1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me,
Jesus strengthened Paul to carry out his ministry.
Timothy needed to be reminded of God’s strengthening, b/c he was in a difficult situation, in a very difficult city.
Though Paul had great courage as a Pharisee, his own courage wasn’t sufficient for what he would face as a servant of Jesus Christ.
And I thank- I am constantly and continually thanking…
Paul was ever aware of what God had done for him.
Acts 14- Paul first welcomed there, but shortly thereafter was stoned in Lystra.
He was dragged out of the city and left for dead.
But God strengthens him and he goes back into the city.
1 Cor 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1 Cor 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Gal 4:13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
Gal 4:14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
Col 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Physical strength for the work of service to God.
2 Cor 7:5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
2 Cor 7:6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
Emotional strength
Turn to 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
God’s strength is for every part of our lives.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
because He counted me faithful,
Translate- “He had confidence in me.”
This is quite a statement based upon Paul’s earlier life.
Pros- Paul was zealous, energetic, intelligent, a leader.
You would think those would be human reasons why God could have confidence in Paul.
Cons- Paul was zealous, etc. for selfish reasons.
Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Paul had to have a radical change of thinking.
He had to shift his entire value system.
He also could not be self-reliant any longer, not in serving Christ.
putting me into the ministry,
Paul was where he was only b/c he was appointed to that position by God.
A man or woman cannot effectively place themselves in a position of Christian service.
It is God who places a person in a particular place of Christian service.
1 Tim 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer,
Paul did not have a hatred for holy things.
He loved and studied the scriptures, honored the name of Jehovah, etc.
His blasphemy was that he had contempt for Jesus and Christians.
a persecutor,
and an insolent man; Doing injury to others while having a proud spirit about it
but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Paul thought he was right in his persecution of Christians, but he was blinded by his sin.
Paul was guilty of violence, hatred, etc.
His ignorance b/c of unbelief did not excuse him.
But there was less guilt for ALL the things he did, b/c some of it was done in ignorance.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
A man can be wrong, but not know it.
A man can be wrong, and continue on, knowing he is wrong.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
John 9:40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
John 9:41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
2 Cor 3:15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Cor 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2 Cor 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Cor 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Cor 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant,
Not only mercy, but grace.
Paul was given the chance to serve the Jesus he had formerly persecuted and blasphemed.
with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
This kind of grace produces faith that enables us to serve the Lord.
Faith to trust God for that which we cannot ourselves do.
It produces love that we may truly love those whom we serve.
Agape- self-sacrificing love