23-1015a Transcript

Preacher: Tom Freed

(1:01) Morning. Good to see everybody. Winston Churchill once said, I’m sorry to have made such a long speech (1:13) but I did not have time to write a shorter one. (1:17) So it can be, I think Scott even said it before, it can be more difficult (1:22) sometimes to write a shorter speech than a long one.

Especially with preaching we have so many (1:28) things we want to say and we feel like people have to hear but you know sometimes we go overboard. (1:35) Another good quote is, every man should study conciseness in speaking. It is a sign of ignorance (1:43) not to know that long speeches or sermons in our case, though they may please a speaker, are tortured (1:52) to hear.

So you know sometimes going too long you know can even do the reverse effect which (2:00) you know the guys here do a good job. You know we had to reign a few in here in the past but (2:06) you know the guys the guys here do good. But you know sometimes you don’t have to go super long (2:14) with a sermon, especially when we’re all busy.

We don’t have a preacher here. You know I work, I do (2:19) Bible study and it’s easier to break it up. I got one more quote is, with God there is no need for (2:28) long speeches.

So it doesn’t always impress God or anybody else to have a long sermon or prayer. (2:37) You know God even speaks against long prayers where you just think you’ll be heard for the (2:42) amount of words you speak. So I’ll be taking care of the vice and you know making two sermons maybe (2:48) out of this.

My sermon is called Big Mistakes and Their Great Blessings. So I’m sure everybody here (2:56) has made a big mistake or many mistakes in your life. I make tons of mistakes all the time you (3:04) know.

I’m constantly sinning and I happen to repent. It could have been when you were a (3:12) Christian. You know before you’re a Christian or even when you’re a Christian you could have made (3:17) you know some big mistakes in your life.

Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you’re (3:21) perfect. I mean some of us have made bigger mistakes as a Christian and people you know in (3:28) the Bible we read about have made huge mistakes even when you know they had the Holy Spirit with (3:33) them. So we’re all human we’re going to mess up plenty of times.

You know it doesn’t matter if (3:38) we’re Christians or not Christians. Some of the greatest figures like I said have done (3:44) horrible things in their past and God was able to turn their failures into blessings. (3:51) So maybe you can look in your past and see how God helped turn a bad situation (3:57) into something good for you.

I know I certainly can that’s the reason I’m doing this sermon today. (4:04) You know I can look back at quite a few times where I made you know some sins some bad sins. I (4:12) can see that God actually turned it to good for me.

So you know I might not be standing here (4:19) preaching today or even be a Christian if it wasn’t for the mistakes I made the hard times in life I (4:25) had. So if my life was perfect and always going the way I wanted it to I don’t think I would have (4:32) turned to God for help. I think about that sometimes.

If things are going smooth in your life (4:38) you know kind of what you wanted to what reason you had to look to God. You know you just (4:45) a lot of us turn to God our lowest times and that’s what happened with me. (4:54) So you know like I said we look we tend to look to God when we made mistakes when we need help.

(5:01) So the mistakes I made led to me to be a Christian. So looking back (5:05) I can clearly see how God changed my life. I can tell you a little bit about (5:12) you know my conversion story.

It was probably 20 years ago and like any kid I did stupid things. (5:21) You know I had my I just had my second DUI and I had to deal with the consequences of my actions. (5:27) I had to pay for a lawyer, go through the whole court process, pay big fines, go to therapy, (5:35) attend alcoholics anonymous meetings, lost my license for a year or more and even had to serve (5:41) jail time.

And on top of that I needed a car breathalyzer. I had to blow it every time I (5:47) needed to start my car up for driving privileges. So you can imagine you know it’s like worse than (5:54) committing murder almost.

It’s like man how bad are they going to punish you for just trying to (5:58) have fun. But you know that’s just how it is. I could you know I was upset at the time (6:06) you know but it sounds like a huge punishment.

Especially you know kind of upset at mothers (6:13) against drunk driving because they made the law help make the law so strict. But looking (6:18) back I could also see their side having lost you know a loved one to drunk driving. (6:24) Well you can imagine I was stressed out upset and depressed.

When you add some other negative (6:30) things going on in my life it was one of my lowest points. So I know this is nothing compared to some (6:37) people’s stories of hard times but it’s enough to make me want to make a change in my life. (6:45) So even though it was a painful situation looking back it ended up being the best thing to ever (6:50) happen to me.

While I was having my car breathalyzer service I was invited to a Bible study by one of (6:58) the workers there. The owners and some of the workers were members of the Church of Christ (7:05) and worshiped out of the office where they served the service of cars and (7:08) it was called the interlock guy. They were in Berea.

I started attending you know started going (7:16) to Bible studies and attending worship. As soon after that I was baptized into the church. (7:24) We had a small group of 10 to 12 people and we worshipped in a garage.

(7:30) So I don’t I don’t want to hear any complaints from you guys you know if it’s too hot or cold. (7:35) But I think the first five or more years of my life I was worshiping in an office or a garage so (7:42) that wouldn’t change it. I mean I enjoyed it.

I met some good people. It was painful to go (7:51) you know and I ended up actually working for the interlock guy. They hired me (7:57) you know after I was done with all my punishment.

So I ran a small office there so it ended up (8:03) working out great. Like I said there’s a great family running it. I was friends with them (8:10) you know so I guess you could say that it was painful.

You know the whole DUI process (8:17) was long and grueling. So if it wasn’t for the mistakes I made I might not become a Christian. (8:24) So maybe you have a similar story or you’re going through something bad right now and your story (8:30) hasn’t been written yet.

Just know whatever you’re going through no matter how bad it seems (8:34) God can turn it around and bless you. So we’re going to look at a couple examples (8:41) where God turns somebody’s worst mistakes into their greatest blessings. (8:47) So what if a murderer started worshiping here? Someone who had even not even served time for (8:52) what they have done.

You know how would you think or what would you feel you know a known murderer (9:00) came and worshiped here? Would you let him lead the congregation? Maybe be an elder? (9:07) You know we’d probably judge him and kind of keep our distance. But what if I told you one of the (9:13) greatest prophets to ever live and one of the greatest leaders of God’s people was a murderer. (9:20) So you should know who I’m talking about if you study the Old Testament.

(9:24) Let’s look at how God turned Moses' biggest mistake into a huge blessing for his people. (9:31) So Moses wasn’t born into a royal family but shortly after his birth he was adopted by (9:37) Pharaoh’s daughter and was raised as a member of Pharaoh’s household. (9:42) So you all should know the story you know he’s put in the river because (9:45) they were murdering the Hebrew babies and Israel the Pharaoh’s daughter found him.

(9:53) So as a member of Pharaoh’s household Moses lived a privileged life but he was still a Hebrew (10:00) and when he was 40 Moses saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews and he killed him. (10:07) So Moses took matters into his own hands. He saw you know his fellow brother being (10:13) being abused and he he beat the guy to death or I don’t know how he killed him but (10:18) he basically murdered him.

So Pharaoh looked to kill Moses for what he had done (10:26) and Moses fled to the land of Midian. So instead of looking to God for help, (10:33) Moses had tried to deliver his people from slavery himself. However he tried doing it (10:38) with his own strength and his own timing and he failed.

You know how often do we do that where (10:44) we take matters into our own hands as a Christian. You know we try to do do it by our own strength. (10:51) Now he has purposely separated himself from the Hebrews and the Egyptians (10:56) but these would not be wasted years.

God will continue to work in his life during this time (11:02) to prepare him. God has a reason for where he takes you. The desert experience is a time of preparing (11:10) and making Moses usable for what God had in store for him.

We all may experience some dry (11:17) times in our spiritual life but just like with Moses, God might be preparing you for great (11:23) things ahead. So if you feel like you’re in a desert you know spiritually now, don’t lose hope (11:30) but thank God for what he’s doing in your life during this time even though you don’t understand it. (11:37) We all go through struggles and highs and lows you know especially if we’ve done something wrong but (11:45) just realize that you can’t see the future.

God can’t. He has something prepared for you. (11:51) So being usable doesn’t mean being perfect.

That’s a great thing to you know realize that you don’t (11:59) have to be perfect for God to use you. You know it’s important to remember that many great figures (12:04) in the Bible made huge mistakes in their lives and were not perfect yet God used them. So we can (12:10) look at some of these people the greatest people that God were leaders in the Bible you know (12:18) had committed horrible things.

He had murderers. He had even Paul who was killing Christians (12:24) before he was a Christian or at least was involved in it. You know you look at some like I said some (12:31) of the greatest figures in the Bible were were huge sinners.

So we need to be thankful that God (12:38) doesn’t disqualify us from being usable because of the mistakes we made along the way. (12:45) So if he disqualified us you know I wouldn’t be preaching or a lot of guys (12:49) wouldn’t be able to do things but luckily he overlooks some of the things we do and forgives us. (12:56) So Moses might have felt like God had forgotten about him after those 40 years in the desert (13:02) and he didn’t care about helping his people out of slavery in Egypt.

Have you ever felt like God (13:09) is just out there somewhere and not really involved? You might be praying and asking God (13:15) for something but it doesn’t feel like he’s answering your prayers at a time you expect him. (13:23) But God he’s always there even if he’s silent. You know just like the Israelites who wondered at (13:31) times where are you God? Why aren’t you helping me? God’s there but he’s waiting for the right (13:37) time to bless you and answer you.

So Moses tried to get ahead of God and you know Moses tried to (13:46) get ahead of God and step out with his own strength which led to failure. However that did (13:53) not prevent God from using Moses to carry out his purpose but it took 40 more years of preparation. (14:00) So imagine you know being 40 years in the desert.

40 years that you know he had to reflect (14:10) you know he had to change his ways. So after this reflection and preparation in the desert (14:18) God finally called Moses to lead his people out of slavery and we all know that the last 40 years (14:26) of Moses’s life were legendary. He accomplished so many great things in the twilight of his life (14:33) from 80 to 120 when Moses led his people.

So imagine that. (14:41) You know imagine most people at 80 have you know don’t don’t feel like they could do anything (14:48) or do much but Moses had his most prosperous time from 80 years old to 120. He helped free (14:56) the Hebrews from slavery.

He received the 10 commandments from God and delivered them to his (15:01) people. He wrote the first five books of the Bible and performed many miracles (15:07) and the list goes on and on. God turned a horrible situation into a benefit for Moses and the (15:14) children of Israel.

Moses went from a murderer to arguably the best greatest prophet and leader in (15:20) the whole testament. So if God can turn Moses’s life around he can do the same with you. You’re (15:30) patient and prepare yourself for the blessings that lay ahead.

I’ll go over one more person that (15:36) y’all know really well. I’m sure you’ve heard his story a million times but it seems like whenever (15:45) anybody mentions King David in a sermon or study that we always tend to bring up the mistakes he (15:51) made. You know which is really sad because David was one of the most passionate just righteous (15:58) and humble people to ever live.

When I read about David in the Bible I marvel at the decisions he (16:05) made and how they always seem to be the correct ones no matter how difficult the situation he was (16:10) in. You know looking back he had tons of you know hard situations especially with Saul. He could (16:18) have killed him many times when Saul was trying to kill him but he didn’t.

You know how many times (16:24) did David do the right thing because you know he was looking to God and doing the righteous (16:31) thing for the Lord. So there’s also there’s any example of somebody on fire for the Lord it would (16:38) be King David. When they brought the ark of the Lord back to Israel he danced in the street with (16:44) all his might and because of his joy.

He danced so hard he embarrassed and angered Michael, Saul’s (16:51) daughter because she felt like a king shouldn’t act that way. So she despised him how foolish (16:59) she thought he looked for celebrating but David didn’t care. He didn’t care if he didn’t look (17:05) like a king because he was filled with joy for the Lord.

So he also wrote 73 of 80. (17:12) 73 of 80 of the 150 psalms and many of them he talked about praising and worshiping the Lord. (17:20) He also is the only person I have seen in the whole bible that is said to be after God’s own heart.

(17:26) Acts 13 22 and when he has removed him he raised up from them David as a king to whom he also gave (17:35) testimony and said I have found David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart who will do all (17:42) my will. I couldn’t I’ve never found anybody you know unless I’m missing something in the bible it (17:48) was after God’s own heart. The problem is that no matter how great a king and amazing person (17:55) he was that goes the same with us no matter how great an amazing person you are (18:02) no matter how long you build your reputation up one mistake can ruin it all.

It takes a lifetime (18:08) to build a good reputation but it takes you a minute to lose it. There’s a quote from Will Rogers (18:17) how many pro athletes or politicians or celebrities you know ruin their whole lives (18:24) by one mistake they make. So David lost everything he had worked so hard for (18:30) in a short period of time because he committed adultery and murder.

He lost his respect honor (18:37) his kingdom for a time his unborn child with Bathsheba and his son Absalom that took the (18:44) kingdom from him. So he basically lost everything the worst part of it all that he damaged the (18:49) relationship with God by sinning against him. He even says in Psalm against you you only have I (18:57) sinned and done what was evil on your sight Psalm 51 4. We may sin against other people and harm them (19:05) but ultimately when we sin we sin against God.

So letting your guard down and giving (19:10) in the temptation can destroy your life in an instant. The devil is looking for that opportunity (19:17) when we are weak to devour us. First Peter 5 8. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the (19:24) devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking who maybe he may devour.

You may think to yourself what (19:32) could have possibly come out of this horrible situation David put himself in. When you hit (19:38) rock bottom like David the only way to go is up. So even though he had to pay for his sins and (19:43) suffering and he suffered greatly the pain and suffering was channeled into some of the greatest (19:50) Psalms ever written.

If you think think to your lowest point you can relate with David’s pain (19:56) and anguish in the Psalms to take comfort in them. I think we can all relate when we’re down (20:03) when he does something wrong with how David felt at that time. (20:07) What’s even more incredible is God took that horrible situation and sin and blessed the world (20:14) through it.

David and Bathsheba’s first child died but their second child was Solomon who became one (20:23) of the greatest kings to ever live. If David did not commit murder and adultery Solomon would never (20:31) have been born. You know it’s strange to think about that but through those horrible sins you know (20:37) one of the greatest leaders and kings and Bible figures were came out of that.

So Solomon was (20:45) the wisest person on earth and wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. He blessed Israel (20:52) by being a great king and leader of God’s people and ultimately blessed the world by being part of (20:58) the bloodline of Jesus himself. So God actually used him in the bloodline of Jesus.

So it is great (21:07) to see that God not only forgave David but blessed the whole world to his mistake which we are still (21:12) reaping the benefits from today. Is there anything too great for our God to do? Luke 137. For nothing (21:24) is impossible with God.

So if God could turn Moses' and David’s life around and create such (21:32) great blessings from their mistakes what could he do for you? You might be dealing with a hard time (21:38) in your life and feel hopeless and useless to God. It could be from a mistake you made or maybe (21:45) it’s out of your control. Instead of looking at this time and experience as something negative (21:51) with you and preparing you for great blessings in the future.

(21:57) Like I said we can’t see ahead in the future but God can. (22:02) If you stick with it and prepare God has great blessings for you. We serve a limitless God who (22:09) wants the best for us.

He could turn any situation around to your favor and bless you from it. (22:16) So if you’re dealing with anything right now (22:20) don’t want to come forward or become a Christian now’s the time. Thank you.