REVIVAL BEGINS IN A HEART FULL OF HUMILITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO REPENT WHEN NEEDED.

Being aware of our short comings, and we all have them, is vital to seeing our need for repentance.

It all started with John the Baptist. He was sent ahead of Jesus to proclaim repentance.

Mark 1:4

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Keep in mind that John spoke those words before Jesus went to the cross and paid for all those sins.

Baptism was the forerunner before the cross.

Mark 1:15 (Jesus spoke)

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Beloved, repentance is more than just changing your mind, it is being sorry for your sin and changing your words and actions.

You can only change your actions with the help of the Holy Spirit.

When we have repented, we will avoid being trapped by sin.

Beloved, we repent from our heart, not our head.

Then we will experience God's peace and sense His love once again.  

He always loves us even in our sin, but we lose the sense of His presence when we willfully sin.

Beloved, we all sin (miss the mark of perfection)

as long as we are in this human body we will sin, whether by words or our actions and deeds.

Be quick to repent.

1John 2:1

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Remember, it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.  It is those little things that we deem unimportant, that start to eat away at our peace in the Lord.  

Be diligent and watchful for those sins that sneak up on us, things like self-righteousness, gossip, being critical, over indulgence.

I had an experience once when I was going to complain about something.  As I picked up the phone, I heard the Holy Spirit say No!  don't do this.  

Later I found out I had misinterpreted the situation.  

I was praising God that He stopped me from making a fool of myself.

I felt such a peace when the Holy Spirit corrected me and  that I obeyed Him.

Little thoughts, that creep into our mind, that if not dealt with will become sin.  This old flesh leads us into trouble if we yield to it.

The enemy (our old sinful nature) wants us to react as we did before we came to Jesus Christ.

Beloved, pray for wisdom in your actions and reactions.

Our words carry great power.  If negative they can pollute the person we pour out on when we are out of control.

When you realize that you have sinned with your words, APOLOGIZE! 

It will heal the person.  Being quick to repent will restore your peace of mind and help in your relationships.

Acts 17:30

"Truly,  these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

There is  time when we have to grow up in the Lord. As Adults He deals differently than with children.  Time to grow up and take responsibility for your actions.

2 Timothy 20-25

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wood and clay, some for honor and some for dis-honor. 

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Flee also youthful lust;  but pursue righteousness,  faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance.

Strife will come with those that have a contentious spirit. 

Beloved, when you are in strife, it will upset your entire system.  Causing high blood pressure, headaches, and can make you sick.

Repent of strife and be filled with the peace of God that causes your whole body to rest in Jesus.

Beloved,  Jesus is our model to follow. 

Read the story in Luke 24:13-35.

Notice that Jesus was correcting the disciples with His word.  He was tender and compassionate, He was gentle with them in their unbelief.  He brought understanding to them through His word.

I have learned through the years of ministry, that giving God's word into a situation does far more than any words that I could speak.

God's word is life.  Its alive and powerful.  

As we feed on God's word, conviction and correction will take place. 

Repentance will become a habit, as we recognize where it is needed.

Acts 20:20-21

"how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 

Testifying to the Jews, and also to the  Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be quick to repent when you feel your spiritual thermometer going up, that's a sign that you are about to give into that old sinful nature.

Remember Beloved, Satan pushes and the Holy Spirit gently leads. 

Pray ask the Lord for self-control to manifest at this time. You have it, it is one of the attributes of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Take time before you react.  It will save you a lot of heartache. It will keep you in peace.  Rest in the Lord.

God Bless your day

Jesus loves you

Love in Jesus

Joy