Hello, dear friends! Praise God for this wonderful day He gives to us! Thanks God for another opportunity to fill our hearts with His living word!Yesterday we began to discuss God´s means used for making changes. We clarified first, that God changes us through our relationships and fellowship.. Second, He changes us through trials, problems and pain. What else does God use in order to make necessary changes in us?
- God changes us through accountability.
In order to change us, God often subordinates us to a person we have to give an account to. A person without responsibility is blind to see his own level of arrogance, rebellion and selfishness he has to get over. Accountability is a kind of protection from misbelief and self-deception for us.
- God changes us through our ministry.
Ministry is yet another way God changes us through. If you want to face significant changes in your life, and you pray for them, you have to begin your ministry by using your talents to serve other people. Start with voluntarily committing your time, means, knowledge, power and talents to support other people and lifting up the quality of their life. God will change you exactly through your ministry.
- God changes us through His word. The Bible says:
«Every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness». (2nd Timothy 3:16-17).
Changes require to know the truth, since only by knowing the truth we can get free from the shackles of sin, bad habits and sinful way of life. That´s why Jesus said:
«You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free». (John 8:32).
- God changes us through our prayers.
God changes us through our life in prayer. Prayer makes incredible miracles – draws person closer to God and unites him with God´s purpose in his life. Prayer changes us and our surrounding. Similar to prayer, studying of the word of God requires iron discipline from us. Therefore, we can affirm, that also changes require discipline. If you are willing to see real changes in your life, you have to
call yourself to discipline, so that you can stay in word and prayer. This is exactly what members of the first Apostolic church were doing.
«They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer». (Acts 2:42).
- God changes us through repentance.
In order to let God change us, we have to acknowledge we have been lead astray. We have to be distressed before God for the wrong way of our life. Bible calls these things repentance. There will be no movement ahead nor changes in your life without repentance. The following verse from Bible illustrates how repentance takes place in some people lives.
«I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death. For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defence, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter».(2nd Corinthians 7:9-11).
We can see from this verse that repentance is not just a sorrow and regret for your deeds (especially when it lead to serious circumstances), but repentance denotes we turn our back to our old life and start out in the opposite direction. Repentance makes real changes in us. Repentance lets us enter the Kingdom of Heaven and opens our hearts for transforming power of God and the King Jesus. Without repentance we´re gonna die! That´s why God invites all people to repent their sins first.
«From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”». (Matthew 4:17).
«The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent» (Acts 17:30).
If you have not repented your sins before God yet, you can do it right now, sincerely ask Him to forgive you and invite Jesus into your heart. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near! Let God´s love and His mercy fill your heart today!See you tomorrow!Rufus Adjiboje, pastor
