Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: PHP
Program Code: PHP000009
|
00:01 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:02 Did you know that repentance is a gift from God? 00:06 Join us today on Pressing into His Presence 00:08 as we consider this glorious truth. 00:33 Welcome to Pressing into His Presence. 00:36 On this series dedicated to prayer, 00:38 we are working our way through a companion book 00:42 that is also titled "Pressing into His Presence." 00:45 And if you're following along, today 00:47 we're beginning on page 73. 00:50 On our last program, we talked about 00:53 receiving the gift of God's forgiveness 00:56 and today we're going to be 00:57 focusing on receiving God's gift of repentance. 01:01 But first, I want to revisit the idea of forgiving others. 01:06 I kind of left you hanging last time with Christ's words 01:09 from Mark 11:26 where He said that if we don't forgive others 01:14 neither will our heavenly Father forgive us. 01:17 You know, in Matthew 18 01:18 Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant. 01:21 This man owed a debt of 10,000 talents. 01:26 I've heard some say 01:27 that's about $10 million in our economy. 01:30 He owed this to his master and he begged for mercy 01:33 and the master took pity on him and canceled his debt. 01:37 But did the servant remember the forgiveness extended him 01:41 and do likewise? 01:43 No, the miserable wretch soon found another fellow 01:47 who only owed him a 100 dinare, that's about $20. 01:53 And grabbing the destitute man by the throat, 01:56 he demanded immediate payment. 01:58 He ignored please for pity and he jostled him off to jail 02:03 because the poor so couldn't meet his obligation. 02:07 Other servants took note and reported 02:10 the lack of merciful exchange to the master 02:13 and the master took that ungrateful man 02:17 and he handed him over to the jailers 02:20 until his debt could be repaid. 02:22 The formerly forgiven but unforgiving person found-- 02:29 he received a dose of his own medicine, if you will. 02:34 And Jesus concluded his parable with this warning. 02:37 He said, "So my Heavenly Father 02:39 also will do to you to each of you, 02:43 if you do not forgive from your heart, 02:47 your brother, his trespassers." 02:50 Does this parable imply as some people think 02:53 that we only have to forgive those who ask to be forgiven? 02:57 Let me share a story that we shed a little light on this. 03:01 It's a little bit embarrassing, but my husband and I 03:04 once entered into a partnership 03:05 with a globetrotting businessman 03:08 from a Middle Eastern country. 03:10 He was connected with royalty 03:11 and his lavish lifestyle exemplified prosperity. 03:16 Our corporate attorney investigated him. 03:19 There were no red flags, international bankers 03:22 and reputable businessmen stood as his references 03:25 giving glowing reports about the prince. 03:29 And we were young and filled with robust naivety 03:33 but our dreams were soon dashed. 03:35 This charlatan was operating an extremely sophisticated 03:39 international scam. 03:41 So following a hunch, I traveled to Europe 03:44 and I spent eight weeks unraveling the web of deceit 03:49 that he had weaved over many years. 03:52 And as it turned out 03:54 those who sung his praises were equally deceived 03:58 and they were still hoping to recoup 04:00 some of their associated losses. 04:03 So while sitting in a hotel in Luxembourg I received word 04:08 that the prince had put out a hit contract on my life 04:13 because I had exposed him. 04:16 For weeks, I flew from country to country 04:19 unraveling his unsuspecting support network, 04:23 nervously watching over my shoulder. 04:26 And when I returned to United States, 04:28 I was still filled with anxiety. 04:33 But within months, I sensed that his threat 04:36 was more bluster than reality, 04:39 still before my fears were subdued, 04:43 something sinister happened in my heart. 04:46 I had never hated anyone before until now. 04:51 J.D. and I were newly weds 04:52 and our short association with this man 04:56 had saddled us with $250,000 in debt. 05:00 I loathed this deceitful person who had threatened my life 05:05 and plunged us into deep financial problems. 05:09 And my heart broke for his victims. 05:12 Government officials one who actually took his life, 05:16 businessmen and innocents 05:18 whose lives had been turned upside down. 05:22 This man, our ex-partner, 05:24 was in my mind the devil personified. 05:28 And one night 05:29 while I was praying for forgiveness of my sins, 05:32 the Lord impressed this thought on my mind. 05:35 He said, "Forgive the prince and I will forgive you." 05:39 What? 05:40 I was incredulous and I replied. 05:43 I said, "Lord, you can't really mean that. 05:46 How can you expect me to forgive him? 05:48 He hasn't expressed regret or repentance?" 05:52 And another thought entered in my mind. 05:55 "Even as I have forgiven you, you must also forgive him." 05:59 And I said, "How, Lord, 06:02 I don't know how to forgive him." 06:05 Then these words came to my mind. 06:08 "Pray for his salvation child." 06:11 What? No, no, no. 06:14 I said, "I don't want him to be saved, Lord. 06:17 Let him rot in--" well, you know where. 06:21 Now my dear husband wanted me to omit this remark 06:25 because it is so unlovely and unlike me. 06:28 Today the harshness in my words shocks me 06:31 but I was at that time, decades ago, 06:33 an immature Christian in emotional turmoil 06:37 and the remark stands as evidence 06:39 of my dissipated state of mind. 06:43 God impressed his thought on my mind again. 06:46 He said, "Pray for his salvation, 06:49 forgive him and I will forgive you yet again." 06:53 Reluctantly, I said, "Okay, Lord, 06:56 I will pray for his salvation but you know I don't mean it." 07:01 Now I wasn't being respectful, just honest. 07:04 God already knew how I felt so I might as well admit it. 07:08 Now I don't know how long I prayed. 07:11 A few weeks perhaps before God worked 07:15 an amazing transformation in my heart. 07:19 I saw my enemy finally 07:22 as the lost in suffering so that he really was 07:25 and I no longer regarded him from a worldly point of view. 07:30 Now I saw him from God's view point 07:33 and rather than just merely 07:35 mouthing a prayer for his salvation I pleaded for it 07:39 and I actually meant what I prayed. 07:42 God had opened my heart and poured His love 07:45 and compassion into my heart for this pitiful creature. 07:49 I no longer hated this man. 07:51 Somewhere in the process of praying for his salvation 07:56 God had worked out forgiveness in my heart. 08:00 Let me ask. 08:02 Do you think for one moment that it made any difference 08:05 to this callous con artist that I had forgiven him? 08:10 Nah. 08:11 He could have cared less but how about me. 08:15 Did my life change for the better? 08:18 You know it did the bitterness and resentment was gone 08:22 and now I could ask for forgiveness of my sins from God 08:26 with full assurance and He restored my peace. 08:31 I could consider the experience 08:34 without my blood pressure rising. 08:37 My heart was again filled with goodwill 08:40 toward all mankind. 08:42 God had instructed me to forgive 08:45 not for the benefit of this man but for my own benefit 08:50 so that I could become like Christ. 08:54 Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, 45 09:00 He said, "Love your enemies bless those who curse you, 09:05 do good to those who hate you and pray for those 09:09 who spitefully use you and persecutes you." 09:14 Why? 09:15 Well, that you maybe sons of your Father in heaven. 09:21 You know, some of Christ's teachings 09:23 are difficult for human hearts to grasp 09:26 without the understanding given by the Holy Spirit. 09:30 We have a tendency to whitewash Christ requirements. 09:35 I am convinced beyond measure 09:37 that God does everything for our eternal benefit 09:41 as well as to provide us 09:42 with an abundant life here on earth. 09:45 It would be wise for us to quit questioning and simply obey. 09:51 I ask the Lord for an illustration 09:54 that would help me teach the dynamics of forgiving other 09:58 and how it increases our personal wellbeing 10:02 and here it is, listen carefully. 10:04 Imagine a mountain stream 10:07 that is flowing freely down a lush hillside 10:10 and across the meadow and the babbling brook is, 10:13 let's say 12 inches deep and about 2 feet in width. 10:17 Now picture yourself, stretching a tiny wire 10:20 across the stream anchoring it on both sides, 10:24 someone upstream tosses their brown lunch bags into the water 10:29 which flow down and they catch on your wire. 10:33 Soon another person happens along 10:36 and dumps more trash upstream 10:38 which makes its way down to your wire 10:40 and collects with the other deposits. 10:43 Several more litter bugs eventually 10:45 make their contributions of trash 10:47 and over time the trash that is tossed into the stream 10:52 begins to accumulate and mount up. 10:55 What happens to the flowing water? 10:58 Just like a beaver builds a dam stick by stick the debris 11:04 that was dumped into the stream collects around your wire 11:08 and it dams up the water's movement. 11:11 Now let's unpack that illustration 11:15 that tiny wire represents unforgiveness in your hearts. 11:21 The litterbugs are people who pass through your life 11:25 and they throw their trashy hurtful words 11:28 and actions in your direction. 11:31 One piece of trash begins to pile on top of another 11:35 and as it accumulates around that tiny wire of unforgiveness 11:40 securely anchored in your heart. 11:44 One day you finally wake up and realize that bitterness 11:47 and resentment has dammed your heart, 11:51 dammed it up like a beaver would dam it up 11:53 and that the living water of the Holy Spirit 11:57 no longer flows through you. 11:59 You have become unforgiving and unforgiven as well. 12:05 In Matthew 6:14, 15 Jesus said, 12:13 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, 12:16 your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 12:21 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, 12:25 neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." 12:28 And in 1 John 16-- excuse me, 12:32 1 John 4:16, 17 12:37 Jesus says "We have come" 12:42 I should say John says, we'll get this right. 12:45 John says "We have come to know 12:47 and have believed the love which God has for us. 12:50 God is love, and the one who abides in love 12:53 abides in God, and God abides in him. 12:57 By this, love is perfected with us, 13:00 so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, 13:04 because as He is, so also are we in this world." 13:11 You know, hanging on a cross Jesus prayed, 13:17 Father, forgive him for they know not what they do. 13:21 How that plea must have echoed 13:24 through the hearts of those at Calvary. 13:27 What manner of man is this? 13:30 Love cannot flow through a bitter 13:34 and resentful unforgiving heart. 13:37 Christ wanted His heart 13:39 to remain an open channel of love. 13:42 God is love, that's His perfect essence. 13:45 And to stand as the perfect expression of God's character, 13:50 Christ had to maintain perfect love. 13:53 He forgave those who nailed Him to the cross. 13:58 Our destiny is to become like Jesus, 14:02 as He is so must we be in this world. 14:06 And our journey begins with a heart 14:08 filled with His love, a heart that knows 14:11 how to forgive and be forgiven. 14:15 Let's recap how far we've come in this process of repentance. 14:20 This is combining the lessons of the previous programs 14:24 and this one. 14:26 Thus far we have considered 14:29 how important it is for us to recognize our sin. 14:34 We know that godly sorrow is a good thing 14:38 because it causes us to regret our sin 14:42 and our attitudes about sin have been altered, 14:45 we've confessed our sin asking for forgiveness. 14:50 And we are able also to extend forgiveness to others 14:55 when we understand God's plan. 14:58 And then we have learned about 15:02 our need to receive God's forgiveness 15:04 applying His healing balm to our wounded souls, 15:08 so that we can forgive ourselves. 15:11 And it's important to forgive ourselves. 15:13 And at the conclusion of these four steps of repentance 15:17 the verdict has been rendered, 15:18 we have a bloodbath parting that is ours. 15:22 We stand acquitted of guilt justify by the imputed 15:26 righteousness of Jesus Christ credited to our account. 15:30 We are made righteous by faith and what Christ has done for us 15:35 and what He has done on our behalf is un-- 15:38 He's given us undeserved mercy. 15:41 Now we must continue to the final point 15:45 in the repentance process because without this step 15:49 we would be consigned to hobble along with our habits of sin. 15:56 Our future progress would be hindered. 15:59 This fifth and final part is where transformation 16:02 and triumph are forged 16:04 because step five is where God empowers us 16:08 to change our conduct and make a U-turn 16:11 in the right direction straight towards Him. 16:14 This step in the repentance process 16:16 represents sanctification through the imparted 16:20 righteousness of Jesus Christ who works within us 16:25 and as the process of sanctification 16:28 blossoms in our soul, the seduction of sin withers. 16:32 With absolutely confidence in Christ abilities to save, 16:37 we develop an unwavering commitment to Him 16:40 which permits no room for compromise with the world. 16:44 The process of repentance is incomplete 16:47 unless we turn from self to God. 16:51 Genuine repentance results 16:54 in the rejection of sin in our lives 16:57 and the return of our devotion to God. 16:59 This is not an act we can do by our own power. 17:02 Repentance is a gift from God 17:05 and we should receive it with joy. 17:07 I want you to consider three scriptures. 17:10 Let's look at these. 17:12 2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us, 17:16 "Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation." 17:20 We should thank God for godly sorrow. 17:23 And then Paul writes in Romans 2:4 17:26 "Do you despise the riches of His goodness, 17:29 forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing 17:31 that the goodness of God lead you to repentance?" 17:35 We should thank God for His patience and goodness. 17:39 And then Acts 5:31 says this. 17:42 "Him, Jesus, God has exalted to His right hand 17:48 to be Prince and Savior, 17:50 to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." 17:57 We should thank God for the gift of repentance. 18:02 You know, King David was fully aware of his absolute 18:07 dependence upon God to give him the gift of repentance 18:11 that would turn him back to God. 18:13 In Psalm 51:10 he prayed "Create in me a clean heart, 18:18 O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." 18:22 I praise God for leading me to Psalm 51 as my model 18:26 to learn how to press into His presence with repentance. 18:33 He taught me to ask for repentance 18:36 just as I ask for forgiveness. 18:39 When you ask God to forgive your sins, 18:42 do you also ask Him to grant you repentance? 18:45 If not, I hope you will from this day forward 18:48 because you cannot turn around by yourself 18:51 for repentance is the gift, His gift to bestow upon you 18:56 when you acknowledge your need of it. 18:58 You know, Peter's boastful-- 19:02 Peter make this boastful claim in Matthew 26:33. 19:07 He told Jesus, 19:08 and this is toward the end of Jesus' ministry, 19:10 right at the end there He said, 19:12 "O Lord, even if all are made to stumble because of you, 19:16 I will never be made to stumble." 19:19 Jesus responded assuredly I tell you that this night 19:25 before the rooster crows you will deny me three times. 19:31 Oh, how much I was like Peter 19:34 before I learn to depend upon God 19:37 for the gift of turning me around away from my sin. 19:41 I prayed and pleaded for forgiveness 19:43 concluding with the sincere promise to do better 19:47 and by sheer willpower 19:49 I determine to overcome sin only to hear that old rooster 19:52 scratchy voice crowing over my stumbles by the end of the day 19:56 and against my heart felt determination, 20:00 I felt like I had been like Peter, 20:04 I had denied Christ through sin again. 20:07 You know, all sin is a denial of Christ. 20:11 Peter's actions were no worse than ours. 20:14 In fact, Peter proved to be more responsive 20:17 than most Christians. 20:18 Just one glimpse from Jesus' eyes of infinite love disarmed 20:23 this defiant disciple resulting in heart seized repentance. 20:29 Peter wept bitterly over his sin. 20:33 Do we? 20:35 Before his boastful promise not to deny the Lord, 20:40 Peter was a man of bravado. 20:42 He paid no attention to the Lord's preceding warning 20:46 which is found in Luke 21-- 22, Luke 22:31, 32. 20:54 Jesus said here, "Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked for you 21:00 that he may sift you as wheat. 21:02 But I have prayed for you, 21:05 that your faith should not fail. 21:07 And when you have return to me, strengthen your brethren." 21:11 Christ predicted Peter would turn away from Him 21:15 and have need of repentance but He also assured Peter 21:19 of His help in returning to Him. 21:22 What did Peter learned in this process of repentance? 21:25 He came to appreciate the need 21:28 for absolute to surrender to God 21:31 and total dependence on Him. 21:35 You know, the secret to success in our daily walk with Christ 21:39 is to recognize that apart from Him we can do nothing. 21:45 Doesn't the Bible warn us 21:46 that we cannot change ourselves anymore 21:49 than an Ethiopian can change skin or a leopard his spots? 21:53 Why do we fail to change after confession of our sin? 21:57 There is only one reason. 21:59 We attempt to change by our own power. 22:02 But please notice that it takes a cooperative effort 22:07 to put to death the misdeeds of our sin, of our flesh. 22:11 Look at Romans 8:13, 14 which says 22:16 "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, 22:20 but if by the Spirit you put to death..." 22:25 Notice there. 22:26 "By the Spirit you put to death 22:29 the deeds of the body, you will live. 22:32 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, 22:35 these are the sons of God." 22:37 So it takes the Spirit, His power and our cooperation, 22:43 it's by the Spirit that we must work together 22:48 with the Holy Spirit to accomplish this change. 22:51 It's His power that makes it possible. 22:55 Listen to what Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12, 13 23:01 which underscores this. 23:03 I'm gonna read it from the amplified. 23:05 It says "Work out your own salvation 23:09 with reverence and awe and trembling. 23:13 Not in your own strength for it is God 23:17 Who is all the while effectually at work in you 23:20 energizing and creating in you the power and desire, 23:24 both to will and to work for His good pleasure." 23:29 Genuine repentance results in being joint to Christ 23:34 and feel afresh with His spirit, 23:36 then He completes the good work 23:39 He began in us as He leads us by His spirit. 23:43 Halleluiah, when we surrender control of our lives to Him, 23:48 God causes us to be all that He calls us to be. 23:53 Matthew 12:20 is a beautiful Bible promise. 23:58 It says "A bruised reed he will not break, 24:03 and smoking flax he will not quench." 24:06 Do you feel battered and bruised by your mistakes? 24:10 Come to Christ, He will heal you. 24:13 Has your first love passion for Christ dissipated? 24:17 Is the wick of your spiritual lamp 24:20 flickering, smoking and about to go out? 24:23 Come to Christ, He will add the oil of joy to your life 24:28 and your lamp will burn brightly. 24:31 Acts 3:19 says this "Repent therefore and be converted, 24:36 that your sins may be blotted out, so that 24:39 times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." 24:44 Repentance is a glorious gift from God, 24:47 it brings times of refreshing that speeds our recovery 24:51 from the sting of sin and revives us spiritually. 24:54 Repentance gives us confidence before the Lord 24:57 and assures us of His power to save. 25:00 Repentance brings rest to our weary souls 25:03 and as we press into his presence through repentance, 25:06 the sin barrier is shattered and we are confident 25:10 that our prayers will not be hindered. 25:12 God quiets our fears with His love. 25:16 He invites us to come boldly before His throne of grace 25:20 to find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. 25:25 Zephaniah 3:17 says this. I love this scripture. 25:30 It says, "Our Father the mighty one is in our midst 25:36 and He will save us, 25:37 He rejoices over us with singing." 25:41 Do you see God this way? 25:44 Do you see a mighty and loving savior 25:47 who rejoices over you with singing? 25:51 Ah, glory to His holy name. 25:54 In previous programs 25:56 we visited the New Testament altar of Calvary's cross 26:00 and we applied the blood of Jesus to our sins. 26:05 And now in the spirit of the purification rite 26:09 practice by the ancient priests, 26:11 we have symbolically washed our hands 26:15 and feet at the laver in the outer court. 26:18 Cleansed through the process of confession and repentance, 26:23 we are now prepared to go forward. 26:27 Now we are ready to press into His presence further 26:32 and enter the holy place 26:34 and our prayer is that next time 26:37 you will join us for this exciting journey in prayer. 26:43 Now what I would like to do for you right now and for me is 26:48 let's have a prayer together. 26:51 Let's just go before the Lord 26:53 and ask Him to grant us repentance. 26:56 Our most loving and precious heavenly Father, 27:00 how we thank you, how we thank you again, Father, 27:04 for your gifts of grace, for Jesus Christ our Savior, 27:08 for Your Holy Spirit in Your word 27:10 and how we thank you, Father, that you have revealed to us 27:14 the five steps of true repentance. 27:16 O Lord, we praise you because we know you are all powerful 27:20 and that you will work in us 27:22 to willing to do your good pleasure. 27:25 Father, we come before you today 27:27 not only to confess our sins but we come asking 27:31 that you would grant us the gift of repentance. 27:34 Help us, Lord, to develop a sensitive spirit, 27:37 a sensitive heart to you. 27:39 And, Lord, help us day by day to press in to Your presence, 27:45 to come before You with repentance, 27:48 with clean hands and a pure heart 27:50 that You give us when we do, in Jesus' name, amen. 27:54 Well, as always our thought toward you this day 27:59 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 28:03 the love of the Father 28:05 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 28:07 will be with you today and always. |
Revised 2014-12-17