1 Tim. 1:12-17 (KJV) 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.
(TOPIC- (IT DOES`NT MATTER WHAT I USED TO BE)
MY BROTHERS
SOME OF US WERE ONCE DRUG ADDICTS -ALCOHOLICS
SOME OF US WERE PIMPS-PLAY BOYS
BUT NOW WE ARE BORN AGAIN CHILDREN OF GOD
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN A SAINT ALL YOUR LIFE
DON`T LOOK DOWN ON US WHO HAVE FALLEN SHORT
BECAUSE IV`E DISCOVERED IN THE WORD OF GOD
THAT IT`S NOT THE END
BUT I`M GLAD THAT WE SERVE A GOD THAT WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE
AND I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT ONLY DIFFERENT
BETWEEN US AND IS THAT WE GOT CAUGHT
AND YOU HAVE`NT GOT CAUGHT YET
BECAUSE WHATS DONE IN THE DARK WILL COME TO THE LIGHT
AND BE SURE THAT YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT
AND BEFORE I DO THIS TEXT A GREAT INJUSTICE OR DISERVICE
LET ME BRING SOME LIGHT ON THE SCRIPTURAL TEXT BEFORE US
IN THE TEXT BEFORE US WE HAVE AND ACCOUNT OF PAUL SINFULNESS
PAUL- ONE WHO HAD DONE MORE FOR CHRIST THAN ANY OTHER
YET HE BOWED TO THE DEPTHS WITH FEELINGS OF UNWORTHINESS
AND IT`S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED
AND PAUL REGARDED HIS CONVERSION AS INTENDED OF GOD
TO BE AN EVERLASTING EXAMPLE OF GOD`S LONGSUFFERING TOWARD WAYWARD MEN
AND VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO EAR HUSTLE
AND SEE WHAT PAUL IS TELLING HIS SON IN THE FAITH TIMOTHY
AND THE FRIST THING PAUL TELLS TIMOTHY IS THAT (GOD SEES OUR POTENTIAL)
1 Tim. 1:12 (KJV) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry;
NOW PAUL USED TO BE A CHRISTIAN PERSECUTOR
BUT WE FIND HIM ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY TELLING TIMOTHY TO LOOK WHERE GOD HAS BROUGHT HIM FROM
YOU SEE HE USE TO BE AND AIN`T BUT NOW HE`S A SAINT
AND HE STARTS OFF BY THANKING CHRIST FOR LOOKING BEYOND HIS FAULTS AND SEEING HIS POTENTIAL
AND IT WAS JESUS WHO CALLED HIM INTO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY
AND IF WE WILL JUST BE FAITHFUL THERE IS NO LIMIT WHAT JESUS CAN DO FOR YOU AND ME
BECAUSE WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR OTHERS HE WILL DO FOR YOU
*****************************************
THE 2 ND THING PAULS TELL TIMOTHY IS THAT GOD DOES NOT HOLD OUR PAST AGAINST US
1 Tim. 1:13 (KJV) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
IN THE TEXT PAUL TELLS TIMOTHY HIS TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS PAST EXPERIENCES
AND IF I COULD MASH THE PAUSE BUTTON FOR A MOMENT
BECAUSE I DISCOVERED THAT YOU CAN`T HAVE A TESTIMONY WITHOUT A TEST
BUT PAUL SHARES WITH TIMOTHY THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A BLASPHEMER,
PERSECUTOR AND A VIOLENT MAN- BUT JESUS IS KIND AND MERCIFUL
PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT HE DID WHAT HE DID IN IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF
AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR SOMEONE THAT IS BEATING THERE SELF UP BECAUSE
OF THERE PAST
BECAUSE PAUL LETS US KNOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CONFESS IT TO THE FATHER AND GO ON AND SIN NO MORE
THAT’S WHY WE OUGHT NOT LOOK DOWN ON FOLKS
WHO COME TO GOD`S HOUSE STILL STUCK IN THER MESS
WEATHER THEY ARE -DRUG ADDICTS-DRUG DEALERS-PIMPS-PROSTITUTES-GANG MEMBERS-CONVICTS
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG
AND THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OF SIN AND SHAME
AND GOD IS THE-GENERAL SUREGON-
JESUS IS THE CHIEF PHYSICAN
AND THE HOLY SPRIT IS THE HOUSE SUPERVISOR
AND I`M GLAD THAT GOD DOSE`NT HOLD OUR PAST AGAINST US
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
AND IT`S SOMEBODY HERE THIS MORNING
THAT GOD IS READY TO ELEVATE YOU TO HIGHER GROUNDS
BUT YOU ARE STUCK IN THE PAST
BUT PAUL TELLS US IN HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCHES AT PHILLPI
ONE THING I DO I FORGET THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND ME AND I PRESS ON
TOWARD THE MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
******************************************************************************************************
THE THIRD THING I HEARD PAUL TELL TIMOTHY IS
THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOU AND ME
AS I PREPARE TO GO TO MY SEAT
I NEED TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING / EVENING
THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOU AND ME
PAUL TELLS US IN THE TEXT THAT JESUS MADE A MINISTER OUT OF HIM
AND BROTHERS DON`T WORRY ABOUT POSITION AND TITLES
BUT JUST BE FAITHFUL AND DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO
FOR I HAVE DISCOVERED IN MY 40-PLUS YEARS OF LIVING
THAT THERES A TIME AND A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING
AND WHAT EVER GOD HAS FOR YOU IT`S FOR YOU
SO DON`T WORRY ABOUT YOUR PAST
BECAUSE IT DOSE,NT MATTER WHAT I USE TO BE
FOR WE ALL HAVE SIN AND FELL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD
YOU SEE
ABRAHAM FAILED THE INTERGITY TEST
NOAH GOT DRUNK
JACOB WAS A CON MAN
MOSES WAS A MURDER
SAMSON WAS A WOMANIZER
DAVID COMMITTED ADULTERY
PAUL WAS A BLASPHEMER
PETER WAS FAITHLESS
MARY WAS A WORRY WART
BUT YOU OUGHT TO REACH OVER AND GIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR HIGH FIVE
AND SAY NEIGHBOR
IT DOSEN`T MATTER WHAT I USE TO BE BUT LOOK AT ME NOW
AND IT`S NOT BECAUSE I`VE BEEN SO GOOD
NOR HAVE I`VE DONE THE THINGS THAT I SHOULD
BUT IT`S ALL BECAUSE HE`S SO KIND THAT`S
WHY HE SAVED THIS SOUL OF MINE
THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU IS OUR PRAYER
