God Me You

Blue = Hope Advent = Coming… Preparation Repentance

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. II Timothy 2:21

Repentance Confession Personal Change

Luke 15: To illustrate that God loved deeply people who were far from Him, Jesus told this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs.

The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally Came to his senses, he said to himself…”

Repentance = Come to your senses To repent literally means to change the way you think To wake up to the fact that you have been deceiving yourself and that your ideas, attitudes, values, or goals have been wrong.

Notice The Verbs Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.

Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. My thoughts are completely different from yours, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” - Isaiah 55:6-7

Repentance… More than a feeling Shame Regret Sorrow

“I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance… Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” - 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Worldly vs. Godly Sorrow

Repentance Confession Personal Change

Repentance Leads To Confession Seven A’s of Confession (by Ken Sande) Address Everyone involved. Avoid If, But and Maybe Admit Specifically Apologize Accept the Consequences

Repentance Leads To Confession Seven A’s of Confession (by Ken Sande) Alter your Behavior Ask for Forgiveness and Allow Time

Luke 15:18- “I will go home to my father (#1) and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you. (#2) I am no longer worthy if being called your son (#4) Please take me on as a hired man.’” (#5)

Repentance Confession Personal Change

Repentance – Changed Behavior “Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.” Matthew 3:8

Becoming more like Jesus is not optional for a Christian.

“Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love. - Eph. 5:1-2

Meaningful change does not come about simply by avoiding what is wrong. Real change is positive - it requires replacing our sinful behavior with godly habits.

Process Of Replacement Prayer… “I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.” - Philippians 1:9

Process Of Replacement Focusing on the Lord… “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:22

Process Of Replacement Study… “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” - Romans 8:6

Process Of Replacement Practice… “Keep putting into practice all you learned from Me and heard from Me and saw Me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:9