Identificational Identificational RepentanceRepentanceThe Priestly Ministry of Intercession The Priestly Ministry of Intercession in Missionsin Missions

Biblical Roots of Biblical Roots of Identificational RepentanceIdentificational Repentance

Arises from the priestly ministry of Arises from the priestly ministry of intercessionintercession

Involves prayer but is a development Involves prayer but is a development from prayerfrom prayer

IntercessionIntercession

To intercede is to stand in the shoes of To intercede is to stand in the shoes of someone elsesomeone else

To stand in the gap on behalf of an issue To stand in the gap on behalf of an issue or situationor situation

The activity of the GodheadThe activity of the Godhead Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede with us Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede with us

and through us (Romans 8:26,34) to the and through us (Romans 8:26,34) to the Father in heavenFather in heaven

Includes the interaction of God with humansIncludes the interaction of God with humans

IntercessionIntercession

When Jesus prayed, He offered up When Jesus prayed, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears (Heb. 5:7)tears (Heb. 5:7)

OT Prophets often wept and acted in a OT Prophets often wept and acted in a way which reflected extreme emotionway which reflected extreme emotion

Prayer may be in silence or may reflect Prayer may be in silence or may reflect the depth of anguish felt by the one the depth of anguish felt by the one intercedinginterceding

OT ModelsOT Models

Daniel learned (prob. From Jer. 25:12) Daniel learned (prob. From Jer. 25:12) the period of banishment of the people of the period of banishment of the people of God from their land had a time limit and God from their land had a time limit and he began to plead on behalf of his peoplehe began to plead on behalf of his people

He confessed the sins of his forefathers He confessed the sins of his forefathers had committed more than 70 years had committed more than 70 years beforehand as if they were his own sins beforehand as if they were his own sins (see Daniel 9)(see Daniel 9)

OT ModelsOT Models

Ezra about the same time learned about Ezra about the same time learned about mixed marriage by many Jews and mixed marriage by many Jews and began to repent (Ezra 9:5-10:1)began to repent (Ezra 9:5-10:1)

He tore his robe, fell on his knees before He tore his robe, fell on his knees before God and wept in prayer.God and wept in prayer.

OT ModelsOT Models

Nehemiah, a servant of the Babylonian Nehemiah, a servant of the Babylonian king, heard about the physical state of king, heard about the physical state of Jerusalem, and began to weep, fast and Jerusalem, and began to weep, fast and pray (Neh. 1)pray (Neh. 1)

Then, he did something about it by Then, he did something about it by gaining permission from the king to go gaining permission from the king to go and rebuild the ruined walls despite and rebuild the ruined walls despite persistent opposition by enemies.persistent opposition by enemies.

OT ModelsOT Models

King David faced a period of 3 years of drought King David faced a period of 3 years of drought soon after becoming king.soon after becoming king.

2 Sam. 21:1 “The Lord said, ‘It is on account of 2 Sam. 21:1 “The Lord said, ‘It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.’”he put the Gibeonites to death.’”

This breaking of Saul’s covenant, and the This breaking of Saul’s covenant, and the shedding of innocent blood, required David’s shedding of innocent blood, required David’s repentance, although it was not David’s sin but repentance, although it was not David’s sin but the sin of his predecessor.the sin of his predecessor.

OT ModelsOT Models

The prophet Amos, in speaking of God’s The prophet Amos, in speaking of God’s judgments against cities and peoples, judgments against cities and peoples, pinpointedthe reality of corporate sin pinpointedthe reality of corporate sin (Amos 1 and 2)(Amos 1 and 2)

God judges nations for past sin as well God judges nations for past sin as well as present sin. He calls their leaders to as present sin. He calls their leaders to account.account.

OT ModelsOT Models

Hosea (Hosea 5:15-6:2) recognized that Hosea (Hosea 5:15-6:2) recognized that corporate repentance preceded God’s corporate repentance preceded God’s forgiveness and healing—even after the forgiveness and healing—even after the third day—so looking forward to the cross third day—so looking forward to the cross and all that God would do through it for and all that God would do through it for the whole of humanity.the whole of humanity.

Summary of OT ModelsSummary of OT Models

Leaders involved in prayer, the Leaders involved in prayer, the priesthood and politics shared the same priesthood and politics shared the same understanding of the need to understanding of the need to acknowledge and repent of the sins of acknowledge and repent of the sins of their forebears.their forebears.

NT ExamplesNT Examples

Matthew 23:35 Jesus accuses the Jewish Matthew 23:35 Jesus accuses the Jewish leaders of corporate sin—sin that had leaders of corporate sin—sin that had occurred centuries before and would be occurred centuries before and would be repeated at their own hands in the very repeated at their own hands in the very near future.near future.

See also 2 Chron. 24:21See also 2 Chron. 24:21

Modern day examplesModern day examples

Plight of the Jews who met premature Plight of the Jews who met premature death in Europedeath in Europe

Aboriginals in Australia whose present Aboriginals in Australia whose present plight is the result of the invasion of their plight is the result of the invasion of their land and the slaughter of their people in land and the slaughter of their people in needless and repetitive acts of murder needless and repetitive acts of murder and injusticeand injustice

Effects of Sin on VictimsEffects of Sin on Victims

Aware of the pain and isolation, of the injustice Aware of the pain and isolation, of the injustice and division, which those past acts have and division, which those past acts have created.created.

Theology for them is not the issue—justice is. Theology for them is not the issue—justice is. Blood cries from the land.Blood cries from the land.

Corporate memory of past injustices becomes Corporate memory of past injustices becomes part of the painful history that subsequent part of the painful history that subsequent generations learn about and continue to live generations learn about and continue to live through.through.

Memories breed resentment, fear and hatred Memories breed resentment, fear and hatred and result in recriminations, when unresolved.and result in recriminations, when unresolved.

ConclusionsConclusions God takes sin seriously—both the original acts and the God takes sin seriously—both the original acts and the

subsequent effects.subsequent effects. God holds His covenant people accountable for their God holds His covenant people accountable for their

sin, and can visit them in judgment when He wishes.sin, and can visit them in judgment when He wishes. Corporate sin as well as individual sin requires Corporate sin as well as individual sin requires

repentance and forgiveness.repentance and forgiveness. The effects of sin can be inherited by subsequent The effects of sin can be inherited by subsequent

generations.generations. Repentance and God’s forgiveness and cleansing can Repentance and God’s forgiveness and cleansing can

break the repetitive cycle of historical sin.break the repetitive cycle of historical sin. Intercessors, through ‘standing in the gap’, can take Intercessors, through ‘standing in the gap’, can take

responsibility for and identify with the sin of the people responsibility for and identify with the sin of the people to which they belong, even centuries after the original to which they belong, even centuries after the original act(s).act(s).

RequirementsRequirements

We need God’s revelation and anguish in order We need God’s revelation and anguish in order to intercede adequately.to intercede adequately.

We need to know the right time, the right place We need to know the right time, the right place and before the right people in order for that and before the right people in order for that repentance to be effective.repentance to be effective.

We need to have face-to-face contact with We need to have face-to-face contact with those who are the victims of past sin.those who are the victims of past sin.

We are called to prove our repentance by our We are called to prove our repentance by our deeds (acts 26:20)deeds (acts 26:20)

Difference between Difference between Confession and RepentanceConfession and Repentance

Confession merely acknowledges the sin.Confession merely acknowledges the sin. Repentance requires that I change my Repentance requires that I change my

ways and no longer act as I did before.ways and no longer act as I did before. In repentance, I deal with both the In repentance, I deal with both the

original root and the fruit of sin.original root and the fruit of sin.

Hoped for ResultsHoped for Results

We look for permanently changed We look for permanently changed attitudes which result in:attitudes which result in: the healing of human relationshipsthe healing of human relationships the removal of guiltthe removal of guilt the changing of patterns of behavior, and,the changing of patterns of behavior, and, in some situations, restitution.in some situations, restitution.

Hoped for ResultsHoped for Results

Acts of repentance:Acts of repentance: Frequently accompanied with tearsFrequently accompanied with tears Remove blockagesRemove blockages Bring healing in mind and bodyBring healing in mind and body Change attitudes, and,Change attitudes, and, Begin to create the climate for ongoing Begin to create the climate for ongoing

partnership and co-operation, out of mutual partnership and co-operation, out of mutual acceptance, affirmation and love.acceptance, affirmation and love.

Hoped for ResultsHoped for Results

We also effectively remove the basis on We also effectively remove the basis on which Satan is able to build strongholds which Satan is able to build strongholds of evil around the original sin.of evil around the original sin.

We break the curses which negative We break the curses which negative perceptions and spoken hatred have perceptions and spoken hatred have helped to create.helped to create.

Forgiveness is an Essential Forgiveness is an Essential Element in the ProcessElement in the Process

ForgivenessForgiveness Removes the painRemoves the pain Deals with the repercussions of others’ sinsDeals with the repercussions of others’ sins Depends fully on the redemptive work of Christ on Depends fully on the redemptive work of Christ on

the cross (Acts 2:38-39)the cross (Acts 2:38-39)

UnforgivenessUnforgiveness A recipe for ongoing pain and hatredA recipe for ongoing pain and hatred Opens the way for continuing antagonismOpens the way for continuing antagonism Nurtures tribal feuds & natn’l conflictsNurtures tribal feuds & natn’l conflicts

God committed to us to God committed to us to ministry of reconciliationministry of reconciliation

Through Jesus’ act of sacrifice, He made it Through Jesus’ act of sacrifice, He made it possible for us to be reconciled with the Father possible for us to be reconciled with the Father in heaven, from whom our sin would have in heaven, from whom our sin would have eternally separated us.eternally separated us.

He committed to us this same ministry of He committed to us this same ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5)reconciliation (2 Cor. 5)

This ministry is not merely through the This ministry is not merely through the preached word, but also through deeds of love preached word, but also through deeds of love and acts of mercy.and acts of mercy.

ReconciliationReconciliation

Those from whom my group or I were Those from whom my group or I were previously separated are separated no previously separated are separated no more—whether God or others.more—whether God or others.

Repentance must occur in horizontal Repentance must occur in horizontal corporate relationships as well as in corporate relationships as well as in vertical relationship with our Father in vertical relationship with our Father in heaven.heaven.

How many times must we How many times must we repent?repent?

Jesus replied to His disciples ‘seventy-seven times’ Jesus replied to His disciples ‘seventy-seven times’ (Matt. 18:22) they should forgive their brother(Matt. 18:22) they should forgive their brother

If forgiveness is required that often, so is repentance.If forgiveness is required that often, so is repentance. If I confess the sin of my group, this may have to be If I confess the sin of my group, this may have to be

done many times before different groups of people who done many times before different groups of people who have been affected by it.have been affected by it.

It needs to be done as often as necessary until the It needs to be done as often as necessary until the effects have been dealt with and change has taken effects have been dealt with and change has taken place.place.

Before God, one act of repentance is sufficient for His Before God, one act of repentance is sufficient for His forgiveness to flow, but many acts may be needed forgiveness to flow, but many acts may be needed before our fellow human beings.before our fellow human beings.

One act of repentance One act of repentance can be multiplied many can be multiplied many timestimes

In God’s providence we have found that In God’s providence we have found that on many occasions acts of repentance at on many occasions acts of repentance at strategic times and before a nation’s strategic times and before a nation’s leaders have been filmed by television leaders have been filmed by television and broadcast to a nation. and broadcast to a nation.

In this way, the one act becomes In this way, the one act becomes multiplied to millions of people.multiplied to millions of people.

Why is all this important Why is all this important to you today?to you today?

For believers participating in God’s For believers participating in God’s redemptive purposes in earth and on redemptive purposes in earth and on mission with Him, identificational mission with Him, identificational repentance is an essential tool for repentance is an essential tool for removing hindrances to the advance of removing hindrances to the advance of the gospel among unbelievers.the gospel among unbelievers.

Across the globe, believers are sensing Across the globe, believers are sensing God’s urgency in dealing with corporate God’s urgency in dealing with corporate sins of peoples.sins of peoples.