Recycled evil. You thought you had killed me, but God brought me back! Though you talked about me, lied on me, and you said I would never, ever amount to anything, I am blessed to bless. I call it recycled evil. There was a time in my life when it seemed as though all hell had broken loose. It seemed like I was in a football game and I was the lone player from my team on the field, and the other team happened to be my own team members playing along with the opposing team. What I’m trying to say is, it hurts to be hurt, but the pain is made worse when you are wounded by those on your team. Those closest to you. Forget your friends, forget your enemies, we know what they can and will do, but when your loved ones kick you whwn you’re falling down, the pain is at times agonizing. Doing and saying all kinds of evil things about you, telling things they don’t know about your ministry and what you stand for. But God...being who He is, comes in and recycles that evil and enables you to bless those that did you harm, and caused them to plead for your pardon. See, I could have despised them, but the thought of them being made my "footstools", as the Bible tells us, I liked that. It sounded much better.
It’s a blessing from God to know that you know that you can love your enemies. Knowing that they talk about you, but it’s good to know that you can still smile and say, "I love you", and mean it. It’s a good thing to know that in the course of your storm, despite the fact that the winds may blow, the waves may hasten, that God is taking that evil and turning it around for your good. No weapons formed against us shall prosper. See the Bible tells us not to render evil for evil. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. We could not repay them anyway. If you kill my wife, and I kill you in return, the fact is, although you’re dead, my wife is still dead. I may get temporary contenement in knowing that I got you back, but my wife is still dead. Vengeance is mine said the Lord. See when we render evil for evil, we permit flesh to take over our spirit man, and a; kinds of immoral thoughts and feelings surround us. God is not evil, evil is not God. Let Him handle it. See, we must trust in God’s supreme divine intervention. He causes all things to work for your good as you remain committed to His calling and purpose for you.
Back when I was in the world, God permitted evil to cross my path in order to prepare me for my exodus from the clubs, the hotels, and the nonsense in order to get me ready for my entrance into my wealthy place. If I had not gotten shot at over at the night club that night, I might be there right now. If God had not sent me my exquisite wife my may, maybe now I would have AIDS, or maybe some man would have killed me for messing around with his woman. I’m talking about recycled evil. God turned it around for my good, and now I’m in a position to save many people through my testimony. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:28 that, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. I didn’t know that I would be preaching 10 years ago, but it was God’s purpose, His plan was already in place. that’s why Satan was and is deliberately trying to execute me then and even now.
Everyone I know is not happy or excited because I found th Lord. I didn’t expect everyone to shout hallelujah when they found out that I had been called to preach the gospel. No, some of the feedback, and the looks I got from those supposedly on my team were totally the opposite. They gave me that "I remember when" look. Yall know how they behave when they see or hear that you have moved up and been blessed in life. Maybe this just happened to me, but it worked out for my good. I had to learn to smil ein the face of harsh conditions. I had to learn to depend on God. Because, how may of you know that’s all you really have in this world. Sure my wife is there to reassure me, and my church famil yis there to support me, even Bishop and 1st Lady are there to pray for and set a pattern for me, but late at night, or as some say, at midnight....when pastor mat be resting, or no one is near to talk to, or help me clear my mind, I find peace in knowing that, "The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want." I find assurance when I meditate on the song, and I can make it personal, "What a friend I have in Jesus, all my sins and grieves to bear. What a privilege I have to carry everything to God and prayer. Recycled evil. When you get fired from your job because of what you stand for, and God places you in a position to have your own business and be able to make more than your boss’ boss did. I’m talking about recycled evil. When your husband and your wife breaks your heart and no one is able to help them later on but you, recycled evil. Rev., when you can pray for those who put you down, and even bless them and enjoy doing it. That’s recycled evil. See sometimes God will allow evil to set us up for something bigger, set us up fpr something better. While in the process, He’s cutting and pruning us for His work. Sometimes God may have to do some spring cleaning in other seasons of our lives. Sometimes He may have to throw out some trash in our lives, and the only way He can do this is by allowing evil to come, illness to come, trials to come. And when you come out of that storm, you can be a blessing to someone who might be just going into the same kind of storm, and help them to see that things are gonna work out for their good if it’s the Lord’s will.
I used to think that God was punishin gme for my past through my marriage, but I didn’t find out until I came over to Greater Works, that my wife was the best thing that ever happened to me. I found out that she was a woman that didn’t take mess. I finally realized that if I wanted to hang on to this beautiful woman, that there were some things I had to let go. Like drinking, hanging out, cheating, and gambling. I had to grow up, I had to be a man about it, be a husband, be a father. And we finally came to the conclusion that we’re stuck with each other, so we might as well get over the small stuff.
See Satan will make you think that things won’t ever vet better. Even sometimes the strong saints have to reassure themselves ehwn the way seems long and rough. That’s why I have decided to go on. I don’t know how long I am going to be here, but while I’m here, Lord use me, whatever the cost. Lord I;m glad I found you. Lord, I’m glad I’m saved, growing in grace, and I believe that you are real. A lot of times I almost threw the towel out, but somehow something or someone encouraged me, or I saw someone in a worse situation than I was in.
Let us pray this prayer:
Lord, we thank you for your Son Jesus. We thank you for grace and mercey. Lead us the right way, and we will be careful to give you all the praise, in Jesus’matchless name. Amen
