God's Amazing Grace

God’s Amazing Grace

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8; First Corinthians 15:8-10; Romans 6:1-2

The title of my message this morning is “God’s Amazing Grace.”

On Monday morning I went downstairs to my office to begin working on this message. I had the day off because it was our holiday celebrating the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin L. King. As I went into my office, I once again felt God’s presence. I had felt His presence since Sunday, and I knew that He was developing in me a message that He wanted me to share with you. You may have experienced those times when you just knew there was something God’s wanted to say but you had not received the fullness of it yet. As I lay in bed Sunday night I prayed and asked God to reveal it to me as it was weighing on my heart. So on Monday morning, as I sat at my desk, God took my mind to a song I heard growing up in my home Church. This song was led by Deacon Isaiah Marshall, a truly humble man who served God. He loved this song and I grew to love hearing him sing it as I could tell it meant something to him. The name of the song was “Mother’s Amazing Grace” by Roberta Martin. My grandfather also loved to sing this song as he worked as a carpenter building homes. I want you to listen to the words of this song as I am sure some of our younger members have probably never heard of it.

It says, “I was young but I recall, singing songs was mother's joy, as the shadows gathered at the close of day, and I'd sit upon her knee, in those days that used to be, as she sang of God's amazing grace. Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. Mother was so good and kind, oft she told me I would find, not another who would share my griefs and woes. So I took her at her word, and sought the blessed Lord, and today my mother's God is mine. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved, how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed. At the closing of life's day, Christ will be my hope and stay, I shall meet my blessed mother face to face, and I'll tell her over there, in that land so bright and fair, I am glad I trusted God's amazing grace. Thro' many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, 'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

I went to YouTube to find a performance of this song. As I listened to the song, it took me back to Friendship M.B. Church some fifty years ago. I saw in my mind’s eye and heard in my spirit Deacon Marshall singing that song. I could visually see the tears flowing down his face as he sung, imagining the memories that possibly flowed through his mind with every verse. Deacon Marshall died many years ago and I remember attending his funeral. As they went through the program I had vivid memories of him singing this song at the funerals of others. I found peace during his service believing that he was now in the presence of his Lord and Savior and heard the words “Well done my good and faithful servant!” As I continued listening to the song I closed my eyes as my tears started flowing. I sat at my desk with tears flowing thinking about the amazing grace that God has shown me. As I sat there crying, I could not help but ask God once again to forgive me for my sins, for all the times I had failed Him and for those times when I did not act according to His will. When I opened my eyes I could barely see my computer screen. It was at that moment I knew what God wanted me to tell you this morning – He wants me to remind you of His amazing grace.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Everything that we have is through the grace of God – and I do mean everything! There was no possible way that I could have been saved based on my own merit. Nothing I could ever do would be good enough to save me. If it were left up to me to work my way into the presence of God, to work out my own salvation, I would be on my on going in the opposite direction. No one knows my failures better than me and God and that’s why the tears began to flow as I listened to that song. No one can tell my story better than me and I am here to tell you that I am a living testimony of the grace of God.