Be the Living Evidence

**Luke 3:8a.** `Bear fruits in keeping with repentance` This passage in the bible was expressed by **John the Baptist** at the time of his ministry. Many people were coming to him, asking of him to be baptized. John told these people, *it is not the act of baptism that shows repentance, but rather the bearing of fruits.* John is pertaining to a complete repentance that should be evident through good fruits. **Repentance** in the dictionary means the action of repenting; ***sincere regret or remorse.*** **Repentance is a complete turn from sin.** When you say you repent, it means you hate sin, and because you hate it, you don't want to do it again. You don't want to be involved again, and you never want to be entangled again. **"Confess-sin-confess-sin"**, is not acceptable. It's a no! no! no! It can't be! This day, you are repentant, the next day, you sin again, and then repent again, and promised not to do it again, and then sin again. Again, and again, and again, and again! Oh, no! You've got a big problem. ***Repentance is not just a word, it is sincere confession, a complete change of heart, thoughts and mind.*** If you ever say you surrender your life to Jesus, but continue to sin, check it! Check your heart, maybe you are not really right with God. Being connected with Christ Jesus, means much, and says much. Not by words, but by action **SHOW YOUR REPENTANCE** Show it through your life! Your faith in the Lord, and your repentance must be visible to others. It must manifest! It must be seen bold and clearly. We are the walking *bible*. We are the real evidence. The very real testimony to others is our lives. How they see us living. The way we think, the wat we talk, the way we treat others. **How did John the Baptist described repentance?** **Luke 3:11** `John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”` ***A repentant heart means a helping hand.*** Giving to the needy, sharing what you've got and caring for others. It's thinking of yourself less. **Luke 3:12** `Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”` **13** “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. ***A repentant heart means a righteous act***. Doing what is right, good, and pleasing to the Lord. Never taking advantage of others needs and weaknesses. No to bribe. Be honest. Be truthful **Luke 3:14** T`hen some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”` He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” ***A repentant heart means content heart.*** Do not lie. Do not bear false witness. ***Hebrews 13:5*** `Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Because God has said, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you` **TIME FOR A CHANGE** ***2 Corinthians 5:17*** `If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.` There is nothing constant in this world but changes. Can a man be changed? Yes! A man can be changed, only by God. **Ezekiel 36:26** `I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.` ***Repentance is a complete change of life. A change life means,*** Change of attitude. Change of character Change of thoughts Change of desires ***"Acceptance alone doesn't prove the power of gospel."*** *True acceptance is repentance. True repentance results to changes.* I was once a very ashamed and unconfident woman before I know Jesus. Many people had mistaken me to be rugged, for I smile very often. I only have very few friends, intimate friends. I do not usually talk with others. I also had a stage fright. I feared of talking in front of the crowd. But when I knew Jesus, it changed. I changed a lot. I learned to mingle with other people. I became joyful. I learned to laugh often. I learned to be confident, talk to crowd, doing task like emceeing, sharing the gospel of salvation, conducting a bible study, even going facebook live! It took me long years before I overcame it! But still I did! Praise be to Jesus. Not only He had changed my character, but He did gave me a chance to showcase my talent, and serve Him. He had given me a desire to know God more, and the more I know God more, the more I want to serve Him! The lesser I think of myself, the more I give glory to God! I cant boast for anything about this. I only became like this, by the grace of the Lord Jesus. It may be a little changes, but it's still a change in me. You too can! ***Phil 4:13.*** `I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.` Have you ever encountered Christ Jesus in your life? Or have you ever known him? have you ever given your life to him? Think about this: **It is not a matter of acceptance, but a matter of true repentance!**