JOHN NEWTON: FROM THE STORM TO AMAZING GRACE

JANUARY 2022 DAY 2BASIC SCRIPTURES:

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-10

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:

yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

JOHN NEWTON: FROM THE STORM TO AMAZING GRACE

Many years ago, John Newton was a slave trader. He trafficked thousands of men , women and children from Africa FOR SALE.

However, in 1748, in one of his numerous journeys, A VIOLENT STORM threatened to sink his ship. He fell to his knees and prayed to God for mercy.

It was that night that John Newton came to his senses that there was indeed a living God who hears and answers prayers- Even for the worst of men.

Over time, Newton repented completely, then became a preacher and writer of hymns. In 1772, he wrote a hymn called Faith Review and Expectation,

a song that became known worldwide popularly as “AMAZING GRACE “. It has become perhaps the most popular song in history – a song that with a

few notes has becomes a song that inspires hope in the wake of tragedy, lifts the head of the hopeless and softens the heart of the hardened. Amazing

Grace was sung by both sides of American civil war and was used as a requiem by Cherokee Indians. Civil rights protesters sang it during freedom

marches.

And on the unforgettable day- August 23rd 1963 when Dr.King Jnr. gave his great, “I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH” in Washington DC, AMAGING

GRACE rang out! When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, it was sung. And when the Berlin wall came crumbling down on November 9th

1989, it was sung! It has been repeated many times to comfort a mourning world. Grace has the power to reform, right the wrongs, and turn a man

who once traded slaves into one who fought for their freedom. Part of the song ends thus: “through many dangers, toils and snares, we have already

come; Ti’s grace that brought us safe thus far and grace will lead us home” The Holy Spirit wants you to know that THE GRACE OF GOD WILL

SURPRISE YOU FOR GOOD this year! In every STORM or juncture of pain, confusion and despair, look to that grace! You will never end in shame!

Pray seriously now!

PRAYER POINTS: take any song of adoration as led.

1.in your own words, pray about today’s word as led now.

2.God will never lead me to where His grace cannot keep me! 2022 is my year of unstoppable divine surprise! Lord, pour your fresh grace upon all I

do in Jesus name.

3.Lord, you are STRONG; your grace is sufficient for me in 2022!

4.Lord, use every challenge in my life, family and ministry to take me to my appointed destiny place. I refuse to quit trusting you! Never!