CM 005 – Imperfect Examples

Imperfect Examples – Failure to Ministry (1 Timothy 1: 12-16)

If you are like the rest of humanity, you have done something that you remember with disappointment, embarrassment, shame or regret. You wish you could turn back the clock or make the event less public. You might have confessed and prayed to God for forgiveness and restoration more than once about the same event but you still cannot stop looking back. The reminders, both internal and external, keep hanging around. The question is, “Would you allow God to use your imperfect past as a spring board for excellence, success and ministry?”

Apostle Paul had much to hide and be ashamed about; he persecuted and killed Christians. After his conversion, everyday he taught and worked with Christians, critics and other reminders of his past. Rather run and hide, he chose to allow God to turn his shame into opportunity to shine God’s light brighter than ever.

Similarly, some Christians holding weekly devotions for inmates at a Texas prison saw how God could build ministry out of failure. They had moderate response until one guest speaker who was a three time felon came along with them. That day, the power of the speaker’s testimony and ministry brought down a special Holy Ghost revival, praise and joy.

Like Apostle Paul, the guest speaker had allowed God to turn his past into an opportunity and springboard for success and ministry. Out his private darkness came a delightful public light and example of what God can do with life and past given to Him.

Application

God specializes and builds ministry out of failure
A low score, bad grade, poor GPA, academic probation or relational failures are not the ends, but caution signs or pointers to new opportunities.
Failure can be the start of a new beginning
Looking back with regret paralyzes the soul (Remember Lot’s wife: looking back killed her)
One can harness the lessons learned to create the new successes and a future unimagined

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