In our daily meditation yesterday, we discussed how John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ's ministry by calling Israel to repentance. John's call to preach repentance aimed to remove the obstacles in people’s hearts that blocked the way to the Messiah. Not only can our inner mind and spirit become corrupted by images we've seen and experienced through the media, but corruption also comes from the sinful nature we inherited from Adam. Jesus warned that spiritual defilement originates from within a person’s core. He said, 18"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20These are the things which defile the man” (Matthew 15:18-20). This message of repentance offended the Pharisees and Israel's leaders, as they didn't recognize their need for sorrow and turning from sin. Guess what? Most of the Church is in the same boat. John preached that genuine repentance should lead to changes in behavior.
8"Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9"Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:8-9; emphasis added).
Being water–baptized does not change our hearts; it is simply an outward symbol of an inward transformation. The inner change will be reflected in a lifestyle change. Things will appear different on the outside because of the change that has taken place inside. True repentance involves feeling genuine sorrow for one's sins and turning away from a lifestyle of sin. Our desires are transformed when we receive new life in Christ. Why would we want to remain bound by sin when we are made free to live in the freedom Christ paid for?
What is meant by the phrase “the ax is already laid at the root of the trees"? (Luke 3:9). John gave a vivid picture of a man about to cut down a tree. To aim his ax, a man places his ax blade on the root to be cut and steadies his footing before swinging the ax over his head to deliver a sharp blow to the root. There are two ways to interpret this picture. 1) The image represents a man or a nation (a nation being a group of people with a shared identity). Without repentance, the tree will be cut down and thrown into the fire as worthless. 2) The ax laid at the root could also symbolize the work of the Messiah, who, through our repentance and trust in Him, will put His ax at the heart of our sin problem, meaning our root inherited from Adam. Paul explains in his letter to the Romans, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6).
When we come to Christ, we are born again or born from above, and we receive new life in Him along with the power to conquer sin. The ax at the root could also symbolize cutting ourselves off from what feeds our physical lusts and passions. True repentance involves severing the ties of our sin and relying on resources from above rather than the roots of the life we inherited from Adam, which is our fleshly nature.
For a country to be revived, a state must be revived.
For a state to be revived, a city has to be revived.
For a city to be revived, a church has to be revived.
For my church to be revived, I must be revived.
Revival starts with me.[1]
Repentance involves the active will to change one's life. In all areas of life, whether as a spouse, parent, roommate, employee, or boss, we are called to practice our Christian beliefs, not just profess them with words. True repentance may begin with a sorrowful heart, but it must culminate in decisive action; otherwise, it is not genuine biblical repentance or faith in Christ. Just as new life comes from a father and mother, repentance and faith in Christ bring about new life from above. Both are essential.
For what things are we to repent?
Repent and ask the Holy Spirit to remove the images from your mind that are left over from past sins. These images are hooks that the enemy can use to replay those memories during temptation, trying to lure you back into those sinful habits.
Repent and uproot the movies you've watched that have stimulated or sexually excited you. Ask the Holy Spirit to remove that videotape so it doesn't keep playing again.
Repent and root out the source of horror movies that the enemy uses to instill fear in your soul.
Repent and sever the soul ties from old relationships. Some issues from your past might require the help of a counselor.
Repent and renounce any involvement in the occult, séances, horoscopes, New Age books, mantras, and related materials.
We also need to repent for how our culture redefines marriage, sexuality, and gender.
Paul the Apostle wrote that we are not our own. We were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19), so we need to repent for wasting our time and God's resources on entertainment instead of serving Him. We do not belong to ourselves.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in your life that has grieved Him (Ephesians 4:30). Confess and remove the root.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and your power. Please open my eyes to see new ways you want to manifest Jesus to this world through me. Amen.
This study is titled 'God Uses Ordinary Believers.' It is from the more in-depth series on revival called On Fire With the Holy Spirit.