The first key is this: (Watch out for the other keys soon to be posted)

1. We must have an encounter with Jesus Christ.

In Acts 9, we see that Saul (now Paul), didn't have some casual conversation with God that led him to change so radically on the road to Damascus. Radical change in his life came because he had a radical encounter with Jesus!

From being one who persecuted the Christians, to becoming one himself, and then ministering to the Gentiles that he had previously persecuted, was the amazing proof that his life had been radically changed. Paul shares this in Galatians:

Gal 1:11-16 I want you to know, brothers & sisters, that the gospel I preached is not something that human beings made up. (12) I did not receive it from any person, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (13) For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. (14) I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. (15) But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased (16) to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles..."

Don't you love those 3 words: " BUT WHEN GOD..." But when GOD touches our lives we are never the same again. When we open ourselves to have an encounter with the living God, when we let GOD move into our spirit, into our lives, we are radically transformed and we are new creations in Christ. Our hearts are softened, our will is surrendered to God's will, and our spirit is made whole.

When we have a radical encounter with Jesus Christ, the impact of the manifest presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, changes our thinking, our very lives. We cannot be the same again. Our desires, our priorities, the things we placed importance on in the past, begin to shift and change. We become more authentic as human beings, as the power of the Holy Spirit changes us into Christ-likeness. We operate by faith, in the realm of GOD's ageless promises to prosper our lives.

Paul's desire to be true to his faith as a devout Jewish man, by persecuting the Christians, is not too dissimilar to the persecution many LGBTI people face today by other Christians, who, like Paul, really believe that they are right about us. They believe that LGBTI people must change their sexual orientation and be "saved" from eternal damnation.

Like Paul, many Christians in their earnestness and ignorance, can get it wrong!  People can become self-righteous like St. Paul, in their limited understanding of GOD. For those Christians, may you have a fresh encounter with the living GOD. I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to bring you fresh revelation of GOD's love, which goes beyond our human understanding.

For the rest of us; let me ask this question: Have you had a radical encounter with the living GOD that has transformed your entire world, your thinking? If not, perhaps it is time, to let GOD have GOD's way in your life. Perhaps that season has come to allow such an encounter to draw you into the very presence of GOD. It is these encounters that lead us to a new level of intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Maybe you have had a "gentle shove" by GOD recently. Where you have felt GOD speaking to you little by little, but all the time, drawing you closer to that "Damascus Road" experience that St .Paul had; a radical encounter with Jesus!

To you my friend, I say, let it happen! If you trust anyone, let it be GOD, whose track record is perfect, unlike most of our track records!

Hear GOD's voice today, do not turn away, embrace and trust where GOD is leading you, you will find that it is good.

Once you have had an encounter with Jesus, you will never be the same again. - Will you read this and forget it, or will you be challenged today, not to worry about your friends and what they will think of you, but to follow your heart and to rather worry about what GOD thinks of you.
Get on the road to Damascus and have a real encounter with Jesus. You will forever be transformed, your hurts will be healed, and you will be restored to live in the fullness of Christ's never ending love.

Make your choice to seek the Lord today, while GOD may be found by you.

Walk the right road this Christmas, draw near to GOD.

Keep safe
Blessings

Rev. Deborah Bell