Sermons in Rosedale Network of Churches
Continuing a multi-year theme of hearing how God is at work in our churches, the 2025 Feature Beacon articles focus on preaching within Rosedale Network of Churches. Each article features a recent sermon by a Rosedale Network pastor. May we all be encouraged by the faithful teaching of God’s Word.
One of the amazing things about our neediness as humans is that in our need, we get to experience God’s incredible provision. As I look back over the past ten years, I see my own weakness and neediness. Even more than that, I realize that I have had the privilege of seeing God’s provision and care for me and my family. The way that God answers prayer is truly incredible; God’s faithfulness to answer prayer just doesn’t stop.
I Timothy 2:1-3 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” (ESV).
Timothy received this letter from Paul, his mentor, while in Ephesus. Timothy had a lot of responsibility in the church at Ephesus, and I can imagine that he would have felt his need for God’s help acutely. In these verses, Paul instructs Timothy to pray.
What if prayer would be first of all?
I love the way the chapter begins: “First of all.” Timothy has just been told to keep the faith and maintain a clear conscience, and that some have left the faith. What does Paul follow that up with? “First of all…pray!” Too often, I turn to prayer in desperation after hard things and failure, instead of praying first. I want to learn to pray first! Many times in the last year, I’ve been in the midst of some struggle, stressed out, when I remember to stop and get down on my knees and cry out to God. I’m learning that this is typically followed by a breakthrough. What if prayer would be first of all?
Verse 1 mentions supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. “Supplication” is the idea of offering a request for a felt need. This is what many of us do in a prayer service; we have a need in our life and feel weak, so we cry out to God together in supplication. This is good, and we should continue to do this!
“Prayers” is the most common and comprehensive word for prayer in the New Testament. It refers to the sacred opportunity that we have to speak and relate to the Lord of the universe, the Creator, the One who loves us and has adopted us, even though we do not deserve it. Paul is encouraging us to converse with God.
“Intercession” is the idea of praying for others. Prayer is about more than just us. In intercession, we bring others to God and ask Him to do His good work in their lives.
In “thanksgiving,” we remember what God has done, look for what God is doing currently, and trust what God will do in the future. We take time to thank Him for His work past, present, and future.
Our neighbor, Señora Julia, recently became a part of our church family, and it reminded me of the way God moves when we pray. Three years ago, we moved to a new home in the city, and shortly after, there were some city detectives outside looking for Señora Julia. They had come to tell her that her son had been killed. We didn’t get a chance to interact with her much for the next while, but our church prayed for her to find Jesus. For three years, we didn’t know what God was up to. But then, in the early part of this year, she started attending our church and shared with us that after her son had died, she had become a believer. God had answered our prayers and had spoken to her. He was at work, even though we couldn’t see it at the time.
First of all, pray! Then, watch what our God will do.
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One Response
This reads like it was a great sermon, Benji. I’m glad you’re part of the conference, but — first of all!? — I’m glad that I have an opportunity to pray for you and your church in the peer groups.