Rebellion & Recovery
By G. Neil Armstrong
This study is inspired by the Rebellion & Recovery D.O.C.s weekly series for DOC (Department of Corrections), specifically LCDC on 10/11/2009 by TrueGrace01 for G. Neil Armstrong
4) The Cure for Rebellion:
18) In your own words, what is the fruit of genuine repentance, according to Isaiah 30:15?
In my zeal and my desire to serve God in any way, any ol’ way at all, I have done many wrong things. I have searched for the hand of the Lord in many wrong places and in many wrong ways. This and that, in itself is not wrong in any way, but if it profits nothing nor is it expedient to and for me, as with my personal relationship with God, then to me it is sin. In this sin, I must repent, as is the 15th verse and the 30th chapter of Isaiah.
19) Why do you think repentance brings such results?
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous; in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures (Isaiah 30:23).
This is God’s desire that my efforts be not in vain, and that in my zeal, I waste not away but that in all my way I search His will only, that I wait, that I rest, and to not “false start” as I were an eager dog learning a new trick, but as if I were a seasoned solder of an army of serious heroes.
20) Have you been in a period of rebellion? If so, what wrongs should be set right? Which areas of your life need to return to a healthier balance?
I have heard by nearly EVERY man of God I have had a measure of respect for that I ought to “continue to wait on God”. Each time this happened I was upset to one degree or another. It had always seemed to me that all these men of integrity ever wanted to do is hold me back. I felt like Scrappy Doo might feel when he says, “du du du du du du, puppppy powwwerrrr!” But I must not be allowed to rush forward in my zeal. But I did. I’d venture off on my own to do anything, anyway.
This was always just before I fell on my face in despair and humiliation. It seemed like nobody knew me, and nobody cared when I stopped showing up to “do His will”. I laid waste in my own way, doing my own will, not the will of God.
Before, I used to set off in defeat and suppress my illness of spirit with drugs and mingled in and blended with the heathens of darkness What I did do for God was not wrong, but it wasn’t my assignment, so then it was only wrong for me. It wasn’t what I had trained for. I was being prepared for something different and each “side track” was only a part of the preparation, not the purpose.
It was my eagerness that caused me to “run away from home” and do SOMETHING even though it was not my assigned purpose. My place, my “home” is to do and to be an unsung hero. NOT for MY glory AT ALL. But that God and unto Him be the glory; forever without end, amen. Then, if I err, He will make straight my way and smooth my roughness (Isaiah 40:4). In Jesus’ Name.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Reference:
15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
(KJV)
Isa 30:23
23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
(KJV)
23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
(KJV)
Reference:
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(KJV)
3670 homologeo (hom-ol-og-eh'-o);
from a compound of the base of 3674 and 3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:
KJV-- con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
Reference:
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(KJV)
3341 metanoia (met-an'-oy-ah);
from 3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another's] decision):
KJV-- repentance.
Reference:
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(KJV)
Mark 9:12
12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
(KJV)
600 apokathistemi (ap-ok-ath-is'-tay-mee);
from 575 and 2525; to reconstitute (in health, home or organization):
KJV-- restore (again).
7725 shuwb (shoob);
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again:
KJV-- ([break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep]) X again, (cause to) answer (+again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call [to mind], carry again (back), cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, + continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back, fetch home again, X fro, get [oneself] (back) again, X give (again), go again (back, home), [go] out, hinder, let, [see] more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, + say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, X surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (againself, again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
***. Shuwba'el. See 7619.
Reference:
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
(KJV)
