Human beings are expert sinners. Each has fallen short of giving God the glory that He deserves (Romans 3:23). You may have gotten angry instead of heeding James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Maybe you often forget to treat others as you desire to be treated and thereby fail to observe Christ's Royal Law. Or, you submitted to fear, forgetting that fear is rebellion according to the word of God.
Then, there are the sinful desires keeping you from being the child of God you would have liked to be this year. What challenges in behavior and thoughts have held you back? The end of the year is an opportune time to take stock of the changes needed to overcome the sins that cause you regret. Think about what you have repeatedly repented for? That thing that you know you shouldn't do but somehow or another, you end up doing it. The behavioral and thought patterns that make you just like Apostle Paul when he admitted, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Romans 7:15).
Perhaps you aren't like the Apostle at all. You have instead chosen to live a life of sin, doing things that God despises. Were you a believer who previously observed God's laws but have decided to fornicate, lie and steal, for instance? Maybe you determined that God does not see what you are up to and even if He does, He won't react. Or, you have chosen to go the way of the occult to fast-track the fulfillment of your desires, opting for New Age rituals and observations. Thereby ignoring what God said of and did to those who claimed to serve Him while bowing to the Queen of Heaven, Baal, the Asherah poles, and sacrificing to Molech (which are all just different forms of 'packaging' for satanism) who were destroyed. Have you convinced yourself that the mixture of serving the devil does not bother the Lord God Almighty?
Whichever of these categories you fall into, the Lord has a simple message - repent. Let go of the things that God hates so that you please Him. Then, return to the Almighty in humility, knowing that carnality leads to an eternity in hell. Carnality meaning that you are solely focused on this plane of existence, ignoring that this earth is not your home or final destination. No, with death does not come sleep. Death brings two options - heaven or hell - and we choose the final destination by how we live now. God desires to show grace and mercy upon all. He knows that a righteous life is difficult and sent Jesus Christ so all can be forgiven and reach Heaven. Through His Son, individuals are cleansed to start anew, free from guilt, condemnation and shame.
God isn't calling you to repent and return to Him for nothing. Those who do so enjoy His blessings - true blessings that come with no toil attached (Proverbs 10:22). For those who would repent and return, He has committed to save them from their enemies, bring them into the fullness of life and much more. Plus, consider the promise contained in Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. There is the added bonus of being restored. Where things were lackluster, beauty arrives and where things were lacking, abundance becomes the norm. The gaping hole of emptiness and dissatisfaction are replaced by a joy that sustains you even in the tough times because that joy comes from the Lord and nothing else in this world can provide it.
I pray that you will review your 2024 and want something different for your 2025. I pray you will realize the need to repent from sin, return to God fully, and receive the restoration that the times of refreshing will bring. Regardless of how long you have walked with God, this message is for you. Be honest with yourself, something needs to change in your life. Do not be stiff-necked or stubborn. Therefore, ask God to reveal what sin is acting as a roadblock. Once you've prayed and received understanding, don't make excuses, just tell God sorry. Call on Jesus for help to fully repent and receive strategy on how to live better. The Lord will never steer you wrong so let Him steer you right.
Join us at Noon EST for today's Praise & Pray (for others) fellowship, where we'll obey the Lord by giving Him our worship and caring for the needs of others via intercession. If you are yet to give your life Christ, please read the post that follows this one. God bless you and have a Merry Christmas.
To learn more, please read these old P&P posts:
From PPYT - Omg this was sooo good!! I’ve really been wanting to fast from social media and other worldly entertainment to seek God and really hear from him but keep going back. I’ve kept hearing in my heart, “Truly I tell you, unless a man is born again, he will not see the kingdom of Heaven” but also I keep seeing a lot of message about repenting. Every day we wake up, he gives us grace to come back to him. Thank you God. Thank you for this!!
From TP - Praying everyone has a safe and joyful holiday! If you get to spend it with family, enjoy each moment! Also praying for those who have experienced loss, I know firsthand how the holidays can bring sadness. Thankful for all that god has done for me, especially during this time. Witnessing his grace and glory has been a blessing in itself.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, I am grateful for this time of fellowship with others. I thank You for the privilege of looking at Your word and digesting it by Your grace and to Your glory. Take all the praise Mighty Redeemer.
Thank You, God, that as we have gathered to review, repent, return and receive Your refreshing, we know You have heard and answered us for that is Your promise to all who would honestly seek You. I hereby pray for Your move in the lives of those who did the above. I call on You to reassure and revive their spirit men. Pour out Your oil of joy upon them in this season and beyond, leading and guiding them with each passing day into higher realms of Your glory.
I pray for those whom You will show mercy and compassion to in this group that they will rejoice and testify of Your might and power in their lives. I pray they will testify soon. I pray that they will glorify You with their words, thoughts and actions as You deserve to be lauded.
God, You are good and Your mercies are forever. I thank You for hearing this prayer and answering it even before it was uttered, for You alone know our thoughts and answer prayers before they are spoken. Thank You kind Father, IJN, I give You praise and say, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
What have you been repenting for? Is it grumbling and complaining? Have you had to repent for being slothful? What about an unforgiving heart?
What has the Spirit of the Lord brought to your remembrance? As noted in the original message, don't make excuses, just repent and ask God for His mercy.
Commit to return to God, submitting fully to Him for His purpose. Recommit to follow His word (which requires you to familiarize yourself with His word) and ask Him to open your mind to what He will teach you in the scriptures.
God wants to restore us to Him. He wants to renew and refresh us as we step into 2025. Let us do the work to be transformed and have the tangible experience of those who do exploits because they know their God.
It is well.
We bring broken bodies, minds, and souls to You, Father. We lift these individuals wherever they may be for Your healing grace.
Your word assures us that it was by the stripes and suffering of our Savior that we - mere dust, mere sinners - were healed.
Lord, we stand in the gap for those seeking Your healing. We call on You to hear our cries on their behalf and respond by sending out Your word as promised in Psalm 107:20. We say this prayer believing that it is to Your glory and we call on You that Your will - and Your will alone - be done here on earth as in Heaven.
Lord, have mercy and fix what needs to be fixed in the people this prayer is permitted to extend to. We thank You for hearing us, IJMN, Amen.
Great Jehovah. We call for unity in the Body of Christ. Pour out Your Spirit so Your children move in accordance to Your will as a corporate body.
1 Corinthians 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Father, grant us Your grace whereby we honor the instruction contained in this scripture, IJMN, Amen. Take the divisions away and bring healing where there is discord and disagreement, dear God. Let Your Spirit make the Body become of one accord. IJN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for the Body of Christ. Lord, please bless us to bear plentiful good fruit, 30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold. Please bless us to root ourselves in You, remain rooted in You and endure to the end. Please bless us to spread the good news and save many lives through the Holy Spirit so that they live for You. Please bless us with wisdom and knowledge and courage and protection. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, thank You for what You have done for Your children. You are great and worthy to be praised.
Father, I want to ask You, IJN, to reassure Your children who are waiting on You for the answer to their prayers.
Some are seeking healing. Others are in need of peace of mind. Others yet face complicated problems that look like large mountains.
But, You are He of whom Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 - "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Remind Your children that delay does not mean denial. Let them know You are working everything out for their ultimate good. Help them get through the waiting period by blessing them with the gift of patience and understanding.
Praise be to Your Holy Name!
From M22 - I have been overwhelmed of late just reflecting back on 2024 in general. I felt like I let myself down a lot this year. I have been doing my best to just really enjoy the holidays but it's like I am forcing myself to. Please put me in your prayers. God bless y'all. I'll be back to fellowship much later.
PRAYER TIME
It is now time to turn to prayer. Let us cover others and not ourselves in our supplication.
Know someone in need of God's help? Pray for miracles. Pray for the world. Pray for healing upon others. Pray the Lord will free people from torture, slavery, and oppression.
Ask the Lord to bring His presence down so it is felt by His children.
If you have a prayer request, share it so we can raise it on your behalf.
From M22 - Abba Father thank you for being patient with me and strengthening me as I navigate each day. I pray for strength to move on from everything that has happened this year and to look forward to what you have in store for me as the year winds up. Father Lord help me to focus on you and not things I can't change. IJMN Amen
Great is Your faithfulness, You who always come through! You who never abandon those who You love. You are He who will leave the 99 behind for the 1. You never leave a man behind (Matthew 18:12-14).
Lamentations 3:22-24 - Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
No matter how long it takes, God, You will always rescue Your children. Thank You so very much! Hallelujah! Amen!
From JIR - Lord I am here because You, and because of You I will serve You all the days of my life. I will worship and sing Your praises forever. I pray to be as obedient to You as I possibly can. I give my life up for You and aim to please You and gain Your approval in all that I do. To put a smile on Your face is my goal in life. I yearn to do whatever it takes to be the best servant for You that I can be. IJMN. Amen.
Thank You, Father! You are Jehovah Nissi - our Shepherd. Thank You for leading us on the path of righteousness. Your word is contained in the Good Book and You take the time to speak to us mere mortals in ways we can understand. Glory to Your Holy Name!
Thank You for speaking to us. For Your word is clear in John 10:27-28 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Father, continue to speak to us, Abba. Continue to provide us with instruction.
Isaiah 41:9-12 - I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’ I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
Thank You for such heavy promises, Covenant-Keeping God!
Thank You for all that You are revealing to us, our Creator. Please continue to shine a light on that which You want us to learn so we might use that which You teach us to serve You honorably.
May we do so in ways big and small, so that Paul's words will apply to us as well - 2 Corinthians 9:13 - Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
From JIR - “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:1-3 KJV
Thank You great and mighty King for You are the God of Promise! Thank You for making us heirs to Your grace and wonder. Glory be to You oh Lord. You have rained down blessings and gifts upon us.
From the air we breathe, to the fact that we can fix our eyes on You in this moment...
Father, please take all the glory as we laud You for being You. He who is mighty in battle. He who destroys the devourer for our sake. He who the 24 elders and the four living creatures praise over and over.
If they can praise You continuously, we can surely shout a Hallelujah for You!
Hallelujah!!!!!!!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for being the God who lifts us up when we are down. You are the one true living God Who will never forsake us. We look to You in times of happiness and in times of trouble. You give us the strength and guidance needed to get through all things. Nothing is impossible with You in the midst. There is none like You. Almighty in all Your ways and Sovereign in all that You do. It’s an honor to call You our God, our Creator, our Father. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for Your guidance in all things. Your love is endless. I am thankful that I can depend on You to never lead me wrong. You are who I trust in and who I aim to please. You and You alone. I thank You for the strength You give me when I am weary. You defend me in all situations. You are more to me than just a friend. I worship You and praise Your name. Your name will forever be on my lips. Thank You Lord for Your compassion, grace and mercy. IJMN. Amen.