THE REWARDS OF REPENTANCE
Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
One of the greatest gifts God has given man is the ability and opportunity to repent. Without repentance we could never change to become the person God created us to be. Without repentance we would never be able to do life with God because we are fallen humans who are in continual need of forgiveness and life change. Repentance always leads to a better state and always precedes a greater measure of the Presence of God.
What is Repentance? Repentance means to turn around. It means to go 180* not 360*, to turn to God from whatever is taking His place or distracting us from Him.
That statement opens up a whole number of issues, it goes beyond obvious sin. It includes all of the man-made substitutes for God – anything that captures our attention and affection, getting a hold on us.
Webster’s Dictionary says repentance should produce something – CHANGE.
Acts 17:30 NIV “He [God] commands all people everywhere to repent”
How important is repentance in the Bible?
1. John the Baptist’s message – Mt 3:1-2
2. Jesus’ first sermon – Mt 4:17
3. Peter’s first message on the Day of Pentecost – Acts 2:38, 3:19
4. Paul preached repentance – Acts 20:21
5. Repentance is part of the Gospel - Mk 1:14,15
The sinner must repent before they receive salvation. Those who are saved must practice repentance if they are to enjoy unbroken fellowship with God.
Repentance is both negative and positive – turning away – turning to.
THREE REWARDS THAT COME FROM REPENTANCE
1. Repentance Refreshes our spirits
Acts 3:19 (Amp) “So repent – change your mind and purpose; turn around and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean) that times of refreshing – of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air – may come from the presence of the Lord”
The picture that we have here is of a person overcome with heat gasping for air, without air the physical body dies, without the breath of the Spirit (the life of God) we begin to suffocate spiritually. Repentance allows times of refreshing to come into our lives. Refreshing is the Greek medical term meaning “to heal as a result of being exposed to air”. How many of us know that when we are suffering illness or pain when that is removed it is like being in another world.
2. Repentance Restores our lives
Matthew 17:11, 13 NASB “Elijah is coming and will restore all things. Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist”
Luke 1:17 John the Baptist came in “the Spirit and power of Elijah”
The Spirit of repentance brings restoration, this word in the Greek means “to recover, renew, to bring back to a better state”. It speaks about something broken, not right, defective.
The dictionary definition of repentance – “To bring back to the original state”
The biblical definition of repentance – “To make better than the original”
Acts 8:17-24 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." 24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
-Peter indicated that Simon could be forgiven and restored to God’s favor if he truly repented, allowing God to change his heart and his way of thinking.
-Repentance is all about change but one important step is owning up to our own offenses. Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence—except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, “Why are you here?”
“Armed robbery, Your Majesty,” was the reply.
“And are you guilty?”
“Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment.”
Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, “Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it.”
-In our lives we have lost so much through sin and its consequences, we are broken, dysfunctional, and defective in our ways, our thinking and our view of ourselves, we are bound by brokenness, emotional scars, hurts, rejection and habits. Through repentance, confession and looking to Jesus we can be restored. Repentance is an amazing gift from God.
3. Repentance Revives our spiritual passion
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 for even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
NIV v11: see what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done”
The context was the first letter to the Corinthian Church where Paul addressed a number of issues regarding sin and their response to it. The amazing thing is this:
1. They did not realize their depth of sin
2. They thought that real love ignored sin and its consequence
3. Sin in our lives can ruin more than those directly involved
The letter had brought about a repentant spirit resulting in a fruit of zealousness for the Lord. The amazing thing is that we can be so blind to these things in our own lives and not have a repentant spirit. Repentance brought revival.
Revival is defined as:
a. an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns
b. a renewed zeal
Repentance had a huge impact on the Corinthian church. Let’s look more closely at some of the words used and see what that impact was all about.
Earnestness – serious
Eagerness – full of desire
Indignation – moved by anger
Alarm – announce danger
Longing – a vehement desire, craving
Concern – make an effort to do
Readiness – prompt compliance
THAT’S REVIVAL! God wants us to repent not regret!
Repentance produces a strong desire to correct wrongs. It brings a realization that our great God is Holy and is offended by our sin. Repentance propels us to action.
GOD IS CALLING MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT! Acts 17:30
A spirit of repentance prepares the way for the coming of the Lord
Isaiah 40:3 “A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord;”
Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
Pat Summerall spent 50 years with the national Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1952 and played with the Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants until 1961. After his retirement from the game, he joined CBS as a broadcaster, and in 1993 switched to Fox. During his CBS years he and a fellow broadcaster partied hard off the field. "We raised Cain. I was the first guy at the bar and the last to leave." Summerall was told that if he kept on drinking he was going to die.
After checking himself into the Betty Ford Clinic, his counselor urged him to seek a better life through faith. At age 66, Pat Summerall was baptized. In USA Today he told a reporter that when the minister "leaned me back in the water, I never felt so helpless." Summerall testified, "I knew I just became a Christian. I can’t tell you how great life has been since then." There was a turnaround. There was a life change because when he called on the Lord he began to change on the inside. Inside change will give us the desire and the power for change on the outside.
Close: Have you ever repented before the Lord in such a way that it changed your life? When is the last time you called on the Lord in repentance? When is the last time you wept over your own sin and failures? Not tears of self-pity, but tears of remorse. Godly sorrow produces repentance – life change. The Bible says that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. His kindness helps us do a U-turn in our hearts and in our actions. As God calls us to Himself, He invites us to come as we are, but humbly, on His terms. What are His terms? Complete surrender of who we are! We give our past, present, and future to Him! He forgives us for our past, is with us in the present, and changes our future as we do life with Him!
Some thoughts and ideas adapted from Mike Hullah on sermoncentral.com
