Hello, I am Shelley Quinn. 00:00:00.96\00:00:02.43 Do you know the joy of repentance? 00:00:02.46\00:00:05.60 Yes, I said, joy of repentance. 00:00:05.63\00:00:09.04 Please join us today on "Pressing in to His Presence" 00:00:09.07\00:00:12.67 and we will see how God can empower us 00:00:12.71\00:00:16.58 to walk away from our sin problem. 00:00:16.61\00:00:19.81 Welcome to "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:00:41.14\00:00:43.81 This series is dedicated to learning 00:00:43.84\00:00:46.91 how to draw near to God in prayer 00:00:46.94\00:00:50.35 to seek His face and not just His hand. 00:00:50.38\00:00:55.18 We are flushing out the acronym 00:00:55.22\00:00:58.12 for the praise prayer. 00:00:58.15\00:01:00.39 P-R-A-I-S-E each of these letters 00:01:00.42\00:01:03.83 standing for different segment of our prayers. 00:01:03.86\00:01:06.63 And in our last couple of programs 00:01:06.66\00:01:09.60 we considered the "P" 00:01:09.63\00:01:11.57 which stands for the praise segment. 00:01:11.60\00:01:14.47 We learn the benefit to us when we enter into His gates 00:01:14.50\00:01:18.27 with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. 00:01:18.31\00:01:22.28 Today, we will contemplate the "R" 00:01:22.31\00:01:24.95 which stands for repentance 00:01:24.98\00:01:27.05 and our resource for this series 00:01:27.08\00:01:30.09 is a book I was privileged to write 00:01:30.12\00:01:32.12 also titled "Pressing in to His Presence." 00:01:32.15\00:01:34.82 So if you're following along today in your book 00:01:34.86\00:01:37.46 today, we begin on Chapter 4. 00:01:37.49\00:01:41.73 When I was first learning how to pray 00:01:41.76\00:01:44.07 in a more intimate fashion I was completely aware 00:01:44.10\00:01:48.14 of my total dependence on God to teach me. 00:01:48.17\00:01:51.31 I remember the first day as I was sitting at my computer 00:01:51.34\00:01:54.28 because I was trying journaling writing up my prayer to God 00:01:54.31\00:01:59.45 which isn't absolutely necessary 00:01:59.48\00:02:02.22 but it is greatly beneficial 00:02:02.25\00:02:04.12 to maintaining focus during you prayer 00:02:04.15\00:02:06.86 and if we increase our focus it increases our intimacy. 00:02:06.89\00:02:11.29 But anyway, as I contemplated in what I was to do 00:02:11.33\00:02:16.97 after I completed the praise prayer 00:02:17.00\00:02:20.84 I knew well, it's time to see God again 00:02:20.87\00:02:23.41 for the next step to press into His presence. 00:02:23.44\00:02:26.47 So I said Holy Father, what shall I do now 00:02:26.51\00:02:30.25 to come closer before You? 00:02:30.28\00:02:33.28 In King David's words from Psalm 24:3, 4 came to my mind. 00:02:33.31\00:02:40.02 Here's what David wrote. 00:02:40.06\00:02:42.02 "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? 00:02:42.06\00:02:45.96 Or who may stand in His holy place? 00:02:45.99\00:02:49.96 He who has clean hands and a pure heart." 00:02:50.00\00:02:55.27 You know, there is no doubt about it 00:02:55.30\00:02:57.27 sin erects a barrier of separation 00:02:57.31\00:03:00.74 between us and Holy God. 00:03:00.78\00:03:03.81 Sin hinders prayer. 00:03:03.85\00:03:06.82 Psalm 66:18 says, 00:03:06.85\00:03:10.49 "If I regard iniquity in my heart, 00:03:10.52\00:03:13.49 the Lord will not hear me." 00:03:13.52\00:03:15.89 And please take note the symptoms one have to be 00:03:15.92\00:03:19.53 what we mortals would categorize as major. 00:03:19.56\00:03:23.03 For example, in 1 Peter 3:7, Peter warns husbands 00:03:23.06\00:03:27.80 that if they don't honor their wife 00:03:27.84\00:03:29.84 as a cool air of the grace of life 00:03:29.87\00:03:32.74 dwelling with their wife and understanding. 00:03:32.77\00:03:35.51 Well, he's warned the God won't hear his prayers. 00:03:35.54\00:03:38.88 His prayers will be hindered. 00:03:38.91\00:03:40.68 Worse yet unconfused sin causes spiritual drought. 00:03:40.72\00:03:45.62 Please consider these words of David from Psalm 32:3-6. 00:03:45.65\00:03:51.83 He said, "When I kept silent Your hand was heavy upon me, 00:03:51.86\00:03:57.20 my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. 00:03:57.23\00:04:01.40 I acknowledged my sin to You, 00:04:01.44\00:04:03.10 and my iniquity I have not hidden. 00:04:03.14\00:04:05.54 I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' 00:04:05.57\00:04:08.84 and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. 00:04:08.88\00:04:12.28 For this cause everyone who is godly 00:04:12.31\00:04:16.62 shall pray to You in a time when You may be found." 00:04:16.65\00:04:21.09 So to overcome to his spiritual drought David just confessed 00:04:21.12\00:04:24.39 and said God forgive him, 00:04:24.43\00:04:26.33 so then he compress into the presence of God. 00:04:26.36\00:04:30.00 So here I am asking God what's the next step 00:04:30.03\00:04:32.70 of pressing into His presence 00:04:32.73\00:04:34.70 and He made it abundantly clear. 00:04:34.74\00:04:37.44 Of course, I needed to seek forgiveness from my sins 00:04:37.47\00:04:40.88 to draw near to my holy and righteous Father. 00:04:40.91\00:04:44.18 I must confess all the ways I had miss the mark 00:04:44.21\00:04:47.08 of His righteousness in repent if I did not 00:04:47.12\00:04:50.99 sin would spoil my success in seeking God's face. 00:04:51.02\00:04:55.86 So, what is repentance? 00:04:55.89\00:04:59.59 It is more than just remorse and mere confession of sins. 00:04:59.63\00:05:04.93 How do we truly repent? 00:05:04.97\00:05:07.57 It is crucial that we understand God's guidelines 00:05:07.60\00:05:10.57 and let's consider the process of repentance. 00:05:10.61\00:05:14.28 Repentance begins when-- with recognition of sin 00:05:14.31\00:05:19.98 and as we examine ourselves in this light of God's word 00:05:20.02\00:05:24.59 the character of our conduct is exposed 00:05:24.62\00:05:27.56 and under Holy Sprits conducting power 00:05:27.59\00:05:30.23 will begin to think differently 00:05:30.26\00:05:32.39 recognizing the foul essence of sin. 00:05:32.43\00:05:36.26 And as we begin to interpret God's marvelous love 00:05:36.30\00:05:40.14 and see how we've sinned against Him, 00:05:40.17\00:05:42.94 godly sorrow seizes our hearts, we regret our sins 00:05:42.97\00:05:47.74 and then this godly sorrow produces a change of heart 00:05:47.78\00:05:52.01 which leads us to repentance and unto salvation. 00:05:52.05\00:05:55.42 Confession is the next critical step. 00:05:55.45\00:05:58.32 This demonstrates that we have had a change of mind 00:05:58.35\00:06:02.02 regarding our sin sick behavior and through confession 00:06:02.06\00:06:05.83 we seek forgiveness, forgiveness of our sins 00:06:05.86\00:06:09.60 acknowledging our need for our Savior. 00:06:09.63\00:06:12.60 So when confession is accompanied 00:06:12.63\00:06:15.47 and then with God like sorrow and our sincere desire 00:06:15.50\00:06:19.87 to change God forgives us and He cleanses us 00:06:19.91\00:06:23.71 of all unrighteousness, hallelujah. 00:06:23.75\00:06:26.85 Our challenge is to learn to receive God's forgiveness. 00:06:26.88\00:06:31.55 This is how we disarm the devil and extricate ourselves 00:06:31.59\00:06:35.09 from this quick sand trap of condemnation. 00:06:35.12\00:06:38.93 And now, we are ready to do a 180 degree turn around 00:06:38.96\00:06:42.83 but we can't achieve this by human willpower alone. 00:06:42.86\00:06:46.84 It is God who gives us the power 00:06:46.87\00:06:49.44 to change our conduct. 00:06:49.47\00:06:51.24 Repentance is a gift granted by God to the penitent. 00:06:51.27\00:06:55.91 It is His power working mightily within us 00:06:55.94\00:06:59.61 that enables us to turn back to Him and to do His will. 00:06:59.65\00:07:04.72 Now let's sum up this five step process of repentance. 00:07:04.75\00:07:09.86 The first step is, recognition of sin. 00:07:09.89\00:07:15.26 We recognize and think differently 00:07:15.30\00:07:18.40 about ungodly behavior. 00:07:18.43\00:07:20.50 This second step is, Godly sorrow 00:07:20.54\00:07:23.27 causes us to regret our sin. 00:07:23.30\00:07:26.17 Our attitudes are altered. 00:07:26.21\00:07:28.68 We confess our sins asking for forgiveness. 00:07:28.71\00:07:32.98 And then the forth step is we receive God's forgiveness 00:07:33.01\00:07:37.39 applying His healing balm to our wounded souls 00:07:37.42\00:07:40.59 and finally step number five, we receive God's power. 00:07:40.62\00:07:46.06 This is the most important step. 00:07:46.09\00:07:48.30 We receive god's power to change our conduct 00:07:48.33\00:07:51.63 and make a "U" turn in the right direction 00:07:51.67\00:07:54.80 straight toward Him. 00:07:54.84\00:07:57.87 There is real joy in true repentance. 00:07:57.91\00:08:01.18 It wasn't until several months after the Lord taught me 00:08:01.21\00:08:03.68 the joy of repentance that I recognize 00:08:03.71\00:08:06.08 His continual leading 00:08:06.11\00:08:07.98 in this continuation of the sanctuary theme 00:08:08.02\00:08:11.72 and that's how the prayer pattern was being laid out. 00:08:11.75\00:08:14.99 Before the priest of old could enter into his holy place 00:08:15.02\00:08:18.63 drawing near to God they first encountered 00:08:18.66\00:08:22.46 the altar of burnt offering in the outer court 00:08:22.50\00:08:25.07 where the sacrifice for sin was offered. 00:08:25.10\00:08:27.87 And in the book Pressing into His Presence 00:08:27.90\00:08:30.24 I provide a brief overview as a matter of observation only 00:08:30.27\00:08:34.84 of the similarities between each prayer segment 00:08:34.88\00:08:38.51 in the ancient sanctuary theme. 00:08:38.55\00:08:41.32 So with that in mind let's take a brief look 00:08:41.35\00:08:44.92 at the altar burnt offering 00:08:44.95\00:08:47.02 that's first article of the outer court 00:08:47.06\00:08:49.72 and consider how it relates to repentance. 00:08:49.76\00:08:53.06 The outer court was enclosed with linen hangings 00:08:53.09\00:08:56.50 and there were 150 feet long by 75 feet wide. 00:08:56.53\00:09:01.14 As the worshipers entered the court 00:09:01.17\00:09:03.51 the most conspicuous item in front of them 00:09:03.54\00:09:06.81 was the impressive site of the altar of burnt offering. 00:09:06.84\00:09:11.28 It was centered midway between the gate 00:09:11.31\00:09:13.82 and the door of the tabernacle. 00:09:13.85\00:09:16.18 It was overlaid with bronze, four square form 00:09:16.22\00:09:20.16 seven and half feet on each side, 00:09:20.19\00:09:23.32 four and half feet high 00:09:23.36\00:09:25.33 and it was up on a large platform 00:09:25.36\00:09:27.86 and large horns projected from each corner. 00:09:27.93\00:09:32.57 The blood stained exterior witnessed against the guilt 00:09:32.60\00:09:37.07 and hoer of sin which deserve the rapt of righteous God. 00:09:37.11\00:09:42.44 Smoke ascending from a continuously burning fire 00:09:42.48\00:09:47.05 served as a manifestation of God's mercy 00:09:47.08\00:09:49.72 and forgiveness secured through a subsidiary sacrifice. 00:09:49.75\00:09:54.62 Man did not kindled the flame for this fire. 00:09:54.66\00:09:57.99 Leviticus 9:24 explains that the altar had been 00:09:58.03\00:10:01.06 supernaturally set ablaze when fire came out 00:10:01.10\00:10:04.97 from before the Lord to consume the very first offering. 00:10:05.00\00:10:09.07 And this divine flame was never allowed to go out, 00:10:09.10\00:10:12.11 it was transported in a fire pan. 00:10:12.14\00:10:14.81 So when the portable sanctuary moved the fire went with it. 00:10:14.84\00:10:19.25 This testified to the fact that only God has the power 00:10:19.28\00:10:22.92 to consume the sacrificed and absolve the sinner. 00:10:22.95\00:10:26.99 The altar of burnt offerings was also called 00:10:27.02\00:10:29.56 "the Table of the Lord" upon which 00:10:29.59\00:10:32.49 no imperfect sacrifice could be offered. 00:10:32.53\00:10:35.90 As part of the daily service 00:10:35.93\00:10:37.80 the priest made an offering for the nation 00:10:37.83\00:10:40.57 that consisted of two male lambs 00:10:40.60\00:10:43.14 each in their first year without blemish. 00:10:43.17\00:10:47.28 One was sacrificed at the dawn of the day 00:10:47.31\00:10:50.28 and the second in the evening. 00:10:50.31\00:10:52.48 This was a confirmation 00:10:52.51\00:10:54.68 of the nation's concentration to God 00:10:54.72\00:10:58.29 and it was a constant dependence upon Him 00:10:58.32\00:11:01.22 before atonement from sin. 00:11:01.26\00:11:03.79 So on this altar offerings for individual sin were also made. 00:11:03.83\00:11:10.63 The death of the animals demonstrated 00:11:10.67\00:11:13.84 that sinners deserved to die for their sins, 00:11:13.87\00:11:16.94 but were reconciled to God by transferring their sins 00:11:16.97\00:11:20.48 to a sacrificed victim which served as a substitute. 00:11:20.51\00:11:24.78 A guilty party could also flee to the blood smeared horns 00:11:24.81\00:11:28.68 of this altar and cling to them for asylum. 00:11:28.72\00:11:32.25 Today, Hebrews 13:10 tells us this. 00:11:32.29\00:11:35.42 It says, "We have an altar from which 00:11:35.46\00:11:40.00 those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat." 00:11:40.03\00:11:45.37 The altar had burnt offering 00:11:45.40\00:11:47.37 pointed to Calvary's blood strained cross. 00:11:47.40\00:11:51.14 Our New Testament altar which is witness of our guilt 00:11:51.17\00:11:55.18 and our great need to be reconciled to God. 00:11:55.21\00:11:58.21 The sacrificial animals were a type of Christ. 00:11:58.25\00:12:02.25 The lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. 00:12:02.28\00:12:05.02 "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 00:12:05.05\00:12:08.36 Isaiah, 53:5, 6 tells us 00:12:08.39\00:12:12.36 that "The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. 00:12:12.39\00:12:15.56 "The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." 00:12:15.60\00:12:20.30 Christ is both our substitutionary sacrifice 00:12:20.34\00:12:24.01 and our priest. 00:12:24.04\00:12:25.31 He died the death that we deserve 00:12:25.34\00:12:27.04 so that we might live the life that He deserves. 00:12:27.08\00:12:31.18 And Hebrews 7: 25 promises that as our high priest Jesus Christ 00:12:31.21\00:12:38.52 ever lives to make intercession for us 00:12:38.55\00:12:41.22 and He is able to save to the uttermost. 00:12:41.26\00:12:45.79 Hebrews 12:28, 29 says this, 00:12:45.83\00:12:49.76 "Let us have grace by which we may serve God 00:12:49.80\00:12:54.70 acceptably with reverence 00:12:54.74\00:12:57.51 and Godly fear for our God is a consuming fire." 00:12:57.54\00:13:02.71 Because we know God has a loving Heavenly Father. 00:13:02.74\00:13:05.95 I think perhaps we take for granted 00:13:05.98\00:13:08.62 the Holiness of His character. 00:13:08.65\00:13:10.95 Yes, God loves the sinner 00:13:10.99\00:13:12.95 but sin is an abomination to Him. 00:13:12.99\00:13:16.79 Without the Blood of Christ covering us, 00:13:16.83\00:13:19.69 sinners like us could not stand in the presence of a Holy God. 00:13:19.73\00:13:23.37 We would be consumed by His brightness. 00:13:23.40\00:13:26.57 In 1 Corinthians 10:21 Paul warned 00:13:26.60\00:13:30.11 that we can not partake of the Lord's table 00:13:30.14\00:13:32.34 and of the table of demons. 00:13:32.37\00:13:34.21 He said, "What fellowship or what partnership 00:13:34.24\00:13:37.75 has righteousness with lawlessness?" 00:13:37.78\00:13:40.15 What fellowship has light with darkness 00:13:40.18\00:13:43.08 to enjoy communication in prayer 00:13:43.12\00:13:45.05 in the presence of our Lord we must first stop 00:13:45.09\00:13:48.96 at the cross our New Testament altar. 00:13:48.99\00:13:53.19 1 Peter 1:18, 19 requires our serious contemplation. 00:13:53.23\00:13:59.77 It says, "Knowing that you were not redeemed 00:13:59.80\00:14:03.44 with corruptible things, like silver or gold, 00:14:03.47\00:14:06.34 from your aimless conduct 00:14:06.37\00:14:08.01 received by tradition from your fathers, 00:14:08.04\00:14:11.01 but with the precious blood of Christ, 00:14:11.05\00:14:15.12 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 00:14:15.15\00:14:20.92 Our communion with God is through the blood of Christ, 00:14:20.96\00:14:24.66 we are accepted in His beloved Son 00:14:24.69\00:14:27.83 and in Him we receive the riches of God's grace, 00:14:27.86\00:14:32.57 the redemption through His blood 00:14:32.60\00:14:34.77 and the forgiveness of sins. 00:14:34.80\00:14:36.67 Our daily sacrifice of confession and repentance 00:14:36.71\00:14:40.64 is the process of applying the blood of Christ 00:14:40.68\00:14:44.01 who offered Himself without spot to God 00:14:44.05\00:14:46.82 that we might be cleansed, 00:14:46.85\00:14:49.52 our consciences might be cleansed 00:14:49.55\00:14:51.45 to serve the living God. 00:14:51.49\00:14:53.52 In this way, it's like we're grabbing 00:14:53.56\00:14:55.89 hold the horn of our salvation. 00:14:55.92\00:14:58.19 We make peace through the blood of His cross 00:14:58.23\00:15:01.56 and Christ presents us holy and blameless 00:15:01.60\00:15:04.83 before the Almighty. 00:15:04.87\00:15:06.50 Hallelujah this is the true joy of repentance. 00:15:06.53\00:15:10.64 In our next program we're gonna take a closer look 00:15:10.67\00:15:13.94 at repentance but today we will first spend 00:15:13.98\00:15:17.45 a few moments in the study of sin. 00:15:17.48\00:15:20.02 Now, don't sigh, I know this is something 00:15:20.05\00:15:23.28 you might not eagerly embraced 00:15:23.32\00:15:25.59 but I promise it will serve a great purpose 00:15:25.62\00:15:28.02 and it will offer a personal benefit to you. 00:15:28.06\00:15:31.66 Why? 00:15:31.69\00:15:32.93 Because the recognition of sin is the beginning of repentance 00:15:32.96\00:15:37.47 and repentance brings times of refreshing. 00:15:37.50\00:15:42.10 I fully expect the combine teaching of today's program 00:15:42.14\00:15:45.21 in the next to make your heart leap for Joy. 00:15:45.24\00:15:48.41 But I want to give you fair warning 00:15:48.44\00:15:50.05 this will correspond with the joy of child birth. 00:15:50.08\00:15:52.88 It's-- we'll go from solemn recognition 00:15:52.91\00:15:55.52 of our pitiful sin condition 00:15:55.55\00:15:57.65 followed by the joy and learning to receive 00:15:57.69\00:16:00.69 God's forgiveness and recognize His power to change us. 00:16:00.72\00:16:05.83 But don't let the devil discourage you 00:16:05.86\00:16:07.76 as we examine the nature of sin. 00:16:07.76\00:16:10.37 Don't tune out until you get through the good part, 00:16:10.40\00:16:13.44 the God part, He does have a solution 00:16:13.47\00:16:16.14 for our sin problem and He will deliver us. 00:16:16.17\00:16:20.31 You know, I view the word sin, "S-I-N" as the perfect acronym 00:16:20.34\00:16:26.78 for what lies at the root of it. 00:16:26.82\00:16:29.45 S is for Selfishness, the I is for Ignorance 00:16:29.48\00:16:33.72 and the N is for Neglect. 00:16:33.76\00:16:37.59 Self-centered behavior causes us to commit sins 00:16:37.63\00:16:41.00 intentionally to carry out ungodly conduct 00:16:41.03\00:16:44.20 even though we know in our hearts it's wrong. 00:16:44.23\00:16:47.67 Now ignorance is the root of all unintentional sins, 00:16:47.70\00:16:52.94 but neglect is another intentional act of sin. 00:16:52.97\00:16:56.28 We know what it's right but we fail to do it, 00:16:56.31\00:16:58.75 perhaps because we're overly busy. 00:16:58.78\00:17:01.75 Our great adversary Satan 00:17:01.78\00:17:04.42 has calculated sin to a science. 00:17:04.45\00:17:07.56 You know, during my school days 00:17:07.59\00:17:09.42 math and science were my two favorite subjects, 00:17:09.46\00:17:12.29 I enjoyed the critical thinking those classes required 00:17:12.33\00:17:15.26 but I had never thought to apply similar analysis to sin. 00:17:15.30\00:17:21.54 Sin is the most serious of humanities problems. 00:17:21.57\00:17:25.27 Don't you agree that we should explore 00:17:25.31\00:17:28.18 the inner workings of it more carefully 00:17:28.21\00:17:30.18 so that we may be on guard against it? 00:17:30.21\00:17:33.82 James 1:14-16 spells out the anatomy of sin for us. 00:17:33.85\00:17:39.75 James writes, "Each one is tempted 00:17:39.79\00:17:42.79 when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 00:17:42.82\00:17:47.50 Then, when desire has conceived, 00:17:47.50\00:17:50.20 it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, 00:17:50.23\00:17:55.40 brings forth death. 00:17:55.44\00:17:57.74 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." 00:17:57.77\00:18:02.51 You know, we frequently apply this passage 00:18:02.54\00:18:05.75 to so called heathens, the people that we think 00:18:05.78\00:18:09.48 don't know the Lord but I hope that you noticed 00:18:09.52\00:18:11.59 that James was addressing his beloved brethren. 00:18:11.62\00:18:15.09 Christians were not immune to Satan's devices. 00:18:15.12\00:18:17.63 He is masterful at using secular influences 00:18:17.66\00:18:21.30 to seduce the complacent. 00:18:21.33\00:18:23.77 In 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that Satan roams around 00:18:23.80\00:18:28.27 like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 00:18:28.30\00:18:31.97 Sin crouches at the door ready to pounce. 00:18:32.01\00:18:36.08 Why would we open the door to temptation 00:18:36.11\00:18:38.38 that we might be trapped in the devil's teeth of tyranny, 00:18:38.41\00:18:42.72 in one word, pleasure? 00:18:42.75\00:18:46.35 Yes, pleasure. 00:18:46.39\00:18:48.49 Don't be shocked this is biblical. 00:18:48.52\00:18:50.89 Unlike the stereotypical picture that we paint 00:18:50.93\00:18:54.30 with broad strokes to illustrate sin 00:18:54.30\00:18:57.37 as an event bankrupt of enjoyment. 00:18:57.40\00:19:00.57 the Bible refers 00:19:00.60\00:19:04.41 to the passing pleasures of sin. 00:19:04.44\00:19:08.58 Satan is stalking us, offering us his sin candy, 00:19:08.61\00:19:13.98 providing testimony of sins pleasure through the media 00:19:14.02\00:19:17.42 and our peers. 00:19:17.45\00:19:19.29 If we don't recognize the nature of sin, 00:19:19.32\00:19:22.82 how fleeting the pleasure, 00:19:22.86\00:19:24.89 how devastating the destruction, 00:19:24.93\00:19:27.46 we will be unprepared to resist the devil's temptation 00:19:27.50\00:19:31.97 and we will yield to Satan's suggestions. 00:19:32.00\00:19:35.34 Please consider this as you counsel with your children, 00:19:35.37\00:19:39.81 tell them the truth of sin. 00:19:39.84\00:19:42.61 Satan is out to squelch the sacred deposit 00:19:42.64\00:19:46.08 that Christ has placed in our hearts, 00:19:46.11\00:19:48.42 he schemes to catch us off-guard 00:19:48.45\00:19:51.09 luring us by deceit and doubt 00:19:51.12\00:19:54.19 and beguiled by our own selfish desires, 00:19:54.22\00:19:57.49 we might blindly choose to follow 00:19:57.53\00:20:00.20 the downward path of brief pleasure. 00:20:00.23\00:20:02.90 Just consider King David, God called him a man 00:20:02.93\00:20:06.63 after my own heart. 00:20:06.67\00:20:08.70 Surely it can be said that the Lord bore him 00:20:08.74\00:20:12.17 on eagle's wings and brought David to himself. 00:20:12.21\00:20:15.54 Yet, David, inflamed by torrid lust 00:20:15.58\00:20:20.22 plummeted to the pit of disgrace 00:20:20.25\00:20:22.52 when he took another mans wife Bathsheba to lay with her. 00:20:22.55\00:20:27.06 A series of wrong moral choices escorted him further down 00:20:27.09\00:20:31.46 the path of disobedience and degradation. 00:20:31.49\00:20:34.93 And in an attempt to cover his sin, 00:20:34.96\00:20:38.33 he plotted to have Bathsheba's husband killed. 00:20:38.37\00:20:41.67 David was headed straight toward the cliff 00:20:41.70\00:20:45.31 of spiritual death blinded to his own condition, 00:20:45.34\00:20:50.08 but God in His mercy send the prophet Nathan 00:20:50.11\00:20:55.05 to sound the alarm. 00:20:55.08\00:20:56.92 Nathan told the king the story of how a wealthy man 00:20:56.95\00:21:00.89 with many flocks of sheep had taken a poor man's 00:21:00.92\00:21:04.86 only little ewe lamb, 00:21:04.89\00:21:07.00 his cherished position and served it up for supper 00:21:07.03\00:21:11.13 and enraged David was ready to have the rich man put to death. 00:21:11.17\00:21:16.17 Imagine the abrupt reversal, when his fury 00:21:16.20\00:21:21.61 must have really just gone-- 00:21:21.64\00:21:23.28 when Nathan said you are the man. 00:21:23.31\00:21:27.88 We will consider this further in a moment. 00:21:27.92\00:21:31.39 You know, you and I share a common problem. 00:21:31.42\00:21:34.09 It was common to David and it's common to us. 00:21:34.12\00:21:37.99 All too often, we hastily judge the transgressions of others 00:21:38.03\00:21:42.43 are being slow to identity our own sin tainted condition. 00:21:42.46\00:21:47.84 Who will save us from our blindness? 00:21:47.87\00:21:49.97 Who is able to deliver us from the sway of sin? 00:21:50.01\00:21:54.01 We find the answer in Hebrews 7:25 00:21:54.04\00:21:57.91 which promises there is therefore also-- 00:21:57.95\00:22:04.95 "Therefore He is also to save to the uttermost 00:22:04.99\00:22:09.79 those who come to God through Him, 00:22:09.82\00:22:12.46 since He always lives to make intercession for them." 00:22:12.49\00:22:17.90 Oh, Christ is able. 00:22:17.93\00:22:21.67 He is able to sound the alarm to arrest our attention 00:22:21.70\00:22:26.94 and bring us to Godly sorrow that produces repentance. 00:22:26.98\00:22:31.55 He is able to wash away the stain of sin 00:22:31.58\00:22:35.68 with His cleansing blood, 00:22:35.72\00:22:38.05 able to save us completely from the sway of sin. 00:22:38.09\00:22:43.39 If we will abide in His everlasting arms of love, 00:22:43.43\00:22:47.50 He will rescue us and throw us out 00:22:47.56\00:22:50.63 our arch enemy claiming destroy. 00:22:50.67\00:22:55.10 You know, I think of myself as a good person. 00:22:55.14\00:23:01.08 Well, most likely you consider yourself 00:23:01.11\00:23:03.91 to be basically good as well. 00:23:03.95\00:23:06.58 But Jesus said, there is none good 00:23:06.61\00:23:11.39 but one and that is God. 00:23:11.42\00:23:14.89 Perhaps our limited understanding 00:23:14.92\00:23:16.86 of His view point on sin causes us to think of ourselves 00:23:16.89\00:23:21.50 more highly than we ought. 00:23:21.53\00:23:23.93 Many will be refused entrance into the Kingdom of God 00:23:23.97\00:23:28.74 because they failed to recognize their sin 00:23:28.77\00:23:32.51 and their great need for the Savior 00:23:32.54\00:23:36.11 to better appreciate our need to repent. 00:23:36.14\00:23:40.05 It is important that we dwell a little deeper. 00:23:40.08\00:23:44.09 And let me share a portion with you of an eye opening study 00:23:44.12\00:23:48.69 through which the Lord lead me. 00:23:48.72\00:23:51.33 Numerous words in the original language of the Bible 00:23:51.36\00:23:53.73 are used to define sin, 00:23:53.76\00:23:55.90 but rather than subjecting you to a lesson 00:23:55.93\00:23:58.17 in Hebrew and Greek, 00:23:58.20\00:23:59.60 we'll review the English translations 00:23:59.63\00:24:02.14 of some sin categories. 00:24:02.17\00:24:04.54 To sin is to miss the mark of God's righteous requirements. 00:24:04.57\00:24:10.41 It's like shooting an arrow from a bow 00:24:10.45\00:24:12.51 and missing the bullseye of the target. 00:24:12.55\00:24:15.02 To Sin is to transgress or to trespass 00:24:15.05\00:24:19.89 to step over the line. 00:24:19.92\00:24:22.42 To sin is to commit iniquity, its lawlessness, 00:24:22.46\00:24:26.66 which means an intentional or unintentional 00:24:26.70\00:24:30.40 offense against God's law. 00:24:30.43\00:24:33.74 To Sin is to commit wickedness, evil. 00:24:33.77\00:24:38.34 To sin is to be unclean or impure 00:24:38.37\00:24:42.01 and these words describe sexual sins. 00:24:42.04\00:24:46.28 To Sin is to be unrighteous, 00:24:46.31\00:24:51.69 any deviation from God's character. 00:24:51.72\00:24:55.89 Wow. 00:24:55.92\00:24:57.66 I don't know about you but at this point in my study 00:24:57.69\00:25:02.30 I was already swarming under the scrutiny of my own sin. 00:25:02.33\00:25:08.14 You know, our own sin is not something enjoyable 00:25:08.17\00:25:11.91 to consider but this helps us to recognize 00:25:11.94\00:25:15.44 how much we need our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:25:15.48\00:25:20.32 Let me tell you this quick story. 00:25:20.35\00:25:22.38 I met a woman who had been in the Church all of her life 00:25:22.42\00:25:28.39 and she was close to my age, in her 60s and she said that 00:25:28.42\00:25:35.13 I'm a third generation Adventist 00:25:35.16\00:25:39.50 and she said but I never got it. 00:25:39.53\00:25:42.27 I never understood why I needed a Savior. 00:25:42.30\00:25:46.57 I didn't do any thing bad, she said. 00:25:46.61\00:25:50.31 I wasn't out carousing and drinking. 00:25:50.35\00:25:54.05 I wasn't doing things that I felt like 00:25:54.08\00:25:57.15 I really needed forgiveness for. 00:25:57.19\00:25:59.45 You see, she had not even really been born again yet, 00:25:59.49\00:26:05.13 she couldn't recognize her own sin. 00:26:05.16\00:26:08.06 And that's why I said this is an important step 00:26:08.10\00:26:11.27 because recognition of sin is what gets us to that place 00:26:11.30\00:26:17.24 where we are ready to confess our sin 00:26:17.27\00:26:21.84 and then God can do a work in our hearts. 00:26:21.88\00:26:26.95 Oh, I praise God for the Godly sorrow 00:26:26.98\00:26:30.29 that He puts in our hearts 00:26:30.32\00:26:31.99 that will lead us to repentance. 00:26:32.02\00:26:36.46 I praise God that once we confess our sin 00:26:36.49\00:26:41.20 and we call out on Him in full dependence, 00:26:41.23\00:26:45.77 He is the one who will work in us to will 00:26:45.80\00:26:49.54 and to do according to His good pleasure. 00:26:49.57\00:26:52.17 He is the one when we're headed in the wrong direction, 00:26:52.21\00:26:55.51 He is the one who will turn us that 180 degree 00:26:55.54\00:27:00.42 because repentance is a gift. 00:27:00.45\00:27:04.25 I thank God for His five step process of repentance 00:27:04.29\00:27:10.69 because it is by His power that He can walk us 00:27:10.73\00:27:16.30 out of the sin problem 00:27:16.33\00:27:18.77 and we all still have areas of sin 00:27:18.80\00:27:22.87 that we need to call up on Him with earnestness 00:27:22.90\00:27:26.68 and just saying, Lord, open my eyes, 00:27:26.71\00:27:29.44 I want to come before You 00:27:29.48\00:27:31.35 with clean hands and a pure heart. 00:27:31.38\00:27:34.95 Lord, I want to be able to know what my sin is 00:27:34.98\00:27:39.15 so that I can confess my sin 00:27:39.19\00:27:41.46 and receive Your gift of repentance. 00:27:41.49\00:27:44.73 I hope you will join us on our next program 00:27:44.76\00:27:47.60 as we consider how confession 00:27:47.66\00:27:50.80 is the clearing house of the conscious. 00:27:50.83\00:27:53.87 Now our prayer is that the grace of our 00:27:53.90\00:27:57.57 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of the Father and the 00:27:57.61\00:28:01.71 fellowship of the Holy Spirit will be yours always. 00:28:01.74\00:28:05.98 Please remember God is waiting for you 00:28:06.01\00:28:08.92 to Press in to His Presence. 00:28:08.95\00:28:11.99 Bye-bye. 00:28:12.02\00:28:13.39