"When People Meet Jesus, Anything can Happen"

The title of this post were the words of my friend and pastor Sunday.

Do you believe them?  I do.  I really do.

Many things have happened to me since I first met Jesus.  However, most of them took root when I truly surrendered to Him and began to desire His actual lordship in my life.  Meeting Him and submitting to His lordship are not the same, the scripture makes that clear. 

 I would like to share some of the things I have experienced as a result of knowing the very Son of the Living God, and the Living God Himself.

Freedom:
Galatians 5:1  It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Many people all over the world live in bondage: primarily to sin, but also to their past, to their government, to other religions, to persecution, to ignorance, to guilt, to self-indulgence, to lies, to fear and to many more things that Satan, the enemy, presses down on them.
BUT...In Christ one is freed, forever.  All things that bind a person are loosed at the cross.
Because when you meet Jesus, anything can happen.

Healing:
Psalm 147:3  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them.
Life hurts.  People hurt you.  Many times I hurt myself.  I make stupid decisions based on prideful intentions and I end up with a brokenness that only Christ can mend.
Apostasy means a total desertion from one's religion, principles, or cause.  Those prideful moments are moments of apostasy when all my wits exit my head and all I know to be truth is hazed in a fog of self gratification.  And what does my Savior do?  Well He heals me.  He binds my wounds, turns His justified anger from me and loves me through it.
Because when you meet Jesus, anything can happen.

Obedience:
Romans 6:17-18  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
There are times I want to flesh out my anger.  There are times I want to quit.  There are times I don't want to ask God what He thinks, I just want to do it my way.  I don't want to wait.  I don't want to accept that role or that responsibility.  I want to say what I want no matter who it hurts.  I want to do what I want no matter the foolishness in it.  I don't always want to see what scripture says, I just want to do it the way everyone else does.  But their way is not righteousness.  And their way is not freedom.  And God's Spirit within me beckons me to the pursuit of Him and so I choose Him.
Because when you meet Jesus anything can happen.

Sight:
Psalm 66:5  Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
Yes, you can see God when you have met Jesus.  I saw Him in my garden this morning.  And I saw Him in my son tonight.  I see Him often in the sky.  This weekend I will see Him in the mountains.
Because when you meet Jesus anything can happen.

Hearing:
John 10:27  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
A relationship with Christ is unlike any other religion in the world.  People talk to their gods but their gods don't talk back.  Christ lives within me.  His Spirit guides me in every way I seek guidance.  You just have to pay attention :).  I hear Him and it enables me to follow Him.
Because when you meet Jesus anything can happen.

Wisdom and Understanding:
Psalm 111:10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
Obedience pays in dividends of understanding the Creator of all things.  Its His gift to His children.
When you meet Jesus.......well......I hope you are getting the picture :)

Authority:
Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
Jesus means authority, power, and protection in your life.

Adequacy:
2 Corinthians 3:5  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.
Jesus means you are complete.


Strength and Power
Isaiah 40:29  He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
Jesus means you are strong and can endure.

Renewal:
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowlede according to the image of the One who created him.
When you meet Jesus, you will meet a new you and you will discover the new you everytime you seek Him, everytime you obey Him, everytime you hear Him, and see Him and then suddenly you will realize He has renewed you!!

Redemption:
Ephesians 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
Sin has left you abandoned, and death is at your door.....until Jesus, your Redeemer met you at the cross.
Even death is conquered when you meet Jesus.

Hope:
Psalm 39:7  And now, Lord, for what do I wait?  My hope is in You.
And His hope does not disappoint.

Peace:
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This world offers you chaos.  Christ instills peace.  With Him anything is possible.

Courage:
2 Chronicles 15:7  But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.
And waiting for you at the end of the road is the most glorious place you could ever even begin to fathom.  We call it heaven.  The Bible refers to it as the most Holy of Holies, God's dwelling place.  And if you have met Jesus, you will be living there.

When people meet Jesus, anything can happen.

I hope you believe this too!