TOPIC: FROM DOG TO CHILD II
MEMORIZE:
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for Il am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13
READ: 1 Timothy 1:11-17
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
MESSAGE
Yesterday, I established that God considers sinners and backsliders as dogs (Matthew 15:21-28, 2 Peter 2:22), and today, I will conclude the discussion on God's willingness to change them to children. Before I became born again, and while I was still single, I had so many girlfriends. Years later, after I had gotten married and given my life to Christ, I became a lecturer at the University of Ilorin. After a while, one of my former girlfriends, who had also gotten married, relocated to Ilorin with her husband. She had a child who was born lame, and somebody told her that there was a pastor who could pray for her child, and the child would begin to walk. When she came to the church, she asked to see the pastor. She was ushered into my office, and when she opened the door and saw me, we greeted ourselves as old flames would. Finally, she said, "I want to see the pastor." I said, "Yes, how can I help you?" She replied, "l said I want to see the pastor." I said, "l am the pastor." She responded, "You? You will pray, and God will answer?" We prayed, and the child began to walk.
The Bible says that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). The greatest miracle is the salvation of souls. If you are not yet born again, no matter how grave your sins are, God can save you too as He saved me. Before Saul encountered Jesus, he was a persecutor of Christians. However, after his encounter, he became a great asset to the Kingdom (1 Timothy 1:12-14). God converted cities through him, and a whole continent heard of Jesus through his ministry (Acts 19:26). There is no limit to what God can do in you, with you, and through you because when He transforms a man, He does it completely. As a son, you will have access to divine privileges. You will have the right to call God your Father, and you will partake of His inheritance.
Paul understood what it meant to be a new creature, and as God's child, he exercised his divine rights and authority. From a former dog, special miracles happened, and many people became transformed. If you are not yet born again, God wants to give you a new identity and make you His beloved child.
Surrender to Him now and watch Him make your life a wonder to many (Psalm 71:7).
KEY POINT
God is still in the business of transforming dogs into children.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 20-21
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE
1. Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear.
The hour I first believed!
3. The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
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