REPENT

SIN

The Greek word for sin in Scripture is hamartia (ἁμαρτία). It is used 173 times in the New Testament and is derived from the verb hamartano, which means "to miss the mark" or "to err." The literal translation of the Greek word hamartia is to "miss the mark" or "err from the target." It describes sin very well.

Hamartia is a good way to describe sinfulness.

Some hit the bull’s eye and do not sin.

Some go slightly off target and sin

Some do not hit the target at all and sin.

HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:8

Zechariah 13:9: "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, 'It is my people:' and they shall say, 'The Lord is my God.'"

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3

The Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin, as He refines and purifies our hearts. The Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us into all truth

All sin is viewed through the way of the Father, for He is full of mercy and compassion, He is full of forgiveness, and He is full of Kindness.

CHURCH

ACTIVITY – Blot out schism in your midst. See MARKET PLACE in GATHER AS ONE.

DEFINING CHURCH

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Colossians 1:24

In Colossians 1:24, the word church is singular ("the church"), emphasizing the unity and oneness of the entire body of believers. This universal church is composed of all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, regardless of their geographical location or cultural background. The singular word (“church”) emphasizes the overarching unity and universality of the church as a whole.

SIN OF THE CHURCH

But God composed the body … there are many members, yet one body ... there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:24-25

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence. Colossians 1:18

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

There should be no schism [Gk schisma, a split or division] in the Church. Jesus is the Head of the ONE Body, the Church, and we are its members. Jesus is the cornerstone of the ONE spiritual house and we are the living stones.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23

We are called to be perfect in one so that the world will believe in and know Jesus and His love (Revival). If we are not perfect in our oneness that is hamartia We harm revival in the Church.

How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Psalm 4:2

REVIVAL NEEDS A CHURCH TO MEET IN PERFECT UNITY

We are called to be perfect in one so that the world will believe in and know Jesus and His love (Revival). If we are not perfect in our oneness that is hamartia We harm revival in the Church.

If we err from the target of being perfect in one we need to repent.

LOCAL CHURCHES

DEFINING CHURCHES

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31

In Acts 9:31 the plural word ("churches") is used, referring to local congregations or assemblies of believers. This grouping would also include house groups, fellowships, communities, mega-churches, assemblies and denominations, each with its own distinct identity and leadership.

SINS OF THE CHURCHES

SINS OF REVELATION

ACTIVITY – Identify any sin in your local church identified by Jesus in Revelation, and blot it out by forgiveness, intercession, and action to meliorate it.

The churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation Chapters 2 and 3) each faced unique challenges and sins. Here's a breakdown of the primary issues:

· Ephesus, the loveless church, lost the love and intimacy with Jesus, become self-righteous and legalistic

· Pergamum, a corrupt church, tolerates false teachers and idolatry, commits sexual immorality

· Thyatira, a sexually immoral church, allow spirit of Jezebel to lead you astray in sexual immorality and adultery

· Sardis, a dead church, complacent, spiritually weak

· Laodicea, the lukewarm church, wealthy, self-sufficient, and spiritually blind.

Consider if there is any place for these issues in your church. Use the measure of hamartia.

1. Loveless church, no intimate personal relationship with the Lord

2. Corrupt church, tolerates false teachers and idolatry

3. Sexually immoral church (Spirit of Jezebel)

4. Dead church, lackadaisical, spiritually weak.

5. Lukewarm church, wealthy, self-sufficient, and spiritually blind.

SINS OF UNREADINESS

ACTIVITY - In your church, restore any lack of, and grow provision of, all the early church activities.

THE LORD WANTS CHURCHES READY FOR REVIVAL. IS YOURS?

Scripture gives us a wonderful guide as to what local churches ought to do. Again, you may wish to set the measure of hamartia to measure how your local church fares.

REPENT

Repent Acts 2:38

Repent and believe (Mark 1:15)

SCRIPTURE STUDY

Continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)

FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship (Acts 2:42)

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

SHARING MEALS

the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42)

breaking bread from house to house (Acts 2:46)

PRAYER

prayers (Acts 2:42)

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13

WORSHIP WITH ONE ACCORD

continuing daily with one accord in the temple (Acts 2:46)

go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9)

WITNESS

the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47)

…you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

We will expand on each of these seven features.

(1) REPENT

Change your ways and follow Him.

Jesus preached, “Repent and believe.” That simple message is for us today too.

Repent [ Gk metanoeo, to think differently afterwards, change direction, repent]

Believe [ Gk pisteuo to have faith in a person or thing, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ), believe]

For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15

Hamartia, the word for sin in the New Testament, is to miss the target. Pray we keep a humble and contrite spirit that recognises hamartia in our lives, and we repent.

(2) STUDY SCRIPTURE (Apostles doctrine

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine … Acts 2:42

It becomes a lamp for your feet and a light for your path. Psalm 109:115

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; Psalm 19:7-8

You are given a hunger and appetite to study Scripture. It is a lamp for your feet and a light for your path. Scripture refreshes your soul, makes wise the simple, gives joy to the heart. Scripture is radiant giving light to the eyes.

(3) FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS

Fellowship [Gk. Koinonia] means partnership, to partnership together.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, John 15:12-15

You have fellowship with one another. You love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus is your friend [Gk philos a fond, dear friend] so we are dear friends with each other, and by our friendship people know we are His disciples.

(4) SHARE IN MEALS WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS

… continue steadfastly in the breaking of bread. Acts 2:42

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness [Gk. agalliasis gladness, (exceeding) joy] and simplicity of heart Acts 2:46-47

You gather regularly to "break bread" together, which in those days as of today, included both shared meals as well as the ‘Lord's Supper of Scripture’. You share meals in your houses. You eat your food with gladness and simplicity of heart

(5) PRAY WITH THE LORD, ALONE AND WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS

The word prayer [Gk proseuche], used here Acts 2:42 means worship God, pray earnestly.

I felt Him and I know He loves me. – a neon sign in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Continue steadfastly… in prayers. Acts 2:42

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness when we do not know what to pray for. Romans 8:26

We pray in the power of the Holy Spirit Jude 1:20, even continuously Ephesians 6:18

The Holy Spirit can even help us to pray in ways that transcend human understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:2

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20

You continue steadfastly in prayer, both silent and vocal. You pray in tongues. The Holy Spirit helps you in prayer You pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(6) CONTINUING DAILY WITH ONE ACCORD IN THE TEMPLE

- continuing daily with one accord in the temple. Acts 2:46

The early church in Jerusalem could gather every day in the temple with one accord, as one in unity.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

I am the door [of the sheepfold]. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Ezekiel 43:5

Though we may be scattered, either alone or in local groups, we are still one. We can still meet in the Temple with one accord daily. The Lord does afford us the wonderful facility of the House of the Lord, the ‘Secret Place of the Most High’, the place of silent prayer of scripture. Here, we all can continue daily with one accord in His House..

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Ezekiel 47:1-7

What we take from Ezekiel’s account is that the Lord multiplies what is there. A trickle of living water leaves the temple and is multiplied into a river. In a similar way the Lord is able to take our puny efforts of adoration and worship and multiply the outcome. What is very small becomes something of great substance sustaining Pasture.

Jesus tells us we go in and out and find Pasture. We are now in the world but not of the world.

(7) WITNESS

the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47)

…you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two …. Mark 6:6-7

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. Mark 6:12-13

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

The Crowd’s Response

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own [c]language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” Acts 2:5-13

You are called to go out preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. You receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You are witnesses to Jesus. You go out and preach that people should repent. Signs and wonders happen.

When you go out witnessing to the Lord don’t expect everything to be smooth and under control, and respectable. When Peter went out on the streets for the first time, look at the crowd’s response – confused, amazed, marvelled, heard the wonderful works of God, perplexed, mocking. When such a mix happens for you rejoice for you know that is the hallmark of the Holy Spirit’s presence among you.

See www.simplychristinwitness.co.uk for a fuller explanation of witnessing.

Witnessing doesn’t just end on the streets. You encourage people to attend a local church, to go to events where there is unity in worship.

The Alpha Course is popular among local churches. Alpha is a series of group conversations that freely explore the basics of the Christian faith in an open, friendly environment.

INDIVIDUALS

ACTIVITY - Address any lack of commitment to love God, your community members, and your neighbour.

GOD

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. Mark 12 :30

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34

OUR NEIGHBOUR

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

These are the targets by which we measure how far we have fallen short.

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