Tag Archive - repentance

Lent Begins

February 22, 2012 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Today is Ash Wednesday. It begins the 40 day journey through the season of Lent. Sackcloth and ashes were an ancient symbol of sorrow. On Ash Wednesday we receive the mark of Ashes upon our foreheads to remind us of our sinfulness and mortality. Both Ash Wednesday and Lent are about taking a good hard look in the mirror to remind us of where we stand before God. We are sinners. We are just beggars before his throne of grace. But the astounding thing is that as we come to a greater realization of our depravity, we come to a greater realization of how amazing his love and grace is. In the words of the Apostle Paul we are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

As we begin the Lenten journey I want to invite you to come out tonight at 7pm for our Ash Wednesday worship at Lord of Life. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and together with the traditional imposition of Ashes where the worshippers will receive the mark of the cross in ashes upon their foreheads. The Ashes serve as a reminder of our mortality and our need for Jesus.

Another opportunity I would like to extend an invitation to you is for our Morning Prayer services at Lord of Life each weekday at 6:30am and 11:30am and on Saturdays at 9am. These are opportunities to come together during Lent as the people of God and to offer our common prayers before the Lord. It is an opportunity to seek greater intimacy with the Lord.

You should also know that this is the very last Sunday, February 26, to get your tickets for the Seder Dinner. Because the Seder Dinner is so early this year it may have snuck up on you. If you have been to the Seder Dinner in the past, it will be a little different this year. Greg Savitt of Chosen People Ministries will be our special guest. He will be leading the presentation called Messiah in the Passover. The Messiah in the Passover presentation is a powerful visual message no only of Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt, but of the redemption of individuals from the bondage of sin through the atoning work of Jesus. The presentation is designed to give participants a deeper understanding both of the Passover and of the Lord’s Supper.

It is my prayer that through your participation in the Seder Dinner you will develop a greater understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross and the Lord’s Supper we receive each Sunday at Lord of Life. It was during a Passover Seder that Jesus instituted this meal where we receive his body and blood in the bread and the wine.

I pray for God’s blessings upon your Lent journey. We humble ourselves these next 40 days, but it is not without hope. We expectantly anticipate the coming celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. As you humble yourself these next 6 weeks in prayer and fasting, think about how wonderful it will be to burst with joy on that most blessed day.

When They Wander Away

January 23, 2012 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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Today we we continue this message series entitled “For the Least of These.” This week we focus on what we do as parents when our children turn their backs to the faith they were raised in.

If you would like to go deeper on this subject, make sure to check out the book: When They Turn Away by Rob Rienow.

Daily David, Week 12, Day 5

November 18, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Today, is a bitter sweet day. This is the very last day of our study on King David. This Sunday will be the final message! The following Sunday, after Thanksgiving, we will begin a brand new message series with the start of Advent. We will be sticking with the Old Testament and be looking at the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah.

But today our reading is from the last book in the Bible. The reading is Revelation 2:1-7.

What does this text say about what God knows (2:2)? Is there anything we will do in our life that God is not aware of?

God knows everything. He knows your deeds, both good and bad. He sees the faith in your heart. Nothing we do in our life is outside the knowledge of God.

What is the Ephesian church commended for in this letter (2:2-3)? How are false apostles found out? How do we persevere and endure hardship without growing weary?

They are commended for their deeds, their hard work, and their perseverance. The tested those who claimed to be apostles by examining the Scriptures and their deeds. When we go through times of testing and hardship we persevere through seeking God and finding our strength in him. This happens through prayer and the Word.

What is held against the Ephesian church (2:4)? What are they called to do in response (2:5)?

They have forsaken their first love. This is their relationship with the Lord. They have set their eyes on other things. The Lord is no longer the passion of their life.

The calling is for them to return back to that first love and to love the Lord in the way they loved him at first. It is a call to renewal and revival.

Is there ways your love of God has been diminished? How do you return to loving God in the way you loved him in the past?

We are human are our relationship with the Lord ebbs and flows. It is easy to be distracted and to pursue other passions first. Returning to the Lord involves repentance and setting aside those things which distract and cause us to stumble.

What does it mean to overcome (2:7)? What were some of the things David overcame in his lifetime? What do you believe God is calling you to overcome in your lifetime? What is the reward?

To overcome is to let nothing come between us and Jesus. It is to push aside everything that hinders us from living passionately for him. When we think about David and what David overcame, he overcame fear to fight Goliath. He overcame the sin with Bathsheba through confession and repentance. He overcame disappointment in his life through prayer and trusting in the promises of God. He overcame when others stumbled, by living obedient to the Lord.

Some thoughts on sin

October 19, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Whether we admit it or not, we are all experts on the subject of sin. Unfortunately, we are experts for all the wrong reasons. It is a topic we know all too well.

Sin is something that must be dealt with. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Sin is what separates us from God and creates a barrier between us.

I share with you this week’s email, some thoughts on sin from last Sunday’s message on David and Bathsheba.

  • We like sin. Sin tastes good and feels good. There is no doubt that sin brings pleasure. It is desirous.

  • Sin is debt. There is literally hell to pay for sin. We might receive pleasure from sin upfront, but there is a cost that follows. Long after the pleasure we derived from our sin is gone, we will still be paying the consequences.

  • Sin has an irresistible pull. As irrational as it may be, we are still attracted to sin. If David had knew what his sin with Bathsheba would cost him, he would have ran as fast as he could. But the pull of sin is so strong, we let our guard down, and forget the consequences.

  • We can try to resist. There are certainly efforts we can make to avoid sin. We can get an accountability partner who will pray with and for us while holding us accountable for our actions. We can safeguard ourselves by avoiding situations where we are tempted towards sin. These are good, but . . .

  • The only thing that overcomes temptation is divine power. As much as we rely upon human will-power for over-coming temptation, we will eventually fall without God’s divine power. This is why Jesus teaches us to pray, lead us not into temptation. Jesu knows that without the Spirit of God at work in us we will never be able to overcome temptation.

  • When you stumble into sin, admit it. Sin loves to hide in the dark. It does not want to be exposed. When the time comes that you fall into sin, don’t keep it inside. Confess it to another believer or pastor. Write it down. Don’t make excuses or try to rationalize it. Just come clean. Do more than just think thoughts about how you are sorry. Externalize it. Until you get it out of you, it is going to continue to hurt you.

  • After you admit your sin, ask God for forgiveness. Don’t ask for forgiveness expecting him to forgive you. There is nothing that you have done to make you worthy of God’s forgiveness. It is not God’s obligation to forgive you. There is no reason he should forgive you. Ask humbly. Appeal to his mercy and kindness.

  • Receive God’s forgiveness by faith. Know that your sins are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. If God can forgive David, who was a murderer and adulterer, then he can forgive you. To say that my sin is so bad that God cannot forgive me is to say that the cross is not sufficient enough. It is to say that Jesus needed to do more than be beaten and die an excruciatingly painful death. Don’t think your sin is so bad that God’s love cannot cover it.

  • Make restitution for your sins. You can see the word restore. Making restitution is about making right was is wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot fully restore the damage we have done. In these moments we do everything that we can in our power no matter how much it costs us, trusting God will do the rest of the work.

  • Live a 180° life. This is what we call repentance. In the ancient Greek of the New Testament the word for repentance means to turn around and go the other direction. When I receive God’s forgiveness, I now seek to live differently than I lived before. I take a different road to travel. Jesus has given me a new life and a fresh start. I desire to honor him by doing everything possible to avoid going down the same road again and falling into that sin.

Avoiding Sin

October 17, 2011 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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Sin is fun, but there is literally hell to pay. The cost of sin is never upfront. We always pay on the back side. There is nothing rational about sin. There is just such a gravitational pull towards it.

In this message we will talk about what sin is, what sin does, how to avoid it, and what to do when we fall into it. The reading for today is the infamous story of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel 11-12.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 4

October 13, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

We turn to the New Testament today. We have look at the impact of sin in the life of David, but Jesus has much to say about sin as well. Two places we will look are Matthew 5:17-37 and Matthew 18:1-9.

What is the consequence of violating God’s commands (5:19)?

Jesus says you will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Violating God’s commands will not jeopardize your salvation. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But there is still reward for obedience and consequences for disobedience.

What does Jesus say about being angry with another person (5:22)

It says you will be subject to judgment. It puts you in danger of the fires of hell.

What does Jesus say constitutes adultery (5:28)?

It says to look lustfully at another woman is to commit adultery. We can imply it also applies towards women looking at men as well.

What steps should be take to avoid sin (5:29-30, 18:8-9)? Do think Jesus is talking literally or figuratively here?

Jesus uses what is call hyperbole for emphasis here. But he is not really exaggerating here. Sin is serious business. Sin reaps heavy consequences in our lives. We should not take sin lightly. We typically blow sin off. We know Jesus died for us. We say thank you Jesus and then we move on without much thought. But do not take Jesus’ forgiveness for granted and do not disregard the serious consequences sin will bring into your lie. It will devastate your life if you overlook it.

Is your attitude toward sin – “how much can I get away with?” or “avoid it at all cost?” What is the godly response? Why would “how much can I get away with?” be considered playing with fire?

Too often our attitude is about what we can get away. We try to push the limits. We look to see how far we can bend without breaking. But this is not he attitude God desires. It should not be how much we can get away with in our life. It should rather be about how much we can honor him with our life. If our faith is right and our attitude is right, then our desire will be to have nothing to do with sin and to avoid any potentially compromising situations.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 3

October 12, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Psalm 51 is an incredible Psalm. It is a Psalm where David is so transparent. His sin against Bathsheba has been exposed. The only thing he can do now is come clean and he does. Here he asks for God’s forgiveness. He asks for God to restore him.

When celebrities and politicians get caught in sin, they are often sorry they got caught. They are not so much sorry for having sinned. But David is a breath of fresh air. In the words of these Psalms we can see that he is not just sorry he got caught, but that he is sorrowful over his sin.

What is mercy (51:1)?

Mercy is undeserved kindness. It is act of giving grace. It is allowing a person to live even though they deserve to die. It is canceling a debt a debtor cannot pay back. It is allowing a person to maintain their position even though their actions warrant removal. To give mercy is to treat someone better than their actions deserve.

When we sin, who are we ultimately rebelling against (51:4)?

We are rebelling against God. God has given us his commandments. Sin at the heart is doing what God has told us not to do. He is our creator and he did not create us to sin.

If I was to build a computer, but the computer did not do what I wanted it to do, it would not be a very useful computer. There would not be much purpose for it. I would either throw it away or tear it down and sell it for parts. In much the same way when we do not do what God created us to do, then we are an offense to him.

What does it mean to have a pure heart? A steadfast spirit (51:10)?

A pure heart is to have a right motive. It is do good simply for the purpose of doing good and serving the Lord. Sometimes we have an agenda. Our motives are not pure. We do “good” for self gain.

To have a steadfast spirit is to remain loyal and true. It is is being true to ourself and to God. It is about doing what we say we will do no matter how hard it might be. It is to not give up and stand strong in the face of temptation.

Why would David need to be worried about being cast from God’s presence (51:11)?

God is holy. He is righteous. He is without sin. God and sin do not mix. David had committed a great sin. When we sin, we are essentially telling God that we don’t care what he thinks or what he says. We are essentially saying, “God, I don’t need you. I think I can do better.”

What is the response to God’s healing and forgiveness (51:13-15)?

David says that he will teach others about God’s goodness. He will speak the truth to others who are engaged in sin, that they might turn from their ways. He says he will sing praise unto the Lord with his lips.

What does God desire of us when we fall to temptation (51:16-17)?

God knows there are times when we will stumble and fall. In these times, God desires for us to turn from our sin and to turn back to him. It is more than just saying, “God, I am sorry, I will not let that happen again.” It is taking a serious hard look at how we got ourselves in the situation in the first place and then doing everything in our power not to let it happen again.

At the same time, no amount of will power is going to keep us from sin and help us resist temptation. Ultimately, it goes back to God. God’s Holy Spirit living in us is the only way to overcome sin. The more and more he dwells in us the more and more we will be able to stand strong. So the more and the more we need to go to the places where we know he dwells, and go less and less to the places we know we are given to temptation.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 2

October 11, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

David had committed the sin with Bathsheba. Now he is confronted with the sin. It is a sin he can no longer hide in the dark. The prophet Nathan comes to confront David. Nathan was the man David needed in the previous chapter to hold him accountable. Today’s readying is 2 Samuel 12.

Who is the poor man in Nathan’s story (12:1)? The rich man (12:1)

The poor man was Uriah. David was the rich man.

Why do you think Nathan used this story instead of telling David straight up he had sinned (12:1-4)?

The reason for using the story was to take David off of the defensive. It was to speak the truth in love. He did not want to condemn David, but for David to be convicted in his own heart.

Why is it easier to point out the sin of others than it is to see our own sin?

Jesus warns against pointing out the speck in another’s eye while failing to see the log that is in your own eye. We resist seeing the sin in ourselves. When we are able to point out the sin of others it will take the focus off of us.

What does Nathan say would be the consequence of David’s sin (12:10)?

He tells David that his family will live by the sword. After this event David’s family was faced with constant turmoil. David would have a daughter rapped and three sons killed.

Temptation does not set out to turn us into an enemy of God, but to forget about God. Not only does temptation cause us to forget about God, it also causes us to downplay the consequences of our sin. How do you see this in the story of David? In our culture? In your life?

One of the reasons we so easily engage in sin is because we fail to consider the consequences of our actions. When we watch television you rarely see the consequences of fornication and adultery. Everyone is usually having a good time. Sin has good “PR.” It has marketing genius. People buy into it, but fail to realize the full cost. We would not sin if we did not think we could get away with it.

Who is the second son born to David and Bathsheba (12:24)? Who would Solomon become?

Solomon was the second born. He would become king after David. He would build the temple in Jerusalem and was known for his magnificent wisdom.

God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba, but how does God still use this for good?

God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba. They would reap the consequences of their sin for the rest of their life. Yet, Solomon would come out of this relationship and ultimately Jesus would be born generations later. God would provide the salvation of the world. There is no greater example of God bring good out of something so bad.

When You Feel Unappreciated

September 26, 2011 in Sermons with 0 Comments

When You Feel Unappreciated

We continue our message series on King David this week as we examine a lesser known story of David. Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath. Most people know the story of David and Bathsheba. Fewer people know the story of David, Nabal, and Abigail.

This story comes from 1 Samuel 25. It is a lesson for us for those times when we feel insulted or not appreciated. In this story we see a surprising response from David that we should not expect from a man after God’s own heart. But thanks to the wisdom of a godly woman, David comes to his senses and relents from his foolishness.

Spirit of Complaint

July 19, 2011 in Weekly Email with 2 Comments

Today is one of those days when it is in vogue to complain about the weather. It is hot! It is humid. It is really ugly out there. We are good at complaining about the weather. But it is not just the weather we are good at complaining about. After posting yesterday’s blogpost I realized we are good at complaining about a lot of different things. We are a lot like Job who says: “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” (Job 7:11)

I must confess I am the chief of sinners when it comes to complaining. I think about the things I complained about just yesterday alone. A stoplight light turned red and I complained about the traffic. I went to the Cubs game and Wrigley Field and complained about how bad the Cubs are and how expensive the food was. I read the news and complained about the politicians in Washington and Springfield. A complaint from Sunday worship was brought to me and I complained about people complaining. I could go on, but I think you get the point. I am good at complaining and I imagine you are not that much different from me.

At the end of the Book of Job, God confronts Job’s complaining spirit. Job responds by saying:

    2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2–6)

When confronted by Lord, Job’s only response was to repent of his presumptuous words and attitude towards God. He came to realize that the bitterness he was carrying was not serving him or anyone else.

If a spirit of complaint is something you are guilty of I want to invite you to confess this sin before God with me. Ask for his forgiveness and then for the Holy Spirit to move you to repentance. Ask that the Holy Spirit would change your heart of bitter complaint to one of thankful praise. Ask him to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and put to death the spirit of complaint.

The next time you sense that grumbling coming from your heart, mind, or mouth consider the following:

1) What is God teaching me to be grateful for? What is the lesson to be learned? When I think about the things I complained about yesterday, they are so silly. Why am I complaining about the traffic when God has blessed me with a car to drive and the ability to get around with such freedom? Why am I complaining about a $4 hotdog when others can’t afford 10 cent rice? Complaint will rise up within us when we fail to see blessings God has poured out for us.

2) How is God calling me to action? There are times when we will encounter a situation where we may have complaint against another person or group of people. We may have a complaint against a program or a ministry. Maybe the reason there is an unsettled tension in your heart is because God is calling you to action and to be a part of the solution. Often times if I am not part of the solution, I am part of the problem. Rather than complain about something you don’t like, consider volunteering to serve to make a difference. It is proven the more involved you are in something, the less likely you are to complain. In sports the biggest complainers are not the players on the field, but those who observe from the seats and on television.

It is unfortunate Christians are often known more for what they complain about than what they are grateful for. Christians are often identified more by what they stand against than what they stand for. How about you? Are you known more for what you don’t like? Are you known for what you are critical against? Or are you identified by others as one who exhibits love, compassion, and gratitude?

As you think about cultivating a attitude of gratitude you might consider writing some notes of encouragement and thankfulness to others. When you hear someone complain about today’s weather, share with them how everyday is a gift from God. But maybe the most important thing you can do is that when you start to give voice to your complaint, stop and give ear to what God is saying.

What are some other ways you might cultivate an attitude of gratitude? I would be interested to hear from you. Feel free to click on the comments link above to share your thoughts with me and others.