II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Jeremiah 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
MEMORY VERSE: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. —II Peter 3:9
CENTRAL THOUGHT: Those who repent are promised abundant mercy, forgiveness, and pardon; cleansing and healing; a place in the presence of the Lord with His Spirit poured out to revive and refresh them; His eyes of care looking upon them; and His Word revealed to them.
DISCUSSION:
- According to the verses in this lesson, name some of the conditions that must be met as we
repent.
- List the blessings which come from repentance.
- Discuss the purpose of repentance.
- Discuss the consequences of not repenting.
- Review the steps of repentance.
LIFE APPLICATION
We are definitely in the last days before Christ’s coming. We are in the time of delay as described by Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins; therefore, it is also a time of spiritual drowsiness and slumber—a very dangerous time for God’s people.
So we shouldn’t think it awkward or inappropriate for God to send His church a message of repentance. Rather, we should be grateful, knowing that it is His goodness to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4), because He truly does not want anyone to perish. Except we all repent, Jesus said, we all perish.
We should also be encouraged by the promises repeated in this last lesson. Think back on all the people about whom we have studied in this series: Manasseh, David, the people of Israel and Judah, the churches of Asia, the Ninevites, the prodigal son, the publican, the thief on the cross, the Gentiles. The call to repentance is God’s love and mercy extended to people, no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have done.
Let us heed the call for personal repentance. Let us each one lay down our own thoughts, tear down our private idols, be completely humble, set aside time for fasting and earnest prayer, and continue until the Spirit is poured out upon our souls.
Let us heed the call for congregational repentance. Let us call each other to repentance; take one another by the hand, confess divisional attitudes and grievances, ask each other for accountability, join with each other in fasting and prayer.
Let us heed the call for national repentance. Let us confess the national sins for which the cup of the vengeance of God is nearly full: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, dishonesty, drunkenness, pride, celebrity worship, anger, abuse, violence of every kind, murder of the unborn, covetousness, spiritual lethargy, false religion.
It may be—IT MAY BE—that God will hear and repent Himself of the evil He has pronounced upon our nation for its sins. But if not, let us weep and pray and fast, and keep returning to Him with all of our hearts. God may destroy our nation, but our souls will be saved.
—Angela Gellenbeck
REFLECTIONS
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:19-20).
These direct words from Jesus were addressed, not to non-professing Christians, but to “the church of the Laodiceans,”—the lukewarm, self-satisfied church! I am reminded of a poem written by Bro. C. E. Orr nearly a century ago. If he felt this urgency then, how much more should we as we now approach the borders of eternity!
Stirring the Nest
“Stir us, oh, my Savior, stir us! As an eagle stirs her nest;
Let us all be up and doing, No time now for wayside rest.
“Stir us, oh, my Savior, stir us! Stir us up to give and go,
Upon those at ease in Zion, There’s pronounced a dreadful woe.
“Do you love the blessed Jesus? Would you of His grace partake?
Then be active in His service, Doing something for His sake.
“Stir our hearts, dear blessed Savior, May we all strict vigil keep!
Souls are sleeping all around us; Others, too, are going to sleep.
“Soon the Bridegroom will be coming, And that you may not recoil;
Keep your lights all trimmed and burning, And your vessels filled with oil.
“Blow the trumpet, oh, ye watchmen! Never from your duty shirk:
Here and there throughout God’s Zion, ‘Little foxes’ are at work.
—Harlan Sorrell
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