The start of repentance involves godly sorrow or tears, but to fully achieve repentance, we must also perform deeds.

The start of repentance involves godly sorrow or tears, but to fully achieve repentance, we must also perform deeds.

Repentance Rev 2:1-7

Introduction:

1.      In this lesson I want to talk about repentance. You may be wondering why do we need to hear about repentance? To answer that question we need to give a few seconds to think about the ruts we have found ourselves in. Sometimes it seems as if we are never going to be able to cross the river of our aching sins

2.      Our nagging sins or sinful behavior can drive us far away from God and His Son’s side. Most of us when we realize we have sinned we ask God to forgive us and continue on our path of faith. However how many of us actually try to break the habit. When I say habit, I mean simply this: in certain circumstances we always fall victim to our old pattern of behavior.

3.      I want to talk about what repentance is, what it is not, and try to give some helps on repenting.

I.                    What repentance is:

A.    True definition of repentance

1.      Definition of Repentance: making our wrong ways turn into the right ways

a.       Vines Expository defines it this way: to perceive afterwards, in contrast to perceiving beforehand hence signifies to change ones mind or purpose always in the NT involving a change for the better an amendment

b.      Webster: to turn from sin and resolve to reform ones life

c.       Ben’s definition: To make our once crooked paths straight

2.      Repentance is hard

a.       Repentance is not usually easy. If it were easy then we all would not have bad habits.

b.      Repentance is destroying or old habits, that we no longer want to do

c.       Repentance takes time, effort, forward thinking, and energy

3.      Repentance is a sacrifice of selfish desires

a.       Repentance is losing our desires in order to please God, wife, or anyone else

b.      True repentance is done in order to please the God of Heaven and earth

c.       It is saying I will no longer do this behavior anymore for the rest of my entire life, just to please you God.

B.     Most people’s definition of repentance

1.      The Shedding of Guilt

a.       Most of us when we are cut to the heart feel saddened by hurting God

b.      That makes us want to say God I will try not to do it again. However deep down we know we will do it again if the conditions and circumstances are right

c.       Many times we ask God to forgive but do nothing in order to change, they say I’ll try but really never do try, because trying involves effort.

2.      They will not prevent the circumstances again (Mat 5:29-30)

a.       The drug addict that runs out of money has to change his behavior because he has no way of getting anymore drugs. However that does not mean that he has changed.

b.      How many times have you said, “I always do this”? or asked God, “why do I always do that”

c.       This is what I am talking about. It takes effort to overcome our pattern of behavior.

3.      The Mental ascent without action

a.       Have you ever said to yourself, I was working on that but now I have to start over?

b.      Most of us want to change from doing the behavior we do not like.

c.       Many of us do not want to change the behavior we like.

d.      We people are miserable in our own heart of hearts. We want others to never sin but we accept our limitations that we just can not overcome some things. We give up.

e.       We have to never give up and realize we have help from above

C.     Repentance is a heart condition

1.      Change in heart

a.       Our hearts can also be called our conscience. All of us sleep better if we have not offended our conscience or if we have not done anything wrong.

b.      We have to have knowledge of what is right according to God

c.       That knowledge of breaking God’s heart will cause us to want to change

d.      Most people in a rut do not care or have become apathetic towards Holy living

e.       We do not want to hurt God and want to avoid guilt. This is called a change of heart

2.      Change in mind

a.       Then the decision has to be made to put aside or turn away from the behavior that causes God to cry

b.      Sometimes decisions like these are hard. People have been living in certain behaviors for many years and have in some way made it okay to do.

c.       We have to make the decision to never sin against God, and this is called a change of mind. We determine we are not going to do it again.

3.      Change in direction

a.       We have to carry this change of heart, and change of mind into our daily living

b.      Many of us stop right here in our forms of repentance. We do not like the guilt of wronging God, but we never make plans to change our mind, heart, and actions.

c.       We have to make plans to change our heart condition, or our mind, and carry it out. This is called a change in direction

II.                 What repentance is not:

A.    It is not Wordily Sorrow 2 Cor 7:8-10

1.      Wordily sorrow 2 Cor 7:8-10

a.       In order to have a change in heart we have to feel sorry. We have to be made to want to change. There are two kinds of change: worldly and Godly

b.      When the habitual liar gets caught in a lie, then he is sorry because he has been found out. Like wise when the criminal is caught doing crime he is sorry because he will see the inside of a jail cell. This is called worldly sorrow. These are not sorry for what they did, they are sorry for being caught.

2.      Godly Sorrow involves the right Heart-I-Tude or attitude of the heart

a.       When I understand that something I have done is wrong, and it makes me want to make it right, then that is called Godly sorrow.

b.      In order to please God we have to have hearts that beat with Godly sorrow.

c.       We need to cultivate the right heartitude so we can easily change in order to please God

d.      A person with the right heart, needs only the knowledge that a certain behavior is wrong in order to cause them to change it.

B.     It is not sociably acceptable (Mat 7:13-14)

1.      We are to be people of the high road

a.       Mat 7:13-14 KJV  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

b.      We are to live according to a higher standard than that of our neighbors

c.       We are to avoid certain behaviors and actions and if we have committed them, then we need to confess them so that others know we have sinned and changed.

d.      Why confess to others, so they will have a reference point to say they have change and to no longer judge me by my past but remember it no more like our Father in Heaven

2.      Sometimes we have to have a backbone the size of a 2 x 4

a.       We as Christians have to have a backbone to take a stand against the flow of the world.

b.      We are the people that resist the sins of the world and not go with the flow.

C.     It is not good intentions

1.      Most people intend to do good but seldom ever do

a.       I have heard it said that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions

b.      Intentions are not actions. We truly do not believe something unless we act on it.

c.       If I believe that Jesus is my savior then I have to ask Him to save me by obeying the Gospel

d.      If I do not believe that Jesus is the Savior then why be baptized?

e.       We have to do more than intend on doing right we have to carry it out

2.      Many never even intend on doing good except when others are watching

a.       It has been said that the character of a man is determined by what he does when no one is looking.

b.      Many of us will do things to please other humans like our mom or dads but when they are not near then we do as we please. This is the problem I am speaking of here.

c.       We have to live in the presence of God or realize that God hears our words, actions, and even our thoughts.

III.              Practical advice and helpful hints

A.    Set the goal of overcoming the behavior

1.      We have to setup our intentions into a formidable plan

a.       We have to realize there is a problem and decide to fix it

b.      We have to think of ways or ask for help to overcome it

c.       We have to want to achieve the shedding of it more than the doing of it

2.      Some write out their goals so they are accountable

a.       It is like a budget for your home or business. We have to have written plan in order to hold ourselves accountable to it.

b.      The written budget causes us to make our money work for us, the written goals helps us to focus and maintain our direction in keeping with God’s standard.

B.     Work on just that goal until it is reached

1.      We have to be realistic in our pursuit of excellence

a.       We are not going to change our vocabulary overnight.

b.      We are not going to be able to change our behaviors overnight.

c.       It has taken years to get into this shape and it will take time and effort to get out of the rut

2.      We have to be continuous in our pursuit of excellence

a.       We have to continually be on guard against the behaviors we do not want to commit

b.      We have to continually put away bad thoughts, ideas, and motives. The devil knows we are lazy and tries to wear us out by bombarding us with bad ideas. Until we are morally corrupt and then we feel like not fighting any more.

c.       We have to fortify our strength and determination in order to overcome and win our battles

C.     Prayerfully seek God’s Help

1.      We have to seek God’s help for our inability to perform His will

a.       God knows we are weak creatures and can not be perfect. That is why Jesus died for us

b.      We need to let God know we have a problem and ask for His help in solving it

2.      We have to ask God to impart the strength needed

a.       We need mental strength

b.      We need physical strength

c.       We need spiritual strength

d.      We need to receive power from God in order to perform His will

3.      We have to ask God to impart determination

a.       To overcome our desires

b.      To overcome our circumstances

c.       To overcome our fears

4.      We have to leave our problems at God’s throne

a.       We need to depend on God like little children depend on their parents

b.      We have to say daddy help me please, just like the little girl said, “Daddy help me solve my math problem” We can do the same in asking God, “Lord help me with repentance”.

c.       We all know God can do anything but fail, and He wants us to, as 1Pe 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  (7)  Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”

d.      God is our provider and sustainer and we need His assistance in order to repent and live a Holy Life for His pleasure.

Conclusion:

1.      We have talked about what repentance is. It is a making straight our crooked paths to be right in the eyes of God. It is hard and sometimes not easy. It takes effort and time to gain control over our desires. It is a change in heart, mind, and action that pleases God rather than us. Let us remember We can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, Phil 4:13

2.      We have talked about what repentance is not. It is not intending to do good or intending to change for the better but rather the doing of it. I have heard it said I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. That is similar to repentance, I rather see the doing of it rather than the talking about it.

3.      We have talked about some practical ways to overcome our selfish desires. We have to make it a goal and set forth a way to achieve the goal. We have to be continuous in our efforts to remain in the direction of repentance. Sometimes this means we have to reset our moral compass back to the Bible pattern.

4.      We have to depend on God if we are able to overcome any form of behavior in godly repentance. After all we repent and change because it pleases God. We need to leave our cares and burdens in God’s throne room and let Him help us.

Prayer

Father please grant us repentance and tears of godly sorrow in Jesus of Nazareth's name amen.

For by grace are you saved…

For by grace are you saved…

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ...Ephesians 1:1-2.

Paul is writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the saints in Ephesus and faithful in Jesus Christ… so He was talking to Christians when he wrote…

for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them...Ephesians 2:8-10.

These grace was for those who had been baptized! If you never been baptized then how do you know the difference?

Singing to God...

Singing to God

Col 3:16-17; Eph 5:19

Introduction:

1. You and I are different from the rest of the religious world. We are different because we follow a set pattern found in the New Testament. We follow that set pattern because we know that the New Covenant has replaced the Old Testament. We believe in speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where it is silent. To have a thus says the Lord for everything we do in service to Him.

2. God in His wisdom set the time in which we would live under the rule of grace and mercy by His Son Jesus Christ. Until the time was right for Jesus to be in control, God put man under the written Law of Moses. This is made up of most of the Old Testament. However, the Old Testament was never intended to be in effect until the end of time. Before the Law of Moses God spoke directly to men or the heads of the house.

3. Heb 8:6-13, In this section the inspired writer lets us know that that God intended to form a new agreement or covenant between man and Himself. Now you and I can consider the laws in Tennessee to relate to this: when a new law is passed then the old law is no longer in effect. If the state changes the speed limit then we are not to follow the old speed limit. Same is true in our spiritual Laws.

4. Because we follow that pattern, we therefore worship God only according to the New Testament and not the Old Testament. In this lesson I want to deal with the singing in our worship to God. I will focus on what God has said, objections people make, and what the pattern is for us.

I. Singing in the New Testament

A. Examples of singing in the New Testament

1. Jesus sang hymns (Mat 26:30, Mk 14:26)

a. After the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper he went to the mount of Olives and sung a hymn

b. Jesus sang praises just like all did in every age since the creation of Man

2. Paul and Silas Sang Hymns (Acts 16:25)

a. In Phillipi when put into prison for casting out an evil spirit, this missionary team sang in shackles and caused God to give an earthquake for an applause.

b. After which they converted the Jailer and his household

3. Singing when rejoicing (Luke 15:25; James 5:13)

a. When the long lost son came home from wasting his inheritance, the Father rejoiced with dancing and singing.

b. The Lord’s brother gives us instruction that when we are happy we are to sing

B. We will sing in Heaven

1. We will sing a New song (Rev 5:9, 14:3, Rev 15:3)

a. In Heaven, those saved sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb

2. Singing Is a way of Expressing Emotions and Praise

a. Since the beginning of creation man has a need to worship something greater than himself

b. Men of every age has worshipped their imaginations or the true and Living God

c. It is a way to express gratitude, thanksgiving, and devotion to the Higher Being or Power

C. Singing applies to each Christian (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19)

1. Paul addresses the individual roles in the Colossian Congregation (3:1-17; 18-4:6)

a. Verse 16: The word of Christ dwell in us richly; the principles, promises, and commandments of our Lord and God permeate our consciences, hearts and minds

b. Then take those principles and teach and encourage each other. (1) teach- Impart instruction (2) Admonish- to bring to mind or to warn.

c. To do so in psalms- a general psalm as in an ancient song sang

d. To do so in Hymns- A song of praise addressed to God

e. Spiritual Songs- Songs or odes, maybe a melody that refer to spiritual rather than anything else.

f. With what we are to sing- Grace in our hearts to the Lord. We sing with favor and gratitude from our hearts using our lips to relay that emotion to our Great God and King

2. Paul addresses the individuals in the Ephesus Congregation (Eph 5:15-20)

a. Be filled with the Spirit- to have Christ at the center of your hearts and minds. To allow Christ to have full access to every part of your being.

b. Speaking to yourselves- Involves individuals speaking to themselves and thus to others in songs that are helpful spiritually.

c. Psalms- probably meaning the songs of David, Christianity being built over the Jews, many converts would be familiar with the songs sang in the Jewish worship and thus employ them in the Christian Worship.

d. Hymns- shorts songs that involve praises or devotions to God

e. Spiritual Songs- liken to that from Col 3:16, songs that are spiritual in nature. Most gentile converts were used to singing to their false or fake gods with short songs and so Christian adapted this practice and made it into Christian Spiritual Songs.

f. Singing and making melody in your hearts- The songs sang to and about God should stem from a heart dedicated to worshipping God. The music of the soul is made in the heart and resounds from the lips and mouth to others that they may hear and praise God as well.

g. The idea of hymns and songs clearly says that it is okay to use other songs besides the inspired Psalms found in the Bible. As long as it is Christ centered or filled with the Spirit. As said in Col 3:16 that the words of Christ are felt and implied in the singing and praises of such songs then it can be used in our worship.

3. The instruments used are not guitars, drums, and cymbals

a. The instruments used are our vocal chords, our hearts, our minds, and our spirits.

b. Furthermore we are instructed in Col 3:16, that we are speak, teach, and admonish. How can an instrument such as a guitar teach something? Or how can a drum admonish us to do something? These are unauthorized additions to the singing prescribed by the Holy Spirit in our New Testaments.

c. Due to the instructions given to us we thus use our vocal chords, hearts, and minds to speak, teach, and admonish each other by our personal worship to God when assembled.

II. Music in the Old Testament

A. Singing in the Old Testament

1. They used instruments in assembly to worship (1 Chron 5:12-13)

a. 120 trained men used instruments and sang in unison (1 Chron 5:12-13)

2. They used instruments in personal worship (1 Sam 10:5)

3. David was a skilled musician (1 Sam 16:14-23)

B. Examples in the Old Testament

1. Used as a way of celebrating Divine Favor (Ex 15:1; Num 21:17-18; Judges 5:1-31)

a. Miriam was first after Exodus in Egypt (Ex 15:1)

b. Digging of a well (Num 21:17-18)

c. Deborah and Barak celebrated success (Judges 5:1-31)

d. Other examples can be used as well

2. It was used as a communication between people (Gen 31:27; Deut 32:1-4; 1 Sam 18:6-7)

a. Used to send off people (Gen 31:27)

b. Used to instruct by Moses (Deut 32:1-4)

c. People sang a song about David after the battle with Goliath (1 Sam 18:6-7)

3. Singing was very common in the Old Testament time periods

C. Worship in the Psalms

1. Songs were written by men that praised God (1 Kings 4:32; Ps 33,144,71,98,147,149)

a. Solomon said to have written over 1000 songs (1 King 4:32)

b. David wrote Psalms involving instruments (33,144)

c. Others authors wrote Psalms involving instruments (71,98,147,149)

2. Songs were used in Temple worship (1 Chron 25:6-8)

a. There were 288 skilled musicians that casts lots for their duties (1 Chron 25:6)

b. Had a choir that were trained in singing praises to the Lord (1 Chron 25:7-8)

III. Old Law Worship verse New Testament Law

A. How does something become a pattern for us to follow?

1. An approved example of doing something by the early church

a. Such an example would be in Acts 20:7, where we know the earlier church met on the 1st day of the week and ate the Lord’s Supper.

b. We know there is 1st day of the week each week and so we met every week on the first day which is Sunday and partake of the Lord’s Supper

2. An inference to fulfill a God given command

a. In Mat 28:20, Jesus told us to teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you until the end of the world”

b. We have a command to go and teach. In order to fulfill that we may ride a car, walk, run, take a plane in order to go to other nations of people. Adding those things is an inference in order to fulfill the direct command. We do not change the command by adding the use of a car, that helps us to carry the command out and does not change the command.

c. To teach- we may use a piece of paper, a VCR tape, a course designed by men of God, we may use our mouths, the written word, the internet, radio, television, or any other way to get the message to those who need to be taught. That too is an inference. We can choose various ways to perform the command because God did not specifically say use only radio stations, or use only the written word. So as long as it teaches we are pleasing God.

3. A direct command.

a. The direct command is specific and there can be no additions to it.

b. A direct command causes one to do only that which is commanded and all other things are excluded or not allowed.

c. An Example would be Noah in the Old Testament was told to use Gopher wood. If he had said wood is wood and used oak or maple wood then he would have violated the command.

B. It does not say not to

1. Some Additions to Direct Commands change the Command

a. To use an Old Testament Example, Lev 10:1-7, Nadab and Abihu used a fire in the service or worship to the Lord. However it was not the specific fire that The Lord told them to use.

b. They said, “well fire is fire” and thus offered it instead of what the Lord said. The Lord struck them dead for it, because they changed what God said by adding to His commandments.

c. It becomes sin when the addition changes what God said. When we add the radio stations we are still teaching, however when we add the instruments we are allowing them to praise God instead of ourselves.

d. For us to say that instruments help the singing then each of us would have to have an instrument in order to fulfil the direct command for each of us to praise God.

e. The instruments prevent you and I from being able to speak, teach, and admonish each other as we ourselves praise God from the heart.

2. Some additions help to fulfill the command to sing

a. Such example would be song books. When you and I are gathered together we are commanded to sing. Suppose you wanted to sing Amazing Grace and I wanted to sing Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand and we each sung our song in the assembly at the same time. That would be confusion and God is not the author of confusion 1 Cor 14:33

b. So we can add the song book to prevent confusion and help perform the direct command to sing, by all of us singing the same song at the same time.

c. We can also add the Song Leader, He can keep us in the same melody and determine the length, type of song, and pitch in which all of us are to follow.

d. These additions are allowable because they do not change the command of God.

C. They did it in the Old Testament

1. We know the Old Law is dead and no longer in effect (Eph 2:14-15, Col 2:12-14)

a. He took away the dividing wall between Jews and the rest of the world when He died on the cross. He did so in order to make us both one people.

b. He took that old Law system we could never perform and nailed it to the cross when He atoned for our sins.

2. We can not follow 2 Law systems (Rom 7:1-7)

a. We are delivered from the Law of Moses (6)

b. If I was in the Army, then I fulfilled my term and was discharged. Would I be obligated to show up to work as a soldier again the next day? No. I would be discharged from the army and become a normal citizen again. The same is true of us spiritually. We can not serve two law systems.

c. Just like a woman can not have two husbands at the same time unless she be called an adulteress, we can not serve the Old Testament Law and the New Testament of Christ

Conclusion:

1. We know that in the Old Testament there were instruments used in person and in the temple worship of the Jews. Singing has always been a part of praise and devotion to the higher power known as God. In the ages of all time man has felt the desire and urge to worship a God either real or unreal. We know we serve and worship the real and true God.

2. Singing is important to God. He has prescribed to us how to sing to Him in worship and song. We can not make up our own religion. Our relationship to God is determined by how God says for us to worship Him.

3. We know we are directly commanded to speak, teach, admonish one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This is the prescribed way we are to worship God. We can add certain things that help fulfill the direct commands of God. It is when those additions cause the direct command to be changed and altered it becomes unlawful during corporate worship.

Prayer

Father may we walk in Spirit and Truth and always worship You properly in Jesus of Nazareth's name amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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