The Spiritual Work Of The Church

THE SPIRITUAL WORK OF THE CHURCH (1 Tim 2:1-4)

Intro: For the most part, churches are busy places. There is much work that we are about most of the time. Much of what we do is visible…

· We build buildings.

· We place signs near the road proclaiming our existence.

· We hold evangelistic meetings.

· We have services 3 times a week.

These verses, however, deal with that part of our work that is spiritual in nature. We’ve gotten good at doing the physical, I fear that we have never learned to do the spiritual.

The terrible acts of terrorism in our country in recent years/months are a call for the churches to return to the spiritual work that God has called us to do.

Let's turn to these verses tonight for some must needed instructions for carrying out the spiritual work of the church.

I. V. 1-2a A SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENT

A. The Command - Paul uses the word "exhort". This word conveys the idea of encouragement, and the tense in which it is used lets us know that what follows is not a suggestion, but that it is, in fact, a command. The command is for God's people to be engaged in the work of prayer. Jer. 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. James 5:16--Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Matt. 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Matt. 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

B. The Challenge- Paul tells us that we are to pray "first of all" prayer! Let us determine that hear at Calvary Baptist, we will pray "first of all".

C. The Call - As Paul continues his call to prayer, he uses four words to describe the total scope of prayer. These four terms refer to the totality of prayer's reach and potential.

1. Supplications - This refers to prayers focused on special needs. The idea is that of bringing a deep and intense burden before the Lord. When we have needs in our own lives, and when we see needs in the lives of others, we are to be moved by these needs and we are to bring them to the throne of grace, Heb. 4:16.

2. Prayers - This word calls to mind those times we set aside to come into the Lord's presence to worship Him and just to spend time at His feet.. Public prayer is no substitute for personal, private worship!

3. Intercessions - This refers to bold praying on behalf of others. Jesus is our intercessor, 1 Tim. 2:5. He stands in the gap between un and the Father and boldly prays for us, Heb. 7:25. The main idea in these verse is that of making intercession for those who do not know the Lord. We are to stand in the gap for them, praying for God to convict them and save them by His grace!

4. Giving of Thanks - No prayer is complete until we spend some of that time thanking God. We should thank Him for those things that He is yet to do! As we pray, we are to pray in faith, believing that what we are asking God to do is already done, even though we can't see them at the present time. That is the very essence of faith, Heb. 11:1.

D. The Compass - This refers to the scope of our praying. Who are we to pray for? Paul makes it clear that we are to pray for "all men"!

II. V. 2b A SPIRITUAL REASON

A. It Leads To A Peaceful Life

B. It Leads To A Powerful Life - As we are allowed to live out our faith, we are given the opportunity to let our lights shine. This is God's will for His church, Matt. 5:13-16. Eph. 5:16.

III. V. 3-4 A SPIRITUAL RESULT

(Ill. When we do this, there will be results. Results that are worth the price of diligence and worth all the effort we can put into them.)

A. V. 3 The Savior Will Be Exalted -Paul's statement is clear: a life that is lived for God is a life that honors God. When prayer is given its proper place, when all men are prayed for, when peace reigns and when believers are living lives that point men to God, God is exalted.

B. V. 4 The Sinner Will Be Evangelized -when we live as we should, we become partners with God in the salvation of lost sinners. God desires all men to be saved, 2 Pet. 3:9--The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. After all, that is why He sent Jesus to die, Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..

· God has already taken the initiative. He sent His Son to provide a means of salvation for whosoever will believe.

· He sent His Holy Spirit to bring conviction to the hearts of the lost, John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

· He gives His light to all men who come into the world, John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.. Therefore, let us do that which we have been called to do: pray, walk with God, share the message. God will honor that and souls will be saved!

Conc: These are terrible times! There are forces arrayed in our day that are powerful and frightening. In fact, our nation stands this evening on the brink of war. If there was ever a time when the church needed to be about the real, spiritual business of the Lord it is now. There is much we can do as a church, but nothing is more important or more essential than our doing the spiritual work God has assigned to us. Do you need to get busy doing the spiritual work of the Lord?