Friday, April 24
Thursday, April 23
Three Dimensions of Repentance
We must never reach a place where the cleansing fires of repentance die out. The great tragedy in the church today is many reach a point of pride and misunderstanding the active role that repentance should play in all of our lives. From this point, I would like to share with you the Three Dimensions of Repentance.
The First Dimension - A Sinner Repenting
The Bible says that there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner comes to repentance. This is where we all get on board the God train. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. Without Repentance there is no restoration. Without repentance there is no revival. Repentance is where everything begins to get fixed.
The best picture of this first dimension is illustrated so beautifully by the parable of the prodigal son. He in rebellion and stubbornness succumbs to the sirens of a sinful world and goes out and spends all of his substance and virtue in the destructive lifestyle found so prevalent even in our world today.
The downward trend brings him to a terrible end. He is so hungry that he is about to eat unspeakable things and the beginning of repentance ensues. He comes to himself and realizes, “I would rather be a slave in daddy’s house than to stay here with the task master of sin.” He comes to a place where he is humbled by his condition and he is willing to come crawling back into the presence of God. This is the first dimension of repentance.
The Second Dimension - A Child of God surrendering to the Will of God
This is demonstrated in the life of Jonah. Where this is needed is a child of God in a place of willful disobedience. This is a place where we try to sleep through self inflicted storms. This is a place where God will build us a prayer room and the only way it will get better is for us to surrender to the will of God for our lives.
The Third Dimension - Intercessory Repentance
This is demonstrated in the ministry of Isaiah in chapter six of his prophetic book. We catch a glimpse through his eyes of the holiness and majesty of the Lord God Almighty. When he sees this, he is struck with the dire weakness of his own humanity and cries out for forgiveness for himself, but he goes one step further.
Intercessory Repentance. 
This is what we see in this dimension, where we no longer plead our own case, but we expand our focus and contrition and enter into a place where we are crying out for mercy and forgiveness for our families, neighbors, friends, cities and nations.
It is in this special place where we hear the heart beat of God and his desire to speak and save his people and our hearts response is, “Here am I, Lord Send Me.” It is in this third dimension where ministries are born and miracles are realized. This is where visions take place and dreams are realized.
The point of this whole message is, we must stoke the fires of repentance on our altars of prayer. We must not feel satisfied not to be a drunk or a liar. We must not be satisfied to be surrendered to the will of God, but we must go one step further, where we are willing to spend and be spent for the salvation of others, no matter what the cost God may lay on us.
In repentance, the Prodigal is restored to his place of sonship. The Word of the Lord returns the second time to the disobedient child of God after repentance. And finally, in this third dimension an angel comes and cleanses us from our iniquity and we are able to be of use in the work of God and his purpose.
It is in this third dimension where harvest and restoration really takes place.
Going to the Third Dimension,
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott Phillips
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Repentance is where it all begins
Repentance is the response that we see that always gets the attention of God. The message that was preached by the Old Testament Prophets was, "Repent."
God said it this way to Solomon,
" If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
Notice the progression of this promise.
Humble yourself - It is difficult for us as self sufficient individuals who have worked so hard to accomplish things in our lives to fully recognize our desperate need for God.
However, until we are humble in our mind toward God, we miss out on the the wonderful relationship that is had in us walking with God on his terms. He is God, he gets to make the rules. If you are unwilling to do what God wants, this is a symptom of a lack of humility toward God.
Until you are willing to do what God wants, you will not experience what God has for you.
Pray - Prayer is something we all believe in but lack the discipline and focus to do it as we should. We are distracted by entertainment, technology, family and pressures. However, until we pray, we will not find what God has for our lives. Jesus said it this way, "You have not because you ask not.
" Seek the Face of God - "Seeking God", communicates a desperate focus to get into the favor and presence of God. When nothing else matter but getting right with God. When we allow the progression to continue to this point, we are on a path to see very special things in our lives.
Turning from our wicked ways - When in our humble prayer and seeking God, the Lord will highlight those areas that demand change and will in turn give you the ability and strength to overcome and be victorious over them.
When this pattern is complete, there is a domino effect that is promised. If we will do these things, there are some wonderful things that God has promised.
"...then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Confession of sins without repentance is just bragging. You don't receive grace for sin you do not turn away from. The message of Jesus to the sinners he encountered was summed up in a few simple words,
"Go and sin no more." Repentance is the path to restoration. Repentance is the path to healing.
Repentance is the path to freedom.
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