Epaggelia

This big word was a theme of John the Immersionist and Jesus the Christ. Mark 1:4, Matthew 4:17. Repentance means change!  Is this present and ongoing in our lifestyle? In the parable of the Prodigal Son, both the younger son and older son had to change. The younger son showed change in coming back to the Father, the older son had to change in his attitude towards the Father. Luke 15:20-28. Would the older son, come in? Repentance should constantly affect every Christian throughout the whole of our life long walk closer and closer to God.  One day we will be changed to be like “Him” in every aspect and in all of His glory. 1Corinthians 15:52.  Changing from being foolish to being wise, Matthew 6:19-20 

Changing from being less physical to being more spiritual. Acts 28:27. Changing from being short-sighted to being joyful, hopeful and long-sighted. Philippians 4:4 

Changing from relying on my righteousness to relying on God’s righteousness. Hebrews 6:1-2, Romans 3:26. Changing from being taught to teaching others. Hebrews 5:12

The result of not changing can be … …to perish, Luke 13:3.  …to bring upon us the wrath of God, Matthew 11:20, Romans 2:5.  …frustration or discouragement from not growing the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5:18-23.   

Without begging for God’s strength in our bodies by prayer, we cannot expect to change towards God, because the strength to change, lay with God, not in our body.  Remember, Hebrews 12:4-12, divine discipline should not be self-inflicted, but we should be expecting consequences for our sins, and it is our responsibility to show appreciation for God’s loving forgiveness in our confession. Faith is powerful, IJn 5:4.  We need to be humble enough to say we need stronger faith, so that sin can stop in our lifestyle and changes can be made. The late outdoor evangelist Leonard Ravenhill from Britain, often said, “Men give advice, God gives guidance.” God knows repentance is the hardest thing we must do.  It is like moving a mountain, and sometimes we feel like nothing short of a miracle is going to make us change.  So what must we do to make ourselves available for God changing us?  

Matthew 21:21 shows us that the hypocritical fig tree Jesus killed, symbolizes the mountain we must move in our own life. Drastic action is commanded by Jesus, read Matthew 5:29.  Paul wrote twice, the command to mortify or crucify the desires of the flesh, Galatians 5:24 & Colossians 2:11-13.

Jesus put it this way, “Pick up your cross, deny yourself and follow me daily” Luke 9:23.