Repent
Repent, just what is it? What does it mean to the hearer and or the reader? We have heard repent thrown around or you will hear it, but it’s not enough to hear this being thrown out into the air and no one seems to understand what it means or what we are to do with this thing call repentance. Simply put to repent is to change our minds. From the biblical standards or point of view, we are to feel pain, sorrow, and regret for what we have done and said. In our hearts, we are to feel the pain of sin that we are in and want to turn from our wicked ways. To turn away from satan, lucifer, that old dragon/serpent. To run from that eternal life in hell, that lake of fire for not receiving JESUS the CHRIST by faith and belief in HIM. And to run towards eternal life in CHRIST JESUS.
We catch a glimpse of the kingdom when we hear the Word of GOD being preached or taught. And when we answer HIS call we become citizens of the kingdom of heaven. We may not have understood that GOD’s kingdom is just that near to our hearts before we come to the LORD.
Once we come to JESUS it is great if possible to be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST. The reason why I write [if possible] is because some may come to JESUS while in a coma, some while they are grasping at their last breath, and some while incarcerated. So in these cases, it’s impossible to be baptized but for anyone else, we must be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST even if at any point in our life we had already been baptized. More than likely as most of us before coming to JESUS if we were baptized we did not know why we were doing this, we did it out of pressure, religious doctrine, tradition or fear. But the true reason for being baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST is to show outwardly that we die to sin and we rise anew in CHRIST JESUS that we are forgiven, we have received a pardon from our sins, and we no longer have to enter into the punishment that we should receive.
Once we come to JESUS we become the sons and daughters of the FATHER because HE does not have grandchildren but direct children. And because we are HIS children and as we are growing up in HIS Word, we will make many, and many more mistakes along the way. Just as we have and do in the natural and in our learning it is sometimes required that our natural father chastises us. So will our FATHER in heaven, HE will not continually leave us to our own devices. In often cases when we know that we know rightly according to the Word of GOD and go against that we will hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us to get it right. And in getting it right in most cases we have to go to someone and ask to be forgiven for what we have done or said against them. Once we have done this we no longer hear the Holy Spirit urging us to get it right but we experience His forgiveness and His placing the ointment from the balm of Gilead on our self-inflicted wounds. This brings us to repent [change our minds] from doing that thing again. We begin to know just how blessed we are to be instructed Spirit to the spirit by our LORD knowing that HIS teachings cause us to strive even further for HIS perfection. Unlike being chastised by our earthly parents we know that being chastised by our heavenly FATHER is from pure unadulterated love and when HE has to spank us it’s not to cause everlasting pain on our emotions or wounds to our flesh. But it’s to get us to release that life of the world which we by nature of sin have come to love. So don’t be discouraged when our heavenly FATHER shows us that we are wrong or in error and chastise us because HIS chastisement elevates us toward HIM.
You know the longer we walk with our Savior and receive instruction by the Holy Ghost we begin to recognize those who are true in the faith, those who straddle the fence and those who are pretenders. When we are in error or let’s get it out there; living our life in straight up rebellion and our heavenly sibling speaks to us about it and we become offended. It’s time to do a heart check. Becoming offended more often than not is the spirit of pride operating inside of us and it must be surrendered to JESUS. We must get our attitude adjusted by the Holy Ghost because if we are approached in pure love and not legalistic judgment than; why are we so touchy about being spoken to or called out on what we are doing or saying? Our siblings are only trying to get us to repent from that thing. We all must know and come to the full truth of the Word of GOD. We all must work together. We must all come to our senses and flee from that trap the devil has set up for us. It’s not difficult for any of us to be taken captive and used by satan. Especially when we operate from a spirit of pride which entails rebellion and witchcraft. Thinking that we are so removed from sin that it’s impossible to be overtaken by the enemy’s devices. Just remember my sibs, when we do take that chance in speaking with another sib who’s missing the mark of righteousness, please don’t become self-righteous; meaning you are trying to get someone to bend to your ways and not the ways of the Word of GOD. Always be gentle, humble, and free from the spirit of pride yourself. I have always found it better to speak with someone that I know is operating in a manner that I once operated in before being set free by GOD’s graciousness and mercy. I understand that thing and I am more likely to encourage another than to cause friction when I speak. It’s then that we are more times than not going to be seen as one who is showing love towards another and not the rigors of the law and judgment. But the flip side is this, we may not be received and if this is the case when you know by the Holy Spirit that you did and spoke as GOD wanted, then we are to leave that person in their wickedness, praying to the FATHER that soon that person will come to repentance in that area of their life and be forgiven.
Dear one’s there has been a foundation laid out for us all that we are to follow. We are to go further in our perfection in CHRIST JESUS, we shouldn’t have to come to JESUS, again and again asking for the forgiveness of sins as we did when we first came. We should no longer be working those dead works that kept us enslaved and entangled in chains by satan. Our faith should never be challenging towards GOD and HIS holy Word, about being baptized, the laying on of hands, the assurance of the resurrection and eternal judgment. Because those things have been made perfectly clear to us in HIS Word. Children of the living GOD know that it is impossible truly for any of us to return to satan willingly. Mistakes of the operation of sin yes are possible but to live an open or hidden life of sin, impossible. Why? Well, let’s just say that once we have learned that 1+2=3 no one can convince us that it’s not. We know that 1+2=3, 4-1=3, 3+0=3 or 3×1=3 no one can convince us that it’s not. Just as knowing from our own experience with the FATHER, JESUS, and the Holy Spirit the deliciousness of being HIS child affords us. We have no interest in bringing shame to JESUS over and over again by crucifying HIM again for giving ourselves over to satan, we know that satan laughs at JESUS hanging up on that cross and says that HIS being crucified the once was worthless and that HE is a God without power and authority to conquer sin once and for all in our lives. We will not allow JESUS to be persecuted, whipped and put to shame again for us. We know that JESUS has no lack of power, grace, mercy, love, healing, provision and whatever else we need from HIM. The promises of JESUS are true and everlasting towards us and we don’t have to die and go to heaven to receive them. No, we can have them right here and right now. Yes, I agree that they seem to be taking longer than we want but don’t you worry it’s coming for you and at you because your name is written on that promise.
Now, know that we have and we serve and we live for a gracious GOD who has waited earnestly and continues to be patient with us. Now knowing this, why can’t we be the same with others? We need to exalt HIM often for HIS mercy towards our being so hard headed. Bless HIS holy name for being the One who is a true justifier and not one who makes excuses for what we say and do. And for those of you who wait on the LORD, know that you are truly blessed. Continue in HIS goodness, no matter how long the wait, wait on the LORD for direction. Yes, it is difficult to operate in patience when you truly are in need or want of something, I get it, I completely understand. Every indication says to us move now, do it now. Just know by rushing into something that you are being pressured by satan who has disguised himself to say or be whatever you desire. Don’t despise having to wait on the Word from GOD for you to do or say a thing or having to decline or rescind, the goodness of GOD is rich.
Matthew 3:2; Acts 2:38; Revelation 3:19; [Ps. 5:17, 94:12; Heb. 12:5-6; Prov. 3:11-12]; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; [Gal.6:1; Eph. 4:2; Acts 8:22] Hebrew 6:1-6; 2 Peter 3:9; [Hab. 2:3; Is. 30:18; Rom. 2:4]
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