True Repentance

I desire a city transformed by the manifest presence of Jesus Christ in me and in the lives of those who believe. I desire a city where God can come and reside with His Bride.

Where does it all begin? True repentance. True repentance in the heart of the Bride. A ceasing of the Prostitute and stepping into the promise of Bridal glory!! Are you ready to walk down the aisle, Beloved?!?

I'm dwelling on true repentance. What does it mean? Every sin I commit I wonder how much longer? When will it stop? When will I stop? What will it take? What can I do? What can be changed? Where does it end? Where did it begin? Where did I lose sight? Why can't I hear You? What is wrong with me? How wretched I am!! Wouldn't life be so much easier without so much temptation? Can't God just break my TV so I can't watch it? Or take this computer that I can't get on the Internet? Or take my job that I won't be bitter? What is God saying? What is He trying to say through it all? True repentance. What is it?

Simon Peter, son of Jonah (the same Jonah who turned and ran when instructed by God to preach repentance to the Ninevites) had himself denied Jesus Christ three times at his Crucifixion. In John 21, Jesus (in resurrected body) asked Peter this great and terrible question... Do you love me? Peter denied Christ a first time and Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" Peter denied Him a second time and Jesus doesn't scold him, reprimand him, shame him, disgrace him. No, Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" A third time, Peter denied Jesus and still Jesus was not angry, but Jesus knew the rebuke that needed to ring out of Peter's heart. Jesus asked, "Do you love me?"

How many times have I denied you, Jesus!!?!! Seven times seven? Seventy times seven? Seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times... (you get the idea)? Yet, let this rebuke stir my heart. "Do you love me?" Do I love you, Jesus? Do I? With every sin, I think nought... Yet that is exactly the purpose, isn't it? With every temptation you allow, you are asking me, "Do you love me?" "Do you truly love me more than this?" Oh how I love you Jesus!! With all that is in my heart, I love you. My heart is what it's all about, isn't it? You did all this for my heart... for my love... If all you gained from all you suffered was the love of one broken hearted man, you would have suffered it all for me. For me... How... How you love me...

Lord, I ask that this message stir your people... Those who believe they have all the answers, the programs, the workshops, the "How To..." Manuals, yet they do not even know the question You are asking... Do you love me? Let those words ring in our ears and in our hearts, Abba. We love you.

So what is true repentance? Don't ask me, because I really don't know. But I think this may be the way to get there... It sounds so simple and yet it is so complex... It's so great for those who believe and yet so terrible for those who do not know You... The way is simply saying, from now unto eternity, the answer Jesus so longs to hear from His Beloved. Jesus asks the question over and over and over and over again... "Do you love me?" What is the answer? I LOVE YOU.

Every time the question is asked, "Do you love me?", "Do you love me more than this?", what will your answer be?