Foundational Transition from Coronavirus and Lawlessness
The Necessity of Repentances
There are conflicting statements being made over a prophecy spoken by pastor/evangelist David Wilkerson, of which has not been confirmed by Times Square Church, the church he founded in 1987. They cannot confirm nor will they say that Mr. Wilkerson did not say, “I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will be shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayer-less believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.”
What we do know is that a pestilence of modern times has had its negative effects in many parts of the world. What we know Biblically, is that pestilence is warned of / or mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. (Leviticus 26:16; 25; Matthew 24:1-7, Mark 13:1-8; Luke 21:5-11 and many other Scriptures)
We are also seeing lawlessness as another disruption arising around the world of which is warned about in the New Testament. (Matthew 24:12; 1 Peter 4:3) In the Book of Romans mankind is consider to have been or is enslaved to lawlessness. (Romans 6:19) It is crazy how fast mankind can embrace lawlessness and justify it. It is all over the news all around the world in these days.
Many ministries and churches have successfully used the crises we are experiencing to cause people to consider the value of church. Many churches have seen a 44% increase of interest in their work for the Lord, especially as they have embraced the internet outreaches. It is good that churches operating in the new normal have presented the love of God, the goodness of God and pointed people to Jesus Christ. However, there is a foundational truth which is essential for a transitional lifestyle, one which pleases God so we may enjoy His intercession for the church, this country and the cause of Christ around the world.
Let us just consider at the very least, through all the messages Pastor David Wilkerson has preached over the years, he most certainly has in some way warned of God’s judgement and taught what is needed to walk in God’s favor. Before we can enjoy God’s intercession there is a Biblical truth presented in the statement he has supposedly said, “and repentance will be the cry from the man of God from the pulpit.” Except for a few ministries, most churches are not pointing people to the necessity of the fruit of repentance before we can see the hand of God restore America to what this country once was.
What the Bible does say is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) In Luke 24:47 we read, “and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations.” The Apostle Paul writes, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) The Apostle Peter teaches us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
In Scripture, repentance is a turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is a change of mind, a forsaking of sin. It is putting sin out of one’s thoughts and behavior. The New International Dictionary of the Bible gives this definition. “Repentance (µet????a metánoia) is a profound change of mind involving the changing of the direction of life from that of self-centeredness or sin-centeredness to God or Christ-centeredness. God’s forgiveness is available only to those who are repentant, for only they can receive it.” This change of mind is from evil to good and from good to better. (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.) Jesus began His ministry by preaching repentance. (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3, 5; 15:7).
Evidence of Salvation
There are many evidences which prove someone has entered into a relationship with Christ and is now living in a healthy fear of God and walking in step with the Holy Spirit. Faith, obedience and repentance are three sure indicators.
The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church in Colosse was, “…That [they] live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (1 Colossians 1:10)
John the Baptist told those who were coming out to be baptized, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…” (Luke 3:8) The apostle Paul was obedient to his vision given to him by God. He told the people to “…prove their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts 26:20) Jesus said He came to call “…sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)
Those who find rest in Christ are those who see sin to be what the Lord hates. They see sin as that which only defiles and brings to ruin everything in their lives, and they see it as the catalyst which destroys communion with God. They are weary of service to the world, the flesh and the devil.
Walter B. Knight wrote about a Christian worker who was talking to a man about salvation. He ask the man if he believed John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Then the Christian asked the man if he believed 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The man replied, “I believe those verses.” The Christian said, “Well, then you are saved.” The man then replied, “No, I am not! There is sin within my own heart and mind. I am hugging on to it and I am not willing to give it up. My common sense tells me that I must repent, and utterly forsake it. I have got to stop going my own way and desire to follow God’s way.”
The Christian then turned the man to Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the evil man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, for He will freely pardon.”
There are three types of people in this world: 1.) Those who do not understand repentance. 2.) Those who understand repentance yet will not forsake their sin, and 3.) Those who have through repentance accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. They enjoy freedom from the bondage of those sins that desire to destroy them and their relationship with Christ. They live a life worthy of the Gospel they preach.
Which type of person are we? The Bible tells us we are to “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8) Mason wrote, “If we put off repentance another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in.” Quarles wrote, “He that hath promised pardon on our repentance hat not promised life till we repent.” Fuller wrote, “You cannot repent too soon, because you know not how soon it may be too late.” A Japanese Proverb goes like this, “Forgiving the unrepentant is like drawing pictures on water.”
America cannot expect God’s protection, provision and guidance as long as Americans call evil good and call good evil. Americans cannot embrace and promote what breaks God’s heart, shed innocent blood, and change His precepts to please the lawless. The Church needs to repentant so God can heal them of the spiritual cancers of denominationalism, traditionalism, legalism and faddism.
America once again needs the gift of an Apostle and Prophet to admonish her, much like Pastor Joe Wright did when he offered a Prayer of Repentance to the Kansas House of Representatives in January 1996. This prayer of repentance had an unprecedented tow readings on Paul Harvey’s ABC Radio Newscast which up to that date had received the highest response of anything he had aired on his, “The Rest of the Story” broadcast. (Faith and Culter, Sasar Kodie Ministries, June 7, 2020)
Pastor Joe Wright’s prayer is the outcry the man of God should be proclaiming today in hope to bring a true repentance in the church, state, nation and among Americans:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Repentance is the outcry which needs to be proclaimed from the pulpit, news papers, TV, radio and internet – Then we can expect a change - a change to once again being a nation under God.
