Sunday
28 May 2017 Open Heavens Devotional 2017:-any fruit of repentance?
Memorise: Bring forth therefore fruit
meet for repentance. Matthew 3:8
Read: Matthew 3:1-10 (King James
Version)
1 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.
3 For this is he that was spoken of
by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment
of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was
locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and
all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet
for repentance:
9 And think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able
of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto
the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Bible in one year: Acts 14-15,
Jeremiah 37, Hymn: Sing Hymn 6
MESSAGE:
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”
Joel 2:12
Fasting can be used to demonstrate
genuine repentance before God. Exemplifying the above scripture, Prophet Daniel
embarked on a fast to show repentance for his sins and the sins of the children
of Israel in
Daniel 9:3-20. All through the Old
Testament, when individuals or a group of people fell into sin and judgement
was imminent, they returned to God in fasting and mourning, expressing sorrow
for sins committed. How truly sorrowful are you when you sin against God? Is
there any deep sorrow for sin anymore? Today, when you see a believer asking
God for pardon over a wrong he or she has committed, you will be amazed. A few
seconds after he or she has apologised, he or she is seen carrying on as if
nothing ever went wrong. Sunday 27 May 2017 Open Heavens Devotional 2017:-any
fruit of repentance? There is no manifestation of godly sorrow. People do not
see offending God as anything anymore. They hide behind grace to cover up their
evil lifestyle. However, can God be fooled?
The “repentance” of some people today
is highly questionable. True repentance must be backed up by godly sorrow. 2nd
Corinthians 7:10 says “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Genuine repentance must exhibit the
fruits of humility, confession, brokenness, a desire for restitution where
necessary and a commitment to never return to the evil act. Take King Ahab as a
case in point. Open Heavens Reflection May 28 2017. He was a wicked king with a
satanic wife, Jezebel. The wickedness perpetrated during his reign for exceeded
that of other regimes (1st King 21:25). Yet, when God spoke to him about an
impending judgment, he immediately readjusted, tore his royal robe, wore
sackcloth, humbled himself and fasted (1st Kings 21:27). When God saw the fruit
of repentance in him, He deferred His judgement till the next generation. When
you say to God “Father, I’m sorry, please for me”, is there any fruit of
repentance to back it up? Some leaders get involved in terrible sins, and after
whispering, “Father, I am sorry”, they continue as if nothing ever happened. Is
that genuine repentance? People hardly weep or mourn over their shortcomings
anymore. They hardly set themselves apart in fasting and prayer to reach out to
God for mercy. No wonder they continue in their sins. If you are sorry, you
will bring forth fruits consistent with repentance through your actions. Do you
have such fruits?
Key Point
Repentance goes beyond just saying,
“I am sorry”. Your comportment and inner resolve go a long way to validate or
discredit claim..
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