Repentance and Forgiveness 1 John 1:8-9 5.30.14

REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS

BREAD

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)

BUTTER

“So Repentance begins with an attitude of brokenness over our sin. But true repentance will be followed by an earnest desire and a sincere effort to put away the sin we are repenting of—to put on the Christlike virtues that we see missing in our lives. These efforts often seem to be characterized by failure as much as by success. But the frequent failures should bring us back to a broken and contrite heart that mourns over our sin. Brokenness, contrition, and repentance are all marks of a growing Christian, a person who is experiencing the work of the Spirit in being transformed gradually more into the image of God’s Son.”   Jerry Bridges

HEART SAVOR

·       I am deluded if I think I am without sin.

·       True repentance over my sin is characterized by my brokenness and my turning from the sin to the Savior.  He is the Breaker of the power of sin in my life and I am to willingly give Him control.

·       Jesus purifies me from my unrighteousness.  

Delivered from Worldliness 1 John 2:15-17 5.28.14

DELIVERED FROM WORLDLINESS

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¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist.  He announces a Saviour from Hell rather than a Saviour from sin.  And that is why so many are fatally deceived…there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of Fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.”   A. W. Pink

HEART SAVOR

• ·        I am not to love (pant, greatly desire or lust after) the things of this world rather I am to enjoy what God allows me to have and live my life with open hands.  Like Job’s response over the calamities in his life:  “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”  Job 1:21 (NIV)
• ·        Worldliness comes not from the Father but from the world.
• ·        The one who does the will of God will live forever.

Give to Keep Luke 9:23-25 5.26.14

GIVE TO KEEP

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²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

BUTTER

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to keep what he cannot lose.”  Jim Elliot

“He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.”   John Tillotson

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I am to deny self and follow Jesus – daily - Who left all to save me.
• ·       If I cling to my life – my rights - I lose it yet if I live my life with open hands I gain it.
• ·       There is no ultimate good in gaining the world if I lose my very self. 

God's Perfect and Pleasing Will Romans 12:1-2 5.23.14

GOD’S PERFECT AND PLEASING WILL

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¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

BUTTER

“We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences.  If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.”  John Newton

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I am not to conform to the world rather I am to be transformed by the Word.  Then will I be able to test and approve what God’s perfect and pleasing will is.

• ·       God sees the end from the beginning.  I see but a “poor reflection as in a mirror”. Therefore, His management of my life is an unspeakable mercy – He always has my best interest at heart.

• ·       It is the heaviest judgment when God gives me over to walk according to the folly of my own wisdom. 

Our Constant Companion Hebrews 13:5-8 5.21.14

OUR CONSTANT COMPANION

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⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  ⁶ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” ⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:5-8 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Life holds for all of us, from time to time, desolate places. All that was ordinary and secure and familiar and dependable seems a thousand miles away. Here we are in this strange wilderness- out of work, ill, robbed of something or someone, banished from a privilege that once was ours, no longer needed, confused, forsaken. It is a place of dryness, loneliness, isolation, helplessness, fear. We feel as though we are walking where no human being was ever meant to walk, a place of dragons. Don't despair. Even though you find no signs, be sure that thousands have traversed this terrain. When you reach the far side you will meet them. But there is something that is far more comforting than that. You are not alone now. Always beside you is Another whose voice you may not hear, whose arm you may not feel, whose footprint you may not see. Nevertheless His Word is utterly to be trusted: ‘I cared for you in the wilderness.’ (Hosea 13:5)”   Elisabeth Elliot

HEART SAVOR

• ·       God never leaves me nor forsakes me even though I may not feel His presence.

• ·       There is no reason for me to fear, the Lord is my helper – in His Presence is peace.

• ·       Jesus never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  

Obedience James 1:22-25 5.16.14

OBEDIENCE

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²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It.”  Oswald Chambers

HEART SAVOR

·       I am not to merely listen or read God’s Word, I am to obey it.

·       God’s Word brings me freedom.

·       I am blessed in my obedience to it.

Kindness Colossians 3:12-14 5.14.14

KINDNESS

BREAD

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Col 3:12-14 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning.” Frederick Faber

HEART SAVOR

·       I am to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

·       I am to bear with others and forgive grievances.

·       I am to put on love which binds all these things together for my good and God’s glory.

God Speaks Jeremiah 33:2-3 5.19.14

GOD SPEAKS

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² “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: ³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Throughout Scripture God speaks through kings and queens, princes and prophets, poets and pilgrims.  He speaks through weather patterns, barnyard animals, and even the stars in the sky.  God is not only creative, but He is persistent in getting our attention and communicating with us.”   Margaret Feinberg

HEART SAVOR

God is constantly seeking to communicate with me.  Do I seek to listen?

God desires to tell me great and unsearchable things I do not know.  The price I pay is attention:  “²¹Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

God desires to teach me the way I should go – does He have my ear?   “For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”  Isaiah 66:4 (NIV);  “²⁰ You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.”  Isaiah 42:20 (NIV)