Acts 2:38-39: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: When I begin to read the Book of Acts, I marvel at the display of the Power of God working through the early church. The Day of Pentecost is filled with such wonderful signs and reminders of this power.

• The rushing mighty wind.
• The tongues of fire above each person’s head.
• The gift of tongues given to each person as they began proclaiming the wonderful works of God in languages they did not know, but were recognized by those who had gathered for the festival.
• The anointing upon Peter, who just a few short weeks ago had shrunk from his place of leadership, denying Jesus, and doubting his calling.
• The power of the Word of God as it was preached to a multitude, and the joy of seeing 3000 believe and be baptized.
• The dynamic power of this new community of faith as they continued to worship God and sacrificially give to support each other’s needs.
• The Lord continuing to pour out His mercy and grace and adding many more to this growing new church.

These are things to marvel at and to celebrate. If they happened today in any local Church, they would make the headlines. Books would be written. Television interviews would take place. New denominations would be formed.

This is what has happened in the history of the church and, no doubt, will happen again, to some extent. The Methodist revival gave birth to the Methodist church. The Azusa Street Revival gave birth to the modern Pentecostal movement and denominations. The Jesus Movement gave birth to the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard churches. And, the list could go on and on.

Yet, in the annals of all of these great outbreaks of faith, there is also the story of those who have forgotten their roots. They have reveled in the power but forgotten the pathway that led to the power of the Holy Spirit moving in their midst. The rushing mighty wind, the tongues of fire, the power of the Holy Spirit, all began with one important step. This is a step that precedes faith, salvation, and empowerment. Without it, nothing happens.

This step is REPENTANCE.

Repentance opens the door to faith. We cannot believe in Jesus, follow Him in baptism, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, unless we repent. We must turn from our sin and the idols in our lives and turn toward the living God. This is the answer that Peter gave to those who cried out,

“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter proclaimed,

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This was not just the answer for the 3000 who responded on that historic day. It was not just the answer for the early church. It was not just the answer for those who responded in past revivals. It is the response for…

“…You and…your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

If God is still calling today, the answer is still the same – REPENT! I need to repent before I approach God. I need to repent before I open His Word. I need to repent before I begin each day. I need to live in a posture of repentance in all that I do. It is only as I turn my life, in humility and repentance, toward God that I am positioned to be filled with His power from on high.

I don’t need to be saved over and over again. But I do need to repent over and over again. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that everything is moving from order to disorder. This includes my life and my heart. Repentance is the answer to a heart that grows cold, a mind that wanders, and a devotion toward God that becomes divided.

To repent is to stay on fire for the call and purposes of God in my life.

Revelation 3:19-21: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” NKJV

Heavenly Father, Precious Lord Jesus, Blessed Holy Spirit, I acknowledge my sin and my need for You today. I humble myself and repent. I turn from all that is not of You and ask You to wash me and make me new. Create in me a clean heart. Renew within me a right Spirit. Fill me anew with the Holy Spirit. Grant me the grace to live in the fullness of Your love and the power of Your Spirit.

Psalms 51:10-13: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” NKJV

Repentance – Always comes before Power!

In Jesus’ Name!