home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
High Voltage Shareware
/
high1.zip
/
high1
/
DIR46
/
ALPHON_3.ZIP
/
CHRISTNS.S07
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-10-30
|
18KB
|
353 lines
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Study No 7 CHRISTIANS - Part 1
What is True REPENTANCE ?
1. Godly sorrow for sin.
True repentance is a sorrow not just within oneself,
or towards another person, but first and foremost it
is true sorrow towards God. Ps. 38:8, 2 Cor. 7:10.
2. Confession of sin.
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity
have I not hid, I said, I will confess my
transgression unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin". Ps. 32:5, 1 Jn. 1:9.
3. Being willing to forsake sin.
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: be
whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy". Prov. 28:13.
4. Having a hatred of sin.
"...and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight
for all your evils that ye have committed..." Ez.
20:43-44.
5. Restitution included.
"And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if
I have taken anything from any man be false
accusation, I restore him four-fold". Luke 19:8,
Lev. 6:1-7.
An Example of Repentance
In the story of the Prodigal Son, (Luke 15:11-32), we
see illustrated a practical outworking of true repentance
and the genuinely merciful response of God. The prodigal
son's act of returning to his father is a picture of the
act of repentance that God calls us to, upon receiving
Jesus Christ.
We notice that the son's decision to return to his
father affects his mind (vs. 17), heart (vs. 18-19 ), and
will (vs. 20-21).
(a) In verse 17 we find that he comes to his senses
and logically realized that he is worse off than
ever before and is living a life that was
bringing only death to him.
(b) In verses 18-19, we see him experiencing a
change of heart. He comes to the sorrowful,
heart-felt recognition that he has sinned.
(c) In verses 20-21, the prodigal acts upon what he
comes to realize in his mind and heart. We find
that he arises to leave his sinful life with its
old ways and habits, comes to his father to
start a new life, and verbally confesses his
sin. This enacting of the will is the capstone
to the kind of repentance the Lord seeks in
every believer.
We can mentally recognize the wrongness of our past,
and even be deeply sorry for it, but if we do not turn
completely from our old ways, we remain in a lifestyle of
'death', (separation from God), void of God's wonderful
promises and blessings.
The truly repentant heart gives every aspect of life
over to Jesus and allows him to be Lord, (or Boss). The
new believer should realize man's ideas and ways end in
confusion and death and should joyfully want Jesus to
take total control of his life. Prov. 16:25.
Diagram of Repentance.
Draw the following diagram and talk to the class
about the meaning of these parables: Matt. 13:44,
(treasure in field - sold all to buy field), 45-46,
(pearl of great price); Luke 14:28-33, (count the cost).
Diagram: The Lordship of Jesus Christ -
Question: Is Jesus Lord over OUR life?
How Important is Repentance?
1. God commands it.
Acts 17:30, "God now commandeth all men everywhere to
repent".
2. A reason for Christ's coming.
Luke 5:32, "I have not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance".
3. Part of our Lord's commission to us.
Luke 24:47, "Repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in His name among all nations".
4. Necessary to avoid destruction. Luke 13:3-5.
5. Necessary to eternal life.
Acts 11:18, "God also to the Gentiles granted
repentance unto life".
6. God's desire for all.
2 Pet. 3:9, "The Lord...is longsuffering toward us,
not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance".
7. John the Baptist preached it.
Matt. 3:2, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand".
8. The Apostles preached it.
Mark 6:12, "And they went out and preached that men
should repent".
NOTE: REPENTANCE IS A VITAL STEP IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
PRAYER
God is a God of answered prayer. Here are some basic
parts of prayer that make it a real rich and valuable
time.
a. Fellowship in praise, thanksgiving and worship -
when you start in prayer, it is good to spend a few
minutes praising and thanking God for His goodness to
you. Think of something special you have appreciated,
like an answered prayer or the love of a friend, and
thank Him for giving them to you.
Worship is expressing your love for God as a
personal Lord. It is centered more on who He is
rather than what He has done. This is opening your
heart to Jesus and telling Him how you feel about Him.
The Psalms are good sources of words to express
both praise and worship. Find one you like that
glorifies and speaks good of God and then sing and
speak these words to God yourself, making them your
own expression. This will grow into a beautiful time
of love as you get to know Jesus better. Try Ps.
95:1-7, Ps. 145, Ps. 147.
b. Asking - This is when you ask God for His help for
others or for yourself. God created you in such a way
that you need His help every day. Because Jesus has
cleansed you and made you God's son, you can ask Him
for His help and He freely gives it! You ask for
other people's needs as well as for yourself and in
this way you bless them.
What should you ask for? The Bible tells us what
things God wants you to have. When you know what His
will (desires) are for you to receive from Him, then
you have a real assurance in your hearts that you will
receive it. (1 Jn. 5:14-15). God says He will supply
all your needs, so ask for them. Not all your needs
are physical. Sometimes you need peace, joy or love,
or you need God's strength so you don't sin. Ask for
these things! Read Philippians 4:19.
There are only three things you have to do to receive
answers to prayer:
1. Believe that God will answer you.
2. Ask for these things in Jesus name.
3. Ask for things He wants you to have.
It is good to keep a list of the people and things
you are praying for, then circle the request when God
answers it. (Mark 11:23-25)
c. Listening - this is when you share with God how you
feel, what you've been thinking, what questions
you've had. God has become your Father and wants to
spend time communicating with you. This is the
reason He has come to live inside of you! He is your
closest friend.
As you do this, be open to God speaking to you.
When you talk with your Dad on the telephone, you
don't talk all the time, do you? Don't you give him
a chance to say something? God won't talk in an
audible spoken voice, but will impress certain things
on your heart. Maybe you will feel Him speaking
through your conscience, telling you about one area
to change, or someone to ask forgiveness from. Maybe
you will feel you should encourage someone or pray
for them. As God impresses you with something, be
sure and do it, because it will bring a more abundant
life.
God also speaks through His word, the Bible. If
you feel impressed to do something you aren't sure
about, see if it agrees with God's written Word and
check with another Christian. If it does not agree
with the Word of God, don't do it! Often God will
tell you in the Bible what to do, such as love your
brothers, live clean lives, etc. If you're obedient
in small things, He will be able to lead you in more
important things.
Pray in the Spirit
"But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost". Jude 20.
Moses went into the holiest of all before the mercy
seat, firstly to receive the commandments of the Lord and
secondly, to intercede for the people. (Ex. 25:22). We
need to spend time waiting on God, hearing His voice,
directing and instructing us. God initiates all real
prayer and as we let the Holy Spirit lead us in prayer,
we can be sure that we will always pray according to the
will of God. Praying in the Spirit means that the Holy
Spirit is directing us in prayer. Our renewed mind
enables us to hear God prompting us to pray. Those who
are walking in the Spirit have the mind of Christ - we
need to have more confidence in the thoughts that enter
our mind in regard to prayer.
The Holy Spirit and Prayer.
"So too, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears
us up in our weakness, for we do not know what prayer to
offer, nor how to pray worthily as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads
in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings
too deep for utterance". Rom. 8:26 - Amp.
a. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We have many weaknesses when it comes to prayer -
tiredness, apathy, ill-health, disrupting thoughts,
interruptions that weaken our resolve to pray, not
knowing what to pray for nor how to pray. The Holy
Spirit has a very distinct ministry to us in prayer in
that He enables us to overcome our weaknesses. Instead
of striving to get rid of weaknesses, we can rest in the
Lord having given Him our problem. He will enable us to
be strong - "Let the weak say, I am strong". Joel 3:10.
b. The Holy Spirit Intercedes through us.
God is looking for people who are willing to take on
His burdens in prayer. We cannot help or hinder Christ's
intercession for us for it rests on what He has done, but
not on what we are doing or have done, but we can
frustrate or help the intercession of the Holy Spirit in
us. His intercession for us takes the form of weeping
(Luke 19:41), (Jn. 11:35), groaning (Jn. 11:33, 38) and
sighing (Mark 7:34).
You can pray all the time - you can talk with God
anywhere, anytime, He is always present. Spend at least
15 to 30 minutes a day talking and listening to Him. The
morning is best; you have started the day off in
fellowship with Him. Getting your direction for the day.
Feel free at any time to go to Him - He loves you and
will always listen to you.
THE WORD OF GOD
We have fellowship with God in His Word. The Bible
is God speaking to us personally, intimately, as though
we were the only one to whom He was speaking. It is more
than His message to the world, it is His great heart
reaching out and seeking communion with the individual
hearts of men.
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father) full of grace and truth". Jn. 1:14.
Jesus was the Word made flesh. He was the expression
of God in the form of human language. As we study and
meditate in the Word it is the same as having fellowship
with Jesus. We come to Him through His word, just as we
come to know others by their words.
The Bible contains some 30,000 promises for you to
rely on. The Bible is the will and testament of God your
Father. By reading it you will discover your
inheritance. Read it regularly every day. Prov. 4:20-
23, 1 Pet. 2:1-2.
What will the Word of God do for you?
1. It produces life. Jn. 6:63.
The Word of God produces life. God spoke in creation
and order was produced out of chaos, light out of
darkness and life came into being. He speaks the words
into the hearts and order is produced out of chaos, light
out of darkness and the very life of Christ is produced
within us. See 2 Cor. 3:18, Ps. 119:105, 130, Jn. 5:39.
The Word of God produces life that will work itself
out in the everyday affairs of our daily existence. It
is His purpose to form us into the image of His Son. As
we behold Him in His Word, we are changed into that
likeness.
2. It uncovers sin and mistakes. Heb. 4:12 Living
Bible.
3. It cleanses and purifies. Jn. 15:3, Jn. 17:11, Ps.
119:9.
"How can a young man stay pure? By reading your Word
and following its rules". Ps. 119:9, Living Bible.
4. It imparts strength.
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
Word, that ye may grow thereby". 1 Pet. 2:2.
"More to be desired are they than gold, yea much fine
gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb". Ps.
19:10, 1 Cor. 3:2.
5. It instructs me in what to do.
"All who listen to my instructions and follow them
are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid
rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the
floods rise and the storm winds beat against his
house, it won't collapse, for it is built on rock.
But those who hear my instructions and ignore them
are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand.
For when the rains and floods come, and the storm
winds beat against his house, it will fall with a
mighty crash. The crowds were amazed at Jesus'
sermons, for He taught as one who had great
authority, and not as their Jewish leaders". Matt.
7:24-29. Living Bible, also read James 1:22.
6. It provides me with a sword of victory.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Eph. 6:17. Read
also Ps. 119:11.
7. It makes my life fruitful and prosperous.
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men's
advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing
at the things of God: but they delight in doing
everything God wants them to, and day and night are
meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to
follow Him more closely. They are like trees along a
river bank bearing luscious fruit each season without
fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they
do shall prosper". Ps. 1:1-3, Living Bible. Also
Josh. 1:8.
8. It gives power to pray.
"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye
shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you". Jn. 15:7. Read also Jn. 15:2-3.
9. It gives wisdom.
"Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser
than mine enemies: for they are with me". Ps.119:98.
True wisdom is only produced by the Word of God.
There is a wisdom of the world which is earthly,
sensual, devilish, "but the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality and without hypocrisy". James 3:17.
10. It produces peace.
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and
nothing shall offend them". Ps. 119:165.
END of STUDY SEVEN
