KEEPING IT REAL THIS WEEK
There is NOTHING SMALL about repentance, so this week we are KEEPING IT REAL.
The greek word in scripture for repentance that I want to look at this week is metanoeo-to CHANGE one’s mind and purpose; to think differently and heartily amend and have sorrow for past sins.
Our culture tends to view repentance as such a negative, dirty word, but I see it very differently.
I have expereinced it as a soul cleansing act of my will that set my heart and mind free.
Pause for a moment with me. Is there a person, sitution or circumstance that comes to your mind, right now that may require such change?
When God reveals such offenses to you, he is actually inviting you to come closer to himself, so you can know Him better.
CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK & YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
He’s inviting you to change the way you think.
I think we can all agree that God does not think like us. The bible says his thoughts are higher than ours. Higher? Yeah, like the heavens are above the earth, God’s thoughts are above our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
This invitation to come up higher, is so you can see and think like Him and repentance gives you the lift off to a new point of view.
His thoughts are governed by who He is: purity, peace, righteousness, joy, incredible love, eternal wisdom, infinite understanding and unsearchable knowledge just to name a few-which are not of this world.
On top of the fact that His thoughts are NOT random towards you.
“For I KNOW the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
God is for you dear friends and repentance keeps you thinking in the right direction and aligned with His heart and truth.
REPENTANCE ALIGNS US WITH PURPOSE
Remember John the Baptist? His sole purpose was to get people in position and prepared for the arrival of Messiah Jesus.
He only preached one message- “change the way you think, the kingdom of heaven is here.”
This one act of submission and admitting that you don’t have it all figured out, can change the entire trajectory of your life. It will give you that expected end.
“In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, 2 “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the road for the Lord, Make His highways straight.” I’m sure the people of that day thought John was a wild man, eating wild locusts and honey, living in the wilderness and preaching the same ole message day after day down by that river. But he never veered off of it, and Jesus said- “Truly, I say to you, among those born of woman there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist….” Matt. 11:11
John’s assignment was a BIG deal with God and John fulfilled his assignment-even unto his death.
What purpose or assignment does God have for you that requires you changing the way you think? It all starts with repentance.
You see repentance isn’t just another thing to God – it’s one of the main things, because he’s not trying to get something from you, He wants to get something to you.
WE ALL FALL SHORT
I’ve learned that sin and wrong belief structures affects us way more than we realize on a daily basis. And I don’t consider myself to be SIN FOCUSED, but I’ve learned that if I keep a check on my heart daily, then I am much more likely to catch the small stuff, because I am positioned in Christ and am invited into his thoughts about things.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT
I’ve been tricked by Satan and tripped up more than I care to remember. I’ve learned:
sin hardens hearts and blinds us to truthsin deafens us to God’s voicesin stops up the flow of Holy Spirit in our life. It doesn’t have to be big stuff either. It’s the little things (little) that trips most of us up. (Song of Sol. 2:15)
REPENTANCE STARTS WITH EXAMINATION
Ask God to search and examine your heart and show you what’s there.
“Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.” (Psa) 139:23-24 CJB
REPENT QUICKLY- DON’T DELAY
“For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’” Matthew 13:15 NLT
The quicker you repent, the softer your heart will remain and the better you will SEE and UNDERSTAND next time.
“And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until anther more opportune and favorable time.” Luke 4:13 AMPC
The message translation says-“the devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.”
Satan WILL come back; and the next time he comes back, knocking at your door, you will recognize the pitfall and escape the trap of deception.
REPENTANCE REQUIRES CONFESSION
You can’t be sorry alone. YOU MUST CONFESS your sins to the Lord. It’s a command, not a suggestion. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9 NLT
Are you washed in the blood? In the SOUL CLEANSING blood of the lamb? God is faithful to cleanse you- but only when you confess.
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16 NLT
You may also need to confess your faults to someone you’ve wronged, and pray for them too. Making it right with others puts us back into right standing with God and produces powerful prayers with wonderful results. Pray about whether you should do this. You may not need to because it could stir up more offense. But there are times to reach out and ask forgiveness.
TIMES OF REFRESHING
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord….” Acts 3:19 NIV
Who doesn’t need refreshing, right? Refreshing involves restoration, renewal, reviving and a clean slate. Turn your heart to Jesus today and ALLOW his blood to wash you clean.
“….. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean…” Hebrews 10:22 NLT
WRAPPING IT UP WITH FORGIVENESS
Forgiving others and sometimes ourselves can be the ultimate revelation that comes with repentance. It is many times the key you’ve been looking for. Forgiveness through confession is a powerful weapon in your spiritual armory against your adversary the devil, and a powerful way we experience kingdom manifestation and personal freedom.
Keep it REAL and pray with me today:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Psalms 51:10-12, 16-17 NLT