ThinkingInColor

Friday

Jul062007

The Measure of a Man

Friday, July 6, 2007 at 03:59AM

Rev 21:9-17 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

I. We base most of our observations and actions upon the things we see, know and recognize in the natural world.

A. Illustrate with oversize coat on an smaller man. (God’s ways are too big for us; our ways are too small for God.

B. The laws of nature either restrict us or challenge us.

1. Gravity did not keep Wilber and Orville Wright from their miracle at Kitty Hawk.
2. The popularity of kerosene lanterns did not stop Thomas Edison from discovering the incandescent light.
3. Letter writing, the Pony Express and the Telegraph did not keep Alexander Graham Bell from inventing the telephone.

C. The realms of human experience do not stop us; they only remind us of what hasn’t been done.

1. In 1492, Columbus proved that you could get east by going west.
2. In 1783, 55 delegates drafted a constitution that established the first complete democracy recorded in history.
3. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave rights to minorities that no other nation on earth had ever done.

D. The influence of others cannot stop you; you need only say “I will not longer allow negative, unbelieving faithless forces keep me from the will of God.

1. Joseph succeeded despite the wickedness of his brothers.
2. Daniel won over the scheming princes of the kingdom.
3. The early church survived persecution, hatred, martyrdom, exile, alienation, the tortures of Caligula, the rantings of Nero and the catacombs of Rome.

II. The tendency to be small in our vision is a gigantic barrier to spiritual understanding.

A. Jesus said, “O ye of little faith.”

B. We mentally try to force God into our tiny definitions, our disbelief and our restrictions.

III. Joash and Elijah.

2 Kings 13:14-19 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

A. The need of Joash.

B. The opportunity for a great victory.

C. Victory limited only by Joash’s vision.

IV. John’s vision.

A. He named himself among the inscriptions on the foundations of the Holy City.

B. According to the measure of a man.

1. Pace= 1 yard.
2. Cubit= length of forearm.
3. Span= distance between thumb and little finger.
4. Palm= handbreadth.
5. Finger= ¼ palm.
6. Reed= 6 cubits.

C. What determines the actual measurement in each case? The size of the man!

V. The new birth changes all our measurements.

A. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. Not according to the old nature.

Eph 2:1-2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

C. Not according to our failures.

2 Cor 4:8-11 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

D. Not according to our sins.

Ps 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

VI. Salvation is according to the measure of Christ.

A. According to’s of Ephesians:

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17-20 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

B. God did not design salvation according to our blueprints.

1. Past failures.
2. Poor self-image.
3. Influence of others.
4. Lies of Satan.

Wednesday

Jul042007

Guarding Your Heart

Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at 04:20AM

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.^{^[1]}

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ⁴  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. ^{^[2]}

Three things stand out to us in these passages:

1. The heart must be protected.
2. The Spirit of God must be kept in full supply.
3. Your love for God must be kept fresh and renewed.

THE CONDEMNATION (v. 4)

“Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

A. The Demand of Love

That was tragic because the one thing that Christ wanted in His church more than anything else was love. He demanded it.

John 21:15-17 says, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep. He saith unto him the third time ….” When love toward Him grew cold, it broke His heart. That is why He said, “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:4).

B. The Disappearance of Love

You say, “What do you mean by first love?” It is the love that first springs up in an individual’s heart.

1. FOR CHRIST

Perhaps you have met Christians who, at the time that Christ came into their life, were greatly in love with Him. But as the years went by, they got all of their doctrine into the right slots and became mechanical Christians. They knew what they believed; they just didn’t have any love.

Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). Love is the message of the church. The world is dying to be loved and we have the message.

2. FOR EACH OTHER

Once you lose your love for Jesus Christ, you cease loving one another.

Horizontal relationships depend upon your vertical relationship with God. If you find that there is someone you can’t seem to love, then you may have left your first love for Christ. A warm, expressive, vital love for Jesus Christ translates into love for people.

In 1 John 3:14-17 the Apostle John essentially says, “If you say you love God, but don’t love your brother, you are a liar, because only the love you have for your brother proves that you love God.”

Passion for God

Brother B. J. Thomas spoke to the General Board about losing one’s passion. He said that many preachers and pastors begin well and have great excitement about their ministry in the beginning. After several years, however, they scale back their vision and settle into a maintenance program. Why ?

a. Ability. They stretch to the limits of their ability.
b. Consecration They lose their personal walk with God.
c. Adversity They battle so much adversity that they deplete their reserves.
d. Comfort They reach a level of personal comfort that they plateau.
e. Hopeless They see no results from their labors.
f. Isolation They get no encouragement from their peers.
g. Comparison They compare their meager success to that of others.

Clergy Burnout (Oswald, 1982)

(1) Tendency to feel negative or cynical about church members
(2) Loss of enthusiasm for job
(3) Lowered emotional investment in work
(4) Fatigue and irritability
(5) Cynical and sarcastic humor
(6) Increased withdrawal from church members
(7) Increased rigidity in dealing with people
(8) Feelings of isolation and lack of support
(9) Frustration in accomplishing tasks
(10) Increased feeling of sadness
(11) Physical ailments
(12) Lowered enjoyment of intimacy
(13) Tendency to blame others for problems
(14) Tendency to feel guilty much of the time
(15) Feeling of just hanging on until retirement
(16) Sense of emptiness and depletion

Keeping your passion is like flying an airplane. Since the forces of air resistance and gravity never stop working on the aircraft, the need for overcoming them never diminishes.

Principles of Aerodynamics
Flight involves a balance of forces. These forces are THRUST, DRAG, LIFT and WEIGHT.
When *Thrust* and *Drag* are equal, the speed of the aircraft through the air (airspeed) will remain constant in smooth air. When *Lift* and *Weight* are equal, the aircraft will neither ascend or decend.

Dynamics of Flight

Drag

Just as wind friction causes drag in an automobile, aerodynamic friction and displacement of air during flight creates aerodynamic DRAG. Drag occurs any time that air is displaced from its normal stable condition. Air has density and weight, and although compressible, it still requires energy to displace.
INDUCED DRAG occurs as a by-product of lift.
PARASITE DRAG results from friction with surfaces and appendages, and impact with structures such as struts, landing gear, antennas, etc..

Induced Drag (Just starting to live right triggers resistance)

Induced drag results from the creation of lift. The amount of drag depends on the airfoil design of the wing, its camber and angle of attack. Also due to the way the air flows across the wing during flight, vortices are generated at the wing tips which add to the induced drag component.

Parasite Drag (The devil doesn’t want you saved…not now…not ever!)

Parasite drag is an unwanted resistance of the air to an object traveling through the air. The 3 types of parasite drag are Form, Skin and Interference as demonstrated below.

Form Drag

The form of the object and the effective frontal surface it presents to the air has a significant effect on the amount of drag generated. As shown in (A), a surface such as shown would present much more “frontal” drag than it would is it were rotated 90 degrees as in (B). Drag can be reduced in the aircraft design by streamlining objects such as wing struts to minimize the frontal appearance to the air flow. (RIGHT FORM =RIGHT DOCTRINE AND THINKING)

Skin Friction

Even though the form in (A) above is re-oriented to shape (B), there is still some form drag. In addition, there is friction between the skin of the surface and the air flow. It is obvious that if the surface is dirty, has frost, ice or other obstructions, that drag will increase. Effects of skin drag can be reduced by smooth surfaces and flush riveting in the design, and by keeping the surface clean and waxed by the owner. (PAY ATTENTION TO BUILDUP ON WINGS)

Interference Drag

Surfaces at angles to each other as in (C) create turbulence in the region of the joint. This occurs most frequently at the intersection of the fuselage and wing
( LIFE -CHANGING DECISIONS MAY CAUSE NEW DRAG eg.: marriage, move, job change)

Human Factors

Communication
Complacency
Distraction
Lack of awareness
Lack of knowledge
Pressing
Resources
I am a professional

Human attitudes
The exchange of information
Company culture
Norms

Ways to Keep Your Passion for God Alive

What we are actually are talking about is staying focused on the right things of life.

Stay connected to the Body.
Expose your mind and heart to the ministry of the Word of God.
Let nothing interfere with your personal devotion of reading and praying.
Wash, clean, dust, wax, polish, maintain.
Consciously, deliberately put God first in everything.
Keep giving, loving, serving, working.
Get your recognition and gratitude from God, not others.

“Remember, therefore, from where thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent.”

A. The Result of Lost Love

Christ says that losing your first love is the first step to eventual destruction. You say, “Does that mean everyone in Ephesus lost their salvation?” No, it means that the testimony of the church is lost. When a church begins to fall out of love with Jesus Christ, that is the first step in the downward progression. Ultimately, the light goes out. The physical lights may still be on, and someone may be speaking in the pulpit, but the spiritual light of the church is out.

B. The Request of Christ

Jesus asks the church at Ephesus to do three things: remember, repent, and repeat. In verse 5, Jesus says, “Remember, therefore, from where thou art fallen, and repent, and do [repeat] the first works ….” In other words, go back and start warming up that love relationship with Christ.

1. REMEMBER

First, Jesus says that they should remember what they had. Men, have you ever had your wife say, “You take me for granted. You didn’t before. Remember how you used to treat me?” In other words, “Where is that first love?” In like manner, Christ says to Ephesus, “Remember the warmth of that exciting love we had at the beginning?” If your Christianity is cold orthodoxy, will you remember the warmth and thrill that you had when Christ first became real in your life? The first time Paul went to Ephesus he told the people how real Christ was. Now Jesus says, “Remember those days.”

Next, Jesus asks the Ephesians to…

2. REPENT

He wanted the Ephesians to say, “God, I’m sorry. I want that warm love again.” Then Jesus tells how to get it back.

Spiritual Renewal is not an option!

⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly ^b through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. ^{^[3]}

^{^[1]}The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Pr 4:22-23). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^{^[2]}The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Re 2:1-5). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

b abundantly: Gr. richly

^{^[3]}The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Tit 3:5-8). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Monday

Jul022007

Why the Flesh Must Not Rule Your Life

Monday, July 2, 2007 at 06:02PM

The whole purpose of Jesus Christ coming to die was to both literally and symbolically crucify the flesh.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16

By crucifying the flesh, Jesus Christ demonstrated that the flesh could not be saved.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16

Salvation to the Jews

Jewish soteriology was not substitutionary in a personal way. They believed that the sacrifices, circumcision, the ordinances, the observances of Sabbath days and feast days, cleansed their flesh. Thus, through Abraham, they had their lineage from God, and through Moses they had atonement for their sins. This is why they were greatly offended by the words of Jesus in John 6:48-63.

The crucifixion of Christ accomplished a number of things:

1. The transgression of Adam was abolished.

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:14-21

2. The nature of Adam was given a master.

“23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:23-25

3. Heaven was made accessible for the redeemed.

“15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:15-22

The promise of a glorified body shows that the flesh cannot be saved.

“47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:47-53

Today, we do not yet have a glorified body. We are still under the influence of Adam’s fleshly nature.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18
“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:19
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:25
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:3

There is continual tension between the flesh and the spirit.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17

However, if we truly have faith in Christ that the spirit won the victory over the flesh, we will continually subject the flesh to the power of the crucifixion.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

When the flesh is in bondage, the Spirit has liberty. When the flesh is granted liberty, the Spirit is placed in bondage.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8
“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Colossians 1:22

Monday

Jul022007

A Deeper Look at Repentance

Monday, July 2, 2007 at 11:56AM

Introduction:

Repentance is a biblical command.

Ezek 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Ezek 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem .

Repentance is a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Ghost baptism.

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;

Let’s be clear about what repentance is not.

Repentance is not penitence.
Sorrow, guilt, shame: part of repentance, but not enough.
Repentance is not penance.
Self-punishment, expiatory rituals, discipline.

Repentance involves four elements.

Repentance is something you think.
Repentance is something you say.
Repentance is something you stop doing.
Repentance is something you start doing.

Repentance is something you think.

Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

As Job, you must think differently.

Think differently about yourself.
Think differently about the world around you.
Think differently about God.
Understand that you are entering into a totally new world with different values, goals, and relationships.

Let’s flesh out an example that makes sense in practical terms.

How does a military recruit think differently before and after boot camp?
How does a traffic accident make you think differently than before?
How does having a baby in your home make you think differently?

What are the different thoughts that a repented person begins to think?

Identity
Purpose
Values
Relationships
Possessions

Repentance is something you say.

Thoughts that never find expression never become real.
I can’t get in trouble for something I don’t say.
If I don’t put my thoughts into words, I am not making a commitment.
I feel it but I can’t say it.
Why do we say the wedding vows? (Read funny vows.)

(Read the 51^st Psalm)

Express to God your shame and sorrow. Admit your sins to him.

Repentance is something you stop doing.

Not that we ever stop repenting, but we stop doing the things we repented of.

Wickedness.

2 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.

False ideas about God.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Vices

Attitudes

Feelings

Repentance is something you start doing.

Acts 26:19-20 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Worship and praise.
Seeking after holy and Godly things.
Submitting yourself to the will of God instead of the will of the flesh.
Billy Cole has seen over a half-million people receive the Holy Ghost.
He begins every Holy Ghost crusade with a call to repentance.
God begins his re-creation of the soul in the repentant heart.