1 Timothy 2:7-8 "For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."
Introduction and Review:
For the past couple of days we have been interested in understanding and applying the idea of "God-empowered living". Our main point of application in this series of posts has been: God-empowered living, built upon prayer, is the primary call of the Christian. We noticed how such a life is God calling the Christian to specifically desire to:
1). Please God
2). Powerful Testimony
3). Personally Focus on Jesus Christ
Today we will conclude this blog series by considering one more area to which God-empowered living is called, namely...
Profound church-life. 1 Timothy 2:7
We have seen what happens when the power of God is unleashed through plugging into His power through prayer. God's power at work through prayer can lead to a more powerful and effective Christian life, witness and focus on Jesus Christ. What happens when individual believers come together in the setting of the local church. What occurs when a local church body is composed of believers who understand their call to live as God-empowered people for God?
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:7-8 "For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."
In our churches, when prayer is made the priority, much like the individual Christian life, a red-carpet of invitation is opened up to God to come and do as he pleases in the church's ministries. As the Holy Spirit begins to ignite the hearts of certain people to intercede, much like the windows in Noah's Ark, light and fresh air begin to infiltrate the vessel we call the church. What happens when it's not just the preacher or even the Deacons calling people to pray and seek God, but the move becomes an entire body activity? The whole body of Christ becomes as one man - answering the call to God-empowered living that will want to please God, have powerful testimonies, personally focus on Jesus Christ and thus have a profound church life.
Paul's mention of his calling and preaching to the exhortation to pray in 2:8 suggests firstly that plugging into God's power through prayer will yield power in the pulpit. The apostolic authority that comes through the scriptures will be refreshed and renewed and thus the church will once again be rekindled in its focus on the Word. The fact that Paul mentions teaching reminds us of the importance of the teaching ministries of the church such as Sunday School and Small groups. Then finally, when we plug into God's power through prayer, the people of God will be illuminated to a greater understanding of life-application.
Too often our feet hit the ground running without any thought of prayer. The true work of the local church are not so much the works themselves, rather the work of the local church is the work of God at work. How else can God work freely and unhindered in our churches lest He be invited to do so through the church body as a whole seeking Him in prayer.
Closing thoughts:
These past few posts have attempted to flesh out further what we see in 1 Timothy 2:1-8 regarding God-empowered living. We noted in our main point of application: God-empowered living, built upon prayer, is the primary call of the Christian. We noticed how such a life is God calling the Christian to specifically:
1). Please God
2). Powerful Testimony
3). Personally Focus on Jesus Christ
4). Profound Church-life
May God use these posts for His glory!
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