Episode 135: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand - Is there something "at Hand" in 2023?

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew
4:17) Is there something “at Hand” in 2023?


 


REPENTANCE and the KINGDOM OF GOD


 


John the Baptist - In those days John the Baptist came
preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” (Matt 3:1-2) 


 


Jesus - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt
4:17) 


 


Peter -       “Repent” (Acts 2:38,
3:19) – to believing Jews


 


Paul -         “Repent” (Acts
17:30) – to pagan Greeks in Athens


 


DO CHRISTIANS NEED TO REPENT? – turn from sin (stop) and
obey God


 


Lord’s Prayer - …And forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:12)


 


James – Book of James written to believers!


 


Apostle John - 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we
make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John
1:8-10)


 


Apostle John – to CHRISTIAN churches


       in Ephesus     
    “Repent” (Rev. 2:4)


       in Pergamum   
    “Repent” (Rev. 2:16)


       in Thyatira   
     “Repent” (Rev. 2:22) - only those committing
immorality


       in Sardis     
      “Repent” (Rev. 3:3)


       in Laodicea   
      “Repent” (Rev. 3:19)


 


Pete(r) - to the church in 2023


           
  


              in
Irvine            “Repent”
(PEF)  PEF = Pete EVERY Friday


 


THE ANSWER? – YES…but only on an “as needed
basis”


 


What might our repent on an “as-needed basis” be this
morning?


 


Complaining? Arguing?


 


Philippians 2:14 - Do everything without
complaining or arguing.


 


Broken relationships? 


 


Matthew 5:23-24 - 23 So if you
are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, 24 leave your
gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift.


 


Inappropriate Talk?


 


Ephesians 4:29 - Let no unwholesome
word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is
good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that
it will give grace to those who hear.


 


“Let no foul language come from your mouth” 


“Stop all your dirty talk…”


 


Giving? Mistreated?


 


Luke 6:30 - Give to everyone
who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not
demand it back.


 


1 John 3:17 - 17 But if anyone
has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes
his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?


 


Sharing the Gospel?


 


Mark 16:15 – He [Jesus] said to them, "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”


 


Unbelief? Doubting God’s Word?


 


John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all
things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said
to you.


 


Lustful thoughts? Impure thinking?


 


Matthew 5:28 - But I say to you that whoever
looks at a woman to desire her [with lust for her] has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.


 


Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, …whatever
is pure…think about [dwell on] these things.


 


Anger? Slander? Unkindness? Unforgiveness? (“Cluster
Bomb”)


 


Ephesians 4:31-32 - 31 Let all bitterness and
wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you.


 


James 4:11 - 11 Do not speak
evil against one another, brothers (Slander)


 


Prayerlessness? Unthankfulness?


 


1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 - “Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you” 


 


Selfishness? Pride? Superiority?


 


Philippians 2:3 - Don't be selfish; don't try to
impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves.


 


Favoritism? (especially towards rich/powerful)


 


James 2:1, 9 – 1 My brothers and sisters,
believers…must not show
favoritism…. 9 But if you show
favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.


 


Worldliness? 


 


James 4:4 – …Don’t you realize that friendship
with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you
want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of
God.


 


Romans 12:2 –        Do not
be conformed to this world 


Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world 


Don’t be like the people of this world…


 


Gluttony/Care of Body?   


 


1 Cor 6:19-20 – body = temple of the Holy Spirit…glorify
God in your body