Good morning to you all. It's another great day the Lord
has made. I don't know about you, but I
have chosen to rejoice and to be glad in it.
So we shall be continuing with our series from the book of
Second Corinthians. In the last weeks we've been
here, we've had so much about not being on equally yoked with
unbelievers, where Ben gave an extensive overview of it.
And last week we continued. And today we are going to
continue in that series. Before we go, let's commit this
session into God's hand. Father, we thank you, Lord, for
this moment. Thank you, Lord, for your
faithfulness. Thank you because of your word.
Thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Thank you because you are the centre of all this.
Lord. Lord, as we go, as we share, as
we deliberate or discuss your word this morning, you will open
our hearts, You open our understanding.
We will hear this word in an every new way, the way you want
us to hear it. And at the end of it, Lord, I
will give glory to your name, and we shall be a better and a
better person in You and moving on to perfection in your Jesus
name. Amen.
So we'll be reading from the book of Second Corinthians.
If you are with your Bible, you can read, but I'm going to just
read from the screen here as well.
So a bit of background, you know, this is Paul trying to
write or encourage the church in Corinth.
And we've had so much of how he's been doing this, talking to
them, educating them, supporting them, praying for them and
encouraging them on how to go about things.
And in one of it he also sent this and this is also linked to
the last chapter in the book in the in chapter 6 of this verse
where actually Ben handed his preach the last time.
So Second Corinthians Chapter 7 said, make room for us in your
heart. We have wronged no one.
We have corrected no one. We have exploited no one.
I did not say this to condemn you.
I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that
we will live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great
frankness. I take great pride in you.
I am greatly encouraged in all our troubles.
My joy nose no bound for one. For when we came into Macedonia
we had no rest, but we were aroused at every turn.
Conflicts on our side, fears within.
But God, who confers the downcast, comforted us by the
coming of titles, and not only by His coming, but also by the
comforts you had given him. He told us about your longing
for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concerns for me, so that
my joy was greater than ever. Even if I cost you sorrow by my
later, I do not regret it, though I did regret it.
I see that my letter hurts you, but only for a little while.
And it continued in verse 9. So I'm not just going to, I
mean, I'm going to take it one after the other so that we could
break it down and simplify it. So before I go through this, I'm
going to really break this very long chapter down into an
acronym that I developed, and I call it truth.
The Bible says we will know the truth and the truth will set you
free when you know that truth. And when you look at that
picture in there, you can see someone coming from that
darkness and moving into that marvellous light.
And that is the biblical truth because it's there to redeem us.
It's there to make us better. And that is one of the reason
why Paul is sending this letter to the church.
So when you look at it, it said a teachable heart, a repentance
that bring the TS, the R stand for repentance that brings life,
EU stand for undeniable fruits, and the T stand for Thanksgiving
and joy overflowing, and the H stand for holy confidence.
And as we go there, I'm going to bring all these sections into on
that is acronyms. So in the 1st chapter where
yeah, Paul said, look at you guys.
I want you to make room for me for in your hearts.
He's does. He's not trying to force them to
obey him, He's not trying to manipulate them with guilt, and
he's not strengthening or condemning them instead.
But the first thing is that guys, open your eyes to this
truth, open your hearts. And he's not coming from a place
of vulnerability, but he's just telling them that.
Guys, I'm not just saying this because I want to manipulate
you. I'm not saying this because I
want you to do something for me or I need a sort of influence
from you. But all I want is that we have a
genuine relationship with God, a relationship that makes us not
just struggling at our fate, but a relationship that makes us to
thrive. And we have wrong no one, we
have corrupted no one. As you can see, we have
exploited no one. And Paul is trying to capitalise
on his integrity that guys, I'm not doing this to manipulate
you. I'm not doing this to do
anything for you. But it is something that you
actually need and it's also for your own good.
And that's the reason is try to clarify this.
And when we bring this back into our practical life in our
spiritual relationship, it is very important that we open us
to one another, especially as regards to our relationship with
one another, that yes, we could ask questions.
We are accountable to one another.
And that is one of the things or one of the areas that Paul was
actually capitalising on, that this is who I am.
I have presented myself to you, I'm accountable to you.
I'm not trying to do anything that is contrary to what God
wants from you, but this is what it is.
So sometimes as Christians, when we're trying to encourage one
another, it's also good for us to make a sort of inner
assessment of ourselves. That's what I'm saying.
Am I just saying it just for saying, you know of it, or do I
really mean it for the true change that is actually
expected? And sometimes we need to look
inward before we actually give that.
And that is what Paul was trying to do here, that I'm not doing
this for you. I'm not.
I mean about anything. So he's checking himself.
He's reassessing itself. He's reassessing his motive so
that he could stand on that to actually talk to these people.
And when we look at the book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verse three,
there Jesus Christ told us that why do you look and speak of
sawdust in your brother's eyes and pay no attention to the
plank in your own eyes? That means for us, for Paul to
actually talk to the set of people, he has checked himself
first. The same thing is also
applicable to all of us here before we blame anyone before we
talk about anything in our relationship in our marriages
that oh, this guy's not doing what I want him to do and I'll
stop that you check yourself first that am I also doing what
is expected of me. So it goes hand in hand like
that. And that is what probably is
trying to establish in this first two chapters here and he
said God's sorrows. But in in verse 4, when we move
further, he said in all our troubles, my joy no, no bounds.
And this is the first int of the theme that Paul is trying to
really bring down here. He harassed the trouble and
weary, yet joy is overflowing. Why?
Because he witnessed the transforming power of godly
repentance. And what God Paul is trying to
say is that, OK, I've said all these days, I have been writing
to you, I have been sending letters, I have done everything
so that you guys could be a sort of a better piece.
And sometimes even in ministry, we get tired sometimes because
you're trying to push some narrative, but it's not working.
And just like we read in the in that chapter, he was depressed,
he was tired, he was discouraged and sometimes was like, is it
like the word I've been saying to this set of people, is this
have I been too harsh? But I still have to say the
truth. It's my truth.
Has it been too harsh? So it was thinking about all
those things. And when we bring it back to
even for for for us that we're friends at times when we're
trying to correct our kids, you think, am I being too harsh?
Now that's reflection. That thought always come into
place, but we're trying to do it to get the best out of them.
And that is the essence of that. It's not as if we hate them or
it's not as if we want them to just do something extraordinary.
But our continuous, I mean being there, encouraging them,
supporting them and showing them the right we will eventually
help them to actually do that. And that's what Paul is trying
to was trying to establish here that guys godly sorrows leads to
a change without regret is trying to establish that because
worldly sorrows that is in you. We always tell you that I'm
sorry. We are just saying that I'm
sorry because you were you got caught, you know, and look at it
in a, in a, in a, in a world today that when you admit your
weakness, people see it from the place of vulnerability.
I'm just like, oh, you're weak, you're not smart.
That was the reason you are get caught.
But that is underworldly sorrow. Godly sorrow said I sin, I turn
back to God. Yes, I've done that, but now I'm
changing my direction. That is godly saying that be
God, God, godly sorrow. Sorry.
So what what Paul is trying to establish here for us is that
are we making a room in our heart for the truth tellers or
have we become defensive when we are faced with the truth or when
we are challenged with the truth?
Are we building a wall against any sort of correction that
comes our ways? And mind you, the first step
towards any repentance is creating a space in our hearts.
And when we create a space in our heart, then the Holy Spirit
will begin to work in US. It is not just for our own
doing, but it is help of God and also be the help of Holy Spirit
that God can truly transform himself in our lives.
The next acronym which stands for for for under the truth and
we have community. Now when we look at this old
chapter, that is the place there where Timothy was actually sent.
And what is the job of Timothy? Timothy brought comfort when we
look at it, said Paul paints an honest picture, said For when we
came into Macedonia we had no rest but were harassed by every
tonne conflict on the outside, fears within.
But God, who conforced the countdown cars, comforted us by
the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by
the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing
for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that
my job was greater than ever. Now Paul was down, he was
devastated, he was depressed, but then comes Titus, who
brought the good news and what was the goodness that the church
in Corinth, they were repenting. That means the harsh words that
were spoken before is now having a sort of impact in their lives
and that gave Paul a sort of joy, said Paul.
Paint an honest picture. Conflicts on the inside,
conflict on the outside. Sometime ministry is very hard,
and even Apostle Paul really said that.
But God sent titles. God confers the downcast not
only through his Word and Spirit, but through his people.
And titles brought that news. And that transformed Paul's
sorrow into joy. And the Corinthians had
repented. Is that not awesome?
And if we consider what Timothy did and bring it into our
activities as a church and as a community, the Bible says iron
sharp on it, iron sometimes some of us could be down, some of us
could be going through one thing or the other.
Some of us could be struggling with seeing and some of us could
be struggling with life challenges, but as a community,
we are here to support one another.
And when we are struggling, when we sharpen ourselves, when we
encourage ourselves, when we talk to ourselves, when we pray
for one another, we can be lifted House of that depression
through the world of encouragement and through our
love for one another. And that's why the proof of
proverb chapter 27, verse 7 says, as iron sharpenets iron,
so one person shall sharpen another.
As iron sharpenets iron, so shall we, so so shall one person
shampoo another. I want to ask you chart this
morning, have you been entitled to someone?
Have you been supporting anyone? Have you been there for anyone?
Have you be an encourager? Have you been supporting?
Have you been praying for one another?
In Christian life, you know we are not meant just to live in
isolation. We need brothers.
We need sisters who speak truth to us and rejoice when we move
back to God, a German writer said.
I translated this from German. He said the false service one
owes to order is the fellowship in the fellowship consists in
the listening to them. Many people are looking for and
here that will listen and even in in the job such these days
and everything, one of the thing that is very important is for
the ability to be able to listen.
It is very important that we listen to one another.
It's very important that we understand one another.
It is very important that we are sensitive to hear what people
love to say Maybelline that people are actually pouring
their heart and sometimes when the problem is shared is 50%
solved. So brethren church, I just
encourage us this morning to be more or of listeners then we
could actually understand what is actually going on in the life
of our brothers and sisters. And that was one of the things
that Timothy did. You know, that's when Paul was
depressed. When Paul was worried, God
comforted him by what? By the coming of titles and
titles brought the good news. Sometimes God will not use
angels. God will not use spirit.
God will use individual, God will not use stone.
But it now depends on how we're able to make ourselves available
for that use and to also support one another.
And sometimes do you know that you are the titles that God is
sending to someone. You are the titles that God is
sending to someone. When I was going through this,
something just came to my mind because while we're growing up.
You know, under the very sunny stuff and we are moving there is
a fish they call Titus. You know then, and when you take
that fish called Titus fish with something with cassava flakes
called Gary, it's comforts you. I know some people will
understand that. So I was just like, oh, probably
that name was the was innovative or brought forth because titles
is a comforter. Then this titles fished you is
the sort of a comforter because it's council star anyway, so
that's just right away. So George, who are your tituses?
Who are the believers in your life trusted enough to speak
correction? And are you being a titles to
someone? Are you an encourager?
Are you a comforter? I'm asking you that question
this morning. Let's make a reflection about
that in the next verse. That is from verse 8 to 10 I'm
going to read. If you are with your Bible,
please just read from verse 8 to 10 where just.
Go a bit full. So from verse 8 to them, even if
I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it,
though I regret it. I see that my letter hurts you,
but only for a little while. This point is very important
because Paul draws A crucial distinction here between two
kinds of sorrow. So he said there is a sort of
godly sorrow and there is a sort of worldly sorrow.
So we're going to go through that now.
The sorrow that leads to life, godly sorrow leads to
repentance. Worldly sorrow brings death.
Godly repentance leads to salvation.
Worldly repentance focuses on consequences, not the sin
itself. Godly repentance leaves no
regrets. Worldly repentance leads to
despair on self justification. Finally, godly repentance brings
life. Worldly repentance results in no
real change and we're going to be looking at the Bible to see
series of examples in the Bible of who, where and how.
Such as really first of all, remember the story of David.
When David sing he was the king, he has the power, but at that
point he did not capitalise on the fact that after all I am the
king, but he ran to the king of king and said against you only
have I seen and done what is evil in your sight.
So you are right in your valid and justified when you judge.
He cried to God. He knew that he has seen, he
knew that he has not done the will of God.
But one thing that he did is that Father, I have seen to you
say, create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew the steadfast
spirit within me when we go for that and ever I said, cast me
not away from your presence, O Lord, and do not take your Holy
Spirit from me. The restore unto me the joy,
that joy of my salvation, the joy that I've lost, but because
I've seen and I'd lose it if I'm not genuine enough.
But please, I have come with my humble, very humble heart.
I want that joy to be restored. And that was what happened and
God did what God forgive him. And God say David is the man
after my own heart. So sometimes when we are out of
track with God, that's not the end.
Our God is such a loving, faithful, wonderful Father that
does not want anyone to perish. You want us to be under His
presence. You want us to enjoy what is God
to offer us. But if we truly and genuinely
repent and turn back, 360 then God can bring us back into His
fold. Another example in the Bible is
the story of Peter. Peter was told you are going to
deny Jesus Christ three times before they cook round said me
no, at that level I would no, it's not possible.
Well, eventually what happened He did it the first time, he did
it the second time and he did it the third time three times under
6 hours. But you know the good thing that
happened He realised that oh I have messed up.
He cried, he wet and he went back to God.
That how I'm sorry I have seen I have forsaken you.
He did that from the genuineness of his heart.
He's not doing it just because of any heights or anything.
And that is what the joy of repentance is all about.
Paul initially regretted causing them pain, but when he saw the
fruits, your sorrow LED you to repentance.
That was the letter of Paul too. So it was initially gripped.
But because he saw that repentance, he gladdens.
It's so this is the difference. Wally, sorry says I am sorry I
got caught. I am sorry for the consequences.
Godly sorrow says I have sinned against God and I must change.
Not that Father I have sinned. Forgive me the next week I'm
weak again, I'm sin again. You know that's should not be.
But once we have repented for our sin, once we have confessed
our say, the next thing for us is to take a 360 tonne and
change from that way unto God. So Peter's tears were godly
sorrow and they led to complete restoration and a lifetime of
faithful service. And remember the Bible also said
my church shall be built upon you.
So despite the fact that he messed up, God still used him
for his glory and a lot of evangelical work was still done
through Peter. In in contrast to all these, we
consider another story. Judas Carrots, the Bible says in
the book of Matthew, said when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw
that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse.
That is one thing. That's a common thing.
So he threw the money into the temple and left.
That is the gift that comes with it.
Now he didn't follow the step. Then he said he went away and
and himself. You can see the difference
between David, Peter and Judas. He repentance on the one hand
leads to life, the other one leads to life and more
evangelical work and the other one leads to there.
So church this morning. I'm just encouraging us that we
should truly change. Not just saying I've seen I'm
sorry. Repentance is not just feeling
bad. It is not just about tears.
No it is not about the embarrassment that comes from
the scene. But repentance is about owning
it. Yes, I've done this with no
excuses, with no blaming, accepting it and then making it
total U-turn from such sin. That is where true repentance
can come and that is the joy that also comes with it.
Charge this morning when your spirit convince you of sin, how
do you respond to it? Do you minimise it?
Do you blame someone else? Do you just have a sort of self
pity or do you genuinely change and turn to God?
I'm leaving you without questions today in verse 11 of
our book said, see what this godly sorrow has produced in
you? What earnestness, what eagerness
to clear yourself, what indignation, what alarm, what
longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done?
At every point you have proved yourself to be innocent in this
matter. Genuine painters produces this
feasible fruit, and Paul lists some of these evidence in
Chapter 11 of Second Corinthians.
And that was why he said in the eagerness they took it.
They took if if you want to really have a sort of
understanding of they said the you have to take it seriously.
Any form of sin must not be taken just for granted.
They wanted everything right with God.
They were angry at the same, but not just the correction.
They understood the gravity of their offence with God and they
desire to restore relationship with God.
They cared about spiritual matters and they were willing to
take action and making amends. Those are the fruits that comes
with repentance. Repentance is visible.
Repentance is measurable. Repentance is actionable and
that is the reason the Bible says in the book of Matthew
chapter 3 verse say that bring forth food worthy of repentance.
And what are those fruits? These are the fruits that comes
with it. That means we have to take sins
seriously. We want things to be right with
God and all these things. We are not just saying anybody
must be evident in our life. They must be practical.
People must see that yes, truly this person has done his way
from this other way and move into the way of the Lord and
that is what it is. So George, I ask you this
morning again, where do you need AU turn in your personal life?
Is it unforgiveness? Is it bitterness?
Is it sexual sin? Is it pride?
Is it lying? Is it eating habits?
Is it addiction? From this book called As I
encouraging us this morning that we should not just feel bad
about this but take a practical step to really acknowledge it
and turn back from such thing. And that is when those fruits
can be evident in our life. Now when things change, people
could actually see that oh this is what it is.
This is what I it used to be, but now this is what it is in
marriages, a situation whereby a couple, they've been having
issues. And what was the issue?
The issue was all about unforgiveness, you know, so the,
the, the woman felt so sad. And what were the offences?
Oh, my husband cheated. My husband lied.
My husband did not remember our anniversary.
They said, oh, so many things come up like that and it's she
was carrying it all along and very, very sad.
Now these are some of the fruits that comes with this
unforgiveness because she's angry, she's very bitter, she's
depressed, she's so friendly, she can't even enjoy herself
because of this unforgiveness in her.
And the fruits were there. And one thing about fruit is
this. When you have a fruits, maybe
you have mango or something and you are carried with you and you
don't preserve it, you didn't take care of it, you don't
address it or you don't do anything to eat.
It's rottens. When it rottens, it smells.
When it smells, it follows you around.
So I'm just using this example to actually refresh in any way
in our lives that maybe one thing on the other that we're
doing that we truly need to take AU turn.
We need to take that U-turn because if you don't take that
U-turn, it affects us as it makes our lives things.
The best thing is just for us to take AU turn, and that is the
fruits that the Bible is talking about here.
And when. So look at your life this
morning. When you have conferred sins.
Has there been a genuine change? Or do you find yourself in the
same pattern, offering the same apologies, making the same
promises? Repentance without change is
just remorse. Repentance without change is
just being removed. You are just removed about it.
Or probably if I continue doing every one day, I'll just be get
caught and I don't want to face the consequences.
No, that's not it. But we just have to turn three
sister degrees and move away from it in verse 12 of of this
chapter. So the food that proves the
change according to verse level is that bring forth fruits worry
of repentance which established in the book of Matthew chapter 3
verse 8. So what are these joy when we
read that's this chapter from verse 12 to 16 verse. 12 to 16.
I go forward again. So, oh so verse 12 to 16 says so
even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the
one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party,
but rather the the before God. You could see for yourself how
devoted to us you are. By all these we are encouraged.
In addition to our encouragement, we were
especially delighted to see how appetitis was.
Because a spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
I had boasted to you to him about you, and you have not
embarrassed me. But just as everything we said
to you was true, so our boasting about you to titles as proves to
be true as well. And it's affection for you is
all the greater. It's the greater when he
remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with
fear and trembling. I am glad I have.
I can I can have complete confidence in you.
So this was. Apostle Paul.
Writing to the church here that now.
In all this we can. See a summary of how he truly
feels about the impact of his letters about his impact of all
the letters he has been writing to the church.
That's actually it's actually reflecting.
And this is evident when we look at verse seven of our chapter
of, of, of the, of the book. We read it today.
It says my joy was greater than ever.
That means Paul was. Great.
I mean his joy was greater than ever.
Why? Because he has seen an evident
change in the life of the Church.
He has seen a sort of change which gladdens his heart in
verse. Now you said now I am happy.
I am happy. Because.
Although I have been very, very frank with you, I've said so
many things, but now there is a sort of impact of what I've been
doing in verse 13. By all this we are all
encouraged, so in all this we can see that he's happy he has.
Greater joy. He's happy he's.
Encouraged. He's delighted and I'm glad I
can have great confidence in you so when you.
Look at this pattern. We can see that repentance leads
to joy and it's not those joy, it leads to all round joy.
And this is not only for Paul. Paul was delighted, Titus was
delighted, and the Corinthians themselves, the Corinthians too,
they were all delighted. So when there is a godly
repentance, it leads to joy. When it leads to joy, it does
not only affect the preacher, it affects the messenger who was
titles and also the congregation.
Because everything is evident, everybody is happy.
So that is what brings so much of joy when we repent, when
results are being seen, when positive impact is evident is
bring so much joy. Because one of the thing
repentance also do is that it's restores relationship, the
barrier. Because when, when, when barrier
of sin is removed, when there is a sort of barrier that is
affecting a sort of connection between people, unforgiveness or
anything. If that is removed, then it
restores relationship, it proves devotion, you know, by their
response, it shows that their heart is actually right because
they have read, I mean, they have been talked to, they have
been reading all the letter that has been sent by George, They
were being encouraged, all this. And that has a sort of a
positive impact in their life and that also shows in their
hearts and also in their attitude, title, spirit.
Was renewed. By their obedience, you know,
titles that brought the news. He saw you that oh, truly
there's a sort of change in the lives of these people.
And he brought the good news back to Paul.
And Paul was really delighted about that.
Yes, this is happening and it brings so much joy to Paul.
And also this led to a sort of confidence building.
Paul could trust them again. This is also very.
Evident. In our daily relationship with
one and other, especially when probably a wife is complaining
or someone is complaining, I don't want this, I don't want
that. And the guy said don't worry, I
won't do it again. But the pains keep on repeating,
repeating itself. It's not going to bring any joy.
It's just going to like you're not listening to me, you're not
listening to me. And that brings a lot of
sadness. But when this is sort of OK,
I've said it, I am listening to you, I am taking practical steps
to change and you are truly change and that change is
evidence, then it brings so much of joy, it brings so much of
restoration. It's restores relationship.
And when that is present, the trust is restored.
So I want this to also. I mean I want.
To just think practically in this area.
Also, is that something someone has been telling you complaining
about first? Of all, look into your own.
Eyes before you complain, then if there is a sort of things
that we need to change, let's look seriously into it because
it's going to restore that trust.
It's going to restore that relationship if we can turn back
and truly make genuine repentance about it.
And Jesus spoke. Of His joy, I tell you that in
the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over 1
Sinner who repent than over 99 righteous person who do not need
to repent. You can see the joy that comes
with repentance. Jesus Christ said that evidently
in the book of Luke chapter 15 verse 7 and in verse 10 of the
same child, I said there is rejoicing the presence of the
angels of God over 1 Sinner who does what, who repents.
There is so much joy, there is so much happiness, there is so
much celebration when somebody turn over to the Lord's side.
And we're going to look at the Bible also for one practical
very example of the prodigal son.
You know this. Guy he.
Left is gone away, enjoying himself doing.
All sort of things. But at some point he realised
that I'm a I'm a son of a of a great father.
My father could actually provide everything and I am struggling
here. Then something happened.
He stood up. And he took a.
Decision. And that decision made a
difference. He went back to his father.
He said, father, I've seen to you the same thing for all of us
or anybody here. I have seen to you I'm not
worthy to be called your child. Could you please make me one of
your servants? But God said no, you are my son,
and whoever be my son, I'm not going.
To relegate you, I'm not going. To degrade you because you have
seen and what happened. The father celebrated him.
The father threw a party for him because his lost son is coming
back home. He realised his mistake.
He took his step. Then he turned away.
From his previous way and he was restored.
So the prodigal. Son's father didn't.
Scold him or did you read his scolding?
No, he did not scold him when he returned.
Rather he threw a party. And that is the joy of
repentance. That is the joy that comes with
repentance that I've lost this song, but now I've gotten back
the same thing God is telling us today.
For as many that have moved out of fellowship of how of
relationship with God, God is calling you back today.
It doesn't matter what you have done.
He's such a loving father. He's such a kind father.
He's a faithful father. He loves us.
He want the best for us and He's not going to condemn us for what
we have done, but when we decide and turn our way back to Him,
He's going to rejoice because you are going to be so much of
rejoicing in heaven. I want to read from 1:00.
Of Charles Spurgeon, who said repentance is in the tear in the
eyes of faith. It may begin with sorrow, but
eventually it ends with celebration.
So. What are the confidence that we.
Have Paul final note is one of complete confidence.
The Corinthians repentance prove their character because they
received correction with fear, with fear and trembling, not
fear of punishment, but they reverend God and they went.
Back to God. So this is the nature of
Christian responses to correction.
Proverbs tells us that whoever it's living, whoever eats life
giving correction will be at home among the wise.
Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one
who eats correction gains understanding.
How many of us want to gain understanding today?
I want to gain understanding, I want to gain knowledge, and I
want to move back into the presence of God because in the
presence of God that is always fullness of that joy.
So Church today do you receive? Correction with fear.
And trembling or an immunity and willingness to change?
Or do you just defend and resist?
I'm asking you that. Question today.
Your response revealed the condition of your heart, so I
just want us. To make a reflection on that.
When we receive correction, how do we handle it?
How do we receive it? Do we receive it just that oh
this person is just condemning my action?
Probably this person does not love me.
Or are we taking it out of a feedback that we might need to
actually work on and make a U-turn or make necessary changes
to make us a better person? Or we're just like, no, he's
just always against me. I don't.
He doesn't like my face and that is why he's talking like that.
How do we receive such feedbacks?
The way we receive such feedbacks determine what we've
got in our hearts. Because sometimes instead of us
to take something as feedback, we fight against it.
Then we are not going to get the message and we are just going to
continue wallowing our sins. So I just want us to really
reflect on this as as as a church brothers and sisters, we
live in a culture today that celebrates self justification
and cancels anyone who admit fault.
Sometimes when you admit fault, people will think that truly are
you are weak, you are not intelligent, you didn't show
them the law, you are not calculative enough, you are not
innovative enough. And that's what the word calls
it today. But the Kingdom of God or praise
on an entirely different principle.
Jesus said blessed are those who mourn for thee will be
comforted, and our comfort is. In that true.
And genuine repentance that comes when we truly move away
from our old ways and turn into the way of the Lord this
morning. It speaks of a sort of sorrow
over sin. And a promise is comforts and
not condemnation. So.
I want to leave us with a. Question this morning, is there
any unconference sins in our lives?
Is there anything that the Holy Spirit has?
Been whispering about to you in your heart and you have been
ignoring it or justifying it that no, it's not actually like
that. Church, today is the day for
godly sorrow. Today is the days that we could.
Actually make a sort of reflection in our.
Hearts to. See how we could actually move
away from some of the things God has been talking to us about in
our secret place. We have been reading it and it
struck our heart. But we just try to like ignore
you that it doesn't really matter.
And sometimes when we have it doesn't matter here, here, here,
here and here. It becomes a very complex
situation. I just want us to reflect all
about that 2 Are you experiencing worldly sorrow or
godly sorrow in. Your heart this morning are you.
Experiencing A godly sorrow or a worldly sorrow?
Are you just sorry you got caught or are you genuinely
grieved that you have offended the Holy Spirit?
God loves you. How many of us know that God
really loves us? And you will never let.
Us down, you will never lead us. He is always interested in US
being in his presence and also enjoying everything that he's
got to offer. Thirdly.
A few been resisting correction. Is there a titles in your life?
Have you got a faithful friend, his pastor, his spouse whose
word you have been rejecting because they are very hard to
hear? You know, sometimes some people
are actually in our life to make us a better person.
But when they speak, we look at it that we're always coming from
a place of no, I don't want. But deep inside of us we know
that they're actually saying the truth.
But because. We have a sort of.
Block cage in our hearts, we try to resist them.
Sometimes it could be our pastor, sometimes it could be
our neighbours, sometimes it could be our friends.
And most times, they're our spouse.
But we just ignore. That just because we are not
ready to hear that hard truth. I just want us to reflect on
this this morning. So God is inviting us this
morning and he said if we. Confess our.
Sins. He's faithful and just and is
ready to forgive us of all of our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness. That is according to the book of
First John, chapter One First night.
So, brethren, if you are. Carrying the weight of
unconfessed sin, today I want to invite you to experience the joy
of repentance, because in that joy of repentance, that is what
could make us to have a sort of everlasting relationship with
our God. It give us a right standing with
Him. It's not about feeling guilty.
That is of worldly sorrow, but deliberating sorrow that leads
to life. Finally, the.
Moment you genuinely repent, heaven erupts in celebration.
Do we know that angels rejoice, brothers and sisters rejoice,
and some other people that are not yet giving their love to
Christ? They are encouraged, that's how.
That network was. And then we discover the
surprising supernatural joy that comes from being right with God.
Who wants to be right with God this morning?
I just want us to bow out our hearts and just talk to God this
morning. Is that an area in our lives?
That we truly need to change our ways.
Is there any area of our lives that probably the Holy Spirit
has been ministering to us and talking to us about, but we have
just been ignoring it? Is there any area in our life
that our spouses, they've been talking out to us about it, but
we think that no, this is just coming from a place of
ingenuity. Is there?
Any sort of pride in our hearts. That is not allowing us to see
that faint that truly requires our attention.
Let's talk to God this morning and commit and invite God into
such situation. Is there?
Anywhere in our life that we need.
To truly take a 360 turn around to change totally from not just
pacifying or managing on the just talking about it or just
being remorse about it and not taking steps.
Our God is ever here to. Support us to hear us, to give
us a new chance and to celebrate.
With us. Where we truly turn our ways and
move towards Him. He's a faithful father.
He's loving. It's so kind, it's so wonderful.
He's the God that wants the best of us.
He's the God that wants us to ever rejoice in him.
Thank you gracious God, in Jesus name we have prayed.
Father, we thank. You Lord, for this moment.
Lord, we pray for as many of us here that truly needs to take a
step so that we can enjoy that godly.
Repentance. That joy that comes, that
celebration. That comes when your.
Hearts is being changed. Lord I.
Pray for us as as. A church that will help one
another. We live in a community that
truly sharpens one another, that help one another, that supports
one another, that help us to fulfil God's purpose in our
lives. Help us, Lord.
Every unconfessed. Sin every sin.
Lord, we bring them to you. Lord, give us that grace to
change from our ungodly. Way.
Into a godly way, in Jesus name. Thank you gracious God, in Jesus
name of prayer, Amen.