By
EvangelistBee
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It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon in our home church in Dominion Chapel in Stafford Texas. I was preaching on the topic,“When Mercy speaks” It was a coincidence of some sorts as a man who had spent 25 years in prison shared his brief testimony of how the Lord through the transformation of Prison ministry saved him and helped him to get two doctorate degrees while in prison. He never expected he could ever be in prison. He came from a comfortable Christian background but one day of error and indiscretion caused him 25 years of pain. As He spoke, he choked in emotions and the mentor who coordinates the prison ministry in Texas took the microphone from him. A lot of things ran through my mind as he gave me his business card after service. Now he is the Vice President of a company.
I wonder how it would have been for him when he was on the 5th year of his prison term, or on the 7th or 10th year – Time will be endless. How life and the thoughts of men would have dealt him a blow in the 15th year of his incarceration? How men would have finished him with their tongue and deeds? How women would have called him a criminal without a future? We serve a God that gives hope.
Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
We serve a God that gives a new beginning. I am not an old person but I have seen in this my little life how I had joined other “anointed” brethren to write people off when we play God. Thank God he does not retire! I am a very optimistic person. I tend to be a positive person naturally, by calling and by training. Life itself has thought me some really hard lessons. Despite all these, there are cases where by I tend to say in my heart – “This is beyond redemption”. Yet God came through for them and proved himself.
Luk 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
My heart burn for the past weeks is that it is time we stop playing God! It has to be now. Let God be God and let men be men. That same day in church as I preach I mentioned the story of a classmate of mine in high school. Even in high school, she was a “high class act”. She was known in parties and her exploits over the weekend filter to school every Monday morning. She had the propensity to be great. Yes- real greatness was coming her way. She got it – as a senior professional prostitute. We went to different directions for higher education and her deeds spoke volumes even from a distance. She had everything you would want – being proceeds from sin and sinning ways. We (the holy ones) were taking solace that we found Heaven and found salvation early in college. People like her were celebrating their “smartness” and “beauty”. They told us we were not “current” and we carry no “swagger” We always took solace in the fact that one day, they will go to hell if they don’t repent!. Sometimes we secretly wished their judgment came earlier! That they will suffer not just in hell but here on earth too. We thought we were holy and fighting for God by wishing them these things. Even when such people had issues and came to us, we did not really wish them very well. We went by the books and condemned them most times. Some of them were just too “sinful” for a just God to save them. Like Jonah, we played God! We determined their end before it came.
Jon 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
The truth is that we are not God and we should stop playing God. He chooses who to save. Our mandate is to preach – the gospel and the good news in love and with passion. Our mandate is to bypass our prejudices and reach out. God and only God can save. Sorry I know you don’t like this. I feel you. Sometimes, I don’t like it either but that’s the truth. Our mandate is to spread the news and say it so all can hear irrespective of the color of our prejudice.
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| God Never says NO to a Repentant Prayer |
Another dimension is that when we finally deal with the fact that people like them can be saved, we still mentally wish that the effect of the sin stays with them to show that we who have been responsible children deserves a “better deal”. You are not God! I am not God and His post is not vacant! He does not retire and has no tenure limit. The fact that they come to the Lord (if they do) years after their sinful years does not mean they will carry eternal consequences the way we wish them. It is time we give God space to save the “Sauls of Tarsus“ that are out there. Had Stephen not died, had Stephen not refrained from placing a curse on Saul who later became Paul, imagine what Christianity would have missed! This man gave two thirds of the understanding of Christianity in the New Testament – from faith, to justification to life after death. God never says no to repentance – anytime, anywhere, from anyone irrespective of their past – Deal with it! He never did and He won’t do now!
Jon 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Let’s go back to the story of my classmate in high school. Over twelve years after school, a respected Man of God walked into our church to preach. Lo and behold, my ex classmate walked in with him as His wife. Aawh! No! Tell me it’s not true. I have Sisters, believers who never “enjoyed life” who are still looking for husbands and who are “better qualified” to marry men of God. They can pray. They can fast for days without water – sometimes without air if it was possible. Some can even do it without their legs touching the ground – very spiritual people! Not this one. Lord! No! Who made me a judge over her? Thank God the power of redemption is not in the hands of men. If it had been, so many people would have been locked out of heaven and the keys thrown into the deep sea! As much as I tried to be a “good” Christian, for days, I was trying to understand the dynamics of such work of redemption. The Holy Spirit gave me an answer days later and he said, ”My mercy spoke on her behalf!”. How many more are out there now who are willing to let go and switch allegiance from darkness to light but the judgment of men have sealed their hope.
In my fourth year in the University, I was in the executive of the best informal Seminary schools in the world – Evangelical Christian Union at Obafemi Awolowo Univesity in Ife, South West Nigeria. I was given an assignment one day that I will never forget till the end of my days. From that experience I learnt the power of Mercy. There was a young convert who came from a Muslim background. After she gave her life to Christ, she became the fellowship baby because her parents disowned her. We were all so protective and caring. Out of the blues she started disappearing from the room of her Sister “Matrons” and was finding some comfort in the company of a guy in the Post Graduate block. What does she mean? We are financing all she needed and here she goes walking in the path of a “son of belial” Some brothers and I were mandated to go and see the “infidel” and told him to back off our kid. After repeated trial all the other brothers did not show up for the confrontation and I was left to go for the battle on mount Sinai alone. On my way, the Holy Spirit asked me, “What will Jesus do? “ Will He Judge? Will he condemn or rebuke in love. After a lot of New Testament argument I gave in to show love even though firm. Three day after, this guy walked to our fellowship meeting looking for me. He promised me that he has called her and broken the relationship but warned me that she is lonely and she needs help, understanding and that everyone had drawn away from her. He said he decided to do that because I not only gave her hope but I gave him hope too with the approach I took. He left school that year. Years after, He gave his life to the God of mercy, became a Pastor and guess who he met again and married – Yes you guessed right – same Sister.
My main quest is that all Christians should make a pledge to give God a chance to work in the heart of men and do whatever He likes with them. We should stop playing God. Let’s do our own part and let God finish His own part. We can only criticize, we cannot judge. We can only praise, only God rewards. Even when our beloved men of God (Pastors, Mentors, Ministers) fall into sin and error, let’s give them a chance to find their way to Calvary and sort it out with God. We did not call them. Hence we cannot seal their coffin. We are not God.
Isa 42:3 He will not break off a bent reed nor put out a flickering lamp. He will bring lasting justice to all. (GNB)
He called them and He knows how to deal with them. The rebels thought they had a good reason and a just basis to fight Moses because he brought a foreign wife into the fold. They thought that was a basis to conduct a coup-God fought on the side of Moses.
Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Let’s make a pledge today to reach out to people we have “condemned” as irreparable in our hearts and give grace a chance. Let’s not write off God-ordained relationships including our own marriages and protégé’s. God can do anything – literally! He can.
My heart cry is that we will realize that there is a limit to what we can do. Indeed there is a limit to what we cannot do also! What can we be without the Vine! Who are we without his grace?
My heart cry is that we will realize that there is a limit to what we can do. Indeed there is a limit to what we cannot do also! What can we be without the Vine! Who are we without his grace?
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
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| THERE IS HOPE! |
May we become relevant in God. May we allow others the chance to become someone in the Lord as God remains God and Men stay where they are – MEN! Please share this with someone you care for as we go around as lights shining and making a difference.
Remember even for you – there is hope! Pray for Hope and Walk in Hope.
Ecc 9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Shalom!
EVANGELIST BEE.
No. 122 – 1st April 2011
No. 122 – 1st April 2011
Please share your experience on the benefits of not playing God by pasting in comment box below – click comment and drop a line! Thanks
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13 Comments
i have been humbled by this. i'm guilty of trying to judge people in a bid to criticize them, instead of praying for grace to find them. i know better now. God bless u Papa!
Pearl,
Heaven will help and help us as we all do this to some certain degree!
God bless.
EVB
Sir,
I find the article exceptionally encouraging and graceful.
You sure switched a light on in my spirit. You are a blessing to our generation.
May we see as He sees that we might become instruments of true reconcilliation.
thank you sir.
PDSO. UK.
PDSO
Bless u sir.
Thanks for your compliments.
You are spot on – if He opens our eyes to see as He sees we will not need to "play" and act on His behalf. We will be more relevant as agent of change.
Thanks for taking time to visit and leave the comment.
May you also continue to be a new sharp threshing tool for the Master.
Banji
Deep thought from the heart of the Spirit. This must be shared, whatever and wherever we are now it is a privilege not a right so we are limited….
Your write-ups are always thought provoking.Many of us "christians" think we can fight for God.He is all-knowing God.Your light will continue to shine.EVB
Bekley
Yes, we are saved by grace through faith!
Godwin
Thank you and a wonderful amen to your prayers.
EVB
Thanks, Bro. Banji for giving Holy Spirit the "reins" of your heart. It reflects in ur wtite-ups as well as in your life.
It's difficult for a lot of us not to play God, especially in a situation where the "evil acts" of a person is making an inncocent suffer.
"Father,……Nevertheless,not my will, but yours, be done."
"It's difficult for a lot of us not to play God, especially in a situation where the "evil acts" of a person is making an inncocent suffer. "
Thanks Olaitan for your comment. This statement is deep – very deep.
It could really be very difficult when its seems that evil is thriving but as you rightly said – Let God's will be done.And HEaven will give grace to the Innocent like Stephen who suffered or even died!
God will always remain as God.
God bless.
EVB
Hi Mr. Adesanmi,
I stumbled across your blog through the blog of a friend. I really enjoyed reading this post, as well as the rest of your blog. The Holy Spirit can do some amazing things in the lives of men. I have seen it in my own life as well as the lives of my family and friends. Thank you for reminding us that nothing is beyond God!
God Bless,
Josh
Josh,
AM grateful you were blessed and thanks for also letting me know. its encouraging. I pray that you will also find fresh access to messages that will continue to inspire Christians and unbelievers alike to seek heaven and God only
Thanks Josh
EVB
Profound. I have always said thet the scripture I fear most is the one in which God says He would have mercy on whom he would have mercy…… We cannot overrule the sovereignty of God in any situation. This piece I would title the best of your write ups I've come across. I intend to paste this close to my bed as a reminder that I need to love most above ALL. THANK YOU FOR THE NUDGE.
Thank you Olubusola and am grateful that you find the thoughts on HIs mercy highly reassuring and His sovereignty wonderfully calming on our souls.
The Lord bless you as you walk the walk under His grace
EVB