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There appears to be some similarity in opening messages in generations past.
When the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, the Apostles of Jesus and Jonah came on the scene they uttered some statements, which could be called the inauguration speech of their mission.
We cannot deal with all today, but let us understand the emphasis of God. God’s emphasis has been all along on the issue of salvation and what it takes to be saved.
But today the priority of many wanting to become the children of God had been centered about what God will give them.
Yet there is no controversy in what God’s word says about us going by those, who experienced His mercies through His lovingkindness. David experienced God.
Note this:
“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40 :5)
So many have been chased out of the presence of God if their expectation does not come immediately, even though God has hidden things that are not imaginable for His followers.
To many people, whose expected answers for material blessings are delayed soon get the impression that God does not want to bless them. However many of us forget that whether we are sick , poor, oppressed or rejected by men, our salvation is not hindered by these difficult things. God is equal to all tasks, but note He is waiting for a true decision in people who want to follow Him. God made a covenant with Abraham after 25 years of his call.
NOW THE OPENING MESSAGES:
- By Jesus :
4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 4:17).
Beyond this He came up with the Sermon on the Mount, expressing the blessedness that go with people whose minds are towards God and whose lifestyles conform with pertinent divine prescriptions.
They Must Be Taught.
Jesus went about teaching the would – be followers of things they must know. He also followed that up with solving problems in their lives.
4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23).
He taught them and also healed them. There are principles behind the material impact of God’s blessings on men. Repentance from dead works or sin is a material decision which enables many blessings from God to function.
The Major Mission of Christ:
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”. (Matthew 9: 13).
In the opening speech of Jesus, repentance is key at all times.
All the rituals of killing rams to attone for sin in the Old Testament, were not backed by repentance. Therefore rams died while the people lived in their sins.
Christ said He is calling sinners to repentance that they may receive His mercy. He is not calling for sacrifice this time.
- The Opening Message of John the Baptist.
Reading from John Chapter1.
1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus and he declared that in his opening message. As Jesus came to preach the gospel of repentance John was sent as a mesenger to clear the way.
1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (John 1 :23).
Reading from the gospel of Luke:
3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
The warning had been there that those who do not bear fruit worthy of repentance will be uprooted.
BEWARE OF PRESUMPTUOUS CHRISTIANITY:
This is no time to say I am a member of a big church, I am a worker or pastor, it is a time to bear fruit worthy of repentance.
As was said by John the Baptist, many servants of God are crying in this world today and some might be mocked. People are claiming denomination and not Christ.
- Message of the Disciples:
Reading from Acts Chapter 2:
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
As was said by the same Jesus, the apostles were telling the people to repent.
The Message That Brings Revival:
In verse 37 above,the people were pricked to their heart and asked ” brethren what must we do to be saved”
Every message received should bring in revival to every soul either to make an individual to repent or to gather more courage for greater exploits. This was the case in the new assembly of Christians.
- Jonah in Nineveh :
After running away, Jonah returned to speak to the people of Nineveh and there was national cry for reconciliation with God so that God may set aside His wrath determined upon them.
Note the message of Jonah :
Reading from the book of Jonah Chapter 3:
3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.
3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
There is great power in Repentance :
Reading from Proverbs 28:
28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have a great privilege to draw near to God in repentance and He will hear us and grant us both material and heavenly salvation.
Glory be to God.
Message on 20th May 2018.
Prof. P. C. Nnaocha Miracle Valley.
+2348037179735.
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