The Power of Repentance:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us
may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or
bad.”
~ 2 Corinthians 5:10
The Hebrew word for repentance is to turn the other way. If you are walking this way,
which is the wrong way, you must turn 180 degrees and say, God I am here, tell me
what to do.
What is the true power of repentance? What Is the meaning of having a broken, contrite
spirit?
When we have true repentance, we become blessed with a transformation in our lives
that we may never have expected. But trust me no matter what our past has been like,
no matter the sins we’ve committed, or the things that are holding us back. The power
of our repentance washes it all away. In true repentance, God will bless our present
and change our future. Even myself not that long ago I was walking towards death.
Even though I was young, naive and immature I had no hope of having a good future. I
lived a life so full of sin that it was destroying me. My sins couldn’t be more displeasing
to God. Because the wages of sin is death, I was on the path to an early physical death
as well as eternal death.
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted.
but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
~ 2 Corinthians 7:10
But one day I had an encounter with Jesus. At Mission Bible Training Center, in Gaastra
MI, they preached about Jesus. I had known about Jesus throughout my childhood. But
something about this message really hit close to my heart, about the Cross of Christ.
After hearing this and self-reflecting, the first thing that happened in my new walk in
Christ was the repentance of my mistakes and sins. In my confession I began to feel
the arms of my heavenly father wrap around me, feeling his love of acceptance and
forgiveness as I became reborn again. Repentance changed the course of my life. It
brought me to my knees in surrender, renewing of my mind and spirit. Repentance
brought me a sense of peace, and inner joy that I had never experienced before. The
power of my repentance gave me a salvation I never knew could be possible. God
turned my life around all my hope is now in the name of JESUS. My breakthrough in my
repentance has given me restoration in my marriage, and family. God is using my life to
bless others and because of my repentance. Today I am serving God through his
training at the Mission in Gaastra. I know that God has plans for my life that I can only
try to imagine.
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not
come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
~ Matthew 9:13
There are a few results that repentance produces:
Repentance produce deliverance. In the Bible we read about the people of Israel in the
Old Testament, although God sets them free multiple times, He continually chooses
them and blesses them repeatedly, but Israel always turns they’re backs and abandon
the Lord. They would turn to other gods because of that they suffered. They lived under
many years of oppression. But during these times of suffering, they would slowly
remember the God they abandoned. Then they would cry out to the Lord and repent of
their evil ways. You know what the amazing thing about this, that God would always
change their luck, He would free them and bless them once more. Israel’s repentance
would always produce deliverance from God. Repentance also produces physical
healing in Isaiah 38: 1-5. One of the kings of Israel, named Hezekiah received terrible
news through prophet Isaiah. Isaiah told the King that he needed to put his house in
order because he was going to die; stating that what he was about to happen to him he
was not going to recover. The King had just received a death report; however, Hezekiah
repents, cries out, and humbles himself in result God heals him and grants him another
15 years of life. See repentance produce healing. Next repentance transforms people,
in Acts 9 apostle Paul, started out as a persecutor of the Church of Christ, but one day
he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus, in his encounter he ended up having a deep
repentance and was transformed from a persecutor into a disciple of Jesus. As we can
see with apostle Paul repentance transform you into a great disciple of Jesus.
Repentance can change your future. Repentance will change the destiny of your life. In
my own personal experience repentance can save a marriage. If repentance can do all
that, then I guarantee that repentance will restore your relationships and produce the
healing and deliverance he promised. But most importantly repentance guarantees your
entry into the kingdom of Heaven!
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and
seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and
will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
Repentance will lead you to abandon your sin, addictions, and to stop speaking badly of
people. As I said earlier no matter what you have lived up to too this day, no matter what
your past has been like, no matter your sins, the lies that are holding you back, if you
truly repent, God will bless your present and change your future. God not only does this
through repentance but also through your broken, contrite spirit. When we sin and
desire forgiveness, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit it means that we are
experiencing “godly sorrow”, a sorrow that aches and yearns to feel at peace with our
heavenly father. As we repent to him and surrender all that we have and all that we are,
the Lord then will fill our hearts with peace.
A broken heart, and a contrite spirit means that we can start recognizing our sinfulness
and brokenness. When we recognize this, we can then become humble and teachable.
It means hitting rock bottom and then realizing that only God and following His way can
turn things around for us. Being crushed, bruised and broken is necessary for us to
become healed, forgiven and transformed. Once we have received the Lord’s
forgiveness for our sins, our broken heart will then serve as a divine shield against
temptation.
Start taking an assessment of yourself daily, minute by minute if you have too. Search
your heart for any wickedness. Yes, it seems like it’s repetitive and a lot but every day that
you walk with the Lord; you will begin to see what righteousness is and where you are
falling short. Don’t get discouraged by your weakness or faults in your walk with the
Lord. Instead remember that perseverance and your character is what God is building
us into. We as Christians know what it takes to make it, we also know the
consequences if we don’t. So, how is your relationship with the Lord? Are you talking to
God enough? Are you admitting your defeats? God did not come as the son of the most
high, to exalt people that had it all together. He came for those that were and are still
broken. Jesus is closest to the broken hearted. He understands your weaknesses; but
you must open yourselves through repentance and let him work through you. Trust me
I’m still figuring it out myself, but I have finally acknowledged that I’m ready to receive it.
I still get anxious sometimes. But it’s much easier just to cry out to him and say, ‘I need
your help’. Because Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is our help every day.
Are you experiencing brokenness in your own life? If so, I want to leave you with these
last encouraging words: The Lord is not distant. He is longing to draw nearer to you. To
experience his presence, get on your knees, close your eyes, and cry out to your
heavenly father. He’s listening, He is waiting for you to come running to him with your
broken heart and contrite spirit. With his arms wide open to receive and comfort you.
There is no other feeling, better than the comfort of your Heavenly Father’s arms
wrapped around you.
Lord Give us a New Heart Today!
The Lords Faithful Servant,
Tinisha B.
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