There are many who will make the claim, that they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. While that is good, wonderful and laudable, might I say to you today, that that only marks the very beginning of your Christian walk and Journey. In the Gospel of John, we are told of the new birth, in the dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus. This isn't an initiation, not a membership into an exclusive fraternity, or the lofty notion of some ethereal experience, it is but a birth, the coming into being of a new life. Understanding this helps us to see how absolutely ridiculous it would be for one to stop at that point, as though only the birth matters, ignoring nurture, growth and physical and spiritual development. This reminds me of the question those of the fledgling New Testament Church were being asked. (Acts 19:2) He said unto them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit since you believed? So they said unto Him, "We have no so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."

Salvation is what Jesus has done and procured for you. Dedication is your personal response of submission to God's will for your life, with regard to what He has done for you, while Sanctification is what He does for you, in response to your dedication, and yielding to Him, in total surrender. Do we see the definite progression that should take place in the transformed life of a believer? Now, what do you settle for? Is it just a little Fire Insurance Policy? There are those who desire to have just so much of the Lord, Jesus, so as to establish their assurance, of escaping the flames and fires of hell, nothing less nothing more. I suppose it was of such folk that Jesus said in (Rev.3:14-16) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot, so then because you art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Jesus also said, that God desires such to worship Him; "But the hour has come, this present time, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). There are those who will say they keep their religious convictions private, it's a matter between them and their God. God loves those who are bold and daring and I dare say even obstreperous at times if needs be, with regard to their testimony and faith in God. Sometimes the fact is that we have become so prim and proper, so delicately polite, so politically correct, that what we say and how we've said it, cause it to lose its punch, passion and effectiveness.

If we will truly live out our faith, others will stop and take notice, some may even listen and through the Miracle working power of the Word Of God, some will also be saved. I am angered at times that our Christianity is being relegated into being something for those with empty heads, believing in myths and legends. The apostle Paul so eloquently refuted this in saying (Rom 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. We are told to let the Word of God dwell richly in us. We are also told that we are complete in Him, Christ. He came that we might have Joy, and that our Joy may be full. Does your life exude that joy? In fact have you truly experienced the joy of the Lord for yourself? Has your relationship with the Lord become a lack-lustre one? Have you fallen out of Love with the Lord? Are you enduring and not enjoying your Christian walk with the Lord? These are only a few questions that need to be addressed in our lives. Jesus is everything He said he is. If there is any change, the change will most certainly be with us. (Heb. 13:8) Jesus Christ the same Yesterday and today and forever.

It is required of each of us that we have our personal encounter with Jesus. Anyone who has been significantly used of the Lord, would have had a personal encounter with Christ, which goes beyond what he has been told, what he has been taught, or what he has heard or read about. In the scripture reading about Isaiah, it was a definite thing, it was a life changing moment, he was there when it happened and he ought to know. He declares, "I Saw The Lord" sitting upon a throne, high and lifted
up, and His train filled the temple verse..... 3. And one cried to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His Glory. No one can argue away an experience, they may believe and accept it, or as is their right, they may outright reject it, but either response does not negate or diminish the truth of the reality experienced. Immediately, that vision of the Lord in His transcendent Glory, caused Isaiah to cry out, (verse 5) "Woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts" When you have seen the Lord, when you have had an encounter with Him, your life can never be the same, it will not be the same old, same old, it cannot be, (2 Cor. 5:17) For if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are pass away and behold all things are bec6me new. This morning you are call upon to dedicate your life to the Lord, nothing withholding, (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, And be nor conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Would surrender your will and hold on your life, and let Jesus take over the reins, and see what a difference He makes.

All Bible Verses: KJV