19
Nov '24
Changes & Evidences
19
Nov '24
Introduction: When Jesus takes up residence in a human heart, He changes it! Clear evidence that a person has been converted is witnessed by others, which results in a changed life. Have you been changed? Bottom line: Those today who claim they have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, and yet there do not appear to be definite changes, may be questioned as to whether they have truly been converted. Even those saved as children should have evidences throughout their lifetime of the differences being born again into God’s family has on them.
Let’s take a few examples in Scripture to prove this point.
1. Lydia was changed! (Acts 16:15) – “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.”
Lydia had the “could not help its”! She could not help but want her family to experience forgiveness of their sins and a newfound joy and peace that comes in knowing Jesus intimately. Her burden turned into a testimony which resulted in her whole family’s conversion.
2. The Philippian jailer was changed! (Acts 16:33) – “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
Realizing and repenting of going the wrong way, along with wrong living, this jailer was no longer ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Matter of fact, he, like Lydia, introduced his whole family to Jesus. Are you concerned for your family’s well-being?
3. Peter, James, and John with the other disciples were changed! They were willing to die for their faith in Jesus Christ—of course, not including Judas Iscariot.
4. Mary Magdalene was changed. Seven demons were cast out of her. Her faithfulness to Jesus is recorded in John’s gospel. In fact, she was the first one at the tomb, even though it was empty with grave clothes, on the resurrection morning.
5. Saul of Tarsus, the Pharisee who became the flaming missionary, took on a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17). Traveling and spreading the good news was his God-given goal in life. Ultimately, it led him to Rome where he was beheaded as a martyr.
Conclusion: Remember, Jesus told the demon-possessed man in Mark chapter five, after he had had the legion of demons removed, to “GO HOME” and tell of the great things the Lord had done. With the definite and radical changes that take place in the believer’s heart (changes in our want-to’s) after being forgiven of condemning guilt, awful shame, and sin’s stain, one should experience a “NEW LIFE” with a “NEW LORD” followed by a “NEW LOVE”! Do you agree?
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese