A GODLY SORROW

A GODLY SORROW

9 NOW I REJOICE, NOT THAT YOU WERE MADE SORRY, BUT THAT YOUR SORROW LED TO REPENTANCE. FOR YOU WERE MADE SORRY IN A GODLY MANNER, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 FOR GODLY SORROW PRODUCES REPENTANCE LEADING TO SALVATION, NOT TO BE REGRETTED; BUT THE SORROW OF THE WORLD PRODUCES DEATH.
11 FOR OBSERVE THIS VERY THING, THAT YOU SORROWED IN A GODLY MANNER: WHAT DILIGENCE IT PRODUCED IN YOU, WHAT CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, WHAT INDIGNATION, WHAT FEAR, WHAT VEHEMENT DESIRE, WHAT ZEAL, WHAT VINDICATION! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."
2 Corinthians 7:9–11 (NKJV)

• A godly sorrow would lead to a genuine repentance. There are two type of sorrows mentioned in the above Bible passage (2 Corinthians 7:10):
a. The Godly sorrow that produces or leads to repentance.
b. The sorrow of the world that produces death.

• The two type of sorrows could be seen In the betrayal of Jesus Christ. Two of His disciples betrayed Him, and both were sorrowful or remorseful for what they did. The sorrow of one led to repentance, whilst the sorrow of the other person led to death.
• Both of Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter betrayed Him.
  a. When Judas realizes what he did, he was sorrowful, and he took the money he collected from the high priest and the council to them, but his sorrow led to death—he went from that restitution to commit suicide (Matthew 27:3-5).
  b. However, when Simon Peter realizes that he had betrayed the Lord, he wept sorrowfully and found his way back to God (Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62).
• Jesus is willing to receive back whoever misses it. No matter how worst it may be, whatever the person had done, If he or she returned to God; He will still receive them back. Only do not think that you had offended Him beyond a reconciliation (Luke 15:18-24).
• The story of the prodigal son clearly illustrated this point. When the prodigal son came to himself, when he realized where he had missed it, he said he would arise and go back to his Father; and he did exactly that. Meanwhile, his father's Heart also had been longing for him (Luke 15:11-24).
• God is willing to receive back whoever has gone astray. No matter how hideous or disgusting what you had done, He would still receive you back, If you can come with a remorseful and a repentant Heart (Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 66:2).

• The Corinthian's godly sorrow produced a repentance in them, and it led to a number of things: "FOR [you can look back and] SEE WHAT AN EARNESTNESS AND AUTHENTIC CONCERN THIS GODLY SORROW HAS PRODUCED IN YOU: WHAT VINDICATION OF YOURSELVES [against charges that you tolerate sin], WHAT INDIGNATION [at sin], WHAT FEAR [of offending God], WHAT LONGING [for righteousness and justice], WHAT PASSION [to do what is right], WHAT READINESS TO PUNISH [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter" (2 Corinthians 7:11 (Amps).

• The New Living translation put the passage, 2 Corinthians 7:11, Thus:
"JUST SEE WHAT THIS GODLY SORROW PRODUCED IN YOU! such EARNESTNESS, such CONCERN TO CLEAR YOURSELVES, such INDIGNATION, such ALARM, such LONGING TO SEE ME, such ZEAL, AND such A READINESS TO PUNISH WRONG. YOU SHOWED THAT YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT."

a. The Corinthians believers were more diligent or earnest, having an authentic concern after being remorseful and repented (2 Corinthians 7:11).
b. They were indignant at Sin. They were no longer relishing or tolerating Sin.
c. They would not want to offend God again. They had the fear, reverential fear, of not offending Him.
d. They had the longing or zeal; hunger and thirst, for righteousness and justice (Matthew 5:6).
e. Passion to do what is Right was birth in them. They were longing to live holy, live for God and not the self, to please Him only (1 Peter 1:15,16; 4:1,2).
f. They had the readiness to discipline those who were wrong (2 Corinthians 10:6).

• A true Godly sorrow should lead to a change of heart that manifests in a change of character.

• It is nowadays that you see those who professed to be born-again—believers in Christ Jesus—living in blatant sins without any remorse.
• In some cases, some of such people may even be among the workers, the work force, in their local churches. Some are even ministers, preaching or teaching others.
• There are a lot of hypocrisies in the church today. Would a preacher or Teacher not preach or teach himself or herself?:
  21 YOU, THEREFORE, WHO TEACH ANOTHER, DO YOU NOT TEACH YOURSELF? YOU WHO PREACH THAT A MAN SHOULD NOT STEAL, DO YOU STEAL? 22 YOU WHO SAY, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” DO YOU COMMIT ADULTERY? YOU WHO ABHOR IDOLS, DO YOU ROB TEMPLES? 23 YOU WHO MAKE YOUR BOAST IN THE LAW, DO YOU DISHONOUR GOD THROUGH BREAKING THE LAW? 24 FOR “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES [the unbelievers] BECAUSE OF YOU,” AS IT IS WRITTEN" (Romans 2:21-24 NKJV).

• Some believers are entrenched in a particular sin or another, they found it difficult to come out of it.

• Whenever they committed the sin, they would be remorseful, but after a while they are back in the same sinful act (2 Peter 2:22).
• Godly sorrow should lead to a genuine repentance. If you actually wanted to be free from the hold of that particular Sin, you would need to confide in someone who is mature spiritually, to help you. The person should be someone who would be able to counsel you and break the hold of that Sin through Prayer and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 10:27).
• The hold of that Sin might be an initiation—especially if it was a sin of immorality. Whoever is bound and entrenched in the Sin of immorality and claimed to be born-again, It is always an initiation.
• The sinful partner whom the person is bound with, whom they are commiting the Sin together, is usually a person with demonic power. Such a person would see himself or herself sleeping with different people.
  THE initiation is always done through sexual relationship. And this might be difficult to break loose from with physical strength, since it involves the activities of a demon or demons.
• If what is being shared here is your experience or what you are going through presently, I want to enjoin you to confide in your pastor or a minister of God who has the understanding of the operations of the kingdom of darkness.
• Also, take a bold step and stay away from the person, the sinful partner. If you live in the same place, you may have to move to another place temporarily until your deliverance is done and made perfect.
• However, If your own case is not as severe as what we have just shared here, that is, you do not perceive any demonic involvement in yours; just go ahead and cofess your Sin and break away from whoever you are commiting the Sin with (1 John 1:9).

• I declare your freedom, your deliverance, in the mighty name of Jesus.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is contrary to your health is completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!