I wonder is there any person here who has been in a situation in which you really wanted something to work out for you but it didn’t. Or have you ever felt like if I just had another chance, I know I could make this thing work.
When I look back over my life, at some of the situations that I have been involved in, and some of the choices that we have made, it makes me think, if only I had another chance.
I know that there are many of you sitting on this live this morning thinking if only I had another chance, I wouldn’t have moved where I moved. If only I had another chance, I would have finished school. If only I had another chance, I wouldn’t have gotten involved in some of the things that I was involved in.
Webster describes the word 2nd as one that is, next after the first. (think about it). The spiritual significance of the number 2 in the bible denotes a difference.
When we think about the number 2 or 2nd in the bible we know that it is different from the first.
We notice that the number 1 excludes all differences. (When you have 1 of something you have nothing to compare it with). When you have 2 of something, there has to be a difference. One has to be first, and the other has to be second. In other words, they can be equal in all aspects, but they can never be the same.
Notice that the number 2 is the first number in which we can divide another. When the earth laid in chaos, its condition was ruin and darkness. The 2nd thing recorded in connection with the creation was the introduction of a 2nd thing which was light. When the 2nd thing came into being, immediately there was a difference and there was a division. The bible says that God divided the light from the darkness and the light he called day, and the darkness, he called night.
The 2nd person of the trinity took on 2 natures, perfect God and perfect Man. There are 2 testaments, the old and the new. There are 2 natures, the sin nature and the son nature. The number two or second has significant meanings.
Sometimes when we make a mistake in life it feels so final. When you make a serious mistake you might think it’s all over for you. I want to let you know this morning CHURCH that the game of life isn’t like a game in which you only have 1 chance to win before it’s over.
I want to let you know that when you make a mistake in this life, with God you get another chance. I know that the songwriter says that he is a God of a second chance, but can I tell you that he is a God of another chance.
The bible that I read tells me that the God I serve is a God of mercy. The word mercy means to extend help to the lowliest or the most undeserving.
It implies that mercy or compassion overshadows punishment, even when justice demands it. (You see, justice demanded that each and every one should have been dead, but mercy stepped in and said, not so.
Mercy is a word we throw around. We use it often in our prayers. We sing it in our songs. We talk about it in our Jargon, “There by the grace of God go I.” Justice demanded that you and I should die, but mercy stepped in and said not so.
So, great is God’s mercy that it is almost inexpressible. God’s mercy knows no limit. Because there is no one who is beyond his saving power. His mercy reaches to the highest mountain and flows to the lowest valley. In fact I love that song that says, “Your Grace and Mercy, brought me through, I’m living this moment, because of you.” Because can I tell somebody this morning that if it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, I never would have made it. Because I was a wretch undone… Satan was getting ready to celebrate. Satan thought he had me but the Lord gave me another chance.
The bible says that God is a God of mercy and compassion and that his mercies are new every morning,
but my problem is that today is a new day, yet many people lives will remain the same. There nothing changing in our lives. Our attitudes are the same, our habits and their lifestyles are unchanged. That’s because we fail to realize that there is new life in Christ Jesus.
But let me tell you this morning that God and God alone can wipe away the old, and bring in the new. God alone can give us a new start in life. Understand that it is the Lord that gives us another chance.
Look at the text…. (Read). John 8:1-11 1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst.
The bible said in verse 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Allow me to go back. The bible said They Said. Can I tell you this morning that you have to be careful of what they say? Because what they say is not always the whole truth. What they say is not allows a clear understand of the facts.
They say unto him Master, this woman, they pointed her out. This woman, they label her, this woman was taken or caught in the very act of adultery. Now wait a minute here something arrested my attention here. The Greek Word for adultery is (Mo-Cue-O) moy-khyoo'-o, which means one or both of them was married. That was the first thing that grabbed my attention, but the second
thing was, the text says that she was taken in the very act. Now me being from Chicago made me take a second look at this, because one of a few things happened. They say, she was caught in the very act. Now either they were some haters and set her up. Or they had been seeing them sneak around before, or they were some peeping toms. They said we, I know it was more than one because the Bible said (They). Say this woman was caught in the very act.
They said in verse 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. Can I tell you that Jesus knows how to ignore ignorance? The bible said that he stooped down and with his finger and he wrote on the ground as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last. So the text said and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. And when Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? 11 And She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
The crowd wanted to condemn this woman. The scribes and the Pharisees who accused her had already pronounced the sentence of death upon her.
In the natural, her situation was hopeless. But with God, this woman got another chance. Did Jesus give this woman another chance so she could go out and repeat her mistakes and fall into sin again? No, he told her “Go and sin no more.
I’m glad this morning to know that when I fall short, the Lord tells me to “go and sin no more”. I wonder is there anyone in here that has ever faced a seemingly hopeless situation, and said the Lord said, Go and sin no more?
Maybe there is somebody here who is discouraged because you’ve failed in some area. Maybe you are confused and you’ve been running in the wrong direction of life. Don’t be afraid to go to God and confess your mistakes to Him.
The bible talks about many men and women who messed up, but with God, they got another chance.
And I want to let you know this morning, that the same God that restored David, the same God that restored Paul, the same God that restored Peter and gave them another chance is the same God today who wants to restore you and give you another chance.
He is still saying to you today,
Don’t be defeated.
Don’t to be discouraged.
Don’t be afraid.
Because, I will deliver you.
I will bring you out.
I will take care of you.
I will take away your pass and give you a new beginning.
