TOPIC: BUT GODLY SORROW LEADS TO REPENTANCE. -WHAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THIS MATTER- “For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were for a season. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner: that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter….2ND CORINTHIANS 7:11. -THE MESSAGE- It is imperative that when the truth is revealed in every contentious matter, especially in matters pertaining and affecting a number of individuals, some folks are bound to be affected in a negative sense. The negative sense here suggests that some who are involved in that controversy are bound to be affected in ways that may not so appeal to their lusts. Some may even out rightly reject the said truth. There will also be some that would buy the truth and rejoice in it. Such are the dispositions of the human mind. So it is also with this gospel. Many, even in the very body of Christ, have been fed with lies and half-truths even as the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that for long periods of time. Some have even spent all their years in the Lord, or do I say, outside the Lord, swallowing these lies and half-truths. And millions have perished leaning strongly on these commandments of men that often sound like the commandments of our God. Therefore one is not surprised at the level of negative reaction that often follows both the preacher and his or her message when the true gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed. And some of the preachers of the true gospel who are not accustomed to these negative responses would even be tempted to join issues with those who oppose the truth. But we are not called to exchange words with those that oppose the truth. Our clear mandate is to continue in that to which we are called. In the scripture of today, Apostle Paul was forced to respond to the reaction of some Corinthians to some of his letters. We learn from him that some Corinthian folks were sorrowful when they read some of his writings. And no doubt they sorrowed because what they received from Paul was totally different from what they had received from some other preachers. They must have suddenly realized that they were hopelessly heading to hell fire while at the same time believing that they were gloriously heaven bound! And when they realized this, they became very sorrowful. But Apostle Paul was quick to remind the sorrowing Corinthians that he did not just go out of his way to bring sorrow to them. He pointed out that what he wrote was not necessarily unto sorrow. Yet he quickly stressed that such sorrow would be necessary if it must accompany a believer’s response to the truth. Paul insisted that the sorrow that would lead to repentance was all part of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as far as Paul was concerned, such sorrow was needful when it is the only way to bring folks to repentance unto all righteousness. But at the same time, Apostle Paul, took time to differentiate between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow that leads to repentance. According to him, both of them may sound alike in manifestation, yet they lead to entirely different results. While sorrow of the gospel leads to repentance and eternal life, worldly sorrow leads to more sorrow – even sorrow unto death. While the sorrow from the truth leads to eternal life, sorrow of the world leads to depression and all manners of emotional trauma. And just as it was with Apostle Paul, I am also aware that some of the messages the Lord gave me in 2014 did cause sorrow in some that read them. And in that I rejoice – but to the extent that the sorrow was the type that led to repentance. I rejoice the more to hear that those that sorrowed did so unto a good cause, even unto a godly cause.And the irony is this - that in some of my letters that made some sorrow, I also sorrowed, even unto more repentance! Nonetheless I rejoice because in all our sorrow Christ is magnified.. Moreover, there were also those who mocked and derided my teachings, even as some did with the teachings of Apostle Paul. These are folks who have made up their minds to walk in falsehood and half-truths. These are they who are accustomed to the “gains” of compromise. They are such that are determined to maintain their entrenched positions even at the expense of their very souls – and sadly enough also at the expense of the souls of those who look up to them for leadership in the ways of God. Nevertheless, I am determined to continue preaching the truth of this gospel – for necessity is upon me to do so. No matter the thorns and thistles that lie ahead of me I will not relent. What I preach is what I received of the Lord. It is also what is written in the scriptures. Those that are determined to undermine this work must remember what Christ told Paul (as Saul) on the way to Damascus……it is hard for one to kick against the pricks…..Welcome to 2015.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:42:48 +0000
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