“I was born in 1725, and I died 1807. The only godly influence in my life, as far back as I can remember, was my mother, whom I had for only seven years. When she left my life through death, I was virtually an orphan.
My father remarried, sent me to a strict military school, where the severity of discipline almost broke my back. I couldn’t stand it any longer, and I left in rebellion at the age of ten. One year later, deciding that I would never enter formal education again, I became a seaman apprentice, hoping somehow to step into my father’s trade and learn at least the ability to skillfully navigate a ship.
By and by, through a process of time, I slowly gave myself over to the devil. And I determined that I would sin to my fill without restraint, now that the righteous lamp of my life had gone out. I did that until my days in the military service, where again discipline worked hard against me, but I further rebelled.
My spirit would not break, and I became increasingly more and more a rebel. Because of a number of things that I disagreed with in the military, I finally deserted, only to be captured like a common criminal and beaten publicly several times.
After enduring the punishment, I again fled. I entertained thoughts of suicide on my way to Africa, deciding that would be the place I could get farthest from anyone that knew me. And again I made a pact with the devil to live for him.
Somehow, through a process of events, I got in touch with a Portuguese slave trader, and I lived in his home. His wife, who was brimming with hostility, took a lot out on me. She beat me, and I ate like a dog on the floor of the home. If I refused to do that, she would whip me with a lash.
I fled penniless, owning only the clothes on my back, to the shoreline of Africa where I built a fire, hoping to attract a ship that was passing by. The skipper thought that I had gold or slaves or ivory to sell and was surprised because I was a skilled navigator. And it was there that I virtually lived for a long period of time. It was a slave ship.
I went through all sorts of narrow escapes with death only a hairbreadth away on a number of occasions. One time I opened some crates of rum and got everybody on the crew drunk. The skipper, incensed with my actions, beat me, threw me down below, and I lived on stale bread and sour vegetables for an unendurable amount of time. He brought me above to beat me again, and I fell overboard. Because I couldn’t swim, he harpooned me to get me back on the ship. And I lived with the scar in my side, big enough for me to put my fist into, until the day of my death.
On board, I was inflamed with fever. I was enraged with the humiliation. A storm broke out, and I wound up again in the hold of the ship, down among the pumps. To keep the ship afloat, I worked along as a servant of the slaves. There, bruised and confused, bleeding, diseased, I was the epitome of the degenerate man. I remembered the words of my mother. I cried out to God, the only way I knew, calling upon His grace and His mercy to deliver me, and upon His son to save me. The only glimmer of light I would find was in a crack in the ship in the floor above me, and I looked up to it and screamed for help. God heard me.
Thirty-one years passed, I married a childhood sweetheart. I entered the ministry. In every place that I served, rooms had to be added to the building to handle the crowds that came to hear the gospel that was presented and the story of God’s grace in my life. My tombstone above my head reads, "Born 1725, died 1807. A clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he once long labored to destroy."
I decided before my death to put my life’s story in verse. And that verse has become a hymn.
My name?
John Newton.
The hymn? "Amazing Grace."
Author unknown.
What do you think of when you hear the word Grace? Grace is not a cute girl with blonde curls and blue eyes. “We refer to a ballet dancer as having grace. We say grace at meals. We talk about the queen of England bringing grace to the events she attends. Grace can mean coordination of movement, it can mean prayer, and it can refer to dignity and elegance.” (Swindoll)
Too the Christian Grace means far more:
Grace is unmerited favor. It is God’s free action for the benefit of His people. It is different than Justice and Mercy. Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. In grace we get eternal life, something that, quite obviously, we do not deserve. But because of God’s love and kindness manifested in Jesus on the Cross, we receive the great blessing of redemption.
Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace rules out all human merit. It is the product of God that is given by God, because of who He is not because of who we are. It is the means of our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). We are no longer under the Law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). (See 1 Cor. 15:11; Rom. 5:2, 15-20; 2 Cor. 12:9; and 2 Cor. 9:8). http://www.carm.org/dictionary/dic_g-h.htm#_1_75
This morning we will see one of the greatest illustrations of grace found in the Old Testament, possibly the whole bible; and is an unforgettable story.
In the last chapter we found David in a season of life in which he had peace. I believe that it is probable that during this season of life David began to think of the promises and covenants that he made to Jonathan on two separate occasions, that when he became king, he would bless Jonathan’s family.
1 Samuel 9:1
1 Samuel 20:13-17
1 Samuel 24:20-22
David looks to fulfill these promises, and he asks if there is anyone left from Jonathan’s line.
Ziba Identifies Mephibosheth
Yes, but there’s a problem
He’s a cripple, an invalid
He’s not pretty, like the company you normally keep
He will be an eye sore in your courts.
Notice, David does not ask “How Bad?” rather he asks “Where is he?”
Grace is not picky.
Grace does not expect us to attain some standard.
Grace does not look for those who deserve love.
Grace operates apart from the response or ability of an individual.
Grace is one sided, it is given to those who can never repay.
Mephibosheth was hiding in fear for his life.
He new nothing of his Father and David’s covenant to each other.
In ancient times, the custom was for the new king to wipe out the previous king’s line, So that there could be no revolt.
Living in fear, he is taken to an obscure location, hoping to live out his existence without being found.
“Lo-debar comes from two Hebrew words: Lo – means no; and debar means pasture. Literally, Mephibosheth is living in a place of unimaginable desolation.” (Swindoll)
One day, the king’s guards show up at the door-step and say, “come with us.”
Mephibosheth before David
He comes before the king expecting to be executed
He did not expect clemency
He drops his crutches and throws himself before David – expecting a sword to strike his neck.
Yet, what he receives is far more than he could hope or imagine.
Read 9:8-13
David asks, “are you Mephibosheth?”
Yes…
Mephibosheth, get up… I’ve got a gift for you - GRACE
No longer will you live like a popper.
No longer will you hide in fear.
No longer will you barely get by.
I’m going to Bless You.
Amazing Grace
Some analogies between Mephibosheth and you and me. (adapted from Swindoll)
1. Mephibosheth once enjoyed uninterrupted fellowship with his father, the king. But sin and death interrupted that fellowship. Likewise, mankind’s fellowship with our heavenly Father is interrupted because of sin and death.
2. Because disaster came to Mephibosheth, he was forced to live in hiding. Mankind, because of our disastrous fall, lives in hiding from God.
3. Out of love, David sought to bless Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. Out of Love, God gave his Son Jesus Christ who came to seek and save those who were lost.
4. Mephibosheth had nothing that he could offer to the king. His appearance marred the king’s court; he had no wealth to honor the king; he could repay no debt to the king; he could not win the king’s favor. Likewise, there is absolutely nothing that we can bring to God to earn his favor. As the scripture declare, all of our righteous acts are as filthy rags.
5. David restored Mephibosheth from a place of disgrace to a place of honor. God, through his Son, has brought us from the position of enmity to friendship; from death to life; from sin to righteousness.
6. David adopted Mephibosheth; making him a permanent part of his family. By faith in Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family.
7. Mephibosheth’s disability was a constant reminder of God grace. He had nothing but was given plenty by the king. Our disability – sinful human nature – is a constant reminder of our need for God’s Grace. Like Mephibosheth we must limp in before God seeking grace… If we confess our sins…
8. When Mephibosheth sat at the king’s table he was treated just like the rest of the king’s family… no exception! When we sit down at our Father’s table at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we will be treated just like every other son at that table… Moses, David, Peter, James, John, Paul, Martin Luther, Billy Graham… We are all His Sons and Daughters by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Baseball Game
Bob was caught up in the spirit where he and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does not swing at Satan’s pitches.
Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at Satan’s throws. The bases were loaded. The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said he sure did not look like much! Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air, let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord’s team won.
The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.
The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My grace can get you home. My grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Wit & Wisdom - July 15, 1998
