I was reading Missionary Jim Taglialatela's latest newsletters this morning, and was just awed at how a man's changed life opened up doors of opportunity to witness to at least three other of his family members... only it was after his death.
Missionary Taglialatela wrote about Emilio that had been in drugs & alcohol his entire adult life, but then was transformed into a committed follwer of Jesus Christ. They were saddened after he went to sleep in Jesus, but used the opportunity to provide Scripture to comfort his mother. She then invited him back any time he wants, and also wanted to have Jim meet Emilio's sisters, "since they had also seen the change in their brother."
You can't argue a changed life, right Shannon (that's Mr. Shannon, if any of you don't know)? The Aposlte Paul's change was rather significant in his life. And, he went to preach with more than just words, but with the power of the Spirit. Now, he had some added apostolic advantages than we do, but we have the same Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is a changed life. When we witness with the power of the Spirit, like Paul, we witness with the demonstration of a changed life.
Some cross references for your study pleasure, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 4:20...
And for those of you that don't get FBBC Prayer Requests, my Uncle Larry passed away yesterday. Pray for God to work in the lives of those involved. My mom is in Florida with her two other brothers, and their mom is up in the nursing home up here.
Missionary Taglialatela wrote about Emilio that had been in drugs & alcohol his entire adult life, but then was transformed into a committed follwer of Jesus Christ. They were saddened after he went to sleep in Jesus, but used the opportunity to provide Scripture to comfort his mother. She then invited him back any time he wants, and also wanted to have Jim meet Emilio's sisters, "since they had also seen the change in their brother."
You can't argue a changed life, right Shannon (that's Mr. Shannon, if any of you don't know)? The Aposlte Paul's change was rather significant in his life. And, he went to preach with more than just words, but with the power of the Spirit. Now, he had some added apostolic advantages than we do, but we have the same Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is a changed life. When we witness with the power of the Spirit, like Paul, we witness with the demonstration of a changed life.
Some cross references for your study pleasure, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 4:20...
And for those of you that don't get FBBC Prayer Requests, my Uncle Larry passed away yesterday. Pray for God to work in the lives of those involved. My mom is in Florida with her two other brothers, and their mom is up in the nursing home up here.
8 comments:
Paul's transformation is impressive - he went from persecuting to praying & beating men to bringing men to Christ. Do you think this is how dramatic every person's "transformation" should be?
They definitely "should" be that dramatic!
I think that's one of the difficulties with Christian family kids though - the transformation is not always so easily perceptible.
However, the persecutor that gets converted, I would think should demonstrate the same level of zeal, just for the Lord's sake.
(Luke 7:47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
I believe this Scripture teaches the more we see how sinful we are the more we will love the Lord. The less we see ourself as sinful - the less we love the Lord. I would think Christian kids would see their sinfulness even more...?
i agree with you kevin, that christian kids should see their sinfulness more and i think that if they don't see that then their parents have done a bad job of teaching them... 'i once was lost, but now am found' should apply the same to everyone, although i think a lot of 'good' people fall in to the 'at least i'm not as bad as that tax collector over there...'
andy, very sorry to hear about your uncle.
Good stuff, guys...
What I was saying is that the perceivable, external change in a Christian-home-child after he is saved, is much less than a worldly-home-child after he is saved.
The change in Timothy's life when he was born again was probably much less notable by onlookers than the change in Paul's life.
Make sense?
yep
I just got around to reading this post. I'm so sorry about your uncle, Andy. I will keep your family in my prayers.
Thanks, Vickie
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