Michael Van Vlymen - The Power of Repentance: Removing Every Hindrance to Walking in the Power of God

The POWER

Of REPENTANCE

Removing Every Hindrance to Walking in the Power of God

MICHAEL VAN VLYMEN

Copyright 2018 Michael Van Vlymen

MINISTRY RESOURCES

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"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org"

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Repentance The fact that this powerful key is so absent in christianity is a sad but true reality in much of the church today. There are a few topics that are absent wholesale in todays church-world such as sin, the blood of Jesus, holiness, hell, salvation and repentance. I am reminded of William Booths quote

The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell. William Booth

For anyone who really desires to walk in the deep things of God, experience the miraculous and have the things of the spirit laid open before them, repentance is keystone. I pray that you allow this short read on repentance to encourage you and lay hold of everything God has for you. That is my intention that you have every possible key and benefit to experience the power and presence of God in your life, family, work and ministry.

Table of Contents

Repentance : The act of repenting or sincere remorse. Ouch! I dont think I like where this is going, some might say. Actually, this is the best news ever. The fact that God will forgive us our sins and help us set a new course is very good news!

The word repent according to the dictionary means

1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life

2 a : to feel regret or contrition

b : to change one's mind

I have heard it preached many times that repent means to turn and go the opposite direction. I think that is a pretty good definition. Wait! Dont you think we should break it down in the Greek so we really know what we should be doing?! Yes if it helps.

Too many times Ive seen people get so wrapped up in the discussion, they forget the practical application. People spending countless hours arguing over jots and tittles, correcting the pronunciation of others of the terms and words we use, but not having enough time left over to put things into practice. Ive actually had people tell me more than once that Jesus cant hear me when I pray because I pronounce His name wrong.

On top of that, messages on repentance should come with a standard direction that says This message may only be measured against and applied to your own life and not the lives of others you may know or think you know.

Having clarity about the things we are studying or learning about is helpful as long as we dont leave it in the academic realm. In the end, all things should be applicable to our lives and relationship with the Lord. (i.e. I would much rather have someone heal me than tell me all about healing in the Greek and Hebrew, and not heal me)

New Testament Greek

There are two words in the Greek in the New Testament that are used for the word repentance. They are metanoia and metamelomai. Metanoia is used more than fifty times in the New Testament and metamelomai is used six times.

The basic meaning of metanoia is a change of mind. In the New Testament, there are a few different uses concerning this change of mind.

It is used to convey eternal salvation such as in 1 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is... not willing that any should perish but that all should come to metanoia ," (1 Peter 3:9)

It conveys a change of mind concerning sinful behavior (Luke 17:3-4)

It conveys a change of mind regarding the acceptance of Christ. (Acts 2:38)

It conveys a change of mind concerning God and idols. (Acts 17:29)

In all instances, we are repenting or changing our mind, and turning and going the right way. Repentance as a lifestyle keeps us on the path, going the right direction. Its tough to go two directions and make any headway. Its a form of double-mindedness. It is unstable.

The Fruit of Repentance

True repentance always bears the fruit of repentance. We know that God is not fooled by a showing that would fool men. God looks upon the heart. He knows our inner-most secrets. The works of repentance will be obvious in our lives if it is real.

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (Acts 26:20 KJV)

What are some other fruits of repentance? Genuine faith and a desire to follow God and do His will (1 John 2:3-4). It includes a commitment to fear God as seen in Nehemiah 10:29. True repentance also carries a commitment to holiness.

Examine Yourself

In our Christian walk as a matter of course, we need to examine ourselves. There is a place for introspection, for looking at ourselves and taking account and being honest with ourselves. Are we being Christ-like? Are we walking in the fruit of the Spirit? Are our motives pure? Are our desires holy desires? Do we treat others as ourselves? Are we reading and studying the Word? Are we lifting up those around us and encouraging others in Christ?

Make it a practice to ask the Lord every day to search your heart. Keep short accounts with the Lord. Let your focus always be on Him and His will for your life. If we are truly pursuing Him and His will, we will be walking in the fruit of true repentance.

Morbid Introspection

Here is one thing I want to make clear about asking the Lord to search us so that we can repent. We dont focus on our sins and we dont dwell on them. Once we ask forgiveness, we dont allow them a place in our thought life anymore. The Apostle Paul says

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV)

The enemy would like nothing better than to move us from being unaware to being overly aware of those things in our life or in our past. Once we repent, we focus on who we are in Christ, who the word says we are and we make our thoughts come into alignment with that truth. This is where real transformation can take place. Our agreement with Gods word concerning who we are. That must always be our focus if we are to walk in holiness and the fruit of the Spirit.

The book of Jonah shows a great illustration of repentance and the powerful change it can bring. We see in the first verse of the book that Jonah had an instruction from the Lord. He knew what he was supposed to do. But Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction from where God had told him to go.

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me. But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3 NASB)