Change is Possible!

Posted on November 29, 2014 by .....

Our change made possible because of our Hope. Faith in Jesus has the power to change lives, has the power to answer prayers, the power to meet our needs and the power to save our souls. Faith in Jesus can change the worst most hopeless lost cause of a life for the better. There is no lost cause as long as Jesus is part of the equation. Jesus delights in giving us second chances.
Jesus has a heart for people. When He sees our needs it moves Him with compassion. (Mathew 9:36 – But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.) Jesus has the power to help us through the storms of life. He will make sure, if we trust in Him, that we get through to the other side of our problem. (Luke 8:22-25 – Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.) Jesus has the power to change lives. The woman at the well had been married several times and was currently living in adultery. She thought her situation was hopeless but our God is an all powerful God. He has the power to help anyone out of any situation.
Paul’s changed life because of the Lord is a great example: The stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58-8:3) The words ‘made havock’ in verse 3 of chapter 8 means ‘to ravage like a wild beast’ – That is how much Saul/Paul hated Christians! (Acts 9:1-2) in verse one it says “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” – Saul here is still just hating the Christians and wanting to do everything he can to destroy them.(Acts 9:3-6) Then Jesus came into Saul’s life and he repented of his wicked ways and turned to the Lord.
In verse 5 the Bible says “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” – This is a figure of speech meaning that Saul was already starting to get convicted about what he was doing to Christians. Just imagine with sandals on kicking against sharp pointed needles. That would hurt and cause you pain. That is what persecuting the Christians was doing to Saul it was already starting to hurt him inside causing him pain. Acts 9:4-21 finishes the story of Paul’s salvation and repentance (his turning from sin and turning to the Lord) and his change from a persecutor of Christians to an Apostle.
So Paul’s example of a changed life starts in Acts 7:58 with the stoning of Stephen, then to Acts 8:3 where he ‘made havock’, to Acts 9:1 to where he was ‘breathing out threatenings and slaughter’, then to Acts 9:3-6 where he repented and Jesus came into his life, and finishes in Acts 9:20 when Paul ‘preached Christ’. So we have the example of Paul’s life where he started out persecuting the Christians. Then he started feeling convicted ‘hard for thee to kick against the pricks’. Then Jesus came into his life and changed it forever then it ends with Paul preaching Jesus! Isn’t it amazing how God can change some one’s life?