Mensa Otabil - Enabled by the Lord (10/03/2025)
First Timothy chapter 1, verse 12: «And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, because he has counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.» At this time, Paul is discussing his calling and the ministry that God has given him, and he offers thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for his calling and the ministry he has been entrusted with. The Lord did not only entrust Paul with the ministry, but he also enabled him.
The apostles saw Christ as the source of his strength in the Christian walk and in the ministry that had been given to him. The ministry of Paul was a very remarkable one; there were signs, there were wonders, there were healings; even some who were dead were raised back to life. He had a great ministry and possessed much knowledge about the mysteries of Christ, which he shared freely with us. He considered all of that as an enablement of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t give credit to his rabbinical training-though he had a very good education-nor does he see it as eloquence or oratory.
Paul only saw Christ as the enabler of all that he did, and that is a very important indicator for us. We may have gifts, abilities, and strengths that enable us to do things, and many times we want to give credit to those things for what we have achieved in life. We might say, «Well, I’m a very meticulous person; I work hard.» While it is good to do all of that, as Christians, at the end of the day, we cast all our crowns before the Lord and credit him for the enablement, ability, and gifts we have. That is what Paul is expressing: «I thank God who has enabled me.»
The other thing Paul says in this verse, verse 12, is, «Because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.» Paul was faithful in ministry; thus, he emphasizes faithfulness as important in the work that God has called us to do-not only in preaching but in every area of our lives. Faithfulness means being committed to what you have and doing it well to meet the expectations of the one who has entrusted that task to you. If God gives us a gift, we must be faithful and be good stewards of it. Jesus taught that faithfulness starts with little things: faithfulness with your time, faithfulness in how you manage money, and faithfulness in relationships. If you are faithful in little, Jesus says you’ll be faithful in much.
Paul is saying God counted him faithful; in other words, he didn’t start with all the grand things he later achieved; he began very small. At every point, he committed himself and was convinced about what he was doing. He gave all his heart to it, and as he did that, God entrusted him with more and more. Even as an ignorant unbeliever, Paul was a very committed person to the things that were given to him, and he pursued them with zeal, but God graciously saved him. The important thing is, if we are to do the things that God wants us to do, we have to be faithful. We must handle the resources he gives us very well and account for them so that he can entrust us with far more. I pray that God will give us all the ability to be faithful, so he can enable us more and more to do his work and fulfill our destiny.
Let’s share a prayer. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace that enables me. Help me to faithfully serve my generation. In Jesus' name, Amen.» May the Lord find each one of us faithful in the service he has called us to. I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.