PASTOR’S NOTES
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.”
Last week, Paul identified the problem as well as the solution for the church in Ephesus. Paul told Timothy to take hold of the message, that everything flows out of the word of God and the Gospel, and to not allow anything to be added to or taken away from the Gospel of Jesus’s finished work on the cross. Even though this might sound simple, it would prove very challenging for Timothy because of all the problems from within the church. However, this week Paul tells Timothy that it is a privilege to be a part of that solution.
As Christians, we are all ministers, called to the Great Commission. If you are born again, then we all share the same duty to walk faithfully and to point others to the saving grace through Jesus. Paul tells Timothy that he is thankful that God would count him worthy of being a part of such a calling! No matter the circumstances. Just like any part of life, a faithful walk and ministry with others can become tiresome and even feel like a burden. We can become too tired to study and teach, too busy to help others, or too selfish to give. This is true especially when we are called to minister to challenging situations. Many believers begin to seek out rest before they are even tired. Or worse yet, place so many stipulations around ministry that nothing is ever done through them.
Right after speaking on the hardships of what is plaguing the church, Paul thanks God for choosing to use him in correcting the problems. Have you ever been thankful for problems? Paul sees problems as opportunities which leads him to a grateful spirit of thanksgiving because he is overwhelmed that God would use him!
That God would count me as faithful to serve Him!
This is what Paul is speaking about when he speaks of the “good fight” in verse 18. He is speaking of the good fight of faithful ministry. The privilege of emptying oneself for the glory of God. No matter if tired or discouraged, service to the Lord is always a privilege that should shake our lives, whether the opportunity is through hardships or blessings.
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Hebrews 12:1-2 which goes alongside the message of the fight of faith.
HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR BIBLES
Highlight 12-15 in 1 Timothy 1.
