all it takes is one encounter

All it takes is one encounter to experience Jesus, and be transformed through his radical love, all it takes is one encounter.

I don’t believe this is by a “feeling” and if you do feel something that is wonderful but the bible tells us it is by faith, not feeling.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

I think of Paul, what Paul experienced was a radical encounter with Jesus Christ that changed his life FOREVER, and our lives as we know it.

Paul wrote so much of the new testament and his knowledge came from that personal revelation through person relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing and experiencing his love!

Paul actually was persecuting christians…. can we stop for am minute here! He was in a position to kill other believers, KILL THEM …and then he has ONE encounter with Jesus and EVERYTHING CHANGES!

Talk about RADICAL TRANSFORMATION!

One encounter, changes everything! I love how after that encounter Paul spent his life seeking the Lord, expanding his kingdom and preaching his word to everyone he could, because he knew his savior and had a deep knowledge of his love. That one encounter and he spent the rest of his days following and leading many to Christ.

Jesus appears to Saul (later Paul) in a vision!

” Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” Who are you Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.”

Acts 9: 4-6

That deep knowledge of love changes everything. Because when we KNOW we are changed forever.

When we have knowledge of who we are it is SO POWERFUL!

I am praying this is a year of RADICAL encounters that will change everything for us.

I think of a boy in our home in Ghana. He was treated terribly his entire life, people spoke curses over him, they told him what he would never become, he told him he would never amount to anything, he was hopeless and lost. He was angry and confused. One Sunday he has an encounter with Jesus and surrenders his life to him. He is saved, and he is a new creation. I see how one encounter with Jesus has not just changed but TRANSFORMED this young mans life. He speaks of becoming a pastor, and he is a natural leader and people are drawn to follow what he does or says, what used to be something bad, God tuned to good and now at the age of 15 he is walking in love, leading in compassion and sharing the love he once NEVER knew and now freely SHARES with ALL of the people who cross his path.

He is the one to ask the tough questions being lead by compassion to help others. It is so moving. When I look at this young man, I see a man of God who carriers love and compassion. He is a new creation through one encounter of Jesus Christ.

He is made a new creation, just like Paul. Radical love, and knowledge that we are so loved by a savior who died just to know us, and not just to know us and make a way into heaven but to have heaven living inside of us, so that we carry his spirit, love and light and bring the kingdom of heaven down to earth.

TRANSFORMATION

change, alteration, mutation, conversion, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transmutation

These words also help draw on how we are made new creations once we invite Christ into our hearts and surrender our lives to him, through an encounter.

I am praying this is a year of radical encounters where we are changed and transformed by the power of his love. I feel God moving so powerfully swiftly this year, he is doing a new thing and he is turning hearts back to him! He is calling names back home into his kingdom. This is a year of GOD!

And christians can I challenge you to bring that love with you wherever you are, wherever you go. Would you stop for a cleaning lady, a taxi or an uber driver, would you share the love of Christ with waitresses or delivery men. Would you not let anyone cross your path without having a chance to know and experience his amazing, life changing love. I am praying for you that God would even use us in our day-to-day routine to make time for that one that we might pass and not consider. That these encounters would not just happen in churches but in our day-to-day routine. I am praying for you and waiting to see what God will do this year. He is on the move big time!

And if you are new here, and you are wondering what I am talking about, and how someone like Saul could be forgiven for killing christians, that is the reckless love of Jesus Christ our savior. His blood was shed for each person, all over the world, he actually became our sin, so that when he took it to the grave it would stay there, so we would be made clean by his blood and we do not have to pay the price of sin, rather have eternal life, because we are blames and holy in his sight. When we pray the salvation pray we are made new just like Saul, we are forgiven and we are loved! P.s. you are loved even before you pray this prayer.

You are loved, you are loved, you are loved, God loves you!

Today is the day for salvation, do not wait another day, you can have the relationship with Jesus TODAY!!! Start by asking for forgiveness of your sins, declare with your mouth by believing in your heart that Jesus died and rose again and is the way the truth and the life, that you can enter into eternity today because he made a way for you. If you prayed this prayer you are a new creation!! Praise God.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Blessing and love,

Dev