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  DEPENDENCE
  by Major W. Ian Thomas
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Summary: True repentance involves stepping out of independence and into
dependence on God.

Topics: "Spiritual Dependence", "Repentance"
Scripture References: Acts 3:19, Romans 14:23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:16, 1 John 3:4

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DESCRIPTION
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Major W. Ian Thomas emphasizes the contrast between living for oneself,
which leads to walking in the flesh and being under the influence of the
devil, versus living for Christ, which results in walking in the Spirit
and being under God's dominion. He highlights that the difference lies
not just in actions but in the underlying principles that govern
behavior, with independence from God being at the root of sin.
Repentance, therefore, involves shifting from independence to dependence
on God, and the extent of repentance is reflected in the level of
dependence on Him.

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CONTENT
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To live "to and for yourself" is to "walk after the flesh"!

To live "to and for Christ" is to "walk after the Spirit"!

These are the two principles of human behavior. It is not just a matter
of degree, it is a matter of kind; to be dominated by the "flesh" is to
be dominated by the devil; and to be dominated by the Spirit is to be
dominated by God.

Two men doing identically the same thing may at the same time, by their
identical act, be demonstrating two different principles of behavior,
which are diametrically opposed to each other.

What is the principle that governs your behavior?

I am not asking you the nature of your behavior; I am asking you the
principle from which it springs!

You will remember that we have seen sin defined in the Bible as
independence: "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23), an
attitude of "lawlessness" (I John 3:4); what then does repentance
involve? It involves stepping out of independence back into dependence -
and the measure of your repentance will be the measure of your
dependence!

Every area of your life, in which you have not learned to be dependent,
is an area of your life in which you have not as yet repented.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/major-w-ian-thomas/dependence/
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