Let's start with Watson's definition: Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.
1) Have to SEE it as sin. It is so easy to overlook the obvious. If I don't see my sin the way God does and with the seriousness that He does, I am deceiving myself. One must first recognize and consider what his sin is, before he can be duly humbled for it. In the prodigal's repentance 'he came to himself' (Luke 15:17) He saw himself a sinner and nothing but a sinner. Where there is no sight of sin, there can be no repentance.
Ephesians 5:8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the world. Walk as children of light.
2)Have SORROW for sin. The Hebrew word for sorrow translates better "to have the soul, as it were, crucified" My sorrow for my sin must be more for offending God and making Him turn away from me, than for the loss or hurt of offending others. (insert Steph. previous quote)
Psalm 38:18 I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.
A true Pentitent labors habitually to work their heart into a sorrowing frame. This sorrow is not superficial, it is a HOLY AGONY, scripturally called a broken heart...
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart
2 Corinthians 1:9 But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
What has been my process of repenting in the past? I confess it has been lacking the most important beginning of SEEING my sin. If I can't see it, then how can I repent? I am asking for God to open my eyes and reveal my sin to me, and then help me recognize it as sin! The blessing of this, is the MAGNIFICATION of God's GRACE in my life!
3 comments:
Love, love, love this stuff, Missy!!! Keep it coming!
So amazing that I have been on this journey over the last few months! It all started with reading Psalms 139: 23-24. I prayed this prayer and God, being faithful, answered! I have had to take a long look at things in myself that I realize God wants to change! Things I need to repent of and change.
Seeing Sin
Ezra 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given;
Ezra 9:1 . . . The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the land, according to their abominations, . . .
Ezra 9:3 And when I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and robe and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.
Ezra 9:5 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; and I said "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrased to lift up my face to Thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads, and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.
Ezra 9:13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since Thou our God has requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us an escaped remnant as this . .
Ezra 9:15 O Lord God of Israel, Thou art righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, and it is this day; behold, we are before Thee in our guilt, for no one can stand before Thee because of this.
Ezra 10:1 Now Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly
I know I sin, but am I appalled by it? Do I sit appalled an entire day? Do I really see my sin and its consequences? Do I weep for the sin of my country? Repentance calls for wet eyes, bent knees and a broken heart.
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