Over the past few weeks we have been looking at people who encountered Jesus and were transformed by their faith in him. This evening we will hear of people in the 21st Century who have met Jesus and been transformed by faith in him.
To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.
Hebrews 11;1
4John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. 5People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. 6John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
7As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. 8I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism-a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit-will change you from the inside out.”
9At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. 11Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are mine, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”
Mark 1; 4-11 The Message
God says to everyone you are loved, come and join the party. Come and join in with what I am already doing in this world. I love you so much I don’t want anyone to miss out. God says I am remaking everything, from relationships between us, our relationships with each other, our relationship with the world, he says he is remaking and even creation itself.
So, come, come and join the party, come and follow me, and your life will not be the same again. It will be more life filled.