But God! (Thank God for Mercy)
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And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 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. 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. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Key Verse: 13
Topic: But God (Thank God for Mercy)
Intro:
The ironic thing is that I received this message while studying for bible class. It is something about when I read the scriptures and something just jumps off the page at me. It reels me in and God begins to deal with me concerning what I am reading.
Paul in his text to Timothy breaks to remember where the the Lord had brought Him from.
He says first that he gives praise to Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me.
For those of us who are saved, for those of us who are living holy, for those of us serving in ministry….don’t have to be a preacher. It is Christ that enables us, it is Christ that keeps us, it is Christ that strengthens us. Why? Because we have no strength of our own.
You have to understand, Paul had been through a lot, a lot of travel, a lot of persecution, a lot of turmoil, a lot of sleepless nights, consider the life of Paul and you will understand that it is only the strength of God that enabled him to do what he did. And it will be the strength of God that will enable you too.
Matter of fact, from this point in the text, Paul begins to list a host of things that Christ had did for him. He thinks back from where the LORD had brought him from, he thinks of everything he went through and his thought process elicited a response of gratitude (inward response) became a praise unto the Lord (outward response). So you have to have the right attitude for gratitude.
Paul then says “Who was before a blasphemer” understand, not towards the Father because he was a Jew, Paul did not understand the oneness of God. To blaspheme means to speak evil of, to mar someone’s reputation, revile or rail against. Paul was one who spoke against Jesus and against those who were “Of The Way” because later on in the book of Acts no one was called a “Christian” until Antioch, and when they were called a Christian it was used in a derogatory manner. The followers of Christ was either called “Followers of the Way” or “The Sect of the Nazarene” and immediately people knew they were talking about those who followed the teachings of Jesus.
Paul said he used to blaspheme the name of Christ and in his ignorance or insolence he persecuted the church and was a violent aggressor because of his unbelief.
Then Paul says two words.....an interjection “BUT GOD!”. Is there anyone here this morning that has that testimony.....BUT GOD!!! My God!!! I told when you have the right attitude and when it comes to God the attitude should be gratitude. That “But God” is a praise in and of itself.
Paul did some heinous things, he did some down right dirty things, he persecuted and did harm to God’s people........BUT GOD!!!
Point: Does not matter how badf things are in your life, doesn’t matter how bad you are, or how far away you think you are. You may think that you’re not worth saving, that God can’t deliver you, you may think I’ve tried to live right, I’ve tried to do the right thing, but I fail time after time. That’s where you are making your mistake at. You are relying on your strength, you are relying on your whit, you are relying on the substance, you are relying on friends, you are relying on that relationship......some trust in chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.......for the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and are safe! The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!
You need a different approach, you need to put your full trust and reliance in God and say and believe like David believed when he said:
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
And God.....will give you a BUT GOD EXPERIENCE!!!!
Paul’s “But God” experience came when he was on the road to Damascus with letters in his hand to arrest and bound in chain “if he found any of this way......or translated “of the way”. And when he got to the city limits of Damascus a light from heaven shined round about him, and Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice say “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” He realized it was a deity and he asked “Who art thou, Lord?” And the Lord said “I am Jesus, for the proper ones I am Yahushua whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
A prick is a sharp object that is used against an animal that refuses to move. When the animal would rebel it would kick back against the sharp object causing it to comply with the wishes of the owner to move forward.
Watch this, so Christ lays claim to this sinner....this man who is coming against his church and his people. He claims him for himself and says you belong to me. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PAUL SAYS “BUT GOD!”
What was it you were doing when God called out to you....when God laid claim on you and said you now belong to me! Think about it.....now praise The LORD.....that even in your rebellion even in your sin.....HE CALLED YOU......HE SHINED HIS LIGHT ON YOU.
AND I’M SPEAKING TO ANYONE WHO IS OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD.....ANYONE WHO IS IN A BACKSLIDDEN STATE.....ANYONE WHOM THE DEVIL HAS TOLD GOD NO LONGER LOVES YOU OR ACCEPTS YOU.....GOD SAYS.....THOU ART MINE!!!! IF YOU ARE HEARING THIS MESSAGE......FOR EVERY PERSON THAT HAS AN EAR.....THE WORD OF THE LORD THIS MORNING IS “YOU BELONG TO ME NOW!!!”
Now that the Lord has laid stake on Saul, he tells him what to do, get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.
I’m in Acts 9:6 right now.
So Saul is blinded, he lost his sight, scales have fallen over his eyes. His men are confused because they heard thunder and they saw light, but only Saul could see and hear Jesus. Because many are called, but few or chosen. See what I’m trying to do is give you reasons to “Thank God for Mercy” because He really didn’t have to chose you. He could have chose someone else, it could have been the other way around, that family member that died and wasn’t saved could have been you......BUT HOLLER AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY “BUT GOD!!!”
Saul is led to a street called Straight......anyone been on that street? What you mean......the road where God straightens you out! The cross-road where your life is changed for the betterment.
God speaks to a disciple named Ananias, go to the house of Judas and ask for a man named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying. See sometimes God WILL PUT YOU IN CIRCUMSTANCES TO PUT YOU ON YOUR KNEES TO PRAY. SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO HUMBLE US TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
Ananias said....oh no Lord.....I’ve heard about this man and how much harm he’s done to the saints in Jerusalem. BUT.......WHEN GOD REALLY GETS AHOLD OF YOU.....HE CHANGES YOUR IDENTITY!!!!
Jesus said “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel!”
God changed his identity......and he has the power to change your identity.....and I’m just wondering if I have a few witnesses that had a “BUT GOD EXPERIENCE.....WHERE HE CHANGED YOUR IDENTITY.” X-DRINKER, X-FORNICATOR, X-GAMBLER, X-BRAWLER, X-DRUG-ABUSER, X-DRUG DEALER......WHAT YOU MEAN X......FORMER......USED TO DO IT!
PAUL USES ANOTHER BUT IN ANOTHER PART OF SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS:
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
But look at verse 20:
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
IF GOD CAN TAKE A MAN WHO WAS AN ENEMY OF THE CHURCH AND TURN HIM AROUND AND MAKE HIM A CHIEF ALLY THEN GOD.......CAN SAVE ANYBODY. THAT’S WHY YOU NEED TO REACH THE ALCOHOLIC, YOU NEED TO REACH THE DRUG ADDICT, THE DRUG KINGPIN, THE PROSTITUTE, THE FORNICATOR, THE ADULTERY, THE BRAWLER, YOUR ENEMY, YOUR FRIEND, YOUR CO-WORKER, YOUR FAMILY......BECAUSE IF HE DID IT FOR PAUL.....HE CAN DO IT FOR ANYONE!!!! GOD CAN SAVE ANYONE, GOD CAN REDEEM ANYONE, AND THOSE OF US STANDING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD THIS MORNING WE TESTIFY THAT WE ARE PRODUCTS OF THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF GOD!
Closing:
So Paul in his letter to Timothy writes in 1 Timothy 1:14
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Do we really understand the concept of grace? Grace is the goodness of God, it is the favor of God upon ones life. What did Paul do to deserve the favor of God.....HE DID NOTHING! GRACE IS FREELY GIVEN BY GOD.....GRACE WHEN GIVEN TO US IS NOT DESERVED.
Paul described the Lord’s grace as exceeding abundant.....a compound word. Let me see if yall get happy off of this one.....maybe....maybe not. God’s favor exceeding.....for reaching......and abundant.....meaning he has so much favor, he has so much goodness......THAT HE WILL NEVER STOP BEING GOOD! FOR THE BELIEVER IT IS GUARAENTEED THAT GOD WILL NEVER STOP BEING GOOD TO US.....BECAUSE HIS GRACE CAN NEVER RUN OUT!
WATCH THIS....SO WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A BAD DAY.....LEARN TO HIT THE SWITCH AND PRAISE GOD FOR DIVINE FAVOR, PRAISE HIM FOR BEING GOOD, AND THEN SIT BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Paul said he filled me with faith and love that come from Christ Jesus!
Look at verse 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.
He didn’t come into the world to destroy you.....He didn’t come to throw you in the lake of fire....at least not yet anyway. He came to save you! Paul said of whom I am chief. And some of us in here this morning may could have given Saul a run for his money. But testify to someone you haven’t talked to this morning and tell them “BUT GOD!!!”
I want to conclude the last two verse in the NLT:
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.