February 22 � A Testimony of God�s Grace
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Topic:� A Testimony of God�s Grace
Scripture:� 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Sermon delivered by Assistant Pastor Porter
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Paul founded this church and allowed Timothy, his son in the faith, to take over.� 1 Timothy is one of the letters Paul penned from prison, one of the Pastoral Epistles.� Paul, you will recall, wrote 13 of the 27 New Testament books.
Black History teaches us the accomplishments of many of our ancestors - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Booker T. Washington and many others � but it was God�s grace that bought us through and it is His grace that is keeping us alive.� Ephesians 2:8 tell us that grace �....is a gift of God�.� It�s not our good looks, not our money, not our parents that have gotten us where we are, but God�s grace.
In Verse 13 of the text, Paul lists all the things that he had been before he obtained God�s mercy.� He did this to let the church know that no matter what we have done, we too can be saved by God�s grace.� Romans tells us that we have �all sinned, and come short of the glory of God�.� Thank God for the �BUT�.� Satan is always there to remind us of our past.� Tell Satan �BUT I have obtained mercy�.� Grace is resourceful, exceedingly abundant, it keeps going and never runs out.� Thank God.
Verse 15 shows the range of God�s grace.� No one is beyond the reach of His grace.�
Verse 16 gives us the reason for God�s grace, to grant mercy.� God can change any sinner and use them as a witness.� Be a pattern to those on the streets, on our jobs and those in our households.� We cannot have one foot in the world and the other foot on the threshold of God.
Be a living testimony of what you used to do and where the Lord has brought you.� Let everybody know you are a living testimony of God�s grace.
Your response to God�s grace should be in your praise and worship, don�t be ashamed to be a living testimony to others.� Give thanks to God for dying for you and thank Him for giving you a second chance.
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