Turn Around! (Repentance & Confession) Steps to Christ Review We are now on our third sermon based on thoughts from the book Steps to Christ. If you don t have a copy, it s a great book to help you develop a closer relationship with Jesus. There are some copies in the lobby that you can have if you need one. On my blog and in the Church Chat, there are links to places where you can get a copy for your ipad, Kindle, or Nook or get a nicer, more durable copy for your library. There is more in each chapter than we are able to cover in just one sermon. If you want to really get the full picture, read the chapter, look up the Scripture verses, use the time to encounter Jesus for yourself! One of the things that has helped me in reading this book is focusing on what is my part and what is God s part in this process. There is a pattern I see in many of the chapters that goes something like this: Here is what needs to happen I often look at this and think I can t do that! Then towards the end of the chapter it says what I have been feeling I can t do what is needed! Then it explains what my part really is and I often realize I can do that! Then it tells what God will do in the process and I am often astounded at how much He is committed to this process! The title of the book, Steps to Christ, might make one think that this must all be followed step by step as if something can t happen until the previous steps are completed. While this may be somewhat true, many of the steps especially as we get into the chapters following today s study can be jumbled and happen in what feels like a haphazard manner. What is critical in each step we take closer to Jesus is to remember it is all Holy Spirit powered. Everything good that happens in our lives is a result of us saying yes to God and the Holy Spirit working to bring us more in harmony with Him and His plan for us. So, let s pause and invite Him to control this time we have together now! Prayer/Introduction Stand Up During one of the first years I worked at Forest Lake Academy I took a group of students canoeing on Sabbath afternoon. Wekiva Springs bubbled out enough water to spill out into a small lake and then a river that eventually found its way to the ocean. Being in Florida there are alligators and snakes along with the more usual things found in rivers. Along the trees that hang over the river there are often large spider webs with some good sized spiders in them, most of them harmless to humans.
On this particular afternoon there were a group of three girls, who had never been in a canoe before and insisted on being together in one canoe. None of the girls could swim and they were deathly afraid of most of the things in the water and spiders. I m not really sure why they decided it would be a pleasant afternoon, but they were there. Those of you who have canoed know that keeping it going straight can be a bit of a challenge, especially if the people paddling don t know what they are doing. So, Pat and I stayed back with them and coached them along. As was expected, they zigzagged up the river bumping into the shore on each side as they slowly worked their way along. They were approaching the shore again and noticing the overhanging branches laid back in the canoe so as to pass under them without getting their faces scratched and as they looked up, they saw a huge spider web with a large spider smiling down at them. They panicked and tipped the boat over and all three of them ended up in the water. Of course you can imagine the screaming and thrashing about that took place as they were sure they were going to drown or be eaten alive by something lurking under the bank. In these moments, salvation can come from surprisingly simple actions. I was not far away and shouted at them to stand up they were only in about two and half feet of water. Just putting their feet down and standing up took care of the problem. If they had not done that, they may have drowned there, even though they were wearing life vests! Often times in life we complicate what is really quite simple. We think there is value in the thrashing around, the panicking, and the screaming when the solution is as simple as simply standing! Repentance Turn Around! Last week John ended his sermon with this thought: Repentance doesn t mean anything if you keep doing what you are sorry for. In chapter three of Steps to Christ, the chapter titled Repentance, this thought is shared: Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. (Steps to Christ, page 23) Notice especially the phrase turn away this is the simple step leading to all that Jesus has to offer us. We tend to complicate it, we thrash around, we try hard to be good, we panic, we get angry when it doesn t seem to be working the simple truth is, Jesus is just inviting us to turn around! In 1981 there was a terrible flood in the Big Thompson Canyon in the Colorado Rockies just west of Loveland. There may be some of you here that remember that far back. It was the year before we
moved to Campion Academy. There were unusually heavy rains that year which led to a dam just outside Estes Park collapsing sending a raging river, in some places more than 50 feet high, down the Canyon destroying homes, roads, and lives. While this was going on at the top of the Canyon, there was a bus load of students on a field trip heading for Estes Park, up the Big Thompson Canyon. As the driver entered the canyon he was uncomfortable with what he saw the heavy rains and the rising river. He was impressed to turn around and head back out of the canyon. He listened! He turned the bus around and drove back down to Loveland, leaving the canyon shortly before the wall of water racing down the river burst out of the canyon s entrance. His action saved the lives of the students on his bus. He responded to the impression he was receiving to turn around, and what could have ended badly for many families turned out well. This is an illustration of repentance. It is a big word that has a simple explanation. It simply means to turn around. When Solomon dedicated the temple that David had imagined and prepared for and left for him to build he prayed a beautiful prayer of commitment. God responded to that prayer. In the middle of His response we find this beautiful promise: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV) Notice the phrase: Turn from their wicked ways it tells us even God s people get off course, go their own way, and will need a change of direction. The Bible often gives us the command to turn away from our sinful ways. Sin is simply living our lives independent of God and it exhibits itself in many ways, all of them destructive. Sin is simply walking away from God. God s invitation is simply to turn around, to stop walking away from Him and to turn and face Him. And as we focus our attention on Jesus we will find ourselves drawn to Him! Jesus said: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (John 12:32, NIV) And as we are drawn to Him, He will bring us to repentance! Peter, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body, said: The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (Acts 5:30-31, NIV) As we focus on Jesus, He will give us the gift of repentance which is simply the ability to see the damage that our sin is causing, creating a desire in our hearts to turn away from it. It is the desire to
move closer to Jesus, putting aside everything that stands in the way of the relationship, the desire to live our lives honoring God. Confession Admitting Our Failure And as we keep looking, as we begin to see the sinfulness of our lives, we will see that we have been wrong, that we have hurt God and others by the way we have lived. This brings us to a point of decision. We can blame others or we can take responsibility for our actions. We can spend a lot of energy trying to justify ourselves or we can admit the truth about our sinful condition this is confession! In Proverbs it says: Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13, NIV) The apostle John says: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9, NIV) In Psalms 103 it describes what it means for Him to purify us from all unrighteousness. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:10-12, NIV) Admitting our sin to God, and as needed to others we may have hurt, brings a spiritual cleansing healing wounds between us and others! Conclusion/Appeal Turn Around! So now, how does all this work? In practical terms what is God s part and what is my part? Life is like a journey, like going on a long walk. There are easy parts and there are hard parts. Left on our own, we are walking away from God. Left on our own, we will eventually destroy ourselves, often taking others with us. But there is this voice that keeps calling: Thure, turn around; please turn around! Sometimes the voice is strong; sometimes it is just a whisper. We can ignore it and keep moving or we can stop and turn. Why would we ignore it? Perhaps we have a sense that it will change us in ways we don t think we want to be changed. The voice persists: Thure, turn around!
Perhaps we think that we can better manage our lives; we can better know the right direction for our lives. And the voice persists: Thure, please turn around before it is too late! It may not be an audible voice; it may simply be a tug in our heart to just give God a chance in our lives. It may come from a friend, it may be an impression as we read something but it is always there, calling to us, drawing us to God. And I continue to feel and to hear: Thure, turn around I want to be with you! So finally I say ok, I turn around. What has changed? I am still in the exact same spot I was before so there is no change there. But, I am facing a different direction! In fact, everything has changed! Let s look at the passage from 2 Chronicles again: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, That s what I have just done. I have turned from going away from God to facing Him I am seeking His face! Continuing on: then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV) Things happen when we turn to God! He will forgive us; He will bring healing to us. When we stop and turn to God, we start seeing Him as He really is full of love and power. This love makes us want to leave sin behind because it stands between us and Him. This is repentance! It is a gift given to us as we respond to His love. As we continue looking at God and start moving His direction, we also see ourselves as we really are full of selfishness, full of sin. This leads us to admit that we were wrong, that we were headed the wrong direction. This is confession. It will open our eyes to how we may have hurt others and will lead us to acknowledge to them the part we played in causing pain in their lives this is also confession. These are gifts that God gives us as we continue to look towards Him and take steps in His direction. The voice of God persists He is calling your name too, He says: Please turn around, please look at me, focus on Me, and allow Me to make you more and more like Jesus! Jesus says: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, the Voice)
When we turn and face God, Jesus comes right alongside of us. He hooks Himself to us and walks with us. He gently leads our steps; He does the heavy lifting so we can find rest in Him! There is no part in this journey towards God we have to make on our own. Just turn His direction, look at Him, and start walking with Him. Closing Song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (#290) 1. O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. 2. Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O er us sin no more hath dominion For more than conqu rors we are! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. 3. His Word shall not fail you He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. Benediction