Breathingbook

Yesterday I wrote about Spiritual Warfare on our Minds, where the enemy tries to pervade your thoughts or reasoning with his own pervasive ideas to draw you away from the truth of God’s Word.

2 Cor 10:4,5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Going hand in hand with Spiritual Warfare on the Mind is the subject of repentance, for if we allow ourselves to agree with the thoughts the devil sends us contrary to God’s Word, we must repent and change the way we think about those things. If we do not, then the devil has us right where he wants us: separated from the truth of God.

Repentance aligns very closely with forgiveness. Though most Christians know they must forgive others or not be forgiven (Mat 6:14-15), not many understand repentance. This is puzzling, is it not? After all, repentance is foundational to the Christian life. For example,

John the Baptist first came preaching repentance,

Mat 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

The apostles preached repentance:

Mk 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Acts 5:31-32 Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

Jesus, Himself, preached repentance and said He had not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Lk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Repentance is actually changing the way we think about something around to align with how God thinks. It is what one is supposed to do before seeking forgiveness.

Though oddly misunderstood, repentance is not something we can do all by ourselves, but is actually something God has to give to us.

2 Tim 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The Gk. word for repentance is metanoia and means to reform ones thoughts. This word comes from the word metanoeo which means to think differently afterwards or reconsider something.

In other words, sometimes we must ask the Lord to grant us the gift of repentance. I’m talking about when we desire to repent and know we’re not really fully repenting about it. We may have tried, but there’s still non-repentance there. So, if one was struggling to fully repent about something, one might pray, “Lord, I really want to repent about this, but I sense there’s more to it than I can do on my own. Lord, I’ve tried. I really have, but I don’t have any idea how to take this out of my heart and be free of it. I know it’s not something I can do on my own. I only know it’s there and it’s got to go. Lord, would you please help me to repent fully?”

Likewise, it’s the same way with forgiveness. Sometimes we must pray, “Lord, I forgive them and I want to forgive them completely, but I just feel this thing in my heart. I know something’s not right. I’ve tried to figure it out, but something’s wrong. Lord, would you please help me to forgive them completely?”

Jesus is faithful. He will help us.

One thing that might help us discern true repentance is a scriptural example right out of God’s Word. In 2 Cor 7:9-11, somehow the Corinthians have sinned against Paul and He’s saying, you’ve done everything you possibly could to make this good again. We’re good (paraphrased). This example shows the differences of a worldly sorrow that is not true repentance at all, and a godly sorrow which evidences the presence of repentance.

2 Cor 7:9,10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

This scripture reveals:

Their sorrow led them to repentance.
They were sorry in a godly way.
This was not the sorrow exhibited by the world, which results in death.

Worldly sorrow is more like regretting something happened, but still having the sense one might actually commit the same sin again. This results in spiritual death, which shuts the Spirit down as it becomes increasingly defeated by the pervasive thoughts sent by the devil (2 Cor 10:4,5). Worldly sorrow is not truly repentant and ultimately brings thoughts of denial, hopelessness, shame, self-pity, guilt, depression, etc. Which is the bondage Jesus came to set us free of and exactly what the devil wants.

Of course, the opposite of worldly sorrow is godly sorrow which results in true repentance.

2 Cor 7:10,11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Godly sorrow – being sorry in a godly way – results in repentance. Here are some of the fruits of true repentance:

what carefulness The Gk word for carefulness is spoude, which means an earnest eagerness to bring forth full repentance.

what clearing of yourselves The Gk word for clear is apologia, meaning to make an apology or “plea” for forgiveness in order to clear things up.

what indignation The Gk word for indignation is aganaktesis, which means to be greatly displeased about what one has done.

what fear The Gk word for fear is phobos and means to fear the Lord for the sin we have committed. Always remember, though we are forgiven for our sins, there are still consequences.

what vehement desire The Gk word for vehement desire is epipothesis, and means an earnest longing for repentance.

what zeal The Gk word for zeal is zelos, and implies a heated need in the thoughts and emotions to get it right.

what revenge The Gk word for revenge is ekdikesis, and implies a desire to see that justice done on behalf of the victims.

Now, these are not requirements for true repentance, but they are guidelines of the fruits of true repentance that every believer should take heed when facing repentance. Let’s let the Lord decide what’s what in the hearts and minds of other believers. You and I, let’s examine ourselves as we go before the Lord.

Lastly, non-repentance like unforgiveness often results in bitterness springing up in our hearts and minds and it is through the stronghold of bitterness that many fall prey to the devil.

Heb 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

May the peace, love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ guide you always as you seek His will for your life, and may He always help you to understand His Word by His Grace and Holy Spirit.

Peace out!

Loris

Comments are closed.