Repentance

by | Mar 11, 2021 | Pastor's Corner

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
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This Sunday we talked about repentance, when we are convicted of our sin and make the conscious decision as followers of Christ to confess it to Him and turn away from the sin. This comes about in our lives as we encounter the perfect holiness of God and reflect upon the brokenness of our flesh. In 2017, as a church, we took a look at ourselves, and based on our shortcomings, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we committed to strive to walk in increased holiness in seven areas of our lives. All seven areas come from strong Scriptural support, and so I encourage you today to prayerfully read each item, pray Psalm 139:23-24, and ask yourself. “Where do I fall short? Where do I need to repent?” Then, with the plank removed from our own eye, we can ask ourselves the same questions about us as a church. “Where do we fall short? Where do we need to repent?”

We, Heritage Bible Church, will strive to be a people who live under the Lordship of Christ. Therefore, we affirm the following Biblical truth.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He (Jesus) said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Proverbs 3:5-10
Heritage Bible Church, by God’s grace and power of the Holy Spirit, hereby responds to Christ by being accountable before God to strive to walk faithfully and obediently in the following categories:

Yielding to the Lordship of Christ as the Head of the Church

  • Seeking His vision for the church. (Proverbs 19:21)
  • Seeking the Lord’s will for every decision. (Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:33)
  • Submitting to the Spirit’s leading of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
  • Demonstrating humility in yielding to God’s values instead of our own. (Micah 6:8)

Committed to Prayer

  • Seeking the Lord’s face before acting. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
  • Embracing prayer as a tool in spiritual warfare. (Ephesians 6:18)
  • Being in a continual attitude of prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19)

Loving One Another As Family

  • Walking in the love of Christ. (Ephesians 5:2)
  • Obeying the “one another” commands. (e.g. John 13:35, James 5:16)
  • Treating each other with humility. (Colossians 3:12-14)
  • Considering others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3)
  • Honoring and respecting those who are over us in the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14)
  • Being transparent, upright, and accountable with one another. (1 John 1:7, Ephesians 5:13-14)
  • Caring for each other as Jesus loves us: sacrificially, realistically, purposefully, and absolutely (Luke 17:2, Matthew 18:1-17)
  • Being quick to listen and slow to speak. (James 1:19)
  • Speaking the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:16)
  • Earnestly pursuing unity in the bonds of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

Seeking Reconciliation with One Another

  • Overlooking and forgetting minor offenses (Proverbs 17:14, 19:11)
  • Seeking reconciliation when someone sins against you. (Matthew 18:15-22)
  • Seeking reconciliation when you sin against someone. (Matthew 5:23-26)

Faithfully Stewarding our Resources

  • We are accountable for what we have and that everything we have is God’s. (Matt. 25:14-30)

Intentionally Making Disciples

  • Following the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)
  • Seeking out reliable disciples who will also teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
  • Caring for the people God entrusts to us. (Ephesians 4:1-16)
  • Engaging in authentic relationships. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
  • Equipping the entire body for the work of ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Seeking to Reach the Lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

  • Seeking to reach and save the lost in Bay County. (Acts 1:8)
  • Seeking to reach and save the lost worldwide. (Matthew 28:19)
  • Sharing the gospel with love. (Luke 10:25-37)