WBR 2025-26 - Session 5 - Repentance

I’m fifty-four years old now, and after trying to keep New Year’s resolutions for decades, I’ve pretty much given up on them. Why? Because most of them don’t last.

According to a recent poll, 92% of people break their top three resolutions within a month. Exercise more. Lose weight. Eat healthier. Save money. Reduce stress. Learn something new. I’ve broken my share, so I stopped making them.

But there’s something far more serious than a broken resolution.

Have you ever reached a point in your spiritual life where you felt deep frustration, guilt, and grief — because there’s something that keeps coming back? A sin that hurts you, hurts God, and hurts the people around you?

Most of us struggle with more than one thing, but there’s often one thing. Like kryptonite to Superman. When life gets hard or stressful, the enemy presses that button — anger, lust, unforgiveness, pride — and suddenly we’re stuck again. Tied to one place in our growth instead of moving forward.

I’ve been there.

Tonight, we’re going to look at three things:
A biblical picture of ugly, unrepented sin — and what it does.
A biblical picture of beautiful repentance — and what it brings.
And God’s victory plan for a deeper level of commitment to Jesus.

If you’re here tonight carrying that one thing — maybe something you brought with you to the LC, or something that’s followed you even after powerful experiences with God — this is for you.

Let me take you back to when I was fifteen years old.

It was 1988, and I was at a conference in Washington, D.C., called DC ’88. I didn’t go because I wanted to grow spiritually — I just thought it would be cool to see the capital.

I arrived angry, prideful, lust-driven, arrogant, and loud. I wasn’t following Jesus, not because of rebellion against my upbringing, but because I wanted to live life my way.

One night, a speaker talked about repentance — how it’s the difference between living with joy and purpose or being stuck in the same old patterns. I’d heard messages before, but this one pierced my heart.

As soon as it ended, I ran back to my hotel room, knelt beside my bed, and cried out to God for thirty minutes. I confessed everything — every sin, every way I had offended God.

Something changed immediately.

When I got home, people noticed. My dad told me, “Doug, something is different about you. Your countenance has changed.” I didn’t even know what that word meant — but I knew it was true. I had peace. Humility. Respect for others. A new heart.

What happened?

Repentance.

I know everyone here has confessed sin and trusted Jesus. But I also know that many believers carry one unresolved thing — something that keeps pulling them back and limiting their growth.

And here’s the reality: there is a crippling shortage of true men and women of God.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” There are countless people ready to hear the gospel — but not enough believers ready to live fully surrendered lives.

Why?

I’d describe it in two words: milk addiction.

Paul told the Corinthians that he wanted to give them solid spiritual food, but they weren’t ready. They were still spiritual infants, stuck on milk. And the reason people stay on milk is simple — unrepented sin left untreated.

Sin stunts growth.

Hebrews tells us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that entangles us, so we can run the race marked out for us. Unconfessed sin is like trying to run a race tangled in ropes — even the most committed believer will stumble.

God is looking for people He can trust.

Second Chronicles says, “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” Not the most talented. Not the most gifted. Fully committed.

Hidden sin disqualifies willing servants.

That’s what we see in the story of Achan in Joshua. After Israel’s victory at Jericho, God clearly commanded them not to take anything devoted to Him. But Achan disobeyed and hid stolen items under his tent.

No one knew — except God.

Because of that one hidden sin, Israel lost their next battle. Soldiers died. Momentum was broken. And God said plainly, “I will not be with you unless you deal with this.”

Hidden sin never stays hidden.

Scripture says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” It damages relationships, destroys influence, grieves the Holy Spirit, and eventually surfaces — often at the worst possible moment.

But there is another picture.

Zacchaeus.

When Jesus chose to eat with him, Zacchaeus didn’t just say, “I’m sorry.” He immediately made things right — giving back what he stole and restoring four times over.

Jesus said something remarkable: “Salvation has come to this house.”

Zacchaeus wasn’t saved because of his actions — his actions proved his repentance was real.

That’s repentance: a hard 180 away from sin, and a plan to stay away.

True repentance dethrones sin and puts Jesus back where He belongs — as King.

So how do we experience real repentance and lasting freedom?

Three words: Cleanse. Flee. Pursue.

Cleanse — confess and repent honestly before God.
Flee — don’t walk away; run. Burn the bridges back to sin.
Pursue — run toward Jesus with passion and discipline.

Radical obedience may cost you something — relationships, habits, devices, comfort — but it will give you freedom.

Acts tells us about believers who publicly burned their old sin practices, and the Word of God spread powerfully as a result.

God uses people who take repentance seriously.

Whatever you came here carrying, don’t leave with it.

Your sin — not in part, but the whole — was nailed to the cross. Jesus bore it so you don’t have to.

This is the moment to deal with it fully.

If you need time to pray, take it. If you need someone to pray with you, ask. Don’t let this moment pass.

Let repentance be the doorway to freedom.