We are continuing on with steps
to and evidence of true repentance. This
week, we’re continuing; speaking specifically of the conversion aspect of
repentance. Conversion is turning from
the darkness of sin and the power of Satan to the light of God's righteousness. Apostle Paul explained this to King Agrippa
when he said: To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18
¨ It’s turning from worldly things to
spiritual things:
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these
things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye
should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: (Acts
14:15)
¨ It’s turning from false gods to the true
and living God:
For they themselves shew of us what
manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God; 1 Thessalonians 1:9
This is not something that we can do on our own – it’s impossible. The enemy doesn’t want us to leave his
kingdom and he makes it virtually impossible.
But thank God for Jesus who promised us that when He departed this world,
He would send back the comforter who would endue us with power!
That’s a game changer; it
levels the playing field!
That’s why our hope should be in Christ Jesus. He’s the one who made it possible. He promised us help: And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
God is so magnificent in His omniscience it’s just astounding. Knowing that we would not – indeed – could not withstand the onslaught of the enemy if left to our own devices, so provisions were made through the son to level the playing field!
Apostle Peter
let us know that following after Jesus would involve suffering. Forasmuch then
as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the
same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter
4:1
Jesus had
already told the disciples that they would be persecuted for His name’s sake: But before all
these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up
to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for
my name's sake. Luke 21:12
When you combine that with the everyday situations of life, money, finances, spouses, jobs, children, etc., trying to live a Godly life in accordance to the word of God can be uncomfortable if not downright stressful. But God, in His infinite love and wisdom knew that we couldn’t survive this journey without some supernatural assistance. The children of Israel in their wilderness experience bears witness to this. When they didn't feel the power of His presence, they quickly forgot God. They had all types of sacrifices they were to perform to pardon them from sin. But with the final blood sacrifice of Jesus, we no longer have to perform this ritual. God provides us with power from on high so that we never forget who we are and to whom we belong. And to this, I say that every time we doubted God for our healing, for our distresses – whatever they may be – we should repent before God and ask His forgiveness for the doubt we harbored in our heart. Remember, the 2nd ones in the lake are the unbelievers [But the fearful, and unbelieving. . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelations 21:8
Jesus made an important promise to His followers regarding spiritual power: But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 15:26
And
don’t forget, Jesus had us in mind when he prayed, he said: “I do not pray
for these followers only. I pray for those who will put their trust in Me
through the teaching they have heard. John
17:20
The
power of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit are two key principles in
understanding the Biblical concept of power. Experiencing both is necessary to
receive spiritual power. It’s another vital spiritual experience which we must
receive; it’s the power of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus.
Jesus
told His followers He would. . . pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye
know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John
14:16-17
The Holy
Spirit would "endue" or literally "clothe" the disciples in
spiritual power: And
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
Note
that this great spiritual power was to be experienced AFTER receiving the Holy
Spirit: But
yet shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts
1:8 Just so you know:
√ Power is a spirit:
But God hath not given us the SPIRIT of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there
went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. Luke
4:14
√ That "spirit of power" is the Holy
Spirit:
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
When we receive the promise of the comforter, we are filled with power; power to:
· overcome the enemy
· live a Godly life
· to witness the gospel of Jesus
· love the way God loves
· to forgive others and ourselves
· And most importantly the power to be converted!
to God and not received His Holy Spirit in your life, do as the disciples did, pray the Holy
Spirit fall on you. Read Acts 2:1-4 to see how they received God’s spirit.
As some
would have you believe, this was not just an occurrence that was exclusive to
the disciples in the upper room. A great
crowd gathered and wanted to know what was going on. After Peter explained what was happening and
the reason for it, the crowd asked what should they do. Peter said:
. . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38-39
So what is the
importance of conversion? First of all
it must accompany repentance. We must turn from the wrong to the right
because...
® It’s
Necessary to Enter the Kingdom of God:
Verily I say unto you, except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom
of Heaven. Matthew 18:3
® It
saves us from Spiritual Death:
He which converteth the sinner from
the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of
sins. (James 5:20)
® It’s
Necessary for The blotting out of Sin:
Our sin is
written in the record of God until you repent and are converted, then our sins
are blotted out: Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts
3:19
Repentance and
conversion are best illustrated by a parable Jesus told of the prodigal son in Luke
15:11-24:
This young man
left his father and home, went to a distant land, and through sin wasted all he
owned. Eventually this young man realized his condition. He was hungry, lonely,
in rags, and tending pigs for a job. Then he made an important decision. He
said, "I’ll arise and go back to my father." This
inward decision resulted in a change in his outward actions. He went home to
his father to seek forgiveness.
Here, we see
Repentance...the change of mind: And
when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have
bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Next, we see confession: I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no
more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. Luke
15:17-19
The young man realized his sinful condition. He made a decision to go to his
father and repent of his sin. This is an example of repentance, an
inward decision which results in outward action. Following confession, next we see:
Conversion...acting
on the decision: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a
great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20
This scripture records how the young man arose and left the old life and
went back to his father to start a new life. This is an example of
conversion.
Man is like the
prodigal son. In his sinful condition he turned his back on God [his Father]
and Heaven [his home]. Each step he took is a step away from God and one step
nearer to the spiritual death of eternal separation from God. There’s a major
decision he must make. He must "come to himself" and recognize his
spiritual condition. He must make a decision which will result in a change of
spiritual direction.
When we repent
from sin and make the decision to turn from our sinful thoughts, ways and
behavior, this establishes a right relationship with God. This right
relationship or right standing before God is called "justification [the action
of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.]": Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye
were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye
became the servants of righteousness. Romans 6:16-18
When we’re justified by repentance and conversion, we’re "saved" from a life of sin as well as from the penalties of sin. This is what it means to be "saved" and what the Bible is speaking of when the term "salvation" is used.
Repentance,
along with its companion conversion, results in a life that is God-worthy and
pleasing in his sight; a place we should all desire to be.
Sermonette
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