Repentance

Repentance

Day 1

Repentance-

A turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.

Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Psalms 51:16-17 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

A change of mind. (Genesis 6:6-7)

A feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct. (Matt. 27:3)

Dear Lord, I thank you for this moment. For a chance to learn about turning away from sin and coming back to you. Teach us what a repentant heart looks like, when we need to repent, why repentance pleases you, where we need to focus in our own lives to be delivered from sin, rebellion, and disobedience. Most of all, Lord, teach us how to be repentant when we need to be, take over our hearts and clear our minds so we can listen to you this week. Thank you Lord, Amen.

Day 2

Examples of repentance

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

True repentance is a "godly sorrow" for sin, and act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person's relationship to God.

Two good examples are:

Old Testament- David's Repentance in Psalm 51. He was accused by Nathan, a prophet, for killing Uriah the Hittite and for committing adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife.

Psalms 51:16-17 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

New Testament- John the Baptist and Jesus' teachings in Matthew 3:2, 3:8, 4:17, Mark 1:15, and Luke 3:8.

The message that was preached included repenting because the kingdom is at hand, bearing fruits worthy of repentance, and the good news of salvation.

Day 3

Repentance and Faith

By repentance, one turns away from sin. By faith, one turns towards God in accepting the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you believe there can be repentance without faith or vise-versa?

What does it mean to you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you believe that both repentance and faith are necessary for entrance into the Kingdom? Why or why not?

God wants your whole heart.

Is it possible to live in relationship with God if you do not have a repentant life and heart?

Matthew 18:3-4 Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins (repentance) and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

If Scripture is the ultimate authority for us here on Earth, is it okay to pick and choose which scripture you will believe in? Have you chosen to believe all of the Word, or just the parts that fit into your comfort zone? Is there any part of Scripture that you have disregarded, any sin that you are ignoring, a rebellious attitude you have developed?

I do not want you to feel condemned or judged here. Please understand that it is my duty to share with you the Scriptures that deal with repentance, whether I am comfortable or not. If there is a stirring in your heart, as there was in mine, God may be giving a conviction, wanting to pull you closer to him. Will you listen?

Have you ever been disobedient, sinful, or rebellious to a friend, family member, co-worker? What if, even after knowing what was said or done was wrong, there was no apology, no forgiveness. Would the relationship be the same as before? What if this happened over and over again, with clear acknowledgement of the wrongdoing, but no repentance?

God gives mercy and grace far greater than anyone, but many times we don't treat our relationship with him the same as we would other relationships.

If we are disobedient, sinful or rebellious concerning God, yet continue to expect the same relationship, it would be silly, wouldn't it?

Are there times you have not come to God with a repentant heart, but expected God to answer your prayers and protect you and comfort you?

When was the last time you repented? Have you been taught that it is important or did you think you only needed to do it one time, when you accepted Jesus Christ?

I think we are all guilty of sinning, rebellion, and disobedience. God says that all sin is the same to him. Let's be sure to talk with him about the things we have done in the past. Do what it takes to be in relationship with him. Repent even for the small things. He is our Father, he, too, expects us to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Day 4

What's your perspective?

These days there are many different ways to preach the Gospel. I usually like the Gospel that teaches us to fear our merciful God. I usually like to hear more about the positive, grace giving and merciful parts, but want to learn every thing I can about God. I want to understand him, so I sometimes have to be uncomfortable to make changes in my life. I sometimes have to realize that a past way of thinking may not be compatible with his. This study has stirred up some wiggles, jitters, moments of uncomfortable silence as I pause from fidgeting and typing, to realize that I have to make some changes. I have to get serious here.

There is a lot of scripture to support the need for repentance in our lives.

In Luke 13:3,5, Jesus' message may be viewed as negative or judgemental. The kind of message we tend to read through quickly and move onto the next available warm and fuzzy scripture.

"Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God. ...No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."

Did he say perish?

Many times I get caught up in other peoples lives and forget to look at my own. How about you? It is important that I be concerned for my day of judgment, whether I want to or not, it will come and I will be held accountable. He did say perish, didn't he?

In Luke 15:10, Jesus' message may be viewed as positive and merciful.

"or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin. In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."

I think back to when I became a Christian. All those Angels that had been part of that moment, all the people who prayed for me, all the people that celebrated with me. I was one sinner who repented, I caused joy in the presence of God's angels. Awe, how warm and fuzzy. I wonder what they do now when I let pride get in the way. When I decide it wasn't that bad, it was just a little thing, no need to bother the big guy upstairs?

Dear Lord, I am excited to hear that there was joy when I repented. I am sorry for the other times I did not. I ask that you remind us that we are your special children. That there has been rejoicing in Heaven when we repented and through faith, believed that Jesus Christ died for those very sins that plague the world today. That take over our lives at times. I am sorry that I have lost sight, at times, of the relationship you want to have with me. That you want me to be sorry when I sin, disobey or rebel against your Word. Most of all you want us to come to you with repentance and a willingness to turn from those strongholds and come closer to you. Thank you for your Word, your mercy and grace and your judgement that is right and just.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Note: I'd love to hear your comments so far. Please send me anything you may have to add and a list of names of the people's lives we tend to think more about than our own. I need only first names. Just people who don't have a relationship with God, who have not accepted Jesus Christ, who have accepted, but need to be drawn closer and any other person you can think of, even yourself if you want. I will be fasting for the entire list I compile. If you wish to fast as well, I will send you a list. If you don't receive the daily emails, but are checking out the blog site, you can email womenofworship@gmail.com with any names and request a list to pray for. Don't be selective, I will have plenty of time to pray, I need several names. - Heather

DON'T FORGET TO SEND PRAISES.

Day 5

Praise and Prayer

Here are a few more Scriptures that cover repentance.

Repentance in Prayer

1 Kings 8:44-51- This scripture focuses on a prophecy of Solomon. He prays that the people will repent. Even though they sin and suffer the consequences, there will come a time when they will repent. verse 46 says "when they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin)..." and verse 50 "says and forgive your people who have sinned against you. make their captors merciful to them."

Repentance concerning belief

Mark 1:14-15- Jesus says " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel (or Good News)."

Repentance and baptism

Acts 2:38- Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance and conversion

Acts 3:19-21 Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his prophets.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching that people should turn from their sins. The apostles' message of salvation also included the call to turn from sin - acknowledging personal sin and repenting of it. Many people want the benefits of being identified with Christ without admitting their own disobedience and turning from sin. The key to forgiveness is confessing your sin and turning from it.

Repentance and humility

Matthew 11:21- Talk about a judgement call. Phew, I hope Jesus never says these words to me. 21"What horrors await you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I assure you, Tyre and Sidon will be getter off on the judgement day than you! And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead (Hates). For if the miracles I did for you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today. I assure you, Sodom will be better off on the judgement day than you." Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

Repentance is God's will and pleasure

Luke 15:7-10 (remember the angels, joy and one who repents)

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Repentance is God's command

Mark 6:12, Acts 17:30 Jesus commanded his disciples to preach repentance and they did.

Repentance is a gift of God's sovereign love

Acts 5:31, 11:18, Romans 2:4, 2 Timothy 2:25- because God loves us so much, he made sure to give us a pathway back to him. In scripture it says to repent and turn to God. So we must obey his commands. We must be patient with those who do not understand and with those who have not yet repented. We must be careful so that our actions lead others to God, not away from him.