A Repentant Heart is Our Key
Last time we talked about conforming unto the image of God, as God has
predestined us (Romans 8:29) now, I want to give you the key to conforming. A
repentant heart is our key. Let’s look at some examples of those who actually were
conformed into the image of Christ. They all started out in unbelief and doubt, but
as they grew close to God, they became what God said that they were.
Peter denied that he knew Jesus, as he looked on as Jesus was taken and being
questioned (Matthew 26:58,69-75) “but Peter followed Him (Jesus) afar off to the
high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now
Peter sat outside in the palace, and a damsel came to him, saying, you also were
with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you
say. And when he was gone out into the porch, another man saw him, and said to
them that were there. This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he
denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came to him they
that stood by and said to Peter, surely you also are one of them, for your speech
betray you. Then began he to curse and swear, saying, I know not the man, and
immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said
to him, before the cock crow, you shall deny Me thrice, and he went out, and wept
bitterly. This story was presented in each of the four gospels.
After being filled with the Spirit, Peter was transformed (Acts 2:14-18) “but Peter
standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, you men of Judae’
a and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my
words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour
of the day (9a.m). but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it
shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all
flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My
handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy”.
After speaking this and calling them to repentance three thousand came unto the
Lord.
Peter along with John was going into the temple and a certain lame man from his
mother’s womb, was asking alms of them, and Peter fastening his eyes upon him
and said silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I you. In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and
lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and
leaping and praising God (Acts 3:1-7). Now after this the priests, and the captains
of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them. And they laid hands on them,
and put them in hold to the nest day for it was now eventide. The next day they
were questioned, by what power, or by what name, have you done this? Peter
says in verse 10 “be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole”. Verse 13 says
something amazing “now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled, and they
took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”. As we draw near to God
and He draws near to us, we too can have this said about us.
Peter and the apostles did many signs and wonders among the people, insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and
couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some
of them. There came also a multitude, out of the cities round about to Jerusalem,
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were
healed, every one” (Acts 5:15-16).
Peter even raised the dead (Acts 9:37-41) “and it came to pass in those days, that
she (Dorcas) was sick, and died, whom when they had washed, they laid her in an
upper chamber. And for as much as Lydda was near to Joppa, and the disciples
had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, desiring him that he
would not delay to come to them. then Peter arose and went with them. when he
was come, they brought him into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by
him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she
was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed, and
turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise, and she opened her eyes, and when
she saw Peter she sat up, and he gave here his hand, and lifted her up, and when
he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive”.
Now let’s look at Saul which was later called Paul; Saul persecuted the church to
the point that he caused many to be imprisoned and caused some to die (Acts 8:1-
4) says “and Saul was consenting to his death, and at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judae’a and Samaria, except the
apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into
every house, and haling men, and women committed them to prison. Therefore
they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word”. And Saul,
yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
to the high priest. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that
if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.
But after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he repented and was
transformed (Acts 9:3-6) “and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and
suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the
earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you Me? And
he said, who are You, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute,
it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said,
Lord, what will You have me to do? And the Lord said to him, arise and go into the
city, and it shall be told you what you must do”.
Paul repented from his heart, and he began to build up the church. He was used
to write many of the epistles, not counting the four gospels, he wrote most of the
new testament. Besides his epistles, he raised the dead, and healed many in the
name of Jesus. Paul is a good example for us, because most of us before we
came to the Lord were not walking Biblically. But after being transformed, he
performed what he was called to do.
As I was reading in Jeremiah 1:5, it says “before I formed thee in the belly, I knew
thee, and before thou came forth out of the worm, I sanctified thee, and I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations”. Just knowing that God is the same, yesterday
today and forever, I realized as it says in Genesis 1:11 “then God said, let the
earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit
according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on earth; and it was so”. The seed is
in us. But we like Paul told Timothy have to stir it up (II Timothy 1:6-7) “wherefore, I
put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the
putting on of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind”.
The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). God has called us to
conform to the image of His Son; and because the seed is in us, let us repent from
believing we were not able; and realize that God can use us just like He used
Peter, Paul and the other first century disciples to do the works that Jesus did, by
using His name and believing that He would do the works. Remember the Bible
says “it’s not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord Yahweh”
(Zechariah 4:6). We have to allow God to work in us; as we heard the Holy Spirit
speaking to us, we have to obey and do as He says, then we are led by the Spirit.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 2, 2008
Last time we talked about conforming unto the image of God, as God has
predestined us (Romans 8:29) now, I want to give you the key to conforming. A
repentant heart is our key. Let’s look at some examples of those who actually were
conformed into the image of Christ. They all started out in unbelief and doubt, but
as they grew close to God, they became what God said that they were.
Peter denied that he knew Jesus, as he looked on as Jesus was taken and being
questioned (Matthew 26:58,69-75) “but Peter followed Him (Jesus) afar off to the
high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now
Peter sat outside in the palace, and a damsel came to him, saying, you also were
with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you
say. And when he was gone out into the porch, another man saw him, and said to
them that were there. This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he
denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came to him they
that stood by and said to Peter, surely you also are one of them, for your speech
betray you. Then began he to curse and swear, saying, I know not the man, and
immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said
to him, before the cock crow, you shall deny Me thrice, and he went out, and wept
bitterly. This story was presented in each of the four gospels.
After being filled with the Spirit, Peter was transformed (Acts 2:14-18) “but Peter
standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, you men of Judae’
a and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my
words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour
of the day (9a.m). but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it
shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all
flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My
handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy”.
After speaking this and calling them to repentance three thousand came unto the
Lord.
Peter along with John was going into the temple and a certain lame man from his
mother’s womb, was asking alms of them, and Peter fastening his eyes upon him
and said silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I you. In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and
lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and
leaping and praising God (Acts 3:1-7). Now after this the priests, and the captains
of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them. And they laid hands on them,
and put them in hold to the nest day for it was now eventide. The next day they
were questioned, by what power, or by what name, have you done this? Peter
says in verse 10 “be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole”. Verse 13 says
something amazing “now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled, and they
took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”. As we draw near to God
and He draws near to us, we too can have this said about us.
Peter and the apostles did many signs and wonders among the people, insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and
couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some
of them. There came also a multitude, out of the cities round about to Jerusalem,
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were
healed, every one” (Acts 5:15-16).
Peter even raised the dead (Acts 9:37-41) “and it came to pass in those days, that
she (Dorcas) was sick, and died, whom when they had washed, they laid her in an
upper chamber. And for as much as Lydda was near to Joppa, and the disciples
had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, desiring him that he
would not delay to come to them. then Peter arose and went with them. when he
was come, they brought him into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by
him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she
was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed, and
turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise, and she opened her eyes, and when
she saw Peter she sat up, and he gave here his hand, and lifted her up, and when
he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive”.
Now let’s look at Saul which was later called Paul; Saul persecuted the church to
the point that he caused many to be imprisoned and caused some to die (Acts 8:1-
4) says “and Saul was consenting to his death, and at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judae’a and Samaria, except the
apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into
every house, and haling men, and women committed them to prison. Therefore
they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word”. And Saul,
yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
to the high priest. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that
if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.
But after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he repented and was
transformed (Acts 9:3-6) “and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and
suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the
earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you Me? And
he said, who are You, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute,
it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said,
Lord, what will You have me to do? And the Lord said to him, arise and go into the
city, and it shall be told you what you must do”.
Paul repented from his heart, and he began to build up the church. He was used
to write many of the epistles, not counting the four gospels, he wrote most of the
new testament. Besides his epistles, he raised the dead, and healed many in the
name of Jesus. Paul is a good example for us, because most of us before we
came to the Lord were not walking Biblically. But after being transformed, he
performed what he was called to do.
As I was reading in Jeremiah 1:5, it says “before I formed thee in the belly, I knew
thee, and before thou came forth out of the worm, I sanctified thee, and I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations”. Just knowing that God is the same, yesterday
today and forever, I realized as it says in Genesis 1:11 “then God said, let the
earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit
according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on earth; and it was so”. The seed is
in us. But we like Paul told Timothy have to stir it up (II Timothy 1:6-7) “wherefore, I
put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the
putting on of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind”.
The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). God has called us to
conform to the image of His Son; and because the seed is in us, let us repent from
believing we were not able; and realize that God can use us just like He used
Peter, Paul and the other first century disciples to do the works that Jesus did, by
using His name and believing that He would do the works. Remember the Bible
says “it’s not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord Yahweh”
(Zechariah 4:6). We have to allow God to work in us; as we heard the Holy Spirit
speaking to us, we have to obey and do as He says, then we are led by the Spirit.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 2, 2008
