Part 2 of 3: The Goodness of God leads Us

God wants to bring us from our dead works, unto the living works of Christ (A God Understanding). 

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God 

   ~ Hebrews 6:1~

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

   ~ Hebrews 9:14~

The spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the works of the Holy Spirit, works in our conscious world for the redemption of our (soul) body. Without this work and operation of the Spirit,  no transformation is possible.  

The LORD by a prophet Isaiah declares that the Spirit of the LORD will rest upon the  BRANCH from his roots and what are the results of this rest of God?

Isaiah Chapter 11: verses 1-4

1.  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
2.  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 
3.  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 
4.  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

First, The BRANCH becomes quickening of understanding (knowing how to depart from evil) ; judges not by his own eyes (understanding), nor reproves after what he hears, rather perceives. 

Second, now the BRANCH can now judge the poor (those without understanding) with righteousness as he hears the message from the LORD, as the Spirit is now discerning; uses equity (balanced) in reproving. Is now able to smite the earth with the rod (of correction) of his mouth (his parables), and with the air/breath of the Holy Spirit, he slays the wicked (wickedness is no longer empowered). 

The work of John within is calling out to Repent!  Turning from our own wisdom, our own understanding and from the thoughts of foolishness (sin).  

The Angel Gabriel speaks of John’s purpose.

Found in the gospel of Luke:

Luke chapter 1 verses 5-20

5.  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 
6.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 
7.  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 
8.  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 
9.  According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 
10.  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 
11.  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 
12.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 
13.  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 
14.  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 
15.  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 
16.  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 
17.  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 
18.  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 
19.  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 
20.  And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Repentance is the act of turning. No turning without the spirit of Goodness (it is the Spirit of Elijah), being baptized into the teaching (water) of John. 

Repentance causes us to return unto the LORD. 

The spirit of Elijah is still preaching… which prepares the way of the LORD. 

Matthew chapter 3 verses 1-12

1.  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 
2.  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
3.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

4.  And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 
5.  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 
6.  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 
7.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
8.  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 
9.  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
10.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
11.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 
12.  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

It’s because God first loved us that love and grace (goodness of God) guides us thru repentance. We know that we’re turning towards God, God’s desire and God’s will.  As we’re turning from our own imaginations, our thoughts and our wills. 

Return to the LORD.

Isaiah chapter 55: 6 – 13

6.  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 
7.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
8.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 
9.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
10.  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 
11.  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 
12.  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 
13.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.