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TOPIC: A CALL TO REPENTANCE

THE LORD’S BRANCH CHRISTIAN CENTRE
THE BRANCH’S WAY-Isaiah 4:2 (A WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE) 
TOPIC: A CALL TO REPENTANCE 
Text: Revelation 2:1-7 




Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; [2] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: [3] And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. [4] Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. [6] But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. [7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; 'Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto Me, saith the LORD' (Zechariah 1: 3b)
From our Bible readings, The Lord Jehovah is making a clarion call to repentance unto every one of us. He is asking us to repent from our evil ways. Repentance is the key to God's Kingdom (eternal life) 'for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3: 23). Do not be deceived by those that say "The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it"(Psalm 94: 7). The Lord's eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, God sees (2 Chronicles 16: 9a).
 It is only through genuine repentance that we can trace our ways back to God. Jesus said in Luke 13: 3 'except we repent we shall all perish'. The Lord does not wish anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3: 9)
 Jesus knows that man by nature is stubborn and rebellious. The reason for His coming to the world is rescue us. God said 'I, even I, am the Lord ; and beside me there is no saviour' (Isaiah 43: 11). By the death of Jesus on the Cross all are freely justified by His grace. Jesus said 'He has not come to call the righteous but to call the sinners to repentance (Luke 5: 32), this in essence is to underscore the importance of repentance, as our salvation is tied to it (Isaiah 30: 15)
What then is repentance? The Hebrew word for repentance is 'turn away' while the Greek word is to 'change one's mind' or 'return to God'. Repentance entails agreeing with what God says about your sins and for you to do what He said you should do. It is to lay down our sins and walk away from them. It is to make a180 degree turn from your wrong. Repentance is to see your wrongs from God's perspective. To repent is therefore, to humble ourselves before God and come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit for forgiveness and restoration.
Repentance requires that we should recognize that we have sinned (done wrong), and for us to feel sorry genuinely from the heart for it, and to forsake the sin or turn away from the sin to God. 
A truly repentant person will have a changed life with different behaviour that would make the repentance real or obvious to all. David is a good example of someone who exhibited true repentance, after he was confronted by Prophet Nathan when he killed Uriah and took his wife Beersheba (2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51). Peter also showed remorse and repented after denying the Lord Jesus. 
In the book of Joel 2:12-13 The Lord said , turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: [13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Are you the one God is calling to repentance for your short comings (for the sins you have committed)? God is calling when there is still time, for time is running out by each passing day. Now is the time to hearken to His call as no one knows when the end will come. Never allow anything to hold you back from turning to God. It does not matter how far deep you are in sin. God's mercy is always there, if wicked King Ahab was noticed by God when he repented and humbled himself before God and He had mercy on him (1 Kings 21: 29). This same God is awaiting you, do not allow the devil to deceive you that God will not forgive and take you back. In the book of 2 Chronicles 15:4 it says 'But when they (the Israelites) in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them'. Hearken unto Him while His mercies last (2Kings 22: 19). “And if you turn to Him with all your heart and your soul, you will find Him.”‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:29‬b ERV).
Benefits of true repentance:
True repentance will return one back to God - Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 1: 3b).
It will make one to be humbled and bring the grace of God (James 4: 6, Proverb 3: 34).
Repentance will free one from the torments of sins (Acts 3: 19).
It will drive the devil away as God's presence will be with one (James 4: 7&8).
It leads to fullness of life with Jesus (Luke 13: 3, Acts 11: 18).
It will bring joy as one trusts in God (Psalm 51: 13).
God will wash away one's sins (Acts 3: 19).
God will purify one - 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It assures us of eternal life.
One will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1: 19).
One is sure of God's Kingdom (Mark 1: 15).
In the place where you are right now begin to tell God of your sins, ask Him to forgive you of them all. Ask the Holy Spirit to take you down the memory lane, do not cover up anything before Him after all He sees and knows all. Plead the Blood of Jesus on your self, tell Jesus to cleanse you thoroughly with His shed Blood and you will be clean.
Prayers:
O Lord my Father have mercy on me, in the name of Jesus.
Blood of Jesus purge me of every unrighteousness in Jesus name.
I reclaim my inheritance in Christ, all that sins have denied me in Jesus name. 
Holy Spirit help me to live by the standards of God in Jesus name.
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