26% are children (living in poverty)

37% may go hungry tonight

known unemployment is 19.8%

1 out of every 18 girls (ages 15-19) will become a teenage mother

over 1,000 children will be murdered this year

81% are unchurched and live without Jesus

these figures are conservative…

Zambia?

Chad?

Suriname?

Merced

Merced is a broken city.  Broken people.  Broken homes.  Broken families.  Broken down people - struggling - wounded - angry - bitter - hopeless - who’ve turned to a number of different ways of trying to cope with their brokenness.  There are broken down people right here in the church.

Jesus is the only One who can heal that brokenness.  Which is where we fit into this city.  The bottom line of why we’re here - the mission of the Church is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world - into the place were we live life.

Together we’ve been looking at Paul’s first letter to Timothy - Timothy who is pastoring the church of Ephesus.  Ephesus which was a city broken in many of the same ways Merced is broken.  A city where people needed Jesus.  

As Paul deeply cares for Timothy and the believers in Ephesus - and the not-yet-believers in Ephesus - Paul is writing this letter to Timothy and the church - to focus them on what’s essential to be focused on if they’re going to be effective as the church that God will use in Ephesus.  The essentials of the Church that we need to give our lives to if we’re going to be the congregation that God intends for us to be here in Merced .

In past Sundays we’ve looked at the essential of love and the essential of faith.  This morning we’re coming to The Essential of Godly Men.  Let’s say that together, “The essential of Godly men.”  Please turn with me to 1 Timothy 2 - starting at verse 1. 

One of the great desires that we men share is the desire for our lives to have significance - for our lives to count for something.  And perhaps - as we’re chugging along through life - working away at the stuff of life - perhaps to gain some respect for what we’re accomplishing.  To know that what we’ve done has counted for something of significance.

The reality is that without God - the best we can do is go along confronted with our own inadequacy - asking ourselves, “What is the purpose of this?  What does my life really count for?”  With God we become the men - the husbands - the fathers - that God has called us to be - has created us to be - making a real difference in our families - the congregation - our community - our nation.  

What we’re coming to today - in what Paul writes to Timothy - is how we as men can be used by God to make a real difference.  How our lives can count for what’s really worth counting for.

1 Timothy 2:1:  First of all, then - which is like a therefore - after having written about the essentials of love and faith - First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Let’s pause there.  Paul begins with The Priority of Prayer.  Let’s say that together, “The priority of prayer.” 

“First” is the Greek word “proton” which is where we get the English word, “Proton.”  Protons, neutrons, electrons are the elementary particles that make up the nucleus of an atom.  First of all - this is foundational - its elementary - its at the core of everything else - before we move on to step two - step one is prayer.

Paul writes, “I urge you.  I beg you.  I implore you.  As your brother in Christ - from the core of what moves me - at the core of what moves you - give yourself to this.  Pray.” 

Paul give four examples of what that prayer can focus on.

“Entreaties” are prayers for specific needs.  “God, we need money to pay the bills this month.”

“Prayers” are  requests for needs that we always have.  “God, help me to be the man you’ve created me to be.”

“Petitions” which are requests on behalf of others.  “God, please help Frank to get a job.”

Fourth, “Thanksgivings” - a reminder that God listens to our prayers - that He answers our prayers and we need to thank Him.  “God, thank you for taking care of us.”

Then Paul says that the object of our prayers are all men - in general - the people around us that we rub shoulders with every day - at work - school - family - people in the community.  Specifically - Paul urges us to pray for those in authority over us - public officials.  Democrats ought to pray for Republicans.  Republicans ought to pray for Democrats.

Many years ago a chaplain of the Senate was asked by a visitor, “Do you pray for the senators?”  He replied, “No, I look at the senators, and then I pray for the country!” (1) 

We pray so that we can live a “quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  We pray so that we can lead lives that are unmarred by political and social disturbance - that are unmarred by inward - inside us - emotional and mental disturbances.  Lives that are characterized by righteousness and moral excellence.

Going on - verse 3:  This is good - all this praying and living a peaceful Godly life - is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Point being that all this quietness and godliness and dignity isn’t about expanding our comfort zone.  The entreaties - prayers - petitions - and thanksgiving - isn’t about what benefits us.  The priority of prayer is about expanding opportunities to share the Gospel.  The mission of the church - to bring the Gospel into the brokenness of Merced and beyond.

Verse 5:  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, 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) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

There’s only one Savior who died on the cross for each one of us.  Only through Jesus can our sins be forgiven and our relationship with God be restored.  Only Jesus can heal our brokenness.  How essential is the Gospel?  How crucial?  Absolutely.

How essential is prayer?  How crucial is prayer - pleading - for God given opportunity to share the Gospel with those around us?  That engages us in what is really significant in life?

Paul begins with the priority of prayer.  Then - coming to verse 8 - Paul focuses us on The Heart of Prayer.  Let’s say that together, “The heart of prayer.”

Verse 8:  Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Therefore - because of the priority of prayer - because prayer is essential to the purpose of the church - to proclaiming the Gospel - to transforming broken families and communities -  Paul writes, “I want - is a Greek word “boulomai” that has passion behind it - I desire - I will with every fiber of being - that men will pray.”
 

We men are very linear in our thinking - going from point A to point B.   Maybe you’ve noticed that?  Women will stop and ask for directions.  Men assume maps have never been invented.  Its an insult to our manhood that someone should question our ability to get where we’re going.  Men conquer things.  Life is a challenge.  We must be victorious. 

Its hard for us as men to admit that we can’t always make it from point A to point B.  That we struggle with issues in our lives.   That we have these feelings of inadequacy.  For us as men to take leadership in prayer is a level - a degree - of  intimacy - of a touchy feely - hanging ourselves out there vulnerability - that most of us - as men - are not comfortable with. 

And yet, prayer is a priority that we must engage ourselves in.  Its not an option.  Its an essential.  Godly men pray.

There are two things here in what Paul writes that should give us some encouragement.  First - in verses 1 and 2 - where Paul is giving us examples of  what our prayer can focus on - Paul touches where we live our lives.

All the hassles we went through this week.  Our employment - sickness - loneliness - inadequacy - what’s going on in our families.  Even the struggles we went through to get here this morning.  In prayer we recognize God and His world.  Who we are.  Who He is.  How greatly He loves us - cares for us - meets our needs - even gives us the ability to pray.

Whatever the deep issues in our lives ultimately God is the only one we’re accountable to for those issues.  And, God will never reject us or laugh at us or humiliate us or look down on us when we come to Him in prayer.  That should encourage us.

Second - what Paul shares in verses 4 to 7 about God’s desire for all men to come to salvation - prayer puts us on the same page with God.  What God desires to do in us and through us.  What God has created us for.  In prayer our lives become about God - His great purposes - His movement through history and what’s happening around us.  In prayer we begin to focus on God’s power and purpose in our lives - not our inadequacies.

Prayer really is point A to point B thinking.  Prayer gets us focused on - in the midst of the stuff of life - prayer focuses us on the basic - this is what you need to be focused on - this is what leads to success in life - the linear reality of what God is about doing in the world and what He can and will do in us and through us.

Touchy feely - maybe.  Vulnerable - probably.  But, at some point we need to get past ourselves and engage in what is essential for a Godly man.

Paul writes - “I passionately will with every fiber of my being for the men to engage in prayer.”

Here’s how.  First:  “in every place.”  Every place a Godly man finds himself - work - home - church - school - restaurants - even watching football - in whatever situation or circumstance - when its popular or when its ridiculed - in public or in private - out loud or silent - continually - boldly - courageously.  Godly men pray.  Prayer is an essential part of a Godly man’s life.       

Second - Godly men pray “lifting up holy hands.”

Its good that we’re getting a freer around here about lifting up hands while we’re singing.    There are a number of examples in Scripture where people are in all kinds of body positions while they’re worshipping God - standing - bowing - kneeling - lying flat on the ground - raising hands.  Its like almost Biblical or something. 

What’s happening outwardly should demonstrate what’s going on inwardly - what’s going on at the core of who we are.  There’s a relationship between the inner and the outer.  Hands lifted up - spread open - shows a heart attitude of openness - of dependence - on God - a humble expectation of receiving something from Him.

“Holy” means that our hearts are pure.  There’s no sin.  Nothing we’re holding on to that holds us back from God.

Paul writes about wrath and dissention - sin that was going on in the Ephesian church.  Unresolved conflict - unresolved anger - animosity that the men were hanging on to.  Dissension - thoughts about how to get even because of what someone had done to someone else.

We could add our own sins.  What we look at.  What we listen to.  What we involve ourselves with.  What comes out of our mouths.  The attitudes and actions towards others that we know are sin.  We know were damaging our relationship with God.  That were hindering our prayers.  That our sin effects our effectiveness for God.  That sin keeps us from living in the fullness of who God has created us to be.

Holy hands lifted up reminds us that - coming before God in prayer - our hearts need to be free of sin.  Confession needs to be made.  Our lives need to be surrendered.

Are we grabbing what Paul is getting at here?  Prayer for the Godly man is a priority.  We must be in prayer - whenever and wherever we are - and in whatever circumstance.  That’s what a Godly man does.  To be ready to pray means learning to live with hearts pure and open before God.  That’s what a Godly man is.  Godly men are essential if the church is fulfill our mission in places like Merced and beyond.

I’d like to have us go further with this.  To do that I’d like to share part of a sermon that’s been shared by David Wilkerson.  You all know who David Wilkerson is?

David Wilkerson is the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City.  In 1958 he was called to New York to minister to gang members and drug addicts.  How many of you have heard of “The Cross and the Switchblade”?  Same David Wilkerson.  Since 1999, he’s been traveling around the world holding conferences for Christian ministers.

What I’d like to share with you is about 6 minutes of his sermon “A Call To Anguish.”

It would be so easy for us to think to ourselves, “Man that was a pretty good sermon on prayer.  I guess I need to pray more.”  And to totally miss the implications of what Paul is getting at.  The issue of prayer is really about the issue of our hearts - what touches us at the core of who we are and moves us to prayer - moves us to respond to what we see going on around us - even within us - to respond as men of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI

“Anguish means extreme pain and distress.  The emotions so stirred that it becomes painful.  Acute deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you.”

Nehemiah - living in exile in Babylon - when he hears of the ruin of Jerusalem - the leveling of the city and the devastation of his people - Nehemiah is brought to his knees.  He weeps and mourns and fasts day and night.  He comes before God in anguish - in prayer.  Nehemiah cries from the heart, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God... we have sinned against You.”  (Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Isaiah - brought into the presence of the holy sovereign God - Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of host.”  (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Daniel - in sackcloth and ashes - in prayer before God - confesses the sin of his people - their wickedness - their rebellion against God - the shame of their sin.  Daniel prays, “We have sinned.  O Lord, hear!  O Lord, forgive!”  (Daniel 9:1-19)

The brokenness of our community breaks the heart of God.  That burden - that passion - that anguish should drive us to prayer - sinners crying out to God for His grace and mercy and forgiveness and healing.  Is your heart in anguish?  Do you bear that kind of burden?

For over two years now we’ve been meeting on the first Thursday of each month - 6:30 to 7:30 - or so - in the evening - in the Quiet Room - 2 years and 4 months consistently meeting for prayer.  With a few exceptions - not many - those times of prayer have been attended by 3 or 4 women and the pastor.

I don’t know what else is going on in your world on a Thursday night.  Its not my place to make accusations or to criticize.  Because you all know what you all have to do.  But, where are the men?  If not one hour one Thursday a month - where are the men who are gathering and calling the congregation to prayer?

It was so great today to have 5 men gathered for prayer before the service.

Men - prayer is a huge opportunity for us to take leadership in what will make a significant impact in this congregation.  A huge opportunity to lead this congregation closer to the heart of God.  A huge opportunity to lead this congregation in God’s mission of bringing the Gospel to the brokenness of Merced.

One last challenge for us.

Have you ever heard someone say, “If it wasn’t for the prayers of my mother I wouldn’t be here.”  Have you heard someone share memories of their mothers - Bibles open - each day - without fail - reading Scripture and praying.  Rarely - really rarely - do we hear someone say they were following the example of their father in prayer.

As fathers we too easily abdicate this tremendous opportunity God has given to us to influence our children.  Husbands - so many wives crave that their husbands would take spiritual leadership in the home.  God has given men that opportunity.  If we anguish for our kids - for our marriages - we men need to lead in prayer.

A family that prays together - what?  Stays together.  We men need to lead that prayer.

Paul writes, “First of all I want the men to pray.”  It is essential that men assume the position of leadership that God has called us to - in love for our wives and families and those who need to hear the Gospel.

Which really is the essential core of being a Godly man - a heart open - surrendered to God - and an eagerness for the things of God.  When men pray they grow in Godliness.  When Godly men pray God uses them to make a significant lasting difference in the lives of others.

_________________________

1. J. Vernon McGee, Through The Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pg. 436

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.