Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Where is God?
Does he seem far away?
Have I heard from God recently?
Do I daily commune with Him?
How often do I take time to read and study God’s Word?
How often do I take time to come before God in prayer?
How often do I listen and allow the Spirit of God to teach me and guide me?
What is the condition of my heart?
Has my heart grown cold?
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Hebrew word for broken: shabar, shaw-bar’
to burst, break down, break off, break in pieces, break up, broken-hearted, crush, destroy.
Contrite: to collapse, crushed, injured, afflicted, oppressed.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
What was Jesus’ mission on this earth?
In Isaiah we find this prophecy:
Isaiah 61:1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
Luke 4:16-21
The fulfilment of this prophecy:
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised
Jesus came to:
1. Preach good tidings to the meek.
2. Preach the gospel to the poor.
3. Heal the broken hearted.
4. Bring deliverance to the captives.
5. Give sight to the blind.
6. Free us from bondage.
Jesus shed His blood for….. who?
Salvation is for…..who?
John 3:16……whosoever believeth.
Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The Great Commission
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2Peter 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
What is repentance?
-To be penitent for one’s sins and seek to change; deep sorrow, prostrate.
Acts 2:37
The people were pricked in their hearts and asked what they should do.
Acts 2:38
Peter says:
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repentance is essential in order to experience new life in Christ Jesus.
What takes place when one repents?
1. Conviction
Conviction is the first step in repentance.
2. Godly Sorrow
Not all sorrow is Godly sorrow. Some people may be sorrowful because they have been caught or because they are facing some kind of punishment because of their evil deeds.
Paul says in 2Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Not to be repented of…… irrevocable:–without repentance, not to be repented of.
Godly sorrow is grief or a deep feeling of sorrow because of having sinned against God.
3. Confession
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
4. Forsaking Sin
Balaam, Saul, Achan, and others confessed that they had sinned, but they continued living in sin.
David and the prodigal son also confessed there sin but they turned from their sin and left it behind.
The truly penitent not only confess their sin but they, through the grace of God, forsake their sin.
Romans 6
1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
5. Restitution
Zacchaeus made restitution with those he wronged.
Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
6. A Change of Heart.
True repentance produces:
A change of mind.
A change of feelings.
A change of attitude toward sin and righteousness.
And a change of Heart!!!!!
Without a change of heart, the rest of these points are of little avail.
A person that truly repents, no longer lives for himself but he lives for God.
Repentance is essential to Salvation.
Luke 13:1 ¶ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Christ began His earthly ministry preaching repentance and He concluded His earthly ministry preaching repentance.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Repentance: (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another’s) decision):–repentance.
Remission: freedom; (figuratively) pardon:–deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.
Peter speaking:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Have you laid your burden of sin at the foot of the cross?
Have you come before the Lord in repentance, confessing your sins to Jesus? 1 John 1:9
Have you found freedom from the bondage of sin?
If you don’t know where you are in your life, and your walk with the Lord….ask yourself this question: What kind of fruit is coming out of my life?
Is Jesus truly Lord of your life?