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"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord..."

Text: 1 Timothy 1:12

A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

To the apostle Paul faith was more than an acceptance of certain doctrines about God. To him faith was a very personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me,
because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”

1 Timothy 1:12

1. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord”

a) Paul had come to faith in Jesus through a personal encounter with Him (Acts 9:1-18).

b) Jesus was now no longer an Enemy to be persecuted.

c) Jesus was the Messiah.

i) He is the Christ.

ii) He is also Lord.

d) From then onwards Paul cultivated a meaningful and significant walk with the Lord.

2. “Who has enabled me”

a) The Lord Jesus did not become a Saviour who was distant.

b) He was personally involved in Paul’s life.

c) His work of enablement:-

i) This means empowering.

ii) The Lord’s power in Paul saw him slowly but surely transformed into a mighty apostle.

3. “Because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry”

a) The salvation given to Paul was so real it changed him completely.

i) In heart

ii) In mind

iii) In spirit

b) The Lord saw this.

i) He believed that Paul could be entrusted with the gospel.

ii) He went on to entrust Paul with many more areas of work.

iii) He began with preaching the Gospel.

iv) He ended with being entrusted with the responsibility of being a stout defender of the gospel, and an apostle to the Gentiles.