Repentance & Revival
Acts 3:19 (NKJV)
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
Being wrong isn’t a bad thing, especially if you can recognize it. Notice I said being wrong and not living wrong. Being wrong is a typical trait of being human. As humans we will make mistakes and have opinions based in less than truths, however what we do with them is really what matters. Continually living in the same mistakes or wrong ideals is where people go wrong.
Living as a Christian, and I know you’ll be shocked by this, has not made me perfect. Living as a Christian brings me towards perfection. This is because truly living as a Christian brings me, continually, to repentance. Often as Christians we focus on the fact that Christ has already died and obtained our salvation. This is very true, however we must walk this salvation out everyday as we live for Him. We are to grow and live, constantly making adjustments as we grow closer to Him.
Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” These are a few very powerful and instructive scriptures. We are to work or as we often say walk out our salvation. This means to live in such a way that you are mindful of the fact that Jesus saved you and desires you to live in a way pleasing to Him. In doing so, we must always keep a mindset and willingness to be changed according to scripture, if we discover we have been off in some area. God does not expect your perfection, this is why He sent Jesus. He desired that we would seek after Him and gave us this ability despite sinful flesh. He gave us the ability to overcome this flesh through an amazing tool called repentance.
Being Christian isn’t just that you have accepted Christ but even more that you live for Him. Repentance is key to living this way. Repentance means that no matter who you are, what race, what age, what gender, what anything, that you could be wrong and when you discover you are, you decide to change. I know changing the way you think and act isn’t popular in today’s culture but is the way of the Lord. Often people think repentance is to say I’m sorry but we all know sorry with out change is worthless. God knows this too.
Let’s relook at our opening scripture but in the Amplified version: Acts 3:19, “So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.” God doesn’t weigh us down, sin does. Sin doesn’t have to be something so bad as murder, but it can be as simple as not doing something you know is right for you to do. In fact, the heaviness we usually feel when we are off is not God punishing us at all, but it is the natural and spiritual effect sin has on our body.
Back to my own perfection, I recently found myself bogged down where even just living seemed hard. Well I know that God’s plan for our lives is light and easy, so I knew it wasn’t on His end. I know what you’re thinking, “Pastor Jeff, there’s no way you were missing it in some area.” Well, I was. I had been seeking the Lord in this area and over what seemed like quite a little time. Finally some areas started coming to light as I talked to another minister. The Bible says iron sharpens iron and I tell you this is truth! He wasn’t blaming me for anything but through a spiritual conversation I realized, I was plumb wrong about some things! I had let my emotions in a few areas overrule what I knew in the Word!
Eureka! So I repented before the Lord and guess what…He forgave me. Instantly the weight lifted and I noticed that light and easy flowed like a refreshing river of life right back into me. Be correctable because most people won’t and you will find great grace and refreshing in your life. Constantly look to the Word of God for your direction and you will keep the best course of life. Be merciful to all because He is and watch the power and love of the Almighty work so wonderfully in all areas of your life!
Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff
