How to Find Strength in the Lord
1 Timothy 1:12-2:4
Introduction
What does it mean to be a strong Christian? We might answer that in terms of activities - how much do we DO for the Lord. We might answer that in terms of faith - how much do we BELIEVE in the Lord. We might answer that in terms of comparisons - I’m stronger or weaker than other Christians I know. We might wonder why we feel so weak as a Christian and why does being a strong Christian seem so far away from us? The truth is that our strength is in the Lord - not in ourselves. D. L. Moody said, “When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 “…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
That seems backwards, but it is the reality for all of us. Our true strength is to be found in Jesus Christ. That’s a lesson that a young minister named Timothy needed to learn.
When Paul wrote his letters to Timothy, they were among his last letters, not too long before his death at the hands of Emperor Nero. Paul had lived such a bold life - but he also dealt with his own struggles. He learned to lean on the Lord in the weakest of times, which made him a strong influencer for Jesus. Timothy was, apparently, a bit timid and perhaps facing some people who were overpowering him in their ways. Paul wrote to him to bolster his faith and encourage him to stand strong for the Lord.
1 Timothy 1:12 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength…”
How to Find Strength for the Christian Walk
1. We Find Strength in the Lord’s MERCY and GRACE (1:13-14)
1 Timothy 1:13-14 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. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul acknowledge his painful past. We can sometimes be overwhelmed with our past - decisions, regrets, troubles, mistakes. Paul said, “Even though …” blasphemer, persecutor, violent. Mercy is God’s love ‘in spite of’ what you’ve been. We would expect God’s anger and punishment, unexpectedly Mercy is given. ‘Mercy there was great and grace was free, Pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary!”
For once, someone believes in you - not your past, not your problems and troubles, not what you’ve done - but sees beyond all of that to see and love you. Paul says the Lord’s grace was poured out on him abundantly. Mercy is God withholding what we deserve, Grace is giving us what we do not deserve. Grace is ‘abundant’ … beyond measure … always more than enough. The super-abundant / hyper-abundant grace of God flooded Paul’s hearts as it does ours. John Stott: “Grace flooded with faith a heart previously filled with unbelief, and flooded with love a heart previously polluted with hatred.”
2. We Find Strength in SALVATION (1:15-16)
1 Timothy 1:15-16 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 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.
Christ came to save - this was His mission. Christ came to save sinners - He came for those who needed saving - the Great Physician came for the sin-sick. Christ came to save me. Paul said he was the Chief of sinners, the worst of sinners. (16a) Stott: Paul was so vividly aware of his own sins that he could not conceive that anybody could be worse. It is the language of every sinner whose conscience has been awakened and disturbed by the Holy Spirit." If Christ could save him - he can save you (16b). To be saved is to receive eternal life (16c). Our greatest assurance in this world of earthquakes, pandemics, brutality and terrorism, we need to know that this is not all there is to life.
1 John 5:11 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." Eternity is not just the payoff in the end, it is the assurance for the now.
3. We Find Strength in PRAISE (1:17)
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Realizing the great blessing of mercy, grace, faith, love, salvation and eternity, Paul is moved into praise! We neglect the power of praise - when we praise… We are reminded of why God alone is worthy We affirm why we devoted ourselves to him. God is blessed by our words of praise. Psalm 103:1 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” NKJV King Jehoshaphat faced bitter enemies of God. He prayed and asked God to help, then led the people of Judah in prayer. “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise”…the victory was theirs! (2 Chronicles 20:22) How many times have we passed over prayers of praise and
thereby lost the strength God wanted to give us?
4. We Find Strength in the FIGHT (1:18-20)
1 Timothy 1:18-20 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Fight the Battle Well (1:18). The ‘Fight’ and spiritual ‘war’ imagery is common in Bible. We have an Enemy, he hates us, we must not ever let our guard down in our fight against him. Platt: “We’re in a war, brothers and sisters in Christ… Whether you’re a teenager at school or a businessperson at work, a battle is raging all around you. Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms are active, and they are warring against your soul (Eph 6:12). The Devil and all the minions of hell will entice you with deceptions and incite you with divisions because they do not want the gospel to resound in and through your life, your marriage, your family, or any other area. This battle will look differently in each of our lives, but do not be caught off guard—you are in a war.”
Two Weapons: Faith and Good Conscience. Faith believes that God will bring the victory - whether we can see it or not. Good Conscience requires a holy life, dependent on God’s mercy and grace, but also struggling to live the Jesus Life. Don’t wreck the ship! When we reject God’s path and try to live our own way in our own wisdom, in our own strength, we will not stay afloat! Paul noted two who left behind their faith. Stay in the Fight!
5. We Find Strength in PRAYER (2:1-4)
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Pray all kinds of prayers for all people. (1)
Pray world-shaking prayers for those in authority. (2)
Pray for for the lost to be saved (4)
Pray in the power of Jesus (5)
Hudson Taylor: “Do not work so hard for Christ that you have no strength to pray, for prayer requires strength.”
Conclusion
What does it mean to be a strong Christian? It means to find your strength in Jesus Christ, not in yourself!
Trust in HIs Mercy and Grace
Make your salvation sure
Continually offer up praise
Fight the Good Fight & Pray without ceasing
That might sound like a lot but your enemy will never stop working against you, trying to weaken your faith in the Lord.
Always remember that when you can’t He can!
When there is no way, he will make a way!
When you are exhausted, He is never tired!
When you are tempted, He is at your side!
When you are failing, He is lifting you up!
When you are weak, then He is strong for you!
Do you trust Him? What’s keeping you from giving your life to Him?
Trust Him in Faith, Turn to Him Repentance, Begin a New Life in Him in Baptism.
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Discussion Questions
1. As you think about what it means to be a strong Christian, what qualities come to mind first?
2. When Paul writes, “when I am weak, then I am strong”, what do you think he means by that? In what ways has that been demonstrated in your own life?
3. Paul often referred to his painful past as a persecutor. This is a testimony he often uses to point to the grace of Christ. What do you think about people using testimonials in the worship assembly? What potential challenges might that present? What potential blessings?
4. Some have said that they find it difficult to say words of praise in prayer. Why do you think that is challenging for some? What would you tell someone who had the desire to grow in praising God? Is there a difference between praise and thanks?
5. When Paul suggests that we ‘fight the good fight’, what is he encouraging us to do?
6. In vs 19, Paul tells Timothy to hold on to ‘faith and good conscience’. John Stott wrote this about conscience: “So if we disregard the voice of the conscience, allowing sin to remain unconfessed and unforsaken, our faith will not long survive. Anybody whose conscience has been so manipulated as to be rendered insensitive is in a very dangerous condition, wide open to the deceptions of the devil (4:1-2).” How can we keep our conscience tender to the will of God and prompting of the Holy Spirit?
7. What else in this text did you want to talk about?
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Resources
Stott, John R. W. The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus: God’s Good News For the World. InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Platt, David, Daniel L. Akin, Tony Merida. Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B & H Publishing, 2013.
