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<< O Israel,
return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine
iniquity. Take with you words ( of repentance), and turn to the
LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us
graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips > >. Hosea
14: 2-3
A true repentance
is a sincere regret of life passed under the leading of false
teachings and traditions. Repentance happens under the power of
Holy Ghost. Every body touched by the holy spirit during a sermon
or during the reading of the holy scriptures, realizes that he was
sinner < < for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God > > Romans 3: 23, and that he
deserved death < < For the wages of sin is death... > >
Romans 6:23. This state of awakening of conscience brings those who
are ordained to eternal life to a sincere regret of the life carried
out without God and realize how God has been patient upon them. (2
Peter 3:9).
Thus, as in Job
33: 27-28 man makes testimony and says < <... I sinned, I
perverted what is right, and I was not treated as I deserved it. God
released my heart so that it does not pass in the pit, and my life
will still see the light > >.
The day of
Pentecost, apostle Peter,
after having
explained how the religious people and their drivers had crucified
the Word made flesh, those who were touched by the spirit of God
were led to the understanding of the gravity of their sin, < <..
They were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? > > It
is advisable to recall that, according to Acts 1:14, Mary, the
mother of Jesus was also there , but we do not find anybody addressing her on this
subject, but to apostles. The answer of Peter <<... Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
> > Acts 2:38, is an eternal answer that nobody has the right to
alter,
because it is the answer of the Holy spirit through Peter according to the
promise of the Lord in John 16: 12-13 < < When he comes, him, the
Spirit of truth, he will guide you in all the truth...>>.
That is why, even
nowadays; those who are led by the Holy Spirit of our God, still
start with
the sincere repentance and seek the answer which comes from God on
each biblical subject. It is a moment of the position change, during
which the Holy spirit convinces us that until there one had walked
according to the decisions and traditions' of the institutions of
men rather than according to the word of God.
An experience of
the Holy spirit, no matter how big it can be, if it does not bring
us to the repentance and to the full obedience of the pure word of
God; it is then only an anointing which falls on the evil ones as
well as on the right, Mathieu 5:45. It is useless to have an
experience as such, because it leads people live in a complete
illusion, continuing to live in the sin of iniquity, until the big
day when they will be addressed that: < < ... I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity. > > Mathieu 7:21-23.
May God touch
every one personnel, and reminds that the time of grace is still
going on, but about to finish. Until now the word of Acts 17:30-31
is still valid: < < And the times of this ignorance God winked
at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he
hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the
dead...>>. Everyone, without distinction, owes repentance and
obedience to the perfect will of God.
Apostle Paul
points out his experience in Galatians 1:13-16 and says < < For
ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion,
how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted
it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine
own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my
fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I
might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood > >. According to this testimony of Paul, we can
ask a question for which each one can answer for his self: How many people refuse the clear
Word and strict
recommendations of the Lord in order to remain under the influence
of the religious traditions of their fathers?
He that was led
through the repentance and conversion, does not consult any more
flesh and blood, no, Paul did the same, he did not return to
consult Gamaliel the teacher of the Law... But, as it is written
in Gal 2:2, he compared the Gospel which he preached to That of the
apostles < < fearing not to be running or having run in vain > >
because, The men sent from God preach in agreement between them,
even if they do not know each other. Because it is pushed by the
Holy Spirit that they preach, they don’t preach due to their own
decision to serve God. We all are owe to do like Saint Paul, we must
have responded to the call of God, we can rest only if what we
believe, practice and teach is identical to the word of the prophets
and the apostles. Act 15:15, Ephesians 2:20.
In Revelation
chapter 2 and 3, the Lord has sent 7 letters to the 7 churches of
minor Asia; those who have access to the prophetic word know that these 7 churches represent the situation
during the 7 great periods of the Church of the New Testament. In
these 7 letters; more than 8 times, the importance of the repentance
is mentioned there by the Lord Him self! To the church of Laodicea,
which corresponds to our generation, He says < < As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent! > > Revelation 3: 19. The messenger of God for this
generation (which is the last before the coming of the Lord)
admittedly that he had the spirit and the power of Elijah, he made
miracles that no other made since the time of the Lord and the
apostles , but he was carrying the MESSAGE OF CORRECTION of all
that is not biblical. It is a pity that many enjoyed to profit only
from the miracles, and they refused the Message of Correction. It is
advisable to remember that Brother Branham was invited by:
Pentecost’s, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Presbyterians, the Jesus
alone, Methodists, and etc. But, after his departure, Dec. 25th
, 1965, very little is the number of those who truly testify for
what our God has made in our time. Psalm 78:3-4.
The repentance
stops the anger of God. That is all God is waiting for < < If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land > >. 2 Chronicles 7:14. << Though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool... > > Isaiah 1:18. What God does
for us after the repentance, gives to every believer an eternal
recognition. The
image of it is given to us in the parabola of the prodigal son, Luke
15:11-24. who repented and says < < I will rise, I will go
towards my father and will say to him: Father I sinned against the
sky and you; I am not worthy any more to be called your son; treat
me like one of your employees... > > But, in spite of what the
child had done, the repentance led the child to recover the position
of the son. The father could not treat him like an employee, no and
no. God is our Father. He forgives abundantly, and we are contrite
like Paul, and we feel unworthy < < And last of all he was seen
of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of
the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God > > 1 Corinthians 15: 8-9. You
also, my brother, my sister, God loves you. He had allowed you to
know the truth on His word, and He is waiting for your repentance.
According to Job
1: 6-12; we are informed that Satan also speaks with God. According
to Genesis 3:1-5; it is obvious that Satan preaches too. According
to Luke 4:32-34; it is clear that the demon easily recognizes the
action of the spirit of God. It is the same in Acts 16:16-18.
According to James 2:19; the demons also believe that there is only
one God. But, the unanimous testimony of the Bible, shows that the
Devil is boastful, arrogant, reviler, ungrateful, fanfaron,
slanderer, lover of pleasure rather than lover of God... and cannot
humiliate himself and repent. His knowledge of the word of God never
pushes him to the repentance, he is unable of it. Please remember,
in Genesis 4:6-8, God Himself came down
to exhort Cain (who was of that wicked one), but, the word which he
had listened to did not serve him in anything. Just as Cain never
repented, thus is whosever has his spirit, he will even know
the message of God, but he won’t repent.
In 2 Peter 3: 9,
the apostle warns that God wants the repentance of every body <<…
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance > >. But, only those
ordained to eternal life will believe and pass through this
experience, Acts 13: 48.
< < Therefore
leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on unto
maturity; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of
laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible
for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the
good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance... > >
Hebrews 6:1-6.
< < Today if you
hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
> > <<
Repent, and be baptized (immersed once in water) every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call. >>
Workman with
God.
Fellow worker with God.
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