Power in Repentance (2)
Living In Power • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Power in Repentance
Power in Repentance
Thoughts:
Recap - We have been going through this amazing series on Living in Power. Living in Power is something:
We do through the Holy Spirit
About changing our mindset
Fence Analogy/ Pretend Story
A family with young kids put a fence around the front of their house where their kids play.
A neighbor came over and talked to the kids through the fence.
“you are so sad!” they said. “you are cooped up like chickens”
“Don’t you know your parents are just trying to hold you back?”
The kids listened to the neighbor’s words.
The dad came out to the front yard and the kids came with their questions.
“Dad, why did you and mom put this fence up?”
“The neighbor says you are keeping us back and don’t want us to experience freedom”
The dad, recognizing the real issue sat down to explain:
“Kids, I love you very much! The street has cars that cannot see little ones playing.
Our yard is a great place to play and I want you to enjoy the full space we have here.
I put up the fence so you can enjoy the whole yard without fear of falling into the street and getting hit by a car.
What the neighbor sees as limitation, is really freedom to enjoy all that is good.
After their conversation, the kids went back to playing their games with the security of their Father who saw what they could not, and who lovingly placed fences
What is Repentance?
What is Repentance?
Repentance is defined as the act or process of changing one’s mind, or turning the course of one’s life (especially toward God).
The word simply means to turn, or change one’s mind.
In our story, repentance is recognizing we have crossed the fence, and turning around back into the safety of what God declared was good.
In the context of the Bible, when it comes to people, the change is for the better and is a conscious turning from
Evil, or Disobedience, or Sin, or Idolatry
to the Living God. (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary pg 1223)
You turn from one direction, and go another - God’s
Jesus taught repentance: Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
That was not to say that judgement was at hand, rather that Jesus came to reunite us with the Kingdom, the rule and reign, of heaven.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
What is the purpose of Repentance?
What is the purpose of Repentance?
31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Just as the sick need a doctor, we need a savior!
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
What keeps us from Repentance?
What keeps us from Repentance?
Pride/ Selfishness
Fear/ Doubt
Ignorance
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Power in Repentance
Power in Repentance
God places conditions and blessings and promises. Here is one I would like us to consider deeply.
In the Old Testament, the people of God had abandoned their love for God.
When King Solomon built the temple, He called all the people to the biggest worship event ever!
They called a fast, and repented of their sin. They dedicated the temple and invited God’s presence to dwell there.
What we see in this next verse is God’s response to
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Process of Repentance:
Confess with your mouth
Believe in your heart
Live out the confession and belief
