Saturday, October 26, 2019

A KINGDOM OF REPENTANCE


A KINGDOM OF REPENTANCE

CONNECT The story of Nineveh…

TENSION A common thread…

Matthew 3:2 (NKJV) and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 6:12 (NKJV) So they went out and preached that people should repent.

Luke 24:46–47 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV) 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,

Acts 26:19–20 (NKJV) “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

SOLUTION As we saw last week, we have been given the keys to the Kingdom of God.  This is the first key: repentance.  If we want to live in the Kingdom of God, we must live a repentant life!

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17 (NKJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.

Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

INSTRUCTION What is repentance? It is a change of direction, an 1800 turn, an “about face” … We were going one way in life and now we made a decision to go another way.  We were running away from God and now we are running towards God! We have come out of the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of Light!

Acts 26:18 (NKJV) (I am sending you) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

What is the attitude of repentance? Humility…

Luke 18:10–14 (NLT) “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

How does repentance happen?

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 (NKJV) For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Confrontation
Conviction
Contrition
Confession
Conversion
        
We can see this illustrated in the very first sermon preached in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:36–41 (NKJV) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Why doesn’t change come?

I am sure that many of us have had similar experiences.  We know that something in our life is not right.  We are confronted by truth; we are convicted by the Holy Spirit; we are sorry for our actions, but lasting change doesn’t come.  Why doesn’t change come?  Let me give us some possible reasons.

We have an open door to the enemy.
We have eclairs in our refrigerator.
We have incomplete obedience.
We have not made adequate restitution.
We have not been completely honest with God and with others.

APPLICATION How do we live a lifestyle of complete repentance?

Live in complete openness to God and others.

Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV) Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; 24 and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Keep short lists with God and others.

Psalm 51:1–3 (NKJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Matthew 5:23–24 (NKJV) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Practical suggestion: When God convicts you, say, “Yes, Lord” right then; don’t try to justify yourself and excuse yourself.

Some cautions to watch for…

Don’t confuse conviction with condemnation.
The circle of confession is only as large as the circle of offense.
Don’t confess sin publicly unless absolutely necessary for restoration.

INSPIRATION Repentance has always been a part of revival

INVITATION The Lord is waiting on us today.  He is not in a hurry to cast us off or send us to hell…

Romans 2:4 (NKJV) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?


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

ILLUSTRATION The prodigal son…




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