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“The real meaning of repentance” - Matthew 3:1-2 Matthew 4:17
Sunday July 24th 2011- Rev. Chekinah Olivier
We have to know the real meaning of repentance before we can act on it. Repentance is different from confessing of sins, and John the Baptist was the first prophet to preach about repentance and when Jesus Christ came He too preached about repentance because the kingdom of God has come near.
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, repent, for the kingdom of God has come near”. Matthew 3:1-2. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, repent, for the kingdom of God has come near”. Matthew 4:17. John the Baptist and Jesus preached repentance which means people will have to give up their sins, because the kingdom of God is at near.
What is the meaning of repentance? Change of orientation, direction, actions and habits. Repentance does not mean confessing of sins, but a change of thinking it means a radical change. When we begin to change our way of thinking our actions will be different.
What is the kingdom of God? Jesus came to get us into the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not only wanting to go to Heaven, but experiencing the kingdom of God here on earth in every area of our lives. God wants us to be balance and live in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of joy, peace and an abundant life. The will of God is for us to rejoice here on earth and also to rejoice in heaven.
When Adam sinned he lost abundance of life and that is how suffering came into this world. Adam was living in the kingdom of God, but because of sin he lost it and Jesus came to give to us what Adam had lost. In order for us to live in the kingdom of God we have to do our own part that is repentance, change our way of thinking. Switch from negativity to positivity and have a complete change in our lives. We have to repent in order to reach that level where God wants to take us. God is about to do something in our lives but we have to turn around completely.
Moses was protected by God from his birth and when he wanted to protect himself he failed and fled to another land. He got married and took care of his father-in-law’s flock. God’s children suffered for 400 years in slavery and the time came for them to be delivered and God used Moses to accomplish that task. Moses saw this vision; the bush was on fire but not burning and said I will now turn around to see what this vision is. As he turned around God spoke to him. Moses had to change his position before God spoke to him. God required of Moses to repent and when he did, God spoke to him not to come closer to the burning bush because where he was standing is a holy ground. Exodus 3: 3-6
The man of God says we must not miss our season in our lives. When you sense, have that feeling that the season is near change your way of praying, shake things up, study, meditate and read the word of God more often. As you change you are positioning yourself for what God is about to do. Do not expect a miracle when you are just a Sunday Christian. You have to spend more time in the presence of God and you will experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The rain is coming, but will you receive it? Are you going to see God’s glory? Because it is near. If you are that person that sleeps a lot it is time to pray and spend more time in the presence of God.
Abraham had to leave his father’s land and go to a place where God wanted him to be, in order for him to be blessed. Abraham had to change location. There is a moment and time in our lives when God is calling us to change. Are we doing the same thing over and over again? Its time to ask God to change our way of thinking and be more hungry and thirsty for God, let us seek Him more often and let there be a new flame in our hearts.
Presented by Mabel Grace Kamara
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