Sermon Tone Analysis

Illustration-

"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants.

We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."

John of Salisbury

This quote was referenced in a painting at St Charles cathedral.

This quote means something to me because I have many people in my life that have hoisted me up.

I can look back at my life and be thankful for the many faithful men that God has been gracious enough to help me along the way.

Matthew- Isaiah

Mark- Daniel

Luke- Jeremiah

John- Ezekiel

Paul

1

What an amazing introduction!

The first amazing portion of this verse is the fact that a man named Paul previously named Saul is writing a letter that we recognize and read today as inspired Scripture.

This fact alone is a testament to God’s grace because of who this man was and now who this man is.

Previously, the man writing the letter was not Paul.

What we find here by this reference is Paul’s acknowledgment that something that has changed in his life.

Do you remember what happen?

His very identity is changed because of something that happened earlier in his life.

Do you remember what happened?

We find it recorded in the book of Acts and I encourage to go and read through the first 9 chapters.

I’m going to try and summarize for you to give you an idea as to who the author of this letter.

Acts begins be a record of Jesus ascending to the Father.

The disciples then, left alone, kind of congregate around each other and begin to pray.

Then Peter takes the lead of appointing another apostle to help with ministry.

They cast lots and the lot falls on Matthias.

In chapter 2, We find the Day of Pentecost, in which like never before, the Spirit of God is poured out and people begin to to speak in languages that they had previously not learned, so that every one present, from every nation under heaven, heard in their own language.

Peter preaches in and it says in verse 41 that 3000 souls are added that day and the end of the chapter tells us that the Lord was adding to them daily.

In other words, the church is exploding with growth wrought by the power of God through the faithful preaching of the Word and faithful prayer.

And thats the plan.

Thats how God was growing the church.

It really is simple.

And God was adding to their number daily.

But with this type of growth, it doesn’t take long for the authorities to take notice of this, especiually when the preachers are boldly proclaiming the Gospel.

In , Peter and John are arrested for preaching the Gospel.

Here we see, The church is picking up where Jesus left off.

In ministry and in suffering.

Christ is working through the church.

Christ is accomplishing his plan through proclamation of truth and suffering.

Despite the attempts to silence Peter and John by arresting them, and threats from the religious ruler of that day, the church of Jesus Christ is growing and they continue to preach the Gospel boldly.

To the point, where in the apostles can’t even take care of the basic needs of the people.

The number of people has outgrown their ability to give proper attention to them.

They have to enlist men called deacons to help serve the body so that the apostles can devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and to prayer.

One of the deacons that they pick, Stephen, is the first martyr recorded in Scripture, Stephen preaches a sermon and is stoned to death, and for the first time we meet the man named Saul, that will one day write this letter to Timothy.

They don’t want their robes to get in the way of throwing these stones as hard as they possibly can at this deacon, so they lay them at Saul’s feet.

tells us that the stoning of Stephen brought joy to heart of Saul.

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

It goes on to say in verse 3-

The man writing the letter to Timothy was once a man who was feared by Christians.

A man who hated the church.

This was not passive hatred.

He actively trying to extinguish them.

Men, Women, he didn’t care.

He was active in the stoning of Stephen.

He was active in the persecution through threats and murder.

This was a man who was an enemy of God by anyone’s definition.

But God.

Being rich in mercy and In His grace.

Not because Saul was lovable.

Thats obviously not the case.

Not because God saw something in Saul.

But only because God saw fit in his grace to set his affection on Saul from eternity past and at this moment in to confront him in his sin and to draw him to faith in Christ

God loved Saul.

Jesus died for Saul.

Why?

Because he chose to.

It wasn’t because Saul proved worthy to die for.

If anything, Saul proved worthy of hell.

And this is case for all of us who are believers this morning.

We all like sheep have gone astray.

The Bible says we were enemies of God.

But God because he is gracious has chosen to set his affection and love on us.

Turn with me to and lets look at the confrontation of Saul.

Acts 9:

I love this passage because it gives us a clear indication of what conversion is.

Saul isn’t seeking after God.

God sought Paul out.

Christ Himself confronts Saul on his road to more persecution.

Its amazing to me the authority that Christ assumes whenever he confronts and converts someone.

Why are you persecuting me?

Who are you Lord?

I am Jesus now get up and take instructions as to what you will do from now on.

The Lord in his providence and in his grace blinds him.

Again we see, Saul is under the control of God.

God is drawing him to faith and obedience.

None of this is credited to Saul.

And God is going to to gloriously save this man, and set him up to be an instrument of his.

In fact The Lord tells Ananias this in verse 15 after Ananias is worried about the task of being the agent of restoring Saul’s sight.

Ananias maybe worried that once Saul is able to see again, he will come after him.

Acts

This man.

Saul.

An enemy of Christ.

Saul A Persecutor of Christ and all who follow him.

Now, Saul, a Chosen Instrument of Mine.

Here is where I’m reminded of my own salvation.

Saul, is later referred to as Paul, its the same man, but he is not the same.

After he meets Christ.

He is forever different and forever changed.

Back to first Timothy.