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Repentance check #1- Is the equipment plugged in?

Mat 19:16 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him,... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him... All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE POOR, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

But- money isn't the only thing in this world that people often consider themselves to be rich in...

Mat 5:3 "Blessed are THE POOR IN SPIRIT: for THEIRS is the kingdom of heaven... 6 Blessed are they which do HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: for they shall be filled."

Therefore, one of the first things that you need to ask yourself is- What have I heard from God's voice, that I am not being obedient to? What part of my life do I consider to be too valuable to sacrifice in order to find God?

Chances are it ISN'T that Jesus has asked you to go and sell all your natural belongings and go follow Him. Not impossible, just not very likely. But what you need to do is to be HONEST WITH YOURSELF! Are you feeling so spiritually rich within yourself that you feel you DESERVE to have God come and visit you in confirmation of His glory? If so, then you are not POOR IN SPIRIT.

Luk 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

I've heard people say that I can't prove to them that God exists.

But that's not true. I can. Rather, He can.

The question is- Are you willing to pay the price?

If I was willing to show you how to make a goose lay golden eggs for you, if you paid me $100,000.00, would you do it? Probably not. Because, you would reason, that's a lot of money! But what if I told you that I can show you how to make that same goose lay golden eggs for you if you pay me one thin dime. Would you do it then? Probably. After all, just the novelty would be worth risking the dime, which is practically nothing.

In the first case, you wouldn't gamble because the value of what you stood to lose would be to great a risk. In the second example, the risk was what was of little if any value in comparison.

Now let's use these examples using our personal thoughts and opinions of how things should be as our "riches".

If I tell you that I can introduce you personally to Jesus, and all it will cost you is your preconceived notions of who you have been, who you now consider God is, and that you'll personally meet God in Spirit and in truth, and you'll never be the same again- would you do it?

Not if you consider your opinions, perceptions, and preconceived notions to be more valuable than the risk.

But what if I pointed out to you that there are at least as many or more of these personal opinions, and belief systems out there than there are people, and that you can claim any one of them, or even a new one, for your very own for nothing, but neither are they much worth to you, nor are they to anybody else- NOW how valuable do your personal opinions appear to be worth in the gamble? It's NO gamble either way- UNLESS it's true! If I'm wrong you've lost little or nothing but your pride for a moment, but if I'm telling you the truth, you'd be absolutely foolish not to consider it!

Mat 16:25 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

So, how do I propose to prove to you that God exists?

We have an altar at our church, at which many a soul has had proven to them the glory and mercy and presence of God. I cannot put the power of that statement into strong enough words. I know there are other altars all over the world- but NOT so many that I personally can testify to. This one I can. It all depends on the cost of the risk versus the gain to you personally. I don't personally know that God is calling you to the same church I attend, but I can tell you this- God will call you OUT from somewhere or something (from across continents, or just down the block or even just from off of a barstool), and TO somewhere AND something- His Peace, and His joy and His righteousness.

Heb 11:8 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

Rom 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, BUT WHO ALSO WALK IN THE STEPS OF THAT FAITH OF OUR FATHER ABRAHAM, WHICH HE HAD BEING YET UNCIRCUMCISED."

Gal 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."

I know of people who have left Illinois, California, Mexico, all over to come to our church in Alaska and receive the Holy Ghost from God. But I've heard of people being called to Illinois from Alaska (even just recently) to receive it also.

All I know is- it's God that sets the members in the body- both to preach, and to be preached to. But it's up to us, personally, to respond to His call.

Mar 10:29 "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."

Luk 14:26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple... 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that FORSAKETH NOT all that he hath, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE."

To continue with the discussion on repentance.