Today’s message
Read and reflect
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
There is an unofficial department in modern Christianity that never lacks workers: The Department of Old Records.
The members have excellent memories!
God may forgive you, wash you, transform you, restore you and give you a new assignment, but somebody somewhere is still holding your old file:
“Do you know this man before?”
Yes, we know who he was.
But do you know who he has become?
That is where grace enters the conversation.
Sometimes we remember people's past longer than necessary. God transforms a person, but we continue to introduce them by the chapter God has already closed.
THE MADMAN WHO BECAME AN EVANGELIST
In Mark 5, Jesus encountered the demon-possessed man of Gadara. He lived among tombs, broke chains and terrified the neighbourhood.
Then Jesus delivered him.
When the man wanted to follow Jesus physically, Christ told him:
“Go home... and tell them.”
His testimony became his first sermon.
Imagine seeing him preaching shortly afterward:
“Wait! Is that not the madman?”
“Yes.”
“The cemetery man?”
“Yes.”
“The chain-breaking fellow?”
Yes—but please update your record!
The man you knew among the tombs had encountered Jesus.
Yesterday's madman had become today's messenger.
Grace does not need permission from your history before rewriting your future.
THE WOMAN WHOSE FILE WAS VERY THICK
Then came the Samaritan woman in John 4.
Five husbands—and the man presently with her was not her husband.
If there was ever somebody whose file could keep the Department of Old Records busy, here she was!
Yet after encountering Jesus, she left her waterpot, entered the city and cried:
“Come, see a man...” — John 4:29
And people came to Jesus because of her testimony.
Imagine some modern church committees:
“Before Sister can testify, let us investigate Husband Number One to Number Five.”
By the time the committee finishes its investigation, Samaria may still be waiting for the Gospel!
Jesus did not approve her sinful past. He confronted it. But He also refused to make her past the permanent definition of her future.
There is a difference between exposing sin for repentance and preserving forgiven sin for permanent condemnation.
THEN CAME BROTHER SAUL!
Acts 9 makes the matter even more interesting.
Saul wasn't merely an unbeliever. He persecuted Christians.
Then Jesus met him on the Damascus road.
Suddenly, yesterday's persecutor became tomorrow's preacher.
Even Ananias opened the old file:
“Lord, I have heard by many of this man...” — Acts 9:13
In modern language:
“Lord, have You checked this man's record?”
Of course heaven knew the record!
Jesus knew exactly whom He was calling.
The man who once tried to silence the Gospel eventually became Paul, whose letters have instructed generations of Christians.
Imagine rejecting Romans, Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians because:
“We know what that Saul used to do!”
Please, close the old file.
DISCERNMENT IS NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF OLD RECORDS
Now, this does not mean Christians should become spiritually careless.
Scripture says:
“Try the spirits...” — 1 John 4:1
Jesus also taught:
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16
So examine doctrine.
Observe character.
Look for the fruit of repentance.
Exercise discernment.
But discernment and prejudice are not twins.
Not every preacher with a terrible past is false, and not everyone with a dramatic testimony is genuine.
Don't judge merely by history. Test the present fruit by Scripture.
The thief can become a giver.
The addict can become an evangelist.
The violent person can become a preacher of peace.
The immoral can become a testimony of transformed character.
And the persecutor of the Church can become a servant of Christ.
That is why grace is amazing.
MORAL EXPOSURE
Sometimes we don't doubt that God can change people.
We simply have a private list of people we don't want Him to change!
We sing:
“Amazing Grace!”
But when grace becomes truly amazing and saves somebody with an embarrassing history, we suddenly request an audit.
What exactly did we expect amazing grace to do?
Grace is amazing precisely because God can enter an ugly story and produce a beautiful ending.
So be careful before joining the Department of Old Records.
The man you still call Legion may already be preaching in Decapolis.
The woman you still remember for five husbands may already be pointing a city toward Christ.
The man you still call Saul the persecutor may already be answering to Paul the apostle.
Never excuse sin—but never underestimate redemption.
There is an unofficial department in modern Christianity that never lacks workers: The Department of Old Records.
The members have excellent memories!
God may forgive you, wash you, transform you, restore you and give you a new assignment, but somebody somewhere is still holding your old file:
“Do you know this man before?”
Yes, we know who he was.
But do you know who he has become?
That is where grace enters the conversation.
Sometimes we remember people's past longer than necessary. God transforms a person, but we continue to introduce them by the chapter God has already closed.
THE MADMAN WHO BECAME AN EVANGELIST
In Mark 5, Jesus encountered the demon-possessed man of Gadara. He lived among tombs, broke chains and terrified the neighbourhood.
Then Jesus delivered him.
When the man wanted to follow Jesus physically, Christ told him:
“Go home... and tell them.”
His testimony became his first sermon.
Imagine seeing him preaching shortly afterward:
“Wait! Is that not the madman?”
“Yes.”
“The cemetery man?”
“Yes.”
“The chain-breaking fellow?”
Yes—but please update your record!
The man you knew among the tombs had encountered Jesus.
Yesterday's madman had become today's messenger.
Grace does not need permission from your history before rewriting your future.
THE WOMAN WHOSE FILE WAS VERY THICK
Then came the Samaritan woman in John 4.
Five husbands—and the man presently with her was not her husband.
If there was ever somebody whose file could keep the Department of Old Records busy, here she was!
Yet after encountering Jesus, she left her waterpot, entered the city and cried:
“Come, see a man...” — John 4:29
And people came to Jesus because of her testimony.
Imagine some modern church committees:
“Before Sister can testify, let us investigate Husband Number One to Number Five.”
By the time the committee finishes its investigation, Samaria may still be waiting for the Gospel!
Jesus did not approve her sinful past. He confronted it. But He also refused to make her past the permanent definition of her future.
There is a difference between exposing sin for repentance and preserving forgiven sin for permanent condemnation.
THEN CAME BROTHER SAUL!
Acts 9 makes the matter even more interesting.
Saul wasn't merely an unbeliever. He persecuted Christians.
Then Jesus met him on the Damascus road.
Suddenly, yesterday's persecutor became tomorrow's preacher.
Even Ananias opened the old file:
“Lord, I have heard by many of this man...” — Acts 9:13
In modern language:
“Lord, have You checked this man's record?”
Of course heaven knew the record!
Jesus knew exactly whom He was calling.
The man who once tried to silence the Gospel eventually became Paul, whose letters have instructed generations of Christians.
Imagine rejecting Romans, Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians because:
“We know what that Saul used to do!”
Please, close the old file.
DISCERNMENT IS NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF OLD RECORDS
Now, this does not mean Christians should become spiritually careless.
Scripture says:
“Try the spirits...” — 1 John 4:1
Jesus also taught:
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16
So examine doctrine.
Observe character.
Look for the fruit of repentance.
Exercise discernment.
But discernment and prejudice are not twins.
Not every preacher with a terrible past is false, and not everyone with a dramatic testimony is genuine.
Don't judge merely by history. Test the present fruit by Scripture.
The thief can become a giver.
The addict can become an evangelist.
The violent person can become a preacher of peace.
The immoral can become a testimony of transformed character.
And the persecutor of the Church can become a servant of Christ.
That is why grace is amazing.
MORAL EXPOSURE
Sometimes we don't doubt that God can change people.
We simply have a private list of people we don't want Him to change!
We sing:
“Amazing Grace!”
But when grace becomes truly amazing and saves somebody with an embarrassing history, we suddenly request an audit.
What exactly did we expect amazing grace to do?
Grace is amazing precisely because God can enter an ugly story and produce a beautiful ending.
So be careful before joining the Department of Old Records.
The man you still call Legion may already be preaching in Decapolis.
The woman you still remember for five husbands may already be pointing a city toward Christ.
The man you still call Saul the persecutor may already be answering to Paul the apostle.
Never excuse sin—but never underestimate redemption.
Reflection
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
When God has put a full stop where someone's sinful past ended, don't become the comma trying to keep the sentence going.
You may know their history, but God knows what happened after the history you know.
Judge doctrine by Scripture.
Examine ministry by its fruit.
Demand genuine repentance and godly character.
But don't use an expired record to cancel the evidence of a transformed life.
Sometimes the file in your hand is simply outdated.
Please update your record—Jesus may have changed the person!
When God has put a full stop where someone's sinful past ended, don't become the comma trying to keep the sentence going.
You may know their history, but God knows what happened after the history you know.
Judge doctrine by Scripture.
Examine ministry by its fruit.
Demand genuine repentance and godly character.
But don't use an expired record to cancel the evidence of a transformed life.
Sometimes the file in your hand is simply outdated.
Please update your record—Jesus may have changed the person!
Prayer
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, deliver me from spiritual pride and prejudicial judgment. Give me discernment to recognize error without becoming blind to genuine transformation. Teach me never to excuse sin, but also never to underestimate Your power to redeem a sinner. And whatever my own history contains, let Your grace rewrite my story until my former shame becomes evidence of Your saving power. Amen.
Your Brother,
Prophet Abiodun Adesida, PhD
CAC IBUDO ONA ABAYO
+2348058140045
Lord Jesus, deliver me from spiritual pride and prejudicial judgment. Give me discernment to recognize error without becoming blind to genuine transformation. Teach me never to excuse sin, but also never to underestimate Your power to redeem a sinner. And whatever my own history contains, let Your grace rewrite my story until my former shame becomes evidence of Your saving power. Amen.
Your Brother,
Prophet Abiodun Adesida, PhD
CAC IBUDO ONA ABAYO
+2348058140045