September 6                                       Esth 4 - 7

REPENT AND YIELD

MEMORISE: 'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' (Acts 3: 19)
READ: Acts 3: 11-19

After the lame man was healed at the gates of the temple, there was so much joy and surprise. The man was leaping, shouting and glorifying God. The service was disrupted that day. A large crowd had gathered. Peter and John were in the middle of everything. Everyone was amazed and began to look at them as great men. Peter took it up from there and preached a beautiful sermon. The purpose was to lead the crowd to receive Jesus, after the miracle.

'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord' (Acts 3: 19). Peter asked the people to repent so they could benefit from God's blessings. In several churches today, they have only prosperity, healing and miracles. No repentance in some churches where repentance is preached and an altar call is made, those who respond are not asked to confess their sins and repent of their sinful lifestyles. As soon as they rise up their hands or come out, they are celebrated as saved. Saved without repentance? No wonder many Christians who claim to have been born again are still living in sin, because they were saved by pastors and evangelists, not God.

The major message a sinner needs is repentance, repentance means 'to change direction.' Make a complete U- turn! Godly sorrow for a past sinful lifestyle is necessary for salvation. There are several fake Christian experiences today. Care has to be taken to be sure that what you have is genuine. However for those of you who have been born again, temptation will keep coming to try to make you sin and return to your old ways. The message God gives you for victory is Romans 6:13. it simply states that you should refuse every temptation and yield to completely to God. You have the power to say 'No' to sin. Exercise that power (John 1:12). The more you yield to God, the more he will fill you up. Let him fill all the compartments of your life.

ACTION POINT
True repentance is becoming a rare quality today.
It is heaven's requirement. Make sure that you practice it.