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1st Timothy 1:12-17
“When the worst receives the best”
God wants us to be honest with who we are so we can be faithful with what he has done.
Sunday Morning Sermon
7.20.08
Intro:
Watch this video – notice who finally stands on the scales, I’ll ask you about it in 30 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrLzYw6ULYw
(Start with Title and Text)
God wants us to be honest with who we are so that we can be faithful with what he has done. That seems pretty simple doesn’t it? We teach honesty from a young age. Amanda and I are drilling into our daughter’s head that she can be honest with us – when she does something wrong (which does happen from time to time). I think that’s the way it starts – and then something changes, something happens. The seed of honesty that starts off with the expectation of growth – doesn’t get as much sunlight as it should when we get to be adults. We hide the way we feel, and it’s not a blessing to us.
My mom could make the BEST pie. Warm apple pie – Pumpkin pie – I remember walking into the house, around thanksgiving and smelling pecan pie. She thought I like coconut cream pie – I never told her any different. During the first few years we were married – I probably gave away 15 coconut cream pies. I wasn’t honest with her. Imagine for a moment if I had been truthful – “mom, my favorite pie is pecan” – Imagine how much my honesty would have been a blessing, for the both of us.
Discussion:
God already knows your past. He already knows how you hurt, and the people you can name who have hurt you – he knows you keep that list. God already knows about your apathy – your justifications – your rationalization of sin. He knows how you hide your sin – the websites and chat rooms– the jokes you laugh at, the language you use – the addictions you have – the habits seek approval for, the bitterness you hold on to. Being honest with who we are starts with where we are. It’s not my purpose this morning to solve all those issues – it is the good purpose this morning to help us move forward in dealing with who we are – and what God has done, and desires to do in your life and mine.
What I want you to do – is recognize the short falls in your life – places where you don’t match up – and start with honesty and then move towards the grace He offers freely.
We have that example in scripture – if you have your Bibles with you this morning turn with me to 1st Timothy 1:12-17 (Read) (Advance)
It’s refreshing to me to find such honesty in the life of Paul. He knew who he was and he knew what God had done for him. Listen –
God wants us to be honest with who we are so we can be faithful with what he has done.
If that statement is biblically true, there are two questions we must answer. (Advance)
I. Who are we?
Before you answer that – you are not your job. Your occupation doesn’t define who you are – it’s not limited to just your time card, paycheck or a badge that you wear. You are not just your kids’ parent – You will always be their mom or dad (that’s not a bad thing) but that’s not the only thing that defines you. You are not defined by your spouse or the lack of spouse. They might be a huge influence in your life – their absence might be a huge void in your life – but again…that’s not what defines who you are. Let’s look at Paul for just a second… (Advance)
Vs. 12 -- I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
a. Paul starts with Christ – when he identifies himself
i. He starts with what Christ has done – notice here:
1. He is strengthened because of Christ
2. Jesus considered him faithful
3. Jesus appointed him to “service” – Lit. “Ministry”
There was a time when Paul was not Paul.
Back to the book of Acts – Paul was SAUL (Advance)
Acts 8:1 (NIV) – And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
There was a preacher named Stephen – and Stephen gave a sermon to the Sanhedrin – telling them how their fathers missed the point of life, and resisted God. He says in vs. 51 of chapter 7 in Acts – (Advance) “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” Of course that stuck to them like road-kill skunk on a radial tire. Sometimes when you knock the devil right between the eyes, people get offended. And they were OFFENDED! (Advance)
Acts 7:54-60 (NIV) – 54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
The normal stoning method – the victim would get tossed over a cliff and they would roll large rocks off the cliff until the person was dead. Here they simply mobbed him. Saul was right there giving a proverbial golf clap – giving his approval. If you remember the writer of Hebrews tells us to run the race that is the Christian life – like these people were stoning Stephen – taking off everything that hinders. I guess it’s easier to throw stones if you aren’t wearing a coat – so they gave their coats to Saul – laying them at his feet.
Saul was not a good guy. Zealous – yes. Self-Righteous – Yes. A law keeper – YES. Legalistic righteousness – in his own words: “Faultless”
b. His honesty doesn’t start where God started working in his life
He says this: (Advance) 1 Timothy 1:13 (NIV) – 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.
c. Paul knew who he was
John Stott says, “Paul was a bully with outrageous disregard of other men’s rights.”
i. He knew his own faults
ii. He knew his weaknesses
iii. He knew his own past – and to his blessing he was honest.
You and I cannot be faithful to what he has done (salvation) without first being honest with who we are. Church --
d. Your sin –
Regardless how big or small – how loose or tight you hold on to it – how much you can justify or rationalize it – your sin moves you away from God’s will in your life. It’s really that simple. It prevents the process of holiness – sanctification from taking place in your life.
e. Be Honest –
i. Recognize sin for what it is
Someone said: “I believe that a long step toward public morality will have been taken when sins are called by their right names.”
Dr. Charles Kerns – wrote an article for the Pepperdine University business school – Identifying why good leaders do bad things – He gives 5 reasons – one of the five is Dilute and disguise – an example is saying “inappropriate allocation of resources” instead of simply saying what everyone else knows as stealing. He calls renaming our sin – dishonest. The only way to recognize sin for what it is
1. Compare it to the word of God –the best black and white source for truth. (Advance)
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) – The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
ii. Realize what it does in your life
The long term problem of dishonesty with yourself and with God about your sin is the place you will spend eternity – Paul says – you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Once you recognize, and realize it’s simply time to…
iii. Repent – and allow the mercy of God to flow
See yourself – in the darkness of your sin. See yourself absent of the will of God, struggling to understand his will for your life – and then come back – for the prodigal son he had to share slop with the hogs before realizing the mercy of his father. For Paul it was on the road to Damascus – eyesight gone – no food or water for 3 days, audible voice of God, baptism.
1. There is no shame in understanding you aren’t where you should be
2. There is no harm in admitting you’ve fallen short
In fact the worst thing you could do is convince yourself that I’m talking to the person next to you, across from you or behind you, maybe picture people in your mind you wish were here because this applies to them, instead of you. Could we just get honest with ourselves – and see this for what it is? Could we get honest with our God and see the destruction sin causes – and know that it’s never God’s will for us?
f. Put yourself in position for Grace
10 years ago we went to the Smokey Mountains. We stayed at this nice resort with a water fall. Waterfalls are great – but you have to be in the right position to feel its power. Grace is the same way. Paul describes God’s grace like that –(Advance)
1 Timothy 1:14 (NIV) – The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Once Paul put himself in position for the grace of God to flow in his life – it didn’t stop. It was powerful and effective – allowing him to turn his back on his former life. The same can be true for us. God is ready to do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine – Church are you weary? He offers rest. Are you worried? He offers hope. Are you struggling with sin – He offers restoration and forgiveness.
A good question – who are you – when you are honest with God? Who are you when you are honest with yourself? In order to be faithful to what he has done – we must first be honest.
If that’s true here’s the second question: (Advance)
II. What has he done?
What has God done in your life and in mine that requires this honesty and then allows for faithfulness?
a. Let me describe it for you
i. It’s a past event -- 2 events really
ii. Celebrated twice a year – Easter and Christmas
iii. The greatest event in the history of man
iv. Some people don’t get it – why it would happen
v. Some people deny that it happened
vi. Some people are looking for something else to happen
Paul says it in a “Trustworthy saying”—let me repeat it for you – we’ll take it in 2 parts: (Advance) 1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV) – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…
AMEN? Please…amen. I know I’ve lost some of you at road kill skunk on a radial tire – but try to stick with me on this. Let me repeat it…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…AMEN! If this part does not apply to you – you are free to leave. That’s great news! Jesus said it this way: (Advance) Luke 19:10 (NIV) – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
He was called Emmanuel – “God with us” for a reason…
b. This changes everything!
i. The lost can be found
ii. The unrighteous can be made righteous in HIM
iii. Sinners can be forgiven
Let’s look at that verse again – vs. 15 (Advance)Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… Let me add the second part…(Advance) of whom I am the worst.
Paul has already been honest – he’s come to grips with when he blasphemed God, when he persecuted the church and admitted to being violent. That’s why he lets us know of the trust worthy saying which sums up the gospel’s universal message of salvation, right? He’s talking about his past, right? Um…no. He does not say I was the worst of sinners – he says – I am the worst present tense. 3 hours ago, I WAS at home. I am at the church. Past & present tense – it’s intentional. Paul knew who he was, it wasn’t a self-esteem issue or a lack of confidence – it was honesty. (Advance)
1 Corinthians 15:9 (NIV) – For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
It was honesty with a desire for faithfulness. Here’s the point for Paul
c. Grace meant effort, it meant honor, it meant service back to God
We’ll accept the grace of God as long as we beat the Baptists to the Buffett. We’ll accept grace all day long – as long as it doesn’t take all day long. We don’t see God’s grace as a gift – we don’t see grace as working in our lives – it’s something we claim, as long as the claim doesn’t cost us anything. Listen for Paul – the claim of grace and mercy on his life – meant something – it meant service and ministry – it meant homeless shelters and VBS kind of service. It was hard work, and long hours kind of service. (Advance) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… of whom I am the worst.
d. Paul was faithful to what God had done
i. Paul was an example – for us
If God can change and bring salvation to and work through someone like Paul (the worst of sinners and the least of the apostles) – Paul would say God can do the same for you and me, sitting in church on Sunday morning – hearing a good sermon and preaching a good sermon. .
e. We can be changed
It was to save sinners that Christ came into the world. He did not come to help them save themselves, nor to induce them to save themselves, not to even enable them to save themselves. He came to save them!
i. We need to be changed – but only through the grace of God
ii. Only through the mercy of God can he accomplish in our lives the work he has already done – let me show you what he’s done:
(Advance)
1. Romans 5:11 -- Reconciliation
2. Romans 5:21 -- Eternal Life
3. Romans 6:8 -- New Life
4. Romans 8:1 -- Removal of condemnation
5. Romans 8:2 – Freedom from the law of sin and death
6. Romans 12:5 – Unity in the body (many become one)
Not only is our identity in Christ – that’s who we are. But he has offered us grace and given us salvation – that’s what he’s done. Are you being – can you be faithful to who you are, and what he’s done?
Conclusion:
I asked you earlier to remember the video – 30 minutes ago. Who stepped on the scale at the end of the video? Jesus did. What difference does it make if you are judged by the righteousness of Christ or your own? The difference is eternity – The Bible says that you will one day bow and confess his name. Honesty with God will keep you faithful to his salvation in your life. Honesty with who you are, and where you are spiritually, will keep you from depending on yourself for goodness. So here’s the good question – how honest are you? That’s only something you can answer by yourself – it’s not based on your spouse, your kids, your job, or anything else – it’s just you and GOD. Listen – one day it will be just you and God – and time will not allow for choices, decisions or regrets – now is the time to prepare for that eternity.
Let’s pray.
This is the place – among friends, people who care about you, love you and want to grow with you. Sin is nothing compared to the overflowing mercy offered by God. How can you be faithful to something you’ve never accepted so this morning we are going to sing a song of invitation and maybe you need to accept this message of grace. Maybe you haven’t been faithful to what he’s done, and want to change and grow. Perhaps you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and need to take the same steps Paul did – Belief, confession, repentance and baptism. If you have a decision to make this morning come as we stand and sing.
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