Kingdom and repent are reoccurring words in this Kingdom series.
Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching …,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:1-2 (NASB)
From that time Jesus began to [h] preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Matthew 4:17 (NASB)
CLARIFYING OUR DEFINITION OF THE WORD REPENT
1. My Repentance, if genuine, starts on the inside.
During the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:2-3 (NIV)
Repent (metanoeo): a change of heart and mind.
Personal application: I change the way I perceive matters.
For this people's heart has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.
Matthew 13:15 (ISV)
For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes--so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them
Matthew 13:15 (NLT)
But the people's minds were hardened…so they cannot understand the truth.
2 Corinthians 3:14 (NLT)
They (the Gentiles) are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)
People will not be able to say, "Look, here it is! There it is!
That is because the kingdom of God is inside you.
Luke 17:21(WEB)
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds…”
Hebrews 10:16 (NIV), (Jeremiah 31:33)
2. My Repentance, if genuine, shows up on the outside.
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you
that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Luke 3:7-9 (NIV)
When should I expect such a strong rebuke from God?
1. When I substitute externals for internals. (v. 7a)
2. When I act to be saved but not set apart. (v. 7b)
3. When I emphasize my heritage rather than my heart. (v.8)
4. When my attitudes or actions threaten my life. (v.9)
3. Where will kingdom repentance show up in my life? “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?
“He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people
falsely—be content with your pay.”
Luke 3:10-14 (NIV)
Three people groups share one area of kingdom repentance:
A totally different perspective on my money and material things.
“Dont save treasures for yourselves here on earth. Moths and rust will destroy them. And thieves can break into your house and steal them. 20 Instead, save your treasures in heaven, where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is…. 24 “You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money at the same time.”
Matthew 6:19-21, 24a (ERV)
“But put Gods kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do.
Then all of those things will also be given to you.”
Matthew 6:33 (NIrV)
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