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God’s Fall Appointments, 5783/2022

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags 40, Booths, Day of Atonement, fall appointments, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Trumpets, Jesus Christ, Leviticus 16, Leviticus 23, new moon, Numbers 29, repent, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbath, Teshuvah, Tishri, Yom Kippur, Yom Teruah on September 11, 2022 by paulthepoke

God’s fall appointments are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Below is a brief 10 minute video that provides a framework for God’s fall appointed holidays. The video is compliments of T.W. Tramm. Check out his writings and his work. T.W. is always thought provoking.

http://www.theseasonofreturn.com

https://www.facebook.com/twtramm

Attention, there is not consensus in regards to the starting of the Fall Feasts. Humanity and their calculations instead of God’s instruction of observation are the issues. Broken sinners cannot follow God’s directions.

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

The first fall holiday has many names. It is called the Feast of Trumpets by Christians. It is recognized as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Some refer to it as the “Hidden Day” or the “Wedding of the Messiah”. In Judaism, it is called Yom Teruah which means the “Day of Blowing”.

This is the beginning of the civil new year. This is the Hebrew month of Tishri. It will be the Hebrew year 5783.

The date for Yom Teruah is sunset near Sunday, September 25th or possibly a couple of days later (traditional Gregorian calendar). This date is confirmed pending the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. Yom Teruah ends two days later. The confirmation of the new moon will ultimately determine the dates of the subsequent fall appointments.

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 1

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 2

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 3

The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2022 is Tuesday, October 4th or Wednesday, October 5th at sun down. This date is ultimately determined by the confirmation of the new moon 10 days earlier.

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

Leviticus 23:33-36 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.’”

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar. On our western Gregorian calendar, in 2022, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from about Sunday, October 9th to Sunday, October 16th, again pending the new moon confirmed at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri. The joyous “festival” ends seven days later.

Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Booths/The Feast

Isaiah 12: Jesus and the Water of Life

There are seven God appointed holidays communicated through the Mosaic Law. The first four were fulfilled to the day by Jesus Himself with His death, burial, resurrection, and the giving of the Holy Spirit. If the first four spring holidays were fulfilled on the God appointed holiday, why would the fall holidays be any different?

Jesus is coming again…

Are you ready???

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Teshuvah 5782/2022

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Teshuvah/Repent with tags 40 Days, Day of Atonement, Debt, Elul 1, fall appointments, Fall Feasts, Feast of Trumpets, God, markets, repent, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbatical year, Shemitah, Tishri 10, Yom Kippur, Yom Teruah on August 21, 2022 by paulthepoke

The month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. The point of the season is to prepare for the civil Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. This appointed feast day is also referred to as Yom Teruah by Jews. Christians may refer to the day as the Feast of Trumpets. The season of Teshuvah concludes on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

Teshuvah is a time to turn toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. It is a time of inward reflection and sincere self-assessment. The goal is a change in lifestyle away from sin to obedience in God’s word. The 40 day period starts on Elul 1 and ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of God’s calendar. Jewish tradition points to the name of the month to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” a quote from Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…

In Aramaic, the vernacular of the Jewish people at the time that the month names were adopted, the word Elul means “search”. Per Strong’s Concordance, Elul means “nothingness” in the Hebrew. The month is mentioned one time in the Bible. Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

This year, 5782/2022, the start of Elul will begin at the sighting of the sliver of the new moon by two witnesses. It is estimated to be observed at sun set from possibly Saturday, August 27 to Monday, August 29.

Cultural customs per http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.myjewishlearning.com .

This year, 5782/2022, the season of Teshuvah is unique and exceptional.

The end of the month of Elul marks the end of a sabbatical or shemitah year. On a western Gregorian calendar, that is Sunday, September 25 to Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Remember, the new month, and in this case the new civil year, is decreed upon the confirmation of the new moon by two witnesses. Historically, God releases debt on the last day of the last year of a seven year cycle.

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

Historically, this is not a good omen for economic markets. If history is any indicator, fasten your seat belts. The land completes its rest on approximately Sunday, September 25 to Tuesday, September 27, 2022 pending two witnesses confirming the new moon. God is going into action and debt will be released. Keep your eyes on the markets. Planet Earth is likely to get even more interesting. Like we do not have enough to be concerned about already.

Time will tell…

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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God’s Fall Appointments, 5782/2021

God’s fall appointments are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

http://www.theseasonofreturn.com

https://www.facebook.com/twtramm

Attention, there is not consensus in regards to the starting of the Fall Feasts. Depending on the calculations of the specific group, the Appointments could start as early as September 6 or as late as October 8 as well as points in between. Humanity and their calculations instead of God’s instruction of observation are the issues. Broken sinners cannot follow God’s directions.

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

This is the beginning of the civil new year. This is the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is the Hebrew year 5782.

The date for Yom Teruah is sunset near Monday, September 6 or Tuesday, September 7, 2021 (traditional Gregorian calendar). This date is confirmed pending the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. Yom Teruah ends two days later. The confirmation of the new moon will ultimately determine the dates of the subsequent fall appointments.

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 1

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 2

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 3

The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2021 is Wednesday, September 15 or Thursday, September 16 at sun down. This date is ultimately determined by the confirmation of the new moon 10 days earlier.

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar. On our western Gregorian calendar, in 2021, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from Monday, September 20 or Tuesday, September 21, again pending the new moon confirmed at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri. The joyous “festival” ends seven days later.

Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Booths/The Feast

Isaiah 12: Jesus and the Water of Life

Jesus is coming again…

Are you ready???

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God’s Fall Appointments, 5781/2020

God’s fall appointments are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

http://www.theseasonofreturn.com

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

This is the beginning of the civil new year. This is the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is the Hebrew year 5781.

The date for Yom Teruah is near Friday, September 18 or Saturday, September 19, 2020 (traditional Gregorian calendar). This date is confirmed pending the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. Yom Teruah ends two days later. The confirmation of the new moon will ultimately determine the dates of the subsequent fall appointments.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/07/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-1/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/14/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-2/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/28/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-3/

The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2020 is Sunday, September 27 or Monday, September 28 at sun down. This date is ultimately determined by the confirmation of the new moon 10 days earlier.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/21/yom-kippurday-of-atonement/

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar. On our western Gregorian calendar, in 2020, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from Friday, October 2 or Friday, October 9, again pending the new moon confirmed at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/10/05/feast-of-tabernaclessukkotboothsthe-feast/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/06/09/isaiah-12-jesus-and-the-water-of-life/

Jesus is coming again…

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Return to the Lord

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Teshuvah/Repent with tags Elul, Gabriel, John the Baptist, repent, Teshuvah, Zechariah on April 26, 2020 by paulthepoke

Luke 1:16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God…

And he will turn… ἐπιστρέφω/epistrephó in the Greek. As defined by Strong’s Concordance, the term means to return. Thayer’s Lexicon interprets the idea as to cause to return, to bring back, to turn oneself about, or come back. The idea is in a literal, physical sense. Stop going in the path one is taking. Turn and go in a different direction.

This term is used 36 times in the New Testament. Below are a few examples how ἐπιστρέφω/epistrephó is utilized.

Luke 2:39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

Matthew 12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

2 Peter 2:22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

People were going the wrong way and had left the God of Israel. The angel Gabriel is telling Zechariah the priest his son to be, John the Baptist, will be the reason fellow country men will return to God.

Return to the Lord. To the Jew, this is the concept of Teshuvah. In our western world, the term we are familiar with is “repent”.

Teshuvah is a time to turn toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. Let go of the ways of the world. It is a time of inward reflection and sincere self-assessment. The goal is a change in lifestyle away from sin to obedience in God’s word. Return to God and His ways. This is not a warm and fuzzy spiritual word that causes your stomach to flutter or hair to stand on your neck. There should be some conviction. Be honest. Right is right and wrong is wrong. We can all do better. Prepare and turn to God with a joyful heart.

Teshuvah is a 40 day period in the late summer of the year. This is the season to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of the religious calendar. Elul 1 marks the beginning of Teshuvah. The 40 day period of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10 in the Hebrew calendar, Yom Kippur.

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Right Attitude in Trouble… Joshua of Ghana

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Joshua Ghana with tags attitude, Ghana, God, heart, Isaiah 26, repent on March 21, 2020 by paulthepoke

ISAIAH 26:12-21

Key verse: “LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.” Isaiah 26:16

Joshua of Ghana @beholy404 on Twitter

Charles Swindoll once said, “The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace from that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string that we have and the string is attitude.”

In this prophetic song in our text about the latter days, Isaiah prophesied what the attitude of Judah will be in reaction to the judgment of God in scattering them among the nations. Judah had lived in sin and God had visited them with judgment, allowing their enemies to take them into captivity. However, in this song, Isaiah was hopeful that Judah would eventually demonstrate the right attitude by turning to the Lord in repentance. For this reason, they will be saved from the onslaught of the antichrist who will torment the world.

It is clear from the submission of Isaiah that what is needed while in trouble and perplexity is the right attitude. Unfortunately, however, many people portray an adamant attitude when faced with God’s chastisement. Rather than return to God, they choose to go farther away from Him. Conversely, the attitudes of some others are even more alarming when God shows undeserved acts of mercy and kindness to them. Rather than being grateful, they choose to be contemptuous.

It is important for everyone to know, as Swindoll has noted, that we all have a choice concerning the attitude and course of action we adopt each day. A positive attitude goes a long way to determining an eventful end. It is futile for anyone to fight his Maker. How we need to humble ourselves and wholly submit to God’s counsel even while passing through divine chastisement!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The heart focused on God will never cease to beat.

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God’s Fall Appointments, 5780/2019

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags 40, Booths, Day of Atonement, fall appointments, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Trumpets, Jesus Christ, Leviticus 16, Leviticus 23, new moon, Numbers 29, repent, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbath, Teshuvah, Tishri, Yom Kippur, Yom Teruah on September 21, 2019 by paulthepoke

God’s fall appointments are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Below is a brief 10 minute video that provides a framework for God’s fall appointed holidays.

http://www.theseasonofreturn.com

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

It is the beginning of the civil new year. This is the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is the Hebrew year 5780.

The date for Yom Teruah is near Sunday, September 29 or Monday, September 30, 2019 (traditional Gregorian calendar). This date is confirmed pending the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. Yom Teruah ends two days later. The confirmation of the new moon will ultimately determine the dates of the subsequent fall appointments.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/07/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-1/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/14/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-2/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/28/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-3/

The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2019 is Tuesday, October 8 or Wednesday, October 9 at sun down. This date is ultimately determined by the confirmation of the new moon.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/21/yom-kippurday-of-atonement/

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar. On our western Gregorian calendar, in 2019, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from Sunday, October 13 or Monday, October 14, again pending the new moon confirmed at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/10/05/feast-of-tabernaclessukkotboothsthe-feast/

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/06/09/isaiah-12-jesus-and-the-water-of-life/

There are seven God appointed holidays communicated through the Old Testament Law. The first four were fulfilled to the day by Jesus Himself with His death, burial, resurrection, and the giving of the Holy Spirit. If the first four spring holidays were fulfilled on the God appointed holiday, why would the fall holidays be any different?

Jesus is coming again…

Leave a comment »

Teshuvah 5779/2019 and the Ascension of Jesus Christ

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel, Prophecy, Teshuvah/Repent with tags 40 Days, Acts 1, Elul, Kingdom of Heaven, repent on August 28, 2019 by paulthepoke

The Hebrew month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. This is the Hebrew word for “repent”. It is a time to turn toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. It is a time of inward reflection and sincere self-assessment. The goal is a change in lifestyle away from sin to obedience in God’s word. Return to God and His ways.

This is the season to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. The 40 day period of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10 in the Hebrew calendar, Yom Kippur.

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of the religious calendar. Elul 1 marks the beginning of Teshuvah. On a Gregorian calendar in the year 2019, this would be Sunday, September 1st or Monday the 2nd depending on when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses.

It is Jewish custom to blow a shofar (ram’s horn) one time every day during the season of Teshuvah. The trumpet is blown every day after the morning service except Shabbat or the Sabbath (Saturday for us in western culture) and the last day of month of Elul.

So what does Jesus and His ascension have to do with Teshuvah? Granted, Christ ascended in the spring, not in late summer or early fall.

There are some interesting similarities. For one, Christ traveled around the Jerusalem area for 40 days after His resurrection. 40 days is the length of Teshuvah. He proved He had overcome death to many. Jesus had dealt with sin. Jesus spent those 40 days preaching the Kingdom of God. He was turning others to the future in preparation to meet God.

Acts 1:3 He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Yes, Jesus was sinless. He set the model for how we should repent and turn to our Heavenly Father. Christ completed His work on a sinful Earth and returned to His Father in a Holy Heaven. Even the perfect Son returned to His Father. Currently, He is face to face at the right hand of His Abba.

Acts 1:9 And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

Two thousand years ago, the apostles were questioned for looking to Heaven. The Spirit was soon to come to Earth. There was and is work to complete.

Now is the time to return to Jesus. His cross work paid for the sins of the whole world. All one has to do is believe in Him and His effort. One way or another, the time is drawing near when we will all have the opportunity to return to Him.

Acts 1:11 …and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

For more content on Teshuvah, click the link below.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/teshuvahrepent/

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Singling Out Sin… Michael Stone

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Michael Stone with tags 1 Corinthians 6, Christianity, church, heart, Holy Spirit, homosexuality, Jesus Christ, repent, Romans 3, sin on May 17, 2019 by paulthepoke

According to the Bible, the God-breathed Scriptures, practicing homosexuality is a sin. Let’s not stop there. Before we start judging others, let’s ask Holy Spirit to search our hearts. The list of sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God isn’t limited to homosexuality. Not even close. We are wrong to single out just one sin. Many of us are guilty of one or more of the following sins, and many have yet to repent (turn away) from their sin, justifying their behavior in one way or another. Before we start pointing out the specks in the eyes of others, we need to deal with the planks in our own eyes. We ALL need to repent, “since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have ANY share in the kingdom of God. And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

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Dear Christian: Repentance

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Michael Stone with tags Jesus Christ, repent, repentance on April 8, 2019 by paulthepoke

Introducing Michael Stone

Jesus follower. Husband. Dad. Grandpa. Apple/Mac snob. High Tech Hillbilly. Creative Writer. Copy Editor. Wordsmith. Graphic Communications geek. Animal lover.

Dear Christian,
What does “repentance” mean? Do you know? Are you sure? Are you unsure? Does knowing what repentance is even matter?

I used to think that telling God that I was sorry for my sins was repenting. Is that what you believe? I was mistaken. Just saying, “I’m sorry for my sins” is meaningless. Even if you are truly sorry for your sins, just telling God that you’re sorry is pretty much meaningless. If just saying, “I’m sorry for my sins, God” were repentance, then hell is full of repentant people. They’re ALL sorry – now.

No, repentance isn’t just telling the LORD that we are sorry. Repentance is actually BEING sorry for our sins and sinful lifestyle, AND changing our minds and our hearts, following Jesus and His ways, with the help of His Holy Spirit. Repentance is a gift, not a chore. When we’re truly repentant, our nature will be to be like Jesus. We will hunger and thirst after righteousness. We won’t be able to get enough of communing with Him 24/7, even throughout our busiest of days. Repentance involves abiding in Jesus and He in us. Abiding in His word, and His word abiding in us. That’s good stuff, Maynard!

When we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, He makes all things new. We become a new creation in Him. His Holy Spirit abides in us. His words abide in us, and we in Him. Being saved is a transaction. We give Jesus our lives, and, in return, He gives us new life – eternal life. Eternal life doesn’t begin after we die, or are taken up in the Rapture. Eternal life begins the very moment that we surrender our lives and wills to Jesus, making Him our Saviour, our Lord. When that happens, our thoughts change. Our behavior changes. Our way of living changes. We completely change direction. It’s a spiritual 180° turn, resulting in a 180° change in our thoughts and behavior. That 180° turn is what repentance is. A change of heart and mind, going in the opposite direction. When we truly give our lives to Jesus, repentance will come natural to us. We will no longer desire what displeases Him. Sure, the temptations will come, but He promised to always make a way of escape for us. When we treasure His word in our hearts, He gives us the strength to resist the devil and to not sin. Again, because of His Holy Spirit inside of us, it will just be our nature.

When Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”, it wasn’t an ultimatum from an angry LORD. What He was basically saying is, “If you love Me, keeping My commandments will be your very nature.” Kind of like saying, “If you inhale, you’ll exhale.” Walking in His ways will just come naturally for us when we truly love Him.

Now, back to the question at hand. Does knowing what repentance is even matter?

Absolutely.