Holy Spirit: I gave you a very large serving of Daily Bread two days ago…so large that this morning I urge you to go back and re-read it. After you have refreshed your memory and more fully digested that message, I give you today the conclusion. I wanted these concluding words to stand alone so that they would make a deeper impression. I am calling you to repentance, not only personal repentance but the repentance for your nation that was evident in Daniel’s prayer for his people when he prayed in the ninth chapter of his book. In verse 5, this dedicated man of God who had faithfully served his God all of his life, prayed We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Note also Daniel’s use of the word rebelled in this confession. In I Samuel 15:23 you are told that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. The spirit of rebellion in your nation today is almost overwhelming, and it is evidenced not only in civil disobedience but also in the rise of witchcraft and increasing demonic activity. Now, while We are in I Samuel 15, look at verses 24 and 25 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. But these words did not indicate true repentance; Saul said the words of repentance only because he feared the consequences of his sin; he did not truly repent (turn away from) his rejection of God. He did not acknowledge that his sin was against God. And so we see in verse 35, Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Now I tell you, do not reject these words because they are Old Testament, Rebellion against God is rebellion and repentance is repentance. I did not tell you in the first message that I would heal your nation if the entire population repented…I issued the call to My people who are called by My Name to repent for the sins of their nation and for their own sins. It is not for you to decide that it is too late for this, although it well may be too late. But this is not your decision. Your decision, now and always MUST be to trust and obey. God will honor that trust and that obedience in His Wisdom, His Way and His Time. I look forward to hearing your prayers.
| . |