Road Trip #1

Below you will find the notes from my recent message called:

"Road Trip #1 – Repentance”

I feel like I need to issue a bit of a disclaimer. These notes were never really designed to be read. They are my preaching notes, and I don't put much detail into my notes. Some people write out their notes word for word, but I am really more of a headlines guy. I rarely give my notes out because they are really just designed to be a guide to keep me on track during a message. But, I had several people ask me for these notes, so here you go. I think the most important thing is that you can go back over the scripture that I used after hearing the message. My prayer is that we will all pray the prayer found in Psalms 139:23-24, and invite God to lead us on His journey for us. If you haven't heard the message, these notes may not mean much to you, so I recommend that you go to www.lifechurch.org and go to the “media” section and listen to the message.

Road Trip

Road Trips are usually about Vacation, Relaxation, Exploration, & some times just simple Evacuation…This Road Trip is about Transformation!

Transformation: (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
- A change of heart in men, by which his disposition and temper are conformed to the divine image.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

= To be “transformed into the same image” means that we begin to have the same values, and begin to be like Jesus.

In this series we’re looking at 4 words we need to understand to be truly transformed…

1. Repentance
= This is not a popular word today, but it’s vital part of Transformation…

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Repentance is motor that gets you moving, and we must be willing to look under the hood…

The Biblical word for “Repent” is the Greek word…
Metanoeo: (Strong’s 3340)
- to change one’s mind, purpose, or direction

“Repentance is = a Change of Heart & Direction!”

= This word 1st appears in Matthew chapter 3…

Matt 3:1-2 NKJV
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Matt 4:17 NKJV
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

= This is how Jesus began His earthly ministry!

Luke 24:44-48 NKJV
44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

= Jesus began & ended His earthly ministry with Repentance!

"There are many today who preach faith without repentance. We have filled our churches with people who claim to know Jesus Christ in power and full salvation, and yet there is no sign of repentance in their lives."
~ Dr. Don M. Boone

“Repentance” on Dictionary.com:
- to recognize the wrong in something you have done and be sorry about it
- to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits

= Think about a U-Turn…

= Until you’re going the right direction, it really doesn’t matter how nice your ride is, what you accomplish, or even how hard you try…

= Once you make the U-Turn, there are places that you would have gone, that you will no longer go…

= There are places that you’ve been to that you may need to pass back by…
...Places that require things Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Restitution, etc

Matt 3:8 NKJV
‘Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”

= Fruit is what is produced when certain seeds are planted, watered, they begin to grow…
…eventually it produces fruit!

= Repentance is like a seed…It will produce fruit!

How do we know if we have truly Repented?
= Look at the fruit in our lives…

= If you don’t like the fruit in your life, change direction…

Remember…“Repentance is = a Change of Heart & Direction!”

“Repentance means turning around from our evil ways in order to look to Jesus. The person who will not repent still has his or her back turned on God. Repentance is a condition we meet in order that God, already wanting to be good to us, can be good to us, forgiving and cleansing us. In that sense then, the man who loves his sin and hangs on to it cannot reasonably expect the goodness and the grace of God.” ~ A.W. Tozer

= When you’re looking to Jesus, you will no longer be looking to other things!

1 John 2:15 NKJV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

= Paul certainly understood what Repentance was!

Acts 9:1-6 NLT
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" 5 "Who are you, lord?" Saul asked. and the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

= The rest of the story…
= God reveals Himself to Saul in dramatic fashion…
= Saul commits his life to Jesus!
= God changes Saul’s name to Paul…
= Paul goes on his own journey of personal transformation…
= Paul becomes the greatest missionary who ever lived!

…Check out what Paul wrote several years later…
Gal 2:20 NKJV

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

= Jesus was not just an “addition” to Paul’s life, Jesus became his life!

True Repentance puts us on the Road to Transformation!

Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

= Repentance begins with changing your thinking.

= Repentance begins with seeing sin as God sees sin.

= Repentance is making a U-turn how you do life.

= Repentance is all about following Jesus!

How do we know if we need to Repent?

Ps 139:23-24 NLT
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

How do we Repent?

= “God, Forgive me.”

= “God, Cleanse me.”

= “God, Change me.”

= “God, Lead me.”

Great example of this in Psalms 51…

“Repentance is = a Change of Heart & Direction!”