I want to encourage you to open your Bibles, please, to 1 Timothy chapter 2.
! 1 Timothy chapter 2.
And just one glimpse of your notes will say that we have a lot to cover this morning.
And the reason why they're so extensive today is especially because I want to make sure
that as we're moving through the material, the topics that we're going to address today
are so immense.
Really, we should be taking several weeks to address these, but because of the time constraints
that we have and trying to make sure that we're done with this series by the time we get to
Christmas.
Chapter 2, being the shortest one, was the one we had to do in one shot.
So praying that this will be helpful and instructive for you as we move through this together.
If you're using the Pew Bible, I would encourage you to turn to page 991.
That's where you can find us.
It's no mystery that our world is changing.
It's no surprise that the decline, the moral decline of this culture is at catastrophic,
what you might consider alarming and catastrophic levels.
Just this past week, I read an article, an article that was dated May 9th, 2023, a PBS News article
that was entitled, Transgender Minors Protected from Estranged Parents Under Washington Law.
It describes this law, it was signed by the governor of the state of Washington, and it seeks to help
protect those who seek gender-affirming care.
It describes the law in this way, quote,
It's part of a wave of legislation this year in Democratic-led states intended to give refuge
amid a conservative movement in which lawmakers in other states have attacked transgender rights
and limited or banned gender-affirming care for minors.
This new law seeks to reverse the requirement that parents would be notified 72 hours in advance
of the special care given to their minor and instead says, quote,
Under the new law, facilities can instead contact the State Department of Children.
It goes on to describe that more than a half a dozen states from New Jersey to Vermont to Colorado
have passed or in process of passing such laws.
Quote,
Protections in blue states are being baked into law as Republican-led states take steps to bar access
to gender-affirming care for transgender minors,
which for people under 18 typically involves puberty blockers or other hormone treatments, end quote.
It's clear that there is an agenda that is being put in place by those who are in leadership,
regardless of what side you're on.
One may wonder how we've moved so far from the foundational truths that we have come to appreciate
and understand that go all the way back to creation.
How have we lost our way?
How has our perspective and our world departed so far from those truths
that have been the bedrock of humanity from the very beginning?
The answer in a phrase is because the church has not been a pillar and buttress for the truth.
The church, more importantly, those who call themselves Christians followers of Jesus
because of His redeeming work in their life of death and resurrection,
the blood of Christ in paying for their sins and forgiving them from those sins
and redeeming them to Himself,
that the church has not remained strong or fixed in the unwavering truths of the Scripture.
We have capitulated.
We have accommodated.
We have given way.
And so the drift in culture, which is really not a drift,
but is a strategic plan from the enemy from the very beginning
to dismantle the creative work and the image of God written over every human heart
to twist and to pervert and to corrupt that image.
But God's people have been given an unwavering call,
a call to represent the gospel,
a call to defend the truth,
to be this pillar and buttress of the truth,
to help engage culture
and not to create, as we might say,
and many of you might be familiar,
a moral majority.
It is not about morality.
It is about the gospel.
The goal is salvation of souls.
The goal is the glory of God,
a worshiping community,
a renewed world.
And women,
in our passage today,
today,
you stand as those who provide the greatest picture,
the greatest example of those who have submitted themselves
in understanding not only what the truth of the word of God says
about the beautiful design that he has created
in biblical manhood and womanhood,
but helping to engage the world with this great gospel picture
so that we can help our world understand the beauty of the gospel.
As you can see in your notes,
and what I'll show on the screen,
is kind of the correlation between the first and second half
of this chapter, chapter 2.
You can see some of the similar terms and phrases and results.
Now, this is not meant to demonstrate or try to prove in any way
the parallel structure of these two parts of chapter 2,
but essentially draw attention to the similarity.
I think Paul's point here is that if we were ever to change our culture,
it must begin with the church.
If the world is ever to be changed by the truth of God's word,
that truth must remain preserved,
must remain active,
must remain visible within the body of the church,
its members,
its people,
its followers of Jesus.
So I'd like to bundle this chapter together
in two different ways.
I want us to understand the ultimate objective.
You can see there even at the bottom,
it ends,
each one ends with this goal of salvation,
this goal of gospel testimony,
this overreaching priority of God to save souls.
So we're going to bundle this chapter in two parts.
The first part is the command of God
as it relates to living in the world.
And the second is the command of God
as living in the church.
First, let's turn our attention to the command of God,
the command to gospel living in the world.
Verse one, notice.
First of all, then I urge that supplications,
prayers,
intercessions,
and thanksgiving
be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions,
that we may lead a peaceful and gentle
and quiet life,
godly and dignified in every way.
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.
For there is one God,
there is one mediator between God and man,
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.
I am not lying.
A teacher of the Gentiles
in faith and truth.
And you can see here at the very end,
the purpose statement,
the purpose of all of this first section
is the glory of God
that's shining through the gospel.
In the first seven verses,
we see two priorities
that the apostle Paul will put forward.
First, we're going to see his priority of prayer.
And second, we're going to see
the priority of the gospel.
And I say them right at the outset
because with so much material in between,
I don't want you to lose track
of the two priorities we have
here in the first part of this section.
Every one of us has the obligation to pray
because every single one of us
have been given the commission.
Every one of us who belong to Christ
have been given the commission
to make disciples in all nations.
Paul will begin with this plea.
He says, I urge.
And it's important just to pause here for a moment
because we're going to find several statements
throughout this text
that draw attention to the apostle Paul
and his command for Timothy
and his command for this church.
It's important to understand
right at the outset
because much of the argument,
much of the pushback of this chapter
is that, well, this is the apostle Paul's opinion
or this is the word of the apostle Paul
for a specific place
or this is the word of the apostle Paul
for this own cultural church of Ephesus.
It is removed in terms of the fact
that it's just temporary in nature.
But it's important for us to understand
that the apostle Paul
has been given a command.
We saw that command
at the very beginning of this letter.
1 Timothy 1, verse 1.
You see it there on the page.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus,
by command of God
and our Savior
and of Christ Jesus, our hope.
The apostle Paul is under direct orders
from God himself.
And so the apostle Paul
in giving commands to Timothy
is exercising the authority of God
to commission Timothy for ministry.
And then we found last week
in verse 18
that the command or charge
that had been given to the apostle Paul
is now entrusted to Timothy
to do the same in this church.
Verse 18.
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy.
And that entrustment was not only given to Timothy,
but that entrustment was also given,
or Timothy was supposed to then
pass on that baton
as it were to every subsequent spiritual leader
from the generation of Timothy
all the way to the present day.
2 Timothy 2, verses 1-2.
You then, my child,
speaking to Timothy,
be strengthened by the grace
that is in Christ Jesus,
and what you have heard from me
in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men
who will be able to teach others also.
This direct command of God
to the apostle Paul
entrusted to Timothy
and then dispensed to every subsequent leader
of God's church through the ages.
Paul begins with,
first of all, I urge.
Meaning, of first priority.
Or before everything, pray.
While you live in the world,
while you engage culture,
while you understand your purpose in this life,
you need to understand
that you are under divine authority.
That God has given you authority
through prayer
to exercise spiritual strength
in opposing culture.
So we demonstrate our faith in God
when we respond to our authorities
in the right way.
When we submit to the authorities
that God has placed over us,
as we understand,
especially through our study through Daniel,
we recognize that God raises up leaders
and God brings leaders down.
As we come to a place of recognizing
that God is ultimately over
all the authorities in this life,
we demonstrate our faith in God
by our appropriate response
to the authorities that He's placed over us.
And the resources that God has given to us
are mighty.
He says so in 2 Corinthians chapter 10.
They're mighty through power.
So stop using carnal weapons,
he says.
Use weapons of divine power.
Once our leaders are in place,
we do that through prayer.
Here the Apostle Paul uses several words
to describe and reinforce
the kind of prayer he's encouraging.
Several words.
Supplication, prayers, intercession.
And these three words indicate
not only the insufficiency of the requester,
but the devotion of the seeker
and finally,
the childlike confidence
of the petitioner.
We come to a place of recognizing
our dependence.
We come to a place of knowing
that God alone can help.
And we come to Him in desperation
and expectancy,
asking Him to intervene.
The main point of all of this
is to emphasize the significance
of prayer in all forms.
As Peter will say later
in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 7.
He says,
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be self-controlled
and sober-minded
for the sake of your prayers.
We understand that prayer is important.
We understand that God has called us,
directed us to pray.
So for whom should we pray?
Well, we're making these prayers.
We're bringing these prayers
that says,
First for all people.
In other words,
don't be exclusive in your prayers.
Don't only pray for the people
in your church,
although that's important.
Don't only pray for the people
in your family.
That's important.
Don't only pray for the people
that you are interested in,
who do nice things to you.
Pray for everyone.
Pray for the people
in your workplace.
Students,
pray for the people
in your classes,
in your schools.
Pray for your teachers.
Pray for your athletic coaches.
For the rest of us,
pray for missionaries
by name,
specifically.
Pray for those
you randomly come across
in the marketplace.
Pray for everyone,
but especially pray
for your leaders.
It says,
So that we may enjoy
a peaceful
and quiet life.
Why?
Well,
because God's design
for leaders
is for them to act
as agents
to enforce
lawful living.
God's design
for leaders.
So,
I want to take
a mini detour here,
and the reason
I'm doing this
is because
in order to inform
our prayers,
we need to come
to understand
who our leaders are
and what our responsibility
to our leaders
should be
and what their responsibility
under God
as his servants
should also be.
So,
how do we pray
for our leaders?
Well,
we can pray
for our leaders
as we understand
their design.
I want to walk
through these
very quickly.
First,
and they're all
in there in your notes,
I'm just going
to walk through them.
Leaders are appointed
by God
as his servants.
They're appointed
by God
as his servants.
That's important.
Romans 13,
1 to 4
says,
Let every person
be subject
to the governing authorities,
for there is no
authority
except from God.
And those that exist
have been
instituted
by God.
Therefore,
whoever resists,
authorities resist
what God has appointed.
And those who resist
will incur judgment.
For he is God's servant
for your good.
But if you do wrong,
be afraid,
for he does not bear
the sword in vain,
for he is the servant
of God,
an avenger
who carries out
God's wrath
on the wrongdoer.
Could it be any clearer?
However,
the authorities
that God has placed
over us,
whether you like them
or not,
whether you feel
like they're
representing God
faithfully or not,
they are God's servants.
We have a responsibility
to submit.
Next,
leaders are appointed
to punish
the evildoer,
and next,
leaders are appointed
to praise the good.
I draw that
not only from
Romans chapter 13,
but I also draw that
from 1 Peter chapter 2,
verses 13 and 14,
which makes that clear.
Be subject
for the Lord's sake
to every human institution,
whether it be
to the emperor
as supreme
or to governors
as sent by him
to punish those
who do evil
and to praise
those who do good.
That is their responsibility.
That's what they
as servants of God
are intended to do,
to reward
the good
and punish
the evil.
Number four,
good leaders
point to the creator
rather than the creature.
Now,
I'm deriving
these next several points
from Romans chapter 1,
because built into
the creation account,
built into the design
of God,
it says that
even through
the things
that God has made,
his divine attributes
are clearly seen.
So going all the way
back to the beginning,
what's been inherent
in the design
that God has created
are certain
fundamental truths
and values of God.
And so when we
push against those things,
we are demonstrating
that we are resisting
God fundamentally.
So our leaders
as servants of God
recognizing the things
that God even built
into creation
should come to terms
with this
and seek to advocate
these things.
For example,
good leaders
point to the creator
rather than the creature.
Romans 1, 24, 25
shows what happens
when they don't.
Therefore,
God gave them up
in the lusts
of their hearts
to impurity,
to the dishonoring
of their bodies
among themselves,
because they exchanged
the truth about God
for a lie.
And they worshiped
and served
the creature
rather than the creator
who is blessed forever.
Certainly,
we have a stewardship
over the world.
God has given us
as male and female
the responsibility
to exercise dominion
over the earth.
But as soon
as these agendas
that various leaders
will have
begin to point
and push
to the creation
rather than drawing
attention to the creator,
then watch out.
Next,
good leaders
will reinforce
God's design
for marriage.
And when they don't,
this happens
in verses 26 and 27.
It says,
for this reason,
God gave them up
to dishonorable passions.
For their women
exchanged natural relations
for those that are
contrary to nature.
And the men likewise
gave up natural relations
with women
who were consumed
with passions
for one another.
Men committing
shameless acts
with men
and receiving
in themselves
the due penalty
for their error.
At the very beginning
of creation
in Genesis 1
and Genesis chapter 2,
God had built
the beautiful arrangement
of masculinity
and femininity
in the scripture
and had given
a command to Adam,
a man shall leave
his father
and mother
and cling to his wife
and the two
shall be one flesh.
One male,
one female
in harmony together
to carry out
the creation order
and that is
to be fruitful
and multiply
and fill the earth.
The inherent
truths of scripture.
And when our leaders
push against
what should be
natural and true
from the beginning,
we need to pray for them.
Finally,
good leaders
will uphold
God's inherent
code of conduct.
Romans chapter 1
verses 28 to 32,
and since they did not
see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them up
to a debased mind
to do what ought
not to be done.
They were filled
with all manner
of unrighteousness,
evil, covetous,
malice.
They are full of envy,
murder, strife,
deceit,
maliciousness.
They are gossips.
Though they know
God's righteous decree
that those who practice
such things
deserve to die,
they not only do them
but give approval
to those
who practice them.
A government
that commends these
or that confronts
or goes against
these fundamental principles
demonstrate
they're fighting
against God.
The foundation
of God's design
is under attack.
The core elements
of the gospel
living are being
stripped away.
Those very things
that are meant
to point to a creator
and help us
understand our place.
Those are the things
that are being obscured.
Those are the things
that are being dismantled.
And so,
the responsibility
that we have
is not to protest,
not to take it
to the public square,
but to pray.
That is the instruction
that is given
to us
in this passage.
As Christians,
we have a responsibility
to pray.
Now,
picking up
in verse 2,
God's purpose
for our prayers.
What will our prayers
accomplish?
Notice,
that way,
excuse me,
that we may lead
a peaceful
and quiet life,
godly
and dignified
in every way.
This is good
and is pleasing
in the sight of God,
our Savior,
who desires
all people
to be saved
and to come
to a knowledge
of the truth.
There is a two-fold purpose
that we see here.
The first
is a purpose
that's related
to people,
to lead
to a quiet life,
a godly life,
a dignified life,
that there might be
peacefulness,
there might be
quietness,
there might be
rest and tranquility,
that there might be
opportunity
for the obstacles
to be removed.
And the second purpose,
which is the ultimate purpose,
is that God
would be glorified.
It says,
it is good
and pleasing
in the sight of God
who desires salvation
and has called us
to evangelize.
Here we see
the heart of God.
This phrase,
this word,
in order that
we may lead,
points to the purpose
of our prayers.
This peaceful life,
tranquil life,
quiet life.
What an important word
for us today.
In an age
where we want to take,
we want to make
a public statement,
where we want
to be noticeable,
where we want
to be go big
or go home,
where we want
to draw attention
to ourselves.
God calls us
to a quiet life,
a dignified life.
Not a life
that is pressing
on all the hot buttons.
Not a life
that is necessarily
advocating
in all the forums
or addressing
all of the injustices,
but a quiet,
tranquil life
that is opposed
to a vocal,
loud,
expressive,
social,
kind of warrior,
kind of person.
rather than fighting
with carnal weapons,
we're fighting
with divine weapons,
a prayer.
Take your requests
to God.
Let Him work
through the circumstances.
Let Him advocate
for the oppressed.
Let Him humble
the proud.
Let Him advance
His cause.
And as we commit
ourselves to pray,
we are demonstrating
a confidence
in God
who is over all.
Boy,
as we walk
through the life
of Daniel,
we should be so humbled
to recognize
the posture
of faithfulness
that led
to consistent,
daily,
faithful prayer.
It was the prayers
of Daniel
that changed
the heart
of Nebuchadnezzar.
Might we be those
who seek
to advance
the cause
of God
who says,
remember in His model prayer,
your kingdom come,
your will be done.
Might that be
the expression
of our hearts?
The agenda
which God
seeks
to address
is sins
forgiven,
lives changed,
hearts
that are cleansed,
minds
that are informed,
Christ
that is exalted,
God who is glorified,
that is God's
objective.
May our heart
and life
and actions
express
the heart
of God.
We don't have time
to work through
the intricacies
of this phrase
all people
but we do know
one thing
that the all people
that is expressed here
that God desires
to save all people
that all people
is the same word,
the same word pairing
that is used
earlier in the text
where we're to pray
for all people.
God does have
a heart
for the lost
for God
so loved
the world
that he gave
his only begotten son
that whoever
believes in him
should not perish
but have
everlasting life.
God cares
for lostness.
We should care
for lostness
as well.
So I have there
in your notes
the encouragement
to pray for leaders
and I have
several things
that you can
and should
be praying for
that are related
to the objectives
that God has given
to them.
And so I want you
to want to pause
right now
in our service
and I want to just
do exactly
what we're encouraged
to do
and that is to pray
for our leaders.
So I've asked Mark
to come
and pray
for our leaders.
Thank you Mark.
Just keep going.
Okay.
God we are
you are such a good
and great God
and you are worthy
of all praise.
We just thank you
for all the things
you've done for us
that you have not
left us here alone
but you've given us
truth,
the words of truth
and God that is
such a comfort
and protection
for us
in these troubling times
and we know God
that you only have
good things in store
for us.
I do think of
Proverbs 21
where it says
the king's heart
is in the hand
of the Lord
and he directs
it like a waterway
wherever he pleases.
So God you are
engaged
with our
leaders
and
it pleases you
to have your
sovereign control
and so God
we ask for
courage
to be engaged.
Amen.
As Pastor said
first and foremost
to pray
for our leaders.
God we must
just really
bathe them
in prayer
and let them
know
that they have
a role to play
in even the
spiritual tenor
of a country
and pray God
that we will be
bold
and humble
and that our
words as we
talk with
people in our
community
and work
and neighborhood
that we will
just be
able to give
light
kindness
and compassion.
God forgive us
for not being
a brighter light
around our
world
and society.
We just ask God
that you will
help us to use
these
next
few months
that we have
here
to just really
be engaged
and again
be prayerful
for our leaders
and all that
we do
that will
glorify you.
We ask this in your
son's name.
Amen.
So our first
priority is a
priority of prayer.
Our second
priority is a
priority of the
gospel.
We find that in
verses 5 to 7.
The priority of
the gospel.
For there is,
he says,
one God
and one mediator
between God
and man,
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.
I am not lying.
A teacher
of the Gentiles
in faith
and truth.
Remember several
weeks ago
or a couple
weeks ago
when we began
this series
and I described
to you
what evangelicalism
and where it's
trending
as it relates
to the core
tenets,
not only of who
God is,
but what we
would consider
the core
tenets of the
gospel.
This is a
snapshot of how
far we have
gone as it
relates to
truth and
being the
pillar and
buttress of
the truth.
When those
who are
meant to be
the catalyst
and the
carriers for
truth don't
understand who
God is,
then we can
imagine that
those who
come to
embrace that
gospel that
they preach
will also be
unaware of
the essential
truths that
they need for
salvation.
We may see
these statistics,
but the
apostle Paul
will put the
truth of the
gospel in
very simple
terms.
He points to
these unwavering
statements.
One God,
one mediator,
one ransom.
That's the
gospel in its
barest form.
That God being
united in three
persons,
Father,
Son,
and Holy Spirit,
not a vague
God,
not an ambiguous
God,
not any God,
but the God
of the Bible,
the God who
represents himself
as Trinity in
three persons,
Father,
Son,
and Holy Spirit.
Jesus will say
on several
occasions,
if you don't
have me,
you don't have
the Father.
One mediator,
of course,
that is Jesus
himself,
who died for
our sins,
who rose again,
who paid for
our sins on
the cross,
and makes a
way through
faith in him,
and forgiveness
for sin as
the ransom to
take that sin
and that payment
price that has
been paid on
our behalf to
give us the
gift of salvation
for any who
will believe.
The goal of
our prayers and
the goal of our
living is this
priority of the
gospel.
Now,
Paul will shift
his attention.
Now,
instead of
speaking in
generalities and
addressing the
group at large,
now he'll begin
to help the
church that he's
addressing,
both full of
men and women,
to recognize
their specific
role in this
gospel strategy.
That's where we
turn our attention
to the command
to gospel living
in the church.
The command to
gospel living in
the church,
beginning in
verse 8,
it says this,
I desire then
that in every
place the men
should pray,
lifting holy
hands without
anger or
quarreling,
likewise also
that women
should adorn
themselves in
respectable apparel,
with modesty and
self-control,
not with braided
hair in gold or
pearls or costly
attire, but with
what is proper for
women who possess
godliness with good
works.
Let a woman learn
quietly with all
submissiveness and
not permit a woman
to teach or to
exercise authority
over a man.
Rather, she is to
remain quiet.
For Adam was
formed first,
then Eve, and
Adam was not
deceived, but the
woman was deceived
and became a
transgressor.
Yet she will be
saved through
childbearing if
they continue in
faith and love
and holiness with
self-control.
Now the number of
volumes that have
been written and
the amount of
ink that has been
spilled on this
subject and
particularly, this
chapter is immense.
And in preparation
for this, I have
really tried to be
faithful with this
text and tried to
be faithful with
this subject so
that I'm not
overstating.
I've listened to
over 30 hours of
what you might call
a theological
discourse going
all the way back
to Genesis and
recounting or
looking at all of
the distinctive
places in which
men and women
served throughout
the scriptures.
I've also read
pages and pages
and pages of
commentary.
I read a book
and we're making
that available to
you.
It's in the
resource center and
it's for purchase.
You can purchase it
for 13 bucks.
You can see the
details of that on
the back of your
form.
It's by Kevin De
Young.
It's called Men
and Women.
It provides a
thorough but simple
discourse that's
easy to understand.
There's also a
resource, a free
resource you can
download by scanning
that QR code.
The 50
questions, crucial
questions about
manhood and
womanhood by
Piper and
Grudem.
I would commend
that to you.
But in looking
through and
studying the
cultural background,
the specific
traditions and
nuances of this
city in
Ephesus and the
worship of
Aphrodite or
Diana, depending
upon which
posture you
have, the
temple prostitutes
that were there
and the words
that were used
is head mean
authority or
does head mean
source and all
of the words that
are built in to
this text, I can
tell you with all
of that, what we
have here in our
passage is
trustworthy.
You don't have to
worry about reading
all of that
stuff.
What God has
given to us in
this translation not
only says what it
needs to say but
it then bears out
the fruit of what
we come to
understand it
means.
So we walk
through this piece
by piece in the
little time that we
have left.
First we need to
understand that men
are to serve through
prayer.
Men are to serve
through prayer.
This is so
important for men
because I'm going
to stereotype here.
My guess is that
it's built into us
as men to defend.
It's built into us
as men to confront.
It's built into us
as men to do what
it takes to help
push against culture
and defend our values
and want to do what's
necessary to have
our way.
But the apostle Paul
says no.
Pray.
That is your main
line of defense.
Pray.
It is a posture
not of force
but a posture
of humility.
A posture
of dependence.
And so in that
respect it's not a
whole lot different
than the posture
we're going to find
later on for women.
The posture is the
same.
It's just the realm
may be a little
different.
Submit yourselves
to the authorities
that God has placed
over you and pray.
Pray.
He says pray in
every place.
Well what is this
every place?
Well one commentator
puts it this way.
He says the everywhere
in which the men
pray is wherever
believers are
gathered together
in Ephesus.
Probably this is a
reference to a local
house church.
And they're to pray
in such a way
that they're lifting
up holy hands.
What is this all
about?
Well we see
particularly that
the characteristic
that has been true
of this church
even from the very
beginning of this
chapter is there's
anger.
There is quarreling.
There is disruption.
There is conflict
that is happening.
We're going to see
that throughout the
letter of 1st Timothy
and then even spilling
into 2nd Timothy.
But the apostle Paul
is calling for the
leaders and for the
men of this church
instead of being
characterized by anger
and quarreling to
have a heart that is
coupled with the
spirit and demonstrates
the work of God in
them to put those
things away.
Paul will say in
the next chapter one
of the key
qualifications for
spiritual leaders in
1st Timothy 3
chapter 3 2.
Not quarrelsome.
And Paul has
already instructed the
church of Ephesus in
this way.
We find in Ephesians
chapter 4 verses 1 to
3.
I therefore prison of
the Lord urge you to
walk in a manner worthy
of the calling to which
you've been called with
all humility and
gentleness with patience
bearing with one another
in love eager to
maintain the unity of
the spirit in the bond
of peace.
If that heart is not
reflected in the leader
then the spirit is not
at work in a life.
And if the spirit is not
at work in a life then
the prayers that they're
praying aren't effective.
Because remember in
Romans chapter 8 it's the
Holy Spirit that
intercedes for the saints
with groanings that are
too deep for words.
And so if the spirit is
not present in a life to
help direct them towards
proper and effective
unity.
If that is not a place
for them or an interest
in their heart then it's
likely the spirit is not
present.
In Ephesians chapter 4
verses 29 and 31 it says
let no corrupting talk
come out of your mouths
but only such as good for
building up as fits the
occasion that it may give
grace to those who hear
and do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God by whom
you were sealed for the day
of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor and
slander be put away from
you with all malice.
When anger and wrath and
clamor are present in a
person's life it's evidence
that he's grieving the
spirit and thus does not
enjoy the power of God in
his life.
You cannot enjoy a prayer
life that is full of power
without the work of the
spirit.
This church would never
have been a pillar in a
buttress of the truth if it
allowed quarreling to
continue.
God will not hear our
prayers if we are people
who are grieving the
spirit.
Now we turn to women.
He turns to women in
verses 9 to 15 and we
find several ways in which
women are to model good
works.
How women are to model good
works.
women are to model good
works.
We find likewise also that
women should adorn
themselves in respectable
apparel with modesty and
self-control not with braided
hair and gold or pearls or
costly attire but with what is
proper for women who possess
godliness and with good works.
Women you have a key
responsibility and I might say a
key opportunity to model for the
rest of us what it means to be a
person who loves God who trusts
him and is punctuating your life
with good works and when we see that
both men and women we can we can
glorify God.
We can praise him for his work in
your life of demonstrating God's work
through you and your confidence in the
good design that God has given.
So first how do they model good
works?
Well they model good works first by
having a beauty that points to God.
A beauty that points to God.
This likewise is an important
connector word.
It connects it with the
responsibilities that are given to
men in verse 8 and they have they
have a significant responsibility as
well and this responsibility that we
find here is this responsibility
to demonstrate beauty that points to
God.
Women God has made you to be
beautiful and being beautiful is an
important characteristic.
We see that all the way through the
the Old Testament we see how the
women of old were standout knockouts
of their time but the beauty that
God has called every woman to
possess is the kind of beauty that
doesn't draw attention to self but
draws attention to her Savior.
The kind of beauty that reflects the
beauty of Christ.
The kind of beauty that that
demonstrates a love for God.
The kind of beauty that that shows
that God is working in her heart and
life to change her as we saw in 2nd
Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18 that
she's being transformed from one degree
of glory to the other.
There is this beauty that is that is
building and growing in her as she
commits herself to love God.
In Timothy's time braided hair and
costly pearls were ways to flaunt their
wealth to flaunt themselves.
And the Apostle Paul wants this church
instead of drawing attention to their
selves and their designer shoes and
their fashionable clothing.
He wants them to draw attention to God.
As Peter will say in 1st Peter chapter
3 verse 3 to 4.
Do not let your adorning be external.
The braiding of hair, the putting on of
gold, jewelry, and 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.
Your beauty is something to behold.
Let your beauty point to God.
Second, they're to model good works by
having a posture that is ready to learn.
Verse 11.
A posture that is ready to learn.
Let a woman learn quietly with all
submissiveness.
Now, our problem with this verse is we
don't look at the privilege of learning
and the joy of being doctrinally sound.
Our eyes run to those negative words
at the very end of this sentence.
Quietly in all submissiveness.
This word for quiet is a word that's been
used even in this chapter.
It's not a word for silence but it's a
word for tranquility.
There is this humble strength about a
woman in allowing her life to be
governed by the word of God.
There is this reflection of doctrinal
devotion.
She is in many ways a woman who is
pursuing a life with God through
careful and faithful study.
She's a woman who has demonstrated a
mastery of the scriptures and as we find
with Aquila and Priscilla that Priscilla
was useful in helping to inform
Apollos there in the book of Acts and
in helping to him to navigate his own
journey of doctrine because Aquila and
Priscilla were so faithful and secure in
their understanding of doctrine.
So women pursue doctrine.
Pursue truth.
Be those who have a posture of learning.
Third, they express good works by having a
heart that is secure in God's design.
A heart that is secure in God's design.
We see this here in verse 12.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to
exercise authority over a man.
Rather she is to remain quiet.
For Adam was formed first and Eve and
Adam was not deceived but the woman was
deceived and became a transgressor.
This word for quiet again is the word for
tranquility.
And to teach or to exercise authority were
those things that we're going to find in
the next chapter were inherent for those who
were spiritual leaders of the church.
They were the elders and pastors and
teachers who God reserved to be men for
the sake of helping to reflect not just the
fact that he was differentiating between
maleness and femaleness but especially that he
was pointing back to the original design.
And it was through that original design that
the glory of God in the gospel will be tangible
and salient for people.
We need to understand that Christ himself
reinforced the counter-cultural instruction to
women in the first century.
In Luke chapter 8 we find that women traveled with
Christ on his various ministry journeys.
In Luke chapter 9 we find that it was Mary who sat
at Jesus' feet.
Women were promoted as examples of piety throughout
the gospels.
It was Anna who walked, waited night and day in the
temple there in Luke chapter 2.
It was the Syriophoenician woman who Jesus commends
for her faith that stands out in that day.
It was women who would come and stand before the
cross.
It was women who would go, be the first to go to the
tomb.
It was women who first saw the resurrected Savior and
took that word back to the apostles.
Now the scripture is not trying to suppress and put down
women but trying to lift them up and encourage them to
understand the place that they have in reflecting God's
design and order.
And as they choose to have a heart that is secure in God's
design, they will reflect God's good gospel.
Finally, they will model good works by having a home of
gospel impact.
Having a home of gospel impact.
Verse 15, yet she will be saved through childbearing if they
continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
We end this chapter where Paul ended the section there in verse
7.
And helping us to understand the purpose of our prayer and now
the purpose of our gospel living within the church.
And that is to prioritize the gospel.
And the gospel impact that women will have in their families is
significant.
It's a gospel impact to not only change the culture in the church,
but subsequently then to change the culture in the world as God is
working through your ministry to your kids.
And God is using your faithfulness in your children to engage the world.
It's important to close with some things that this passage does not say.
And I have some of those on the reverse part of your notes.
I just want to move through them quickly and then I'll close this out.
First, this does not limit the spiritual gifts that a woman can have.
Women may be given the gift of leadership, teaching, discernment,
administration, etc.
That just because you are not able to teach or exercise authority in a public
way, in a mixed audience, that God is still gifted women.
And we've all been encouraged by them with gifts of teaching,
gifts of leadership, gifts of administration.
Next, it does not mean that a woman cannot participate in the corporate worship.
She may.
She must.
She's encouraged to sing.
She's encouraged to pray.
She's encouraged to stir up love and good deeds.
She's encouraged to admonish the idle,
encourage the faint-hearted,
to help the weak, to be patient with all.
And tonight as we're gathered together,
we're going to hear from some ladies who will share their testimony
of how God changed their life.
Those kinds of testimonies and public proclamations
are not only encouraged,
but are commanded in the scripture.
Next, it does not mean that a woman cannot teach.
Rather, older women are to teach younger women.
And as you are teaching your children at home,
teaching the kids here in our church
is a vital part of ministry.
Finally, it does not mean that a woman cannot lead through service.
And there I have listed in Romans chapter 16, verses 3 to 16.
This is a final close of greetings
where the apostle Paul points out several women
who were instrumental in his ministry.
He calls them co-workers and co-laborers,
those who were partnered with him
in this vital work of gospel ministry.
Women, your role is so significant.
Men, our role is so significant.
And as we submit ourselves to the biblical framework for manhood and womanhood,
we will not only help to change the culture of the church,
but help to engage the world
so that we can be a pillar and buttress of the truth.
May the truth shine through our lives
in the way we embrace the God-ordained roles that he has set for us.
Oh God, we praise you for this word.
Lord, we understand that it's countercultural.
We pray that you would help us to be faithful,
not only to know what your word says,
but faithful to demonstrate and obey
the commands that you have given to us from your scripture.
And as a result of that, Lord, I pray
that not only would our families change
and our church reflect the wonder of who you are,
but the gospel light would shine from us
out into this world.
I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
God bless you. Have a great week.