Bristol Conference 1975-03 1 Timothy - Chapter 2: — Stan Ford

Your education is important, my young friend, this is important, sir, but my Bible tells me not local individuals, serving the Lord, for a man is so... You've never found your need to keep us tight, you've never found your need for the one who will make life worth living, use the words of my dear friend Lincoln Clegg, life in the capital is...

Christ Must Have First Place

He has promised to add to us if we put time... How many times have you heard sermons on the 9th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, how many times when facing the tremendous matter of Christian discipleship, have you been reminded of the Lord calling men to his path, asking that they shall give him first place in their life?

You remember Tom, who dared to look into his face and say, Lord, suffer me first. You remember how Tom looked at him and said, Lord, we will be thy disciples, we will follow thee, but oh Lord, Lord...

In my home, Jesus said, no, no, me first, bury the dead. We shall have the repentance and love of our home, but never let us forget that when it comes to submission, it is not submission to loved ones, or submission indeed to society and to the things that acclaim my society, it is submission to Christ, me first, me first, me first.

Giving Ourselves First to the Lord

I think you will grant me there is not only the first thing of salvation and the first thing of submission, there is the first thing of permit. Why, what glorious words are those words of the eighth chapter of 2 Corinthians.

My opinion, of course, again, you may disagree with me, but in my opinion, the eighth chapter of 2 Corinthians is one of the highlights of the New Testament. It seems to me there are so many verses in 2 Corinthians 8 that thrill and challenge our whole being.

But you remember of those at Corinth, it was said, is it not the Pittsburgh? It was said, they gave heart themselves to the Lord. Isn't it grand to give ourselves heart? If you and I would know something of heart, our hands and our feet, our eyes and our ears, our heart and our whole being, our mind and it all, we give them heart to him.

Then we can serve the saints, then we can serve the sinner, then we can serve society when we give ourselves first to him. But, if there be the first thing of salvation and submission, if there be the first thing of permit, there is here the first thing of supplication.

Prayer as the First Priority

Oh, let's go back to this glorious chapter again. Now we beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the coming of the Lord... I'm sorry, I did what our friend said he did yesterday. He blowed fat in the papillonian.

What I say, it's rather interesting. Oh, I could almost have carried on there, couldn't I? But, nevertheless, I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplication, prayers, and in perfection and giving of thanks.

Oh, here it is. This is our polite priority, the priority of prayer. Of course, the man that wrote this was the man who knew something about it. He's not that person. Listen, brethren and sisters, you and I have no right to challenge others about things that we have no experience.

You may read these verses, but let me say this to you, that I have no right to emphasize this verse unless I personally have known something of it. The apostle Paul knew something of it. I often remind men and women when you think of the life of Paul, isn't it remarkable the first time he's mentioned in the Bible, he's had a prayer meeting.

That's not a bad place to go, is it? Of course, it was a peculiar prayer meeting, I know, but it was a prayer meeting. Stephen was being thrown to death, and as Stephen falls to the ground, he prays that God will not lay this darkness into their hearts.

And Paul was determined for those that chose Stephen, and he heard the prayer of Stephen. Just as I heard a little Salvation Army Latin sing the old rugged cross, and could never get away from it, so he could never get away from the fact, Jesus Christ, he was at a prayer meeting.

Isn't it remarkable the next time he's mentioned in the Bible, he's at a prayer meeting. I say, how quickly he falls off! How quickly he falls off! First of all, he listens to a Stephen pray, but now he's praying.

He almost imagines he is where Stephen was at the end of his life. He's seen a light surpass the brightness of the noonday sun. He has been smitten with blindness. He hears a voice, and he falls down to the ground, and he says, What will thou have me to do?

Listen, brother, when you pray, I'll let you into a secret. You'll find out that prayer is a sweaty thing. Someone else will be praying, too, when you pray. Isn't it remarkable the third time Paul's mentioned in the Bible, he's at a prayer meeting.

At a prayer meeting. Why, Ananias, the man who actually led Christ, or led the poor to Christ, Ananias is exhorted to go and speak to this man who's been stricken with blindness. What does he say? Why, he says, this is Saul, the persecutor of the church.

And God says, don't you worry about that. Behold, he prayeth. Behold, he prayeth. Have you noticed that every journey Paul started, it starts with prayer? His first missionary journey, it starts with prayer.

His second missionary journey, it starts with prayer. I know he hears indeed a voice that says, come over to Macedonia and help us. I only did know this when he got into Macedonia. He went down to the water's edge, where some women had gathered, where prayer was wont to remain.

Oh, I say, no wonder he writes and says, first of all, it was first in his life. May I ask, is it first in our life? Is it first in our life, in the life of the church, that before any one of us talks to anyone else, it's sometimes difficult?

I'll let you into a secret. Thursday morning, that's going to be difficult for me. You know, my wife's coming Wednesday night, and I'm going to can't see me the first thing of a Thursday morning. There are so many things I want to know.

And I know this, it'll be a bit of a job for us to obey that rule, you mustn't talk after 11 o 'clock on Wednesday night. I know that. But I only know that it's more important that we speak to the Lord first thing of the day than we speak to anyone else.

Prayer for Authorities and Peace

It's more important than this that if there is priority, there is peace. For verse 2 dares to tell us this, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Now, I have a confession to make. Please, I have a confession to make. I have nothing to do with it, but I'm an Englishman. Passed the most wonderful services just recently in Augustus' Lordship. The Lord was very gracious and a large number made protection of faith.

As a matter of fact, interesting little story, as a matter of fact, one morning, ten minutes to five, the phone went. At the other end of the phone, there was a voice that said, I want to get paid. I haven't slept all night.

And a man came round. He was there at ten minutes, at five o 'clock, at ten to five he was told. And he came into the little study that I was in, and I opened the Bible and I started to read there. You know, I read Romans 3 and 23, all of them.

I read Romans 6 and 23, the weight of the sin is there. I was just getting to Romans 5 and 8 when he looked at me and said, Mr. Ford, have you got to keep on reading? I want to be paid. Cool. That's the first time I've ever been interrupted like that.

But that by the way, just by the way, but you know, night by night, brother after brother used to open in prayer. And at the end of the week, please, I know I'm an Englishman and I do all sorts of queer things, but at the end of the week I felt I had to tell those brethren off.

And as you know, I don't normally do it where no one can hear it. And do you know what I was concerned about was this? My brethren won't mind me saying it here. I told it to them to their face. What I was concerned about was this, that a week went by and every night someone led that audience in prayer, and not one of them prayed for your president, for your government, for your nation.

Brethren, brethren, I believe the Bible teaches us that we should pray for kings. Now I know on the 4th of July I wore a black band on my arm, literally. But there we are, and my Bible says pray for kings and those in authority.

And brethren, I believe the worst person who criticizes his government, whether it be the party he voted for or not, and has never prayed for them. I believe that as a church, on our shoulders there rests a responsibility sometimes, and I speak of an Englishman in my country, not of an American in your country, by speaking about my own country, that I believe that much of the trouble we're facing today is because the church has forgot to pray for those in authority.

I wonder how often we pray. How often we pray. Though I know that I was reminding them in that line-up this morning. I don't know whether I ought to tell this story, but I will anyway. But, you know, away in Loughborough, in South Wales, where the Welsh Revival broke out, there was a little fellowship there with a dear lady pastor of the Lord, and she was well over her 19th and few.

And you know what? She insisted on praying. I'll say nothing about it. I only know this, that every morning during the war, a crowd of the brethren and sisters, men who were minors, used to gather in the morning, and they prayed right through the war.

And one morning, the old Mrs. Tew, she just couldn't hold it back any longer, she started to pray. Not saying anything about it. But this is what she prayed. She said, Lord, bless General Montgomery. Lord, bless General Montgomery.

Lord, bless General Eisenhower. Bless General Eisenhower. And she went right through the army, you know. Bless them all. And then before she finished, she said, and Lord, there's that man Hitler. God, you can do what you like to him.

I say, I'm not sure that that's what it means to pray for kings and those in authority. Shouldn't have told you that, should I? But there it is. I only know this, please. I only know this. The outcome of our prayer is this, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

But a peaceable life in godliness and honesty. Do we believe God answers prayer? And surely God is saying to us today, that there may be peace. Please, may I say it to you in love? I'm not only those in authority in nations, but may I suggest maybe for the elders and the sisters that care in our local assemblies, that the outcome of our church life may be that with godliness, with godliness, you and I, and honesty, may find peace among God's people.

The Purpose of Prayer and the Judgment Seat of Christ

Brethren, I've been 30 years in the service of God. In this and some 32 other countries. I am where I am as a complete and utter and absolute conviction I could not be anywhere else. And I want to say this, sometimes I get tired of the petty little quarrels that sometimes arise among believers.

God forgive me. I vary in view sometimes, but vary infrequently. It is mostly over personality. I like Brother So-and-so better than Brother So-and-so. But we may pray that in godliness we may have priority and then there is peace, but then there is a purpose.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God and our Saviour. This is not something, this is not something just to bring peace, just indeed, that we might be able to sit back and say what a lovely lot of people we are.

But this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Saviour. Oh, I want to live my life for the glory of God. When I stand before Him in that day, I want to stand before Him and hear Him say, Well done, good and faithful servant.

Don't you? Don't you? Brethren, let's not forget the judgment seat of Christ is a very real thing. A very real thing. You and I, by the mercy and grace of God, as we see in a moment, will never stand before the great white throne, but we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

And it will not be a matter of ten, for that was dealt with by the blood of death. It's hell for it. But it will be a matter of service. It will be a matter of how faithful we seem to Him. And I don't know about you, but in that day, oh listen, I'm glad that the people on the cross would say, I'm glad.

But I don't want to be a thief on the cross. Not me. To be saved and go straight to heaven. To be saved and be with me in paradise. One day to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and not have a thing to cast at the Savior's feet.

Not a crown to be won. Not a thing to say, Lord, you gave it me. If I want it, I want it because you lived your life out to me. Lord, you're worthy of it. Take it back. Take it back. Oh brethren, don't you come to me, please.

And start talking to me about the people on the cross who made it stand for Jesus Christ. He did that before he was saved. So, that won't come up on the judgment seat of Christ. He was praised and went to glory.

Not a thing to cast at the Savior's feet. Oh brethren, sisters, God give us the place first in Christ. God give us to pray that there may be peace. But don't plant that the purpose of it may be this. That we are bringing glory to God even in our prayers and our requests.

Prayer as Fellowship With God

You know I'm a father. I got one of every sort you can have. The Queen of England couldn't have more sorts than I got. But I got four grandchildren as well. And I'll let you into a secret. I get, just like you parents do, I get a tremendous joy.

When my son and my daughter, though they've been married with families of their own, still come to their dad and ask their dad for something. You still feel that you're useful to your family. Hey, I get my grandchildren now, jumping on the knee, the four of them, you know, all trying to stay there at the same time and say, Randy, tell us a story.

The same old stories I told their mums and dads. Well, it's the stories of the Bible I tell my grandchildren. And I get a great thrill when I feel somehow I'm wanted. There's something they want from me.

Please let me say it again. I get a great thrill from my father. It's a delight to be inquired of. Let's remember, we bring joy to him when we pray. Never forget there's not a prayer that's lost. John dared to say he saw.

Salvation for All and the One Mediator

And I don't believe those are just the prayers of the saints in the tribulation. But then would you notice, please, not only our priority and our peace, would you notice not only our purpose, but would you notice our, would you notice our pardons?

For there are four saints who will have a unifying, who will have all men to be saved. There's the will of God who will have all men to be saved. Come to the knowledge of the truth. I'm glad of that. I'm glad that my Bible tells me that the Pilate will present Christ to men and women who will that all men shall be saved, to be saved.

Would you notice the person who does the saving though? I like this, don't you? I like this. Oh, how can the verse lie? For there's one God and one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus. But isn't it wonderful?

It's the man Christ Jesus. The man. I love the words of the prophet, don't you? He has borne our grief and carried our sorrow. Oh, glory to his name. Where men labored, he labored. Where men suffered, he suffered.

Where men have been misunderstood, he was misunderstood. There's a man in the glory. Blessed be his name. There's one God and one mediator between man and God, the man. The man, the one with nails pricked in his hand.

The man. Oh, what is it that you sing so often? Are there coffins too heavy to carry? Burdens too heavy to face? And tears and anguish standing somewhere in the shadows? You'll find Jesus. He's the only one who cares and understands.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find him and you'll know him. There's a man in the glory. Oh, I say. Most of you know my favorite hymn. Dear old Alfred Macy's. Oh, lead me to the man who doth.

Who all into the depths of woe and sorrow vanquish. Every day we have seen priority. And in a moment let us consider this hope to fly in Utah. Oh, I thank God there's one who doth. I thank God there's one who doth.

I thank God he is the propitiation for our sin. And not for ours only, but the whole world. The whole world. Your attention to one other thing. And I think this is important, don't you? For if he brings before us priority and peace and purpose and pardon, if he tells us of that person and his propitiation, then he reminds us of the preacher.

The Preacher Ordained to Proclaim the Gospel

Where unto, says verse seven, I am ordained a preacher. And an apostle. I like that. I like that. It's wonderful. His was the ordination of the nail prince. Christ of God who dared to say that he had ordained that he should become a preacher to the Gentiles.

Oh, that you and I may know something from that ordination. The nail prince pierced hand. For for every one of us, he says. Why so? For me. For all men, there is prayer by men. And please, I'm sorry ladies.

Not guilty, I didn't write the Bible. Not the word that is used to include all people. I work therefore that nails. You like that, don't you? I like that. I say, do we develop things before? Not only the place to pray, but the purpose.

Holy Hands, Holiness, and Modest Conduct

You can't pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, can you? If you do, please tell me when you're going to do it. And I won't ride in the car with you. You'll be the last person I ride in. Of course, I think there is a time when we would lift up holy hands.

I often think in prayer meetings, I wish brethren would hold up holy hands. I mean, literally. It would stop a lot of long-winded prayers. I mean, if they could only pray as long as their hands were up.

Wouldn't last too long. Tasmania. There was a dear brother who used to pray very lengthily. He'd go on and on, you know, go down so deep and come up so dry. It was like a cook's tour. And this occasion he started to pray and he started off in Tasmania.

He went to Australia. He came over to the Solomon Islands. He went on yonder to New Guinea and up to Fiji and round to America. And really went for about 20 minutes in Sandan. No, please, he didn't go to the Solomon Islands.

I suppose I've upset the story now. But he went to New Guinea and right around. And when he sat down, a quaint brother rose to his feet. And in a very curfew, dear Lord, our brother had forgotten the cannibals in the Solomon Islands.

Left the cannibals in the Solomon Islands. And he said, you know, I think, don't you, that we need to lift up hands like that. But of course he did not lift, because you can't pray everywhere lifting up holy hands.

But you can pray everywhere. And if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. Oh, that there may be holiness in the house of God. I'm sorry, lady, I had so much. Please, let your women be dressed in modest apparel.

That word women was the same word for all men. And I want to tell you this. There's more in my Bible than to use just words. I am teaching Timothy, and so I've got to use them. I can think of better things to talk about than this.

But someone has well asked, what sort of clothes is it a person ought to wear? And someone has, well, hundreds of others have said that the correct attire, whether it be for a brother or a sister, is the attire that is so acceptable that afterwards, because of their outlandish attire, you don't remember them.

Or, because of their old-fashioned attire, you don't remember them. You see, I've been saved long enough. I've been saved long enough to remember when I was first converted in our fellowship. Of course, it was a little more rigid than some.

You know, it's one of those fellowships where you have a board. Those in fellowship sit in front. But I can remember the time when a dear sister took my wife aside and said, you know, Mary, I don't think it's becoming that you should wear silk stockings.

Black stockings are the right attire for a Christian. Today, black stockings are the attire for a Christian. How things change, isn't it? Whatever it may be. I don't propose there's anything wrong with clothes I don't have.

I don't think there's anything wrong, indeed, with seeking to look smart. If my wife didn't, I've got a feeling I might speak to her. But I do know this. What's being talked of here, surely, is that that would make poorer Christians embarrassed.

When someone marches in and there are others in the assembly who are unable to have such things, you walk in and pray to see. This is what God wants, either among men or women. And then, surely, he goes on and speaks of this, of piety, but with good work.

And then he speaks of pressure. He says, I suffer not a woman to teach, nor you perpetuality. Sisters, what a channel that you and I may put. And these things will fall into their rightful place, won't they?

There'll be no need for anyone to say anything. When Christ, there's no rest, there'll be no rest. I've come to thee this morning with a realization that thou hast somewhat to say. And we would say, as the Pharisees said long ago, mark her if they are.

Give to us, we pray thee, listening ears. Give to us that we may be hearers and doers, that we may know how to behave ourselves.