Gospel Exalting Priorities for Men and Women

I want to encourage you to open your Bibles, please, to 1 Timothy chapter 2.

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

! 1 Timothy chapter 2.

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

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.

1 Timothy 1:1

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.

2 Timothy 2:1–2

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.

2 Corinthians 10 · chapter mention

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.

1 Peter 4:7

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,

Romans 13 · chapter mention

but I also draw that

from 1 Peter chapter 2,

1 Peter 2:13

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,

Romans 1 · chapter mention

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,

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

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

Romans 1:28–32

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.

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

Ephesians 4:1–3

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

Romans 8 · chapter mention

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

Ephesians 4:29

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

Luke 8 · chapter mention

Christ on his various ministry journeys.

In Luke chapter 9 we find that it was Mary who sat

Luke 9 · chapter mention

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.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

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.

Romans 16:3–16

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.