LOSE THE GUILT
2 Cor 7:1-11
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
God wants the conviction we feel in our hearts to produce a change in our actions.
He doesn’t put conviction there just to let you know that you have done wrong, but that it might bring change.
I’m not preaching this sermon this morning just to make you feel guilty about your short-comings and sins in regards to your relationship with God.
Because I believe that, if every Christian here today were completely honest they would have to admit that there is some area in their relationship with God that needs improvement.
The question now is what are you going to do about your guilt?
I am here this morning, not to make you feel guilty, but to be an instrument that God can use to bring about a genuine change in your life.
Feeling guilty about our sins does absolutely no good unless it motivates you to change your heart!
And, God wants to change your heart so that you can experience true freedom and all the blessings that are held back because of sin.
It is time to reflect upon the condition of our personal and corporate relationship with God.
We must have sermons that provoke the Holy Spirit to deal with us by pointing out the areas of our lives that do not please God.
Revival will only come when we make a genuine commitment to change those things that the Holy Spirit points out to us.
Are you ready for that? Are you tired of being stirred but not changed? If your answer is no, then you are wasting your time here this morning. But if your answer is yes, then say yes to Christ this morning and let Him change you this morning.
There are three basic truths that will help us understand that God wants the conviction we feel in our hearts to produce a change in our actions.
The first truth is…
I. GUILT IS A MEANS TO AN END AND NOT AN END IN ITSELF (v. 9)
1. Paul rejoiced, not because his letters to the Corinthian church made them feel bad, but because the letters forced them to deal with the issues they faced on a personal level as well as on a church level.
They certainly had plenty of issues to deal with!
(1) There were divisions in the church (a difference of opinion; disagreement) …I believe it the way Paul teaches it, I believe it the way Cephas teaches it … carpet blue/green, she should teach/sing, no, he should)
(2) There were “super saints” in the church trying to run the show.
Did you know that super saints usually don’t run anything? They are usually the one who do the praying, fasting, working, and giving without wanting any recognition.
(3) There was sexual immorality in the lives of the church members– incestuous relationships…
(4) Lawsuits among the members – wouldn’t obey Scripture to deal with their problems so the turned to the world
(5) Marital problems.
(6) These were just a few of the problems down at Corinth Assembly of God Church
There has not been much change in the church world today.
I believe if they could have then, and if we could now, follow the one another commands found in the Word, we could all spend less time around the altars repenting and more time receiving the blessings of God on our lives.
To mention a few;
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (Instead of fighting, envious, jealous)
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned (fond and tender)one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge (point fingers, comparing ourselves, condemning) one another any more:
Gal 5:13 …by love serve one another. (What can I do to make your relationship better with Jesus?)
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing (tolerating) one another in love;
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
1Thes 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thes 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, ( instruct one another in such a way as to improve, enlighten, or uplift morally and spiritually)
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, ( urge earnestly by godly advice)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another (be thoughtful)to provoke unto love and to good works:
So, Paul rejoiced, not because his letters to the Corinthian church made them feel bad, but because the letters forced them to deal with the issues they faced on a personal level as well as on a church level.
2. There is a difference between “godly” sorrow, and “worldly” sorrow – “worldly” says, “I am sorry that I got caught!” – “godly” says, “now that God has helped me see these sins, I must do something about them?”
3. God doesn’t just want to make us feel guilty about our personal sins, he wants us to deal with them!
(1) He doesn’t just say, “I think I’ll let you squirm for a little while, then I’ll let you off the hook!”
(2) God comes to us and says, “What are you going to do about this sin? Do you realize that it is affecting our relationship with each other.”
4. Are there issues that God wants you to deal with today? (personal sins)
The second truth is…
II. REPENTANCE IS THE ONLY TRUE REACTION TO GUILT (v. 9)
1. Paul not only rejoiced because the Corinthians finally came around and dealt with their sins, but that they followed through with a genuine repentance.
(1) A false repentance (worldly) is one that never gets beyond the emotion of guilt.
(2) You may feel sick to your stomach for a while, but you know the feeling will soon pass.
(3) In turn, Satan use’s that against you, he comes to you and says: “Your OK now because you felt bad about what you did. Don’t worry about it.
2. The word used here for repentance however means: A change of mind, a change of heart, a change of attitude…I’m sorry and I am going to do something about it! I am going to change with God’s help!
3 Our guilt that leads to the decision to turn from our sins and accept God’s free gift of eternal life!
4. God wants the conviction you may be feeling in your heart to produce a change of mind and attitude!
The third truth is…
III. VISIBLE CHANGE IS THE EVIDENCE OF REPENTANCE (v. 11)
1. Paul not only rejoiced because they followed through with genuine repentance, but that there was visible change to prove their repentance. Sorrow produces repentance and repentance produces a changed life.
(1) They went from laziness to diligence – being quick to do what was right.
(2) From guilt to a, clear conscience through confession of sin.
(3) From apathy, a total lack of interest to a righteous anger
over their spiritual condition.
(4) From a lax attitude about sin to fear lest their sins be repeated.
(5) From mediocre to having a vehement desire to do what was right in God’s sight.
(6) From indifference to zeal in turning back to God.
(7) From indictment over sin to vindication.
2. They were no longer just stirred by the words of Paul, they were changed by them!
And you can be too.
3. Are you going to be only stirred by my words this morning or are you going to let God change you before you leave this place?
Don’t go away from here with guilt, lay your guilt at the foot of the cross in repentance.
Please don’t remain apathetic (unresponsive) about your spiritual condition. Do something about it now.
Don’t have a lax attitude about sin, leave with a healthy fear of God?
4. God’s desire is for you not to leave this place the same as you came in! Will you let him have His will and way in your life today?
