FCWC13: Wednesday Evening

Tonight Pastor Steve talked about continuum repentance. Continuum repentance is continually asking forgiveness and repenting for your actions. It is not an easy process, but it is practical and fruitful.

They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ~1 Thessalonians  1:9b (NIV)

 We need to keep moving away from all of the idols in our lives and toward God. It's like a bow. We pull back just enough from our sin, but there's still tension and we can feel ourselves being dragged back to our old ways. Pull all the way back (toward God), and you can relax in His strength and power.

How to turn to God from idols:

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. ~Ephesians 4:28 (NIV)

1. Prophetic vision: "Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction." ~Proverbs 29:18 (NIV). If you have no vision, you will go back to sin.
2. This is the work of God. You are not enough to do it alone. "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." ~Philippians 2:12 (NIV)
3. Bring glory to God and others

Progress is not made in generalities. You do not just grow in faith. You need to work hard at it.

Some things to work on to be a man or a woman of God:

1. Words: Speak good, healthy words into other's lives. Give good words of encouragement, comfort or correction. Do not use vulgar words. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ~Ephesians 4:29 (NIV). James 3 has great wisdom on the power of your words.
2. Hard/soft heart: Calm down. Get rid of your anger. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." ~Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
3. Money/possessions: Don't find happiness or status in your money and possessions. If you find it glorious, it will draw you away from God. Develop a habit of giving! Break the power of greed. "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." ~1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
4. Relationship with parents: Even if you feel that your relationship with your parents is ok, there is still work that can be done. Don't be disobedient or semi-obedient. Stop giving them attitude and dishonoring them. Break your old habits: serve them. Be helpful and encouraging, speak well of them and appreciate their hard work. "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." ~Deuteronomy 5:6 (NIV)
5. Sex: Learn to control and honor your body. Abstain from sexual activity. God has called us for holiness. This activity is driving you away from God and killing you emotionally. Guys: See girls as your sisters to defend. Stand up for them. Pray for the purity of your future wife. Give your wife purity. and Girls: Pray for the purity of your future husband. Give your husband purity. Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost more than you want to pay. "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;  that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,  not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." ~1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 (NIV)
6. Looks/appearance: Move away from clothes, hair, fashion and attracting the opposite sex. Move toward adorning the heart, your inner person. "She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." ~Sections of Proverbs 31 (NIV)
7. Entertainment: There are many crude and vial sources of entertainment that dragging is you down. A lot of entertainment is just mind numbing and mindless. There is no reading or discussions, and our minds need to be developed, or we'll remain on a low level. They are just a waste of time. Do you give God your time? You do have the time to do activities that bring you closer to God (pray, read the bible or a devotional, serve God and others). You just choose to waste it. Find time to fight a battle against Satan. Rest, but don't throw your time away. Show you love God and others.

Remember: God is bigger than the situation. He can help you work on any and all of these issues.