Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
How many of you have had the opportunity to see one of the old water wheels at work? They have dotted the countryside for hundreds of years, and have been the source of numerous paintings because of their rural and rustic appearances. This was a time when everybody lived off the grid, and people converted the flow of water into power. They have been used to power things such as sawmills, gristmills and textile mills. Some sources claim that the water wheel dates back to around the 4th century BC, but whenever it was created, it has seen vast improvements since then. Modern hydroelectric dams work on the same principle, converting the moving water into electrical power, but these are far more advanced because they use much more complex turbines rather than the old wooden paddle wheel that we have become so accustomed to seeing in old photographs. Simply put, water wheels convert the flow of the river into rotational energy, and can be used to charge batteries, create electricity, and even power a small home.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Each of us have been born into this world as sinners, flowing down an unending stream of iniquity. But through the grace that is found in Christ Jesus, we can be used for a completely different function. Just like the flow of a river can be redirected to another purpose, converted sinners can be redirected and used for the purpose of God.
Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
One of the definitions for convert is to turn something to another or particular use or purpose, which is basically what a water wheel does. Many times they would make large troughs to divert running water from the main river itself, to be used to power those massive wheels. So you see, a river can be redirected in order to produce something that is beneficial to society. When a sinner is converted, they are redirected from their sinful ways so that they can bring forth good works that are pleasing unto God. It just comes down to a change in direction and purpose. Rather than being a force for evil in the world, we become a force for good, which is exactly what happened in the life of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 26:16-20 (KJV) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Once again, conversion is to change one’s purpose and functionality. In our past all of us have used our abilities to serve ourselves and for the wrong reasons, but now as a converted Christian, we must use them for the glory of God and His purpose instead. Perhaps somebody has spent their life as a worldly musician trying to encourage massive crowds to party and live riotous lives, but when they become converted inside of their heart, they begin using their musical abilities to glorify God instead. Perhaps somebody is a good talker and has spent their life as a salesman to become rich, but as a converted Christian they will use their power of persuasion to lead people to Christ instead. Many men of God have done this same thing when they repented and believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider Moses who was a leader in Egypt, and more than likely would have eventually become Pharaoh, but he walked away from it all when he believed in the Lord. But later on in his life, God used his strengths and abilities to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. The Apostle Peter was good at catching fish, but through conversion the Lord used him to catch men! The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee who was exceedingly knowledgeable of the things of the law, but God used Him to convince others who were under the law that Jesus is the Christ. Many times God will take our strengths and abilities from the past, and use them for His purpose in the church. That’s not always the case, but it does happen if it is according to His will. He can take a rich man and make him a kind hearted giver. He can take a humble man and make him a leader. Conversion is being used for God’s purpose rather than your own. Like a guitar that has been used to produce evil music, God wants us to become instruments of righteousness!
Romans 6:13 (KJV) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
When we are truly converted in our heart, it’s going to lead to a complete transformation of the way that you live your lives. Our whole function changes as we reject what we once were, for the person we are becoming in Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ultimately, conversion is about turning from darkness to the light. It’s about repenting from dead works and completely transforming to a new function and purpose. Sometimes those who have been filled with such darkness, will burn much brighter than many others later on in life. The Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, but although he persecuted the church when he was an unbeliever, as a converted Christian, he was a man on fire for the things of Jesus.
Just like Paul, through faith in the gospel and God’s incredible gift of Mercy, the Lord gives each of us the same opportunity to undergo the same type of transformation. Remember that a flowing river can be redirected to a new purpose, and we must do the same. Our own salvation depends upon being used for a new function, as we turn from the wide river sin, and onto the narrow millrace of…..
……The Water Wheel
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 