Repentance is a sorrow over any word or deed we have done that grieves the heart of God. The Apostle Paul speaks of a godly sorrow and a worldly sorrow.

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.” ~2 Corinthians 7:10 WEB

Godly sorrow is a grief born from the realization of sin. It acknowledges that sin has grieved God’s heart and the person affected by the sinful action. Godly sorrow carries a desire to repair any damage in the affected relationship and to make restitution for anything stolen, lost, or destroyed. It carries genuine repentance, a change of heart, and a desire to “make things right” as much as humanly possible.

Worldly sorrow is grief over the consequences of being caught. It is self-centered in nature and carries a desire to blame circumstances or others for one’s own behavior. There is no desire for restitution except where there is liability with resulting implications for one’s own actions. There is no real concern if others are harmed or incur damages or loss due to one’s actions.

Repentance for Fruits of the Flesh

Let us seek the Lord and repent for any fruits of the flesh in ourselves, or as Daniel did, let us repent for any fleshly deeds committed by others in our families, communities, nations, or countries which pollute and defile our land.

In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul states the practices of the flesh are evident, clear or obvious.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~Galatians 5:19-21 NASB

Here is a list of the Fruits of the Flesh in alphabetical order:

Carousing– drinking hard. [W] Those who cannot control their appetites obviously demonstrate a life dominated by the flesh, not the Spirit. [P] Revelries are riotous gatherings for entertainment, accompanied by drunkenness. [MD] Sin against ourselves. [MH]

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge carousing, revelries, and riotous gatherings in our community. We recognize that these behaviors harm our relationship with You, grieve Your Holy Spirit, and pollute our land. We ask for Your forgiveness and ask You to heal our land in accordance with Your Word in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

Disputes– an attempt to prove and maintain one’s own opinions by arguments or statements in opposition to the opinions or claims of another. [W] Selfish ambitions are self-centered striving to be ‘number one,’ even at others’ expense. [MD] Sin against our neighbor, contrary to the law of love.  [MH]

Prayer: Lord, we confess our disputes come from selfish ambition. Lord, we ask You to forgive us for not loving our neighbor well.

“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:30-31 WEB

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~John 13:35 WEB

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” ~1 John 4:7-8 NASB

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on….love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” ~Colossians 3:12a, 14b NASB

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.” ~Galatians 5:22-25 WEB

Prayer: Lord, we desire to put on love, the perfect bond of unity. We long to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We aspire to love others and to be known by Your love within us. We acknowledge we belong to Christ and He has crucified our flesh with its passions and lusts. We invite You to fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit that we might refuse disputes, instead bearing the fruits of the Spirit of God and walking in unity.

Dissensions– a violent disagreement in differences that produce war; quarrel [W] Dissentions or divisions. Paul warns us not to ‘bite and devour one another’ for the Spirit brings unity, but the flesh brings division. [P] Dissensions are separations caused by disagreements. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we recognize that dissensions, disagreements, and quarrels are like disputes. We ‘turn away’ from our selfish ambitions and turn to You, the Living God. We refuse to walk in our flesh; instead, we turn to You and ask You to fill us afresh with the Holy Spirit that we might walk in an attitude of love, forgiveness, and unity with others.

Drunkenness– intoxication; a state in which a person is overpowered by liquor [W]; those who cannot control their appetites obviously demonstrate a life dominated by the flesh, not the Spirit. [P] Drunkenness refers to intoxication caused by strong drink. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we confess our desire for wine or other drinks to be a fleshly thirst that is not satisfied, that destroys our lives, and that pollutes our land as sin. We desire to hunger and thirst for You, the Living God. We thirst for Your righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And we long to be satisfied in Your Presence.

“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.” ~Ephesians 3:18 AMP

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” ~Matthew 5:6 NASB

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 14:17 AMP

Envying– to feel uneasiness or discontent or fret or grieve one’s self at the real or supposed superiority or success or happiness enjoyed by another, and to hate him on that account. Envy springs from pride or ambition, and mortification that another has obtained what one has a strong desire to possess. [W] Envy is similar to jealousy. The envious person is unhappy with God’s gifts and cannot stand it when others succeed. [P] Envy is displeasure at the success or prosperity of others. Envy is the sin of wanting something that belongs to someone else, to which one has no right or claim. Envy begrudges another person’s success, talents, possessions, or good looks. This is foreign to grace. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we confess envy for what it is – pride and hate. Envy begrudges Your good gifts to us because our flesh longs for Your good gifts to another. We recognize envy rejects Your love to us and begrudges Your love to another. We admit this is selfish ambition, lust for what another possesses, and evil. It is sin, so we turn away from envy and choose instead Your love.

“Love doesn’t envy.” ~1 Corinthians 13:4b WEB

“For we also were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasure, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” ~Titus 3:3 NASB

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” ~James 3:16 NASB

Factions– discord or violent commotion. [W] Factions stands for false teachings that create division where there should be no division. [P]

Prayer: Lord, we admit factions are divisions created by selfish ambition. We refuse to be taken captive by man’s philosophies and traditions, empty deceptions, and worldly principles. Lord, we repent and turn away from going our own way. Lord, we choose to embrace Christ. And we choose to walk and live in Your Truth.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regarding others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” ~Philippians 2:3-4 AMP

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth – the teachings of] Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].” ~Colossians 2:8-9 AMP

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk and live in Your truth; direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].” ~Psalm 86:11 AMP

Hatred/Enmities– a fixed or rooted hatred; the quality of being an enemy; ill will. [W] Hatreds refers to enmity of any kind. It is at the root of conflict. [P] Hatred means strong feelings of malice directed toward individuals. [MD] Some sins are against our neighbor, contrary to the royal law of love, such as hatred, and sometimes break out into murders, not only of names and reputation, but even of the very lives, of our fellow-creatures. [MH]

Prayer: Lord, we concede that hatred blinds our eyes and plunges us into deep darkness. Lord, we acknowledge that hatred thrusts us away from You, the God of Love, and pushes us away from others. We confess hate as sin; we turn away from the darkness; we turn toward You, the God of Light and Love. We choose to love You and to love others.

“The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] in in the darkness until now.”

“The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].”

“But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” ~1 John 2:9-11 AMP

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” ~1 John 4:7-8 NASB

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” ~1 John 4:20 NASB

Idolatry– the worship of idols, images, or anything made by hands, or which is not God. [W] A fruitless religion; everyone worships someone or something; those engaged in idolatry are refusing to worship the true and living God; worship of created things instead of the Creator God. Idolatry is a heart issue. People commit idolatry when they look to something other than God to give them what only God can give them. [P] Idolatry is the worship of idols and immorality that accompanies demon worship. [MD] Sin against the first and second commandments (no other god/no idols), as idolatry and witchcraft. [MH]

Prayer:  Lord, we turn away from anything that would take Your place in our hearts. Lord, we turn from worthless idols made with man’s hands. Lord, we turn from walking in rebellion towards You. Lord, we acknowledge Your lovingkindness and mercy in leading us to Christ. We worship, exalt, and praise You alone!

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear, neither is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.” ~Psalm 135:15-18 WEB

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” ~Exodus 20:3 WEB

“For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), and disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry.” ~1 Samuel 15:23a AMP

“Those who regard and follow worthless idols turn away from their [living source of] mercy and lovingkindness.” ~Jonah 2:8 AMP

“So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God].”

“Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ].” ~Colossians 3:5-7 AMP

“Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols – [false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].” ~1 John 5:21 AMP

Immorality – is any act or practice that contradicts the divine commands or the social duties; all crimes are immoral. [W] Emphasizes lack of restraint and unbridled passions; it is the opposite of love; it displays self-centeredness; grieves the Holy Spirit; it violates God’s pure plan for marriage; it dishonors those made in the image of God. [P] Adultery is unfaithfulness in the marriage relationship. Fornication is unlawful sexual intercourse. Lewdness is shameless conduct involving absence of restraint. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we choose to flee sexual immorality. Lord, we have been bought with a price, therefore, we choose to glorify You with our bodies. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, we refuse the shameless conduct of lewdness, and the unlawful act of sexual intercourse (fornication) before marriage, or the unfaithful act of sexual intercourse within marriage (adultery).

Lord, we receive the power of Your Holy Spirit to overcome every temptation, even to the higher standard of placing a watch over our heart, mouth, eyes, and feet that we might not sin against You.

“Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, ‘The two, He says, ‘will become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.”

“Flee sexual immorality! ‘Every sin that a man does is outside the body,’ but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~1 Corinthians 6:15-20 WEB

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” ~Hebrews 13:4 WEB

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” ~Matthew 5:27-28 WEB

“For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane], not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will; and that [in this matter of sexual misconduct] no man shall transgress and defraud his brother because the lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we have told you before and solemnly warned you.”

“For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private]. So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation].” ~1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 AMP

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all you ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.” ~Proverbs 4:23-27 NASB

Impurity– unholy; defiled by sin or guilt [W] Emphasizes lack of restraint and unbridled passions; it is the opposite of love; it displays self-centeredness; grieves the Holy Spirit; it violates God’s pure plan for marriage; it dishonors those made in the image of God. [P]

Prayer: Lord, we desire to see You, the Majestic One. Lord, we turn away from falsehood and deceit. Lord, cleanse our hands, purify our hearts, and renew a right spirit within us.

“For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private].” ~1 Thessalonians 4:7 AMP

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” ~Matthew 5:8 WEB

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” ~Psalm 24:3-5 NASB

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” ~Psalm 51:10 WEB

Jealousy– suspicious that we do not enjoy the affection or respect of others, or that another is more loved and respected than ourselves; suspiciously fearful. Jealousy destroys peace. [W] A jealous person wants what someone else possesses. This sin often leads to other sins like bitterness and violence. Those who are jealous demonstrate a lack of gratitude to God for His providence and a lack of love for others. [P]

Prayer: Lord, we recognize bitter jealousy comes from hearts and minds lusting and coveting what others possess—whether talents, gifts, skills, personality, or things owned. We confess jealousy is sin and a lack of contentment. We ask You to cleanse our hearts and strengthen us to walk in contentment.

Lord, we acknowledge Your goodness. You lead us beside still waters and cause us to lie in green pastures. We give thanks that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. Lord, You are Faithful and True and provide for all our needs. We choose to be content in Your provision and to trust You for our needs.

“Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.” ~Romans 13:13-14 WEB

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.” ~James 3:14-16 WEB

“You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” ~James 4:2-3 WEB

“Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for He has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’” ~Hebrews 13:5 WEB

God is jealous of us. This jealousy is without sin and full of love. He is jealous of us because we are His Beloved, the apple of His eye.

“For you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” ~Exodus 34:14 NASB

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” ~Deuteronomy 4:24 NASB

Outbursts of Anger– are violent passions of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury, usually accompanied by a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion, however, varies in degrees of violence, and may be attended only with a desire to reprove the offender. [W] It refers to the eruption of a person with an uncontrolled temper. We should not try to excuse this sin by making it a personality or cultural trait. Paul says it is a work of the flesh. [P] Wrath is outbursts of hot anger or passions. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we take responsibility for letting our soul become angry over real or supposed injuries. We confess unrighteous anger as sin. Lord, we desire to be like You – merciful, gracious, full of compassion and lovingkindness. Lord, we ask You to fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit that we might be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

“An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.” ~Proverbs 29:22 AMP

“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.” ~Psalm 37:8 WEB

“A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1 AMP

“So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.” ~James 1:19-20 WEB

“So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.” ~Ephesians 4:26-27 WEB

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.” ~Ephesians 4:31 WEB

“A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, but a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.” ~Proverbs 29:11 AMP

“Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].” ~Proverbs 19:11 AMP

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.” ~Psalm 103:8 AMP

Sensuality– devoted to the gratification of the bodily appetites; free indulgence in carnal or sensual pleasures. [W] Emphasizes lack of restraint and unbridled passions; it is the opposite of love; it displays self-centeredness; grieves the Holy Spirit; it violates God’s pure plan for marriage; it dishonors those made in the image of God. [P] Some sins are against the seventh commandment (not commit adultery), such as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, by which are meant not only the gross acts of these sins, but all such thoughts and words, and actions, tend toward transgression. [MH]

Prayer: Lord, we will not dispute Your standard of holiness. We express gratitude to You for exposing the plans of the enemy to ensnare us in unrestrained and unbridled passions of sensual pleasures. Lord, we agree with Your Word that walking in sensual pleasures makes us a friend of the world and an enemy to You.

Lord, we thank you for not leaving us or forsaking us but coming to rescue us from the power of the evil one and from our own desires and lusts. Your lovingkindness leads us to repentance. You came to deliver us from evil, set us free, and empower us as overcomers.

Lord, we proclaim Jesus Christ has come to set the captives free. Lord, we flee youthful lusts, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Lord, give us eyes to see You, ears to hear Your still small voice, and hearts of understanding of Your nature, character, and ways.

Lord, we accept Your forgiveness, which cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Lord, we receive the power of Your Holy Spirit, which enables us to overcome every temptation and to choose the way of escape.

As Joshua did in his day, we choose this day to serve You, Lord. We turn our hearts toward You to trust, acknowledge, and receive Your wisdom and understanding. Lord, today, we choose to cultivate faithfulness and delight ourselves in You.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.” ~Psalm 119:9 WEB

“You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” ~James 4:4 WEB

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.” ~Galatians 5:16 WEB

“Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” ~Galatians 5:24 WEB

“For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.” ~Jude 1:4 WEB

“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” ~Titus 1:15 WEB

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” ~2 Timothy 2:22 NASB

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captive, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” ~Luke 4:18-19 NASB

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” ~Psalms 37:3-5 NASB

Sorcery– magic; enchantment; witchcraft; divination by the assistance of evil spirits or the power of commanding evil spirits. [W] A fruitless religion; sorcery involves manipulating circumstances or dark powers to achieve a desired goal rather than submitting to and trusting in God alone. This is the work of the flesh. [P] Sorcery is witchcraft. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge that sorcery breaks Your first commandment to have no other gods before You. And we admit that sorcery breaks Your other commandments by fashioning idols, cursing Your name, dishonoring Your Sabbath, committing murder with their tongues or in deeds, and bearing false witness against their neighbors in their speech.

Lord, we confess that sorcery is a rebellion against Your Name, nature, and ways. It encompasses practices that seek to manipulate spiritual forces of darkness to gain supernatural powers apart from You, and this is an abomination before You.

Lord, in light of this, we humble ourselves before You and acknowledge You alone are God. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the clutches of sin and the devil. Thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit to empower us as overcomers.

Lord, we take up Your full armor –the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the buckle of truth; we shod our feet with the gospel of peace; and we take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.

Lord, we rejoice that You disarmed the rulers, authorities, principalities, dominions, and powers, making a public display of them as You triumphed over them. We exalt, honor, and praise You, O Lord, for from You and through You and to You are all things. Glory to Your Holy Name!

“Be of sober spirit, be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” ~1 Peter 5:8 NASB

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” ~1 Timothy 4:1-2 NASB

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. And no wonder, for even satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” ~2 Corinthians 11:13-15 WEB

“Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices. And many of those who had practiced magical acts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.” ~Acts 19:18-20 AMP

“And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.” ~Ephesians 5:10-12 AMP

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).” ~Matthew 24:24 AMP

“As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. Following Paul and us, she cried out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!’ She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ It came out that very hour.” ~Acts 16:16-18 WEB

“Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes.”

“Now it is in the world already. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” ~1 John 4:1-6 WEB

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is loving God, that we keep His commandments. His commandments are not grievous. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.” ~1 John 5:1-4 WEB

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

“Therefore put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.”

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.” ~Ephesians 6:10-18 WEB

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” ~Colossians 2:13-15 NASB

“In order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.” ~Ephesians 3:10 NASB

[I pray you may know] “What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of His might which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.”

“He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things for the assembly [church], which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” ~Ephesians 1:19-23 WEB

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” ~Romans 11:36 NASB

Strife– exertion for superiority; quarrel or war. [W] Strife means to have contentious temper. [P] Contentions are discord, quarrels. [MD]

Prayer: Lord, we confess strife runs contrary to Your spirit of peace, trust, rest, and call to abide in You. Lord, we acknowledge that strife indulges in anger, quarrels, disobedience, a contentious spirit, arrogance, and greed. We recognize that you hate strife and consider it an abomination. We turn from indulging in contentious discord and strife; by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we choose to walk in a spirit of love, peace, and unity.

“Hatred stirs up strife.” ~Proverbs 10:12a WEB

“A perverse man stirs up strife.” ~Proverbs 16:28a WEB

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.” ~Proverbs 17:1 WEB

“The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.” ~Proverbs 17:14 WEB

“He who loves disobedience loves strife.” ~Proverbs 17:19a WEB

“It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight], but any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].” ~Proverbs 20:3 AMP

“Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” ~Proverbs 26:21 NASB

“There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” ~Proverbs 6:16-19 NASB

“An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.” ~Proverbs 28:25 AMP

Paul gives fifteen concrete examples of the deeds of the flesh, concluding with the phrase ‘things like these’ (5:21). He could easily have listed more. Swindoll narrows Paul’s list of fifteen sins into four major categories:

• Sexual sin– uncontrolled lust, adultery, fornication, other sexual practices, prostitution, and pornography
• Religious sin– occult involvement, false religions, new age spirituality, superstition, and idolatrous materialism
• Social sin– things that are destructive to our families, churches, and communities, such as slander, gossip, harboring bitterness, bearing grudges, taking revenge, road rage, refusing to forgive, unjust or unnecessary lawsuits, and physical or verbal abuse
• Personal sin– sins against one’s own body, such as drug addiction, workaholism, alcoholism, barhopping, gluttony, and other forms of self-destructive behavior.

“Paul says that people who ‘practice’ these deeds of the flesh ‘will not inherit the kingdom of God’ (5:21). Paul means that those whose lifestyles continually demonstrate indulgence in the deeds of the flesh do not have the Spirit of God.”

“Paul’s point is that because these lifestyles of sin typify those who do not know Christ. And we are not just to avoid the bad: those who have the Spirit [need to] display quite a different set of characteristics, the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (5:22-23).” [Swindoll]

Prayer: Lord, we do not want to indulge in the deeds of the flesh. We turn away from sexual, religious, social, and personal sins. We do not want to reap the wages of sin – death. We ask to be hidden with Christ in God.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 6:23 WEB

“Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” ~Colossians 2:3 WEB

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” ~Colossians 3:3 WEB

Repentance Leads Us to Christ

All these prayers of repentance lead us to Christ.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for leading us in repentance from the sins of: carousing, disputes, dissensions, drunkenness, envy, factions, hatred, idolatry, immorality, impurity, jealousy, outbursts of anger, sensuality, sorcery, and strife. Lord, we turn away from sexual, religious, social, and personal sins. Lord, we take Your way of escape and run from every form of evil.

When we fail, we will confess our sins and receive Your cleansing from all unrighteousness. Lord, we receive Your work on the Cross through Jesus Christ. Lord, we accept the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sins. And Lord, we thank You for hearing our prayers, forgiving our sins, and healing our land.

“No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 WEB

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ~1 John 1:9 WEB

“But God commends His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8 WEB

“For sin will no longer be a master over you, since you are not under Law [as slaves], but under [unmerited] grace [as recipients of God’s favor and mercy].” ~Romans 6:14 AMP

“This is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and Him whom You sent, Jesus Christ.” ~John 17:3 WEB

“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 1:7 WEB

I hope that praying these 18 powerful prayers of repentance frees your spirit, soul, and body of any contamination from the fruits of the flesh. May the Lord continue to strengthen us as we stand in the gap for our land (as Daniel did) and repent for our communities, nations, and countries so He can respond and heal our land.

Recommendations

Daniel: A Man of Prayer – Strength with Dignity

How to Find God – Strength with Dignity 

References

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

MacDonald, William. [MD] The Believer’s Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, 2016, pages 1923-1925.

Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible. [MH] Originally written in 1706. Kindle Edition published November 7, 2010.

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Platt, David and Tony Merida. [P] Christ-Centered Exposition – Exalting Jesus in Galatians. Published by B&H Publishing Group, 2014. [Kindle Edition]

Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights – New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians. Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 2015. [Kindle Edition]

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. http://www.webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary

World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.

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