THE WORDS OF JESUS
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Pt 5
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
This is one of the greatest pronouncements and calls to readiness for all Christians: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repent, in the Biblical sense, literally means, “To change one’s mind; reversing how you think, to change one’s mind for the better”. The word ‘repent’ comes from two root words which mean, “Hereafter, have this understanding or perception”.
Repenting is the act of changing your mind which means your mindset, your values, and your worldview is changed. Some would say you then live by new standards. But it is much greater than just living by new standards.
Again, I say, a person of sound mind cannot simultaneously think one thing and do another, repentance results in a complete change of mind and direction of one’s life.
Another way of saying this is, “As a man or woman thinks, so are they”.
This is not a metaphor. It is not hyperbole. It is the literal call from God through His Son, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
BOTH A COMMAND AND A PROPHETIC WORD
Interestingly, Jesus, the Son of God, in fact God Himself, said these very words which are recorded in Matthew 4:17. Remembering, this is both a Command and a prophetic Word from God.
Jesus said this is what we are to do – Repent – in order to become His disciple and to follow Him, and, this is what will happen is we repent.
The disciples echoed and repeated these very words as they continued to do the Works of God, This is His command and commission to us, as His disciples, in these last days. Let us, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is now at hand” and let’s go and tell others.
Jesus says for each of us to Repent as an act of our will and that Repentance will allow the Holy Spirit to come into our bodies, our minds and regenerate our spirits. We will become One with Him.
Our fleshly desires begin to fade, and our new desires emanate from the Holy Spirit of God. It is not us producing Spiritual Fruit, it is from The Holy Spirit, and it should pour out of us, liberally.
We begin to desire the Things of God. We are made new, and we can now walk with certainty, with purpose and power in our New Life.
MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Once we Repent, our new desires move us to a new way of living, new actions, which are the direct manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance means it is no longer you, or I who lives, but it is Christ, literally, living in us.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
If you are living in the sin of doubt or fear, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
If you are living under the oppression of poverty, sickness, lack or want, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Rise up. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, help all who are ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; heal them all. Matthew 4:24
Go and tell others this exceedingly Good News, and let us all, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Let’s stop thinking as the world thinks and see things from a heavenly perspective (Colossians 3:2), let’s have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), and begin to really live!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 6, “Follow Me”, Matthew 4:19.
PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 4, “Begone Satan”, Matthew 4:10.
Whitestone Fellowship 