WEEK 1
REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND THAT INVOLVES TURNING AWAY FROM IDOLS IN THE HEART AND MAKING A COMPLETE CHANGE OF DIRECTION (180° TURN) TOWARD GOD. EZEKIEL 14:6 SAYS, "THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; REPENT, AND TURN YOURSELVES FRREPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND THAT INVOLVES TURNING AWAY FROM IDOLS IN THE HEART AND MAKING A COMPLETE CHANGE OF DIRECTION (180° TURN) TOWARD GOD. EZEKIEL 14:6 SAYS, "THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; REPENT, AND TURN YOURSELVES FROM YOUR IDOLS; AND TURN AWAY YOUR FACES FROM ALL YOUR ABOMINATIONS." WHEN A PERSON CHANGES THEIR MIND ABOUT SIN, A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR WILL NATURALLY RESULT. FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO REPENTED OF THEIR SINS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OFTEN SHOWED OUTWARD EVIDENCE BY TEARING DOWN IDOLATROUS STATUES (SEE II KINGS 11:18). IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, SIGNS OF REPENTANCE INCLUDED WATER BAPTISM, RESTITUTION FOR THEFT, AND THE BURNING OF OCCULTIC POSSESSIONS (SEE MATTHEW 11:20-21; MARK 1:4; LUKE 19:8; ACTS 19:19). SUCH DEEDS ARE CALLED "FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE" (MATTHEW 3:8).
IDOLATRY IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE GOLDEN IDOLS OR STATUES BUT IN THE 21ST CENTURY A HOUSE, CARS, MONEY, WOMEN, MEN CAREERS ECT.
WORKING HARD IS A GOOD THING. OWNING A HOME IS A GOOD THING. HAVING A NICE HOLIDAY FROM TIME TO TIME TO RELAX AND REJUVENATE IS A GOOD THING. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN WE TAKE IT TOO FAR, THE DANGER IS THAT THESE THINGS CONTROLS US AND CONSUME MUCH OF OUR THOUGHT LIFE. THAT IS WHEN IDOLATRY HAS GOTTEN A FOOTHOLD IN OUR LIFE.
GOD DOESN’T WANT ANYTHING TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND HIM. HE LOVES YOU, WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. HE IS NOT TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM HAVING GOOD THINGS AND ENJOYING GREAT EXPERIENCES, HE JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR PURPOSE ON EARTH, THAT IS TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM, OR TO BECOME SO CONSUMED BY THINGS TO THE WORLD THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM SUFFERS, OR WORSE STILL CEASES ALTOGETHER.
PAUL WARNS US THAT GREED IS IDOLATRY IN HIS LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS:
“PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY”
COLOSSIANS 3:5
PAUL WARNS US THAT IN OUR AGE PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF MONEY.
IN 1 TIMOTHY 6:10 HE SAYS:
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL. SOME PEOPLE, EAGER FOR MONEY, HAVE WANDERED FROM THE FAITH AND PIERCED THEMSELVES WITH MANY GRIEFS.
GOD NEVER SAID THAT MONEY, NOR HAVING IT OR MAKING IT IS EVIL. IT IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THAT IS EVIL. SO LET ME CHALLENGE YOU TODAY, BY ASKING YOU THIS – ARE THERE ANY POSSESSION OR PLANS IN YOUR LIFE THAT ARE DISTRACTING YOU FROM YOUR LOVE OF GOD AND HOLDING YOU BACK FROM THE PURPOSE HE HAS FOR YOU? IF SO, IT IS EASY TO FIX, AND GOD LOVES A REPENTANT HEART. HE WILL HELP YOU BACK ON TRACK AND LIVE FOR HIM EACH DAY.
TAKE THE TIME THIS WEEK TO DO SELF INVENTORY; PRAY AND MEDITATE.
ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE AREAS IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEED REPENTANCE. ONCE GOD REVEALS IT IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPENT.
OM YOUR IDOLS; AND TURN AWAY YOUR FACES FROM ALL YOUR ABOMINATIONS." WHEN A PERSON CHANGES THEIR MIND ABOUT SIN, A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR WILL NATURALLY RESULT. FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO REPENTED OF THEIR SINS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OFTEN SHOWED OUTWARD EVIDENCE BY TEARING DOWN IDOLATROUS STATUES (SEE II KINGS 11:18). IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, SIGNS OF REPENTANCE INCLUDED WATER BAPTISM, RESTITUTION FOR THEFT, AND THE BURNING OF OCCULTIC POSSESSIONS (SEE MATTHEW 11:20-21; MARK 1:4; LUKE 19:8; ACTS 19:19). SUCH DEEDS ARE CALLED "FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE" (MATTHEW 3:8).
IDOLATRY IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE GOLDEN IDOLS OR STATUES BUT IN THE 21ST CENTURY A HOUSE, CARS, MONEY, WOMEN, MEN CAREERS ECT.
WORKING HARD IS A GOOD THING. OWNING A HOME IS A GOOD THING. HAVING A NICE HOLIDAY FROM TIME TO TIME TO RELAX AND REJUVENATE IS A GOOD THING. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN WE TAKE IT TOO FAR, THE DANGER IS THAT THESE THINGS CONTROLS US AND CONSUME MUCH OF OUR THOUGHT LIFE. THAT IS WHEN IDOLATRY HAS GOTTEN A FOOTHOLD IN OUR LIFE.
GOD DOESN’T WANT ANYTHING TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND HIM. HE LOVES YOU, WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. HE IS NOT TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM HAVING GOOD THINGS AND ENJOYING GREAT EXPERIENCES, HE JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR PURPOSE ON EARTH, THAT IS TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM, OR TO BECOME SO CONSUMED BY THINGS TO THE WORLD THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM SUFFERS, OR WORSE STILL CEASES ALTOGETHER.
PAUL WARNS US THAT GREED IS IDOLATRY IN HIS LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS:
“PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY”
COLOSSIANS 3:5
PAUL WARNS US THAT IN OUR AGE PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF MONEY.
IN 1 TIMOTHY 6:10 HE SAYS:
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL. SOME PEOPLE, EAGER FOR MONEY, HAVE WANDERED FROM THE FAITH AND PIERCED THEMSELVES WITH MANY GRIEFS.
GOD NEVER SAID THAT MONEY, NOR HAVING IT OR MAKING IT IS EVIL. IT IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THAT IS EVIL. SO LET ME CHALLENGE YOU TODAY, BY ASKING YOU THIS – ARE THERE ANY POSSESSION OR PLANS IN YOUR LIFE THAT ARE DISTRACTING YOU FROM YOUR LOVE OF GOD AND HOLDING YOU BACK FROM THE PURPOSE HE HAS FOR YOU? IF SO, IT IS EASY TO FIX, AND GOD LOVES A REPENTANT HEART. HE WILL HELP YOU BACK ON TRACK AND LIVE FOR HIM EACH DAY.
TAKE THE TIME THIS WEEK TO DO SELF INVENTORY; PRAY AND MEDITATE.
ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE AREAS IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEED REPENTANCE. ONCE GOD REVEALS IT IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPENT.