Sermon (11-Sep): "Now Unto a King" 1 Tim 1:12-17

Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (SLIDE)

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Big Idea:

The objective of this message is to realize that our God wants to do a great work through us

Introduction:

- The more familiar that I become with the Bible and New Testament, the more the Apostle Paul becomes my favorite Christian

- When I consider Paul, I think of some of his writings and works…

- “To live is Christ, to die is gain…” (Phil 1:21)

- “But by the grace of God, I am what I am…” (1 Cor 15:10)

- “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…” (1 Cor 13:4)

- Each and every Christian is important to where we have come from, where we are currently and where we are going

- But I would be remiss to not give proper recognition and appreciation to Paul

- If anyone were to look at his journey and many have, we would see what it means to make a 180 degree turn

- Your story and mine is significant…but there are few stories that have as many creases and wrinkles in it as Paul’s has

- Knowing that he has been in some harsh situations has helped me many a day

- Having been beaten, shipwrecked, rejected from many people and assemblies…

- He’s still able to say, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice”

- He’s able to talk about his experiences and temptations

- He serves as an example that although life isn’t fair...still live for Christ

- And, he pays it forward in mentoring and leading Timothy, his son in the faith

- We can see that he does it out of his heart—for God, Timothy and the Church (aka the Kingdom)

- He knows and mentions that what awaits him is a crown of righteousness

- That’s encouraging because there are times when it seems as if no one sees what we are doing or going through but God

- Humankind can only repay us so much anyway

- If I had a choice between what God pays or what my fellow brother or sister can give me,

- Well, I’d choose God’s compensation package every time

- Whatever you and I receive from the Lord will not be finalized until many, many years from now

- Even after we leave this earthly body, our influence and impact—the spiritual seeds that we planted in others—

- They will still bloom

- It’s not always about where you started, but where will you end?

- Paul writes two letters to Timothy and knows what awaits him at the end

- And, here, we see how Paul trusted and believed in Timothy even when Timothy didn’t believe in himself

- Paul is passing on vital information to Timothy about his journey and the One who made it all possible

- It has been and always will be God working through Christ in us

- It’s not a story or experience that we can craft on our own

- But God…a continuing refrain in each of our lives

- I was on the wrong path, but God…

- I almost lost it, but God…

- I was empty, distraught, without purpose, but God…

- Paul is familiar with every one of those sentiments

- So, going through this passage, I began seeing the Paul hitting on the following… (SLIDE)

- I Was Appointed for His Service…

- Though I Once Was________

- But…Christ Jesus Came

Transition: The Apostle Paul instructs Timothy on how to function in the faith and oppose false teachers but adds God’s grace towards him

1) I Was Appointed for His Service… (SLIDE)

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.

- When it all comes down to it, it’s not about any accolades, awards or accomplishments that we achieve

- It’s about being called to the greatest thing that we can ever be in this life…

- A life of service to God and Christ our King and His calling

- This week, I had the opportunity to talk to a group of Air Force recruiters from Texas, California and other areas via Zoom

- During that talk, I was sharing that it’s nothing greater than realizing your calling and purpose—recognizing meaning in your life

- The meeting wasn’t deemed Christian but there was no other way for me to truly explain aside from who I am at the core

- Now, if it had been a few decades prior, the talk might have gone differently

- But, the very thing that embodies what we, as Chaplains and Religious Affairs Airmen, are called to do is…

- Champion spiritual fitness—

- Having a sense of purpose/meaning in your life; ability to adhere to beliefs, principles, or values needed to persevere

- Thankfully, the Air Force recognizes that at the core of our being…

- That’s where we are driven and knowing our why invigorates us to move forward

- Mark Twain writes,

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

- Here, Paul sees the deeper meaning and realizes that He has God to thank

- If he had to go off his own resume before Christ, he would not cut it

- If God didn’t give Him the strength, He would not have withstood the journey

- When I think about where I am today, I think to myself, this never gets old

- God has deemed me trustworthy with the most precious asset—His most precious asset—His people

- Had I not been a chaplain; it would have been the same for me…as far as caring for people

- One thing, above all, that I wanted to be to God was His servant

- So, in or out of uniform, I am a servant first

- Not a chaplain, pastor, airman—His servant

- In many chapels and churches, it can become about a ministry title

- But what gets lost is the servitude in ministry

- Most titles, in my opinion, should mean a different level of servitude

- And, if I lose focus on that and that we are called to center our efforts on the King and not our own crown

- I have to ask myself the question, “What truly moves me?”

- Because I am seeking to move His heart and not pursue my own glory

- Paul recounts this to Timothy with hopes that he will follow his example—that we will follow His example

- For God to consider you trustworthy, should not be taken lightly on any account

- If you haven’t noticed this about God, here it is…

- I found that God uses the most unlikely; sometimes the outcast and downtrodden

- I imagine that faithfulness and submission ranks high with Him

- You may have heard this…I know I have,

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls.”

- So, if we’re thinking that God needs a big name, celebrity convert to headline a show or the kingdom

- Rather than the one submitted to Him wanting to do His will…

- Than we are sadly mistaken

- There is only one Star and one Headliner in the kingdom

- Last time I checked, that person wasn’t anyone in San Pedro, Long Beach or Los Angeles

Transition: Let Him deem us trustworthy so we can be better our service to and for Him

2) Though I Once Was________ (SLIDE)

13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

- We may think that we can’t identify with Paul here

- But we all have a history…we all have a story to tell

- We might not have sinned in the ways he did but…

- What’s your story? What have you come out of and God delivered you from?

- According to James the Lord’s brother (Jam 2:10),

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."

- There are some sins that you may feel a greater gravity and consequence from…

- Nonetheless, it still says the same thing that I am choosing my will over God’s will

- I can’t get so grandiose in my thinking…

- To think that I am “above the law” pun intended

- No, the only perfect person was Jesus Christ

- Each of us has given God enough dirt on us to literally “condemn” us to death

- And, Paul understood this

- That’s what makes him as revered as He is today

- He mentions that he did it all not understanding or knowing how deep it transgressed God’s law

- He acted in opposition to the gospel…ignorantly

- And some of us may have been the same way

- But others of us knew exactly what we were doing

- I believe as God had mercy on Paul; we would want the same for us

- Whether we ask for it outright or not, we want God’s patience and tolerance for us—His mercy on us

- His mercy on us is not just for us…but it is for Him and His service to others

- James Hudson Taylor, a former Protestant missionary to China for over 50 years said this (SLIDE),

“I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help him. I ended up asking him to do his work through me.”

- We all need God’s grace like Paul and Taylor to be poured out on us in abundance

- The grace that exists in Christ Jesus is greater than we could imagine

- Paul doesn’t mention it to Timothy as something to be abused but as something to take to heart

- Christ’s Spirit—the Holy Spirit—has been given to each believer for service to God and to live out an abundant life

- With consideration of the faith and love that exists in Jesus, the church—meaning us individually and corporately—

- Has an unlimited ceiling

- Christ’s love for others was meant to flow through us as an example to the world in which we dwell

Transition: Why? Because that was a part of His purpose all along

3) But…Christ Jesus Came

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

- In saying that this is a faithful saying and worthy of full acceptance,

- Paul is telling us that we can bank on this

- That we can take what he is saying to heart

- Jesus didn’t come to glorify Himself

- He didn’t come to inspire a “What Would Jesus Do?” movement

- He didn’t come to esteem those who already know Him and the Father to a high position

- He came for those that were on are a path to eternal separation from God

- So, that they can believe in Him for eternal life

- If we can imagine ourselves in Paul’s shoes—as the worst of sinners—

- Not pointing at anyone other than ourselves,

- We might be able to change the narrative on how we see God’s love altogether

- The immense patience that He showed to Paul

- In many ways, He has shown it to us

- Each of us are living examples and a testimony to His goodness

- God has done too many things for me to count

- In many ways, a million little miracles for me to marvel over

Closing:

- As I close, I love how Paul brings the passage to a close

- It’s a benediction that I love to hear…an Eternal King, Immortal, Invisible

- Paul gives the ultimate introduction of the majesty of our God

- He is the One God that deserves honor and glory

- As He is greater than our minds can ever imagine

- Yet, He understands each and every one of us…completely

- So, what are we to make of Jesus Christ?

- (SLIDE) C.S. Lewis once asked the same question but added,

“the real question is not what are we to make of Christ, but what is He to make of us. The picture of a fly sitting deciding what it is going to make of an elephant has comic elements about it.”

- (SLIDE) God wants to do a great work through us, let us be humble enough to recognize, accept and allow it to be done unto the King

- Will you pray with me?

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins known and unknown, I renounce them all. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I receive you now as Lord and Savior of my life. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for me and arose and sits at the right hand of God praying for me, interceding for me. Lord Jesus, I give you everything. I thank you for saving me, delivering me and setting me free, in Jesus’ name!