Repentance – Jan 24

Saturday January 24, 2015
Speaker:

David was restored to God when he repented. There always is a consequence for every sin. Christ paid the price for our sin, and if we sin, we should be reminded of that price. What did Jesus begin, end, and preach throughout His ministry? It was repentance- repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. In Luke 24 His last words were repentance and remission of sins should be preached in all nations in His name. God’s perspective of us when we repent and ask for forgiveness is that of joy. He loves when we repent. When your children disobey, do not bless them until they repent. God made provision for sin under the Old Covenant through the priesthood and through atonement (to cover) by animal sacrifice. The sins of the people were only covered, but not removed. All sin needs to be judged. Jesus Christ paid for our redemption, so that now when people repent, there is remission (removal) of sins from their hearts. Then there is reconciliation with God. In other words, it’s redemption, repentance, remission, and reconciliation with God. You are restored to a personal relationship with God. He told us to preach repentance of sins. In Matthew 9:13 He said that He came to call the sinners to repentance. Only one-third to one-half of the pastors believes that the Bible is inspired by God and that it is infallible. People need to hear the truth to even know they need to repent. First John 1:9 tells us to confess our sin. In Luke 15:7, the parable of the lost sheep, God rejoices over one sinner who repents. This should bring us more joy than anything, because this is God’s heart. There has to be repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Do we have a sense of urgency to see people repent? We have access to what Jesus did for us. God wants to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). We have the ministry of reconciliation. Ministry (work, service, calling) is done by us through the word of reconciliation, but first it must be strong in us. Ed Cole in his teaching told of an eight-year old who received a ten-year old’s heart. The younger girl had a dream of the image of the man who killed the older girl that was retained in the heart of the dead child, which was used to arrest the man. We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power to salvation (Romans 1:16). What are you doing with that word of reconciliation? The best thing we can do is fulfill what God has for us to do. The Gospel is good news! Take the Gospel and talk about it with love, so others can hear about God’s goodness. How do you lead people to repentance? Lead people to repentance by exposing them to the goodness of God (Romans 2:4). People need to see the God’s goodness by seeing the goodness of our relationship with God. Romans 10:13-15 says that the Word needs to be preached and shared. Come back to God’s presence. It is the truth that will change peoples’ lives. Sin is ugly and will not go away without repentance. It is easy to submit to love. (Shane shared an experience of this at his job.) Is being right worth compromising the integrity of Christ? (Shane shared how his son asked what sin is and as a result, he received Jesus Christ into his heart.) Small kindnesses open doors to the Gospel. Are you ready to share it? Are you like the ten spies or the two spies? Too often we get our eyes on what we are going through and not on what we are going to. You will have challenges, but God has made a way through it. God promises victory. How would others report on your life? People have the right desires but are looking at the wrong places and ways to get them. God can use you where you are. (Shane told God’s revelation to Shane of his anger at Him after his wife had two miscarriages. At the same time his wife was being ministered to at the Landmark. Three months later she was pregnant. God showed him that it is not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.) We have experiences that hurt, but He shows us the way to victory. People must repent and see the value of a relationship with God and a life overcome by the goodness of God. If you have a lack of appreciation of what God has done for you, go to God and tell Him your heart. He wants to bring restoration and joy to you.

Offering message by Karen Burrows: Malachi 3:10-12 tells us that if we bring in all the tithes into the storehouse, we can prove God that He will 1) open the windows of heaven, 2) pour you out a blessing, and 3) rebuke the devourer for your sake. Both 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 9 build on that. When you give, give to the Father, because every good gift comes from Him.