Amen. Well, if you have your Bible with you this morning, I invite you to turn with me to 1st Timothy chapter 2. 1st Timothy chapter 2. And our focus text this morning is going to be verses 8 through 15. verses 8 through 15. As Paul goes on to exhort Timothy and to teach him important matters regarding men and women in the church. First Timothy chapter 2 beginning in verse 8. Here now the holy the inspired, the inerrant, and infallible word of God, written for you and for me today. I desire, therefore, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting, in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control. Amen. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word. Let us go before him asking his blessing on the preaching of it. Our gracious God and heavenly Father, we have heard your word, and oh Lord, may we receive it with joyful and thankful hearts. May we receive it as it truly is, the Word of God, and may you apply its rich truths into our hearts and lives. And we pray this in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Well, beloved congregation, as the Apostle Paul put the role, power, and importance of prayer in Christian warfare before Timothy, that it would be applied in his life and ministry, so too have you been blessed by God having this revealed to you so that it would be active in your life. This is true individually as well as families and corporately as a congregation. But Paul has also helpfully shown you how prayer is multifaceted, hasn't he? Prayers of supplication and intercession and thanksgiving, among others, are to come from your heart and out of your mouth to your Lord every day. When you're in the midst of the battle, it's easy to pray for yourself, isn't it? For your own needs and circumstances. But Paul stirs you up to not only be concerned about your own interests, but also those of others. In fact, who does Paul teach you to pray for here in 1 Timothy? All men, meaning all kinds of men, especially those in the civil magistrate. And further, you ought to pray for all men and the magistrates, knowing that God has ordained the ends and the means. For as God calls you to pray, he is often pleased to work in and through your prayers to accomplish his will and purposes. Paul has given you two important reasons for your prayers for them. One, that they would bear the good fruit of keeping peace and order in the land for the furtherance of gospel proclamation, but also that the salvation of many as God brings them to a knowledge of the faith and of the truth would come to pass. And therefore, you see the person in work of the only mediator between God and man. The man, Christ Jesus, all the more clearly, don't you? You pray to God in the name of Christ, who gave himself a ransom to pay for the sins of his people. You pray for kings and magistrates and lawmakers and governors and presidents in your warfare, that by God's saving grace, as the gospel is testified and preached faithfully by the church, in the ears and to the hearts of all men, God will be pleased in accordance with his holy will to transform many, continue his victorious conquest, and restore what is good and godly in our land. It's in this context of prayer that Paul then goes to give more instruction to Timothy regarding a divisive spirit that false teachers in Ephesus were working. And therefore, he gives specific admonition regarding men and women in the church. This morning, let's look at his words regarding men praying everywhere in verse eight. Women's modesty and learning, in verses 9 through 12, and how the creation order guides roles in verses 13 through 15. And so, as he begins in verse 8, it's good for you to keep the context of what he's just said in mind. As he says, I desire, therefore, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. Now, as you hear Paul's desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, how are you to understand this? Well, consider three things. First, that Paul's instruction here is very similar to his instruction to the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5.17. Were the saints in Thessalonica to never stop praying 24-7? No. Paul's message was that there is never a time, there's never an occasion or circumstance when you shouldn't pray. But likewise, Paul saying men should pray everywhere, or literally in every place, didn't mean that men needed to stop and pray in every place that they went. No, as Paul is giving instruction and correction to Timothy to apply in the Ephesian church, He is on the one hand speaking to men praying in corporate worship, and on the other hand, praying everywhere is in contrast to the Jewish ceremonial law where prayer was mainly connected to the temple. But under the gospel, prayers should and could be offered to God everywhere. God indeed foretold this in Malachi 1.11. When he said, for from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, my name shall be great among the Gentiles. In every place, incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Indeed, men need to pray everywhere, Paul says. Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4.21. He said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. Again, up to that point, there was a centrality at the temple where worship was to occur, but now this was not going to be the case as the New Testament church went forth, neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. There will be worshipers of the Father in all places. Again, beloved, in light of your relationship with your mediator, Jesus Christ, and his commands, see the connection here. You must pray privately, pray with your families, pray at your meals, pray when you're traveling, pray in the solemn assemblies of God's people. We pray everywhere. But when Paul speaks of men praying, lifting holy hands without wrath or doubting, he's calling men to take heed of how you pray. You know that as you are in the presence of the holy God, it's good and right to come before him with a humble and a repentant heart. Confessing and seeking forgiveness of your sins, and again here, you find a contrast to Jewish practice. This time, in contrast to the external ceremonial hand-washing for purification before approaching the altar of the Lord, as you see in Psalm 26, verse 6. The lifting up of holy hands points you to purity as well. And now, Paul isn't mandating a certain posture, but he is speaking to the attitude of the heart. He's speaking to the attitude of the heart, being pure from the pollution of sin, coming to God in prayer without wrath or without anger or malice toward others. And also, importantly, without doubting. And this without doubting meaning without doubting God's goodness, his truth or power to fulfill his will. As if Many would come and in their times of struggle or weakness and faith would come and they bring petitions, but they would have no sincerity or certainty in their hearts as to whether what they prayed for would actually happen or could happen. But here we see, without doubting, is important. We know this and we're taught this by the Apostle James. In James chapter one, beginning in verse six, regarding the prayer of faith. I encourage you to make note of this reference. Meditate on the truth of it often. We read there in verse six, but let him ask in faith with no doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Nor let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Beloved, see the stability, see the spirit-wrought confidence in the work and the will of God and the grace of God in the prayer of faith. We've been talking about this faith. Paul's even been laying the foundational pieces here in discussing the importance of faith here, even to Timothy, hasn't he already? And so I ask you this morning, are you mindful and how you pray, beloved. Is your mind filled with conflicts and doubt when you come and speak with your Lord? May these words here, may they shape your prayers in content and place and frequency. But also see here that Paul now goes on to provide instruction for the women in the Ephesian church and such that all of God's people need to hear this day. Look at verse 9. In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair, gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. Now, as it is right and pleasing to God that the Ephesian men, along with godly men in all churches in all generations, have holy conduct in their prayer and communication with God, considering their God-ordained role and place. In like manner, as Paul says here, it's good and right for women who are daughters of the king to display godly, holy conduct as well that is fitting for those who are pursuing godliness, right? That is fitting for those professing such in their engagement, in their God-ordained role. Now undoubtedly, as some men needed to be taught and corrected in how to pray, so some Ephesian women needed to be taught and corrected about modesty and learning. And truly, their hearts as well, and the attitude of their hearts know that the Greco-Roman society, they were a part of what was characterized by extravagance, was characterized by extravagance of dress. The society cheered and applauded and adored such appearance, even gaudy appearance and show. Costly clothing and the best hairstyles and fashion ornaments the world could offer, were to portray status and sophistication and stability and, in their view, a sense of beauty. But I ask you, what beauty was really on display when women adorned themselves in that way? Is the world's view of beauty what should be embraced by godly women? And further, should such gaudy adornment be brought into the church, especially the corporate worship of God? Keep in mind, this is the context and, in many ways, specifically what Paul is talking about in teaching Timothy here to pass on. I mean, the answer to that question is no. See how Paul is recalibrating and teaching a biblical view of the attitude of the heart seen in dress and modesty here. Is Paul forbidding dressing up for special occasions? Is he forbidding looking nice at church? No. He's not forbidding such things, but neither is he mandating women to look frumpy in how they dress. Moderation and modesty is in view. It's true that godly women shouldn't think or walk with a, I'm going to impress with my dress attitude having an external whitewashed facade like the Pharisees had? Indeed, ladies, your true beauty, your true identity, must not be in how you look or in what you wear, for your identity is in Christ. It's his definition of beauty that matters. It's what he says to do and not to do that should be important to you and then obeyed. And what does he say? Hear this, ladies. Your walk needs to match your profession. Your walk needs to match your profession. Adorn yourself with good works, he says. Listen to the Apostle Peter's words to wives regarding godly adornment in 1 Peter 3, beginning in verse 3. Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. But notice, rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle, and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. Daughters of the King, know what your Lord looks at and how he looks at beauty. Know what is precious to him and let that inform and in shape your thoughts and your walk and even what you wear and how you conduct yourself. What is precious to him? It's the hidden person of the heart. Notice the incorruptible beauty, the beauty that can't be corrupted. Because the beauty of a gentle and a quiet spirit shines purely. It's very precious in the sight of God. May that be a great impression on you today. But Peter goes on, for in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters you are, if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. Notice, again, adorn yourself with good works. My friends, do you see the glorious message here? This is the true beauty that you need to adorn, and you're not alone in doing so, Peter is telling you. You stand in a long heritage of godly women who were fearless in doing so. They weren't afraid. Although there were pressures from the outside, there were undoubtedly pressures from the inside. There were expectations, there were societal norms, there were what this group of ladies is doing and that group of ladies is doing. What does God call you to do? And what have women who have gone before you, who have served and loved the Lord, what have they done? Indeed, if you do these things, you stand in that long line and heritage of godly women, who were fearless in doing so, as they were also, Peter noticed, were in submission to their husbands. And Peter's words here then connect so well with Paul's, as he goes on to teach Timothy about women's participation in corporate worship and the church. Look at verse 11 of 1 Timothy 2. He says, Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." Now, I know some people get squirmy or even maybe upset about Paul's words here about women learning in silence and with submission. However, my prayer is that as you've seen the beauty of God's design in adornment and the heart You'll see the beauty of God's design and participation here and praise him all the more for it. And so what is this about silence and submission? Well, beloved, Paul isn't teaching you that women must not participate in worship. What he is directing and correcting here is how they participate in worship. as there were some feministic practices that rose up in the Ephesian congregation where some women were usurping authority, and we've seen that practice throughout the centuries to the current day, don't we? But indeed, the church and the worship of God needs to be in conformance to the word of God and how he commands and calls us in our roles and in our worship. Indeed, women are to sing to the Lord and to pray and worship. Ladies, you are also to learn in silence or literally quietly, not being disruptive, in submission as you sit under the preaching of the Word. Indeed, you are to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and know again that this is in contrast to Jewish practice. Jewish women were never encouraged or called to sit and learn. But here God calls you to sit and learn, to grow in knowledge of the grace and the knowledge of Christ, to grow in godliness. Now keep in mind that such submission doesn't communicate a view that you have a lower status, but along with the silence Paul speaks of, it points you to the respect that you have or ought to have for the teaching and governing role assigned by God to your pastor and the elders of the church. And so then what are the grounds and reasons that Paul puts these things in place? Notice he does this wonderfully. He lays this out wonderfully for Timothy and for the Ephesian church and for you today. His reason is grounded in the creation order guiding the roles as well as the events of the fall. Look at verse 13. For Adam was formed first, then Eve, And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression." Now, notice that as the creation order undergirds the biblical view of headship and head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11, verses 8 through 12, so too does Paul connect the creation order, along with the order of the events in the fall, to God's sovereign design of the roles of men and women in worship in the church. Matthew Poole, a well-known commentator, puts it this way. The man had the priority of the woman in his creation. He was not made for her, but she was made for a helpmate for him, and therefore also being made for him ought to usurp no authority over him. And besides, Adam was not first deceived, indeed, immediately by the serpent, but only enticed and deceived by the woman. And so, my friends, the order of creation and the fall provide the reason that women are not to exercise authority over men in the church. From the beginning, God has intended that men lead in the home and in the church. And this is no slight to women. It is God's wisdom commanding what is best for his people and his church in his world. And remember God's words to Eve in his curse in Genesis 3.16. To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and conception. In pain you shall bring forth children, notice. Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you. And so considering Eve's sin and the curse that God pronounced, Eve and all women after her even may be struggling with discouragement as they ponder these words of sorrow and pain, and yet Paul brings us together with great comfort in saying in verse 15, Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control." Now, what does Paul mean that she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control? Some of you may be wondering, Pastor, does this challenge Justification by faith alone? No, this doesn't mean that women will be saved by means of childbearing, nor does it mean that a woman's salvation is contingent on the faith and holiness of the children that she bears. The they here in this verse is a collective reference to women, and that's clear in the Greek. Paul is teaching you that women, although they suffer in childbearing, as a result of Eve's sin in the garden, referencing and connecting back to verse 14, they will be saved through faith in Christ, the mediator who was born of a woman and born under the law. And such true faith will evidence itself in love and holiness and self-control. Again, see this marvelous connecting point, another connecting point about the work of the mediator, Jesus Christ. And so, my friends, as you ponder these words about roles and duties of men and women in Christ's Church, take the clear view and emphasis of the attitude of your heart in obedience to God with you today. Consider the context of your spiritual warfare. Where is your heart when you pray? My friends, is it in the right place as you are praying in the presence of the Holy God, even here gathered in corporate worship? Are you confessing and repenting of your sins to him, seeking his forgiveness and help to put off what is impure and unholy as you pray in faith? Ladies, as you think more about God's design and your role and duties in worship in the church, may you fight any temptation to complain or murmur about any perceived restrictions. And rather, stand up and praise your Savior and the head of the church that he loves his bride so much, that he loves you so much, to guide and correct and to shine his light on what is precious to him. And where your focus should be in the true beauty of your gentle and quiet spirit. Indeed, seeing and embracing how God created and desires you to be with joy and thankfulness will then fuel your moderation of your external dress and appearance. Again, what is going on in your heart then manifests in the fruit of how you walk. It guides, it corrects, it shapes by the Spirit's work. I pray that fruit is beautiful and marvelous and abundant in your life. And may you then encourage and teach other women to do the same, even by your own example, even when they may be discouraged and you're coming alongside and seeking to help them in correct understanding of doctrine and life. But finally, men and women, take the order of creation and the order of events in the fall along with the consequences of sin and the curse, and may they help you better understand God's design of your roles in worship and life and embrace them as well. Ladies, though you suffer and experience pain under the curse, take great comfort in the work of Christ, your mediator, who has come to save you from your sin through faith in him, and pray and pray often that God would be pleased to show forth glorious fruit of faith in you, in love and holiness and self-control, which also, if you notice, these all apply and have special application in these things that Paul has laid out as well. Amen. Praise God for his word. Let's pray together. Our gracious God and Heavenly Father, we thank you for this, your word to us today. We pray, oh Holy Spirit, that you would apply it richly. Lord, that you would minister and speak to our hearts, bring the salve of Christ and the gospel to bear on us, that we would all pray more, stand up, and praise you more for your marvelous works in your church, And we thank you for your grace in using us and commanding and guiding us in the worship of you and in our roles to your glory. And we pray this in Christ's name.