You are distinct.

These are the notes I have taken down from the first message of the week of prayer.

I Believe that:

1. The Bible is the inspired word of God for the salvation of mankind.
2. God is never wrong.
3. God is always ever present and active in human history and stories.
4. God cherishes diversity.
5. No two things in this world are exactly alike.
6. No one is like you.

As unique as you are, as distinct as you are, there is still something similar to us - we are all sinners.

DISTINCT - unlike any otherness.

"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one, who putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon His heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." ~Ellen G. White, Southern Watchman, Aug. 1, 1905  

"BUT YOU ARE a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, THAT YOU may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." ~1 Peter 2:9

1. IDENTITY - "YOU ARE"
2. PURPOSE - "THAT YOU" / "SO THAT" 

There is nothing without purpose in this world.

Who you are - Chosen People, Royal, Holy, Special.

Why you are - To praise Christ for this salvation.

Salvation in Christ makes us distinct.   

Even in the Old Testament, in Exodus 19:5-6:

"Now if you obey e fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

and in Deuteronomy 26:18-19:

"And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands."

• Different people, different places; same God, same message: I WILL MAKE YOU DISTINCT. 

To be distinct is to be saved and live as saved in Christ.

Pastor Ekoto concluded the message with an illustration about a dog named, Doggie that had a broken leg. The dog was in pain, it was laying along the roadside, crying. Nobody seems to care because people passing by were just ignoring the dog. This has hurted the dog most not until a doctor saw him and brought the dog to his house. The doctor fixed Doggie's broken leg and took care of him. When the dog was already cured, the doctor let him go. Doggie left but came back with another dog with a broken leg.

As Christians, we all have struggles, challenges and pains in life like the dog who had a broken leg. Most people may not understand what we are going through that they would just ignore us and would not bother to care. But we have Jesus as our Doctor who will fix our broken legs so that we would be healed. 

The story portrays that after we are healed, after being saved, we must go out and bring other people who have broken legs to that one Doctor who alone can heal us.

After knowing how chosen, royal, holy and distinct we are, we are now to bring people at Jesus' feet to help them know how special and peculiar we are in our Father's eyes.