A CALL TO REPENTANCE

Many times, we pray that there shall be no peace for the wicked and that those who delight in war be scattered. These are word-based prayers that God will answer. But we have to ask ourselves certain questions lest we are also victims when God answers our prayers.

Who is the wicked?
Is God sleeping?
Why would He allow the angel of death to be moving about the earth?
 Am I wicked?

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered”. Heb.5:8. Jesus is our perfect example and we are to follow in His steps.
 
In the light of the present happenings, what have we learned, and what are we learning?  This question is important because how soon the present circumstances we are experiencing in this nation will end is tied to this.
 
It is what we have learned or not, that will determine our placement and ultimate destination. Jesus was able to learn obedience so he was given a name above all else. Jesus humbled Himself. Though He was a son that had never known shame or reproach, he went through these in humility.  If we do not humble ourselves, we will be disgraced
 
“With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”. Is.26:9.
 What are you learning? -Righteousness or Unrighteousness? Telling the truth or telling lies? The same circumstances that will make some learn righteousness, will make others learn unrighteousness. IT IS A CHOICE.
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved”. Act 2:16-21.
 
There is a re-ordering, a scattering. In these last days, God will do some things through willing vessels that will bring about a re-ordering and scattering and it is to the intent that God will get the undivided attention of men. Men will be forced to look to God, to turn to God. We need to ask however if we, His people understand what God is up to. Anyone that does not know that all these happenings should bring one closer to God now, is a fool.  All of these shaking, is to the intent that men be saved.
 
“…Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows”. Matt.24:1-8
 
Distractions and deception will be on the increase in these times and if all these do not drive us to the place of prayer, then we have not learned our lesson or are not learning our lessons. This is a wake-up call. There will be birth pangs, and it should drive us to a place of travail. It should birth a hunger, a yearning for God, a desire to seek Him. When a woman is in labour, it will be clear to all.  Does our present attitude as the church show we are experiencing birth pangs? These are not the days one needs to be begged or coerced to follow God and serve Him. There's suffering that prevents further suffering. There's a sorrow that prevents further sorrow.  You either humble yourself, or you are humbled.
 
God is actively preparing people for the coming of Jesus.  The devil is also actively preparing men for the coming of the anti-Christ.  Which are you participating in? It is by your lifestyle and choices this is determined.
 
In Hag. 2:1-9, God is saying, I am going to cause a shaking to the intent that all eyes will see me, that His glory will fill the earth, etc. Thus, your words, actions must align with His. If we will not be shaken off, we must take a stand with Him.
 
There’s a shaking going on. He wants to take all the glory. He does not want to share the stage with anyone. Anything and anyone that refuse to align with Him will be shaken off. Everything that man puts confidence in will fade away. Right now, nothing is reliable. It is only God that will not fade away, for He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. JESUS IS THE ONLY CONSTANT. Your confidence should be in nothing else, but Him.   If you do not want to lose relevance, stay with God.
 
“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. 2 Chron. 7:13-14.
 
There’s no restoration until there’s forgiveness and there’s no forgiveness until there's repentance
 
Without repentance there’s no forgiveness and restoration. The healing and restoration of the land are tied to God’s people. Repentance is more than just saying I am sorry, it means a turning away and a stand never to do it again. How long this season will last is determined by how fast and willing we are able to learn our lessons in order for Him to do His part. Our present attitude, choices, conviction, and lifestyle as the church do not show we are sorry.  God wants to be sure we are truly repentant.  He wants to see the fruits of repentance.
 In Acts 3:19, there's no conversion until there's repentance. There is no refreshing till sins are blotted out. There is a presence we will not enjoy until there is repentance.
 
Every time you hear God's word, new light comes and this should lead to “repentance ", a turning. God's word empowers you to move from where you are, to where you ought to be.
 
 We should be reminded that God is a righteous judge.  It is a bridge of divine ordinance if we do not repent and we are praying for forgiveness, peace, and mercy.
 
Prayers
- Lord we ask that you grant us a heart of repentance, humility, and obedience.
 
- Lord, melt our hearts. We surrender totally to you, individually and collectively.
 
- Isaiah 26:3. Lord my trust is in you.  My mind is stayed on you.
 
- Isaiah 26:4-9 Lord with all my heart I seek you.
 
- Hebrews 12: 27-28. Lord, I receive grace to serve you acceptably with reverence and godly fear.