God is preparing our church for a significant move of his Spirit, and it will be revealed by people having a greater hunger and thirst after God and his Spirit over anything else this world has to offer. One of the ways that keeps true hunger for God happening is our relationship with those that are in our group or church.
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you (confessed and repented of), along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:30-32
It’s important to understand that there is a “religious repentance” which is the idea that if we keep God happy he will continue to bless us and answer our prayers. However, true “gospel repentance” is to continually tap into the joy and union with God that motivates us to desire and love God instead of “having to.”
The repentance that the gospel of Jesus brings is (vs. 32) love, tender hearts, forgiveness, and an understanding of the grace that God has given us. God is eager to forgive. Let’s state that again—GOD IS EAGER TO FORGIVE! Why? Because it is his desire for the whole world to be reconciled and our hearts and minds transformed.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 7:10.) Once we understand how we have injured ourselves and others and are deeply sorry, we are ready to follow the process that will rid us of the effects of the sins against one another.
Over the coming weeks, we will be going through Psalm 51 to help us process together what true repentance looks like as it relates to God, to fellow believers, and to the people around us. This week we will work through the “IN” dimension as it relates to God.
1) There are two categories of sin: Sins of commission and sins of Omission
- Sins of commission: Things that you SHOULD NOT do but do anyway.
- Sins of omission: Things that you SHOULD DO but don’t do.
2) Open your Bibles or devices to Psalm 51. Read through the entire passage.
3) Read through this list together of IN questions. What are the questions that God might be leading you to? What is getting your attention? Ask God to search your heart to see if there is something that He wants to show you?
IN: Love for Fellow Believers
- Do I genuinely love people in God’s church?
- Am I feeling lonely?
- Does my spouse/family feel connected to an extended family of believers?
- Have I participated in slander and gossip against my brother or sister?
- Am I seeking and in relationship with a mentor? Is anyone discipling me?
- Am I currently discipling someone?
- Am I thankful when a brother/sister confronts me or do I get defensive?
- Am I holding a grudge?
- Is my family at peace or in turmoil? Are we moving in one unified direction?
- Do I currently have a broken relationship with someone that I need to attend to?
- Am I fake/superficial with people or genuine, real, and authentic?
- Am I following God within the context of community or do I avoid groups?
- Have I let bitterness take over my life as it relates to a past hurt in a group or church?
4) Spend several minutes in silent prayer acknowledging that The Holy Spirit is present and ready to work. Go through this process as a group identifying, discussing, and confessing to each other.
- Define the sin
- “Lord, I am bitter towards……”
- “Lord, I have been holding a grudge against….”
- Lord, I have been neglecting real community because…..”
- Appeal to God’s mercy (v.1) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.
- Don’t be defensive (v.4) against you, and only you, have I sinned…
- Look to Jesus’ Work for you! (v.7) cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean…
- Feel the brokenness of this sin and ask God to heal you (v.8) let my crushed bones be healed!
- Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you (v.11) The grief you’re experiencing is a sign that the Holy Spirit is working in you!
- Declare truth and celebrate His goodness (v. 12-15)
- Resolve to believe and obey!
- Carry out a plan and be accountable to the group or to someone else!
Just like last week, as a closing to your practice of repentance and prayer, it’s a powerful statement to remind each other that we are forgiven! One of the enemy’s strategies is to make us believe that some of our sins have not yet been forgiven. He does this to keep control over our lives. However, when we confess with confidence that all of our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus, we experience victory. Right now, proclaim that by the blood of Jesus, all of your sins have been forgiven.
Say to each other: “You are forgiven by the blood of Jesus!
