Jesus began His earthly ministry shortly after undergoing a ‘test’ to make sure His heart was totally surrendered to the Father, as we read about in Luke 4:1-14. Only after He ‘passed that test’...did He receive ‘power’ to begin the work His Father had for Him. (Acts 10:38).

And do you recall what His first ‘message’ was? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15). This was then followed up with “follow Me” (4:19). It was not long after that His disciples then “went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).

You would be hard pressed to find a subject or topic that was preached more in the New Testament than the message of ‘repentance’. It was the message that defined the ministry of John the Baptist who came preaching: “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ... And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 3:7-8,10).

Jesus was trying to enlighten some in His audience that were curious as to why ‘bad things’ were happening to some unfortunate souls, there in Luke 13. Jesus asked them twice – “Do you think these things happened to them because they were ‘worse sinners’ than anyone else? I tell you, No, but unless you repent, you will all likewise...perish!” (1-5)

When a group of religious ‘experts’ confronted Jesus as to why He was spending time with ‘sinner folks’...we read where: “Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)

Just prior to His return to heaven, Jesus was gathered with His followers and gave them this commission: “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) Within weeks, after the Holy Spirit had fallen upon that group of 120 followers who were praying together in Jerusalem...Peter then stood up and empowered by the Holy Spirit...preached a message for the ages, and great conviction fell upon all who heard him. They asked Peter...”What must we do?”...and the very first word out of his mouth was “Repent...” (Acts 2:37-38).

Within days/weeks(?)...Peter found himself preaching to another gathering after a lame man had been miraculously healed through his hands at the temple (Acts 3:1-10). Peter immediately seizes the moment to proclaim Jesus to all within earshot, preaching the death and resurrection of the risen Christ (11-26). But I need to point out two passages here that are of the upmost importance for you to see, underline and give serious thought to, vs. 19 & 22-23.

Again...Peter ‘strongly advises’ for them to “repent therefore...and be converted, that yours sins may be blotted out so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (19). I will come back and expound upon this later, but some of you reading here may have memories of having such an ‘experience’ when you first came to Jesus, or maybe at a later season in your life after you had ‘drifted away’ (Heb. 2:1) but then found your way back to God...with brokenness and humility. And a million pounds of weight was lifted off of you as you basked in His loving presence, receiving His mercy and forgiveness. Here’s the memo you may have missed out on receiving: You were supposed to continue walking in that ‘peace and presence’, given it was to be your ‘guide’ and confirmation that you were indeed being ‘led by His Spirit’. When you ‘lose that peace’, It’s God’s way of letting you know you ‘zigged’ when you should have ‘zagged’. But more on that later.

Others reading...may be thinking...”Gosh...I don’t ever recall having anything like that happen to me. I filled out a card, joined the church...started attending regularly...doing all the things you were encouraged to do...but never truly had a defining moment that you can look back on...where after you ‘humbled yourself...God ‘lifted’ you up. (James 4:7-10)

Good news...He is still in the business of doing that for those who turn to Him with all their hearts.

Now look down to vs. 22-23, where Peter reminds the crowd that Moses had spoken of a future ‘Prophet’ that God would raise up among their brethren (Jesus), and that we were to “hear Him in all things, whatever He says to you...and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet ...shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.”

What are we supposed to do with that? Sounds pretty serious to me, and falls in line with what Jesus told that group in Luke 13:3,5). Can I say again...these are not ‘threats’, they are loving warnings. And God really means what He says.

When Paul visited Athens, he had an opportunity to address a crowd of ‘philosophers’ and ‘very religious’ people who clearly were ignorant as to who God the Creator was; so Paul enlightened them (Acts 17:22-29). Then he makes a telling statement suggesting that there was an earlier time when God overlooked our ‘times of ignorance’...but “now commands all men everywhere to repent.” (30)

Have you ever given much thought as to what...we are ‘repenting’ of or from? And what does that ‘look like’? This would be important to know because both John the Baptist and Paul speak about ‘producing fruits of repentance’ (Matt. 3:8-10; Acts 26:20).

Here’s something else to consider: repentance is what leads us to ‘eternal life’ (Acts 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:9-10). And guess what ‘leads us to repentance’? God’s goodness and kindness (Rom. 2:4).

See you tomorrow?