7.3.11 "Empowered for Repentance"

"Empowered for Repentance"

2 Kings 22:4-23:30
Acts 21:37-22:16
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 18:11-12

What does it mean to be "Empowered through Biblical Training"? What are we empowered for? Well, the answer is obvious in some ways. We are Empowered to live the Balanced Christian Life... to Live in Obedience (D), Relationships.... etc.

All of that is true, and important, but it should never just be stuck in our head. It must reach our heart. What happens when you read the Word?

In 2 Kings 22-23, an 8 year old becomes king. He is described as a king who "followed in the steps of his ancestor King David, obeying the Lord completely." (22:2) At the age of 26, he orders the temple repaired. (Remember the past kings have pretty much decimated it, and defiled it with heathen altars.) In 22:8, The word of God is discovered. "One day Hilkiah the High Priest went to Shaphan the secretary and exclaimed, 'I have discovered a scroll in the Temple, with God's laws written on it!'"

verse 11: When the king heard what was written it in, he tore his clothes in terror.

The following 2 chapters describe the process it takes for Josiah to carry out repentance throughout the land, destroying high places, altars, evil priests, etc. It's hard work!

As we "discover the scroll" each day, what happens in us? We are not in a day where the "scroll" is hard to find. We have several bibles in each of our homes. Yet at the same time, the scroll can be lost to us even though it's right in front of us. It's very easy to get caught in the ritual of reading the Word and not become empowered through it. Empowered for what?

With a heart open to the Word, the first thing Josiah was empowered for was repentance. To hear the laws of God is like taking an audit of the heart. At this stage, the nation of Judah did not line up with God's plan. The process of repentance was begun. It was not a pretty process. It took time. It was work. What empowered this work? Knowing the commands of God.

In this age of grace, forgiveness is a prayer away. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for that! Where would we be without it! But, this forgiveness that is so available to us does not negate the necessity of repentance in our lives. It is a process as well. when we are forgiven, we must follow through with steps of repentance to cleanse our lives from that which has led us astray. We must apply the commands that are revealed to us in the "scroll".

James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does."

The empowerment that comes through the Word is for a purpose. It's so that we can use it as a mirror. Does my life line up with God's commands? As the Word reveals high places that need to be torn down, we must follow through in discipline to tear them down. We are empowered by the commands God has given.

Live Empowered today. The Psalm reading for today is a great way to close.

"Oh the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God: But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely." Ps 1:1-2

Think about ways to follow Him more closely as you Live the DREAM!





Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ