Lesson 3
The Foundation of Our Faith-The Books of I & II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Establishing Priorities
June 15, 2003

Focus Thought
In a fast-paced, modern world, many things clamor for our attention. We must
do our best to keep the main thing the main thing.

Scripture Reference
Psalm 63:1
Romans 1:21
Galatians 6:2
Philippians 4:6
II Timothy 3:2
James 1:17

Expositional Passage
I Timothy 2:1-10
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in
Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or
costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Focus Verse
I Timothy 2:1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

LESSON OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. FIRST PRIORITY-PRAYER
 A. Prayer by All Means
 B. All Kinds of Prayer
 C. Prayer for All People
II. PRIORITIES FOR ALL
 A. Salvation
 B. Knowledge of the Truth
 C. Knowledge of God
III. A PRIORITY FOR WOMEN
 A. Modest Apparel
 B. A Woman's Choices
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
      Life is full! In a culture that has invested billions of dollars in
research and development of "time-saving" devices, the average person has
less free time than ever before. For most of us in the human race, life has
become just that-a race to accomplish all we can between the morning alarm
and the evening's retirement. One's days seem to be a mad collection of
assignments, tasks, and "to do's" that fill each waking moment with the
nagging suspicion that in our haste we may overlook some necessary items.
Too often we allow that which is urgent to crowd out that which is vital.
      As Christians, our greatest underlying motive should be to please our
Savior. We want our lives to reflect the values of Christ. Our day-to-day
existence should reflect the things that the Lord values and goals that He
deems worthy of our efforts. So, occasionally the wise man carefully
examines his priorities. He examines them in light of Scripture. He is
cautious that the culture in which he lives does not subtly influence him
and cause him to lose proper focus. One excellent passage of the Word of God
through which to filter one's life for this purpose is I Timothy 2.
      In today's lesson we will examine this passage to glean some
priorities all Christians are called to have, some that all mankind should
have, and some that godly, Christian women should possess. In so doing we
will have the privilege to measure our lives against the unchanging standard
of God's Word to discover areas that call for our attention and correction.
That, in and of itself, is a worthy priority.

I. FIRST PRIORITY-PRAYER
      The words of Scripture are divinely ordered and are not random in
their placement within a given passage. Clearly, such is the case with the
verses of Scripture under consideration in today's lesson. Paul the apostle
left no question as to the Lord's highest priority for us from the very
first verse. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I
Timothy 2:1).
      If one ponders what the Lord would put at the top of our daily "to do"
list, the answer is clear. It is prayer! Paul exhorted all those who are
followers of Christ to pray. The Greek word that he used was parakaleo,
which is stronger than just asking. It means, "invoke," "beseech," or "call
for." The clarion call from the Spirit is the same now-a beseeching plea
that believers establish prayer as their highest priority.

A. Prayer by All Means
      The preeminence of prayer in a believer's life is seen by the words
"first of all" in verse 1. Paul recognized that life is full of many
demands. Making a living, raising a family, caring for a home, and simply
functioning in society involve a huge commitment of time, energy, and
resources. The worthy nature of all of these activities can easily crowd out
the more vital pursuits to which the Spirit calls us. In order to ensure a
right application of our time, Paul calls us to actively and purposefully
place prayer "first of all" in our lives.
      Prayer should be a major item in our agenda that we must put into our
schedule first. Indeed, it should be first in at least two ways.
      1. First in Importance. Prayer should be our first priority. Only when
prayer is our first priority will we find time to pray, a place to pray, and
the words to pray. Excuses for not praying melt away before a fervent
affection for prayer, but it begins with the proper attitude toward prayer.
      Prayer is not just an obligation; it is an opportunity. The proper
perspective should not be that we have to pray but that we get to pray. It
is amazing and miraculous that the sovereign King of kings would listen to
the words of a mortal. The same One who keeps the stars in place and the
planets in orbit hears every whispered, lonely prayer of a widow. He is
moved by every cry of the parents of a sick child. He responds when the
vilest of sinners awkwardly expresses his contrition. To have such an
audience with God, we must make prayer first in importance to us.
      2. First in Order and Action. A right attitude toward prayer causes us
to place it first in our lives. Too often prayer comes as a reaction to
circumstances in our lives or as a "last resort" on which we depend after
other efforts fail, but that is not God's will. Instead, the Lord calls us
to place it first in our lives.
      We should pray for direction before we make decisions. We should pray
for protection before we begin trips. We should pray for health and
financial provision before crises of sickness or finance arise. One might
wonder how many dilemmas we could avoid if we took adequate time to place
prayer first in our lives and allowed God to work miracles of which we might
even remain unaware. The psalmist's words echo with truth: "Early will I
seek thee" (Psalm 63:1).
      When properly viewed and valued, we will include prayer in our daily
lives. We will place it ahead of other lesser desires, even at the expense
of physical comfort. While the specific time for prayer may vary from person
to person, each sincere person will place prayer first in the actions that
comprise his or her day.

B. All Kinds of Prayer
      In I Timothy 2:1, Paul dealt both with the priority of prayer and also
with the content of prayers. Prayer is a mosaic made up of many facets.
While this verse is not exhaustive, it does list four specific aspects that
each person's prayer life should include.
      1. Supplications. The first element of prayer mentioned is
supplications. This is perhaps the most common and first learned aspect of
speaking to God, which encompasses our requests and desires of Him. It is
true that God desires to be more to us than only the recipient of our daily
"wish list," but it also is true that He wants us to bring to Him all our
needs. Indeed, Paul instructed the Christians at Philippi to let their
"requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). In the same fashion
that a father wants to know when his children genuinely need something, so
also does our heavenly Father.
      2. Prayers. While in English the word "prayer" seems to be a generic
reference to prayer, the Greek word translated here, proseucheô, signifies
something more. It carries with it strong emphasis on worship. A portion of
our prayer should acknowledge and appropriately honor God. This refers less
to exuberant praise than it does to humbly bowing before Him. This is the
portion of our prayer in which we ask what we can do for Him rather than
asking Him to do things for us. Either facet without the other is unbalanced
and leads to ineffective praying.
      3. Intercessions. Intercession is that portion of our prayer when the
Holy Ghost uses us to make a difference for others. Intercession has been
likened to standing between someone and hurtful circumstances and allowing
our prayers to positively affect the outcome. It is difficult and often
draining work to take upon oneself the agony of another and to pray for him
with all the fervency the believer would for himself. But God has called us
to carry this type of burden.
      4. Giving of Thanks. Lastly, we are called to give thanks. A lack of
gratitude in a person is a wicked attribute. (See Romans 1:21; II Timothy
3:2.) If any born-again person will only pause to notice the blessings that
have been lavishly showered on him, he will find sufficient cause to spend
time offering prayers of gratitude.
      "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning" (James 1:17).

C. Prayer for All People
      The final aspect of the instructions regarding prayer in this verse
involve the admonition that prayer is to be made "for all men" (I Timothy
2:1). In the same manner that God has graciously given salvation to us
without consideration for our worthiness to receive it, so also are
believers called to pray for people of all kinds without prejudice.
      Certainly we are to pray for other believers. The mutual support and
concern on which the family of God is built remains one of the great
blessings of belonging to the body of Christ. The Scriptures call us to
"bear ye one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2).
      We also are to pray for sinners. The church's primary mission is to
carry on the work of Christ in seeking the lost. Prayer is vital to that
effort, for without it our compassion would quickly wane in the face of
conduct so contrary to the ways of our Lord. When we take on ourselves the
burden of prayer for a lost neighbor, loved one, or co-worker we are taking
the first step toward fulfilling the mission given to us by Jesus Christ.
      Lastly, we are called specifically in this passage to pray for
governmental leaders: "For kings, and for all that are in authority" (I
Timothy 2:2). This is perhaps less difficult to do today than it was for
Timothy and those with whom he shared this letter. Those of us who enjoy
many political freedoms often take them for granted. It is difficult for us
to imagine the consternation this commandment to pray for those in authority
would have had in a society under Roman oppression.
      The writing of Paul in I Timothy closely corresponds with the
persecution of the church by Emperor Nero in a.d. 65. In the face of cruelty
and unjust oppression, Paul told the church that their proper response was
to pray for Nero-not that God would punish him, but that God would save him!
This would lead to the church having the freedom to "lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (I Timothy 2:2).
      Certainly the same is true for us today. Our governmental leaders need
our prayers. Many decisions and actions by those in authority might
frustrate and even infuriate us, but we are to pray for their salvation.
Long after every kingdom on earth has fallen, the soul of each leader will
remain. Righteousness exalts a nation, and revival among national leaders
enhances righteousness. In spite of any personal political leanings, we
should remember that praying for our leaders is "good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Saviour" (I Timothy 2:3).

II. PRIORITIES FOR ALL
      Our society accentuates differences. Polls are taken, surveys
conducted, and statistics analyzed in order to demographically class us by
income, race, education, political party, religion, philosophical bent, and
a host of other criteria. In reality, all of mankind has some fundamental
similarities that are not affected by background, nationality, or age. There
remain some priorities that apply not only to the church but also to every
living person.

A. Salvation
      The first priority that every person should have is the salvation of
his own soul. Nothing eclipses this for importance! The Lord certainly
desires us to recognize this fact, for God desires for all mankind to be
saved (I Timothy 2:4). Every other pursuit one might follow can be rendered
totally unimportant by the screeching sound of tires heading toward him. The
muted words "I'm sorry" coming across a physician's desk usually cause even
the most hardened sinner to focus on the one true priority we all share. The
songwriter well penned the words, "For above all else, I must be saved!"
      More Important Than Treasure. In the materialistic age in which we
live, the almighty dollar has become the focal point of far too many people.
Books like The Millionaire Next Door have fostered a mindset that the
accumulation of wealth is the primary mark of success in life. This
philosophy stands in stark contrast to the words of our Lord in Mark 8:36:
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?" Those who invest every possible hour into amassing material
goods fail to realize the truth that "where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). It is almost insulting to the Lord to
compare the eternal riches of salvation with temporal riches of this life.
      More Important Than Pleasure. Another clamoring lure of our age is
self-gratifying pleasure. This is true both of activities that are
transgressions against God and also those that are merely diversions.
Whether a given interest is overtly sinful or not, all too often it caters
more to the flesh than to the spirit. We would do well to realize that the
experience of New Testament salvation remains the most pleasurable moment of
a life. Nothing that man has ever created can compare to the joy of a moment
spent in God's presence!
      More Important Than Life. It is unfortunate that only toward the close
of a person's days can he really come to grasp the significance of the wise
words of James: "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). In youth, it is
difficult to realize how brief seventy years can be. It seems to stretch
before us like an endless road. However, time reveals that the miles are
quickly traveled, and the destination draws close with amazing speed.
Consequently, the decisions that each person makes regarding his eternal
salvation are far more important than anything pertaining to this life.
Salvation is the fundamental priority for all mankind.

B. Knowledge of the Truth
      In many ways, it is impossible to separate knowledge of the truth from
salvation, for the two are inexorably linked. However, the apostle Paul also
listed this attribute as one of the Lord's desires for us (I Timothy 2:4).
Perhaps the intended emphasis is that of all the knowledge man might
accumulate, no line of knowledge surpasses this knowledge. In other words,
knowledge of the truth should be another top priority for all people.
      It has been said that man's knowledge has increased more in the last
fifty years than in all the rest of recorded history combined. The
relatively recent startling advances in technology would render the world
unrecognizable to those who passed away only a generation ago. Yet the
inhabitants of earth have only proven the veracity of Scripture that
describes them as "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth" (II Timothy 3:7). Knowledge of the truth does not come
accidentally to individuals. Rather, gaining this most precious wisdom can
only happen through a sovereign work of the Spirit.
      This knowledge is too lofty for man to attain on his own; it comes by
the illumination of the Holy Spirit: "But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Corinthians 2:14).
God alone can provide the enlightenment needed to make spiritual truth
comprehensible to a person. He, however, will do this only in response to a
right attitude and proper attention by the person involved. A. W. Tozar once
said, "God has nothing to say to frivolous man." Indeed, the Lord is moved
when our humble attitude and hungry actions declare to Him our intense
desire to ascend to the highest knowledge man can attain-the knowledge of
the truth!

C. Knowledge of God
      Immediately after expressing God's desire that men would know truth,
Paul expressed one of the foundational truths that every man should
understand-the knowledge of who God is and the singular nature of His
person.
      "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5).
      Throughout the centuries, the devil has done all he can to introduce
confusion in the simplest of concepts-that God is one. "Hear, O Israel: The
Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This cornerstone of true
Christianity is essential to attaining knowledge of God.
      Further, anyone who would know God must realize and comprehend the
role of the man Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and men. The
dictionary defines a mediator as "one who negotiates between contending
parties with a goal of reconciliation." That was what Jesus did! In His
deity He brought God to man, and in His humanity He brought man to God. The
man Christ Jesus stepped between the righteous judgment of a holy God and
the accumulated sins of lost humanity to reconcile the world unto Himself.
(See II Corinthians 5:19.) This act was accomplished by His becoming the
substitute for our sins at Calvary. "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to
be testified in due time" (I Timothy 2:6).
      The revelation of this truth was the cornerstone of Paul's ministry:
"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in
Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity" (I
Timothy 2:7). He claimed God had called him to declare and give testimony to
this truth. No fancy "sermonizing" could take the place of just preaching
and teaching the knowledge of God in a straightforward fashion. His ministry
bore this approach. (See I Corinthians 1:23; 2:2.) Sharing with others the
revelatory knowledge he gained on the Damascus road continued to be Paul's
primary focus. Moreover, the knowledge of God's identity still is the
highest knowledge a person can gain in this life.
      "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in
his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth
and knoweth me, that I am the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
      Finally, there was something about really knowing God in the fullness
of His identity that enabled a person to truly worship God in holiness.
Perhaps that has to do with the fact that holiness is an attribute of God
and that any resemblance of holiness we may have emanates from Him. Paul
brought his thoughts on prayer and the knowledge of God together in verse
eight as he wrote of prayer and "lifting up holy hands."
      "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting" (I Timothy 2:8).

III. A PRIORITY FOR WOMEN
      The balance of Paul's remarks in I Timothy 2 deals specifically with
some priorities that he applied to ladies. However, we should recognize that
the fundamental principles to which Paul appealed apply also to men.
      The Lord's purpose in anointing Paul to write these words had nothing
to do with encumbering women unjustly with needless rules and regulations.
Rather, God was pointing out their select position as primary mirrors of His
holiness to this world. All Christians are to be holy because God is holy.
However, it is apparent from this passage that the sanctified ladies are to
be a focal point of displaying the work of the Holy Ghost in our lives. (See
I Timothy 2:8-9.) What an honored position to fill!

A. Modest Apparel
      The first priority for a Christian lady's conduct listed here is that
she be modestly adorned: "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety" (I Timothy 2:9). David
Bernard, in his book In Search of Holiness, defines the word modest as
"decent or chaste, especially in outward dress and deportment." God wants
His character lived out in the lives of godly ladies to manifest to the
world a sincere desire to be decent. A modestly dressed lady stands in stark
contrast to the spirit of this age and testifies by her "uniform" to her
allegiance to the army to which she belongs and to its commander.
      When speaking of modest dress, there are at least two applicable
aspects to consider. First, our dress should properly cover our bodies. With
the fall in the garden, Adam and Eve lost the covering of the glory of God
and had need for the first time to have clothing to cover their nakedness.
This has been God's plan ever since. The devil has fought against this truth
throughout time as evidenced in many ways. For example, the demoniac in
Gadara was unclothed when under the grip of hell, but once he was delivered
by the Lord, he was clothed at the feet of Jesus. (See Luke 8:26-35.) In
order to display a right message of the purity found in Christ, the
sincere-hearted, born-again lady desires to be covered properly. Moreover,
she should dress in feminine attire that distinguishes her in today's wicked
culture.
      Secondly, dress should be modest in terms of not being motivated by
vanity. Paul used two words to accentuate this point. Shamefacedness means
"reverence, self-restraint, modesty, and bashfulness." Sobriety means
"discretion, temperance, and self-control." It is not the will of God for
His people to look shabby or ugly, but neither is it His will for us to find
our beauty or identity in what we put on. Our beauty comes from another
source: "He will beautify the meek with salvation" (Psalm 149:4). "O worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 96:9). "Praise is comely for the
upright" (Psalm 33:1).
      The beauty of a Christian lady is not in ostentatious display of
wealth or in the latest styles. It is instead in a meek and quiet spirit
that manifests the Lord's work of salvation and holiness in her life.
      "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the
hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the
hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (I
Peter 3:3-4).

B. A Woman's Choices
      All of life is about making right choices. This is true for the
priorities that a lady sets in her life. If she desires to serve the Lord
and please Him, she will make proper choices. If instead she wants to live
first unto herself, she will make different choices. However, the blessings
of God follow in direct proportion to our willingness and wisdom to make
right decisions.
      Things to Avoid. Paul specifically addressed some items that do not
reflect well on a Christian lady's Savior and thus she should avoid them.
"Not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array" (I Timothy
2:9).
      "Let your moderation be known unto all men" (Philippians 4:5).
      The vain display of wealth in our appearance does not speak well of
the stewardship to which God has called us. It demonstrates pride, which the
Lord hates!
The "broided hair" referenced in I Timothy 2:9 (or "plaited hair" in I Peter
3:3) referred to the cultural practice of that day of creating outlandish
hair styles that included the weaving of golden thread and pearls into the h
air. Such overt calls for attention are not in keeping with the meek and
humble Spirit of our Savior, which should be manifest in us all.
      Things to Acquire. In the same measure that godly women avoid certain
activities, items of apparel or adornment, and attitudes that do not please
Christ, she also seeks to add to her life those things that please Him.
      The godly woman is called to add good works to her life. (See I
Timothy 2:10.) These are not works to obtain salvation because this passage,
like all those in the epistles, was written to those who already were
converted. Instead, this was a call for ladies to seek to fulfill the
characteristics of a virtuous woman as found in Proverbs 31. A lady should
be diligent about her duties to her home, her spouse, and her children. By
so doing, she further leaves a good witness to those who observe her.
      She also is called to add submission to her life. (See I Timothy
2:11-12.) Far too many ladies have been improperly influenced by some
radical political movements in our society to believe that submission
denotes inferiority. Rather, just the opposite is the case. Submission to
God-ordained authority is a reflection of the Spirit of Christ in our lives.
The flesh rebels against submission, but when one willingly places his life
under authority, it is mute testimony to the presence of the Lord's Spirit.
(See Philippians 2:5-8.)
      Lastly, the godly lady is called upon to acquire the virtues of
motherhood and spirituality. "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in
childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with
sobriety" (I Timothy 2:15). The blessing of bearing children does not come
to all ladies; however, every Spirit-filled lady can be a mother in the
sense of helping to influence the youth of the church by her prayers and
spiritual example. Her faith, charity, and holiness can help to build these
same characteristics in the younger women. (See Titus 2:3-5.)
      This should be a priority for every lady as her life develops and
grows in Christ.

CONCLUSION
      As mentioned in the May 1990 edition of Bits & Pieces, Eric Hoffer
stated: "The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a
full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear
that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to
do, we have no time for anything else-we are the busiest people in the
world."
      Busy? Yes, but Mr. Hoffer is correct in observing that the greatest
fear we have is that we would "waste" our busy days. This happens when a
person fails to prioritize wisely his time, his energies, and his life. To
help us avoid this grave mistake, the Scriptures make clear to us certain
priorities we should establish.
      First, prayer should be every Christian's highest priority. We should
pray for our fellow Christians, for sinners, and for governmental leaders.
This prayer should include thanksgiving, intercession, petition, worship,
and all the facets that complete the panorama of communication with Him.
      There is no substitute for being saved and knowing Jesus Christ in a
very personal way. Chuck Swindoll wrote, "Business rapes relationships. It
substitutes shallow frenzy for deep friendship. It feeds the ego but starves
the inner man. It fills a calendar but fractures a family. It cultivates a
program that plows under priorities. Many a church boasts about its active
program: 'Something for every night of the week for everybody.' What a
shame! With good intentions the local assembly can create the very
atmosphere it was designed to curb."
      Finally, reflecting God's holiness is a high priority for both
Christian men and women. The genuine Christian lady desires to reflect the
modesty and meekness that testifies properly of the ongoing work of grace in
her life. Her role in the church and family is one of honor and prestige,
not one to be scorned or minimized! Seizing on the privilege of being a
reflection of Christ's character should be a daily pursuit.
      We should beware of the barrenness of a busy life and enjoy the
blessings of a properly prioritized one!

REFLECTIONS
. Considering that prayer is to be first in importance, order, and action in
our lives, what are some practical ways that we can emphasize prayer's
proper place in our daily lives? in our families? in our churches? Discuss.
. What does it mean to "know God"? How does this differ from knowing "about
God"? Which of these two quests is more important? Discuss.
. Discuss the importance of the role of godly ladies in the church and home.
. What is modesty? Discuss.

Open your ears to God before you open your mouth to others.
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue
of the learned, that I should know how to
speak a word in season to him that is weary:
he wakeneth morning by
morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
YBIC, THOMAS AND YSIC, LINDA.
pofm@...