B. The sound minister. 1:12-20 A sound ministry is faithfully depending on God. V.12 a) Enabling of God - What God did. I. Ability of God. Can be likened to the hand of God upon our life. A. Grace - Little finger. (We lean our hand upon that finger) B. Presence - Tomb. C. Gifts - Pointing finger. D. Strength - Index finger. E. Fruit - Ring finger. II. Accountability of Paul. A. Faithful aspect is not sinless or faultless but: 1. Pure motives of heart. 2. Patience of heart. 3. Presence of God. B. Knowledge, gifts or communication skill is not the first requirement for ministry but faithfulness. 1.Cor.4:2 Paul reminds Timothy based upon his own testimony that no one is too hard to Convert and Correct. V.13 b) Ex-unbeliever obtained mercy - When God did it. A sound ministry knows he is a sinner that has received mercy. I. Raged man. A. Blasphemer - Words. B. Persecutor - Ways. C. Insolent (Violent) - Works. II. Receiver of mercy. Paul didn’ t know what He was actually doing against God through His persecution. Luke 23:34 V.14 c) Exceeding grace of Christ - Sufficient grace. A sound ministry does ministry through grace, faith and love. The 3 keys to a breakthrough ministry: I. Exceeding grace - You get freely what you do not deserve. II. Establishing faith - You get freely what you can believe God for. III. Enduring love - You give freely what you have been given. V.15 d) Elevate Saviour and Sinner - Saving grace. A sound ministry is humble. I. Christ came to save Sinners. All man has sinned therefore Christ came to save all who would receive His salvation. II. Chief sinner. A. When Paul had been a Christian for about 18-20 years he said - “ I am the least of the apostles” 1.Cor.15:9 B. When Paul had been a Christian for about 23-26 years he said - “ I am the least of all the saints” Eph.3:8 C. When Paul had been a Christian for about 26-28 years he said - “ sinners, of whom I am chief ” 1.Tim.1:15 D. Not was chief but am chief - Present tense. E. Was Paul presently in his time the chief sinner on the earth! The closer we come to the light of God the more dirt we will see. V.16 e) Example of Christ’ s longsuffering - Why God did it. A sound ministry is a pattern. I. Purpose of receiving mercy. To become a pattern. II. Pattern of longsuffering. A. Enmity - God’ s greatest enemy can become His greatest servant. B. Sin - There is no sinner to sinful to convert. C. Patience - God may be patient with anyone since He was patient with Paul. V.17 f) Exaltation of the Eternal God - A sound ministry gives always God the glory. I. Attributes of the King. A. Eternal - God existed before He created time, He has always existed. B. Immortal - God has no beginning therefore no end. C. Invisible - God is not a created being and therefore can be invisible to all creation. Invisibility has to with the capacity to see, God is the Creator of sight and has chosen not to create sight that can see Him all the time. II. Adoration of God. Any ministry should be focused upon giving God the glory for what He does for them and through them. V.18 g) Exhortation to fight - A sound ministry is serious with the prophetic call. I. Former prophesies. 1.Tim.4:14; 2.Tim. 1:6 A. God desires to speak into every man’ s life His Will, Way and Work. B. To ways that prophesies is uttered: 1. Foretelling - Revealing the future in advance. 2. Forth telling - Revealing the God’ s voice in the present. II. Future warfare. Prophesies gives us insight into what will of the Lord is and thereby we can fight for the right things. Heb.10:36 V.19 h) Error of some ministries - A sound ministry is guarding the faith and conscience. I. Sincere faith and conscience. In spiritual warfare 2 things are vital to protect: A. Faith - It’ s the shield by which we can quench arrows of demons. If the shield of faith is wrecked we will be defeated. B. Conscience - It’ s the voice that convicts us when we sin. If the voice of conscience is wrecked we will remain defeated in sin . II. Shipwrecked faith. If the faith goes under so does the man. V.20 i) Extermination of false teachers - I. Examples of shipwrecked men. Hymenaeus and Alexander lost their faith. 2.Tim.2:17; 4:14 This two were perhaps former leaders, teachers or elders. II. Extermination of shipwrecked men. 1. Shipwrecked men are delivered to the one that also once where shipwrecked and their they learn not to blaspheme. 1.Cor.5:5 2. Some men needs to be cast off the ship (church) like Jonah to realize their backsliding. The book of Jonah