The Battle for Personal Power

The Battle of Personal Power

 MATTHEW 4:1-11

THEME: The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Jesus triumphs over Satan, then returns to Galilee to begin his ministry and calls his first four disciples.

RELEVANCE: Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

INTRODUCTION:

Our Lord’s experience of temptation prepared Him to be our sympathetic High Priest.

Hebrews 2:16-18, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It is important to note that Jesus faced the enemy as man, not as the Son of God. His first word was, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the enemy, because that is just what the enemy wanted Him to do! Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit of God (Matt. 4:1), and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-11):

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

THIRD ROUND OF ATTACK—LIVE FOR PERSONAL POWER (Matt. 4:8-10) 

The Temptation to Seek Worldly Power (Matt. 4:8-9): All the Power and Glory This World Has to Offer Is Yours If You’ll Only Kneel Down and Worship Me. 

1.    In The Third Temptation, the Devil Took Jesus Up on an Exceedingly High Mountain and Showed Him “All The Kingdoms Of The World.”

a.     He offered them to Jesus in exchange for His worship. Although this temptation had to do with worship, an exercise of the spirit, it was an effort to seduce our Lord to grasp imperial power over the world by worshiping Satan.

b.    The reward offered, all the kingdoms of the world with their glory-grandeur, appealed to “the lust of the eyes” (1 Jn. 2:16).

c.     In a sense, the kingdoms of the world do belong to the devil at present.

                                                   i.     He is spoken of as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and John tells us that “the whole world lieth in wickedness”(1 Jn. 5:19).

                                                 ii.     When Jesus appears at the Second Advent as King of kings (Rev. 19:16), then “the kingdoms of this world” become His (Rev. 11:15).

                                               iii.     Jesus would not violate the divine timetable, and certainly He would never worship Satan!

2.    For Us the Temptation Is Twofold:

1.    To Barter Our Spiritual Birthright for the Passing Glory of This World.

2.    To Worship and Serve the Creature Rather Than the Creator.  The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only bow down and worship him.

a.     Today Satan offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism, sex, and power. The devil would like us to believe that "life is short, get all you can!"

b.    Even Christian leaders find themselves tempted to build empires here on earth.

c.     But Satan requires people to pay for such success by selling their souls to him. We must resist temptations in the same way that Jesus did.

d.    If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus' words to the devil: “Worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then follow that advice, with the support and prayers of Christian friends.

3.    The Devil Offered Jesus A Shortcut to His Kingdom.

a.    Jesus knew that He would suffer and die before He entered into His glory (Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11; 5:1).

b.    If He bowed down and worshiped Satan just once (this is the force of the Greek verb), He could enjoy all the glory without enduring the suffering.

c.     Satan has always wanted worship, because Satan has always wanted to be God (Isa. 14:12–14).

d.    Worshiping the creature instead of the Creator is the lie that rules our world today (Rom. 1:24–25).

4.    There Are No Shortcuts to the Will of God.

a.    If we want to share in the glory, we must also share in the suffering (1 Peter 5:10). As the prince of this world, Satan could offer these kingdoms to Christ (John 12:31; 14:30). But Jesus did not need Satan’s offer.

b.    The Father had already promised Jesus the kingdom! “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [nations] for Thine inheritance” (Ps. 2:8).

c.     You find the same promise in Psalm 22:22–31, and this is the psalm of the cross. 

The Triumph Over the Desires of the Eyes. (Matt. 4:10): Get out of here Satan; Worship and Serve the Lord your God only!

1.    For The Third Time, Jesus Resisted Temptation by Using the Bible: “Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and Him only you shalt thou serve.” (Deut. 6:13).

a.     Worship and the service that flows from it are for God alone. To worship Satan would be tantamount to acknowledging him as God.

b.    Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that whatever we worship, we will serve. Worship and service must go together.

2.    The Order of The Temptations as Recorded by Matthew Varies from That in Luke (4:1–13). Some have suggested that Matthew’s order parallels the order of the temptations that Israel faced in the wilderness (Ex. 16; 17; 32). Jesus showed Himself in perfect contrast to Israel’s response to hardship.

3.    Also, The Word “Then” In Matt. 4:5 And the Word “Again” In Matt. 4:8, Seems to Indicate Sequence.

a.     Luke only uses the simple conjunction “and” and does not say he is following a sequence.

b.    Our Lord’s command at the end of the third temptation (“Get thee hence, Satan!”) is proof that Matthew followed the historical order. There is no contradiction since Luke did not claim to follow the actual sequence.

II. The Assistance of the Angels (Matt. 4:11): Afterward, Angels Come and Care for Jesus.

A.   SATAN LEAVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    When Jesus Had Successfully Defeated Satan’s Temptations, The Devil Left Him.

2.    Temptations Come in Waves Rather Than in A Steady Flow. What an encouragement for God’s tested saints!

a.     Isaiah 59:19, So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

b.    The metaphor of "lifting a standard" for making an armed resistance is common in Isaiah (Isa 5:26; 13:2; 18:3; 31:9).

c.     “That, whatever attempts the enemies of God's people may afterwards make upon them to disturb their peace, they shall be baffled and brought to nought: When the enemy shall come in like a flood, like a high spring-tide, or a land-flood, which threaten to bear down all before them without control, then the Spirit of the Lord by some secret undiscerned power shall lift up a standard against him, and so (as the margin reads it) put him to flight. He that has delivered will still deliver. When God's people are weak and helpless, and have no standard to lift up against the invading power, God will give a banner to those that fear him (Ps 60:4), will by his Spirit lift up a standard, which will draw multitudes together to appear on the church's behalf.” --- Matthew Henry

3.    Satan Slunk Away, A Defeated Foe; But He Did Not Cease to Tempt Jesus.

a.     We understand that Luke 4:13, carries the idea, “that the devil ended every possible kind of temptation, he stood off from Christ until a suitable time.”

b.    Through Peter, Satan again tempted Jesus to abandon the cross (Matt. 16:21–23); and through the crowd that had been fed, Satan tempted Jesus to an “easy kingdom” (John 6:15).

c.     One victory never guarantees freedom from further temptation. If anything, each victory we experience only makes Satan try harder.

B.   ANGELS ARRIVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    We Are Told That Angels Came And Ministered Unto Him, But No Explanation Is Given for This Supernatural Assistance. It probably means that they provided the physical nourishment for Him which He had refused to provide at Satan’s suggestion.

2.    We Learn That the Devil Can Attack Those Who Are Controlled by the Holy Spirit, But That He Is Powerless Against Those Who Resist Him with the Word of God.

3.    After Jesus Christ Had Defeated Satan, He Was Ready to Begin His Ministry. No man has a right to call others to obey who has not obeyed himself. Our Lord proved Himself to be the perfect King whose sovereignty is worthy of our respect and obedience. But, true to his purpose, Matthew had one more witness to call to prove the kingship of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

 

A Strong Anchor II

 

A Strong Anchor II

 

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Theme: God’s loving mercies never run out, and He offers us a fresh start and renewed strength daily. 

Relevance: A ‘leaving of the old situations behind’ is reason to hope again, even in the middle of our seriously painful experiences God’s compassions reach out to us still (Lam. 3:21–23). We all have been tempted to ‘bottle up’ our experiences… ‘bottle up’ our emotions…suppress or hide our true feelings instead of expressing or processing them with God’s eternal truth.

Introduction:

Continuing this thought we must now consider the key concept in these verses and then their implications in everyday experiences. Let's begin with our basis outlook and posture. 

Lesson:

Approach Life with This Conviction—that God is GOOD!

Beloved, this idea will demand your faith like nothing else will. Many people have walked away from ‘Christianity’ because they failed to value the truth that God is good! Use your faith to believe this communication from the Holy Spirit through the Word. We can start each morning with gratitude, leaving yesterday’s failures behind, and trusting God’s steady compassion during hard times. 

      1.    Start renewed each morning: Thank God every day for a clean slate. Do not let past mistakes or yesterday’s heavy stress ruin today. God’s mercy resets with every sunrise (Rom. 12:1-2). 

2. Release guilt and shame: Remember that God’s great love stops you from being overwhelmed by your flaws. When you feel unworthy, after your confession, accept His forgiveness instead of punishing yourself (1 Jn. 1:5-8). 
3. Be honest in tough times: Allow yourself to feel grief or pain, just as the prophet Jeremiah did in Lamentations. Bring your honest struggles and broken heart to God in prayer rather than hiding them, pretending it does not matter, or burying them under business and distractions.
4. Show mercy to others: Pass on the same love, compassion, patience, and kindness you receive from the Lord. Forgive people who wrong you, treating them better than they deserve because God does the same for you and me (Eph. 4:30-32). 
5. Build sturdy trust: Rely on God’s unchanging character when life feels unpredictable (2 Pet.1:19-21). Anchor your hope and confidence in His faithfulness rather than in changing human circumstances. 

Everything in us and everything around us will scream that God is NOT good. He permits suffering and pain…He allows wars, earthquakes, diseases, murder, death, sorrow, pain, devastation, and suffering! Why doesn’t He prevent this if He really is all powerful and good? Again, you must use your faith with great tenacity! People commonly place their own views ahead of God’s revelation to their own detriment. You must believe God instead of yourself or what you feel! Give yourself permission to trust what the Holy Spirit is saying from the Bible…God is Good!!! The awful circumstances of people reveal just how good God really is while forcing us to realize just how awful our sinfulness is.  

Incorporate this Truth into Your Prayers!

Prayer points based on Lamentations 3:22–23 focus on God's unfailing mercy, daily renewal, and steadfast love in times of trouble. 

          1.    Be Grateful for His Preservation

• Thank God that His steadfast love keeps you from being completely overwhelmed or consumed by your current trials.
• Declare that His grace sustains your life despite past mistakes or heavy burdens. 

     2. Receive His Fresh Mercy Each Day

• Ask God to wash away yesterday's guilt, failures, and anxieties with His brand-new morning mercies. Make the choice to confess and forsake any known sin.
• Pray for the mental and emotional capacity to let go of past regrets and embrace a clean slate today. 

     3. Trust in His Unfailing Compassion

• Pray against feelings of abandonment, reminding yourself that God's compassion does not run out or end.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort your heart when facing uncertain circumstances or deep pain. 

     4. Declare His Faithfulness Boldly

• Praise God for His unchanging character, noting that His faithfulness does not depend on your own strength.
• Communicate stability and peace to your family, work, and future, anchored in His reliable promises. 

Conclusion:

The prophet, pondering his bitter afflictions, realizes how they have humbled his soul. He knows that God remembers the humble and afflicted, and so he expresses hope. Verses 22-39 speak of the poet’s reassurance in Jehovah’s goodness and his resignation to His sovereign ways. 22-24. His compassions fail not. The loving-kindness (ḥesed, “steadfast love”) of Jehovah is unfailing. It is daily renewed (like the manna of old); hence his people are not consumed, and a remnant remains as a seed for a new beginning. Great is thy faithfulness (v. 23). “Jehovah is my dearest treasure,” declares my soul, “therefore I do hope in him” (v. 24).^[1]

We have an Anchor that keeps the soul focused and productive! God’s steadfast love and mercy (His goodness) are everlasting, thus providing us fresh hope and a clean slate every single morning even during occasions when we deserve the worse…when we are getting what we have really earned. While facing the devastation of divine chastening, and in times of deep misery, God’s faithfulness remains as our undiminishing hope. This ‘anchor’ guarantees heavenly support in Christ to cope with the burdens we observe and feel so deeply.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

--Priscilla Jane Owens (1829-1907) and William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

In the final analysis we must remember or reflect on the idea that God is good.

·        Psalm 100:5, For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

·        Psalm 106:1, Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

·        Psalm 145:9, The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

·        Nahum 1:7, The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

·        Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

This is your personal invitation to experience God directly! Encounter His life-giving ‘goodness’ by actively trusting this reality claim when life hurts the most rather than pridefully/blindly pushing through on your own power or merely mentally consenting to its accuracy.

---

^[1] Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), La 3:19.

A Strong Anchor I

 

A Strong Anchor I

 

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Theme: God’s loving mercies never run out, and He offers us a fresh start and renewed strength daily. 

Relevance: A ‘leaving of the old situations behind’ is reason to hope again, even in the middle of our seriously painful experiences God’s compassions reach out to us still (Lam. 3:21–23). We all have been tempted to ‘bottle up’ our experiences… ‘bottle up’ our emotions…suppress or hide our true feelings instead of expressing or processing them with God’s eternal truth.

Introduction:

Jeremiah, while mourning the incredible devastation of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army, describes his pain and misery. This season is marked by intense physical and emotional aching in his soul. However, right in the middle of total despair, Jeremiah pauses to remember God’s character is good! This never-changing dynamic provides an anchor of hope the prophet desperately needs.

Child of God, God’s steadfast love and mercy have no end, thus providing us fresh hope and a clean slate every single morning even during occasions when we are getting what we really deserve! Even while facing the devastation of divine chastening, and in times of deep misery, God provides us with undiminishing hope. This ‘anchor’ certainly does not remove the outcomes of our broken choices or those of our love ones, but we do have divine help to deal with the internal turmoil before us and the heavy accompanying emotions.

Lessons:

Accept These Concepts with All Your Heart!

God gives us several ideas to take in thoughtfully….

     1.    God’s Compassion Prevents Complete Annihilation! "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed..."

o   We know people fail and deserve punishment. God’s grace stops total destruction; He could have been even more severe, but He chose not to. People survive only because God holds back His judgment.

• God’s love prevents complete destruction. The phrase "we are not consumed" shows that despite our faults or heavy trials, God’s enduring love shields and preserves us. 

     2.   God’s Tender Care Remains for Ever! "...because his compassions fail not."

• With a prayer to God to remember his bitter plight, yet with lingering depression over his misery (vv. 19, 20), the prophet gets his eyes off himself and onto the Lord. Hope is revived when he remembers that the Lord’s mercies and compassions … are new every morning, and that His faithfulness is great (vv. 21–24).^[1]
• God’s tender care does not quit or run dry. His pity and love stay strong, unchanged, and undiminished forever. 
• Mercies are renewed daily. God’s compassion does not run out or grow tired; His grace is freshly waiting for you when you wake up each day. 

3. God Is Able to Provide Comfort Even When We Have Made Serious Mistakes. "They are new every morning..."

• However, one thought (this I call to mind) crowded out the hopelessness that threatened to overwhelm him: Because of the Lord‘s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. Judah was down, but not out. God was punishing Judah for her sin, but did not reject her as His covenant people. ^[2]
• God gives fresh grace for each new day regardless. Yesterday’s mistakes or heavy burdens do not use up today’s supply of mercy. He comforts us with the guarantee of a new start!
• We have Hope within sorrows. This passage proves that hope can survive the darkest tragedies because God’s character never changes—He is constantly good. 

4. God’s Faithfulness Affords Us Continual Comfort! "...great is thy faithfulness."

• “Faithfulness” points to God’s firmness, steadiness, steadfastness, and fidelity!
• Was Judah’s deliverance from such a fate due to something in them? No, it was all due to the faithfulness of God. He had promised Abraham that He would make a nation come from him—and this was the nation. He had promised Moses that He would put them into the land. He had promised Joshua that He would establish them there. He promised David that there would come One in his line to reign on the throne forever. The prophets all said that God would not utterly destroy this people but that He would judge them for their sin. God is faithful. He has judged them, but He will not utterly destroy them. A faithful remnant has always remained, and ultimately they will become a great nation again.^[3]
• God always keeps His promises. People can trust Him completely because His character never changes. 
• Truly faithfulness lays in God. Our security relies on God’s great faithfulness to His character and promises rather than our own strength or weakness.

We desperately need to embrace this view of God and never dismiss it ever again. God is faithfully compassionate and merciful! Life is hard, circumstances can be unforgiving, but He is our stability in any storm of life. The fault is never with God, but it is always enmeshed in our sinfulness and the hardness of the conditions we have aloud. Take this revelation of God to heart and allow it to be the way you evaluate life and not how you scrutinize God!

---

^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1032.

^[2] Charles H. Dyer, “Lamentations,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1217.

^[3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 431.

 

“The Foundation of Our Prayers”

Spiritual Leadership in the Church Series

1 Tim 2:5-7

 

THEME: churches are to conduct their services with order with prayer to God in Jesus Names as the first Priority.

INTRODUCTION:

Church prayers like private prayers are rooted in Christ and the privileges He affords each believer. Yes, our prayers have a glorious foundation in Jesus Christ. 

MESSAGE:

The Basis For Prayer (1 Tim.2:5–7).

            1.  The Perfect Mediator.

Many believers do not realize that prayer is based on the work of Jesus Christ as Savior and Mediator. 

a. There is one God.

1) God is one; therefore, He is the God of all men, and prayer should be addressed to Him in behalf of all men.

·       As the one God, He desires the salvation of all men. If He were one of many gods, He might be concerned only about His own worshipers.

2) There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:12).

Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

3) Hence there is the need to pray for the lost to come to know the one true God (Deut. 4:35,39; 6:4; Is. 43:10; 44:6; 45:5,6,21,22; 46:9; 1 Cor. 8:4,6). 

b. As The God-Man, Jesus Christ Is The Perfect Mediator Between The Holy God And His Failing Children.

1) Mediator refers to someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or ratify a covenant.

·       One Mediator between God and men. This being so, no man can come to God in any other way.

o   A mediator is a go-between, a middleman who can stand between two and communicate with both.

o   Through Christ, Himself Man, God is enabled to approach men with forgiveness of sins. Consequently any poor sinner can approach Him, and will by no means be rejected. 

·       Jesus Christ is the only “Mediator” who can restore peace between God and sinners. (see Heb. 9:11–15).

o   Hebrews 8:6, But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

o   Hebrews 9:15, And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

o   Hebrews 12:24, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

·       “Mediator is a concept derived from the ceremonial worship prescribed in the Old Testament. In the tabernacle and later in the temple, the priests meditated between God and the Israelites by offering animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people and by interceding to God for the nation. In their position as mediators, the priests were the only ones eligible to enter the Holy Place, the place where God had made His presence known.” ---(Nelson Study Bible)   

2) One of Job’s complaints had to do with the absence of a mediator who could take his message to the throne of God. “Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” (Job 9:33).

3) Since there is only one God, there is need for only one Mediator; and that Mediator is Jesus Christ. No other person can qualify. (1Tim. 2:5)

·       Christ Jesus is both God and man, and, therefore, can be the “umpire” between God and man. There is one God from whom salvation is available. There is only one way to Him, through the Mediator, Christ Jesus, who has the full nature of God and the full nature of man. Christ has identified with us; He understands us perfectly and represents us at the right hand of God the Father (see Rom. 8:34).

·       Paul identifies the Mediator as the Man, Christ Jesus. This does not deny the deity of the Lord Jesus. In order to be the Mediator between God and men, He must be both God and Man. The Lord Jesus is God from all eternity, but He became Man in Bethlehem’s manger. He represents the whole race of humanity. The fact that He is both God and Man is indicated in the name Christ Jesus. Christ describes Him as God’s anointed One, the Messiah. Jesus is the name given to Him in Incarnation.

4) “The verse effectively answers the teaching so common today that the blessed Virgin Mary or angels or saints are mediators between God and man. There is only one Mediator, and His name is Christ Jesus.

Verse 5 summarizes the messages of the OT and NT. One God was the message of the OT entrusted to Israel; one Mediator—the message of the NT entrusted to the church. As Israel failed in her responsibility by worshiping idols, so the professing church has failed in her responsibility by introducing other mediators—Mary, saints, clergy, etc.”     --- MacDonald, W.

c. In His Perfect Life And Substitutionary Death, He Met The Just Demands Of God’s Holy Law. (1Tim. 2:6)

1) He was the “ransom for all.” This is the work of the Mediator (v. 5) giving Himself a ransom for all.    (1Tim. 2:6)

·       The word ransom means “a price paid to free a slave.”

·       The ransom is a payment given instead of a slave or prisoner—that is, in substitution for him or her. The person holding the slave accepts the payment as a substitute.

·       According to Gal. 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. The law held us captive in its condemnation, and no one but Christ could pay the price to release us from this bondage.

o   Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

·       Christ substituted His life for ours. Our sins had separated us from God and held us in condemnation. Christ paid the penalty for our sins so that we could be reconciled to our Father and freed us from the prison of the Law.

2) His death was “for all” or “on behalf of all people.”

·       Though the death of Christ is efficient only for those who trust Him, it is sufficient for the sins of the whole world.

·       Jesus said that He came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). (see Mark 10:45)

·       This verse is one of many which teach that the death of Christ was substitutionary. He died in behalf of all. Whether all will accept it is another question, but the fact remains that the redemptive work of Christ was sufficient in value for all.

            2.  The Perfect Method.

Christ died for “all men,” and God is willing for “all men to be saved.” How does this Good News get out to a sinful world? (1Tim. 2:6)

a. God Calls And Ordains Messengers Who Take The Gospel To Lost Sinners.

1) To Be Testified In Due Time Means That The Testimony Concerning Christ’s Substitutionary Work Was To Be Borne In Its Own Time. (1Tim. 2:6)

·       The same God who desires the salvation of all men and provided the way of salvation for all men, has decreed that the gospel message should go out in this age in which we live.

·       All of this is designed to demonstrate the overwhelming longing on the part of God to save and bless mankind.

2) Paul Was One Of These Messenger! (1Tim. 2:6-7)

·       He Was A Preacher (The Herald Of The King).

o   As a final evidence of God’s desire for the salvation of all men, Paul states that he was “ordained” or appointed a preacher and an apostle to the Gentiles.

·       Then, as now, Gentiles constituted the greater portion of the population of the world.

·       It was not to one small segment of mankind, such as the Jews, that the apostle was sent, but rather to the Gentile nations.

o   Paul had been appointed a preacher (herald or messenger; see 2 Tim. 1:11).

·       A preacher is literally a proclaimer of the gospel.

·       He was to declare the gospel to the majority of the human race, not only to the Jews.

·       A herald was one who brought important news, much like our announcers at important events or like political ambassadors.

·       Thus, as Paul reminded the Ephesians, it can be seen that God desires everyone to be saved.

·       He was An Apostle (One Sent With A Special Commission). (1Tim. 2:7)

o   He speaks of himself as an apostle also.

·       The duties of an apostle may be somewhat broader—he not only preaches the gospel but plants churches, guides local churches in matters of order and discipline, and speaks with authority as one sent by the Lord Jesus Christ.

·       He operated with a sense of divine commission (1 Cor 15:7-11).

·       He was sent by God on a mission to establish Gospel ministries abroad.

o   Those who felt that the gospel was only for Jews in the Ephesian Church  were evidently being corrected.

·       This was a common problem, remember the case of Peter (Acts 10:9-43; Gal. 2:11-13).

·       Thus Paul cited his own commission as apostle . . . to the Gentiles as a clincher.

·       He was A Teacher. He was one who expounds the word of God in such a manner that it will be understood by the people. (1Tim. 2:7)

o   To give added emphasis to what he is saying, Paul confirms his claim to be a teacher of the Gentiles by the words “I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not.”

o   Teacher of the Gentiles describes the ministry to which Paul had been commissioned (see Acts 9:15; Rom. 11:13).

·       Faith refers to one’s initial salvation (justification);

·       Verity (truth) relates to the believer’s growth in salvation (sanctification).

·       Paul was called not only to preach the gospel to the Gentiles but also to guide their growth in the truth.

·       This is why he left Timothy at Ephesus. Timothy was to charge the Ephesians not to teach other doctrines, fables, or endless genealogies (1:4).

o   The words “in faith and verity” may describe the faithful and honest way in which the apostle carried out his teaching ministry, but more probably they describe the contents of his teaching. In other words, he taught the Gentiles in matters pertaining to faith and verity. (1Tim. 2:6)

o   Paul’s assurances of his truthfulness were stylistic devices designed to stress the importance of his point (Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 11:31; Gal. 1:20).

b. The same God who ordains the end (the salvation of the lost) also ordains the means to the end: prayer and preaching of the Word. This Good News ministry should still define us today. 

c. If the basis for prayer is the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on the cross, then prayer is a most important activity in a church.

·       Not to pray is to slight the cross! To pray only for ourselves is to deny the worldwide outreach of the cross. To ignore lost souls is to ignore the cross.

·       “All men” [people] is the key to this paragraph: We pray for “all” because Christ died for “all” and it is God’s will that “all” be saved. We must give ourselves to God to be a part of His worldwide program to reach people before it is too late.