Greetings all, today we are going to look at the effects of repentance.
Now return in repentance to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate. Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness;
And He relents evil.
True repentance comes out of a remorseful heart. A place of brokenness. A sincere desire to change the way you live, the way you do things. This is a process that engages the mind and heart. Changing your inner self, old ways of thinking, how you do things. A conscious decision to turn away from sin.
We live in a generation where people find it interesting to do things that please the flesh. We pursue trends that delude us of our conscience of what is right and what is wrong. Day by day we chase after the 'wind'. Ecc 1:2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All that is done without God’s guidance is futile, merely chasing the wind.
I would like us to take a moment and pause- ask yourself what gratification do I get after pursuing all this? What's in it for me in eternity?
Jonah 1:2 God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim judgement against it because her wickedness had come up before Him.
This people delighted in doing evil. There was so much wickedness in it that God wanted to destroy the whole nation. Remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? The Lord sent brimstone and fire that completely destroyed these cities to ashes. Unlike this, Nineveh was given a period of forty days to repent or otherwise God would overthrow the city.
When the people heard this prophecy; they believed in God and proclaimed a fast and put on sack clothes. Everyone in the city repented, from the greatest to the least. In fact the king declared a fast for everyone. No one was even allowed to attend to their flocks but all were instructed to stay away from any food or drink and call earnestly onto God. To turn from their evil ways and from the violence in their hands. They repented from their wickedness and asked God to turn his fierce anger from them so that the nation wouldn't perish.
God saw their true repentance and that they had turned from their wicked ways and He removed the evil that was to befall them. The true repentance of this nation turned God's wrath away from them.
This people showed remorse for their actions. They humbled themselves before God and turned to Him.
(Prov 28:13)
Kindly let’s check what happens when one conceals their iniquities:-
· They do not experience success or fruitfulness in what they do
· They live a sorrowful life.
· Sickness, pain and suffering become part of their lives.
· Disaster catches up with them
What Happens when one repents?
· Obtains compassion and mercy
· They enjoy God's love and kindness
. The Lord protects them from any harm or evil.
· The Lord builds their house.
· They abound with blessings
God is calling a people now who will completely turn back to Him for Him to restore and heal His people. A people who are not ashamed to be genuine before God and repent from their evil ways. A people who are not afraid of being broken before God, turning away from what they used to do and seeking God's truth to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
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