Embracing True Repentance: Breaking Away from Deception and Empty Religion By: Major. Frank Materu
Key Verse:
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19
The Failure of False Stewardship
In the past, many who claimed to follow God proved to be poor stewards, focusing more on self-indulgence than on fulfilling God’s purpose.
God calls His people to be faithful and wise stewards, yet, driven by prosperity, many have missed the heart of true faith.
The result is a misconception that following God guarantees constant prosperity, which has misled many into complacency and spiritual ruin.
The Call to a Repentance Revolution
God’s foundational call is for repentance.
This "Repentance Revolution" is the path that brings people into genuine communion with Him.
To walk in Him, to be saved, and to be kept by Him requires a constant return to true repentance—a wholehearted turning away from sin and the emptiness of the world.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
Recognizing and Rejecting Hypocrisy
Many today are content with outward appearances, but they fail to seek true change within. God sees through pretense;
He despises hypocrisy and the superficial projection of faith that lacks genuine transformation.
A life that only projects faith outwardly is a life in deception, a mirror of darkness rather than the light of God.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Adjusting Our Hearts and Minds to Please Him
To truly serve God, we must adjust our thinking and align our hearts with His will.
He delights in those who open themselves to His correction, who pursue His truth, and who seek His light.
Any person who refuses this adjustment will find themselves on a path leading away from Him.
The Trap of Empty Religion
Religion, when separated from God’s truth, becomes a powerful deception. It draws many into a false sense of security and spirituality.
Empty religion is a counterfeit that pulls people far from God, promising righteousness yet keeping them bound in spiritual complacency.
We are called to reject this trap and seek a sincere, repentant relationship with God.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:8
Conclusion: Answering God’s Call to Repentance and True Devotion
God calls each of us to forsake superficial religion and embrace genuine repentance.
True faithfulness requires ongoing humility, accountability, and a commitment to walk in His light.
Let us rise up in this Repentance Revolution, set our faces toward Him, and walk faithfully as His people, rooted in repentance and upheld by His grace.
