Repent, For The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Near
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| Prophetic Artist: Merrel Grootboom |
Matthew 3:2 (Amplified Bible)
“Repent [change your
inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way
that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.”
Romans 14:17 (Amplified
Bible)
for
the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one
likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
At the beginning of this year while on a Daniel Fast, I received
a dream on the 4th of January. This
dream and the interpretation thereof are about where we find ourselves
currently as the ecclesia – the Body of Christ and what is to come. The Body of Christ or ecclesia refers to all
children of God who have accepted salvation in Jesus Christ - Who is The Way, The
Truth and The Life to the Father. I am
not referring to any denomination; we all belong to the ONE Body of Christ
Jesus, as the ecclesia.
The Dream
I was travelling in a car with people (the car was full; thus, we were 5 people) and looked like we were family members. We were on our way to somewhere when I asked the driver to stop in front of the house which in the dream was my dad’s house. As I had to go and ask my dad to please pay the lady who has cleaned his house, R300.00 and to give her cell phone back to her as she would need this to communicate. The lady, elderly in age, was standing one side quietly, just waiting to get paid and to receive back her cell phone. There was a bit of resistance/ hesitation from my dad, but he then agreed to pay her and give back her cell phone. End of dream. Symbolic meanings and Interpretation
Car with family:
The car represents ministry and family of 5 people travelling together represents the five fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.
Family also represents the ecclesia – church family of God – the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (Amplified Bible)
11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], 12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; 13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (Amplified
Bible) – Read the full chapter
27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and
individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and
function]. 28 So
God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]:
first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the
future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers,
then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers,
the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown]
tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are
all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do
all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But
earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if
acquiring them is going to be your goal].
And yet I will
show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest
of them all: unselfish love].
- Front of the house: Front represents the future – what is to come
Luke 2:49 (Amplified Bible)
And He answered, “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not
know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
- R300,00 : South African currency is the Rand. Heaven’s currency is faith. Rand also represents the gifts/ talents that the Father has given us as believers. Luke 19:11-27
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)
- The number 300: represents Gideon’s army (the remnant) who overcame the Midianites by the hand of God
Judges 7:7 (Amplified Bible)
- The 21st letter of the Hebraic alphabet is the letter Sheen or Shin as per the pictograph below, with the numerical value of 300 and meaning:
A Divinely Appointed Period of Time – Election; number connected to the “Children of Promise”; Supernatural Victory Over enemies including death; number connected with The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Messiah; signifies final Blood Sacrifice made by the Perfect Lamb of God. The letter Sheen is unique in that it is the ONE letter that God uses as His signature. For more information refer to Hebrew meaning of the number 300
- Cell phone: represents prayer – communication with Heaven. It also represents the communication channels we use on this earth including the news, media, internet, social media, cell phones etc. which can lead to be a distraction.
- Cleaning: Repentance; turning away from the worldly ways and structures; to let go of the old and make way for the new; restored to its original intention
Psalm 24:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
- Resistance meaning: The refusal to accept or comply with something; The ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely
10 But they were not able to successfully withstand and cope with the wisdom and the intelligence [and the power and inspiration] of the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
James 4:6 (New King James Version)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Romans 9:19 (Amplified Bible)
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”
(The
Body of Christ, Saints, Believers, Children of God)
About four years ago, I had a vision
of Jesus, who was fervently busy sweeping the temple with a thick bristled
broom. He was so intensely busy cleaning that the foam of the soap was clearly
visible in the vision, like in the cartoons.
As I reflected on both the dream and this vision (one of three that fits
into this puzzle), it is evident that we as the Church, the Body of Christ, the
ecclesia; is currently in a season of cleansing. This is a grace (meaning of the number 5)
period we have on the calendar of Abba Father to clean out what needs to be
removed and to make space for the new that He is planning to release during
these times. I personally believe that this is not the end of time. There
are still many prophecies that needs to be fulfilled (Isaiah 55:11) before Beloved
Jesus comes to fetch His equally yoked (Ephesians 5:27) Bride, for the Wedding Feast
of the Lamb, to fulfill the Feast of Trumpets (Revelation 19:7).
2 Chronicles 7:14
(Amplified Bible)
and
My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek
(crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.
Ezekiel 7:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3 Now
the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you and will judge you in
accordance with your ways and I will bring [retribution for] all your abominations
upon you. 4 For My eye will have no pity on you,
nor will I spare you, but I will repay you for your evil ways, while your
abominations are among you; and you will know (recognize, understand) [without
any doubt] that I am the Lord.’
Ezekiel 8:6 (New King James
Version)
6 Furthermore
He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the
great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go
far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.”
1 Peter 4:17 (Amplified Bible)
17 For
it is the time [destined] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and
if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who
do not respect or believe or obey the gospel
of God?
What are the abominations to repent
of?
Proverbs 6:16-19 (Amplified
Bible)
16 These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: 17 A proud look
[the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying
tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart
that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil, 19 A
false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads
discord (rumors) among brothers.
Idol worshiping of church planters/founders and their doctrines, pastors, church leaders and even the worship team is evident today. There is nothing wrong with having a mentor or being discipled by a leader or elder in the church. However, we need to honour each other for the people we are, remembering that we are human beings with gifts and talents given by the Father through His Holy Spirit as we read in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12. There is no space in the church for jealously, strife, competition, and pride amongst believers because of our gifting. The days of platforms and performances are over. We are all chosen for a specific purpose and the gifts we have is not for ourselves but for the building up of the saints into maturity for the purpose of obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ, to win souls for His Kingdom. We stand on the true gospel of Jesus Christ, anything contrary to this is not Truth.
Division amongst the saints is a tactic straight from the enemy’s camp to bring distort and deception through mix seed (corruption of the true gospel of Jesus), religious rules and duties (legalism). Jesus prayed in John 17 for unity. He asked the Father that “they all may be one”. This is the desire of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the church; the Cornerstone, holding the church together and the Rock of Ages as our foundation is built on Him as our Resurrected King. Division and denominations are not His ultimate plan for the Body of Christ. We are ONE Body in Him with many parts. Not a distorted body, this is not a true representation of Who Jesus is as our Lord and Saviour. We need every member of the Body of Christ to fulfill the purpose of extending the Kingdom of God on this earth. Each part of the Body has a function and is required to operate as ONE BODY OF CHRIST.
John 17:21-26 (Amplified Bible)
21 that
they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they
also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that
You sent Me.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (Amplified Bible)
27 Now
you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it
[each with his own special purpose and function].
Matthew 16:18 (Amplified Bible)
Colossians 1:18 (Amplified Bible)
18 He
is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the [a]church; and He is the beginning, [b]the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the
first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.
We are called to repent for not loving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with the love that Jesus has commanded us with. God is love and we as His children are called to love one another. Why do we look at the flesh and judge each other by what we see with our eyes? Why the comparisons? Why the boxes? Why the blame-game? We are currently in a Teshuvah (Hebrew for repentance, return) season on the Hebraic calendar (1 Elul 5781 – 10 Tishri 5782). We are called to live a life of repentance and to consciously move away from the worldly, sinful, and wicked ways. The enemy uses any tactic he can find based on our past, beliefs, how we experience this world and even through relationships; to bring his agenda into our lives causing wounded souls, lies and sin. We are called to lay down our lives daily for Jesus and to allow His searching gaze to search our hearts daily; removing that which is not from Him cleansing us with the Blood of Jesus, and in return exchanging these for His Life in Abundance (John 10:10). We need to judge ourselves first against the Word of God before we even attempt to correct another, which we are commanded to do in love. May our daily prayer be as David’s in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Matthew 22:36-40 (Amplified
Bible)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 And Jesus
replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This
is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for
others].’ 40 The
whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
God Is Love
7 Beloved,
let us [unselfishly] [a]love and seek the best for one another, for love
is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God
[through personal experience]. 8 The one who does
not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him],
for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute
of His nature.]
The Tongue and Wisdom from Above
Saints, we are called to repent of how we are using our tongue and for following the wisdom of this world. In James 3 we read about the tongue being the smallest part of the body but has the power to destroy a whole forest. How do we use our tongues? In Proverbs 18:21 we read, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” Our words are powerful, and we are to choose daily to speak life and blessings. We are to use our tongue to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), to comfort, encourage and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We are not called to destroy each other or those around us with our tongues. Let us instead, ask Holy Spirit to give us wisdom on how to use our tongue. Ask Holy Spirit on how we need to respond to this world. How to pray for others, ourselves, our nation and matters that He has placed on our hearts. Ask for wisdom from above and walk in the wisdom that God has given us to discern what is from Him and what is from this world. Ask Holy Spirit to guard our hearts and our mouth; to speak only what He is placing on our tongue to utter, walking in love and unity. Be careful of not cancelling out your words with what you have been praying for with what you are speaking afterwards! Pay attention to what comes out of your mouth, is this life or death?
James 3:9-10 (Amplified Bible)
James 3:17-18 (Amplified Bible)
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].We need to repent for idolising the church building. Too much time and effort is spent on raising funds for the building instead of looking after the poor and the widows as commanded in the Bible. The church is not a clubhouse, it is not a place of business for gain or even to host worldly events to make a profit. The church building is a house of prayer as Jesus made clear in the gospels. Think a bit why the church buildings are closed during this time? Maybe it is time to BE THE CHURCH to this lost world who is looking for answers. Maybe it is time to go out and to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and to make disciples of all men, women, and children. The book of Acts is the blueprint we as believers in Jesus Christ need to follow as the church. House churches is the answer for today. Having worship in the park or shopping malls, is the answer for today. Being out there and just bringing the love of the Father to those in our nation, is the answer for today. We are called to be love for God is love and to bring in the harvest. We are in a season of making disciples by focusing on the spiritual growth in their love for Christ Jesus, in an intimate and safe environment, not on building big elaborate church buildings.
Matthew 21:13 (AMP)
Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture],
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you
are making it a robbers’ den.”
John 2:16 (AMP)
then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things
away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!”
In 2015, I had a vision of Jesus on a surfer board, surfing on a gigantic wave, and eagerly lunging forward giving the impression that He was trying to move the wave to go faster. He had this big smile on His face.
Habakkuk 2:14 (Amplified Bible)
“But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 43:19 (Amplified
Bible)
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
ARISE SOUTH AFRICA AND SHINE, FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME, AND THE GLORY AND BRILLANCE OF THE LORD HAS RISEN UPON YOU.
Isaiah 60:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
A Glorified Zion
1 “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 “For in fact, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you. 3 “Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Galatians 5:22-23 (Amplified Bible)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us]
is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the
ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against
such things there is no law.
If you have missed the previous posts relating to this word, click on the links below:
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