Repentance Precedes Revival

Preparing the Way of the Lord Into Our Hearts

Greatest Sickness of AllSin Sickness

Greatest WMD in Universe

Sin Sickness

• Hyper-contagious: All humanity “caught it” from Adam

• “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned…”(Rom. 5:12)

Jesus Died for All Sins

• “He {Jesus} is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

God’s cure for All SinThe Blood of Jesus

His Blood Heals

• Jesus said: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matt. 26:28

• Blood = Metonomy: part stands for whole.

• Metaphor

RepentanceGod’s Path to God’s Cure

What Is Repentance?• metanoia: Meta ( change) Noia ( Mind)

• “Repenting means experiencing a change of mind that now sees God as true and beautiful and worthy of all our praise and all our obedience.” ( Pastor John Piper)

• The inner change leads to outward changes:

• We decide to stop sinning. We confess and repent of sin because we love God more than our sin.

• The Prodigal Son—great example.

Two Kinds of Repentance• For Salvation: The normal usage in the Book of Acts: Turning to

Jesus for salvation

•  “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ( Acts 2:38)

• “…And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) (Note: this repentance is a gift—Eph. 2:8)

• “Thus it is written…that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

• For closer relationship with God & Others:

• 1John 1:9  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

• “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” ( Spoken to a new Christian, Simon by Peter in Acts 8:22)

• Rev. 2:5: ‘Therefore,…repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent.”

• Rev. 3:19: “As many as I love {Christians}, I {Jesus} rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

• The Prodigal Son—Repentance restored the relationship

Two Kinds of Repentance

• To keep our salvation

• “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal.5:19-23)

• “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

Two Kinds of Repentance

The Asbury Revival185 hours starting on Feb 3, 1970

Let’s Repent Now• Any known sin

• Especially unforgiveness against anyone

• Repent of any belief that does not agree with the Bible

• About your personal identity or value, especially fears

• fear = faith in a lie. Fear competes with faith and can displace it if we let it.

• So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage. (Ex. 6:9)

• About God, Jesus, salvation or the Bible