Hello, I am Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.06\00:00:02.56 Do you know the joy of repentance? 00:00:02.59\00:00:05.72 Yes, I said, joy of repentance. 00:00:05.75\00:00:09.16 Please join us today on "Pressing in to His Presence" 00:00:09.19\00:00:12.79 and we will see how God can empower us 00:00:12.82\00:00:16.67 to walk away from our sin problem. 00:00:16.70\00:00:19.86 Welcome to "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:00:41.25\00:00:43.92 This series is dedicated to learning 00:00:43.95\00:00:47.02 how to draw near to God in prayer 00:00:47.05\00:00:50.45 to seek His face and not just His hand. 00:00:50.48\00:00:55.30 We are flushing out the acronym 00:00:55.33\00:00:58.23 for the praise prayer. 00:00:58.26\00:01:00.49 P-R-A-I-S-E each of these letters 00:01:00.52\00:01:03.93 standing for different segment of our prayers. 00:01:03.96\00:01:06.72 And in our last couple of programs 00:01:06.75\00:01:09.71 we considered the "P" 00:01:09.74\00:01:11.70 which stands for the praise segment. 00:01:11.73\00:01:14.60 We learn the benefit to us when we enter into His gates 00:01:14.63\00:01:18.38 with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. 00:01:18.41\00:01:22.38 Today, we will contemplate the "R" 00:01:22.41\00:01:25.04 which stands for repentance 00:01:25.07\00:01:27.16 and our resource for this series 00:01:27.19\00:01:30.20 is a book I was privileged to write 00:01:30.23\00:01:32.21 also titled "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:01:32.24\00:01:34.93 So if you're following along today in your book 00:01:34.96\00:01:37.54 today, we begin on Chapter 4. 00:01:37.57\00:01:41.84 When I was first learning how to pray 00:01:41.87\00:01:44.20 in a more intimate fashion I was completely aware 00:01:44.23\00:01:48.25 of my total dependence on God to teach me. 00:01:48.28\00:01:51.42 I remember the first day as I was sitting at my computer 00:01:51.45\00:01:54.37 because I was trying journaling writing up my prayer to God 00:01:54.40\00:01:59.55 which isn't absolutely necessary 00:01:59.58\00:02:02.32 but it is greatly beneficial 00:02:02.35\00:02:04.21 to maintaining focus during you prayer 00:02:04.24\00:02:06.94 and if we increase our focus it increases our intimacy. 00:02:06.97\00:02:11.37 But anyway, as I contemplated in what I was to do 00:02:11.40\00:02:17.08 after I completed the praise prayer 00:02:17.11\00:02:20.95 I knew well, it's time to see God again 00:02:20.98\00:02:23.52 for the next step to press into His presence. 00:02:23.55\00:02:26.57 So I said Holy Father, what shall I do now 00:02:26.60\00:02:30.34 to come closer before You? 00:02:30.37\00:02:33.39 In King David's words from Psalm 24:3, 4 came to my mind. 00:02:33.42\00:02:40.11 Here's what David wrote. 00:02:40.14\00:02:42.11 "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? 00:02:42.14\00:02:46.06 Or who may stand in His holy place? 00:02:46.09\00:02:50.09 He who has clean hands and a pure heart." 00:02:50.12\00:02:55.40 You know, there is no doubt about it 00:02:55.43\00:02:57.40 sin erects a barrier of separation 00:02:57.43\00:03:00.86 between us and Holy God. 00:03:00.89\00:03:03.91 Sin hinders prayer. 00:03:03.94\00:03:06.91 Psalm 66:18 says, 00:03:06.94\00:03:10.59 "If I regard iniquity in my heart, 00:03:10.62\00:03:13.59 the Lord will not hear me." 00:03:13.62\00:03:16.00 And please take note the symptoms one have to be 00:03:16.03\00:03:19.62 what we mortals would categorize as major. 00:03:19.65\00:03:23.16 For example, in 1 Peter 3:7, Peter warns husbands 00:03:23.19\00:03:27.93 that if they don't honor their wife 00:03:27.96\00:03:29.95 as a cool air of the grace of life 00:03:29.98\00:03:32.85 dwelling with their wife and understanding. 00:03:32.88\00:03:35.61 Well, he's warned the God won't hear his prayers. 00:03:35.64\00:03:39.00 His prayers will be hindered. 00:03:39.03\00:03:40.78 Worse yet unconfused sin causes spiritual drought. 00:03:40.81\00:03:45.71 Please consider these words of David from Psalm 32:3-6. 00:03:45.74\00:03:51.91 He said, "When I kept silent Your hand was heavy upon me, 00:03:51.94\00:03:57.31 my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. 00:03:57.34\00:04:01.51 I acknowledged my sin to You, 00:04:01.54\00:04:03.21 and my iniquity I have not hidden. 00:04:03.24\00:04:05.64 I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' 00:04:05.67\00:04:08.94 and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. 00:04:08.97\00:04:12.40 For this cause everyone who is godly 00:04:12.43\00:04:16.71 shall pray to You in a time when You may be found." 00:04:16.74\00:04:21.18 So to overcome to his spiritual drought David just confessed 00:04:21.21\00:04:24.48 and said God forgive him, 00:04:24.51\00:04:26.41 so then he compress into the presence of God. 00:04:26.44\00:04:30.13 So here I am asking God what's the next step 00:04:30.16\00:04:32.81 of pressing into His presence 00:04:32.84\00:04:34.81 and He made it abundantly clear. 00:04:34.84\00:04:37.55 Of course, I needed to seek forgiveness from my sins 00:04:37.58\00:04:41.00 to draw near to my holy and righteous Father. 00:04:41.03\00:04:44.30 I must confess all the ways I had miss the mark 00:04:44.33\00:04:47.19 of His righteousness in repent if I did not 00:04:47.22\00:04:51.07 sin would spoil my success in seeking God's face. 00:04:51.10\00:04:55.96 So, what is repentance? 00:04:55.99\00:04:59.67 It is more than just remorse and mere confession of sins. 00:04:59.70\00:05:05.05 How do we truly repent? 00:05:05.08\00:05:07.67 It is crucial that we understand God's guidelines 00:05:07.70\00:05:10.70 and let's consider the process of repentance. 00:05:10.73\00:05:14.39 Repentance begins when-- with recognition of sin 00:05:14.42\00:05:20.08 and as we examine ourselves in this light of God's word 00:05:20.11\00:05:24.67 the character of our conduct is exposed 00:05:24.70\00:05:27.64 and under Holy Sprits conducting power 00:05:27.67\00:05:30.33 will begin to think differently 00:05:30.36\00:05:32.50 recognizing the foul essence of sin. 00:05:32.53\00:05:36.37 And as we begin to interpret God's marvelous love 00:05:36.40\00:05:40.25 and see how we've sinned against Him, 00:05:40.28\00:05:43.04 godly sorrow seizes our hearts, we regret our sins 00:05:43.07\00:05:47.84 and then this godly sorrow produces a change of heart 00:05:47.87\00:05:52.12 which leads us to repentance and unto salvation. 00:05:52.15\00:05:55.51 Confession is the next critical step. 00:05:55.54\00:05:58.41 This demonstrates that we have had a change of mind 00:05:58.44\00:06:02.13 regarding our sin sick behavior and through confession 00:06:02.16\00:06:05.92 we seek forgiveness, forgiveness of our sins 00:06:05.95\00:06:09.73 acknowledging our need for our Savior. 00:06:09.76\00:06:12.73 So when confession is accompanied 00:06:12.76\00:06:15.59 and then with God like sorrow and our sincere desire 00:06:15.62\00:06:19.98 to change God forgives us and He cleanses us 00:06:20.01\00:06:23.83 of all unrighteousness, hallelujah. 00:06:23.86\00:06:26.95 Our challenge is to learn to receive God's forgiveness. 00:06:26.98\00:06:31.66 This is how we disarm the devil and extricate ourselves 00:06:31.69\00:06:35.17 from this quick sand trap of condemnation. 00:06:35.20\00:06:39.02 And now, we are ready to do a 180 degree turn around 00:06:39.05\00:06:42.95 but we can't achieve this by human willpower alone. 00:06:42.98\00:06:46.95 It is God who gives us the power 00:06:46.98\00:06:49.54 to change our conduct. 00:06:49.57\00:06:51.35 Repentance is a gift granted by God to the penitent. 00:06:51.38\00:06:56.02 It is His power working mightily within us 00:06:56.05\00:06:59.71 that enables us to turn back to Him and to do His will. 00:06:59.74\00:07:04.83 Now let's sum up this five step process of repentance. 00:07:04.86\00:07:09.95 The first step is, recognition of sin. 00:07:09.98\00:07:15.37 We recognize and think differently 00:07:15.40\00:07:18.51 about ungodly behavior. 00:07:18.54\00:07:20.62 This second step is, Godly sorrow 00:07:20.65\00:07:23.39 causes us to regret our sin. 00:07:23.42\00:07:26.30 Our attitudes are altered. 00:07:26.33\00:07:28.77 We confess our sins asking for forgiveness. 00:07:28.80\00:07:33.10 And then the forth step is we receive God's forgiveness 00:07:33.13\00:07:37.47 applying His healing balm to our wounded souls 00:07:37.50\00:07:40.69 and finally step number five, we receive God's power. 00:07:40.72\00:07:46.14 This is the most important step. 00:07:46.17\00:07:48.41 We receive god's power to change our conduct 00:07:48.44\00:07:51.76 and make a "U" turn in the right direction 00:07:51.79\00:07:54.91 straight toward Him. 00:07:54.94\00:07:57.99 There is real joy in true repentance. 00:07:58.02\00:08:01.29 It wasn't until several months after the Lord taught me 00:08:01.32\00:08:03.78 the joy of repentance that I recognize 00:08:03.81\00:08:06.17 His continual leading 00:08:06.20\00:08:08.10 in this continuation of the sanctuary theme 00:08:08.13\00:08:11.83 and that's how the prayer pattern was being laid out. 00:08:11.86\00:08:15.07 Before the priest of old could enter into his holy place 00:08:15.10\00:08:18.73 drawing near to God they first encountered 00:08:18.76\00:08:22.58 the altar of burnt offering in the outer court 00:08:22.61\00:08:25.18 where the sacrifice for sin was offered. 00:08:25.21\00:08:27.99 And in the book Pressing into His Presence 00:08:28.02\00:08:30.35 I provide a brief overview as a matter of observation only 00:08:30.38\00:08:34.96 of the similarities between each prayer segment 00:08:34.99\00:08:38.62 in the ancient sanctuary theme. 00:08:38.65\00:08:41.43 So with that in mind let's take a brief look 00:08:41.46\00:08:45.01 at the altar burnt offering 00:08:45.04\00:08:47.11 that's first article of the outer court 00:08:47.14\00:08:49.81 and consider how it relates to repentance. 00:08:49.84\00:08:53.15 The outer court was enclosed with linen hangings 00:08:53.18\00:08:56.62 and there were 150 feet long by 75 feet wide. 00:08:56.65\00:09:01.25 As the worshipers entered the court 00:09:01.28\00:09:03.63 the most conspicuous item in front of them 00:09:03.66\00:09:06.91 was the impressive site of the altar of burnt offering. 00:09:06.94\00:09:11.40 It was centered midway between the gate 00:09:11.43\00:09:13.92 and the door of the tabernacle. 00:09:13.95\00:09:16.28 It was overlaid with bronze, four square form 00:09:16.31\00:09:20.25 seven and half feet on each side, 00:09:20.28\00:09:23.43 four and half feet high 00:09:23.46\00:09:25.41 and it was up on a large platform 00:09:25.44\00:09:28.00 and large horns projected from each corner. 00:09:28.03\00:09:32.67 The blood stained exterior witnessed against the guilt 00:09:32.70\00:09:37.17 and hoer of sin which deserve the rapt of righteous God. 00:09:37.20\00:09:42.54 Smoke ascending from a continuously burning fire 00:09:42.57\00:09:47.16 served as a manifestation of God's mercy 00:09:47.19\00:09:49.83 and forgiveness secured through a subsidiary sacrifice. 00:09:49.86\00:09:54.73 Man did not kindled the flame for this fire. 00:09:54.76\00:09:58.07 Leviticus 9:24 explains that the altar had been 00:09:58.10\00:10:01.19 supernaturally set ablaze when fire came out 00:10:01.22\00:10:05.09 from before the Lord to consume the very first offering. 00:10:05.12\00:10:09.17 And this divine flame was never allowed to go out, 00:10:09.20\00:10:12.23 it was transported in a fire pan. 00:10:12.26\00:10:14.92 So when the portable sanctuary moved the fire went with it. 00:10:14.95\00:10:19.34 This testified to the fact that only God has the power 00:10:19.37\00:10:23.01 to consume the sacrificed and absolve the sinner. 00:10:23.04\00:10:27.09 The altar of burnt offerings was also called 00:10:27.12\00:10:29.65 "the Table of the Lord" upon which 00:10:29.68\00:10:32.59 no imperfect sacrifice could be offered. 00:10:32.62\00:10:36.02 As part of the daily service 00:10:36.05\00:10:37.93 the priest made an offering for the nation 00:10:37.96\00:10:40.67 that consisted of two male lambs 00:10:40.70\00:10:43.26 each in their first year without blemish. 00:10:43.29\00:10:47.37 One was sacrificed at the dawn of the day 00:10:47.40\00:10:50.37 and the second in the evening. 00:10:50.40\00:10:52.57 This was a confirmation 00:10:52.60\00:10:54.79 of the nation's concentration to God 00:10:54.82\00:10:58.39 and it was a constant dependence upon Him 00:10:58.42\00:11:01.33 before atonement from sin. 00:11:01.36\00:11:03.90 So on this altar offerings for individual sin were also made. 00:11:03.93\00:11:10.76 The death of the animals demonstrated 00:11:10.79\00:11:13.95 that sinners deserved to die for their sins, 00:11:13.98\00:11:17.04 but were reconciled to God by transferring their sins 00:11:17.07\00:11:20.57 to a sacrificed victim which served as a substitute. 00:11:20.60\00:11:24.90 A guilty party could also flee to the blood smeared horns 00:11:24.93\00:11:28.79 of this altar and cling to them for asylum. 00:11:28.82\00:11:32.35 Today, Hebrews 13:10 tells us this. 00:11:32.38\00:11:35.52 It says, "We have an altar from which 00:11:35.55\00:11:40.10 those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat." 00:11:40.13\00:11:45.50 The altar had burnt offering 00:11:45.53\00:11:47.50 pointed to Calvary's blood strained cross. 00:11:47.53\00:11:51.26 Our New Testament altar which is witness of our guilt 00:11:51.29\00:11:55.27 and our great need to be reconciled to God. 00:11:55.30\00:11:58.33 The sacrificial animals were a type of Christ. 00:11:58.36\00:12:02.36 The lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. 00:12:02.39\00:12:05.13 "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 00:12:05.16\00:12:08.44 Isaiah, 53:5, 6 tells us 00:12:08.47\00:12:12.46 that "The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. 00:12:12.49\00:12:15.70 "The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." 00:12:15.73\00:12:20.43 Christ is both our substitutionary sacrifice 00:12:20.46\00:12:24.11 and our priest. 00:12:24.14\00:12:25.41 He died the death that we deserve 00:12:25.44\00:12:27.14 so that we might live the life that He deserves. 00:12:27.17\00:12:31.28 And Hebrews 7: 25 promises that as our high priest Jesus Christ 00:12:31.31\00:12:38.62 ever lives to make intercession for us 00:12:38.65\00:12:41.33 and He is able to save to the uttermost. 00:12:41.36\00:12:45.90 Hebrews 12:28, 29 says this, 00:12:45.93\00:12:49.90 "Let us have grace by which we may serve God 00:12:49.93\00:12:54.82 acceptably with reverence 00:12:54.85\00:12:57.63 and Godly fear for our God is a consuming fire." 00:12:57.66\00:13:02.83 Because we know God has a loving Heavenly Father. 00:13:02.86\00:13:06.06 I think perhaps we take for granted 00:13:06.09\00:13:08.73 the Holiness of His character. 00:13:08.76\00:13:11.06 Yes, God loves the sinner 00:13:11.09\00:13:13.06 but sin is an abomination to Him. 00:13:13.09\00:13:16.89 Without the Blood of Christ covering us, 00:13:16.92\00:13:19.79 sinners like us could not stand in the presence of a Holy God. 00:13:19.82\00:13:23.50 We would be consumed by His brightness. 00:13:23.53\00:13:26.69 In 1 Corinthians 10:21 Paul warned 00:13:26.72\00:13:30.22 that we can not partake of the Lord's table 00:13:30.25\00:13:32.46 and of the table of demons. 00:13:32.49\00:13:34.31 He said, "What fellowship or what partnership 00:13:34.34\00:13:37.84 has righteousness with lawlessness?" 00:13:37.87\00:13:40.24 What fellowship has light with darkness 00:13:40.27\00:13:43.20 to enjoy communication in prayer 00:13:43.23\00:13:45.15 in the presence of our Lord we must first stop 00:13:45.18\00:13:49.06 at the cross our New Testament altar. 00:13:49.09\00:13:53.29 1 Peter 1:18, 19 requires our serious contemplation. 00:13:53.32\00:13:59.88 It says, "Knowing that you were not redeemed 00:13:59.91\00:14:03.55 with corruptible things, like silver or gold, 00:14:03.58\00:14:06.44 from your aimless conduct 00:14:06.47\00:14:08.11 received by tradition from your fathers, 00:14:08.14\00:14:11.11 but with the precious blood of Christ, 00:14:11.14\00:14:15.22 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 00:14:15.25\00:14:21.02 Our communion with God is through the blood of Christ, 00:14:21.05\00:14:24.75 we are accepted in His beloved Son 00:14:24.78\00:14:27.93 and in Him we receive the riches of God's grace, 00:14:27.96\00:14:32.69 the redemption through His blood 00:14:32.72\00:14:34.90 and the forgiveness of sins. 00:14:34.93\00:14:36.77 Our daily sacrifice of confession and repentance 00:14:36.80\00:14:40.74 is the process of applying the blood of Christ 00:14:40.77\00:14:44.11 who offered Himself without spot to God 00:14:44.14\00:14:46.93 that we might be cleansed, 00:14:46.96\00:14:49.61 our consciences might be cleansed 00:14:49.64\00:14:51.55 to serve the living God. 00:14:51.58\00:14:53.61 In this way, it's like we're grabbing 00:14:53.64\00:14:55.98 hold the horn of our salvation. 00:14:56.01\00:14:58.27 We make peace through the blood of His cross 00:14:58.30\00:15:01.67 and Christ presents us holy and blameless 00:15:01.70\00:15:04.96 before the Almighty. 00:15:04.99\00:15:06.61 Hallelujah this is the true joy of repentance. 00:15:06.64\00:15:10.74 In our next program we're gonna take a closer look 00:15:10.77\00:15:14.05 at repentance but today we will first spend 00:15:14.08\00:15:17.55 a few moments in the study of sin. 00:15:17.58\00:15:20.12 Now, don't sigh, I know this is something 00:15:20.15\00:15:23.39 you might not eagerly embraced 00:15:23.42\00:15:25.68 but I promise it will serve a great purpose 00:15:25.71\00:15:28.11 and it will offer a personal benefit to you. 00:15:28.14\00:15:31.76 Why? 00:15:31.79\00:15:32.83 Because the recognition of sin is the beginning of repentance 00:15:32.86\00:15:37.57 and repentance brings times of refreshing. 00:15:37.60\00:15:42.21 I fully expect the combine teaching of today's program 00:15:42.24\00:15:45.32 in the next to make your heart leap for Joy. 00:15:45.35\00:15:48.52 But I want to give you fair warning 00:15:48.55\00:15:50.15 this will correspond with the joy of child birth. 00:15:50.18\00:15:52.97 It's-- we'll go from solemn recognition 00:15:53.00\00:15:55.63 of our pitiful sin condition 00:15:55.66\00:15:57.76 followed by the joy and learning to receive 00:15:57.79\00:16:00.80 God's forgiveness and recognize His power to change us. 00:16:00.83\00:16:05.92 But don't let the devil discourage you 00:16:05.95\00:16:07.86 as we examine the nature of sin. 00:16:07.89\00:16:10.47 Don't tune out until you get through the good part, 00:16:10.50\00:16:13.54 the God part, He does have a solution 00:16:13.57\00:16:16.26 for our sin problem and He will deliver us. 00:16:16.29\00:16:20.41 You know, I view the word sin, "S-I-N" as the perfect acronym 00:16:20.44\00:16:26.90 for what lies at the root of it. 00:16:26.93\00:16:29.55 S is for Selfishness, the I is for Ignorance 00:16:29.58\00:16:33.81 and the N is for Neglect. 00:16:33.84\00:16:37.68 Self-centered behavior causes us to commit sins 00:16:37.71\00:16:41.13 intentionally to carry out ungodly conduct 00:16:41.16\00:16:44.32 even though we know in our hearts it's wrong. 00:16:44.35\00:16:47.80 Now ignorance is the root of all unintentional sins, 00:16:47.83\00:16:53.05 but neglect is another intentional act of sin. 00:16:53.08\00:16:56.39 We know what it's right but we fail to do it, 00:16:56.42\00:16:58.85 perhaps because we're overly busy. 00:16:58.88\00:17:01.86 Our great adversary Satan 00:17:01.89\00:17:04.53 has calculated sin to a science. 00:17:04.56\00:17:07.64 You know, during my school days 00:17:07.67\00:17:09.51 math and science were my two favorite subjects, 00:17:09.54\00:17:12.38 I enjoyed the critical thinking those classes required 00:17:12.41\00:17:15.40 but I had never thought to apply similar analysis to sin. 00:17:15.43\00:17:21.66 Sin is the most serious of humanities problems. 00:17:21.69\00:17:25.37 Don't you agree that we should explore 00:17:25.40\00:17:28.28 the inner workings of it more carefully 00:17:28.31\00:17:30.30 so that we may be on guard against it? 00:17:30.33\00:17:33.93 James 1:14-16 spells out the anatomy of sin for us. 00:17:33.96\00:17:39.86 James writes, "Each one is tempted 00:17:39.89\00:17:42.89 when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 00:17:42.92\00:17:47.57 Then, when desire has conceived, 00:17:47.60\00:17:50.32 it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, 00:17:50.35\00:17:55.51 brings forth death. 00:17:55.54\00:17:57.84 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." 00:17:57.87\00:18:02.63 You know, we frequently apply this passage 00:18:02.66\00:18:05.86 to so called heathens, the people that we think 00:18:05.89\00:18:09.58 don't know the Lord but I hope that you noticed 00:18:09.61\00:18:11.69 that James was addressing his beloved brethren. 00:18:11.72\00:18:15.20 Christians were not immune to Satan's devices. 00:18:15.23\00:18:17.71 He is masterful at using secular influences 00:18:17.74\00:18:21.41 to seduce the complacent. 00:18:21.44\00:18:23.90 In 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that Satan roams around 00:18:23.93\00:18:28.39 like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 00:18:28.42\00:18:32.09 Sin crouches at the door ready to pounce. 00:18:32.12\00:18:36.19 Why would we open the door to temptation 00:18:36.22\00:18:38.47 that we might be trapped in the devil's teeth of tyranny, 00:18:38.50\00:18:42.82 in one word, pleasure? 00:18:42.85\00:18:46.45 Yes, pleasure. 00:18:46.48\00:18:48.59 Don't be shocked this is biblical. 00:18:48.62\00:18:51.00 Unlike the stereotypical picture that we paint 00:18:51.03\00:18:54.40 with broad strokes to illustrate sin 00:18:54.43\00:18:57.49 as an event bankrupt of enjoyment. 00:18:57.52\00:19:00.70 the Bible refers 00:19:00.73\00:19:04.51 to the passing pleasures of sin. 00:19:04.54\00:19:08.70 Satan is stalking us, offering us his sin candy, 00:19:08.73\00:19:14.08 providing testimony of sins pleasure through the media 00:19:14.11\00:19:17.51 and our peers. 00:19:17.54\00:19:19.40 If we don't recognize the nature of sin, 00:19:19.43\00:19:22.93 how fleeting the pleasure, 00:19:22.96\00:19:24.97 how devastating the destruction, 00:19:25.00\00:19:27.56 we will be unprepared to resist the devil's temptation 00:19:27.59\00:19:32.07 and we will yield to Satan's suggestions. 00:19:32.10\00:19:35.45 Please consider this as you counsel with your children, 00:19:35.48\00:19:39.91 tell them the truth of sin. 00:19:39.94\00:19:42.73 Satan is out to squelch the sacred deposit 00:19:42.76\00:19:46.18 that Christ has placed in our hearts, 00:19:46.21\00:19:48.53 he schemes to catch us off-guard 00:19:48.56\00:19:51.18 luring us by deceit and doubt 00:19:51.21\00:19:54.27 and beguiled by our own selfish desires, 00:19:54.30\00:19:57.57 we might blindly choose to follow 00:19:57.60\00:20:00.28 the downward path of brief pleasure. 00:20:00.31\00:20:03.02 Just consider King David, God called him a man 00:20:03.05\00:20:06.76 after my own heart. 00:20:06.79\00:20:08.82 Surely it can be said that the Lord bore him 00:20:08.85\00:20:12.28 on eagle's wings and brought David to himself. 00:20:12.31\00:20:15.65 Yet, David, inflamed by torrid lust 00:20:15.68\00:20:20.33 plummeted to the pit of disgrace 00:20:20.36\00:20:22.61 when he took another mans wife Bathsheba to lay with her. 00:20:22.64\00:20:27.16 A series of wrong moral choices escorted him further down 00:20:27.19\00:20:31.55 the path of disobedience and degradation. 00:20:31.58\00:20:35.05 And in an attempt to cover his sin, 00:20:35.08\00:20:38.46 he plotted to have Bathsheba's husband killed. 00:20:38.49\00:20:41.77 David was headed straight toward the cliff 00:20:41.80\00:20:45.43 of spiritual death blinded to his own condition, 00:20:45.46\00:20:50.19 but God in His mercy send the prophet Nathan 00:20:50.22\00:20:55.14 to sound the alarm. 00:20:55.17\00:20:57.02 Nathan told the king the story of how a wealthy man 00:20:57.05\00:21:01.00 with many flocks of sheep had taken a poor man's 00:21:01.03\00:21:04.96 only little ewe lamb, 00:21:04.99\00:21:07.08 his cherished position and served it up for supper 00:21:07.11\00:21:11.26 and enraged David was ready to have the rich man put to death. 00:21:11.29\00:21:16.30 Imagine the abrupt reversal, when his fury 00:21:16.33\00:21:21.72 must have really just gone-- 00:21:21.75\00:21:23.38 when Nathan said you are the man. 00:21:23.41\00:21:27.98 We will consider this further in a moment. 00:21:28.01\00:21:31.49 You know, you and I share a common problem. 00:21:31.52\00:21:34.19 It was common to David and it's common to us. 00:21:34.22\00:21:38.07 All too often, we hastily judge the transgressions of others 00:21:38.10\00:21:42.54 are being slow to identity our own sin tainted condition. 00:21:42.57\00:21:47.95 Who will save us from our blindness? 00:21:47.98\00:21:50.10 Who is able to deliver us from the sway of sin? 00:21:50.13\00:21:54.12 We find the answer in Hebrews 7:25 00:21:54.15\00:21:58.01 which promises there is therefore also-- 00:21:58.04\00:22:05.06 "Therefore He is also to save to the uttermost 00:22:05.09\00:22:09.89 those who come to God through Him, 00:22:09.92\00:22:12.55 since He always lives to make intercession for them." 00:22:12.58\00:22:18.01 Oh, Christ is able. 00:22:18.04\00:22:21.80 He is able to sound the alarm to arrest our attention 00:22:21.83\00:22:27.06 and bring us to Godly sorrow that produces repentance. 00:22:27.09\00:22:31.65 He is able to wash away the stain of sin 00:22:31.68\00:22:35.78 with His cleansing blood, 00:22:35.81\00:22:38.14 able to save us completely from the sway of sin. 00:22:38.17\00:22:43.50 If we will abide in His everlasting arms of love, 00:22:43.53\00:22:47.63 He will rescue us and throw us out 00:22:47.66\00:22:50.74 our arch enemy claiming destroy. 00:22:50.77\00:22:55.22 You know, I think of myself as a good person. 00:22:55.25\00:23:01.20 Well, most likely you consider yourself 00:23:01.23\00:23:04.01 to be basically good as well. 00:23:04.04\00:23:06.69 But Jesus said, there is none good 00:23:06.72\00:23:11.47 but one and that is God. 00:23:11.50\00:23:14.98 Perhaps our limited understanding 00:23:15.01\00:23:16.94 of His view point on sin causes us to think of ourselves 00:23:16.97\00:23:21.63 more highly than we ought. 00:23:21.66\00:23:24.04 Many will be refused entrance into the Kingdom of God 00:23:24.07\00:23:28.86 because they failed to recognize their sin 00:23:28.89\00:23:32.62 and their great need for the Savior 00:23:32.65\00:23:36.23 to better appreciate our need to repent. 00:23:36.26\00:23:40.14 It is important that we dwell a little deeper. 00:23:40.17\00:23:44.18 And let me share a portion with you of an eye opening study 00:23:44.21\00:23:48.78 through which the Lord lead me. 00:23:48.81\00:23:51.41 Numerous words in the original language of the Bible 00:23:51.44\00:23:53.82 are used to define sin, 00:23:53.85\00:23:56.03 but rather than subjecting you to a lesson 00:23:56.06\00:23:58.27 in Hebrew and Greek, 00:23:58.30\00:23:59.73 we'll review the English translations 00:23:59.76\00:24:02.24 of some sin categories. 00:24:02.27\00:24:04.64 To sin is to miss the mark of God's righteous requirements. 00:24:04.67\00:24:10.53 It's like shooting an arrow from a bow 00:24:10.56\00:24:12.63 and missing the bullseye of the target. 00:24:12.66\00:24:15.13 To Sin is to transgress or to trespass 00:24:15.16\00:24:20.00 to step over the line. 00:24:20.03\00:24:22.52 To sin is to commit iniquity, its lawlessness, 00:24:22.55\00:24:26.76 which means an intentional or unintentional 00:24:26.79\00:24:30.51 offense against God's law. 00:24:30.54\00:24:33.86 To Sin is to commit wickedness, evil. 00:24:33.89\00:24:38.44 To sin is to be unclean or impure 00:24:38.47\00:24:42.13 and these words describe sexual sins. 00:24:42.16\00:24:46.40 To Sin is to be unrighteous, 00:24:46.43\00:24:51.80 any deviation from God's character. 00:24:51.83\00:24:55.98 Wow. 00:24:56.01\00:24:57.75 I don't know about you but at this point in my study 00:24:57.78\00:25:02.43 I was already swarming under the scrutiny of my own sin. 00:25:02.46\00:25:08.26 You know, our own sin is not something enjoyable 00:25:08.29\00:25:12.01 to consider but this helps us to recognize 00:25:12.04\00:25:15.55 how much we need our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:25:15.58\00:25:20.43 Let me tell you this quick story. 00:25:20.46\00:25:22.49 I met a woman who had been in the Church all of her life 00:25:22.52\00:25:28.50 and she was close to my age, in her 60s and she said that 00:25:28.53\00:25:35.25 I'm a third generation Adventist 00:25:35.28\00:25:39.62 and she said but I never got it. 00:25:39.65\00:25:42.40 I never understood why I needed a Savior. 00:25:42.43\00:25:46.68 I didn't do any thing bad, she said. 00:25:46.71\00:25:50.43 I wasn't out carousing and drinking. 00:25:50.46\00:25:54.15 I wasn't doing things that I felt like 00:25:54.18\00:25:57.26 I really needed forgiveness for. 00:25:57.29\00:25:59.54 You see, she had not even really been born again yet, 00:25:59.57\00:26:05.21 she couldn't recognize her own sin. 00:26:05.24\00:26:08.17 And that's why I said this is an important step 00:26:08.20\00:26:11.40 because recognition of sin is what gets us to that place 00:26:11.43\00:26:17.34 where we are ready to confess our sin 00:26:17.37\00:26:21.96 and then God can do a work in our hearts. 00:26:21.99\00:26:27.05 Oh, I praise God for the Godly sorrow 00:26:27.08\00:26:30.39 that He puts in our hearts 00:26:30.42\00:26:32.07 that will lead us to repentance. 00:26:32.10\00:26:36.56 I praise God that once we confess our sin 00:26:36.59\00:26:41.31 and we call out on Him in full dependence, 00:26:41.34\00:26:45.89 He is the one who will work in us to will 00:26:45.92\00:26:49.64 and to do according to His good pleasure. 00:26:49.67\00:26:52.30 He is the one when we're headed in the wrong direction, 00:26:52.33\00:26:55.61 He is the one who will turn us that 180 degree 00:26:55.64\00:27:00.52 because repentance is a gift. 00:27:00.55\00:27:04.35 I thank God for His five step process of repentance 00:27:04.38\00:27:10.80 because it is by His power that He can walk us 00:27:10.83\00:27:16.42 out of the sin problem 00:27:16.45\00:27:18.90 and we all still have areas of sin 00:27:18.93\00:27:22.99 that we need to call up on Him with earnestness 00:27:23.02\00:27:26.78 and just saying, Lord, open my eyes, 00:27:26.81\00:27:29.54 I want to come before You 00:27:29.57\00:27:31.44 with clean hands and a pure heart. 00:27:31.47\00:27:35.05 Lord, I want to be able to know what my sin is 00:27:35.08\00:27:39.25 so that I can confess my sin 00:27:39.28\00:27:41.55 and receive Your gift of repentance. 00:27:41.58\00:27:44.83 I hope you will join us on our next program 00:27:44.86\00:27:47.73 as we consider how confession 00:27:47.76\00:27:50.91 is the clearing house of the conscious. 00:27:50.94\00:27:53.97 Now our prayer is that the grace of our 00:27:54.00\00:27:57.69 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of the Father and the 00:27:57.72\00:28:01.83 fellowship of the Holy Spirit will be yours always. 00:28:01.86\00:28:06.08 Please remember God is waiting for you 00:28:06.11\00:28:09.03 to Press in to His Presence. 00:28:09.06\00:28:12.10 Bye-bye. 00:28:12.13\00:28:13.42