Developing
A Lifestyle of Repentance
I pray that each one us here
today has a strong desire to
Press Forward
in the Purposes of God
in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 3:12-14
12Not that I have already attained, or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I
may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do
not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, 14 I press
toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul states…
I press on…
reaching forward to those things
which are ahead…
I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.
Usually,
if I was going to encourage you
in going forward in
the purposes of God in Christ Jesus,
I would be preaching
a sermon on developing
“A Spiritual Warfare Lifestyle.”
A Spiritual Warfare Lifestyle:
Key Things to Consider would be:
What time to you go to bed?
What time do you get up?
When do you have your “God-time”?
What is your commitment to reading
& studying God’s Word?
What is your commitment to prayer?
Where is God calling you to minister
and/or to serve?
A Spiritual Warfare Lifestyle:
Key Things to Consider would be:
How are you guarding your heart and
your mind?
Are there strongholds which need to be
addressed in your heart, your mind
and/or your life?
Are you growing in your ability to
discern the promptings, leadings
and callings of God for your life?
A Spiritual Warfare Lifestyle:
Key Things to Consider would be:
Do you know what your current
“spiritual growth points” are?
Are you involved in a mentoring &
accountability relationship(s) which
addresses these issues on a regular
basis?
Yet in recent days,
God has been speaking to my heart
and showing me the importance,
I would dare say,
the necessity, of developing
“A Lifestyle of Repentance.”
(Selah)
Repentance:
“Turning away from sin
and turning to God
and the purposes of His heart!”
Repentance:
This turning away from sin
and turning to God
and the purposes of His heart
involves not just our actions,
but also our hearts and our minds!
Repentance
is a VERY IMPORTANT concept
for us as Christians!
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began
to preach and to say, “Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Acts 2:37-38
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.”
Repentance is our first step when
we believe the Gospel of Jesus!
Prior to conversion,
our hearts and our minds are carnal
and depraved
and cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
5
For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be
carnally minded is death, but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God; for it is not subject to the law
of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those
who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The carnal mind is focused on self
and the things of this world.
The carnal mind is in a bondage
which it cannot escape.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18
14
But their minds were blinded. For
until this day the same veil remains
unlifted in the reading of the Old
Testament, because the veil is taken away
in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when
Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the
Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18
17
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding
as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of
the Lord.
When we turn/repent
and turn to Christ in faith,
the veil is lifted and we are enabled
by the blood of Jesus and the power
of the Holy Spirit
to fix our spiritual eyes upon Jesus
and to live according to the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 This I say, therefore, and testify
in the Lord, that you should no
longer walk as the rest of the
Gentiles walk, in the futility of their
mind, 18 having their understanding
darkened, being alienated from the
life of God, because of the ignorance
that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:17-24
19 who, being past feeling, have
given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with
greediness. 20 But you have not so
learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have
heard Him and have been taught by
Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephesians 4:17-24
22 that you put off, concerning your
former conduct, the old man which
grows corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind, 24 and that
you put on the new man which was
created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness.
“Be renewed in the spirit of your
mind.”
Repentance involves changing
the way we think.
Romans 12:1-2
1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
to God, which is your reasonable service.
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.
Repentance involves changing the
way we think, day in and day out.
This, in turn, affects the focus
and direction/trajectory of our lives.
Developing
A Lifestyle of Repentance
Psalm 139:23-24
23 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.
Father God,
Break my heart with the things
which break Yours!
In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul states…
I press on…
reaching forward to those things
which are ahead…
I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.
Acts 3:19-20
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, 20 and that He
may send Jesus Christ, who was
preached to you before…