EVANGELIST ARTICLE
EVANGELIST ARTICLE
By BRAD Hall
IT may be difficult for many to believe this , but I am a little stubborn and hardheaded . Once I have my mind made up on a subject ( my opinion ), it can be challenging to get me to change it . I ’ m sure none of you reading this article can relate . As I think of this less-than-desirable personality trait , I am reminded of how this affected my surrender to Christ and His will for my life . Following Biblical instructions and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my every thought and action can be a challenge .
“ Then Peter said to them , “ 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 , NKJV ).
The word “ repent ” is defined as changing one ’ s mind . I can remember when I decided I wanted to be saved . I can also remember when I changed my mind about God , Jesus , and the Holy Spirit . True repentance is not only confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness to be saved but a deliberate decision to view God in a life-transforming way . Changing one ’ s mind is to believe all that is written in the Word of God ; changing one ’ s mind is to believe that we choose to allow God to have ALL of our heart , mind , body , and strength . Yes , I know I flipped that script a bit , but I believe to love God ( and others ) is also to give at a level of sacrificial death of self .
This brings me to the question in the title of this article . Can you remember a time when you changed your mind about God , Jesus , and the Holy Spirit ? Can you remember when you had such an encounter with the Holy Spirit that there was no longer a question in your mind , body , or soul as to who you serve and at what level you plan to do it ? Can you remember a time when you were willing to forsake all else to please our Lord and Savior ? Can you remember a time when you were so filled with the Holy Spirit and all that comes with it that you couldn ’ t contain yourself or Him ?
If not , please fall to your knees and ask God to give you this opportunity .
Praise God if you can and are still living in such a way . If you can but have faded from the radical and complete surrender that you once had , today is the day to correct that .
“ And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind , that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God ” ( Romans 12:2 , NKJV ).
Now that News Year ’ s Resolutions have been forgotten , let us rekindle our fire to surrender and serve God . Many of us can remember a resolution to our Lord that resembled the passage in Romans where we changed our mind and promised to make our lives a living sacrifice to God ( Romans 12:1 , NKJV ). Today let ’ s pray for God to get us back to that place we once were with a complete radical abandonment to the will of God and the Holy Spirit !
Shawna and I love you all and cannot wait to see you and serve with you in the future . CMA
Brad and Shawna Hall oversee the Southeast Region as National Evangelist . 06⎪JULY 2023⎪shop . cmausa . org