The paramount importance of putting God first in all aspects of life, beginning with salvation and submission. It illustrates this through the biblical example of Jesus calling disciples, who were asked to prioritize Him above earthly duties like burying their fathers. The message then transitions to the significance of service, highlighting how giving oneself to the Lord enables effective service to others, drawing parallels with the generosity of the Corinthian church. Finally, it underscores the priority of prayer, using the Apostle Paul's life as a testament to how prayer should be the foundation of Christian endeavors, leading to peace, purpose, and ultimately, glory to God.
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Your education is important, my young friend. Your business is important, sir, but my Bible tells me not loathful in business, but permanent spirit, serving the Lord. I believe it seems your social life is important, for a man is known by the present. Here I suggest to you that if you've never found your need, that you must fight, you've never found your need for the one who will make life worth living. Use the words of my dear friend Linclair. Life with a capital L. And use with a capital one.
It's not just the why of attrition, but the why of life of us. Oh, let's use the current and sweet little John. Realize that these other things he has promised to add to us if we put time first. Or let the Lord have his way in your life every day. But if there is the first thing of salvation, there is the first thing of submission. How many times have you heard sermons on the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke? How many times when taking the tremendous matter of Christian discipleship?
Have you been reminded of the Lord calling man to himself? asking that they shall give him first place in their life. You remember Tom who dared to look into his face and say, Lord, suffer me first. Suffer me first to go and bury my father. And Jesus said, no, no, me first. Me first. You remember how Tom looked at him and said, Lord, we will be thy disciple. We will follow thee. But oh, Lord, Lord, let me first. did farewell to those in my home. And Jesus said, no, no, meet her.
It's important that we shall bury the dead. It's important that we shall have the respect and love of our home. But never let us forget that when it comes to submission, it is not submission to loved ones. What submission in Jesus' society and to the things that acclaim my society is his submission to Christ? Meeper. Meeper. Meeper. I think you will grant me there is not only the first thing of salvation, and the first thing of submission, there is the first thing of service. Why, what glorious words are those words of the eighth cancer of Corinthians?
My opinion, of course, again, you may disagree with me, but in my opinion, the eighth chapter of two Corinthians is one of the highlights of the New Testament. It seems to me there are so many verses in two Corinthians eight that thrill and challenge our whole thing. But you remember of those at Corinth, it was said, is it not the Pittsburgh? It was said, they gave hearts themselves to the Lord. isn't it grand to give ourselves part to the Lord? If you and I would know something of service, then surely our hands and our feet, our eyes and our ears, our heart and our whole being, our mind and our Lord, we give them part to Him.
Then we can serve the saints, then we can serve the sinner, then we can serve society, when we give ourselves part to Him. But if there be the first thing of salvation and salvation, if there be the first thing of service, there is here the first thing of supplication. Oh, let's go back to this glorious chapter again. Now we beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the coming of the Lord. I'm sorry. I did what our friend said he did yesterday. He closed back in the Thessalonians. What I say, it's... It's rather interesting, though I could almost have carried on there, couldn't I?
But nevertheless, I exult, therefore, that talkable supplications, prayers, and in protection and giving of thanks. Oh, here it is. This is our polite priority, the priority of prayer. Of course, the man that wrote this, was the man who knew something about it. Is not that true? Listen, brethren, sisters, you and I have no right to challenge others about things that we have no experience of. We may read these verses, but let me say this to you, that I have no right to emphasize this verse unless I personally have known something of it true.
The Apostle Paul knew something of it, I often remind men and women, when you think of the life of Paul, is it remarkable, the first time he's mentioned in the Bible, he's had a prayer meeting. That's not a bad place to go, is it? Of course, it was absolutely a prayer meeting, I know, but it was a prayer meeting. Stephen was being thrown to death, and as Stephen pulled to the ground, he prayed, that God will not lay this cartless into their cart, and Paul... the garments of those that showed Stephen at its feet heard the prayer of Jesus just as I heard a little salvation army laughing singing the old rugged cross and could never get away from it so he could never get away from the fact that the first time Jesus Christ was challenging him he was at a prayer meeting is it remarkable the next time he's mentioned in the Bible he's at a prayer meeting I say, how quickly he falls off.
How quickly he falls off. First of all, he listens to a Stephen pray, but now he's praying. He almost imagined he is where Stephen was at the end of his life. He's seen a light above the brightness of the noonday sun. He has been smitten with blindness. He hears a voice, and he pulls down to the ground, and he says, Who art thou, Lord? What wilt thou have me to do? Listen, brother, when you pray, I'll let you into a secret. You'll find out that prayer is a spreading thing. Someone else will be praying, too, when you pray. It's been remarkable the third time Paul mentioned in the Bible, he said, a prayer meeting. And a prayer meeting.
Why, Ananias, the man who actually led Christ, or led a poor to Christ, Ananias is exhorted to go and speak to this man who's been stricken with blindness, but he says, why? This is Saul, the persecutor of the church. And God says, don't you worry about that? Behold, he prayeth. Behold, he prayeth. Have you noticed that every journey all started? It starts with prayer. His first missionary journey, it starts with prayer. His second missionary journey is start with prayer. Oh, I know he catches a vision. I know he hears and sees a voice that says, Come over to Macedonia and help him.
I only know this when he's talking to Macedonia. He went down to the water's edge where some women had gathered, where prayer was once to remain. Oh, I say, no wonder he writes and says, First of all, it was first in his life. May I ask, is it first in our life? Is it first in our life? I believe this to be a true necessity in the life of the church. That before any one of us talk to anyone else, we talk to the Lord. Now I know that that is sometimes difficult.
I let him do a secret. Thursday morning, that's going to be difficult for me. You know, a wife's coming Wednesday night. And I got a trance TV. The first thing of a Thursday morning. There are so many things I want to know. And I know this. It'd be a bit of a job for us to obey that rule. You mustn't talk after eleven o'clock on Wednesday night. I know that. But I only know that it's more important that we speak to the Lord first thing of the day than we speak to it. More important. Part of all things. Then would you notice that if there is priority, there is peace? For verse two dares to tell us this, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Now I have a confession to make. See, I have a confession to make. I have nothing to do with it. But I'm in English. Confession. We had some most wonderful services just recently in Augusta, Georgia. The Lord was very gracious and a large number made for Texan estate. As a matter of fact, interesting little story. As a matter of fact, one morning, ten minutes to five, the phone went. And at the other end of the phone, there was a voice that said, I want to get saved. I haven't slept all night. And a man came round. He was there at ten minutes, at five o'clock, at ten to five, he was told it.
And he came into the little study that I was in there. And I opened the Bible and I started to read there. You know, I read Romans three and twenty-three, all of sin. I read Romans six and twenty-three, the wages of sin is there. I was just getting to Romans five and eight when he looked at me and said, Mr. Ford, have you got to keep on reading? I want to be saved. Cool. That's the first time I've ever seen him to run me like that. But that, by the way, just by the way. But, you know, night by night, brother after brother used to open in prayer. And at the end of the week, please, I know I'm an Englishman, and I do all sorts of queer things.
But at the end of the week, I felt I had to tell those brethren off. And as you know, I don't normally do it where no one can hear it. And do you know what I was concerned about was this? My brethren won't mind me saying it here. I told it to them to their face. What I was concerned about was this, that a week went by, and every night someone led that audience in prayer, and not one of them prayed for your president, for your government, for your nation. Brethren, I believe the Bible teaches us that we should pray for kings. Now I know on the fourth of July I wore a black band on my arms. Literally. But there we are.
I know you haven't got a king. And my Bible says, pray for kings and those in authority. And, brethren, I believe the worst person possible is the person who criticizes his government, whether it be the party he voted for or not, and has never prayed for them. I believe that as a church, on our shoulders there rests a responsibility sometimes and I speak of an Englishman in my country not of an American in your country like speaking about my own country that I believe that much of the trouble we're facing today is because the church has forgotten to pray for those in authority I wonder how often we pray how often we pray so I know this I was reminding them in that lineup this morning I don't know whether I ought to tell this story, but I will anyway.
But, you know, away in Lucker, in South Wales, where the White House Revival broke out, and the little fellowship there was a dear lady that did the Lord, and she was well over her nighting. This is Hugh. And, you know, she insisted on praying. Well, I'll say nothing about it. I only know this, that every morning during the war, A crowd of the brethren and sisters, men who were minors, used to gather in the morning, and they prayed right through the wall. And one morning, he old Mrs. Kew, he just couldn't hold it back any longer. He started to pray. Good. Not saying anything about it. But this is what he prayed.
He said, Lord, bless, General Montgomery. Lord, bless, General Montgomery. Lord, that there's General Eisenhower, bless General Eisenhower. And she went right through the army in them. Bless them all. And then before she finishes dead and Lord, there's that man, Hitler. God, you can do what you like to him. I say, I'm not sure that that's what it means. Pray for kings and those in authority. Shouldn't have told you that, should I? But there it is. I only know this, please. I only know this. The outcome of our prayer is this, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
See, not just a peaceable life, but a peaceable life in godliness and honesty. Do we believe God answers prayer? Do we? And surely God is saying to us today, brethren, sisters, let's have our priorities right. Let's pray that there may be peace. May I say this to you, please, may I say it to you in love, that I believe praying for kings and those in authority are not only those in authority in nations, but may I suggest maybe for the elders and the sisters that care in our local ascendance.
The outcome of our church life may be that with Godliness, with Godliness, you and I and honesty may find peace among God's people. Brethren, brethren, I've been thirty years in the service of God. Listen to some thirty-two other countries. I am where I am out of complete and utter and absolute conviction. I could not be anywhere else. And I want to say this. Sometimes I get tired of the petty little clothes that sometimes arise among believers.
God forgive me. I very infrequently find a disagreement concerning doctrine. I do sometimes, but very infrequently, it is mostly over personality. I like brother so and so better than brother so and so God grant that we may pray that in godliness and honesty we may have peace among us may we go further but there is priority and then there is peace but then there is a purpose for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God and our Savior this is not something this is not something just to bring peace just indeed that we might be able to sit back and say what a lovely lot of people we are.
But this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior. Oh, I want to live my life for the glory of God. When I stand before him in that day, I want to stand before him and hear him say, Well done, good and faithful servant, don't you? Don't you? President, let's not forget the judgment seat of Christ is a very real thing. A very real thing. You and I, by the mercy and grace of God, as we see in a moment, will never stand before the great white throne, but we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. And it will not be a matter of ten, for that was dealt with by the blood of Christ.
That was dealt with at Calvary. But it will be a matter of service. will be a matter of how hateful we've been to him. And I don't know about you, but in that day I'd love to feel that in some way I have won a crown that I might cast at his feet. Oh, listen, I'm glad that the people on the cross were saved. I'm glad, but I don't want to be a people on the cross. Not me. To be saved and go straight to heaven. To say thou shalt be with me in paradise. One day to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. And not have a king to cast at the grave you see.
Not a crown that he's won. Not a king to say, Lord, you gave it me. If I want it, I want it because you lived your life out to me. Lord, you're worthy of it. Take it back. But to be saved and not a king that cast at you. Oh, brethren, don't you come to me, please, and start talking to me about the people and the cross, who made it stand for Jesus Christ. He did that before he was saved. So that won't come out of the judgment of Jesus Christ. He was praised and went to glory. Not a page that has been stated. Oh, brethren, sisters, God, give us the place first.
Amen. God, give us to pray that there may be peace. But don't grant that the purpose of it may be this, that we are bringing glory to God even in our prayers and our requests. You know I'm a father. I got one of every sort you didn't have. But the Queen of England couldn't have more sorts than I got. But I've got four grandchildren as well. And I'll let you into a secret. I get just like you parents do. I get a tremendous joy. when my son and my daughter, though they'd be married with families of their own, still come to their dad and ask their dad for something.
Still feel that you're useful to your family. Hey, I get my grandchildren now jumping on the knee, the four of them, you know, all trying to stay there at the same time and say, Randy, cut up the story. It's the same old stories I told their mums and dads. Well, it's the stories of the Bible I tell my grandchildren. And I get a great thrill when I feel somehow unwanted. There's something they want from me. Please let me say it again. By grace, by chasing Jesus Christ, God has become my father. And I thank God that he's delighted to be inquired of.
Let's remember we bring joy to him when we pray. Never forget there's not a prayer that's lost. John dares to say he saw vials full of odors, which were the prayers of saints. And I don't believe those are just the prayers of the saints in the tribulation. But then would you notice, please, not only our priority and our peace, would you notice not only our purpose, but would you notice our, would you notice our pardon? For therefore, then, who will have, are you listening, who will have all men to be saved? Since the will of God, who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
I'm glad of that. I'm glad that my Bible tells me that the Pilate propenser, who truly believed that moment upon Jesus, a partner of Jesus, I'm glad that whosoever will may come. Oh, I thank God I can present Christ the men and the men, the will that all men shall be saved. Oh, what a salvation is this. A past, present, future salvation shall be saved. Would you notice the person who does the saving? No. I like this, don't you? I like this. Oh, how can the verse lie? For there's one God and one mediator between man and God.
The man, Christ Jesus. I like that. See, I'd better not stay there too long. But isn't it wonderful? It's the man, Christ Jesus. A man who was tempted in all points such as we. Yet without sin, I love the words of the prophet, don't you? He have borne our grief and carried our sorrow. Oh, glory to his name. When men labored, he labored. When men suffered, he suffered. When men have been misunderstood, he was misunderstood. When men died, he died. He's borne our grief. He carried our sorrow.
He understands it all. There's a man in the glory. Blessed be his name. There's one God and one mediator between man and God. The man, the man, the one that nailed Christ in his hands. The man, Christ Jesus. Oh, what is it that you sing so often? Are there crosses too heavy to carry, and burdens too heavy to spare? Are there heartaches and tears and anguish, and nobody seems to care? standing somewhere in the shadows. You'll find Jesus. He's the only one who cares and understands.
Standing somewhere in the shadows, you will find him, and you'll know him. You'll find an elephant in his hand. There's a man in the glory, a man in the glory. Oh, I say, let me quote my favorite hymn. May I, may I, most of you know my favorite hymn, dear old Alfred Macy's, Oh, lead me to the man who doth, to all God's nature glorify, descending to the depths of woe and for a banquet. Every part of brethren's sisters, there's a man in the glory that you and I keep company with him.
But if we have seen priorities and interests, if we have seen purpose and pardon, if we've dazed into the face of a person, then for a moment let us consider this multiplication, who gave himself a ransom to all, to be testified in Utah. Oh, I thank God there's one who took my name. I thank God there's one who died for me. I thank God he is the propitiation for our sin, and not for ours only, but the whole world, the whole world. Friends, what a thing.
What a thing. But may I draw your attention to one other thing. And I think this is important, don't you? For if he brings before us priority and peace and purpose and pardon, if he tells us of that person and his propitiation, then he reminds us of the preacher. Where unto, said verse seven, I am ordained a preacher and an apostle. I like that. I like it. I like it. Mind the ordination of the nail-pierced hand. Isn't it grand? It was no man that sent Paul I to preach. Is it wonderful his was the ordination of the Nell Prince Peter's hand?
It was the Christ of God who dared to say that he had ordained that he should become a preacher to the Gentiles. All that you and I may know something from that ordination of the Nell Prince Peter's hand. For for every one of us, he says, why, go, go witness for me. But if there is prayer for all men, there is prayer by men from verse eight. I will therefore let men, and please, I'm sorry, ladies, not guilty. I didn't write the Bible. But that word men is masculine. It is not the word that is used to include all people.
I would therefore that male. Men pray everywhere. They're the people to pray, men. Here is the place to pray, everywhere. I like that, don't you? I like that. I say, do we develop prayer life? Do we develop, I mean, praying, going along in the car? You know, I meet folk who take the next portion, literally. There he brings before, not only the place to pray, but the posture to pray, lifting up holy hands. Now, you can't pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, can you?
If you do, please tell me when you're going to do it, and I won't write in the car with you. You'll be the last person I write in, right with you. Now, of course, I think there is a time when we would lift up holy hands. I often think in prayer meetings, I wish brethren would hold up holy hands. I mean, literally. It would stop a lot of long-winded prayers. I mean, if they could only pray as long as their hands were out of the world, it wouldn't last too long. Away in Tasmania, there was a dear brother who used to pray very lengthily. He said, go on and, you know, go down so deep and come up so dry.
It was like a coach tour. And this occasion he started a cry, and he started off in Tasmania, he went to Australia, he came over to the Solomon Islands, he went on beyond to the New Guinea, and up to Peking, and ran to America, and around, and around, he went for about twenty minutes, and he sat down. No, please, he didn't go to the Solomon Islands, but I couldn't, I've upset the story now. But he went to, he went to New Guinea and right around, and when he sat down, a quaint brother rose to his feet, and in a very courteous, I take it for you today. Dear Lord, our brother has forgotten the cannibals and the Solomon Islands, left the cannibals and the Solomon Islands. And he said, You know, I think, don't you?
I think, brethren, the truth, that we need to stuff hands like that. But of course, it is not the literal hands he's eating off. Because you can't pray everywhere lifting up holy hands. But you can pray everywhere. But praise God, what he's saying is this, that if we regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord will not hear us. Oh, that there may be holiness in the house of God. But I must come. I must come to a close. I'm sorry, lady. I had so much to say to you. Why? So much to say to you.
Please. If there is the prayer for men, there is the pattern for women. For piety, let your women be dressed in modest apparel. I wish that word women was the same word for all men, especially in America. said, I know I didn't hear anyone say, I'm ended up. No, please. Someone has rightly said, and I want to tell you this, there's more in my Bible than to use just these verses. I am teaching Timothy, and so I've got to use them.
I can think of better things to talk about than this. But someone as well asked, what sort of clothes is it, a personal sweat? And someone has well said, an elder in our fellowship used to say it, but I'm sure hundreds of others have said, that the correct attire, whether it be for a brother or a sister, is the attire that is so acceptable that afterwards, because of their outlandish attire, you don't remember them. Or because of their old-fashioned attire, you don't remember them. You see, I've been saved long enough. I've been saved long enough to remember when I was first converted in our fellowship, of course, it was a little more rigid than some.
You know, it's one of those fellowships we have aboard. Those in fellowships sit in front. But I can remember the time when a dear sister took my wife aside and said, you know, Mary, I don't think it's the coming that you should wear silk stockings. Black stockings were the right attire for a Christian sister. Today, black stockings is the absolute height of modern fashion. How things change. But this is what he's saying. Let's dress for the glory of God. It doesn't matter. Whatever it may be. Dare to remind us of this fact. Prudence. Not with pallid hair.
Not with gold or pearl pearls or cochlear hair. Oh, please, please. I don't suppose there's anything wrong with girls. I don't know. I don't think there's anything wrong indeed with seeking to look smart. If my wife didn't, I've got a feeling I might speak to her. But I do know this, that what's being talked of here, surely, is that that would make poorer Christians embarrassed. When someone marches in and there are others in the assembly who are unable to have such things, You walk in and pray to me. This is what God wants, either among men or women. And then surely he goes on and speaks of this, of piety, but with good work.
And then he speaks of treacherous. He says, I suffer not a woman to teach, nor you purport already. But to learn in Christ, brethren, sisters, what a chance her is this. Oh, that you and I may put God's first in our life, and these things will fall into their rightful place for me. There will be no need for anyone to say anything when Christ is first in our life. God, may I quote it again, please, let the Lord have his way in your life every day.
There's no rest, there's no peace, until the Lord has his way. Place your life in his hand, yet mature in his plan. Let the Lord have his way. Shall we close the prayer? Well, God and Father, we come to thee this morning with a realization that thou hast somewhat to stay unto us. And we would say, as the Pharisees said long ago, monsters, they are. Give to us, we pray, the listening ears. Give to us obedient life that we may be hearers and doers of the word of God.
Grant that we may know how to behave ourselves in the house of God. For Jesus' sake, Amen. Thank you.