He is Able
II Timothy 1:12 “For that which cause I also suffer these tings, nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
Introduction:
Stress, strain, suffering, are as old as the human race. When reading about Paul’s experiences one often wonders why he didn’t crack up physically and mentally, and give up spiritually. Paul knew the meaning of fear and frustration, of misunderstanding and the loss of friends. He knew the meaning of hunger. He was persecuted from without and by what he called a thorn in the flesh he buffeted from within, but he stood up well. The secret of his strength, of his ability to take it, is to be found in II Timothy 1:12. Paul was sustained by faith and by a sense of personal security in Christ Jesus. Paul felt great comfort because he had committed the keeping of his soul to the Lord Jesus.
I. Let us consider Paul’s action in committing his soul to God.
A. Evidently, he had felt the value of his soul and wanted to make sure of its safety. The soul is man’s most important possession. The famous Madonna by Botticelli was painted on a wooden panel at least 400 years ago. Recently the wood began to crack and it was feared that the painting would be ruined, but a restorer was found who said that he could save it. His first step was to paste thin strips of tissue paper on the face of the picture, pressing the pager into the uneven surface of the painting. He added layer after layer until a thick body of paper concealed the picture. Then he turned the picture over and began to sandpaper the wood away. After many months of careful work, he had all the wood removed and nothing but the paint adhered to the paper. Next, he glued a piece of linen canvas very carefully to the pain and slowly and patiently removed the paper bit by bit. This work took nearly 2 years but when it was finished, the picture was in condition to last another 400 years.
It was the value of the painting that justified such care and expense in restoring it. How patiently the great master deals with human souls in order to save them. The value of the human soul is proved by the fact that He gave His precious life for it.
B. Paul knew the value of his soul. Conscious of his own weakness but believing in the grace and power of the Lord Jesus, Paul placed his most important possession in his Lord’s keeping, knowing that his soul’s needs would be supplied by the Good Shepherd. His soul’s hurts would be healed by the great physician. His soul’s course would be plotted by the great pilot. His soul’s cause would be pleaded by the great advocate. His soul’s care would be guarded by the great protector. Paul had committed his soul to Jesus as an act of faith, which act he persevered in constantly. As a result of this commitment....
II. Paul Knew Something
“I know whom I have believed.” He knew the one in whom he had put his trust. He doesn’t say “I know in whom,” but, “ I know whom I have believed”. Paul’s was a personal faith in a personal savior. Paul knew Him. When James Alexander was dying his wife tried to comfort him by scripture as she quoted to him, “I know in whom I have believed.” He at once corrected her, saying, “Not in whom I have believed, but I know whom I have believed.” He would not allow even a little preposition to stand between his soul and the Savior. No unconfessed sin, no love of self, no self righteousness, no worldliness, no pride, nothing!
A man of high standing and influence said to a minister, “Do not mention the subject of religion to me. I am tired of it. My father’s house was the preacher’s home. All of them seemed to think they were under obligations to him to get me into the church. I am better than many of the members.” This was followed by a glorification of himself.
His request was granted. He was let alone. As the meeting progressed the minister used this illustration. He said, “When an unsaved man constantly thinks of himself and contrasts his personal virtues with the frailties of members of the church, it reminds me of two men at Niagra Falls on a beautiful day. One was moved to bless the Creator, the other, blind to all the glory of God, took a broken mirror from his pocket and gazing at his own likeness, exclaimed “I’m a very handsome man.”
That night the business man said to the minister, “I want to talk a while. You cut me to pieces tonight.” “How so?” “ That little piece of broken looking glass did the work. It described me. What must I do to be saved?”
Sherwood Eddy says that the great Madras Y.M.C.A. building was held up for months after the site was chosen, the plans drawn, and the money provided, because two shanty owners would not let go their hold on a little ground in the center of the plot. Is there a little shanty in our hearts which is holding up the great building for character and service for which God has the plans and means ready?
There was nothing between Paul and the Savior. He had met Jesus personally on the Damascus road. He knew Jesus by personal communion with Him. They kept in touch with one another. The love and faithfulness of the Lord was real in Paul’s life. Do we have this personal relationship with the Lord? Do we know the one in whom we have put our trust?
Because Paul had a personal knowledge of the Lord,
III. There was something he could be sure of.
A. “I am sure that Christ is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
His assurance was reasonable and deliberate. Hence he says, “I am persuaded.” Justin Martyr whom asked ironically by the Roman ruler if he believed that following his execution he would ascend to heaven, replied, “I am so sure of the grace which Jesus hath obtained for me that not a shadow of a doubt can enter my mind.”
Paul was persuaded of the ability of Jesus to keep all souls committed to Him. Hi is divine and all powerful to save. His atoning work is finished. Paul was persuaded of Jesus’ ability to keep Paul’s soul under the heavy trials which were pressing him. “For Paul, Christ was able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” And by that same power Paul had learned that he could do all tings through Jesus Christ giving him strength. He believed that the one who had redeemed his soul, the one who had cleansed it, could also keep it. He was persuaded.
C. Faith, hope and love were questioned what they thought of future glory which religion taught. Now faith believed it firmly to be true, and hope expected to find it too. Love assures smiling with a conscious ‘believe, expect, I know it to be so’ glow.
Alfred Murray had an extension phone in his study. He was on the second floor when the phone range. Then the doorbell rang. He excused himself and went downstairs to answer the phone. After his caller was dismissed, he took his call on the downstair phone. About 3 hours later a friend called to see him. “I tried 2 hours to get you.” “But I was here all afternoon...” Then he thought of the phone, and remembered leaving the receiver off the hook. Then he wondered how many times God had tried to call and couldn’t get through because his receiver was off. Perhaps God had tried to call but in his answering of other voices he had neglected possible communion with God.
IV. Since Paul was persuaded that Christ could keep his soul,
A. He was very cheerful. He had all the tone and air of a thoroughly happy man.
B. He was very confident. Though a prisoner, he could say, “Nevertheless, I am not ashamed.”
In II Tim 1:7-8 Paul said to Timothy,
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who saved us and called us with a holy calling.”
He was not ashamed of his Lord, nor of the Gospel, nor of the Christian life and his sufferings for being loyal.
C. He was very thankful and gladly praised the Lord for so great salvation.
There is a story of an old Scottish baron, who, though shut up in his castle withstood a long siege which should have starved him out.
At last the enemy was surprised to see a great string of fish hung over the castle wall. That was a token that the castle could not be taken by siege as long as there were fish in the ocean. The castle had a subterranean connection with the sea. Did you ever notice what the unconverted man lives on? In Hosea, he feeds on the East wind; not very satisfying. In Proverbs he feeds on foolishness; not very substantial. IN Luke 15, he feeds on husks, and in Isaiah 44 on ashes. Come and partake of the bread of life, o sinner. Thus exhaustless is the soul’s supply of food and no siege of Satan need cause us to surrender.
Conclusion:
The text is a confession of faith or a form of adoration. Let us seek more knowledge of the Lord as the keeper of our souls. Let us be of that brave persuasion which trusts and is not afraid.
Let us learn to say with Paul, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
