SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:11, Luke 18:1-8

The sixth fruit of true repentance is “zeal” that comes from the Greek word dzay-los. Dzay-los means ‘to ferment until there is an explosion.’ When Romans says “…The love of God was shed abroad in our hearts…,” the word that is used there is ‘poured out’ or “shed abroad,” and comes from the Greek word dzay-los/‘a fermentation until there is an explosion.’ True repentance brings an explosion in a person’s life and a determination that they are going to have God and complete victory. The seventh and final fruit of true repentance in the New King James is “vindication” or ek-dik-ay-sis. Ek-dik-ay-sis means ‘an act of retributive justice.’ It is the key to prayer in Luke 18:1-8. The stunning thing about true repentance is that it is the thing that ultimately qualifies us to pray judgment over what once captured us. This brings a person full circle. What it demonstrates is that when Jesus delivers us, He turns what was a previous failure into a platform for our future success in ministry. If you were a woman who once had an abortion, true repentance means that you are now the very one who can pray God’s judgment over the politicians who are promoting it. God will hear you! True repentance ends in a judicial victory when we are the ones that ask for God’s judgment over the very issues and things that we once violated. It is amazing to consider that God is so redemptive that at the end of true repentance, those who were felons get to determine the judgment on the felony. True repentance qualifies us as to judge our own crimes. Who is a God like ours? Who can touch the Creator of the heavens and the earth? This is our Redeemer! This is the Creator that you and I serve! At the end of the cycle of true repentance, He qualifies us to judge the very area that once captured us. That means that you and I, when we say we do not feel worthy to judge an issue, what we are really admitting is that we have some areas in our lives where we have not come fully through all the steps of true repentance. The only reason that a believer cannot walk with Jesus the Judge is that we still have some areas where we have not finished the process. The fruit of true repentance is that we get to pray judicial prayers. Isn’t it time to pray some judicial prayers? If there is any unfinished business, let us finish it. Nations hang in the balance!