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Monday, September 30, 2019

Return and be Restored {Joel 2}


   

It doesn’t make our repentance less valid because we are scared of God’s judgment.  What is important, is that we turn back to the Lord with sincerity.  Here in Joel 2, we will see how…

Sincere repentance is to turn to God, and away from sin.  Sincere repentance is done with ALL your heart, giving everything you can in surrender to God.

Sincere repentance is marked by action (with fasting) and emotion (weeping/mourning).  Not every act of repentance will including fasting and weeping, but if action and emotion are absent, it isn’t real repentance.

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Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of fleshly sins like sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and others…  And James 1:15 reminds us that these desires lead to sinful actions, and when we continue to do these actions, it leads to death.

So you say, “that is not something I do.”  But what about how you respond to circumstances or relationships?  Anxiety, worry, fear, bitterness, depression, pride, resentment and anger all have their roots in sin (Romans 14:23; 1 John 5:17; James 4:17).  Just in case you thought reading your horoscope was ok, it actually ranks right there with fortune-telling, psychics, numerology and astrology.  These all take the place of trusting God – and needs to be repented.

So often when we read books like Joel, we become frightened because we fear God’s judgment (take a look back – fear is a sin).  Romans 2:4 reminds us that the kindness of God leads you to repentance and 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that God is patiently waiting for us to repent.  Repentance reminds me of the prodigal son story.  Luke 15:20 tells us that while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and ran to embrace him and kissed him.

You remember how much you enjoyed watching your child sleep?  God looks at us with such deep love and affection too!  And God is waiting for you to come to Him in repentance.  All it takes is humility on our part and faith to believe that a loving Father will hear our honest plea and cleanse us of our sin.

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