The story was told of a young man who gave his life to Christ and later backslid into drinking alcohol, smoking anything that can bring out smoke, sleeping with any woman that is available, and dancing to the rhythm of any sound in a disco (party) hall. One day an evangelist came to hold a meeting in the young man’s local church and asked after the vibrant, God-loving young man that she used to know in that Church. To her chagrin surprise, she was told that he had returned to where he belonged, “the world”. In ‘holy anger’ she went to the young man’s house to check up on him, and on arriving at his house she met him smelling cigarette, yet she remained committed to his restoration. About twenty years later the young man hosted a gospel event that had about sixty-two thousand women in attendance. He introduced the evangelist as the vessel that God used to restore him back to the faith at a time when a lot of ‘spiritual Christians’ had given up on him.
As you read this story the young man is one of the renowned preachers of our time, as he ministers to women through a program ‘Woman, Thou Art Loosed’ he ministers to men through ‘Man Power Conference’ he ministers to youth through ‘3G’ in MEGA FEAST programs. That young man is now, Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes (T.D. Jakes) of The Potter’s House. Though T.D. Jakes has handed over the ‘Woman Thou Art Loosed’ program to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Robert, posterity will remember T.D. Jakes for his immeasurable impact through the ‘Woman Thou Art Loosed’ series of programs. What an impact through a T.D Jakes, much more to say, what an impact through the Evangelist woman who was committed to his restoration when some ‘saints’ in Church had written him off. I beg of you, don’t allow the potential around you to waste. The impact you are privileged to make is the ministry of God in your hands. Please do the ministry with all your might because the harvest will always be beyond your wildest imagination.
Need I remind you that once upon a time in Jesus’ ministry, a woman was caught in adultery and deserved death, but Jesus offered her what she didn’t deserve LIFE, but with an instruction, “… And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (Jn 8:1-11 NLT). Imagine if the Evangelist in our story hadn’t gone in search of T.D. Jakes for restoration?
Imagine if this Evangelist had accepted the Church’s conclusion of the boy’s backslidden state. Imagine the voltage of potentials that has (and is still) being wasted because a person (young or old) committed a sin or backslides or falters along spirituality or/and morality praxis? Imagine how many children could have turned out differently if they had experienced the kind of grace and risk that this Evangelist took for T.D. Jakes? Imagine how many people have committed suicide because the Church of Jesus which was founded on undeserved love and mercy decided to treat them based on what they deserved? Imagine how many times we have treated people with disdain because we are of better spiritual or moral standing than them? Imagine how judgmental you have become because of God’s grace working in your life?
Please, I beseech you, don’t let them waste. I am not in any way advocating for tolerance of sin and degradation of Christ’s virtue but am of the opinion that beyond judging and labelling people, let’s show them the kind of love they seem not to deserve. The kind of love that is voiced in verse eight of Romans chapter five (Rom. 5:8 NIV) “…While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
REMEMBER, YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S LOVE AS EXPRESSED IN HIS GRACE.
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I’m hugely blessed by this message. Thank you so much and mayvthe Lord’s work continue to prosper in your hands.
Truth be told, even in church today, we discriminate and stigmatize, thinking the so called christians that have given their lives earlier are better that the ones that are just stepping in now. But that’s far from it. Let us learn to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Very inspiring, we must not easily give up on the lost and including the backsliders.
God is a merciful God, no character is too hard for Him to change. Thank you very much sir for blessing my life through this series.
This is inspiring and challenging. May God help us to replicate his unconditional and undying love in the lives
of people without being judgemental in our disposition.
Amen. More grace sir.
What a challenging story.
May God deliver us from being judgemental.
I pray for grace to reach out to such people in Jesus Christ name Amen.
Well done Pastee, may God continue to speak through you. You are a blessing to this generation.
God bless you Sir.
Don’t discard erring brethren disciple them. Judging,labelling and self righteousness should not be allowed in our midst.
Encouraging and being kind to ech other fosters growth
On point Man of God, More of God grace to speak the truth of the undiluted word of God.
Show them the kind of love they seem not to deserve
The kind of love God shows to us.
Very inspiring thank you sir.
According to the Bible, we’ve all sinned and come short of God’s Glory, on that note we must not be judgemental about our brother, no sin is beyond redemption. While we are yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This is very encouraging ,yes we should not watch and write brethren off,we should continue to follow up with them.
So apt! The man who is already on the path of destruction doesn’t need further destruction. He needs love for restoration. Thanks for sharing this piece, Sir.
Very inspiring..
Thank you
“Don’t watch them waste”.
This hits differently.
Thanks alot Revo. God bless your ministry
This is awesome, May the Lord continue to reveal unto you more secrets of his kingdom.
This is a powerful challenge. Seeing the ‘Other’ in the lens of Christ’s is sufficient to save us from the crime of self righteousness.
Thank you, Pastey.
This is quite instructive. Thanks for this great reminder. I pray for the grace not to forget those who have fallen by the way.
“Please do the ministry with all your might because the harvest will always be beyond your wildest imagination.”
The above statement is fire in my bones. For me, this means that whatever l let out, l lose control of it, hence the need to be very careful what l let out & also try as much as possible to build a very healthy inside, so l can frequency of impact.
Thank you so much Revo!
Thank you sir for this encouraging story
Great write up
May God help us to brighten the corner where we are.
Wao! Great message Pastor!
It was beautiful watching Pastor TD Jakes hand over to his daughter. What a godly heritage to pass on. Thank you very much for steering us on🙏🏾
Am encouraged, God bless you for sharing.
Revooo… The Lord is using you to redirect God’s children back to the Lord’s fold!
Great
Wow! Thank you
Asher….. “Don’t watch them waste”…
Thank you so much for this…. oh dear…..
How sad it is that church gives up of it’s own easily….we have more of condemnation than correction….
Pastey thank you for this
Hmmmmm, I’m actually still waiting to see how many minister In ECWA Garki DCC will come and listing to my story and to also shaping and encourage me and not to condemn me to waste.
Most of you owe God some explanation about me.
It’s indeed a call for the restoration of the gospel of love that brought us salvation…and the saving of many who are in dare need of Zoe (Life). Bravo sir
Sometimes we all have the temptation to feel it is not our responsibility to go after erring brethren. But the spiritual standing of those around us should be a concern to us too. May God deliver us from “spiritual pride!”
Brokenness comes with acceptance. Am encourage to be an encourager no matter the situation.
Great! Christ changes us all and didn’t give up on anyone of us. No one is beyond Christ’s restoration. Hence, instead of judgemental attitude, name calling and feeling of spiritual giant and superiority over others, we should gently, lovingly, patiently and prayerfully attend to their souls. It took twenty years to revive the said man in the story and the pastor never gave up on him. Help me Lord, never to judge anyone wrong. Amen! Thanks, Sir OJ for this great piece!
The great commission can only be achieved when we obey the great commandment which is to love the Lord and love our neighbours. It is only when we get to that point that we will have the heart to exalt the Lord of the law and not the law and condemn sin rather than the sinner.
No one is too evil or too bad that Jesus can not save and use. We were all dirty before Jesus made us clean.
Thanks, brother for this great reminder.
More grace🙌
I’m touched by the statement: show them the love they don’t deserve.
The world knows how to reciprocate love to those that show them love (do me, I do you back) but as christians we must exercise undeserved love to even those that don’t deserve the love. God help us with that measure of Grace to never give-up on souls.
Thank you pastor . This came in timely . God bless you
Thanks for sharing. I have not read much of TD Jakes biography. It strikes home so well. I celebrate God’s grace upon you sir
This is quite instructive. Thanks for this great reminder. I pray for the grace not to forget those who have fallen by the way.
This is food for thought. More hrace sir.
Thank you sir.. am really bless by this word .. the Lord bless and enlarge your ministry.
This is a great piece, beautifully written.
Personally, I always tell people around me that we have become too proud, for a set of people that were so helpless till Grace found us. This is why a lot of believers are good at pointing accusing fingers at erring members of the fold. God writes no one off, and thank God sey God no be man.
So apt! The man who is already on the path of destruction doesn’t need further destruction. He needs love for restoration. Thanks for sharing this piece, Sir.
Help me Lord to help the themes around me grow.
Wow! What a thought and action provoking story. Thank you sir.
We received mercy, mercy we must give. Freely we received, freely we must give. Thanks for the reminder through the story of TD Jakes.
This is the light we all need. Thank you sir