1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:13,000 Good morning to you all. It's another great day the Lord 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,240 has made. I don't know about you, but I 3 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,520 have chosen to rejoice and to be glad in it. 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:28,960 So we shall be continuing with our series from the book of 5 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,360 Second Corinthians. In the last weeks we've been 6 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:40,680 here, we've had so much about not being on equally yoked with 7 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:46,000 unbelievers, where Ben gave an extensive overview of it. 8 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:52,440 And last week we continued. And today we are going to 9 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,440 continue in that series. Before we go, let's commit this 10 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,480 session into God's hand. Father, we thank you, Lord, for 11 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,600 this moment. Thank you, Lord, for your 12 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,720 faithfulness. Thank you because of your word. 13 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,560 Thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit. 14 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,600 Thank you because you are the centre of all this. 15 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,800 Lord. Lord, as we go, as we share, as 16 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,480 we deliberate or discuss your word this morning, you will open 17 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,520 our hearts, You open our understanding. 18 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,920 We will hear this word in an every new way, the way you want 19 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,760 us to hear it. And at the end of it, Lord, I 20 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,800 will give glory to your name, and we shall be a better and a 21 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:33,040 better person in You and moving on to perfection in your Jesus 22 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:34,640 name. Amen. 23 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:41,840 So we'll be reading from the book of Second Corinthians. 24 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:46,160 If you are with your Bible, you can read, but I'm going to just 25 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:48,600 read from the screen here as well. 26 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:57,000 So a bit of background, you know, this is Paul trying to 27 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,840 write or encourage the church in Corinth. 28 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,080 And we've had so much of how he's been doing this, talking to 29 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,160 them, educating them, supporting them, praying for them and 30 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,680 encouraging them on how to go about things. 31 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,720 And in one of it he also sent this and this is also linked to 32 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:23,400 the last chapter in the book in the in chapter 6 of this verse 33 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,280 where actually Ben handed his preach the last time. 34 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,800 So Second Corinthians Chapter 7 said, make room for us in your 35 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,640 heart. We have wronged no one. 36 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,800 We have corrected no one. We have exploited no one. 37 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:43,200 I did not say this to condemn you. 38 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,640 I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that 39 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:53,320 we will live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great 40 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,720 frankness. I take great pride in you. 41 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,720 I am greatly encouraged in all our troubles. 42 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:09,880 My joy nose no bound for one. For when we came into Macedonia 43 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:15,520 we had no rest, but we were aroused at every turn. 44 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,040 Conflicts on our side, fears within. 45 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:25,520 But God, who confers the downcast, comforted us by the 46 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:30,720 coming of titles, and not only by His coming, but also by the 47 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,720 comforts you had given him. He told us about your longing 48 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:42,400 for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concerns for me, so that 49 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:49,720 my joy was greater than ever. Even if I cost you sorrow by my 50 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:55,640 later, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. 51 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:01,600 I see that my letter hurts you, but only for a little while. 52 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,680 And it continued in verse 9. So I'm not just going to, I 53 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,160 mean, I'm going to take it one after the other so that we could 54 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:16,440 break it down and simplify it. So before I go through this, I'm 55 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:22,560 going to really break this very long chapter down into an 56 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,000 acronym that I developed, and I call it truth. 57 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,960 The Bible says we will know the truth and the truth will set you 58 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,240 free when you know that truth. And when you look at that 59 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:39,360 picture in there, you can see someone coming from that 60 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,200 darkness and moving into that marvellous light. 61 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,240 And that is the biblical truth because it's there to redeem us. 62 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,840 It's there to make us better. And that is one of the reason 63 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:55,200 why Paul is sending this letter to the church. 64 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:02,800 So when you look at it, it said a teachable heart, a repentance 65 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,840 that bring the TS, the R stand for repentance that brings life, 66 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:15,680 EU stand for undeniable fruits, and the T stand for Thanksgiving 67 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:20,280 and joy overflowing, and the H stand for holy confidence. 68 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,080 And as we go there, I'm going to bring all these sections into on 69 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:31,760 that is acronyms. So in the 1st chapter where 70 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:41,000 yeah, Paul said, look at you guys. 71 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,880 I want you to make room for me for in your hearts. 72 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:56,280 He's does. He's not trying to force them to 73 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:02,200 obey him, He's not trying to manipulate them with guilt, and 74 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,640 he's not strengthening or condemning them instead. 75 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,040 But the first thing is that guys, open your eyes to this 76 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:15,680 truth, open your hearts. And he's not coming from a place 77 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,120 of vulnerability, but he's just telling them that. 78 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,880 Guys, I'm not just saying this because I want to manipulate 79 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,360 you. I'm not saying this because I 80 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,960 want you to do something for me or I need a sort of influence 81 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:36,880 from you. But all I want is that we have a 82 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:42,720 genuine relationship with God, a relationship that makes us not 83 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,680 just struggling at our fate, but a relationship that makes us to 84 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,680 thrive. And we have wrong no one, we 85 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,280 have corrupted no one. As you can see, we have 86 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,120 exploited no one. And Paul is trying to capitalise 87 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,240 on his integrity that guys, I'm not doing this to manipulate 88 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,440 you. I'm not doing this to do 89 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,320 anything for you. But it is something that you 90 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,800 actually need and it's also for your own good. 91 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,920 And that's the reason is try to clarify this. 92 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,360 And when we bring this back into our practical life in our 93 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:23,760 spiritual relationship, it is very important that we open us 94 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:29,320 to one another, especially as regards to our relationship with 95 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,120 one another, that yes, we could ask questions. 96 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,560 We are accountable to one another. 97 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,320 And that is one of the things or one of the areas that Paul was 98 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,440 actually capitalising on, that this is who I am. 99 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,920 I have presented myself to you, I'm accountable to you. 100 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,880 I'm not trying to do anything that is contrary to what God 101 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,280 wants from you, but this is what it is. 102 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:58,720 So sometimes as Christians, when we're trying to encourage one 103 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,760 another, it's also good for us to make a sort of inner 104 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:09,240 assessment of ourselves. That's what I'm saying. 105 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,360 Am I just saying it just for saying, you know of it, or do I 106 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,120 really mean it for the true change that is actually 107 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,520 expected? And sometimes we need to look 108 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,600 inward before we actually give that. 109 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,200 And that is what Paul was trying to do here, that I'm not doing 110 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:26,400 this for you. I'm not. 111 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,360 I mean about anything. So he's checking himself. 112 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,039 He's reassessing itself. He's reassessing his motive so 113 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,600 that he could stand on that to actually talk to these people. 114 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,760 And when we look at the book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verse three, 115 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:46,760 there Jesus Christ told us that why do you look and speak of 116 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,520 sawdust in your brother's eyes and pay no attention to the 117 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:57,640 plank in your own eyes? That means for us, for Paul to 118 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,000 actually talk to the set of people, he has checked himself 119 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,520 first. The same thing is also 120 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,280 applicable to all of us here before we blame anyone before we 121 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:10,880 talk about anything in our relationship in our marriages 122 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,600 that oh, this guy's not doing what I want him to do and I'll 123 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:19,240 stop that you check yourself first that am I also doing what 124 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:24,160 is expected of me. So it goes hand in hand like 125 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:25,480 that. And that is what probably is 126 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:30,920 trying to establish in this first two chapters here and he 127 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:37,720 said God's sorrows. But in in verse 4, when we move 128 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:42,920 further, he said in all our troubles, my joy no, no bounds. 129 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:48,040 And this is the first int of the theme that Paul is trying to 130 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:52,360 really bring down here. He harassed the trouble and 131 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,440 weary, yet joy is overflowing. Why? 132 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,360 Because he witnessed the transforming power of godly 133 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,440 repentance. And what God Paul is trying to 134 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,720 say is that, OK, I've said all these days, I have been writing 135 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,360 to you, I have been sending letters, I have done everything 136 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,960 so that you guys could be a sort of a better piece. 137 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:20,200 And sometimes even in ministry, we get tired sometimes because 138 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,880 you're trying to push some narrative, but it's not working. 139 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:29,720 And just like we read in the in that chapter, he was depressed, 140 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:35,440 he was tired, he was discouraged and sometimes was like, is it 141 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,200 like the word I've been saying to this set of people, is this 142 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,760 have I been too harsh? But I still have to say the 143 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,600 truth. It's my truth. 144 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,840 Has it been too harsh? So it was thinking about all 145 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,760 those things. And when we bring it back to 146 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,320 even for for for us that we're friends at times when we're 147 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,680 trying to correct our kids, you think, am I being too harsh? 148 00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:00,560 Now that's reflection. That thought always come into 149 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,040 place, but we're trying to do it to get the best out of them. 150 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,440 And that is the essence of that. It's not as if we hate them or 151 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,120 it's not as if we want them to just do something extraordinary. 152 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,720 But our continuous, I mean being there, encouraging them, 153 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,360 supporting them and showing them the right we will eventually 154 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,080 help them to actually do that. And that's what Paul is trying 155 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:29,040 to was trying to establish here that guys godly sorrows leads to 156 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:34,920 a change without regret is trying to establish that because 157 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:46,040 worldly sorrows that is in you. We always tell you that I'm 158 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,880 sorry. We are just saying that I'm 159 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:55,440 sorry because you were you got caught, you know, and look at it 160 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:01,400 in a, in a, in a, in a world today that when you admit your 161 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,480 weakness, people see it from the place of vulnerability. 162 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,160 I'm just like, oh, you're weak, you're not smart. 163 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:08,600 That was the reason you are get caught. 164 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:20,880 But that is underworldly sorrow. Godly sorrow said I sin, I turn 165 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:26,760 back to God. Yes, I've done that, but now I'm 166 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:32,680 changing my direction. That is godly saying that be 167 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:39,280 God, God, godly sorrow. Sorry. 168 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,360 So what what Paul is trying to establish here for us is that 169 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:52,400 are we making a room in our heart for the truth tellers or 170 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,120 have we become defensive when we are faced with the truth or when 171 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:57,280 we are challenged with the truth? 172 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:04,640 Are we building a wall against any sort of correction that 173 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,520 comes our ways? And mind you, the first step 174 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,280 towards any repentance is creating a space in our hearts. 175 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,120 And when we create a space in our heart, then the Holy Spirit 176 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,200 will begin to work in US. It is not just for our own 177 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,840 doing, but it is help of God and also be the help of Holy Spirit 178 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:31,440 that God can truly transform himself in our lives. 179 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:42,600 The next acronym which stands for for for under the truth and 180 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:49,760 we have community. Now when we look at this old 181 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:55,280 chapter, that is the place there where Timothy was actually sent. 182 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:03,520 And what is the job of Timothy? Timothy brought comfort when we 183 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:15,650 look at it, said Paul paints an honest picture, said For when we 184 00:14:15,650 --> 00:14:20,690 came into Macedonia we had no rest but were harassed by every 185 00:14:20,690 --> 00:14:23,290 tonne conflict on the outside, fears within. 186 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,640 But God, who conforced the countdown cars, comforted us by 187 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,880 the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by 188 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,720 the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing 189 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:41,240 for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that 190 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:47,880 my job was greater than ever. Now Paul was down, he was 191 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:55,360 devastated, he was depressed, but then comes Titus, who 192 00:14:55,360 --> 00:15:00,200 brought the good news and what was the goodness that the church 193 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:05,720 in Corinth, they were repenting. That means the harsh words that 194 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:11,440 were spoken before is now having a sort of impact in their lives 195 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:16,400 and that gave Paul a sort of joy, said Paul. 196 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,360 Paint an honest picture. Conflicts on the inside, 197 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,440 conflict on the outside. Sometime ministry is very hard, 198 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,800 and even Apostle Paul really said that. 199 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:34,760 But God sent titles. God confers the downcast not 200 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,760 only through his Word and Spirit, but through his people. 201 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,640 And titles brought that news. And that transformed Paul's 202 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:49,040 sorrow into joy. And the Corinthians had 203 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,360 repented. Is that not awesome? 204 00:15:53,600 --> 00:16:00,840 And if we consider what Timothy did and bring it into our 205 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:06,200 activities as a church and as a community, the Bible says iron 206 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:12,000 sharp on it, iron sometimes some of us could be down, some of us 207 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,440 could be going through one thing or the other. 208 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,560 Some of us could be struggling with seeing and some of us could 209 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:22,280 be struggling with life challenges, but as a community, 210 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:26,280 we are here to support one another. 211 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:31,080 And when we are struggling, when we sharpen ourselves, when we 212 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,400 encourage ourselves, when we talk to ourselves, when we pray 213 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,360 for one another, we can be lifted House of that depression 214 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:44,120 through the world of encouragement and through our 215 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,880 love for one another. And that's why the proof of 216 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:54,440 proverb chapter 27, verse 7 says, as iron sharpenets iron, 217 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,240 so one person shall sharpen another. 218 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:05,720 As iron sharpenets iron, so shall we, so so shall one person 219 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,960 shampoo another. I want to ask you chart this 220 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,560 morning, have you been entitled to someone? 221 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:21,040 Have you been supporting anyone? Have you been there for anyone? 222 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,520 Have you be an encourager? Have you been supporting? 223 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,119 Have you been praying for one another? 224 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:34,520 In Christian life, you know we are not meant just to live in 225 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,800 isolation. We need brothers. 226 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:47,800 We need sisters who speak truth to us and rejoice when we move 227 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:55,280 back to God, a German writer said. 228 00:17:55,360 --> 00:18:00,080 I translated this from German. He said the false service one 229 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:05,600 owes to order is the fellowship in the fellowship consists in 230 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,000 the listening to them. Many people are looking for and 231 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:18,880 here that will listen and even in in the job such these days 232 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,040 and everything, one of the thing that is very important is for 233 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,600 the ability to be able to listen. 234 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,960 It is very important that we listen to one another. 235 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,400 It's very important that we understand one another. 236 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:40,960 It is very important that we are sensitive to hear what people 237 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,880 love to say Maybelline that people are actually pouring 238 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:48,720 their heart and sometimes when the problem is shared is 50% 239 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,600 solved. So brethren church, I just 240 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:57,880 encourage us this morning to be more or of listeners then we 241 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,520 could actually understand what is actually going on in the life 242 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:06,080 of our brothers and sisters. And that was one of the things 243 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:12,000 that Timothy did. You know, that's when Paul was 244 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:16,400 depressed. When Paul was worried, God 245 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:22,440 comforted him by what? By the coming of titles and 246 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:30,200 titles brought the good news. Sometimes God will not use 247 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,600 angels. God will not use spirit. 248 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,480 God will use individual, God will not use stone. 249 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,240 But it now depends on how we're able to make ourselves available 250 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:47,040 for that use and to also support one another. 251 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:53,480 And sometimes do you know that you are the titles that God is 252 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:58,520 sending to someone. You are the titles that God is 253 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,640 sending to someone. When I was going through this, 254 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,720 something just came to my mind because while we're growing up. 255 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,680 You know, under the very sunny stuff and we are moving there is 256 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:17,880 a fish they call Titus. You know then, and when you take 257 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,960 that fish called Titus fish with something with cassava flakes 258 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,680 called Gary, it's comforts you. I know some people will 259 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,920 understand that. So I was just like, oh, probably 260 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:37,160 that name was the was innovative or brought forth because titles 261 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,080 is a comforter. Then this titles fished you is 262 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,960 the sort of a comforter because it's council star anyway, so 263 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:50,280 that's just right away. So George, who are your tituses? 264 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:56,200 Who are the believers in your life trusted enough to speak 265 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,920 correction? And are you being a titles to 266 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,120 someone? Are you an encourager? 267 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,560 Are you a comforter? I'm asking you that question 268 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,280 this morning. Let's make a reflection about 269 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:21,560 that in the next verse. That is from verse 8 to 10 I'm 270 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,160 going to read. If you are with your Bible, 271 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:30,000 please just read from verse 8 to 10 where just. 272 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:38,320 Go a bit full. So from verse 8 to them, even if 273 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:42,000 I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, 274 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,600 though I regret it. I see that my letter hurts you, 275 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:52,040 but only for a little while. This point is very important 276 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:59,640 because Paul draws A crucial distinction here between two 277 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:07,920 kinds of sorrow. So he said there is a sort of 278 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:12,480 godly sorrow and there is a sort of worldly sorrow. 279 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:14,960 So we're going to go through that now. 280 00:22:23,130 --> 00:22:27,890 The sorrow that leads to life, godly sorrow leads to 281 00:22:27,890 --> 00:22:32,050 repentance. Worldly sorrow brings death. 282 00:22:34,410 --> 00:22:38,640 Godly repentance leads to salvation. 283 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:44,200 Worldly repentance focuses on consequences, not the sin 284 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,400 itself. Godly repentance leaves no 285 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,840 regrets. Worldly repentance leads to 286 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:58,720 despair on self justification. Finally, godly repentance brings 287 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:03,160 life. Worldly repentance results in no 288 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,920 real change and we're going to be looking at the Bible to see 289 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:11,880 series of examples in the Bible of who, where and how. 290 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:17,760 Such as really first of all, remember the story of David. 291 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:26,800 When David sing he was the king, he has the power, but at that 292 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,840 point he did not capitalise on the fact that after all I am the 293 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:36,720 king, but he ran to the king of king and said against you only 294 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,520 have I seen and done what is evil in your sight. 295 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,440 So you are right in your valid and justified when you judge. 296 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,160 He cried to God. He knew that he has seen, he 297 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,120 knew that he has not done the will of God. 298 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:56,360 But one thing that he did is that Father, I have seen to you 299 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:01,840 say, create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew the steadfast 300 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,440 spirit within me when we go for that and ever I said, cast me 301 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,880 not away from your presence, O Lord, and do not take your Holy 302 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:13,920 Spirit from me. The restore unto me the joy, 303 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:19,400 that joy of my salvation, the joy that I've lost, but because 304 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,360 I've seen and I'd lose it if I'm not genuine enough. 305 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,760 But please, I have come with my humble, very humble heart. 306 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:34,360 I want that joy to be restored. And that was what happened and 307 00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:42,440 God did what God forgive him. And God say David is the man 308 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:49,200 after my own heart. So sometimes when we are out of 309 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,080 track with God, that's not the end. 310 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:58,120 Our God is such a loving, faithful, wonderful Father that 311 00:24:58,120 --> 00:25:04,360 does not want anyone to perish. You want us to be under His 312 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:07,160 presence. You want us to enjoy what is God 313 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:12,000 to offer us. But if we truly and genuinely 314 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:24,000 repent and turn back, 360 then God can bring us back into His 315 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,840 fold. Another example in the Bible is 316 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:33,960 the story of Peter. Peter was told you are going to 317 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,280 deny Jesus Christ three times before they cook round said me 318 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:40,080 no, at that level I would no, it's not possible. 319 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:45,320 Well, eventually what happened He did it the first time, he did 320 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,680 it the second time and he did it the third time three times under 321 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,840 6 hours. But you know the good thing that 322 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:56,320 happened He realised that oh I have messed up. 323 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,720 He cried, he wet and he went back to God. 324 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:08,640 That how I'm sorry I have seen I have forsaken you. 325 00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:14,960 He did that from the genuineness of his heart. 326 00:26:15,360 --> 00:26:18,560 He's not doing it just because of any heights or anything. 327 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:24,760 And that is what the joy of repentance is all about. 328 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:37,080 Paul initially regretted causing them pain, but when he saw the 329 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:41,320 fruits, your sorrow LED you to repentance. 330 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:46,080 That was the letter of Paul too. So it was initially gripped. 331 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,560 But because he saw that repentance, he gladdens. 332 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:55,360 It's so this is the difference. Wally, sorry says I am sorry I 333 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:58,520 got caught. I am sorry for the consequences. 334 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:05,400 Godly sorrow says I have sinned against God and I must change. 335 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:14,840 Not that Father I have sinned. Forgive me the next week I'm 336 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:20,480 weak again, I'm sin again. You know that's should not be. 337 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,440 But once we have repented for our sin, once we have confessed 338 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,560 our say, the next thing for us is to take a 360 tonne and 339 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:37,040 change from that way unto God. So Peter's tears were godly 340 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:41,960 sorrow and they led to complete restoration and a lifetime of 341 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,120 faithful service. And remember the Bible also said 342 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,440 my church shall be built upon you. 343 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:52,560 So despite the fact that he messed up, God still used him 344 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:57,600 for his glory and a lot of evangelical work was still done 345 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:03,080 through Peter. In in contrast to all these, we 346 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:10,640 consider another story. Judas Carrots, the Bible says in 347 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,040 the book of Matthew, said when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw 348 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:18,840 that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse. 349 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,240 That is one thing. That's a common thing. 350 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,520 So he threw the money into the temple and left. 351 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,680 That is the gift that comes with it. 352 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:35,960 Now he didn't follow the step. Then he said he went away and 353 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,960 and himself. You can see the difference 354 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:50,360 between David, Peter and Judas. He repentance on the one hand 355 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,560 leads to life, the other one leads to life and more 356 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:59,040 evangelical work and the other one leads to there. 357 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:08,480 So church this morning. I'm just encouraging us that we 358 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:13,880 should truly change. Not just saying I've seen I'm 359 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:21,880 sorry. Repentance is not just feeling 360 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:26,520 bad. It is not just about tears. 361 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,440 No it is not about the embarrassment that comes from 362 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:36,040 the scene. But repentance is about owning 363 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:40,240 it. Yes, I've done this with no 364 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:48,160 excuses, with no blaming, accepting it and then making it 365 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:53,720 total U-turn from such sin. That is where true repentance 366 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,520 can come and that is the joy that also comes with it. 367 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:05,080 Charge this morning when your spirit convince you of sin, how 368 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:10,040 do you respond to it? Do you minimise it? 369 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:16,200 Do you blame someone else? Do you just have a sort of self 370 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:22,840 pity or do you genuinely change and turn to God? 371 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:31,440 I'm leaving you without questions today in verse 11 of 372 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:36,440 our book said, see what this godly sorrow has produced in 373 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:42,240 you? What earnestness, what eagerness 374 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,440 to clear yourself, what indignation, what alarm, what 375 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:50,280 longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done? 376 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:55,160 At every point you have proved yourself to be innocent in this 377 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,920 matter. Genuine painters produces this 378 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:03,320 feasible fruit, and Paul lists some of these evidence in 379 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,280 Chapter 11 of Second Corinthians. 380 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:15,360 And that was why he said in the eagerness they took it. 381 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:20,120 They took if if you want to really have a sort of 382 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:24,520 understanding of they said the you have to take it seriously. 383 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,480 Any form of sin must not be taken just for granted. 384 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:30,920 They wanted everything right with God. 385 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:37,720 They were angry at the same, but not just the correction. 386 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:45,200 They understood the gravity of their offence with God and they 387 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,120 desire to restore relationship with God. 388 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:54,880 They cared about spiritual matters and they were willing to 389 00:31:54,880 --> 00:32:01,560 take action and making amends. Those are the fruits that comes 390 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:07,240 with repentance. Repentance is visible. 391 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:16,160 Repentance is measurable. Repentance is actionable and 392 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,400 that is the reason the Bible says in the book of Matthew 393 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:24,360 chapter 3 verse say that bring forth food worthy of repentance. 394 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,560 And what are those fruits? These are the fruits that comes 395 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:32,520 with it. That means we have to take sins 396 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:37,520 seriously. We want things to be right with 397 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,360 God and all these things. We are not just saying anybody 398 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,640 must be evident in our life. They must be practical. 399 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,960 People must see that yes, truly this person has done his way 400 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:51,920 from this other way and move into the way of the Lord and 401 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:56,840 that is what it is. So George, I ask you this 402 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,240 morning again, where do you need AU turn in your personal life? 403 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:08,680 Is it unforgiveness? Is it bitterness? 404 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:14,280 Is it sexual sin? Is it pride? 405 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:21,600 Is it lying? Is it eating habits? 406 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:28,000 Is it addiction? From this book called As I 407 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:32,600 encouraging us this morning that we should not just feel bad 408 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:39,600 about this but take a practical step to really acknowledge it 409 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:46,600 and turn back from such thing. And that is when those fruits 410 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:51,160 can be evident in our life. Now when things change, people 411 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,360 could actually see that oh this is what it is. 412 00:33:54,760 --> 00:34:01,560 This is what I it used to be, but now this is what it is in 413 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:08,760 marriages, a situation whereby a couple, they've been having 414 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,280 issues. And what was the issue? 415 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:18,560 The issue was all about unforgiveness, you know, so the, 416 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:25,239 the, the woman felt so sad. And what were the offences? 417 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:30,239 Oh, my husband cheated. My husband lied. 418 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:34,199 My husband did not remember our anniversary. 419 00:34:34,199 --> 00:34:38,920 They said, oh, so many things come up like that and it's she 420 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:44,239 was carrying it all along and very, very sad. 421 00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:49,320 Now these are some of the fruits that comes with this 422 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:55,040 unforgiveness because she's angry, she's very bitter, she's 423 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:59,720 depressed, she's so friendly, she can't even enjoy herself 424 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:02,720 because of this unforgiveness in her. 425 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:08,480 And the fruits were there. And one thing about fruit is 426 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,280 this. When you have a fruits, maybe 427 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:15,440 you have mango or something and you are carried with you and you 428 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:19,400 don't preserve it, you didn't take care of it, you don't 429 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,640 address it or you don't do anything to eat. 430 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:27,720 It's rottens. When it rottens, it smells. 431 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,040 When it smells, it follows you around. 432 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:38,840 So I'm just using this example to actually refresh in any way 433 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,040 in our lives that maybe one thing on the other that we're 434 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:44,720 doing that we truly need to take AU turn. 435 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,560 We need to take that U-turn because if you don't take that 436 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,760 U-turn, it affects us as it makes our lives things. 437 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:56,560 The best thing is just for us to take AU turn, and that is the 438 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:59,200 fruits that the Bible is talking about here. 439 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:02,040 And when. So look at your life this 440 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:04,320 morning. When you have conferred sins. 441 00:36:06,240 --> 00:36:09,280 Has there been a genuine change? Or do you find yourself in the 442 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:13,320 same pattern, offering the same apologies, making the same 443 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:18,120 promises? Repentance without change is 444 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:22,680 just remorse. Repentance without change is 445 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,800 just being removed. You are just removed about it. 446 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,320 Or probably if I continue doing every one day, I'll just be get 447 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:31,360 caught and I don't want to face the consequences. 448 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:34,920 No, that's not it. But we just have to turn three 449 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:45,600 sister degrees and move away from it in verse 12 of of this 450 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:50,200 chapter. So the food that proves the 451 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:53,880 change according to verse level is that bring forth fruits worry 452 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:57,080 of repentance which established in the book of Matthew chapter 3 453 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:02,680 verse 8. So what are these joy when we 454 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:10,640 read that's this chapter from verse 12 to 16 verse. 12 to 16. 455 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:23,560 I go forward again. So, oh so verse 12 to 16 says so 456 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:28,280 even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the 457 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:32,200 one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, 458 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:37,000 but rather the the before God. You could see for yourself how 459 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:41,120 devoted to us you are. By all these we are encouraged. 460 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:44,320 In addition to our encouragement, we were 461 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:48,120 especially delighted to see how appetitis was. 462 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:51,800 Because a spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 463 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:57,200 I had boasted to you to him about you, and you have not 464 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:00,640 embarrassed me. But just as everything we said 465 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:05,840 to you was true, so our boasting about you to titles as proves to 466 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:10,280 be true as well. And it's affection for you is 467 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:14,160 all the greater. It's the greater when he 468 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:17,960 remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with 469 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:21,960 fear and trembling. I am glad I have. 470 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:28,920 I can I can have complete confidence in you. 471 00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:31,960 So this was. Apostle Paul. 472 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,720 Writing to the church here that now. 473 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:41,120 In all this we can. See a summary of how he truly 474 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:46,680 feels about the impact of his letters about his impact of all 475 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:50,520 the letters he has been writing to the church. 476 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:55,720 That's actually it's actually reflecting. 477 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,320 And this is evident when we look at verse seven of our chapter 478 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,240 of, of, of the, of the book. We read it today. 479 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:06,600 It says my joy was greater than ever. 480 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:11,000 That means Paul was. Great. 481 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,400 I mean his joy was greater than ever. 482 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:17,440 Why? Because he has seen an evident 483 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:20,640 change in the life of the Church. 484 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:25,240 He has seen a sort of change which gladdens his heart in 485 00:39:25,240 --> 00:39:29,120 verse. Now you said now I am happy. 486 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:31,720 I am happy. Because. 487 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,480 Although I have been very, very frank with you, I've said so 488 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:40,480 many things, but now there is a sort of impact of what I've been 489 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:45,160 doing in verse 13. By all this we are all 490 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:52,400 encouraged, so in all this we can see that he's happy he has. 491 00:39:52,440 --> 00:40:08,580 Greater joy. He's happy he's. 492 00:40:08,580 --> 00:40:13,460 Encouraged. He's delighted and I'm glad I 493 00:40:13,460 --> 00:40:18,140 can have great confidence in you so when you. 494 00:40:18,140 --> 00:40:22,720 Look at this pattern. We can see that repentance leads 495 00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:27,760 to joy and it's not those joy, it leads to all round joy. 496 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:34,920 And this is not only for Paul. Paul was delighted, Titus was 497 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:39,520 delighted, and the Corinthians themselves, the Corinthians too, 498 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:44,320 they were all delighted. So when there is a godly 499 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:48,800 repentance, it leads to joy. When it leads to joy, it does 500 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:53,520 not only affect the preacher, it affects the messenger who was 501 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,640 titles and also the congregation. 502 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:00,080 Because everything is evident, everybody is happy. 503 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:05,440 So that is what brings so much of joy when we repent, when 504 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:12,520 results are being seen, when positive impact is evident is 505 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:17,920 bring so much joy. Because one of the thing 506 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:26,560 repentance also do is that it's restores relationship, the 507 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,000 barrier. Because when, when, when barrier 508 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:32,840 of sin is removed, when there is a sort of barrier that is 509 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:35,880 affecting a sort of connection between people, unforgiveness or 510 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,960 anything. If that is removed, then it 511 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:44,520 restores relationship, it proves devotion, you know, by their 512 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:50,600 response, it shows that their heart is actually right because 513 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:54,920 they have read, I mean, they have been talked to, they have 514 00:41:54,920 --> 00:41:57,800 been reading all the letter that has been sent by George, They 515 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:00,840 were being encouraged, all this. And that has a sort of a 516 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:05,080 positive impact in their life and that also shows in their 517 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:09,880 hearts and also in their attitude, title, spirit. 518 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:12,400 Was renewed. By their obedience, you know, 519 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,960 titles that brought the news. He saw you that oh, truly 520 00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:18,160 there's a sort of change in the lives of these people. 521 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:20,840 And he brought the good news back to Paul. 522 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:23,440 And Paul was really delighted about that. 523 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:27,560 Yes, this is happening and it brings so much joy to Paul. 524 00:42:28,240 --> 00:42:32,800 And also this led to a sort of confidence building. 525 00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:39,960 Paul could trust them again. This is also very. 526 00:42:39,960 --> 00:42:42,080 Evident. In our daily relationship with 527 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:47,080 one and other, especially when probably a wife is complaining 528 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:49,200 or someone is complaining, I don't want this, I don't want 529 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:51,240 that. And the guy said don't worry, I 530 00:42:51,240 --> 00:42:53,640 won't do it again. But the pains keep on repeating, 531 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:56,400 repeating itself. It's not going to bring any joy. 532 00:42:57,320 --> 00:43:00,400 It's just going to like you're not listening to me, you're not 533 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:02,560 listening to me. And that brings a lot of 534 00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:05,360 sadness. But when this is sort of OK, 535 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:10,080 I've said it, I am listening to you, I am taking practical steps 536 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:14,280 to change and you are truly change and that change is 537 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:22,880 evidence, then it brings so much of joy, it brings so much of 538 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:27,000 restoration. It's restores relationship. 539 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:34,880 And when that is present, the trust is restored. 540 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:39,280 So I want this to also. I mean I want. 541 00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:41,200 To just think practically in this area. 542 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:44,720 Also, is that something someone has been telling you complaining 543 00:43:44,720 --> 00:43:48,480 about first? Of all, look into your own. 544 00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:53,160 Eyes before you complain, then if there is a sort of things 545 00:43:53,160 --> 00:43:56,880 that we need to change, let's look seriously into it because 546 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:58,880 it's going to restore that trust. 547 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:04,080 It's going to restore that relationship if we can turn back 548 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,080 and truly make genuine repentance about it. 549 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:19,440 And Jesus spoke. Of His joy, I tell you that in 550 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:23,560 the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over 1 551 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:30,720 Sinner who repent than over 99 righteous person who do not need 552 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:34,240 to repent. You can see the joy that comes 553 00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:37,200 with repentance. Jesus Christ said that evidently 554 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:41,160 in the book of Luke chapter 15 verse 7 and in verse 10 of the 555 00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:43,720 same child, I said there is rejoicing the presence of the 556 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:50,720 angels of God over 1 Sinner who does what, who repents. 557 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:55,360 There is so much joy, there is so much happiness, there is so 558 00:44:55,360 --> 00:45:01,560 much celebration when somebody turn over to the Lord's side. 559 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,200 And we're going to look at the Bible also for one practical 560 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:10,080 very example of the prodigal son. 561 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:12,800 You know this. Guy he. 562 00:45:13,120 --> 00:45:19,800 Left is gone away, enjoying himself doing. 563 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:23,160 All sort of things. But at some point he realised 564 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:29,120 that I'm a I'm a son of a of a great father. 565 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:33,520 My father could actually provide everything and I am struggling 566 00:45:33,520 --> 00:45:36,440 here. Then something happened. 567 00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:39,320 He stood up. And he took a. 568 00:45:39,320 --> 00:45:42,400 Decision. And that decision made a 569 00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:45,240 difference. He went back to his father. 570 00:45:45,520 --> 00:45:48,720 He said, father, I've seen to you the same thing for all of us 571 00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:51,560 or anybody here. I have seen to you I'm not 572 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:56,320 worthy to be called your child. Could you please make me one of 573 00:45:56,320 --> 00:46:00,360 your servants? But God said no, you are my son, 574 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:03,760 and whoever be my son, I'm not going. 575 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:06,480 To relegate you, I'm not going. To degrade you because you have 576 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:12,520 seen and what happened. The father celebrated him. 577 00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:21,360 The father threw a party for him because his lost son is coming 578 00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:24,480 back home. He realised his mistake. 579 00:46:25,040 --> 00:46:28,960 He took his step. Then he turned away. 580 00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:32,320 From his previous way and he was restored. 581 00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:35,240 So the prodigal. Son's father didn't. 582 00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:38,000 Scold him or did you read his scolding? 583 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:40,720 No, he did not scold him when he returned. 584 00:46:41,080 --> 00:46:44,560 Rather he threw a party. And that is the joy of 585 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:48,160 repentance. That is the joy that comes with 586 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:52,040 repentance that I've lost this song, but now I've gotten back 587 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:54,200 the same thing God is telling us today. 588 00:46:54,440 --> 00:47:01,720 For as many that have moved out of fellowship of how of 589 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:05,960 relationship with God, God is calling you back today. 590 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:08,240 It doesn't matter what you have done. 591 00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:11,600 He's such a loving father. He's such a kind father. 592 00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:14,080 He's a faithful father. He loves us. 593 00:47:14,160 --> 00:47:18,120 He want the best for us and He's not going to condemn us for what 594 00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:23,080 we have done, but when we decide and turn our way back to Him, 595 00:47:23,640 --> 00:47:26,160 He's going to rejoice because you are going to be so much of 596 00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:35,080 rejoicing in heaven. I want to read from 1:00. 597 00:47:35,080 --> 00:47:41,920 Of Charles Spurgeon, who said repentance is in the tear in the 598 00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:47,040 eyes of faith. It may begin with sorrow, but 599 00:47:47,040 --> 00:47:51,360 eventually it ends with celebration. 600 00:47:52,640 --> 00:47:54,520 So. What are the confidence that we. 601 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:59,080 Have Paul final note is one of complete confidence. 602 00:48:00,640 --> 00:48:05,520 The Corinthians repentance prove their character because they 603 00:48:05,520 --> 00:48:11,280 received correction with fear, with fear and trembling, not 604 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:19,200 fear of punishment, but they reverend God and they went. 605 00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:22,680 Back to God. So this is the nature of 606 00:48:22,680 --> 00:48:24,320 Christian responses to correction. 607 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:31,360 Proverbs tells us that whoever it's living, whoever eats life 608 00:48:31,360 --> 00:48:34,840 giving correction will be at home among the wise. 609 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:40,960 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one 610 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:44,320 who eats correction gains understanding. 611 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,360 How many of us want to gain understanding today? 612 00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:52,640 I want to gain understanding, I want to gain knowledge, and I 613 00:48:52,640 --> 00:48:56,920 want to move back into the presence of God because in the 614 00:48:56,920 --> 00:49:01,640 presence of God that is always fullness of that joy. 615 00:49:03,040 --> 00:49:08,520 So Church today do you receive? Correction with fear. 616 00:49:08,680 --> 00:49:13,600 And trembling or an immunity and willingness to change? 617 00:49:14,480 --> 00:49:18,320 Or do you just defend and resist? 618 00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:21,040 I'm asking you that. Question today. 619 00:49:21,320 --> 00:49:25,120 Your response revealed the condition of your heart, so I 620 00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:26,920 just want us. To make a reflection on that. 621 00:49:26,920 --> 00:49:29,360 When we receive correction, how do we handle it? 622 00:49:29,800 --> 00:49:33,520 How do we receive it? Do we receive it just that oh 623 00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:35,680 this person is just condemning my action? 624 00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:37,600 Probably this person does not love me. 625 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:43,160 Or are we taking it out of a feedback that we might need to 626 00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:47,560 actually work on and make a U-turn or make necessary changes 627 00:49:47,560 --> 00:49:51,640 to make us a better person? Or we're just like, no, he's 628 00:49:51,640 --> 00:49:53,800 just always against me. I don't. 629 00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:57,720 He doesn't like my face and that is why he's talking like that. 630 00:49:57,840 --> 00:50:01,400 How do we receive such feedbacks? 631 00:50:02,440 --> 00:50:06,400 The way we receive such feedbacks determine what we've 632 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:10,040 got in our hearts. Because sometimes instead of us 633 00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:13,040 to take something as feedback, we fight against it. 634 00:50:13,280 --> 00:50:16,240 Then we are not going to get the message and we are just going to 635 00:50:16,320 --> 00:50:21,320 continue wallowing our sins. So I just want us to really 636 00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:28,720 reflect on this as as as a church brothers and sisters, we 637 00:50:28,720 --> 00:50:32,920 live in a culture today that celebrates self justification 638 00:50:33,680 --> 00:50:36,360 and cancels anyone who admit fault. 639 00:50:36,720 --> 00:50:39,640 Sometimes when you admit fault, people will think that truly are 640 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:45,760 you are weak, you are not intelligent, you didn't show 641 00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:48,800 them the law, you are not calculative enough, you are not 642 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:52,920 innovative enough. And that's what the word calls 643 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:55,880 it today. But the Kingdom of God or praise 644 00:50:55,880 --> 00:50:59,600 on an entirely different principle. 645 00:51:00,440 --> 00:51:04,840 Jesus said blessed are those who mourn for thee will be 646 00:51:04,840 --> 00:51:12,000 comforted, and our comfort is. In that true. 647 00:51:12,200 --> 00:51:17,720 And genuine repentance that comes when we truly move away 648 00:51:18,240 --> 00:51:27,320 from our old ways and turn into the way of the Lord this 649 00:51:27,320 --> 00:51:34,120 morning. It speaks of a sort of sorrow 650 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:39,440 over sin. And a promise is comforts and 651 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:42,680 not condemnation. So. 652 00:51:42,960 --> 00:51:46,680 I want to leave us with a. Question this morning, is there 653 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:49,280 any unconference sins in our lives? 654 00:51:50,920 --> 00:51:52,760 Is there anything that the Holy Spirit has? 655 00:51:52,760 --> 00:51:56,080 Been whispering about to you in your heart and you have been 656 00:51:56,080 --> 00:51:59,960 ignoring it or justifying it that no, it's not actually like 657 00:51:59,960 --> 00:52:06,960 that. Church, today is the day for 658 00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:11,280 godly sorrow. Today is the days that we could. 659 00:52:11,320 --> 00:52:14,480 Actually make a sort of reflection in our. 660 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:17,760 Hearts to. See how we could actually move 661 00:52:18,560 --> 00:52:22,280 away from some of the things God has been talking to us about in 662 00:52:22,280 --> 00:52:25,000 our secret place. We have been reading it and it 663 00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:27,840 struck our heart. But we just try to like ignore 664 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:29,240 you that it doesn't really matter. 665 00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:33,360 And sometimes when we have it doesn't matter here, here, here, 666 00:52:33,360 --> 00:52:35,680 here and here. It becomes a very complex 667 00:52:35,680 --> 00:52:38,600 situation. I just want us to reflect all 668 00:52:38,600 --> 00:52:42,640 about that 2 Are you experiencing worldly sorrow or 669 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:47,040 godly sorrow in. Your heart this morning are you. 670 00:52:47,040 --> 00:52:51,560 Experiencing A godly sorrow or a worldly sorrow? 671 00:52:51,560 --> 00:52:56,480 Are you just sorry you got caught or are you genuinely 672 00:52:56,480 --> 00:53:00,400 grieved that you have offended the Holy Spirit? 673 00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:06,600 God loves you. How many of us know that God 674 00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:11,520 really loves us? And you will never let. 675 00:53:11,520 --> 00:53:18,120 Us down, you will never lead us. He is always interested in US 676 00:53:19,080 --> 00:53:22,600 being in his presence and also enjoying everything that he's 677 00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:27,080 got to offer. Thirdly. 678 00:53:28,800 --> 00:53:34,960 A few been resisting correction. Is there a titles in your life? 679 00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:44,880 Have you got a faithful friend, his pastor, his spouse whose 680 00:53:44,880 --> 00:53:49,680 word you have been rejecting because they are very hard to 681 00:53:49,680 --> 00:53:54,760 hear? You know, sometimes some people 682 00:53:54,760 --> 00:53:57,960 are actually in our life to make us a better person. 683 00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:04,080 But when they speak, we look at it that we're always coming from 684 00:54:04,320 --> 00:54:07,520 a place of no, I don't want. But deep inside of us we know 685 00:54:07,520 --> 00:54:09,040 that they're actually saying the truth. 686 00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:12,040 But because. We have a sort of. 687 00:54:12,080 --> 00:54:15,320 Block cage in our hearts, we try to resist them. 688 00:54:15,640 --> 00:54:18,840 Sometimes it could be our pastor, sometimes it could be 689 00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:23,040 our neighbours, sometimes it could be our friends. 690 00:54:24,760 --> 00:54:28,000 And most times, they're our spouse. 691 00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:35,040 But we just ignore. That just because we are not 692 00:54:35,040 --> 00:54:42,120 ready to hear that hard truth. I just want us to reflect on 693 00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:49,280 this this morning. So God is inviting us this 694 00:54:49,280 --> 00:54:55,280 morning and he said if we. Confess our. 695 00:54:55,280 --> 00:55:01,360 Sins. He's faithful and just and is 696 00:55:01,360 --> 00:55:06,200 ready to forgive us of all of our sins and purify us from all 697 00:55:06,440 --> 00:55:09,640 unrighteousness. That is according to the book of 698 00:55:09,640 --> 00:55:12,960 First John, chapter One First night. 699 00:55:15,320 --> 00:55:18,160 So, brethren, if you are. Carrying the weight of 700 00:55:18,160 --> 00:55:23,600 unconfessed sin, today I want to invite you to experience the joy 701 00:55:23,640 --> 00:55:32,400 of repentance, because in that joy of repentance, that is what 702 00:55:32,520 --> 00:55:36,640 could make us to have a sort of everlasting relationship with 703 00:55:36,640 --> 00:55:40,000 our God. It give us a right standing with 704 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:43,880 Him. It's not about feeling guilty. 705 00:55:45,160 --> 00:55:53,600 That is of worldly sorrow, but deliberating sorrow that leads 706 00:55:53,840 --> 00:55:58,920 to life. Finally, the. 707 00:55:58,920 --> 00:56:04,400 Moment you genuinely repent, heaven erupts in celebration. 708 00:56:04,720 --> 00:56:11,720 Do we know that angels rejoice, brothers and sisters rejoice, 709 00:56:13,560 --> 00:56:17,800 and some other people that are not yet giving their love to 710 00:56:17,800 --> 00:56:21,440 Christ? They are encouraged, that's how. 711 00:56:21,440 --> 00:56:26,160 That network was. And then we discover the 712 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:32,560 surprising supernatural joy that comes from being right with God. 713 00:56:35,160 --> 00:56:36,960 Who wants to be right with God this morning? 714 00:56:38,360 --> 00:56:41,720 I just want us to bow out our hearts and just talk to God this 715 00:56:41,720 --> 00:56:46,280 morning. Is that an area in our lives? 716 00:56:46,280 --> 00:56:51,080 That we truly need to change our ways. 717 00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:55,520 Is there any area of our lives that probably the Holy Spirit 718 00:56:55,520 --> 00:56:58,840 has been ministering to us and talking to us about, but we have 719 00:56:58,840 --> 00:57:02,400 just been ignoring it? Is there any area in our life 720 00:57:02,720 --> 00:57:07,080 that our spouses, they've been talking out to us about it, but 721 00:57:07,080 --> 00:57:12,400 we think that no, this is just coming from a place of 722 00:57:12,400 --> 00:57:15,400 ingenuity. Is there? 723 00:57:15,400 --> 00:57:21,440 Any sort of pride in our hearts. That is not allowing us to see 724 00:57:22,600 --> 00:57:26,920 that faint that truly requires our attention. 725 00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:34,600 Let's talk to God this morning and commit and invite God into 726 00:57:34,600 --> 00:57:37,440 such situation. Is there? 727 00:57:37,440 --> 00:57:39,040 Anywhere in our life that we need. 728 00:57:39,040 --> 00:57:45,560 To truly take a 360 turn around to change totally from not just 729 00:57:45,560 --> 00:57:49,880 pacifying or managing on the just talking about it or just 730 00:57:49,880 --> 00:57:52,560 being remorse about it and not taking steps. 731 00:57:54,880 --> 00:57:59,760 Our God is ever here to. Support us to hear us, to give 732 00:57:59,760 --> 00:58:03,120 us a new chance and to celebrate. 733 00:58:03,120 --> 00:58:08,160 With us. Where we truly turn our ways and 734 00:58:08,160 --> 00:58:12,280 move towards Him. He's a faithful father. 735 00:58:13,160 --> 00:58:16,800 He's loving. It's so kind, it's so wonderful. 736 00:58:17,200 --> 00:58:19,360 He's the God that wants the best of us. 737 00:58:19,600 --> 00:58:22,960 He's the God that wants us to ever rejoice in him. 738 00:58:26,920 --> 00:58:32,320 Thank you gracious God, in Jesus name we have prayed. 739 00:58:33,720 --> 00:58:35,520 Father, we thank. You Lord, for this moment. 740 00:58:35,720 --> 00:58:40,920 Lord, we pray for as many of us here that truly needs to take a 741 00:58:40,920 --> 00:58:46,280 step so that we can enjoy that godly. 742 00:58:46,280 --> 00:58:50,640 Repentance. That joy that comes, that 743 00:58:50,640 --> 00:58:52,160 celebration. That comes when your. 744 00:58:52,160 --> 00:58:56,720 Hearts is being changed. Lord I. 745 00:58:56,720 --> 00:59:01,120 Pray for us as as. A church that will help one 746 00:59:01,120 --> 00:59:03,960 another. We live in a community that 747 00:59:03,960 --> 00:59:07,880 truly sharpens one another, that help one another, that supports 748 00:59:07,880 --> 00:59:13,640 one another, that help us to fulfil God's purpose in our 749 00:59:13,640 --> 00:59:17,320 lives. Help us, Lord. 750 00:59:18,360 --> 00:59:20,080 Every unconfessed. Sin every sin. 751 00:59:20,080 --> 00:59:24,240 Lord, we bring them to you. Lord, give us that grace to 752 00:59:24,240 --> 00:59:27,560 change from our ungodly. Way. 753 00:59:27,920 --> 00:59:34,360 Into a godly way, in Jesus name. Thank you gracious God, in Jesus 754 00:59:34,360 --> 00:59:35,840 name of prayer, Amen.