June 26, 2005 Summit PM

Devotional – Michael & Me

Introduction

A. Text – 1 Tim.1:15-17

B. Couple of weeks ago the headlines read – “Jackson acquitted on all 10 counts”

1. Don’t know what went through your mind – agreed or disagreed

2. Instead of Michael’s name there – put yours

____________ acquitted on all counts!

C. Paul’s outlook – of all sinners he was the chief

1. Didn’t matter what they had done – how guilty they were

2. Paul knew he was guilty & that was all that mattered

3. He was forgiven – he totally undeserving – was an exciting example to all

I. We Have Been Declared Not Guilty On All Counts

A. Truth – we are guilty

1. Rom.3:23 – all have sinned & fallen short

2. Rom.3:10ff – there is none that are righteous

3. To think different is to deceive yourself – make God a liar - 1 Jn.1:8-10

4. There is nothing about us that makes us undeserving

B. Our acquittal was totally God’s doing

1. We had nothing to bargain with – totally undeserving

a. Rom.5:6-8 – while we were powerless

b. Rom.7:21-25 – what a wretched man I am

2. God condemned His own Son in our place

a. 2 Cor.5:21 – was made to be sin on our behalf

b. 1 Jn.3:16 – Jesus laid down His life for us

C. Now we can go free

1. In Michael’s case – lot of argument about justice being done

a. His family – glad to see Justice was done

b. Others feel justice was perverted

2. In our case – justice isn’t in the picture

a. Man is guilty – no doubt about it

b. Mercy & grace are the descriptive terms

c. God in His graciousness extended us mercy we didn’t deserve

II. Now What Do We Do About It?

A. Michael threw a party for his friends & supporters

1. A time of celebration

2. Something to relieve the tension of the past months

B. God wants us to be in a celebrating mood too

1. Joyous – overjoyed about our acquittal

a. Acts 2:42-47

b. Notice what God was able to do because of their reaction

2. Wherever we go spread this message of hope

a. Yesterday Amber was married – how react?

b. Will she tell anybody? How tell?