SundaySermon - Prince - Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

The first sermon that Jesus spoke was about "Repent for teh Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"

Verse: Matthew 4:17

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

This Kingdom of God was proclaimed in the book of Daniel .... a kingdom that will rule the earth and no on can stand against it 

Verse: Daniel 2:44

“During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.

And so the Kingdom has come.... and have we prepared our hearts in Repentance.

What is Repentance?

  • Change of mind
  • Rending your hearts
  • Setting our eyes on God
  • Lay down your will

Change of mind

Our mind is essential to prepare for the Kingdom of God. The story of the prodigal son talks about the change of mind and the decision that follows 

Verse: Luke 15:16-18

16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!

18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

Repentance begins with a choice to turn away from our past to something new. What are we choosing to do? Think about things of Heaven....

Verse: Colossians 3:1‭-‬2

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 

2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

And our decision needs to guide our minds to be consistent .... Fixed.... 

Verse: Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Are we fixing our mind on God? This is the first step of Repentance.

Rending your hearts

Job in his difficult time defended himself strongly against his friend's accusation. But the moment he saw God, he fell down and gave us everything he was holding on to

Verse: Job 42:5‭-‬6

5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. 

6 I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Joel talks of tearing the heart and God is more than eager to heal us

Verse: Joel 2:13

Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

We can see in David's life ... he repented and he and his descendants retained the kingship. But Saul refused repentance and he lost it. 

Setting our eyes on God

Sin begins when we place our eyes on the wrong thing

Verse: Genesis 3:6

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

But David set his eyes on the Lord

Verse: Psalms 16:8

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Lay down your will

Satan refused God's will and wanted to establish his will. His will was verbalised by the several "I will...." 

Verse:Isaiah 14:13‭-‬14

13 For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 

14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’

We want to be worshiper who lays down their own will. The willingness of our "I will" to submit the "Temple" ... where God dwells.

Verse: Psalms 66:15

13 Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you—

14 yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble.

15 That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you— the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma, and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats.

Is this possible? ..... to lay our will down.... Can we pray the prayer of Jesus

Verse: Matthew 26:39

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Jesus didn't have to do this...... He had angels to serve him .... but he gave up his will

Conclusion

Repent now..... don't harden your hearts. Let us pray with broken hearts and there is a blessedness that will follow

"Blessed are those who mourn.... Blessed are those weep ....." (The Beatitudes - Matthew 5)

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