

06:25

However, a disordered government that fails in its duty to the Lord God will result in a disrupted and disordered society which will retard and restrict the work of the church and it will hinder the spread of the gospel.

06:43

John Stott summarized this relationship between the church and the state in his commentary on 1

06:50

Timothy. Stott remarked, it is the duty of the state to keep the peace, to protect its citizens from whatever would disturb it, to preserve law and order, and to punish evil and promote good so that within such a stable society, the church may be free to worship

07:09

God, obey his laws, and spread the gospel. Conversely, it is the duty of the church to pray for the state so that its leaders may administer justice and pursue peace and to add to its intercession thanksgiving, especially for the blessings of good government as a gift of God's common grace.

07:32

Beloved, the church's duty, our duty, is to pray for the state and the state's duty is to protect the church.

07:42

This is the relationship that should exist between church and state. But what if the state's laws are unjust and detrimental to the church?

07:54

What if the actions of the state contradict the scriptures? What if there is intentional persecution and hostility towards the church?

08:03

In the book of Romans, governing officials are called servants of God.

08:10

They are called the ministers of God. Romans 13, one through four, let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

08:20

For there is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God.

08:26

Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed. And those who resist will incur judgment.

08:35

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

08:42

Then do what is good and you will receive his approval. For he is God's servant for your good.

08:50

But if you are wrong, be afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out

08:58

God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Beloved, you may not agree or respect your governing authorities, but you should respect the office.

09:11

Our governing authorities, the good as well as the bad, have been put into place by the

09:16

Lord God. There is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God.

09:24

The government that is now in place is the one that has been ordained by the Lord God, who is infinite in wisdom, perfect in love, and sovereign over all things.

09:37

Government is the Lord God's minister and servant for your good. If your government officials are biased or dishonest or unjust, that is all the more reason to pray fervently and diligently for them.

09:53

Which is why, as a matter of priority, Paul urged that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, kings and those in high positions, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

10:14

This praying for governing authorities would have been a very problematic sentiment for the church at Ephesus.

10:22

At this time, the Roman emperor was Nero, and Nero was one of the most cruel and the most hostile persecutors of the church.

10:31

He arrested, tortured, and executed many Christians in many brutal ways.

10:38

Crucifixion, beheading, being burned alive, being thrown to wild animals in the arena.

10:45

The Roman historian Tacitus, in his Annals, Book 15, Chapter 44, described the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero.

10:56

Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths, covered with the skins of wild beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or doomed to the flames, and burned to serve as nightly illumination when daylight had expired.

11:15

Nero would dip Christians in tar, and he would hang them in his garden, and then he would have parties.

11:24

Now, it's important to remember that at this time, no Christian rulers existed.

11:31

At the time this was written, there were only heathen rulers, heathen rulers who were enemies of the church, and enemies of the cross of Christ.

11:42

Nevertheless, the early church diligently prayed for their governing authorities. They even prayed for them with thanksgiving.

11:51

In the early second century, the fourth bishop of Rome, Clement, wrote this.

11:57

In 1 Clement chapter 61, verses one and two, thou,

12:03

Lord and master, has given them the power of sovereignty, through thine excellent and unspeakable might, that we, knowing the glory and honor which thou hast given them, may submit ourselves unto them, in nothing resisting thy will.

12:20

Grant unto them, therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the government which thou hast given them without failure.

12:33

For thou, O heavenly master king of the ages, give us to the sons of men glory and honor and power over all things that are upon the earth.

12:43

Do thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well -pleasing in thy sight, that administering in peace and gentleness with godliness the power which thou hast given them, that they may obtain thy favor.

13:00

Clement's prayer for his rulers and governors upon the earth was for their peace, their concord, or their harmony, for their stability, and for their wise counsel according to that which is good and pleasing.

13:17

In the second and third centuries, Tertullian, one of the early church fathers, also remarked, without ceasing for all our emperors, we offer prayer.

13:28

We pray for life prolonged, for security for the empire, for protection to the imperial house, for brave armies, a faithful senate, a virtuous people, the world at rest, whatever as man or Caesar and emperor would wish.

13:46

These things I cannot ask from any, but the God from whom I know I shall obtain them, both because he alone bestows them and because I have claims upon him for their gift as being a servant of his, rendering homage to him alone.

14:05

These are excellent examples of the early church and the prayers of the early church that align very well with Paul's instruction to the church at Ephesus.

14:17

Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all people for kings and all in high positions.

14:27

Beloved, if the church were to shift its earthly focus and prioritize intercessory prayer over political demonstrations and petitions and boycotts and marches and rallies,

14:41

I am certain that we would see a profound transformation in our political leadership and in the spiritual climate of our nation and of our world.

14:53

How often we forget 2 Corinthians 10 .3, for though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

15:11

In other words, while we live in a physical world, the battle we face is spiritual.

15:17

Therefore, the weapons that we wield must also be spiritual in nature. And prayer is one such weapon.

15:26

Prayer demolishes and destroys strongholds. It breaks down barriers, it overcomes opposition, it makes the impossible possible.

15:36

Prayer can turn the tide of any battle. By our prayers, we tap into the

15:44

Lord God's infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite resources to desolate and devastate every stronghold and every fortification that stands opposed to the

15:56

Lord God and his church. Beloved, never forget the spiritual battle, the spiritual reality in which we live.

16:08

The God of this world is Satan, and he has blinded the minds of unbelievers.

16:14

Satan is the prince of the power of the air and the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

16:21

The Lord God has given him limited authority for now. Thus, carnal, physical, and earthly means and measures cannot be used to withstand him.

16:35

Something more is needed. It is our supplications, intercessions, prayers, and thanksgivings made on behalf of all people, made on behalf of kings and all who are in high places that will accomplish the will of the

16:50

Lord. Faithful and fervent prayers are the key to unlocking the spiritual direction of any nation, creating socially favorable conditions that will facilitate the church's growth and the spread of the gospel.

17:07

These favorable conditions are needed for Christians to lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified lives in every way.

17:18

Well, what does it mean to lead a peaceful and quiet life? These two terms, peaceful and quiet, are very closely related, and they are also very rarely used in the scriptures.

17:30

In fact, the term peaceful is used only here in this passage, and it refers to the absence of external disturbances, external disruptions, or external trials.

17:46

In the midst of these, it carries with it the idea of being still, being silent and tranquil.

17:55

The term quiet is virtually synonymous with the term peaceful, but it refers to the absence of internal disturbances, disruptions, or inner turmoil, and it refers to a calm and compliant attitude that comes from within.

18:13

This term is used only one other time in the scriptures regarding the behavior and conduct of wives.

18:22

Peter writes in 1 Peter 3, verses one to four, likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

18:40

Do not let your adorning be external, the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear, but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

19:02

A wise and godly woman will not be primarily concerned with her external beauty, but with her internal beauty, the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

19:13

There's our word, quiet. This gentle and quiet subjection to an unbelieving or disobedient husband will result in his good.

19:22

He will be won without a word by the conduct of his wife. Beloved, just as a wife is to be gentle and quiet in her subjection to her husband, even if he does not obey the word,

19:35

Christians are to lead peaceful and quiet lives, being subject to their governing authorities even if those governing authorities do not obey the word.

19:47

Similar admonitions are found all throughout the New Testament. Romans 12, verses 18 through 21.

19:54

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

20:01

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine,

20:06

I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.

20:13

If he's thirsty, give him something to drink. For by doing so, you will heap burning coals on his head.

20:20

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

20:38

Live peaceably. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

20:44

And one of the ways, one of the best ways to do this is to pray for your enemies.

20:50

Don't take vengeance, but feed them, give them something to drink, and pray for them.

20:58

First Thessalonians 4, 10 through 12. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

21:19

Here, Christians are urged to aspire, to be zealous, to strive eagerly, to live quietly, and to mind their own affairs.

21:31

This constitutes a proper walk, and this should be the daily pattern of our living.

21:37

Christians are to pursue and lead calm, quiet, and restful lives.

21:44

Second Thessalonians chapter three, verses 10 to 13. For when we were with you, we would give you this command.

21:53

If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies.

22:03

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly, and to earn their own living.

22:12

As for you brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. Beloved, our lives should be characterized as peaceful lives, as quiet lives.

22:22

Even though we're living amid an unjust and decaying society with corrupt and hostile authorities, we must not be agitators, or insurrectionists, or mutineers, or even idle busy bodies.

22:37

Christians must work quietly. We must earn our own living, and not be dependent upon anyone but the

22:44

Lord God. Prayer must be made on behalf of our governing authorities, so that our lives may be peaceful and quiet.

22:56

Two more terms that should be descriptive of our daily walk through this world. Not only should our lives be characterized as peaceful and quiet, but we are also to be godly and dignified in every way.

23:11

On these two terms, Lenski remarked, the first referred to the right reverencing of God, inward and thus also outward.

23:21

The other, dignified and worthy conduct toward our fellow man. In other words, one is more vertical, and the other is more horizontal.

23:32

Godliness is inward and geared towards the Lord God. Worshiping the

23:38

Lord God in his beauty, his glory, and his majesty. Dignity is more outward and geared towards others.

23:47

The right worship of the Lord God, godliness, will necessarily result in right conduct towards others.

23:55

Dignity. One is more of an attitude, and the other is more of an action. So what is leading a godly and dignified life mean?

24:05

What does it look like? Well, the term godly is a commonly used word in the pastoral epistles.

24:12

Godliness is primarily an attitude. It's an attitude consistent with the

24:18

Lord God's nature and his character. God is our creator.

24:23

He is our father. He is our Lord. He is our king. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

24:39

Godliness is the right attitude towards the Lord God. It is reverent.

24:44

It is respectful. It is worshipful. It acknowledges, it agrees, and trusts in the

24:51

Lord God. It trusts in his character, in his nature, in his will, in his work.

24:59

Godliness is an attitude that is preoccupied with affection, devotion, adoration, and subjection to the

25:09

Lord God. Matthew Henry remarked, here we have our duty as Christians summed up in two words.

25:17

Godliness, that is the right worshiping of God, and honesty, or dignity, that is a good conduct towards all men.

25:28

These two must go together. We are not truly honest if we are not godly, and do not render to God his due.

25:35

And we are not truly godly if we were not honest, for God hates robbery for burnt offering.

25:42

The right worship of God will result in right behavior towards our fellow man.

25:50

Both of these, attitude and action, should be the ongoing pursuit of every one of us.

25:58

1 Timothy chapter four, verses seven to nine. Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy, have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths.

26:08

Rather, train yourself for godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life, and also for the life to come.

26:23

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. Beloved, the key to a life that is godly and dignified is discipline.

26:35

You must discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Above all else, the

26:40

Lord God desires that his people reflect the character of his beloved son. The Lord God desires that we be

26:47

Christ -like in our attitudes and Christ -like in our actions. The Lord God desires that his people be godly, and godly people will be disciplined people.

27:02

You see, godliness is something that does not naturally occur in our lives. It does not automatically happen once we come to the

27:10

Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, godliness requires our full attention, our full consideration.

27:18

It requires hard work, strenuous effort, and continued diligence.

27:24

The only way to reach maturity, the only way to reach Christ -likeness, the only way to reach godliness is to purposely train or discipline ourselves to that end.

27:38

The Greek word for train or discipline is gumnadzo, from which we derive our

27:44

English words, gymnasium and gymnastics. To discipline oneself means that you will train.

27:51

You will train hard. It means you will exercise and break a sweat.

27:57

The word itself implies difficulty. It implies strenuous and rigorous training to achieve the desired goal.

28:08

In this respect, the spiritual disciplines are very much like the physical disciplines. No one would disagree that bodily discipline is profitable.

28:18

Physical exercise has value and merit. If you do not stay active, your physical health will suffer harm.

28:27

However, bodily discipline is of little value. Bodily discipline is of little profit.

28:36

Why? Because bodily discipline is temporary. It is fleeting.

28:43

It is limited in an extent and duration. Physical discipline is only effective in this earthly life.

28:51

It does not carry over to eternity. The moment you stop being physically disciplined is when you start to slide backwards.

28:59

If you don't use it, you lose it. Godliness, on the other hand, is profitable for all things.

29:07

Godliness is beneficial now in this earthly life as well as the life to come.

29:13

Godliness holds promise for today and for tomorrow. As Paul says, this is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

29:25

So how are we to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness? How are we to exercise and train ourselves to this end?

29:33

Specifically, how are we to lead godly and dignified lives?

29:39

Well, godliness begins by intentionally aligning our lives, our affections, our desires, our will under the

29:49

Lord God and under his will, his law, and his word.

29:56

Godliness begins with a focused concentration upon the Lord Jesus Christ to please him, to glorify him, and to be conformed to his image.

30:07

We do this through the power of the spirit. The road to godliness begins with a sincere desire to know the

30:15

Lord God through his revealed word, the scriptures. Every single day, we must discipline ourselves to hear, to read, to study, to memorize, and to meditate upon the word of God.

30:29

This must be our daily bread. 2 Timothy 3 .16, all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for a proof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

30:49

A knowledge of the Lord God and his revealed word will help increase and strengthen your relationship with him, and it will align your heart, it will align your will to his heart and his will, thus resulting in godliness.

31:09

However, hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating upon the scriptures will be useless, excuse me, unless these are accompanied by obedience.

31:30

Academic and intellectual knowledge of the Lord God, academic and intellectual knowledge of theology, the scriptures, these are meaningless without your obedience and submission to them.

31:43

James 1 .22, but prove yourselves doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

31:51

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who intently looks at his natural face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and he goes away, and at once he forgets what he was like.

32:05

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

32:18

Beloved, those who habitually disregard and disobey the word of God, reveal that they do not truly know the

32:26

Lord God. Instead, they are deceived or delusional. Like a man who stands in front of a mirror, he looks at his face and he turns away, and immediately he forgets what he looks like.

32:41

In contrast, a genuine believer will hear the word of God, and he will strive to obey the word of God.

32:49

The Holy Spirit will bring about conviction to the truth of God. The Holy Spirit will convict and teach.

32:55

He will poke and prod and prompt and persuade us to willingly bend the knee, to submit to the

33:03

Lord God and to obey his truth. The soul of a true and faithful Christian will not be at rest until this occurs.

33:13

Beloved, do not be a hearer who forgets, but be a doer who acts.

33:19

Be a doer of the word, and you will be blessed in your doing. Another significant way to train yourself for the purpose of godliness and dignity, a spiritual discipline that is often neglected is fasting.

33:35

Matthew 6, 16, and when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces, that their fasting may be seen by others.

33:45

Truly I say to you that they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.

33:53

That your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father who is in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you.

34:03

The primary purpose of fasting is to rely less and less on food and more and more on the

34:11

Lord God. Fasting is an excellent tool that can be used to ascertain which one of our sinful desires is too strong and which one of our sinful desires is actually controlling us.

34:25

Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline wrote, if pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately.

34:34

David said, I humbled my soul with fasting. Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear, if they are within us, they will surface during fasting.

34:47

At first we will rationalize that our anger is due to our hunger, and then we know that we are angry because the spirit of anger is within us.

34:56

We can rejoice in this knowledge because we know that healing is available through the power of Christ.

35:04

Fasting is nothing more than an expression of our devotion and our dependence upon the

35:10

Lord God. It expresses our submission to his rule, to his authority and to his will.

35:18

Not our own rule, our own authority or our own will. Once we have tasted and seen the goodness of the

35:25

Lord God, our sin and the allurements and the distractions of the temptations of this world will no longer appeal to us in the same way.

35:36

Fasting helps us reset and realize, realign ourselves to rely upon the

35:43

Lord God alone and less upon ourselves and our earthly comforts.

35:49

Fasting strengthens our dependence upon the Lord God as it reveals our sinful tendencies.

35:59

The Lord God, our father, expects his children to fast. Another aspect of godliness is accountability and fellowship.

36:10

Godliness cannot be achieved alone. You must surround yourself with other like -minded believers who will encourage, edify and challenge you to lead a godly and dignified life.

36:23

Being part of a community that will hold you accountable will help you steer clear of sin and stay on the path of righteousness.

36:33

Imagine that a nation with a large and capable military declares war on our country.

36:41

And in response, our military decides to preemptively strike, so we take our very best soldier, the smartest, the strongest and the most well -trained and we drop him into enemy territory alone.

36:57

What are the odds that one soldier will impact the outcome of the war? He may have great resolve, he may have courage, but his mission will fail without collaboration or support from others.

37:12

One man cannot stand against an entire nation of enemies. Beloved, the same goes for you and I.

37:22

Even in all our spiritual armor, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit and all prayer, you don't stand a chance all by yourself.

37:38

You need a community, you need a spiritual family that will provide prayer, encouragement, edification, protection, support and healing and help in times of need.

37:53

Just as it would be ridiculous to send one lone soldier into battle, it is equally absurd to think that you can make it alone in this wretched world without your brothers and sisters in Christ, without the local church.

38:10

Hebrews 10 .24, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of son, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

38:24

Well, how else should we be disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness? Well, discipline through evangelism, fellowship, service, self -examination, tithes and offerings, worship, praise, thanksgiving, all of these spiritual duties will help train you to be more godly and dignified.

38:46

By practicing these disciplines with intentionality, you will grow in godliness as the

38:52

Holy Spirit transforms and conforms you to the image of Christ over time.

38:58

Beloved self -discipline is the key to godliness and dignity. You must train yourself for these ends.

39:08

First Corinthians 9 .24 says, do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one receives a prize.

39:16

So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercise self -control in all things, they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

39:28

So I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I discipline my body and I keep it under control, lest after preaching to others,

39:39

I myself should be disqualified. In life, in ministry, Paul needed to discipline his body.

39:47

He had to buff it and batter and beat his body black and blue to keep it spiritually fit.

39:56

Paul ran the race so that he would obtain the prize. He was single -minded, he was determined, he was dead set on finishing the race and on finishing it strong.

40:08

Well, likewise in our lives and ministry, we must buff it, batter and beat our bodies into submission to the

40:17

Lordship of Christ Jesus. We must run the race that is set before us with endurance.

40:24

We must run the race to obtain the prize. We must exercise self -control in all things.

40:31

This is what godliness and dignity require, self -control and determined focus.

40:39

Beloved, this is the reason for the high priority of prayer in the local church. The church must pray for all people, including their governing authorities, because the conditions they create will either advance the message of the gospel or it will impede the message of the gospel.

40:57

The conditions they create will either assist you in leading a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way, or they will hinder it.

41:09

The role of the government is to provide the church with favorable social conditions, liberty, peace from our enemies, social order, safety, protection.

41:21

A good government will greatly assist the church and contribute to its growth in godliness and dignity in all things, which is why we must prioritize prayer and fervently and diligently pray for our governing authorities.

41:38

This, 1 Timothy 2 .3, is good and pleasing in the sight of God our

41:43

Savior, because the Lord God desires all people to be saved, verse four, because Christ Jesus is the

41:51

Savior of all people, verses five and six, and thus the gospel is to be preached to all people, verse seven, which

41:59

Lord willing, we will examine next time. Beloved, pray for our president,

42:08

Donald J. Trump, and for his team. Pray for the Senate, pray for the

42:13

House, pray for the Supreme Court, pray for all of the lesser magistrates and all of our civil servants.

42:22

Pray for our governor, Mara Healy, and for her team. Pray for the mayor of Leominster, Dean Mazzarella, and for his team.

42:32

Pray for all those in high positions and pray with thanksgiving.

42:39

Pray that the Lord God would do a work of grace in their lives and that they would be saved. Pray for policies and propositions that will be favorable to the church and favorable to the spread of the gospel.

42:53

Beloved, make prayer your top and primary ministry and lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way, for this is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our

43:08

Savior. Let's close. Our Father, we thank you that we always have your ear and that the spirit intercedes for us.

43:19

We thank you, Lord, that we have this tremendous privilege and we pray, Lord, that we would take it.

43:26

We pray that we would become more disciplined in our prayers, our prayers for one another, our prayers for kings and all in high positions.

43:35

We pray, Lord, that every day we would make prayer a priority. And if we're out of the habit, we pray,

43:42

Lord, that we would start small, one or two minutes here, one or two minutes there, but we pray that we would get to a point where daily we are lifting up these concerns.

43:53

Lord, we pray that our lives would be characterized as peaceful and quiet, that we would be godly and dignified in every way.

44:01

We pray, Lord, that we would be good examples, that we would be a mirror image of Christ Jesus to the world, that people would look at us and that they would exalt you.

44:11

We thank you, Lord, for your great work in each one of our lives and pray that we would be pleasing to you. In Jesus' name, amen.