By Norine: A few years ago I was given a word from a young man about 7 or 8 years old. It was so powerful and right on. He said that God was calling me to a year of repentance and restoration. If we as the Body of Christ are seeking for RESTORATION we had better first take the call for REPENTANCE seriously! That is why I am including these two articles in my blog.
***************************************************************From that time on, many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus asked the Twelve, "Do you want to leave too?" Simon Peter replied, "Lord to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life." ~ John: 6:66-68
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Dear Christian Warriors:
I think if we took a poll and asked the average person: What exactly is the Gospel Message? It might come out looking something like this:
Jesus loves everyone. God wants you to be blessed. Don't worry, be happy. No effort necessary for salvation...
While there ARE some grains of Truth in all of these statements, they are NOT the gospel message that Jesus actually taught.
So, what exactly DID Jesus actually preach? Let's look at His own words. For starters, what was the VERY FIRST message He gave?
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ~ Matthew 4:17
Wow. He didn't waste any time warming up the crowd with an ear-tickling message. Let's see what else He had to say when He preached, maybe He got a little bit more "affirming" as he went along.
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they REPENTED at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ~ Matthew 12:41 How about His disciples? Didn't Jesus have a special happy, upbeat, non-repentance message just for them?
I tell you, no; but unless you REPENT you will all likewise perish. ~ Luke 13:5
Yikes! Aren't there any "seeker friendly" messages here?
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who REPENTS than over ninety-nine just persons who need no REPENTANCE.~ Luke 15:7 Great, So, we only need to repent once, right? Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; REPENT and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place-unless you REPENT. ~ Revelation 2:4-5
Can I still continue to live a sin-filled life due to grace? And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not REPENT. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they REPENT of their deeds.~ Revelation 2:23
Oh boy. I thought I didn't have to think about repentance anymore. I mean, I went up to the altar once in 1978.
Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and REPENT. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ~ Revelation 3:3
But, Jesus loves me so I don't have to repent anymore. Do we need to get all worked up about this?
As many as I might love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
~ Revelation 3:19
The Gospel Message preached by Jesus Christ was very simple: Repent BelieveConfessWalkWitness However, we need to endure and overcome.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My Voice and opens the door, I will come in to him an dine with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His Throne. ~ Revelation 3:20-21
So, let's heed Jesus' preached message. REPENT for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ~ Matthew 24:12-14
In Christ's Love, Pastor Jeff Pastor Jeffrey DalyFounder/DirectorNational Day of Repentancewww.repentday.compastorjeff@repentday.com
Prayer: In Jesus/Yeshua's Holy Name, we confess that we have not followed Your Word, Lord. Please forgive us that we have failed to use Your gift of repentance to cleanse our old sin patterns. Forgive us for not being zealous to repent, for being apathetic, for not opening the door to our minds and hearts in daily prayer to invite You in to dine with us, encouraging us to cleanse as Your Bride.
In Your Mercy and Wisdom, help us to return to Your Covenant and Your Divine plan. Move on the minds and hearts of our leaders to see the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged and which can only be won through REPENTANCE and OBEDIENCE to your Moral Laws. Move them to call for a national day of prayer, fasting and repentance. ~Amen and Amen. ******************************************************************************************************The National Day of Repentance (NDR) is a Christian ministry dedicated to encouraging personal and national repentance. NDR relies on God Almighty, along with the support of His Church Bride, to continue this work. We welcome and greatly appreciate your voluntary and enthusiastic support. Freewill offerings may be made online at www.repentday.com or sent to P.O. Box 1302, Middletown CA USA 95461. May the "fruit of the Holy Spirit abound to your account." (Philippians 4:17). 📷National Day of Repentance | www.repentday.com 📷📷📷Day of Repentance, P.O. Box 1302, Middletown, CA 95461