Matt. 3:2, "...Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
Matt. 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
It is a message and a revelation that ushered the ancient barbaric world into the light of Christ's new day, and it is still the power that God is using today to translate people from darkness to light, enabling them to walk in the light of Christ in this day. It is the power and the gift of repentance. It's the Greek word metanoeo and it means to change one's mind. Many seek miracles for what they could have by simply repenting. There are things that are outside our reach as mere mortal men. Those are the areas God moves in when it comes to the miraculous.
Yet there are areas that are completely within our reach as men, which are ordered within our domain. Those areas are grasped and conquered by repentance, by changing the way a man thinks so he can conquer himself. From this place he conquers his world, as has been given to him by divine destiny. When a man reaches this achievement, he is ready for some of the greatest miracles man has seen. He has overcome this world just as Christ overcame.
Repentance is About a Lifestyle
Deut. 29:29, "The secret [things belong] unto the Lord our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children forever, that [we] may do all the words of this law."
What is revealed, is given for our empowerment SO THAT WE MIGHT DO. But repentance is required in order for the working knowledge that has been revealed to benefit the individual. When a person begins to repent they begin to change their mind. And therein lies the real issue. Repentance is something that must stick. It's not good enough for someone to step into the light of revelation, only to fall back into the darkness from where they've come, repeating the same lifestyle that brought them pain and misery.
Repentance is about a lifestyle that is adopted of seeing the light, and choosing every day to live in the light by applying what one has learned. You can't apply what you've learned unless you change in "the new mind" that God has given you as a gift. True repentance involves spirit, soul, and body. It is a great gift that God has given us for being transformed into the image of Christ.
We were made like God, with a governing mind and will. The only limits are our imagination and our ability to keep in repentance of old ways, and stay in accordance with the new. The Day of the Lord has ever-increasing light for the Believer. But we must receive and walk in this light in order to keep receiving and going higher into the new-creation reality!
Repentance is a Seed of Transformation
Repentance is one of the largest tests that God will put His children through to train them for reigning with Him. Will a child repent to think like God thinks and stick with the seed of that change until it matures to the point of transformation?
Lk. 8:11-15, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among the thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
We've all heard this parable many times, but I would like to present it to you in light of the subject of repentance. Yes, we always make the point that the condition of the heart is what matters, as we should. That is clearly stated by our Lord. But in every passage, in every parable, there are hidden gems for those who have "eyes to see". Look at the application of repentance. Repentance actually revealed the condition of the heart. Without repentance one cannot receive the word and be saved. Being saved requires a "change of mind".
You have to accept what Jesus has done for you and come into alignment with this truth in order for it to begin to benefit you. But the process revealed in this parable doesn't stop there. No, it's not enough to believe once, receive your salvation, and then go on your way. But FOCUS is required for one to have the "roots" to endure the time of temptation and their own personal falling away. Focus brought forth the longevity of the harvest, which is revealed in the word "patience". Patience requires focus, focus on the prize, like Paul described, running with patience and endurance in order that one might receive the prize (1 Cor. 9:24).
Yes, ultimately it is the grace of God that keeps us. I am not arguing or diminishing that in anyway. Here I am speaking about the grace that God gives to repent and stay in repentance, so that one might change their life forever. We call that transformation. Many have shared this phrase, "I don't want just a visitation. I want a habitation!" Well this is a big key!
Staying in Repentance Requires Roots
When did David fall away during his time of temptation? It was when he was DISTRACTED on the rooftop, not focused on his mandate as the warrior king that God had made him. The Bible makes it very clear that it was "the time when kings went to war" that he fell (2 Sam. 11:1).
Staying with God in times and seasons require a lifestyle of repentance, a lifestyle of aligning our thinking with His, so we can flow with Him at all times and in all seasons. David failed to do this and temporarily fell away from the Lord. Now eventually he did come back into alignment with God, thinking and believing God's way, which happened when he acknowledged his sin with Bathsheba and began to go through the process of turning it around and getting back on track as the king he was called to be.
But repentance required just what Jesus spoke about: ROOTS. The roots is the focus and discipline that keeps us planted in the mind and will of God no matter what storms, temptations, and battling thoughts come our way. The warfare is in the mind. From this place stems all intellectual and desire-based schemes of the enemy. If you can conquer this battlefield with the Holy Spirit, then you will effectively win the war with Christ from the foundation of the world before it ever starts.
You will transcend this present place of struggle into a realm where the enemy has not the weapons to contend with you - the mind of Christ. In the mind of Christ is the perfect ordering and execution of the divine will through human flesh and carnal existence. In this place, nothing can stop a man from being conformed to the image of Christ and taking his dominion in this world. He becomes untouchable. Ask yourself, what are you doing with the gift of repentance?
Blessings,
Stephen Powell
Lion of Light Ministries
Email: info@lionoflight.org
Website: www.lionoflight.org
Stephen Powell is an Itinerant Minister commissioned under Steve Toliver of "Abundance of Rain Ministries", and is an Associate Revivalist through "Fresh Fire Ministries" under Todd Bentley. When he was a teenager God began to visit Stephen in powerful encounters in the Secret Place during extended seasons of fasting and prayer which has released a deep and tangible anointing in his life! Stephen's passion is to perpetuate revival culture where ever he goes and continue to walk in greater demonstrations of intimacy, power and glory with Jesus! Stephen is known for his strong faith for the miraculous and a fiery prophetic preaching anointing that erupts during his times of ministry. He is also acknowledged as a true Seer gift to the Body of Christ, marked by the glory realm he carries and producing an atmosphere of constant visions and dreams! He currently resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina with his wife and four children, and serves on Todd Bentley's Senior Apostolic Board.
Stephen Powell's Itinerary:
September 9-10, 2016 (Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm/7pm)
Breakthrough Atlanta
1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy, Conyers, Georgia 30013
Contact: (866) 358-3121
September 18-20, 2016
Open the Floodgates2 - Ontario
Emmanuel Bible College
100 Fergus Ave., Kitchener, ON
October 20-23, 2016
Grace Christian Center
7501 N. Cimarron Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89131