The second lesson – The GRACE of God…  (4 points)

• 1^st – The résumé for ministry… vs. 12 (4 points)
  • If we want to get a job – we turn in a résumé…
    • The purpose is for the employer to see if our QUALIFICATIONS match the job DESCRITION…
    • As Paul continues his instructions for Godly leaders – he is going to give his résumé…
    • He will lay out the QUALIFICATIONS to be called into Ministry! 
  • 1^st – I thank Jesus Christ our Lord … vs. 12
    • THANK – echo charis – to have GRACE – Paul had the GRACE of Jesus Christ our Lord…
      • We are going to see this is at the heart of the second lesson Paul has for leaders…
      • HOW are we CALLED and EQUIPPED to SERVE and LEAD – it is ONLY by GRACE!
    • The Grace of God allowing Paul to serve IN SPITE of whom he was!
      • If you see a beautiful pot – you do not congratulate the clay…
      • You look for the master sculptor who could take dirt and make it beautiful!
      • We are nothing more than the instrument God uses to reach out to His people!
      • We need to humbly remember that we are just the tools – God is the master!
      • Isaiah 64:8 – “You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”
  • 2^nd – Who ENABLED me – from the root word dynamis – gave him POWER…
    • Through GRACE – Paul was able to receive the POWER of God…
      • The same POWER used to describe those filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8
      • God gave His Holy Spirit to Paul – to give him the POWER to take action!
      • If you have 1000w light bulb – it has the potential to light up a dark room…
      • But unless you plug it into the wall – give it POWER – it does not give off light!
      • When was the last time we shared Jesus with someone – told them the Good News…
      • We may NEVER have told anyone – because we have no POWER!
      • We are called to be a light in a dark world – Matthew 5:14
      • But we need the Holy Spirit to LIGHT us up – give us the POWER to shine for Jesus!
    • To get the POWER of the Spirit – just ask…
      • Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask…”
      • Not just once – but over and over and over again for – daily asking for the Holy Spirit…
      • Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find…”
      • We also need to be daily filling up on the Holy Spirit to stay SHINE for Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Counted me FAITHFUL – adjective form of the noun FAITH…
    • How did Paul get access to GRACE – so that he could receive POWER…
      • By FAITH – he believed in Jesus – and God freely gave him POWER!
      • Paul was not FAITHFUL – in the sense that he did something to EARN the GRACE of God…
      • It was simply by FAITH – he asked – and the Lord freely gave him GRACE and POWER!
    • Paul understood his calling was only by the GRACE of God…
      • I Corinthians 15:10 – “By the GRACE of God I am what I am, and His GRACE toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the GRACE of God which was with me.”
      • But that did not mean he did not have to work hard…
      • He worked harder than anyone else – through the power of the GRACE of God in him!
      • The GRACE of God does not mean we do not work – just the opposite…
      • We work harder – but recognize it not about our efforts – it is all by His GRACE!
  • 4^th – Putting me into the MINISTRY – diakonia – 34x in NT the office of a SERVANT…
    • SERVANT – diakonos – one who executes the commands of his master…
      • Paul realized that he had not EARNED the right to be in MINSITRY…
      • It was only by the POWER of God – accessed by FAITH – through GRACE he could SERVE!
      • Many pastors today think they have the RIGHT to lead / teach…
      • Because they have gone through years of Bible College / Seminary – they have degrees…
      • They somehow believe that NOW they are prepared to SERVE the Lord…
      • FOOLISHNESS – that is pride – we CANNOT earn the right to lead!
      • The complete résumé of someone who wants to SERVE God – sinner saved by GRACE!
    • Those who try and SERVE from their own ability…
      • Will find no POWER in their MINISTRY!
      • The people they are trying to ministry to are no good / dirty rotten / sinners!
      • And no matter how much training / education they receive – it will NOT help…
      • Because it turns out they are ALSO no good / dirty rotten / sinners!
      • Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

• 2^nd – The résumé of Paul… vs. 13 (3 points)
  • 1^st – Paul had a PAST…
    • Paul was a BLASPHEMER – 5x in NT – speaking evil words against Christ…
      • PERSECUTOR – only here NT – one who runs after others to catch them…
      • INSOLENT – in pride – heap insulting language on others and do shameful acts!
      • Paul / then Saul – used to mock and blaspheme the name of Jesus – Acts 9:1
      • He threatened and harmed the followers of Jesus everywhere he went…
      • He even went so far as to torture Christians to try and get them to deny Jesus!
      • Acts 26:11 – “I had them whipped… to try to get them to curse Christ.”
      • He had put many of them in prison – even put some to death for their faith…
      • He cast his vote against them – in favor of the death penalty – Acts 26:10
    • When Saul ran out of Christians in Jerusalem to persecute and imprison…
      • He went to the High Priest for permission to hunt them in other cities – Acts 9:2
      • Saul was given authority from the priest to arrest anyone who confessed Jesus!
      • So terrible was the reputation of Saul – even after he was saved…
      • No leader – except Peter– would even talk to him – Galatian 1:18-19
        
  • 2^nd – Paul obtained MERCY…
    • MERCY (passive / indicative) – to NOT get what you deserve…
      • Paul deserved to be judged by God – because of what he had done to the church…
      • But he did it in IGNORANCE – he did not have FAITH (unbelief) in Jesus…
      • Paul was not ignorant because he did not know the Gospel message…
      • I am sure many of the Christians he tortured told him about Jesus…
    • Paul was blinded to the truth – because he thought he already knew – pride!
      • Philippians 3:5-6 – “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
      • The main reason why people do not see their need for Jesus…
      • They think they already have the answer – they think they know!
      • Whether they are trusting in a religion / or in their own intellect…
      • It is pride that makes us think WE ALEADY have the answer – and do not need Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Paul never FORGOT…
    • You would think he would try to forget is regrettable past…
      • But Paul was determined never to forget what God had saved him from!
      • Ephesians 2:1 – “He made alive, [those] who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
      • Philippians 3:7 – “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”
      • We have the tendency to look at the past with nostalgia – we forget the bondage…
      • We think back on the good times we had – all the fun – before we knew Jesus…
      • We forget about the hangovers / the conviction / the lack of purpose in life…
      • When we remember what we were saved from – sin and death – power of satan…
      • We hold on all the tighter to Jesus – determined never to go back!
    • If we do not remember – we think we are better than others…
      • Especially if we start to be used by God – called to lead others…
      • There is also the danger of forgetting we are no better than others…
      • When we see people struggling with thing God has allowed us to overcome…
      • We can become judgmental of them – looking down on them as if we are better…
      • Forgetting we are just as much a sinner – we struggled with the same sins!

• 3^rd – The Example of Paul… vs. 14-17 (4 points)
  • 1^st – The GRACE of God was EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT … vs. 14
    • EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT – only here NT – to overflow or completely overwhelm!
      • Paul did not get a little GRACE – he got an overwhelming amount of GRACE!
      • When Jesus met Paul on the road – the GRACE of God overwhelmed Paul…
      • Instead of getting the punishment Paul deserved for persecuting the church…
      • God instead filling him with FAITH and LOVE – and called him to SERVE!
      • God does not want anyone to perish – He does not want to judge us…
      • He offers everyone GRACE – BUT then lets any and all choose how to respond…
      • We can ignore it – decide not to take it – and miss out on heaven…
      • Or by faith receive from God the most amazing gift we will ever get – salvation!
    • The way we receive the gift – is through FAITH – Hebrews 11:1
      • We cannot see God – and the gift God gives us is not something we can hold…
      • It is something we believe – by FAITH we believe God has forgiven us of our sin…
      • By FAITH we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven…
      • By FAITH we receive the GRACE of God – His free gift of salvation!
        
  • 2^nd – This is a FAITHFUL saying – and worthy of all acceptance… vs. 15
    • Jesus came to save SINNERS – those who are devoted to sin…
      • And Paul considered himself to the be the CHIEF (protos) of sinners! 
      • The longer Paul followed Jesus – the more he understood GRACE…
      • Paul first called himself the LEAST of the Apostles – I Corinthians 15:9
      • Later on – as he grew in Jesus – he was the LEAST of all the saints – Ephesians 3:7
      • Now towards the end of his life calls himself the CHEIF of sinners – I Timothy 1:15
    • The closer Paul got to Jesus – the more he realized how much he needed GRACE!
      • When we first get up in the morning – we might think we look pretty good…
      • But when we turn on the light – get closer to a mirror – lots of imperfections!
      • The closer we get to Jesus – the more we realize just how much of a SINNER we are…
      • Diving us to hold all that much tighter to Jesus – not trusting in ourselves!
      • I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
  • 3^rd – For this REASON I obtained MERCY… vs. 16
    • In Paul – Jesus would SHOW – to provide evidence / proof…
      • All LONGSUFFERING – 14x in NT – patience in bringing about judgement…
      • As a PATTERN – we might say blueprint or model to follow…
      • For those who are going to believe (present) on Jesus to eternal life!
    • Is there ANY sinner beyond the reach of the GRACE of God…
      • Could a murderer / or a rapist / or even the likes of Hitler be saved…
      • Are there ANY limits to the POWER of the GRACE of God – NO!
      • If God could save Paul – who persecuted the church / murdered believers…
      • No one is beyond the reach of grace – anyone can be saved!
      • Romans 5:20 – “Where sin abounded, GRACE abounded much more.”
      • John 1:16 – “From his fullness we have all received, GRACE upon GRACE [upon GRACE].”
      • It does not matter whether we think we are a good person – or not so good…
      • Jesus gift of salvation is available to absolutely anyone who will receive it…
      • No sinner is beyond His reach – no sin so great He cannot forgive it…
      • That is why Jesus came to die on the cross – so we might have eternal life – Romans 10:13 
  • 4^th – All glory and honor to God… vs. 17
    • Paul got so excited talking about the GRACE of God – he broke out in PRAISE…
      • 1 – Now to the KING eternal – the KING of KINGS – Revelation 19:16
      • 2 – IMMORTAL – 7x in NT – usually translated as incorruptible – will not change!
      • Hebrew 13:8 – “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

• 3 – INVISIBLE – God is invisible – it is not possible to see God and live – Exodus 33:20
• Jesus is the reflection – a perfect representation of God who cannot be seen – Hebrews 1:3

• 4 – The ONLY wise God – God is not wise – He is the source of ALL wisdom!
• James 1:5 – “If [since] any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…”
• 5 – Be honor – timē – 43x in NT – to have great value!
• 6 – Glory for ever and ever – acknowledging that God ALWAYS knows all things!
• SALVATION – and QUALIFICATION for ministry – ALL came from GOD!
  • Acts 4:13-16 – the Sanhedrin saw the boldness of Peter and John…
  • Their first impression was the men were unlearned – agrammatos – literally illiterate…
  • And that they were ignorant – idiotes – literally idiots…
  • But in spite of their harsh estimation of the Peter and John and their abilities…
  • They marveled at their boldness – and realized that the men had been with Jesus!
  • I Corinthians 1:27-29 – “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
  • God uses the foolish – IGNORANT and UNLEARNED men – the CHIEF of SINNERS…
  • If that is who God choses – then He does not expect much from us!
  • And when God uses foolish / sinful people – people do not give credit to the person…
  • They instead give GLORY to the ONLY wise God – because they see Jesus is us!

Because it is all about Jesus – His Power / His Grace / all Glory to Him alone!

4^th – Ready for the battle… vs. 18-20 (3 points)

1^st – This charge I commit to you son Timothy… vs. 18

CHARGE – parangello – a command from the Lord…

COMMIT – 19x in NT – to trust in the care of someone – someone to hold onto!

According to the prophecies [plural] made previously concerning you…

We are not told what they were – we can assume it had to do with being a pastor…

It is fair to assume Timothy from a young age showed pastoral gifts…

And before Timothy even knew it himself – others saw the calling on his life!

Many years ago – I was attending a church service – it was a difficult time in my life…

After the service the pastor offered to pray for me – I was hesitant…

But he prophesied over me that one day I would be a pastor!

We might think – no way I am EVERY going to be a Godly leader…

Sometimes other people see the work of God in our life more clearly!

2^nd – Wage a GOOD warfare… vs. 18-19

WAGE / WARFARE – same root word – strateuō – were we get the word STRATEGY!

Timothy was to get into the battle – using a GOOD STRATEGY…

The GOOD – kalos – STRATEGY – was to fight with FAITH and a GOOD CONSCIENCE…

GOOD – agathos – CONSCIENCE – speaking of an inwardly moral character!

Which can only be found by FAITH Jesus – in the POWER of the GRACE of God!

The POWER that can turn the CHIEF of SINNERS into the greatest of SAINTS!

Make no mistake – we are at war…

We are in a battle for the hearts of minds of those who do not know Jesus!

For those blinded by satan to the message of the Gospel – II Corinthians 4:4

But we have to have a GOOD STRATEGY – for how we are going to fight the battle!

II Corinthians 10:4-5 – “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.  With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.” [NLT]

By the POWER of the GRACE of God – our enemy does not stand a chance!

In Christ we have victory – no weapon can defeat us – Isaiah 54:17 / I John 4:4

3^rd – Some have rejected… vs. 19-20

REJECTED – to cast away violently – causing SHIPWRECK of their FAITH…

SHIPWRECK – 2x in NT – the picture is a of a ship that turns just a LITTLE of course…

Paul notes two men – Hymenaeus / Alexander – who had shipwrecked their faith!

If you took a plane from Manila to Hawaii – and your compass was off one degree…

You would miss the Island by over 100 kilometers – run out of fuel – and crash!

We may be right on with the Lord today – but that does not make us safe…

Compromise is a constant danger – it only takes a little to get us in a LOT of trouble!

The moment the Lord convicts our conscience we are off course…

Get back / cling to Jesus – go back to the GOOD STRATEGY – the POWER of GRACE!

Paul turned Hymenaeus / Alexander over to satan…

These two men had rejected the POWER of the GRACE of God…

Perhaps they were the men who wanted to be Teachers of the Law – I Timothy 1:6-7

Paul as a result – delivered them to satan – so they might LEARN not to blaspheme!

LEARN – (passive / subjunctive) – as a father punished a son!

Hebrews 12:5 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens [same word]…”

To be a GODLY LEADER in our family / community / church – there is ONE qualification…

To have the GRACE of God by FAITH – that gives us the POWER – to SERVE…

Anyone who teaches otherwise – who REJECT GRACE – and teach another Gospel…

We are to turn over – so they MAY learn – come back to the GRACE of God!