Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] In the early 19th century, a well known French diplomat once said the following after visiting America, in the end, the state of the union comes down to the character of the people.
[00:00:14] I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.
[00:00:27] I sought for it in her rich minds, her vast world commerce, her public school system and her institutions of higher learning, and it was not there.
[00:00:39] I looked for it in her Democratic Congress and in the matchless Constitution, and it was not there either.
[00:00:49] Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
[00:01:00] America is great because America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
[00:01:12] If this French diplomat from a long time ago is correct that the spiritual health and righteous fervency of local churches has the most tangibly felt impact on a nation's goodness, then where does that leave America today?
[00:01:35] If we look at the moral landscape and the spiritual temperature of our Nation as of 2026, or perhaps here in the state of Arkansas, or even among our local communities in Barling, Fort Smith and other towns, are the churches among us influencing our land for good, or are we contributing to the problem?
[00:02:00] Truthfully, I'm sure many Christians would be completely happy to stay in what Robert Yarborough calls their own little faith ghetto, stay resigned in isolation from the larger society to be more monkish rather than missional in the community we live in.
[00:02:21] And for other Christians, the constant erosion of Christian culture, the contentious political climate that gets worse, it seems, with every four years or so, and the societal upheaval that has caused many to become loud, anxious, on the edge, and even angry, which has led some to become what they would consider political activists who are aggressive and they think that heated online polemics is the way Christianity will advance in our culture.
[00:02:53] But friends, I think Jesus actually, I know Jesus, has a greater and more global plan than that.
[00:03:01] Do you remember those famous words? Jesus said, Matthew 16:18, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
[00:03:10] And then he promised to be with his church to carry out that mission.
[00:03:14] For how long?
[00:03:16] Until the end of the age, until the time appointed by the Father for his return. Matthew 28:20.
[00:03:23] So while on the one hand it can be tempting, I can raise my hand and I'll acknowledge it with you. It can be tempted to just bury our heads in the sand. Thinking that societal problems will just go away on its own.
[00:03:38] And on the other hand, it's tempting to do the opposite, to be like Peter there before Jesus was arrested, to take up the sword, to take up arms and use violence, thinking that somehow conquering corrupt governments will usher in the kingdom of God on earth.
[00:03:57] But I think the safer and wiser way is to keep our noses in our Bible and see if God's Word offers a better way, a better way to be in the world on mission for Jesus without compromise, while also avoiding a cynical and hardened attitude and disengagement from the world in a state of passive resignation.
[00:04:24] After all, the Bible's commands of love your neighbor as yourself and do justly and walk humbly with your God requires us to be engaged with people around us.
[00:04:36] As we study the New Testament, we'll find that Jesus has a glorious plan of how he's going to change the world. And that's going to be through planting and strengthening Gospel preaching, local churches all over the globe.
[00:04:49] And then he will use those churches, these feeble and weak body of believers, to make an enduring impact on the place God has put them for the time and the purposes he has.
[00:05:02] And brothers and sisters, that's a good challenge for us this morning as we consider our witness for Jesus here in the River Valley. And we'll do that by looking in God's word together in First Timothy. Look with me in First Timothy chapter two, two First Timothy chapter two. And if you're using one of the Pew Bibles provided, you can find that on page 1177, first Timothy, chapter two.
[00:05:31] This morning we pick back up in our current sermon series as a church. In First Timothy two weeks ago, we finished chapter one where we left off, that scene of two men that had made shipwreck of their faith, Hymenaeus and Alexander. After Paul double clicked on Timothy's pastoral responsibility, his ministerial charge to wage the good warfare, Paul reminded Timothy of the vital importance of clinging to Jesus by faith and living with a clear conscience before God and man. And praise be to God, we learned that if we are anchored to Jesus, we will not shipwreck our faith.
[00:06:09] And yet, sometimes even within the church, some do shipwreck their faith, whether we realize it or not. Some in the church who profess faith don't actually possess faith. And that sad and sober reality will come up again in Timothy's ministry as it will come up in our own life and ministry as well.
[00:06:27] As we close chapter one and turn to chapter two, Paul's now going to build upon this, of this urgent call of Timothy's ministry, with a new chain of thought that really will run from chapter two, verse one, to the end of chapter three.
[00:06:41] After addressing the most present and urgent needs in the church in Ephesus, back in chapter one, which, as you recall, where there were these misguided teachers mishandling God's word, and it was causing doubts and disruptions and divisions in the life of the church, Paul tells Timothy he needs to make sure he's caring for the household of God well in a way that honors the Lord, blesses the church and keeps the church focused on its primary mission. Which brings us to our sermon text this morning.
[00:07:13] First Timothy, chapter two. Starting in verse one, I'll be reading to verse seven. Please follow with me.
[00:07:25] 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.
[00:07:42] This is good and 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.
[00:07:50] 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 for this. I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. I am telling the truth.
[00:08:06] I am not lying. A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
[00:08:12] This is God's Word.
[00:08:15] Members of ccbc, how do we prevent ourselves from mission drift as a church?
[00:08:22] How do we remain completely consistently focused on why we do what we do as a church?
[00:08:29] Well, friends, we need to take a fresh look at God's Word and examine our priorities in ministry to see where they are, to see if we're doing what truly pleases the Lord or not.
[00:08:41] So if you're taking notes, I have one main idea with two outline points to expand on it.
[00:08:46] The main idea of this is a local church's witness is pleasing to God as we give ourselves to the ministry of prayer and the ministry of reconciliation.
[00:09:02] A local church's witness is pleasing to God as we give ourselves to the ministry of prayer and the ministry of reconciliation. And Larry, can you turn up my monitors just a tad?
[00:09:14] Turn them up a little bit.
[00:09:17] Now, when I say a local church's witness, I'm referring to its visible presence where God has placed that church, where a body of believers are gathering together and many of them might even live in that really close community. How the world sees them. That's what I'm talking about when a local church's witness. In other words, if the church is to be a city on a hill and the salt of the Earth, Matthew 5, 13 and 14 if we're called to shine as lights in the midst of a dark and perverse generation holding fast to Jesus, Philippians 2:15, and if we're called to be a worshiping community where the world gets to see a glimpse of what the love of Jesus looks like, John 13:35, Acts 2:42 and 47, then it is of utmost importance that we conduct our life together in a way that is truly pleasing the Lord.
[00:10:10] And over the next few chapters, in chapters two and three, Paul is going to lay out for Timothy, if we're going to have a church ministry and life together that truly pleases the Lord, we need to keep our priorities in check. He's going to talk about the goodness of order and unity, as well as leadership and gender and service in the church. And we'll study how all of these fit together as God reveals his glory through Jesus, through his bride, the church.
[00:10:37] So where does Paul begin? First, if they're going to get their priorities in order, what are those first things first, if all the ministries of that church and the lives of the people are going to be doing what truly pleases the Lord, Friends, there's two ministries that a local church must keep first and central for it to be a church that is truly an ambassador for Jesus Christ, and that is the ministry of prayer and the ministry of reconciliation.
[00:11:04] The ministry of prayer and the ministry of reconciliation. Ministry focus number one. We must prioritize the ministry of prayer for all people at all times.
[00:11:16] For all people at all times. That's verses one and two.
[00:11:20] Ministry focus number two. We must keep the ministry of reconciliation central to our church's mission.
[00:11:28] The ministry of reconciliation central to our church's mission. Ministry focus number one. Ministry of prayer. Ministry focus number two. Ministry of reconciliation. Let's look at that first Ministry focus. Together, we must prioritize the ministry of prayer for all people at all times. Look at me. Starting in verse one, Paul says first of all. Then in other words, as of first importance, you know, write this down. Number one first in priority, Paul tells Timothy, in light of the urgency and the challenges already facing you in chapter one, Timothy, he then uses this word again, parakaleo. I urge you, I strongly exhort you.
[00:12:11] I plead with you, Timothy.
[00:12:14] Notice what he says that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be Made for all people.
[00:12:22] These four different terms. I'm sure if you read it this week, you're wondering, what do all those terms mean? Are they related? Are they distinct? Well, friends, just to make it really simple for you, there are four words that are all kind of under the same umbrella. It's speaking about prayer.
[00:12:37] Prayer. That means somewhere along the way, Listen, church, this church that was gifted with many teachers.
[00:12:46] Eventually, you know, Paulos was there, and of course, John would be there later.
[00:12:50] Timothy was there, Paul had been there. They've got elders, they're very gifted. God's used them.
[00:12:57] Somewhere along the way, Paul saw through the inspiration of the Spirit and what he knew, that the church in Ephesus was either becoming prayerless in their ministry or they were slowly heading that way.
[00:13:13] So, like any church, including Chaffee Crossing Baptist Church, we need a firm and urgent reminder on how important prayer is.
[00:13:23] First, notice the first of the four words he uses is supplications.
[00:13:27] Supplications. What are supplications? We don't often use that word in some of our modern vernacular.
[00:13:33] Simple definition. It is making petitions to God.
[00:13:37] It's an earnest request to God.
[00:13:40] It's a seeking, it's an asking, it's entreating God in prayer.
[00:13:45] It's the imagery of the prayerable on prayer. And Jesus gave in Luke, chapter 11.
[00:13:50] Maybe you are familiar with that story where Jesus is illustrating about persisting in prayer, where a friend comes to a man's house who has children and a wife, and they're all asleep and he's banging on the door, let me in. I don't have any food for my guests. And it's this wild metaphor of a friend being relentless until you get up, wake up your whole family to say, leave me alone. Here's your food.
[00:14:18] Well, here Jesus is using this parable and this really wild word picture to say that's what our prayer life should be like.
[00:14:26] We should in some ways, in a human aspect, be so annoying going to God's throne. We. We will not leave God alone. We continue to ask, we continue to seek, we continue to knock in persistent and unceasing prayer. That's what he tells the church in Ephesus. That's what he tells Timothy. I urge you to give yourself church to that kind of praying.
[00:14:51] Now, why should we be marked by unceasing prayer?
[00:14:55] As you've heard me say before, praying is like breathing.
[00:14:59] You stop breathing, you die.
[00:15:03] You stop praying, you will suffocate spiritually and you will not finish the race.
[00:15:10] Prayer is one of the means by which God pumps his oxygen, so to speak, in the lungs of our souls. Ezekiel Hopkins once said, praying without ceasing is keeping our hearts in such a praying frame that we are always ready to pray.
[00:15:26] Samuel Lee said, when the soul perseveres in prayer, it is a sign of persevering faith. Prayer is the chain that draws souls up to God and the mercies of God down to us.
[00:15:39] Later in first Timothy, Paul uses this word again to speak of widows who qualify as widows that the church should care for. Maybe you recall 1 Timothy 5, verse 5 will be there, Lord willing, next year. She who is truly a widow left all alone and set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
[00:15:59] Paul again would use this phrase when Alan preached in Ephesians 6 on the armor of God passage this summer. Remember Ephesians 6:18. Praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
[00:16:15] And you might be more familiar with Philippians. Remember that command and promise in Philippians 4. Do you want peace to guard your heart?
[00:16:23] Philippians 4, verse 6. Do not be anxious about what?
[00:16:26] Anything but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Make your requests known to God and friends. This is really the way Jesus prayed. If we're going to follow Jesus, we're not just going to follow his moral commands or his example, but we want to be mimicking him in our prayer life.
[00:16:47] What did the writer of Hebrews say in Hebrews 5:7? In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death. And he was heard because of his reverence. So first things first, right out the gate, Paul says, I urge you, I plead with you, I exhort you, Timothy, lead by example and teach the congregation. If you're not going to be another compromised church in the pagan city of Ephesus, if you're not just going to be another feather in the wind. Witness for Jesus, but be a rock solid anchor for Jesus in your community. Likewise, to us, supplications cannot leave our lives.
[00:17:27] Then he mentions prayers.
[00:17:29] Prayers. It's a more general term.
[00:17:32] It means talking to God.
[00:17:35] Talking to God could be a quick prayer right before you go into a meeting.
[00:17:39] Quick prayer right before you go to bed. It's communing with God, fellowshipping with him, telling him what's going on in your Life because he's a good father that cares about his children.
[00:17:52] He also mentioned intercessions. Do you see that? Intercessions, it literally means to intervene with, to meet with someone, even to interfere. Now when you apply this to prayer, it becomes more readily known as meeting with God.
[00:18:07] To pray for someone else, you align with God. You team up with God to pray for someone else.
[00:18:17] And we're told in Scripture that the Holy Spirit living within us intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray.
[00:18:24] Romans 8, 26 and 27.
[00:18:27] And guess what? Jesus, our great High Priest. Some people ask, where's Jesus now? He's at the right hand of the Father. He interceding for the elect, interceding for the church, interceding for all who will believe the Gospel. We know that from Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25.
[00:18:45] Friends, you could make the argument that we are most like Jesus in our prayers when we intercede for others, like he does for us.
[00:18:54] We are most like Jesus in our prayers when we intercede for others, like Jesus does for us.
[00:19:01] And then lastly, notice that last aspect of their prayer life they must urgently keep in front of them. He says, thanksgiving.
[00:19:10] Thanksgiving. What did we sing earlier? Father, thank you.
[00:19:15] What is Thanksgiving? Well, it's more than just a holiday that we celebrate and eat too much one day a year.
[00:19:21] That's fine for you to have a day where you set apart to be quote, thankful. But Christianity is not a once a year holiday.
[00:19:29] It's an everyday, all the time opportunity for us to make much of the goodness and generosity and faithfulness of God by being thankful to Him.
[00:19:39] Thanksgiving is the overflow of a humble and grateful heart.
[00:19:44] And friends, if that's true, then the opposite is true. A prideful, an entitled attitude will show up in an ungrateful heart.
[00:19:57] Friends, a good question to all of us is which one most describes you and me lately?
[00:20:01] Thankful or bitter because we feel entitled and don't get what we want?
[00:20:07] Friends, being thankful is really what happens when you are filled with the Spirit.
[00:20:13] Some in different theological circles think spiritual. Being filled with the Spirit is running around and you know, chasing flags and speaking in quote unquote gibberish and unknown. Well, their version of tongues. But if you read Ephesians 5, being filled with the Spirit is not being out of control, it's being under the control of the Spirit. And one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, is being thankful to God in all circumstances. Ephesians 5:1st Thessalonians 5. Friends, you would even make the argument that being thankful is one of the ways that we cultivate joy in the Lord. Being thankful to God is one of the ways the Spirit increases our joy despite our circumstances.
[00:20:57] But notice what Paul says.
[00:20:59] All these prayers, did you hear it? Supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving.
[00:21:05] He says they're primarily not centered on ourselves, but for who it says for other people.
[00:21:14] That means our prayer life, friends, is not all about us.
[00:21:20] I think our selfishness is more on display in our prayer life than probably any other aspect.
[00:21:27] Friends, it is good to pray for yourself.
[00:21:30] It is good to pray for your family.
[00:21:33] But friends, do you only pray for people you like?
[00:21:37] Do you only pray for people who like you?
[00:21:42] Do you only pray for people that are like you?
[00:21:45] Well, if that's it, then you and I are out of step with first Timothy 2.
[00:21:51] He gives no qualifications there. He says for all people.
[00:21:55] Friends, if we have been loved by such a big and glorious God, we should have broad reaching prayers. We with big and loving hearts.
[00:22:05] Psalm 24 says, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. And that means every human being on the planet, 8 billion of them are made in his image and they are worthy to be prayed for.
[00:22:18] Friends, would your prayer life lately be more concerned about only you rather than others and friends, I asked that question out of conviction because if you're anything like me, I'd say often 75% of my prayers are consumed with Blake, Boylston or maybe my close proximity. I'd like for that percentage to change. I'd like to grow more in praying for others, even over myself.
[00:22:46] Now notice what Paul says. He says praying for all people.
[00:22:51] Let's think carefully about that for a minute. There's 8 billion people on the planet. Is he saying that Jerry or Donna is to pray for 8 billion people by name and know what's going on in their life?
[00:23:05] Y' all think that's what he's saying?
[00:23:07] That's crazy. That's absurd.
[00:23:10] No, he's not saying become omnipresent or send out a global prayer request and I'll read your email like never.
[00:23:17] No, he's not saying that. Friends, we don't even all know each other's names in our own local church. And if you're anything like me as a dad, when I have a stressful day and I'm kind of tired, I. I get my own kids names mixed up. So he's not putting a burden on us that we've got to get the census for every town, every city, Every state, every nation, all over the globe and pray or we're in sin. No one can carry that burden.
[00:23:39] So he's not saying that, but he is saying God cares about all kinds of people and they are worthy of our prayers. Look what he says there in verse two.
[00:23:52] He says for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
[00:24:03] Here Paul says it loud and clear. If we as a church want to make a quote, unquote impact for the kingdom, we actually want to be relevant to our existence as a church. It's going to begin with praying, interceding, thanking, supplicating on behalf of all kinds of people. Listen, he says, for the sake of our Christian witness among them. See the connection there? He's talking about prayer and piety, prayer and our distinct witness. They go hand in hand. A prayerless church will be worthless and useless and a blemish on the ability to be a witness for Christ. But a prayerful church, an earnest church, God going to the throne, will be used of God to keep our priorities in check and also to trust in God. Who can answer these prayers now in Paul and Timothy's day, you've got to think about how weighty that command would have been to those hearers.
[00:25:01] There's a really good chance our worship service today will not be interrupted by policemen.
[00:25:07] There's a really good chance I'll make it home today and not be arrested as your preacher. That is not the reality for all Christians around the world today.
[00:25:16] Many Christians have to break up their service or go hide and they may not even see their preacher for a while.
[00:25:24] So we live in a world right now in God's common grace and kindness, that evil is restrained, that we can freely worship.
[00:25:32] But that was not the reality for these first century hearers.
[00:25:36] Notice what they would have heard when they said you were to pray for all kinds of people. Timothy and Ephesians, including kings and those in high authority. That would include the Roman centurions that could arrest you, the Roman governors that can indict against you, district kings. What about the Emperor Nero who would light Christians on fire and use them as flashlights as they burned as martyrs for Jesus. They were to pray for those men.
[00:26:04] So much for praying for only people you like and they like you.
[00:26:09] This is a lofty task for us. What does that look like?
[00:26:15] It's praying for people in authority.
[00:26:17] Pray for those who have influence or prominence.
[00:26:21] It could be the President of the United States of America, U.S. senators, U.S. congressmen, U.S. military officials, State governors, Attorney General, Secretary of State, local Mayors, the county sheriff, the chief of police, the fire chief, city administrators and directors, judges, school board directors and administration, even down to your particular vocation. Your CEO, your president, your boss, your manager, your supervisor at work, anyone in any form of authority that has influence or direct oversight over your life and mine. God's Word says we are commanded to pray for them.
[00:27:02] Now here Paul is showing us something that Jesus taught all the time in his ministry.
[00:27:08] Friends, our Christianity may be personal, but it should never remain private.
[00:27:14] Our Christianity is personal. It's you and the Lord, but it's never to remain quiet or private.
[00:27:23] Our prayers should reflect a public allegiance to Jesus as we pray for and humbly acknowledge the authorities King Jesus has sovereignly placed over our life.
[00:27:36] Friends, the very fact that Christians pray to the Almighty, or as First Timothy 1:17 says, he's the King of the ages, king eternal. We know he reigns supreme overall and yet that gives us all the confidence in the world that anyone from your supervisor at work to the most powered dictator on the planet is nothing but a puppet in the hands of God.
[00:28:00] Proverbs 21:1 the king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. The Lord turns it wherever he will.
[00:28:09] Now with all that said, churches must be careful not to overstep their jurisdiction from Jesus and act like the civil magistrate.
[00:28:20] In other words, we have a safety team here. But God is not calling our safety team to go ahead and start being kind of self appointed vigilantes going out and arresting people simply because they're packing or they've been authorized by ccbc.
[00:28:36] We're also not called to be anarchists who despise all government, who want to overthrow all government and undermine any government simply because we don't like them or they're making things hard on us as Christians.
[00:28:50] Friends, keep in mind it is such a devilish belief that is pumped into so many people's heads. Friends, to live without laws or restraint never leads to freedom.
[00:29:03] To live without laws and restraint never leads to freedom.
[00:29:10] God has given us laws and government because mankind runs wild without it.
[00:29:18] Now, to be biblically faithful, I'm going to take a few minutes here to teach you some basics on Christianity in politics. The text demands it, our context demands it, and I would rather you be educated and equipped and not fall into the pits that so many professing Christians do. If you're going to understand Christianity and government and politics rightly, you got to understand there are three Spheres, or as some have called it, spheres of sovereignty. Three spheres of authority that King Jesus has given to different institutions. Okay, sphere number one, the government.
[00:29:58] The government has been granted by God a sphere of authority.
[00:30:03] What authority has God granted the government?
[00:30:07] The power to wield the sword.
[00:30:10] The power to wield the sword. Genesis 9, 5, 6 Romans 13, 4, 1 Peter 2:14.
[00:30:20] They have been authorized by God to punish and restrain evil through just laws revealed through the wisdom revealed in Scripture and in the nature of man.
[00:30:32] Secondly, we have the Church.
[00:30:34] The Church has been granted by God a sphere of authority.
[00:30:38] What is that authority? It's the power to wield the keys of the kingdom.
[00:30:43] To wield the keys of the kingdom. Matthew 18, 15, 20.
[00:30:47] How do we wield the keys of the kingdom? We preach the Gospel. We baptize converts. We partake of the Lord's Supper. We oversee our own membership. Government doesn't tell us who's a member God. Government doesn't excommunicate anybody.
[00:31:02] We make disciples. There is a distinct separation that the government cannot and should not ever pry into the sphere that God has given the church.
[00:31:13] Thirdly, there's this, the family.
[00:31:17] The family has been granted by God a sphere of authority too. That is you've got the government, the power to wield the sword, the church the power to wield the keys of the kingdom.
[00:31:27] And the home has the power to wield the rod of discipline. The rod of discipline. Proverbs 22:15, which also underneath that is the responsibility to nurture and provide for your family.
[00:31:41] So that's 1 Timothy 5, 8 Ephesians 6, 4. Now these spheres can sometimes intersect and that's where a lot of friction happens. But we should do our best as Christians to keep them distinct.
[00:31:52] Let me give you a little mini history lesson here. The separation of church and state unashamedly is a historic Baptist distinctive.
[00:32:00] We believe very much in the separation of church and state. However, if we're going to be consistent with our own confessions and the Gospel, the separation of the church and state is not separation from God and the state.
[00:32:15] We will all serve some God.
[00:32:18] There is no neutrality. The Scriptures are abundantly clear. There's one true and living God and all other so called gods. Worldviews or ideologies is false and demonic.
[00:32:29] Even unbelievers like to borrow from the Christian worldview. But that's still the Christian worldview.
[00:32:35] In fact, Jesus himself. In John 19, Pilate said to Jesus, you will not speak to me. Do you not know that I have authority to release you? It is authority to crucify you. In other words, Pilate's going, I'm the highest authority. I'm in charge.
[00:32:51] What does Jesus say back to him? You have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.
[00:32:59] Did you hear that phrase?
[00:33:01] Pilate thought he was the man in charge. He thought the buck stopped with him. He thought, really and the way he was treating the Son of God, that he was God on that seat.
[00:33:11] And Jesus looked that man in the eye with respect and courage and said, the authority you have is a delegated and entrusted authority, and it has come ultimately from one you will give an account for.
[00:33:25] So, friends, if the United States wants to continue to print money and put on papers in God we Trust, we need to be really clear which God that is.
[00:33:34] And that's Yahweh, the God of Holy Scripture, the thrice holy God, the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
[00:33:42] Now, the text is clear in First Timothy 2, we should pray not only for governments we like, but also for the ones we don't like.
[00:33:52] According to Romans 13:1, all governing authorities are established by God.
[00:33:57] Therefore, to resist the government is without just cause, is to resist God's design, God's authority.
[00:34:06] Even fallible and fallen governments, and here's a news flash, they always have been and always will be, are still authorities we're called to give honor to.
[00:34:16] And as long as governments or authorities over you don't command us to do something God forbids or forbid us from doing something God commands. Submitting to the governing authorities is one part of our mission and witness. As Christians, governments are called to promote and reward good and punish evil.
[00:34:34] When government is doing its job, it is being a deacon of God, a servant of the Lord, causing human society to flourish like God intended.
[00:34:46] And friends, when governments do impinge on our obedience to Jesus by forbidding what God says we should do or do what God forbids, we join the apostles in Acts 5:29. We must obey God rather than man. Jesus Christ is Lord of the conscience, not human authorities.
[00:35:06] It's also important to note that if we're going to pray for our government and our authorities, we need to be informed about who to pray for and what to pray for.
[00:35:17] Friends, to that end, I would encourage us all to be intelligent and informed on who those authorities are in your local context.
[00:35:27] So here in our pastoral prayer at ccbc, we try to model that every Lord's Day. I know some of you are very good at predicting what I'm probably going to pray for next. It's called a liturgy. It's called I'm catechizing you, hopefully according to scripture, so that it affects your prayer life the other six days of the week. Why do we pray for what we pray for? We pray for so many other people even than ourselves.
[00:35:49] We pray in First Timothy 2 for those leaders who who have influence like I prayed for circuit judges today.
[00:35:55] We pray they would fear God. We pray they would use their authority justly, humbly, and for the blessing of others.
[00:36:01] Friends, how can we be more informed and engaged on who to pray for?
[00:36:07] Friends, for your local officials here in the Fort Smith. You can look at Fort Smith city government online and find out who are these elected officials.
[00:36:16] You can show up to a city board of directors meeting, learn more about city operations and policies, make even public comment.
[00:36:25] There are different kinds of meetings, regular meetings and study sessions.
[00:36:29] You can also get online and or download or request the Arkansas Voters Guide. Find out what the issues are, find out what people believe.
[00:36:37] And you can also just be more personal.
[00:36:40] Send an email, make a phone call, set up a time to get to know these people that are going to be representing or elected our governments. Just to speak personally to this, this is something that I intend to do more and more in the coming months and years.
[00:36:55] Just news and advertising. I live in Fort Smith, Chaffee Crossing to be exact. I pastor in Barling and I spent a quarter of my life in Greenwood.
[00:37:03] Now, for the foreseeable future, I have no plans of leaving. So this is my local Jerusalem. These are my people.
[00:37:10] I need to be concerned with and consumed with inappropriate ways while also staying in my lane as a pastor. What it looks like to be salt and light with these various influences he's given me.
[00:37:22] Friends, I have no desire to be a politician. Can I get an amen?
[00:37:27] But I do believe Jesus is Lord.
[00:37:30] Is CCBC a political church? Well, in a technical, biblical sense, yeah. Because we say Jesus is Lord every single Sunday. He is Lord. He will be Lord, and one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess he is Lord. That's a political statement.
[00:37:43] But we're not here to side with bipartisan politics or turn this into the GOP or some other belief system. We want to stick with the Bible, point people to the truth of Christ, give people wisdom, how to make decisions that are intelligent, thoughtful and as biblically consistent what they see in Scripture.
[00:38:02] Brothers and sisters, I don't think you're bound to vote. But I think because we live in a democratic republic, we have a stewardship to seriously consider with our vote. You need to work that out between you and the Lord. But I do believe as we think about upcoming elections this year, elections that will come, if we're going to be salt of the earth, we're going to be light of the world, we're going to quote, unquote, love our neighbor as ourself. Being removed from society or monkish from society is not what we see in Scripture.
[00:38:32] We need to be informed to some degree, engaged so that we can pray publicly and boldly and obey. First Timothy, chapter two.
[00:38:41] One author said, just laws can restrain evil, but they cannot create virtue.
[00:38:46] Even with the right officials and the right laws. People need the gospel of Jesus Christ to be changed from the inside out.
[00:38:54] Friends, as we consider our own church here, from the call to worship to how we pray, to how we bring the gospel to bear. We want to see God save people from all types of authority from their sin. And notice what he says. We do this for a reason. He says that we, the church may lead how we live how we live our life. A peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
[00:39:22] You know what God's will is for each of us?
[00:39:24] That we would lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. What does that look like?
[00:39:33] It's really touching on two things.
[00:39:36] We as Christians should never be known as rabble rousers.
[00:39:40] Maliciously, intentionally and sinfully disturbing the peace.
[00:39:46] We're also to be known not as busy hearts, but hearts that are resting with peace.
[00:39:51] It's an outward piece and an inward piece.
[00:39:54] God tells us in His Word that He desires us, that we live godly lives that are dignified or respectful. As John Piper says, this is having serious joy and God directed reverence for following Jesus.
[00:40:09] Friends, what does that look like for you and me?
[00:40:12] As we pray for governments to do their job, we ought to consider then that's so that we can do our job.
[00:40:21] A quiet life is a well ordered life.
[00:40:25] It's when unbelievers see us, they see that we're clear minded and convictional about who it is. We follow the way we live our lives as families, in the workplace and in the broader society.
[00:40:38] Really Christians should be living the most simple kind of life possible with serious joy in Jesus.
[00:40:46] Here's some words of advice of how to live a quiet life.
[00:40:49] A godly life.
[00:40:51] Here's some basic words of advice. Work hard, provide for yourself.
[00:40:57] Work towards financial independence.
[00:41:00] That's one way to live a quiet life that's fruitful.
[00:41:04] Secondly, mind your business.
[00:41:06] Don't gossip, don't busy body, don't meddler. Have you ever seen someone constantly critiquing your yard but they haven't cut the grass in their own yard?
[00:41:16] I think we get ourselves too busy, too anxious, too gossipy, too meddler when we're looking in other people's lives and we're not cutting our own grass.
[00:41:26] We should learn to be content, to be thankful with whatever God has given us. That's what it means to be have a quiet life. We're not known by grumbling and gossiping, but gratitude to God. How can we cultivate this kind of godly attitude, this quiet and peaceful life? Let me give you a few words.
[00:41:44] Number one, carve out time each day to be quiet with the Lord.
[00:41:52] Carve out time each day to be quiet with the Lord.
[00:41:57] Get in his word.
[00:41:59] Give yourself to prayer.
[00:42:01] A busy heart is a restless heart, and prayer is the antidote for that.
[00:42:07] Friends, even in our own church service, we have a moment of silence.
[00:42:11] At the very end of the church service, we have a time of silent reflection.
[00:42:15] They bookend the service because that's what should be the liturgy of our life.
[00:42:20] Pause, quiet, receive from the Lord.
[00:42:26] Number two.
[00:42:27] Remove unnecessary noise from your life that disturbs your peace.
[00:42:33] Remove unnecessary noise from your life that disturbs your peace.
[00:42:37] For some of us, we need to get a dumb phone instead of having a smartphone. We should limit media intake and enjoy God's creation.
[00:42:45] Maybe enjoy a conversation with a Christian friend outside when the weather is not blistering hot or crazy cold, rather than endlessly scrolling on your phone or TV all alone.
[00:42:57] We were created to be in God's creation with his people.
[00:43:00] That will produce a peaceful and quiet life.
[00:43:04] Friends, what's the opposite of a peaceful and quiet life?
[00:43:08] It's everything you and I don't want.
[00:43:10] Chaos, disturbance, fighting, mayhem, riots, genocide, tyranny, slavery, persecution, violence, war, drama, division.
[00:43:23] You know what Paul says?
[00:43:25] I don't want that for you either.
[00:43:27] How do we have this quiet, peaceful life?
[00:43:31] We pray for all kinds of people.
[00:43:34] We stay in our lane and we stay focused on Jesus.
[00:43:40] God will work in people's hearts.
[00:43:42] Let's cut our own grass and leave the outcome to Him.
[00:43:46] Ministry focus number two. We must keep the ministry of reconciliation central to our church's mission.
[00:43:54] Paul now moves from that top priority of praying for all people to instructing Timothy on why God is pleased to hear our supplications to begin with. In other words, prayer is just not a placebo effect. It's not a box we check. Prayer actually accomplishes things it changes people, not just other people, but it changes us in prayer. Look at me. In verses three to seven, he says, this is good, this is virtuous, this is praiseworthy. And he says, it is pleasing, it is acceptable, it is agreeable in the sight of God Our Savior, verse 4, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and 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.
[00:44:45] For this, I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. I am telling the truth. I am not lying. A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
[00:44:53] Friends, if the ministry of prayer empowers and reinforces the ministry of reconciliation, then what is the ministry of reconciliation?
[00:45:02] Well, friends, you know what the word reconciliation implies?
[00:45:06] Think about a married couple that's heading towards a divorce.
[00:45:11] They're at a stalemate of being able to come to peace with each other.
[00:45:16] A friendship that is severed because trust has been lost that can't be mended.
[00:45:22] A ministry partnership where pastors, leaders or Christians have a sharp disagreement and they agree to disagree and go their separate ways.
[00:45:31] Friends, reconciliation implies there are two or more parties that are at odds with each other and something or someone needs to stand in the gap to bring two enemies back together.
[00:45:45] But, brothers and sisters, far greater than a marriage or a friendship or a church, there is a global chasm over the sea of humanity.
[00:45:58] There is a separation and a divide between God and all of mankind.
[00:46:06] Friends, our biggest problem is that we are in sin and in trouble with a good and holy God.
[00:46:15] You know why kings need to be prayed for?
[00:46:19] Because one day they will stand before God.
[00:46:22] You know why your boss and your father and your pastors and your leaders, your mayors, your elected officials, all of them need prayer because they're going to stand before God.
[00:46:32] You know why your children need to come to church and why you need to tell them about Christ and why we pour our lives into raising them up in the fear and admission of the Lord. Because our children are one going to stand before God. And the bad news is our standing with God's not good right now.
[00:46:48] He's too good and we're too bad.
[00:46:52] And there is a massive divide between us and God.
[00:46:56] And the only way that we can be right with God is reconciliation has to happen. And here's really bad news. There's nothing we can do to earn or gain that reconciliation.
[00:47:08] It's that bad.
[00:47:10] God can't trust you and I He knows what's inside us.
[00:47:14] We can't clean ourselves up and make ourselves pleasing to him. They're like filthy rags.
[00:47:22] Vodi Bauckham once said, we are not seeing terrible things in our culture because we vote the wrong way. We are seeing terrible things in our culture because men love darkness rather than the light.
[00:47:33] He got that from Jesus.
[00:47:35] John 3. This is the judgment. The light has come into the world, and people love the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light. It does not come to the light, lest his work should be exposed.
[00:47:48] Friends, the number one act of reconciliation that all of humanity needs is to be reconciled with their God.
[00:47:57] Not their marriage partner, not their friend, not the tax collector. It's God.
[00:48:04] Every human being. I was sitting in a traffic light yesterday on Rogers, and it was longer. It felt like the normal, but it just. I was thinking about this. Every single person driving by me is going to stand before God.
[00:48:19] Every person.
[00:48:20] Every person driving by me, every person next to me, everyone in the car with me, they're going to stand before God. Do they know that he's going to judge them? Do they know their sinful condition before Him?
[00:48:37] Friends, that means our church should never lose sight of our central mission of being a church.
[00:48:46] We are here as ambassadors for Jesus Christ, pleading with sinners of all kinds to be reconciled to God.
[00:48:57] And it's not shoving stuff down their throat. You're never going to intimidate someone into Christianity or manipulate or debate them into Christianity. But because someone can intimidate you to get out of it, they can manipulate you to get out of it. They can argue to get out of it. They need a fresh, beautiful, amazing picture of Jesus Christ in all his glory. That God's own son stepped down into the sea of humanity by becoming a man.
[00:49:26] And his life was a beautiful display of the life we were made to live.
[00:49:33] Failed to do it. In his prayers, his supplications, his intercessions, and his thanksgiving, it was always the aroma of love for the Father and love for sinners. And sinners hated the light so much because they loved darkness rather than the light. They put him on a cross. They thought they were doing God a favor. They thought they were doing the righteous thing by putting an innocent man to death. And. And what they did not realize is that the heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord. And what they and Satan meant for evil, God was doing for good. He was sending salvation for sinners like you and me so that we can be reconciled to God forever.
[00:50:15] Reconciliation is Christ on a rescue mission to take rebels and prisoners and those full of despair and hopelessness and unshackle them and free them and remove the blindfold and give them new hearts and a forgiven and clean slate and a righteous standing with them, an adoption into his family and an inheritance to heaven. And it's all by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That's the ministry. That's the message. We have been sent by God to be ambassadors for King Jesus with that message.
[00:50:53] So, yes, vote to the glory of God. Meet with politicians for the glory of God. Work as political activists in whatever way that looks like. But do not put your hope in laws or legislators. Put your hope in Jesus Christ, who is Lord.
[00:51:08] Laws can restrain evil, but only the gospel can make evil people good.
[00:51:13] That's what Jesus is in the business of doing.
[00:51:16] If America is ever going to be great, America needs to be good. And America will only be good if the churches are right with Jesus.
[00:51:25] Set the gospel, unleash it. Cause pulpits and congregants to be aflame with a love for Jesus, and revival will spread amongst our land.
[00:51:38] Friends. Notice here he says that he desires all people to be saved.
[00:51:45] What exactly does that mean?
[00:51:49] Well, friends, you've only got a couple of choices.
[00:51:52] It's either all people without exception or all people without distinction.
[00:51:57] The context is pretty clear.
[00:51:59] He's speaking of all kinds of people, all sorts of people. Kings and those in high positions, even Gentiles. Down in verse 7.
[00:52:08] Who did Christ come to die for?
[00:52:11] Revelation 5, verse 9. And they sang a new song saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals. For you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God. Where? From every tribe and language and people and nation.
[00:52:28] So when we think about God's desire to save all people, how should we understand that when not all people will be saved?
[00:52:37] Is the cross of Christ God's will?
[00:52:41] Was the cross of Christ his good pleasure? The answer is yes and no.
[00:52:46] We'll start with no. On the one hand, God hates sin.
[00:52:50] He hates evil.
[00:52:52] To punish a righteous, innocent person is an abomination to God. Proverbs 17:15.
[00:52:59] What happened to our Lord? God hated.
[00:53:03] It was awful. It was evil. It was sinister. It was demonic.
[00:53:08] God despised it. His moral and revealed will was egregiously transgressed.
[00:53:16] Yet on the other hand, the cross was not God's plan B.
[00:53:22] It was God's plan A.
[00:53:24] It happened according to the predetermined and predestined plan of God.
[00:53:31] It was God's will. It was God's desire to save sinners of all kinds. And he has shown that by sending Jesus to die for a particular people and pay for their sins in full.
[00:53:45] You might say man. How do we see this? It seems like a contradiction. God desires all people to be saved and yet he's come to save and elect people. How do we see that? It seems like a contradiction. No, it's a contradiction because we have brains that are size of peanuts compared to God.
[00:54:01] It's what we call an antinomy. It's an apparent contradiction or of two equally true and justified things that Scripture reveals. God is sovereign, man is responsible and Jesus did not come on I hope to save mission. He came to save his people from their sins.
[00:54:19] We also know in Scripture that God has to grant repentance and the gifts of faith to believe that Good news Ephesians 2:892 Timothy 2:25 Friends, what does that mean for us?
[00:54:34] We should desire all kinds of people to come to the knowledge of the truth.
[00:54:40] No racial, no prejudice, no bipartisan, none of that. Male, female, boy, girl, everybody skin color, personality, weird, fun, popular, and everyone in between. We want all people to come to a knowledge of the truth.
[00:54:54] Notice there in verse five Does God give us many options on how to be reconciled to Him?
[00:55:01] This is the question that it's going to get hot when you start evangelizing your neighbors or your classmates or your family.
[00:55:09] People acknowledge that God exists. But if you asked how do we get reconciled to God? There's where you're going to have the conversation turn. Look at verse 5 Timothy 2:5.
[00:55:20] He says this for there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men. The man Christ. Jesus Christ. I didn't do really good in math, but I think I understand 1.
[00:55:32] How many gods are there?
[00:55:34] Let's say it together. How many gods are there?
[00:55:37] How many mediators between us and God?
[00:55:40] Let's say that a little louder. How many mediators between us and God?
[00:55:45] There's no comediatrix Mary, and the Catholic Church tries to rob that from our Lord. I don't care how they try to justify it.
[00:55:55] There's one mediator, no other prophet, no other apostle, one mediator. If it's Jesus plus your grandma, you got the wrong mediator.
[00:56:05] If it's Jesus plus good intentions, you got the wrong mediator.
[00:56:09] It's me. And God got our own thing going. But I'm gonna. You know, me and Jesus don't really have that. You got the wrong God. Because if you get God the Father, you must have God the Son.
[00:56:22] So why is Jesus our only mediator?
[00:56:26] I'm glad you asked, number one, Because God said so.
[00:56:32] You like that?
[00:56:34] That should settle it.
[00:56:36] One mediator that's so narrow minded and bigoted. Yeah, I am narrow minded because I follow the narrow way.
[00:56:44] God said so.
[00:56:47] Whatever God says, this God says is true. It's true. Tom Carson once said, it's not a choice between the Lord and other mediators. It is a choice between the Lord Jesus and none at all.
[00:56:58] Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. That sounds like an exclusive statement.
[00:57:07] If you come visit me at my house, one of the advantages I have is I live on a cul de sac. You say, hey, Pastor Blake, I'm gonna try to get to your house and in a different way. Well, buddy, you can take whatever ways you want, Mazard or Chad Collie, and you can ride around and do wheelies in my neighborhood. But I live on the end of a cul de sac. And 1. At some point you're going to have to go down the one and only street. If you try to go up in my backyard or pull some weird nonsense, I'm going to call the cops on you. But to get to my house, there's just one way.
[00:57:35] All roads lead to Christ right there. It doesn't matter whatever background or economic or political background you have, whatever sin struggle you have, there's only one way to get to God, and that is through our mediator, Jesus Christ. 1.
[00:57:48] And he's worthy.
[00:57:51] Number two, why is he our only mediator? Only Jesus can reveal the Father to us.
[00:57:57] Only Jesus can reveal the Father to us. Matthew 11:27 all things have been handed over to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. And no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Father chooses to reveal him. Friends, if you want to know what God is like, only Jesus by the power of the Spirit can reveal that to you.
[00:58:19] Number three.
[00:58:21] Only Jesus is the perfect man while remaining eternally God.
[00:58:32] Only Jesus is the perfect man while remaining eternally God.
[00:58:41] Joel Beke says it well. As God, Christ was able to endure the wrath of God as man. Christ fulfilled the law perfectly for his people.
[00:58:50] Chaffee Crossing Baptist Church we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.
[00:58:56] This is why we are here.
[00:58:59] It is not to sing Kumbaya, give each other high fives and say you're okay. And I'm okay. There is a dying, dark and hopeless world out there. And we have been sent not to remove ourselves from all society. We have to be salt and light without compromise in society.
[00:59:17] So let's pray boldly for kings and those in authority, bosses and professors, moms and dads and pastors, that God can change their hearts and and make it easier for the church to preach without any hindrance from governing authorities.
[00:59:34] And friends, let's just be utterly clear when we are a gospel preaching church.
[00:59:41] Please, please do not forget, especially when you're tempted with your friends.
[00:59:45] There are not many paths to God.
[00:59:49] There's not many roads to heaven.
[00:59:51] There's one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
[00:59:59] It's Christ who redeemed us from the curse of the law.
[01:00:03] It is Christ's blood that can atone for all our sins.
[01:00:08] It is Christ in the fullness of time, as a testimony, Paul says, in the fullness and perfect time he came and one day he's coming back again.
[01:00:17] Friend, if you want to know Jesus Christ as your Savior today, God's desire is that you would come to the knowledge of the truth and know him as Savior, mediator and friend.
[01:00:31] Friends, how are people saved the same way they have been saved for centuries? Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of Christ. Notice in verse seven, Paul then defends his apostolic ministry. He said, listen, I didn't put myself into this apostolic ministry. It's God who appointed me. He says, I'm a preacher, I'm a herald, I'm an apostle, I'm a representative of Christ. I'm also a teacher. I'm a discipler of the Gentiles, non Jews, those who would make up the vast portion of humanity outside the nation of Israel.
[01:01:04] Let's conclude a local church's witness is pleasing to God. When, when we give ourselves to the ministry of prayer and to the ministry of reconciliation, God has pleased Chaffee Crossing Baptist Church. When we pray for other churches and pastors and government officials and other members of our church and needs in our community and needs in our state and needs in the United States of America, needs all over the globe. He's pleased with that.
[01:01:44] Keep going to the throne of grace. Keep going to the God who is the eternal King, who has the heart of the King in his hand.
[01:01:58] But then ask yourself the question, do you pray for your boss?
[01:02:11] Do you pray for your manager?
[01:02:14] Do you pray for your supervisor?
[01:02:19] Do you pray for that person that's offended you and your family?
[01:02:26] Do you pray for that person who did something that's affected your family.
[01:02:32] Do you pray for your enemies?
[01:02:35] Do you pray for your spouse when y' all aren't getting along?
[01:02:41] Do you pray for your children, your siblings?
[01:02:46] Do you pray for other churches?
[01:02:50] Do you pray for those believers that first frustrate and annoy you?
[01:02:56] One brother said to me recently, you know, Brother Blake, it's hard to despise people you pray for.
[01:03:04] He's right.
[01:03:06] Prayer changes us just as much as it changes other people.
[01:03:12] Members of ccbc, the church in many ways is to be the conscience of the nation, the prophetic voice of the living God to the country, the city on a hill, a lighthouse amidst a perverse generation, the salt amidst a corroding culture, the herald of good news in a world that is hopeless and looking for hope in the wrong places.
[01:03:39] So let's be informed on who to pray for, what to pray for, and and the needs of our neighbors and the community and state and country we live in.
[01:03:52] And while we are informed and as we get engaged, stay prayerful and sober minded. What is our mission as a church?
[01:04:01] To preach the gospel, to make disciples, to administer the ordinances of baptism in the Lord's Supper, and to plead with people by the power of the Spirit to be reconciled to God through our only mediator, Jesus Christ.
[01:04:20] Judgment day is coming.
[01:04:24] Not everyone is ready.
[01:04:27] Church, family, rejoice in the great salvation we have desire to share that good news with others, to get in on that joy.
[01:04:41] Jesus has truly paid it all.
[01:04:45] All to him we owe.
[01:04:48] No sin is greater than the blood of Jesus.
[01:04:55] Sin has left a crimson stain, but his blood has washed as white as snow.
[01:05:01] Let's pray.
[01:05:07] Heavenly Father, we do pray that you would cause us to be a people that is earnest in our prayers.
[01:05:13] Not just for ourselves, but for all kinds of people.
[01:05:18] People that are different than us. Maybe even people that don't like us or we don't like them.
[01:05:23] Lord, we know that you hear our prayers through Christ our mediator.
[01:05:27] And you desire people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
[01:05:33] And Father, we do pray you would give us hearts that truly desire to see other people reconciled to you.
[01:05:39] May we be peacemakers who live these godly and quiet and dignified lives, lives marked by peace.
[01:05:49] As we stay in our lane to do what you've called us to do.
[01:05:53] We ask all this in Jesus name.
[01:05:55] Amen.
