GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE

Lamentations 3:21-23

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

“Every moment of your life is a second chance.” RICK PRICE

Salvation in Christ is a clear mark that God does indeed give man a second chance in life. He offered up His only Son- Jesus Christ- for the forgiveness of our sins. ( 1Peter 2:24). Jesus died to offer humanity a second chance at life with God. This is what is called GRACE

Billy Graham said…“God is the God of the second chance—and the hundredth chance, and the thousandth chance! No matter how rebellious and sinful we’ve been, He always stands ready to forgive us and welcome us home if we truly repent and commit our lives to Jesus Christ.”

In our daily living, no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. That said, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. If you make a mistake, you can correct your mistake and move on. Mistakes are drafts of the final version, they are life lessons you pick as you go through this life. If you fail at what you are doing, you can still raise up and do it again.

Second chances are basically new opportunities that life avails to us and we should take advantage of them. The only problem comes when somebody gives up on themselves and writes themselves off. Everybody else can give up on you BUT NEVER EVER give up on yourself. If God does not give up on you, never give up on yourself.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 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.”

Maybe you have thought that your life was over, but if you are reading this, your being here today is enough proof that life gives us second chances. There is hope for you. God is actually telling you that He is not done with you yet.

Today is a second chance to make better of what you failed yesterday. There is nothing like failure in life; only lessons learned, sometimes the hard, painful, bitter way. Decide that you will give it a second chance and then with what you now know, determine to make the situation better.

If you read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, you will see that in verse 17, the Bible says he came to his senses and decided to return home.

That is exactly what we are being called to do, to come to our senses and realize that where we are, or what we are doing is not right. After realizing this , then go ahead and make amends with God, with yourself and others depending on what the circumstances are.

If you have not been reconciled to God, then open up your life to Him and invite Jesus to be your Lord and your savior. Click here to receive Jesus into your life.

GOD SPEAKS TO JEREMIAH

Jeremiah 1: 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I know you maybe saying to yourself, “if only I got a second chance, I will do this and that.” You even prayed and told God, “if you get me out of this jail and give me a second chance, I will do this and that.” God has answered your prayer.

Why? Because He hears and answers our prayers.

SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NOW……

The first time you failed was an opportunity to learn. God’s people are to offer second chance opportunities because they have each been given the ultimate second chance in Christ.

Do you remember Jesus’ story about the son who rebelled against his father? (We usually call this the parable of the

God gave Moses a second chance, Jesus gave Peter a second chance and Paul gave Mark a second chance. Offering forgiveness and giving second chances is what Jesus and his followers do.

SOMETHING MUST CHANGE ABOUT MY LIFE

God is a God of mercy. Mercy means to extend help to the lowliest or the most undeserving. Mercy is compassionate. It overlooks punishment that one deserved.

God has extended his mercy today.

You should have been punished but you are here today enjoying your freedom.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (Contemporary English Version)

The Lords kindness never fails! If He had not been merciful , We would have been destroyed The Lord can always be trusted  To show mercy each morning

 All of us are undeserving. We are who we are purely by the mercies of God. No man can claim to be better than the other.

The Bible says we are all sinners; we have all fallen short of the glory of God.

1 John 1:9: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 That’s why we all need God.

It’s a new day for you and the Bible says the “mercies of the Lord are new each morning.” You must determine within yourself that Something will change in your life. It would be very unfortunate if you continue to live the kind of life that you were living before. That would be the greatest mockery to God and though God is merciful, He is also a jealous God and can display fierce anger. Change your attitudes, lifestyles, habits

How do you change?

You don’t have the strength to do it alone. Probably you have even tried it before and you landed in more trouble.

Why? Man’s nature is sinful.

Without Christ, you can do nothing meaningful. Jesus is the only one who can wipe away your old self and bring in a new self.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 Today you have the opportunity to do 2 things;

1. First you must feel bad about your life but most important you must determine to repent which is to change your heart. Surrender means to change the direction that your life is going. There was a direction that you took that led you to where you were and now you must change your life’s direction or else…..
2. Surrender your life to Christ.

Surrender means;

~ You loose control of your life

~You stop living by your own standards; doing what you want, when you want, when you feel like….. You henceforth begin living a life according to God’s standards. You start living to please Him and Him alone.

That is what salvation is- SURRENDER

Today you have a golden opportunity to do so. You don’t know if you will ever get another chance/ opportunity like this.

Some of you here, will take this words seriously and determine that their lives will never be the same again. 5 years from today, they will be different people completely

A few others may not even be paying attention to what am saying and 5 years from today, they maybe in a worse scenario.

Make a wise decision today.

The heavens are anxiously waiting to see what decision you make…….and the devil is also anxiously waiting and hoping you reject Christ so that he can attack you.

The devil has a full time job;

John 10:10a The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

And Jesus too has a full time job….

John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Do you want the devil to kill, steal and destroy from you or do you want Christ who came to give you an abundant life?

Nobody can make that decision for you…

SO WHAT AFTER YOU ACCEPT CHRIST

There is a promise for those that accept Christ

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ETERNAL LIFE– There is a life after here. We receive this gift of eternal life from God. It’s a gift because we did not deserve it in the first place. Those that have accepted Christ will live in eternity with God.