TWO KEYS TO SUCCESS
If I told you that you could succeed in your relationship, finances, health, career, wouldn't that be exciting news? The message I have for you comes directly from the heart of God; He has given two keys to success for you to defeat failure and enter into abundant blessing. Repentance and belief are two very powerful concepts that can transform your walk with the Lord.
Repentance brings you into faith and new areas of relationship with God. There's a personal testimony I want to share with you regarding repentance. Some time ago, God dealt with me about being judgmental. He showed me situations where I had passed judgment. I repented, and when I did, I had a breakthrough of blessing.
Shortly after this incident, someone felt led to send our ministry a check. Not long afterwards, a ministry decided to support our overseas crusades financially. When you walk in obedience, God opens avenues for Him to work wonders in your life so that you can flow in greater faith and victory.
Scripture says that Jesus began His ministry by preaching a simple message. What was that message? Repent and believe (Mark 1:15). The last thing He told His disciples before returning to heaven is found in Luke 24:47; He ended his earthly ministry as he began it, saying, Repent and believe. Repentance must be followed by belief. If you only receive forgiveness of sins and don't believe God for anything else, you hinder the riches that He wants to give you. However, if you try to believe God for something without repentance, your believing will be in vain.
Repentance is one of the most significant ideas in the Bible. Repent means to "turn around".
Esau is a prime example of what repentance is not. Esau gave his inheritance to Jacob, his brother, for a bowl of soup. He regretted losing the blessing. However, regret and repentance are not the same. After Esau sold his birthright, he was still the same person. He was sorry for what he had done, but there was no inward change. Repentance will make you whole and affect your spirit, soul, and body. When you repent it can change your finances, relationships, or marriage.
If you repent, there will be substance to your repentance. You won't have to tell everyone you've repented; they'll be able to tell by your lifestyle. There will be a positive outward transformation. Ahab was confronted about his sin by Elijah. He knew that he had offended God, and he tore his robe. However, he continued to commit the same sins over and over. He tore his robe, but he didn't tear his heart. His repentance was not real.
Humility is also a part of repentance. When you repent, you may have to say, "I'm sorry." Perhaps you'll have to apologize to your children, husband, wife, someone at church, or co-workers. That can be a very humbling experience.
What is the source of repentance? It is the goodness of God. Repentance is a gift of God to give you a breakthrough into the faith realm. The prodigal son ran away from home, spent all of his inheritance, and had to feed pigs in order to get enough food to eat and to stay alive. He came to his senses and returned home, ready to become a servant in his father's house. Did his father beat him when he saw him? No! His father prepared a party for him to show how much he loved him. God is waiting for you to return to Him; when you do, He will prove His goodness to you.
Who is supposed to repent and believe? Acts 17:30, says that God has called all people to repent. Sinners need to repent to be saved from hell and to go to heaven. Do the children of God need to repent? Yes! How often do you have to repent? You may have to repent every day-possibly even every hour! Repentance will uproot the cause of sin and bring fruit into your life.
No one wakes up in the morning expecting to fail. God created us in His image-and he surely is not failure! He expects us to succeed. Did you ever struggle with your faith? Have you prayed many times for something, but haven't received an answer? The problem may be that you are continuing to repent of something that's already forgiven. If that's the case, go on in your faith. Get out of the rut of unbelief and accept the good things that God has for you.
By: Marilyn Hickey