Repentance
Supporting a Life of Intimacy with Jesus Christ
Repentance
Supporting a Life of Intimacy with Jesus Christ.
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:
1 Kings 8:46-51
46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
Mark 1:15
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
A gift that promotes a recentering and reorientation of our lives around the presence of Jesus.
HOW DO I REPENT?
Recognize - Be sensitive to the ways in which we disobey Jesus, believe lies and live from a place of immorality, sinfulness, and toxicity.
Renounce - Through verbal confession and declaration, renounce any agreements made with immoral, unhealthy, or evil choices and/or lifestyle, and secondly, through verbal confession and declaration make new agreements with the truths that Jesus teaches and gives us.
Restore - Adjust your lifestyle, mindset, attitude, and relationship to reflect the health of the new truths that you are living.
Reclaim - Through prayer, acts of compassion, and the work of reconciliation, begin to reclaim what was stolen, broken, or damaged in your life.
Reward - Share your miraculous story of recovery, restoration, and wholeness with others, so that your life is a testimony and a reward to those who are lost, struggling, and need freedom.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU WALK OUT REPENTANCE:
Understanding that at any given moment I am moving towards Jesus or away from him, in what area of my life do I accept the gift of repentance?
Write a prayer of renouncing lies and negative mindsets, and write declarations declaring Jesus’ goodness and promises over your life.
Share with a friend about who God says you are and why that’s important to you.
Identify and start a new habit or lifestyle rhythm this week that is in alignment with your identity and purpose.
Take a few minutes and dream about how your relationship with Jesus will improve when you gratefully experience repentance as a gift and not guilt.