Conversion
Scripture Reading: Psalm 19:7
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
Conversion
Father God, we pray that you give us the grace to surrender all to you. We pray for the grace of conversion. Thank you for making us believers, but Lord we need to be converted.
Conversion means turning to God from sin. According to Webster’s dictionary, conversion means to change in character, form, or function.
Beloved, many of us have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, but the question is, have we progressed from believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to converts who have truly surrendered all to Him? May God give us all the grace to be converted, so we will be able to surrender all to Him, for therein lies all the blessings, all the priviledges, all the assets of Christianity. May God upgrade us from mere believers to those who are totally converted to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Word of God says in Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Revival is only available in the presence of the Lord and only the converted can stay perpetually in the presence of the Lord, because that person’s total interest is in the Lord; and anywhere away from the Lord is uninteresting to the person. I pray that God will take us there in the name of Jesus. When you are truly converted, you become like Peter.
In Luke 22, we see an interesting story that I think greatly depicts and explains conversion. There the Word of God says, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” And he said unto him, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me,” Luke 22:31-34
We know what happened to Peter. Peter really loved the Lord. He was a great believer in the Lord, but he had not experienced total conversion, and that was why it was possible for him to deny the Lord. But Peter after his conversion, after the Lord prayed for him, was ready to do anything for the Lord Jesus, and he became the rock upon which the church of God was built. That is why you and I also need to make progress from believer to convert to the glory of God in the name of Jesus.
When you are truly converted, you become one who is totally faithful to the Lord. You become gentle. You become patient. You experience and you give agape love. You now become one who is totally obedient to God. Obedience is not questionable with you anymore. You have peace that passes understanding. You have self-control and you practice self- denial. Peter after his conversion from being the coward now became courageous; from the one who was impulsive, now became deliberate; from the one who was ignorant, now became enlightened; the one who was questioning and inquisitive, now became trusting; the one who was boastful of self, now became boastful of Christ; the one who was timid and afraid, now became fearless. This all manifests conversion.
Paul also experienced conversion, and we know what he did for the Kingdom. Paul after conversion became consecrated, became courageous, became considerate, conscientious, Christ-centered, conciliatory, composed. And so beloved, you and I need to pray that God will upgrade us from believers to converts in Jesus’ name because the benefits of conversion are immense. When we become converts according to the Word of God, we will perpetually have the presence of God. We will perpetually have prosperity. Yes, prosperity; divine enablement to prosper spiritually, physically, and financially; a well-rounded prosperity and peace.
I offer conversion to you today, believer. Wouldn’t it be lovely to be perpetually in the presence of God? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be perpetually in prosperity? Wouldn’t it be wonderful, even in your prosperity, to have perpetual peace? It is available for you from the Lord Jesus today. First, recognize that you need to be converted. Recognize that you are a believer but you have not totally surrendered.
We sing that famous song, “I Surrender All,” but have we surrendered our sub-cultures? Have we surrendered our anger? Have we surrendered our pride? Have we surrendered our racism? Have we surrendered all the things that hinder peace, prosperity, and the presence of God in our lives? Let us call on God to take over, to take total control that His blessings will be real and permanent in our lives to the glory of God.
Yes, let us change in character, form, and function by upgrading from mere believers to those who are totally converted.
Prayer Points:
Lord Jesus, we pray to you today. We confess that we need to be converted to you. Yes, we are believers but many of us fall short of conversion. We fall short because all our former attitudes are still there, ready as a potential force, ready to manifest at any time. Lord we ask that you remove them for us. Lord you prayed for Peter and he experienced conversion.
Father Lord Jesus pray for us today. Pray for your people to convert, O Lord. Let conversion be our reality.
