Title: Repentance and Forgiveness / Luke 15:11-24
Contents
Subject: Repentance and Forgiveness
Text: Luke 15:11-24
A month ago, I sent a message to prepare for the new year. Today, I will preach under the title of Repentance and Forgiveness in the meaning of repenting before God for all the mistakes we have done over the past year, and forgiving each other to welcome the new year.
Today's text is a text you know all too well. There was a father with two sons. However, the second of the two sons had a problem. Even though my father is still alive, he stole his inheritance and went to a distant country and wasted it all in vain debauchery. However, a famine came as a result of the disaster. So, the miserable situation of living with pigs while raising pigs arose. He was hungry and wanted to fill his stomach with the oatmeal that the pigs were eating, but that was difficult. Only then did he come to his senses and see his situation right away. It is through suffering that you have come to your senses.
When people fall, they are bound to indulge in their own pleasures, pleasures, and pleasures. However, no matter how much he said, the person who entered it would not be able to hear it. I can't even see. And the thought never comes back. So no matter how much parents say, no matter what family members say, they don't listen. Even the children whom he loved and cherished so much cannot be seen. These people are now touched by God. Those whom God truly loves and chooses always touch, but they immediately fall to a place where pigs are farmed, or they go into a miserable environment where they cannot fill their stomachs because they do not have this kind of fruit. Not necessarily in this kind of environment, but if God uses His hand, we can go to a more miserable place than this.
It was then that he decided. 'What face shall I go now to call my father? I will go and ask you to use it as one of the laborers.' This step is very important. A decision must be made before repentance. There must be a decision to turn around and change direction. Then you have to put it into action. Many people know too much about the Bible and the church life, but often see his life unchanged. Because you only believe in your head. The prodigal son made a decision and took action. I was determined to become a servant and took a difficult step. He went back to his father and specifically confessed his mistake. What did your father do at that time? I put on nice clothes, put on a ring, and put on my shoes. They brought the calf and threw a feast. You have completely restored your identity. This was an unexpected response. Ladies and gentlemen, when we repent before God, God is so pleased with Him that He is preparing such unimaginable forgiveness and blessings (Luke 15:7).
Repentance is restoration again. Instead of ending it with words, you have to solve all the problems that have arisen from it yourself. If you have a problem with someone else, be specific and try to restore the relationship. This is repentance. It is said that the most difficult thing in life is to love the person you hate and to repent of your sins. It is impossible with the human heart to forgive and love someone who has attacked, harmed, and constantly harassed them. Close your heart, but smile brightly, come close, be kind and love. If you obey the Word like that, the Holy Spirit will help you. You do not have to give the power and ability to love first. When we obey in deeds, He gives us the strength and ability to love. I hope you love it. And I hope you will repent of what you did not love. Are you having problems at home? Having problems at work? There is no other way. Only when we repent and turn before God, there is an answer from God. There are unimaginable blessings.
The central message of the Old Testament prophets was to call for repentance. Both John the Baptist and Jesus cried out to repent (Matthew 4:17). People do not perish because they sin. They perish because they do not repent (Ezekiel 18:30). If you look at David's psalms, you don't know how much repentance there is. God loved David. Not because he is flawless and perfect. He was a murderer and an adulterer. Nevertheless, why did God say that David was a man after my own heart? Because he repented. That's right. God has compassion on those who repent and are contrite, and He saves them. He saves us from Dotan (Psalm 34:18).
My dear brothers and sisters, it feels like the last day of the new year, but it is already the last week. We are God's people who look back and look forward. I hope that you will restore our broken relationship and purify our hearts so that in the new year you will be able to put the grace of God in a new bag. So, I sincerely hope that 2003 will be a fresh start as a person of the Holy Spirit.
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