It's Time!

Mark 1:15 (TPT) His message was this: “At last the fulfillment of the age has come! It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!”

What comes to mind when you hear the word "repent"? For some, they feel they are Holy and sanctified so there's really no need... though by the blood of Jesus we are forgiven and made clean... we are still human and whether willingly or not, we often do things that require heart felt repentance. It may be that this word brings thoughts of repetitive sins that the Lord has been dealing with you about. Repentance means so many things to so many people, but what we must understand is that there are things that the enemy uses in our lives to draw us away from God. He has a strategic plan and in most cases it's very subtle.

This is a simple message today, but I feel it's very crucial that I minister this at this time. You see, I'm not pointing my finger at anyone else, this is as much for me as it is for you. I'm so hungry to go deeper with the Lord! So, I'm increasing my time in His presence and searching my heart and repenting as well. Wherever we are spiritually, He's requiring more! We must surrender more of our time, desires, devotion, hearts, and lives!

Spiritual growth is never stagnant, it's active and continually increasing. We are in a new season, and it brings with it new battles to be fought and won! A fighter is always working out, fortifying his muscles, and streamlining his skills. With each fight he must learn about his opponent and what techniques he must hone to defeat him. Then he enters the ring prepared for victory! There must be no thoughts of defeat, or the battle will already be lost in his own mind.

We are in a season that we are faced with great battles that will require great faith! I don't know about you, but the attacks against me have been relentless! I'm going to the Word for my fortification, the scriptures are my battle plan for the total annihilation of my adversary and I'm finding my comfort, peace, and strength in the presence of God! There's no more time for compromise! We must repent of our sins which includes desires for anything more than the presence of God! Shocking statement?

When we are just too tired to spend time with Him, choose the television, entertainment, recreation, or time with other people instead of prioritizing our time with Him... those things become idols and it's sin. 

God wants us to enjoy life and the blessings He's given us but not when those things come in the way of our relationship with Him. I know how it is...You may get up early for work, so your time with the Lord is put off until a more convenient time. You get home from a hard day and you're exhausted, so you eat dinner, do some chores and crash in front of the television till you begin to doze off, you get up, get ready for bed and the day has ended with absolutely no consideration for what matters most. Oh, this is just one scenario but there's so many that the enemy has personally designed for each person. Fun and recreation can have the same effect. Sickness, depression, frustration, and worry... all the things that should draw us to Jesus can also have the ability to drain your energy and make you just not feel like putting forth the effort... it's a vicious circle that must be broken!

So today, this message is a wakeup call! Repent and vow to put Jesus in the forefront of your life! There's nothing more important in our day and we must not allow anything from separating us from our time with Him and our study of His Word! It's all or nothing! Being lukewarm is not an option and walking away... to what? Hell? No thank you! I choose Jesus!

Prepare for battle and build your spiritual muscles so that when it hits you will not be moved! You have the power within you to win the battle and come out with a testimony of the goodness of God even in the most horrific circumstances!

Join me in stepping up my devotion to Him, searching my heart, increasing my time in His presence, and worshiping Him with complete adoration and abandon! He's worthy and nothing else is as important or life changing! It's time!!!

1 Peter 5:8-11 (TPT) Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith.

Revelations 3:15-16 (NKJV) “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"

Acts 17:30-31 (NLT) “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Acts 3:19 (TPT) And now you must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord’s presence.