God has more grace than your disgrace. If you get knocked down, get back up. Resilience is what matters most. Do not allow yesterday to steal your tomorrow. In this message with Jentezen Franklin, learn how God can use the mistakes of your past to transform your future.

the following program is sponsored by

friends and partners of Kingdom

connection

do not let failure become final in your

life it’s not God’s will hidden and

every mistake is a portal possibility a

doorway of discovery he does not want

your mistake to be a prison he won’t

seek to be a pathway to a greater

revelation of his grace to have your

Bibles I want you to turn to Acts

chapter 4 Acts chapter 4 verse 33 and

with great power the Apostles gave

witness to the resurrection of the Lord

Jesus here it is

and great grace was upon them all I want

you all to read that last sentence of

that and great grace was upon them all I

believe that God wants to put on you and

on your life and on your family and on

your failure great grace mistakes are

the price we pay for a full life if we

learn from those mistakes the issue is

not are you going to be knocked down the

issue is if you’re going to stay down

someone said you have to take a lickin

and keep on tickin the word is called

resilience in a dictionary mistakes are

the catalyst to the miraculous if you

will put them in God’s hands don’t let

mistakes destroy you heaven wants to

make you hell wants to main you and both

want to use your mistakes to do it the

adversity wants to mock and maim you for

the rest of your life for the mistakes

that you have made and you have made

them but God can transform you through

your mistakes to be what he wants you to

be

mistakes should not maim us the rest of

our life mistakes can become prison

houses that hold you hostage the enemy

would love for for all of us who have

made mistakes to live and be held

hostage in a prison mentally emotionally

spiritually by the mistakes that we have

made mistakes can become informative

mistakes can become revelatory Adams

mistake brought a revelation about God

that Adam never would have known without

his mistake because if he looked at the

only being that had made a mistake in

the universe before Adam showed up was

Lucifer and God never gave him another

chance but when Adam and Eve failed God

said I’m gonna show you a side of me

that you wouldn’t have seen without your

mistake I’m a God of mercy great grace

only comes after great mistakes

the greater the mistake the greater

God’s grace comes to every one of us I

didn’t come with any bad news today if

you’re waiting on it you ain’t gonna get

it today all I came with is great grace

point number one of my little sermon

here today is number one you may have

made a mistake but you are not one you

gotta let that sink down into your soul

when the enemy’s beating your brains out

telling your trash you’re stupid you’re

nothing how could you be so dumb argue

what how could you mess your life up so

bad you may have made a mistake but you

are not one you may have failed but you

are not a failure you may be down but

down is not your destiny God still has a

plan and a purpose and a great thing

that he’s gonna do because he’s got

great grace for great mistakes everybody

give him a praise in the overflow

wherever you are give him a praise

for great grace you will experience a

resurrection you will come out of this

mistakes can open a doorway of discovery

a portal a possibility that you would

never discover had you not gone through

the mistake I’m not advocating go out

and make mistakes so you can find out

more about God’s grace I’m just telling

you what the devil means to destroy you

with and imprison you with and defeat

you with and humiliate you with God says

I can put great grace on your great

mistakes and they become a doorway of

possibility a portal and opening to

discovery your mistakes are not final

your failure is not final that’s why

Nahum said rejoice not over me o my

enemies you’ll see me mess up but don’t

you start throwing a party and start

rejoicing over me o my enemies for when

I fall I will rise again

though I sit in darkness it’s not

forever

his light will find B again do not let

failure become final in your life it’s

not God’s will hidden and every mistake

is a portal a possibility a doorway of

discovery he does not want your mistake

to be a prison he wants it to be a

pathway to a greater revelation of His

grace God will never define you by your

mistakes see I just said something huge

right there

people will your critics will your

enemies will define you for the rest of

your life by your mistakes but your God

will never define you by the worst

mistake

you ever see that’s what people think oh

that but God says I even I am he that

blots out your transgressions to

remember them no more how never define

you by your worst mistake never will God

do that elder brother spirits wheel you

know the only one to bring up the past

of the prodigal son was the older

brother the father never said a word

about it

he’s through a coat on him and covered

him up brought him home said let’s throw

a party get the musicians out Russ get

the instruments out play the drums let’s

dance let’s let’s have a party and the

older brother sitting over there wanting

to talk about the past but God will

never define you by your worst mistake

don’t join the devil side he’s the

accuser of the brothers don’t define

people when they fail and make a mistake

by their mistake you’re joining the

devil side

let’s stop defining people by their

mistakes

God will never define you by your worst

moment mistakes and failures do have

consequences there’s no doubt about it

but you’re not supposed they’re not

supposed to define your future how many

of you ever made a terrible blunder and

the rest of your lives how many of you

have never failed I see one hand two

hands three hands I want to meet you I

said how many of you have never failed

and you raised your hand but thank God

there’s great grace on you

see heaven wants to make you hell wants

to main you God in order to conform us

into his image lets us fail because he

lets us come to an end of ourself and

our self-righteousness the devil desires

to crush you for your mistakes and make

you feel unworthy and make you feel

worthless when in reality you are a

precious child of God right now God

knows everything about you every mistake

you’ve made

and if you’ve repented of that mistake

God says you’re a precious child of God

but Satan wants to make you feel totally

worthless I’m saying to you today that

mistakes make you feel like you’re

stupid you ever done something you just

felt so how can I be so stupid to say

that to do that what an idiot and you

just beat yourself up Abraham made a

terrible mistake lied about his wife he

made another mistake when he slept with

a woman that wasn’t his wife that’s

terrible

God never brought it up not one time

even though he made mistakes God said go

on move on I’m still gonna make you the

father of faith I know you messed up but

I’m not defining you by your mistake you

made a mistake but you’re not a mistake

and I’m gonna use you for my glory God

uses mistakes to take us beyond Elijah

called down fire from heaven outran the

horses of Ahab did amazing miracles but

then he he heard that Jezebel wanted to

kill him and he ran and fled and hid in

a cave trembling in fear he made a

mistake after all that good stuff we how

is it a man can do a million things

right and and and one thing wrong and we

define him by the one thing wrong and

forget all the good stuff that he did

with just people and he’s sitting in

that cave and I love the fact that when

he’s sitting in that cave feeling bad

about the mistake that he’s made God

doesn’t show

and say you sure messed up God never

brings it up but he comes in a steal

small voice and he says you’re still my

servant I’m still chosen you I’ve still

called you I still have a plan for your

life God never brought up his failure

and God isn’t bringing up your failure

he wants you to move beyond your

mistakes went into his great grace Jacob

lied deceived the people that we make

the almost deities out of in the Bible

David committed adultery he really did

he killed people he did horrible things

the point is God uses people who make

mistakes God said you’re a scam artist

you’re a liar you’re a deceiver Jacob

you’ve done about all the bad things you

can do you’re a liar you’re a luster

you’re a loser but I’m gonna make you a

prince renamed you your name will no

longer be Jacob but you’re gonna become

Israel which means a prince with God and

I’m gonna give you power with God in

favor with men I love the fact that

Peter really messed up he lied and

cussed and denied Jesus Christ three

times and Jesus when he showed up to him

never said when he when he showed up in

his resurrection body and cooked him a

restoration meal Jesus didn’t look at

him and say give me the keys back you

know he gave gee I give you Peter the

keys to the kingdom well just because

you’ve messed up and made a mistake

Jesus never said give me the keys back

Jesus is saying to you I haven’t changed

my mind about you I haven’t changed my

mind about your purpose and your destiny

I’m telling you that I knew you would

mess up but I put great grace on great

mistakes if you just look to me I’ll

never give up on you I don’t know who

I’m preaching to but somebody needs to

hear this today your mistakes are not

final somebody give the Lord a shout of

praise if you believe

God will use you anyway turn to your

turn to your neighbor and say don’t let

your mistakes hold you hostage

no you weren’t perfect no you haven’t

done everything right no you yes you

could have done something better if you

don’t watch it those mistakes will hold

you hostage and you can’t even praise

the Lord you’re under such condemnation

that God’s not putting on you the devil

is putting it on you God will use you

anyway I’ve made so many mistakes it’s

not funny you have no idea how many

mistakes I’ve made as pastor of this

church ridiculous stupid stuff but God

never came to me and said give me the

keys back you’re not pastor anymore

people would have had a few tried to

destroy me people would have but God

says no I gave you what I gave you I

like you I love you I’m for you saying

that about you

somes 38 verse 16 said David said when

my foot slipped didn’t say if all you

are you real holy 5 people out there

he said when my foot slips not if my

foot slips you gonna slip you don’t slip

and say something you shouldn’t do

something you should you’re gonna make a

mistake I love what he goes on to say he

talks about how the his enemies fit back

really wanted to pounce on him but he

says in verse 18 I will declare my

iniquity you know what declare means

open your mouth until God I made a

mistake and you move from admission to

remission

if leukemia is in remission it means

it’s losing its power going down down

down down down and when you when you

when you come with admission I made a

mistake then suddenly that mistake goes

into remission you you go from

declaration to restoration you go from

declaring I’m guilty and God pronounces

you’re innocent my blood has covered you

I wish I’d handled it different I I wish

I wouldn’t have said that the devil

wants to magnify your mistake

God wants to magnify himself in the

midst of your mistake

I will not let my mistakes

define me I am a child of God

I am called and anointed and I’m gonna

do what he’s called me to do with more

determination and boldness than I’ve

ever done it before yes I’ve messed up

yes I’ve made mistakes but my mistakes

don’t define me my Heavenly Father

defines me and he says I am cold I am

chosen I am royalty

I am cleansed I am washed how about you

give God a praise if you believe in

great grace great grace

the greater the mistake the greater

God’s grace God is greater than your

mistakes God is greater than your

failures God is greater than your wrong

choices

mmm

thank you Lord the Bible said that we

need grace and mercy grace and mercy

listen there’s a difference between

grace and mercy grace gives me what I

don’t deserve forgiveness acceptance a

clean slate a new beginning grace is God

giving me what I don’t deserve total

forgiveness but there’s a difference

between grace which is giving me what I

don’t deserve and mercy mercy holds back

what I do deserve what’s powerful is

when you have grace and mercy working

where you have grace giving you what you

don’t deserve and mercy holding back

what you do deserve the judgment that

you do deserve God stands like he hailed

the Red Sea back and says pass on

through goodness and mercy are following

you will hold it back to goodness you

hold that side of judgment and mercy

I’ll hold this and what you do deserve

well I’ll hold back what you don’t

deserve and give you what you what you

do deserve what you don’t deserve you

know what I mean

I’ll say something right here it’s hard

to misdirect a parked car the only

people who do not fail are people who

don’t try to do much so if you’re trying

to be great at anything polite to your

life if you’re trying to be great at

anything you’re gonna fail because it’s

hard to misdirect a parked car so these

people who sit back and judge everybody

by their mistakes usually aren’t doing

very much themselves it’s better to fail

trying than not try at all sums 145 and

verse 8 the Lord is gracious and full of

compassion listen to me if you’ve messed

up listen to me if you made a mistake

made a wrong choice done something that

was foolish the Lord is gracious I don’t

know what you’ve heard about God but

he’s gracious full of compassion slow to

anger great in mercy then I love the

last part of that in verse 14 he upholds

all who fall and raises up all who are

bow down you may make a mistake but you

are not a mistake your mistakes are not

greater than God’s grace God’s got more

grace than your disgrace and God will

not define you God will not define you

by your worse mistake that’s my sermon

today

if I need this today and I feel like

this is exactly what I need to hear and

if you won’t quit I know God’s grace

won’t quit God’s mercy won’t quit great

grace is coming upon this church this

ministry great grace well in our

remaining time I want to take a moment

and thank each of you for your generous

support of Kingdom connection through

your giving in your prayers we’re seeing

miracles happen in people’s lives

because of the faithfulness of friends

and partners just like you God is using

this ministry in incredible ways in 2019

we’re believing that we’re gonna see the

greatest year that we’ve ever seen this

month I’m excited to share with you a

brand new project that we have just

begun we are partnered with youth for

tomorrow they provide shelter and care

for at-risk children who are in

desperate need many of them

unaccompanied minors that have been

brought across the border alone with no

parents no relatives and no place to

call home we’re feeding these children

we’re clothing these children and our

ministry is building a home I’ve been to

the border I’ve fed these children I’ve

seen them I’ve heard their stories I’ve

met eight and nine and ten-year-old

girls who were raped by human

traffickers I’ve talked with girls who

were pregnant and they were pregnant

because they were raped and they will be

staying in this home and I’m believing

for 600 people today to do their very

best we are going to believe by faith

that God is going to use you and me to

provide critical care to the children in

desperate need will you help me today

here’s my announcer to tell you how you

can be a part this year over 700

thousand children and young people

entered the United States with no hair

sent to be trafficked or worse pushed

across the borders with nowhere to turn

and nobody to turn to but we know that

our God is a father to the fatherless

and we believe as the church we have

been called to the front line to help

these children in the most desperate

need that’s why we’re partnering with

youth for tomorrow to provide

residential educational and outpatient

services to these fatherless children at

Kingdom Connection we believe that we

are commanded to care for those in

desperate need and when we do God

promises to bless the work of our hands

you can join Jensen Franklin in building

this brand-new dorm by sowing your best

gift of $30 or more when you do you’ll

receive the newly released restart your

heart 21 day devotional for those who so

a special $1,000 seed to complete this

project and leave a lasting legacy

you’ll receive Jenson Franklin’s

best-selling book love like you’ve never

been hurt with their restart your heart

companion devotional or name will also

appear on the legacy wall of faith and

you’ll receive a legacy certificate

commemorating your generosity this month

as an exclusive bonus you’ll receive the

Jenson Franklin Legacy Bible with over

300 thousand words of commentary and

over 150 articles from decades of

messages the legacy Bible will remind

you and your family of God’s

faithfulness for generations to come

visit us online to extend a hand of

grace to these fatherless children in

desperate need

yeah it was last summer in Detroit you

know and I thought I was engaged there

girl of my dreams

and job was going very well where I

thought all this was headed was marriage

and family and and I could not have been

I could not have been more wrong she

asked to meet me so we met in a

Starbucks parking lot

she gave me the ring back she needed

time to figure things out and I’m just a

mess I’m losing it you know wondering

will I ever see you again you know and

that was August 18th of last year and I

never saw her again friend came in my

office

he knew my story he said I don’t know

how to show you this I just have to show

you he turned his phone around and it

was her wedding photo

it turned out that when she met me to

give me back the ring she was married

she had already been married side bends

I’d been struggling with alcohol for

probably two years after she gave me

back the ring and disappeared I went to

the bar that night and I drank for 10 11

11 hours so from the fourth of July

until Sunday August 20th I had been

drunk all day every day it was a real

harrowing time of my life and I got home

I walked into my bathroom and without

even thinking about it

on the way I had I had this favorite

belt am I in this really sturdy belt and

I put it over the door and I’ll tell you

what I was thinking this is too much

like this is too much

I can’t this is too much I can’t get

through this God you know and that’s

what I picked up my phone then went to

youtube and search for how to recover

from a broken heart and a man I had

never heard of in my whole life

popped up Jenson Franklin and I sat in

my bathroom and I watched his message

deep wounds deep healing and I didn’t

know it until the next day but the

anointing that is on pastor Jenson

somehow it came through my phone and I

was delivered from alcohol

instantaneously I watched that message

on repeat for six hours until I was

sober again

I started skipping through sermons and I

saw this one on fasting and so I watched

it and I was like that’s fascinating you

know I need that in my life to become

weak so that I can become strong because

his strength is made perfect in my

weakness and so that following that that

weekend when I drove down to visit free

chapel because God I knew God had called

me to free chapel and I said I’m gonna

fast so I got all the way through the

drive and I it was my first fast was

coming down to free chapel to visit what

I knew was gonna be my new home my new

church somehow someway I fasted the

whole way and then I ruined it with a

red ball at the end I went to the nine

o’clock service and this is a guy that

has never raised his hands in his entire

life and the minute the worship starts I

just go like this

I just knew I was home I just knew it

this is where this is where I belong you

know this is a smudge and that I had to

go back to Detroit I’ve got a good job

in Detroit I’m doing okay and a week

later I got a phone call from a

recruiter for a competitor with an

Atlanta position that was open for the

same job I was doing in Detroit just for

a different company he called me and he

delivered me here in two months it’s

like we serve I would say to anyone who

hasn’t fasted all right who hasn’t tried

fasting I feel like I accelerated his

power through some of the most difficult

situations I’ve ever faced in my life

there’s no there’s no better way to

clear the clutter out of your life and

to focus solely on the Lord Jesus Christ

than to fast

this program has been sponsored by

friends and partners of Kingdom

Connection we hope you’ve enjoyed this

teaching by Jensen Franklin and thank

you for your continued support of this

ministry

[Music]