JOYFUL CHANGE - ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER - SAMPLE
God’s goodness leads to true repentance. In scripture, we always see the same picture. People follow Jesus gladly because they have experienced His goodness. Zacchaeus is a prime example. So are many more. The blind man who received a miraculous healing of his eyes, in Luke 18, for example. How did he react once he had received his sight? He followed Jesus. (Luke 18:43) We see the same picture on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ. Then the people were touched in their hearts and asked, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). And how did the people respond? “Then those who gladly received his word got baptized ...” (Acts 2:41) The point is: they got baptized because they received Peter’s word “gladly.’ This is the biblical way of repentance. It’s a joyful change.
God’s goodness leads to true repentance.
In scripture, we always see the same picture.
People follow Jesus gladly because they have experienced His goodness.
Zacchaeus is a prime example.
So are many more.
The blind man who received a miraculous healing of his eyes, in Luke 18, for example.
How did he react once he had received his sight?
He followed Jesus. (Luke 18:43)
We see the same picture on the day of Pentecost.
Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ.
Then the people were touched in their hearts and asked, “What shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
And how did the people respond?
“Then those who gladly received his word got baptized ...” (Acts 2:41)
The point is: they got baptized because they received Peter’s word “gladly.’
This is the biblical way of repentance.
It’s a joyful change.
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nights, and only regained his vision when<br />
Ananias laid hands on him and prayed for<br />
him.<br />
So, in Paul’s case, it was right for Ananias<br />
to nudge Paul a little.<br />
Take another case.<br />
That of the prison keeper in Philippi in<br />
Acts 16.<br />
The prison keeper also experienced a<br />
miracle.<br />
Even before he heard the gospel of Jesus<br />
through Paul.<br />
The scripture says that when the<br />
earthquake occurred, the prison doors<br />
sprang open, and the prisoners’ chains<br />
were loosed.<br />
And the prison keeper was about to kill<br />
himself because he thought that all the<br />
prisoners had escaped.<br />
But Paul called out to him, “Do yourself<br />
no harm, for we are all here.” (Acts<br />
16:28)<br />
How did Paul know that the prison keeper<br />
was about to kill himself?<br />
He must have known by the Spirit.<br />
55
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