By Unknown
Objectives:
1. To learn that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God because of our inborn sinful natures
2. To learn that, because He is merciful and kind, God has obligated Himself to hear prayers of repentance
3. To learn that we must pray prayers of repentance throughout our lives, even after being born again of the water and the Spirit
I. The human condition
A. Repentance is necessary because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
1. Born with sinful nature inherited from Adam in the Garden
2. Sin is a transgression of God’s laws
3. It is impossible for the natural, carnal man to live a life without sin (Romans 8:8)
4. Sin must be dealt with by repentance
a. Sin will not just go away
1) Sin progresses and worsens
B. Only the blood of Jesus can take sin away
C. It is God’s will that all should repent (II Peter 3:9)
D. Without remission of sin, we cannot participate in the communication that God desires to have between Himself
and His creation
1. Sin separates from God
II. Prophets and preachers urged sinners to pray the prayer of repentance
A. Jonah (Jonah 3)
B. Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:6)
C. John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2)
D. Peter (Acts 2:37-38)
III. David’s sin (II Samuel 11 and 12)
A. Committed adultery with Bathsheba
1. An illegitimate child was conceived
B. Caused Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to be slain
1. Tried to cover one sin with another
2. Tried to cover his own sin, initially, instead of allowing God to cover it
C. Nathan exposed David’s sin
D. David felt the load of guilt and condemnation
1. David’s heart was tender toward God
2. David loved God
3. David immediately began to repent (v. 13)
IV. David’s prayer of repentance (Psalm 51)
A. God’s mercy and pardon sought (v. 1)
B. David’s heartfelt desire was to be cleansed from his sin (v. 2)
1. He felt conviction of sin
C. David confesses his sin to God (v. 3)
1. David acknowledges
a. Sin was against God (v. 4)
b. God was aware of the sin (v. 4)
c. God’s judgment of the sin was correct and deserved (v. 4)
d. His sinful nature (v. 5)
1) God desires truthfulness (v. 6)
e. His loss of joy and gladness (vs. 8, 12)
D. David asks for forgiveness (vs. 7, 9 – 12)
1. David had a broken and contrite heart (v. 17)
E. David asks for spiritual renewal (v. 10)
1. David acknowledges that sin had separated him from God (v. 11)
2. David desires to be able to once again praise the Lord (vs. 14-15)
F. Going through the motions of worship (sacrifice) without repentance is not accepted by God. God will
accept worship (sacrifice) only after repentance (vs. 16, 19)
V. Repentance
A. Definitions
1. To feel regret for a deed or omission; to desire to change one’s life as a result of sorrow for one’s sins
2. A change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God
B. True repentance
1. Godly sorrow for one’s sinful life
2. Regret for one’s sins against a merciful and loving God
3. Cannot be superficial
a. Excerpt from Conquest through Prayer by Denzil Holman–
“A lady knelt at one of our altars, weeping profusely, and from all indications, she was truly repentant. But her tears were superficial. She was sorry because she loved her life of sin and at the same time knew the eternal consequences of sin. God had brought her under conviction by the preaching of the Word, and she cried because she did not want to give up the world. She continued in sin, so it was obvious that she had not repented.”
C. The prayer of repentance for the saint
1. Forgiveness is available upon true repentance (I John 1:9)
2. Elements of repentance found in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
a. “He came to himself”
1) His judgment and values had become out of focus due to the twisting of sin
2) Sin is spiritual insanity
3) He saw himself as he really was
a) In order to truly repent, one must have a realization of his sin
b) The sinner must become sick of sin
b. “I will arise and go to my father”
1) A decision to change his ways was made
c. “Father, I have sinned”
1) A confession of sin, in prayer, is required (Proverbs 28:13)
2) Confession is a humbling process
d. “No more worthy to be called thy son”
1) He showed contrition (remorse, guilt, shame)
2) Genuine regret must be felt for the pain and sorrow caused the Lord–not just for getting caught
e. “Make me as one of thy hired servants”
1) He desired to make restitution by working for his father as a servant
VI. Summary
A. Conquest through Prayer by Denzil Holman, page 112
1. “Satan stole the human race away from God by sin. Through redemption by Christ’s blood, we are restored to God. and, oh, the joy of being forgiven when we repent of our sins! If someone is already a child of God, [praying a prayer] of repentance [from the heart] restores him to fellowship [communion through prayer with God].
If someone is not a child of God, he must go on to be baptized in Jesus’ name and be filled with the Holy Ghost to complete the new birth.
B. To know: All have sinned and, therefore, have separated themselves from communion (a prayer-full relationship) with God; but, because of God’s mercy and lovingkindness, he will hear prayers of repentance. Prayers of repentance are necessary for both the saint and the one who has not obeyed the plan of salvation.
C. To feel: Hope that God will hear and answer prayers of the truly repentant
D. To do: Never let sin separate from God and destroy our communion with Him.
MEMORY VERSE
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
SOURCE
Holman, Denzil Conquest through Prayer. Hazelwood, MO, Word Aflame Press, 1988.
