The Blessing of Repentance
INTRODUCTION
During His earthly ministry, who were the people Jesus was angry with? – ‘religious’ people
They were so quick to point out everyone else’s faults but slow to examine themselves
Yet, even today the church has become quick to judge others and slow to repent
Rev 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-- unless you repent. (Ephesus)
Without repentance there is no revival
Without repentance there is no forgiveness
Without repentance there is no freedom
Without repentance there is no blessing
MAIN TEXT
Ps 32:1-11
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
It doesn’t say, “Blessed is he who never transgresses.”
Clearly! God would rather we did not sin, however, when we do, there is atonement
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
It is when we sin and do not seek forgiveness that we find ourselves in a most miserable condition
But those who trust in Christ have had their sins covered past, present & future
Yet we are commanded to confess and repent
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Impute – means to “count against”
You are blessed because your sins are covered by Jesus’ blood – If you are saved, you are covered
“no deceit” – you can’t fake out God
Matt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.
Refusal to repent will drag you down, it will make you feel old
There is no renewal in your spirit-man
Instead of mounting up on eagle’s wings, you feel like you have leg weights attached
Why is it that we do not come before the Father immediately?
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
The conviction of the Holy Spirit is weighty and powerful
You will sense you are in a dry place
You will sense that the anointing has left you
The Psalmist sensed his strength (spiritual fortitude) being zapped out of him
Selah – think about it
His hand of correction is heavy
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
This must be the cry of our hearts – every Christian
I Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Isa 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.
For the cause of repentance, EVERYONE who considers themselves godly will pray
And will pray in this time when He may be found
Just like the time of Noah – when the flood came it was too late
1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
7 You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Do we see Him as our shelter, our hiding place, our sin barrier or do we think we should do it ourselves and then come to Him?
Jesus wants us to come to Him
Not a man in a confessional booth but directly to Him
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Jesus sent the Holy Ghost as our guide – He is the Spirit of Truth.
He allows us to see from His perspective instead of our own – “…with My eye.”
Matt 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.
Don’t be a stubborn old mule!
Don’t make God get your attention and stick a bit in your mouth
Prov 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
God is full of mercy, His mercy runs over
Repentance is how we access His mercy
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Repentance is a blessing, it is a privilege we have as believers
We can rejoice in His mercy
So many are too stiff necked to admit they still have sin issues in their life
They have no joy because God’s mercy has not been accessed for so long
Luke 7:47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
Those who access God’s mercy through repentance love much & rejoice much
CONCLUSION:
2 Chr 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Repentance brings revival
Repentance brings joy
Repentance brings freedom
Repentance opens the door of blessing in our loves
Isa 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Let’s be a humble and repentant people
The Lord wants to pour His mercy out and renew us
