Suddenly! Every thing Is Changed!
Daily Word - Wed. Nov.21.2018 - Pastor Sheliah=====
Just this past Sunday – as a group from church met for lunch and fellowship – rejoicing and recounting the goodness of God in the message and ministry from the morning at the Glory Barn – suddenly Holy Spirit swept over us, and one particular person had an amazing encounter with God – an epiphany! I am for certain – by a powerful testimony – that person’s eyes were opened to see Who Jesus really is – as never before!
Do you remember when Jesus asked His followers, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew.16:15). Peter had a “suddenly moment” and perceived Who He really was! “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus acknowledges him by saying, “Blessed are you, Simon, Son of John – because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven”(Matthew.16:16-17).
Epiphany – defined: (1) A sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.
Then Jesus said that it is upon “this Rock” I will build My Church! (Matthew. 16:18). He was declaring that it is The Rock of Revelation upon which He builds His Church!
No one was more amazed at what he had comprehended in that moment than was Peter! Yes! Peter had an epiphany! He, by revelation of the Spirit of God, grasped the reality of Who Jesus really is!
Another one who was radically changed was “Saul – who was uttering threats with every breath and eager to kill the Lord’s followers … And as he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. And the Voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'”(Acts.9:1-6).
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Saul – who became the great apostle Paul – certainly was changed – having an epiphany through a visitation of Jesus on the road to Damascus! The revelation set him on a course for his life that is still impacting us more than 2,000 years later.
And an epiphany will change your life forever! Yes, a sudden manifestation – a perception of the essential nature of God and His purpose and work in your life revolutionizes you! You can never be the same when He reveals Himself to you!
Even now, there is so much more that God – Holy Spirit – wants to reveal to us. Paul wrote “…No mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him… But His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets” (1Corinthians.2:9-10).
Yes! “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all” (Luke.12:2).
Live expectantly! Live outrageously!
“Blessed are your eyes, because they can see; and your ears, because they can hear!”
Suddenly! Everything will be changed! (Matthew.13:16). ~ Shelia Hart Artt
#OutrageousGrace @GloryBarnBranson #Epiphany