Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the good news.” Mark 1:14-15.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלוהים) says:
My Son told you to repent. So did John the Baptist. This word is mostly misunderstood, or at least not viewed in the fullest sense, that is, in the way I see it. People see it as regret and sadness over sinning. But “repent” in the original language in the New Testament was written, which is Greek, has nothing about sorrow in it at all. It is the word “metanoeó (μετανοέω),” which means to change one’s mind or purpose. Metanoéō is from metá, “which means “changed after being with” and noiéō, which means “think.” In other words, you “think differently after,” “after a change of mind”; to repent thus means to “think differently afterwards.” It coincides with what My apostle Paul, as inspired by revelation from My Spirit, wrote in his letter to the Romans, that you are not to be conformed to this world (which is negative, fault-finding, fearful, anxious, and greedy) but TRANSFORMED (metamorphoo, like a caterpillar to a butterfly, same word I used when My Son was transfigured (metamorphoo) on the holy mountain before Peter, James, and John) by the RENEWAL of you mind so you may know My good, pleasing and perfect Will. In other words, you change your mind to think like Me. For My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. And My plans for you are shalom and not evil, for an amazing future filled with good things, a life filled with confident hope of good.
Repentance does not bring sorrow and depression over past deeds, it brings the release of all that bound you in a change of mind that frees you to your high calling in Christ. It leaves the old mindset of darkness and sin to fill the mind with thoughts of beauty, salvation and light.
For thus the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing. Isaih 30:15.
The Word in Hebrew, which is the original language in which the Old Testament was written, used there for repent is the word “shuvah,” which is from “shuv (שׁוּב),” which has three meanings that explain each other, repent, return and restore.
Repentance brings a change of mind that releases you from fear and anxiety to return and rest in Me. And it has to changing your mind from carnal thinking to spiritual thinking. The mind set on the flesh is death and agitation, the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.
It is a firm decision to walk in newness of life by leaving old ways of thinking behind that made you sinful and selfish, and generally unhappy, to a new way of seeing things and processing them to the life of the overcomer that makes you rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give constant thanks.
My Son began His mission by calling people to REPENT AND BELIVE IN THE GOOD NEWS. The word translated “gospel” is euaggelion (ὐαγγέλιον), which simply means good news. What good news? My prophet Isaiah had already told you!
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who announces SHALOM and brings good news of happiness (tov, good), who announces salvation (Yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה). Isaiah 52:7.
The good news of salvation, of Yeshuah, which is the Name of Jesus in Hebrew. It simply means “salvation.” And salvation is what you want in every situation. When I came down and fought for My people as they marched out praising Me and releasing My Spirit, I called it seeing My salvation as the enemy went down without them even shooting one arrow or raising a sword. They had raised the Sword of the Spirit.
Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and wrote of Jesus. Just read the next chapter in the Book Isaiah that follows the announcement of good news, Chapter 53, and you will find all the details of the suffering and death of Jesus, and what they did for you in healing you and taking away your sins, and that is good news! And that chapter was penned hundreds of years before the Word became flesh and lived it out in time.
What does it mean to repent and believe in the good news? Remember when My Son began proclaiming this He was speaking to people who believed in Me, were in Covenant with Me through the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants, and knew My Word as written by Moses and the prophets. Simply put, it means to stop believing in the bad news like the Israelites did in the desert and thus never entered into My rest in the land of abundance, and believe in the good news that you find in My Word—in My many magnificent promises signed in My Covenant Name of forgiveness, healing, provision, prosperity, good friends and family surrounding you, days filled with good so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. It is seeing beautiful homes you did not build, vineyards you did not plant, and wells you did not dig as yours by faith. It is seeing a future filled with prosperity, health, life, and blessings instead of a future of lack, sickness, death and doom. And yet if you listen to the words of people’s mouths you will see far more of the later than the former.
False prophets of doom and destruction cause complaining, bitterness, and every evil thing to come out and strangle your growth of increase and your beautiful life of fellowship with Me. And to be near Me is your good. It is Kingdom living even now. Where I am there is the glory of My Kingdom.
STOP COMPLAINING, GRUMBLING, AND SPEAKING BAD NEWS. It will choke out My Word and stunt your growth. It will destroy you and your future. And it can destroy all those around you as well if they follow you, such as your children will do.
Stop proclaiming dire results and airing your grievances and agree with Me for good results so I can do good things in your life. You limit Me when you complain. I cannot increase you. You will lose the little you think you have. Complaining, grumbling, and the like destroy your life. You have got to train your tongue with the help of My Spirit if you want a good life.
YOU MUST REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS. If you want the Kingdom in your life. And the Kingdom is so near to you, why would you neglect so great a salvation?
It is time for you to agree with Me in every situation for a good result no matter how dark the storm is.
And we KNOW that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
Do you talk like you believe that? If not, you are trapped in doubt and unbelief and you will not experience times of refreshing. You will not make it to the Promised Land of abundance that is in My rest for My Covenant people.
Most people see nothing wrong in complaining and being negative about the things in their daily life. But I am telling you now this is deadly, absolutely deadly. It is choosing death over life, and the curse over the blessing. It is believing the bad report that is contrary to My good report. And it puts you into the realm of darkness where there is no peace.
A false witness will perish, but the man who listens to the truth will speak forever. Proverbs 21:28.
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return (shuv, שׁוּב) to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7.
But then what thoughts should you think? My kind of thoughts. Think B.I.G., Beautiful in God. That is faith and faith rejoices, gives thanks, and is glad.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9.
But this is not the end of it, for I have given you My Words and My Spirit. I have put My Words in your mouth and My Spirit in and upon you. You can change your mind. You can train you tongue, for you have a Helper who is with you and in you all the time forever. And He performs My Word as you believe it in your heart and speak it with your mouth. “Light be!”
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return (shuv, שׁוּב) to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace.” Isaiah 55:10-12.
Complaining and grumbling is the low life, the flesh life, devoid of the spirit of faith. And complaining calls in the evil report you fear.
“For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.” Job 3:25-26.
Complaining is unbelief. It is doubting the truth of My Word and My goodness. It is insulting and offensive to Me.
When the Israelites whom I had redeemed from the slavery of Egypt by mighty signs and wonders such as no one had ever seen before or since did nothing but complain and accuse Me of ill will towards them as I led them miraculously by a pillar of cloud filled with fire to the land flowing with abundance that I was about to give them I called that putting Me to the test. They continually questioned My goodness and care when they really had nothing to complain about.
I fed them with bread from heaven falling around their camp every day, I healed them, gave them great riches when they left Egypt, gave them a way to be forgiven and blessed in the sacrifices of the tabernacle, I traveled with them and dwelt among them, I gave them My Word, I protected and provided for them in the dangers of the wilderness, and I guided them right to the land I had promised them from the time of My Covenant with Abraham. And I promised to send My angel with them to take down all their enemies and give them the land along with big beautiful houses filled with treasures which they did not build, vineyards, they did not plant, and wells they did not dig, all for free, just to take by faith.
But they never went in, they stayed in the desert by their own choice. And it grieved Me. They limited Me.
They started off so well with a triumphant song of praise, shouting to Me in joy and sounding their tambourines, at the other side of the Red Sea. But they did not continue to sing the song of Moses. Why? What happened? They never repented. They never changed their way of thinking. They acted just like they had as slaves in Egypt, they constantly cried and complained about their lives. And even when freed, they continued the same. They continued to find fault with everything. They had no taskmasters and no back-breaking labor in the desert as I treated them like royalty, My own special treasure whom I wanted to make My royal priesthood, but they kept saying they wanted to return to Egypt and their fleshpots. They saw slavery as security. Their eyes saw food in Egypt that they did not see in the desert, but they had never had such wonderful provisions as I gave them in the desert—bread from Heaven that was a perfect food, quail flying all around their camp and dropping there for them to gather and eat, and clear, pure water gushing out of dry rocks. And they complained that I would not continue to do it. That they did not care for Manna. But above all, they did not have before the eyes of their hearts the vision of where they were going. They did not believe in the beautiful picture of the land I was shortly giving them as their own where they would be land owners, home owners, wealthy, healthy and blessed with no toil on their part. Pure gift.
With no vision the people are unrestrained. They see no reason to control their flesh, meaning primarily they do not control their mouths.
I want you to take this seriously, repent and believe in the good news I offer you in My Son and proclaim it if you want it. Listen to what I said about the Israelites, who after all the wonders I had shown them and the beautiful way I led them right to the best spot to enter the land I promised them they accused Me of bringing them there to cause them to suffer and die in defeat. Why would bring them out by such great signs and wonders and lead them them with such miraculous provision to bring them there to destroy them? I had promised them victory. But they believed the report of ten men who saw the land was just as I said. I had told them about the giants and the enemy but I had told them I would take care of that, that only had to go in with Me. But they refused. Moses interceded and I forgave them and was good to them, continuing the manna and the water as well as the cloud and the pillar of fire, but I did not let them enter the promised land, for they would have destroyed it with their complaining and unbelief. I gave them what they said, they stated they would rather die in the desert than go into the promised land and die there. So, it grieved Me, it was not My beautiful plan for their life, but they failed the test.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
If you are a constant complainer, guess what you are choosing? Death and not life, cursing and not blessing. Be careful about this. Watch your words. The complaining Israelites chose death over life, and the curse over the blessing, so I had to give them what they chose. I could not trust them with the promised land. They had failed the test. Just as Adam had done years before.
The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected.” Numbers 14:26-31.
Why were Caleb and Joshua, out of more than two million people, the only ones that got to go in and take the promised land? They had a different spirit, they had the spirit of faith. They believed My promises and declared to the people that they were well able with Me to go in and take the land and all the good promises I gave them would prove true. And I called that totally following My Will thought they had not even entered yet. Yes, but do you see? Before Me, they had already received it by faith, it was then just a matter of walking it out. Which they did with Me after the complainers kept them in the desert for another forty years. But they never lost the vision so they never lost the hope. They had renewed their minds to the vision that I had given them. Have you? Do you see yourself healed, prosperous, loved, forgiven, blessed, and favored? You are. And if you agree with Me, it will show up in your words. Like it did with Joshua and Caleb.
And what did Joshua write for you near the end of his life on earth that none of the generation that came out of the slavery of Egypt with him could say except Caleb?
So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and not one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:43-45.
But this did not happen for the complainers. Remember what Elisha told the unbelieving complainer at the onset of the twenty-four hour miracle of provision?
The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 2 Kings 7:2.
Do you notice that the primary complaints of the Israelites in the desert were about what they were going to eat or drink? And yet I provided the food everyday but they kept doubting it would show up, but it did without ceasing for forty years, that is, until they ate the produce of the promised land. And this is still a problem. Jesus even had to address it:
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33.
Stop talking about what you don’t have, what you don’t know, and what you cannot get. Instead talk about what you have, what you know, and all that is yours in Christ Jesus according to My riches in glory. I have given you the Kingdom. Stop persisting in unbelief and believe. Stop complaining and start proclaiming the good news. It will make your bones strong. Get the vision, write it down, and run with it. Otherwise you will be unrestrained in what you say and do.
I am looking for those that will believe My Word, speak it, and do it. Why? So I can perform all My magnificent promises in your life and bless every person on earth through you. Like I did with faithful Abraham. Just one person can change the world into a garden of Eden. Why not you?
I love you. I have told you not to let your heart be troubled or afraid and that means repent and believe in the good news. Do you see that now? Change your mind and be transformed. When you change your mind, it will change your words as well and therein lies the key to all good things. The key of David is praise and worship. And Jesus holds it now. And He is the High Priest of your confession (homologia, which means speaking in agreement with His Words which are Mine).
Stop complaining, it could kill you.