Repentance

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 20:21

Good Morning!  I hope and pray everyone is doing well.  I read part of this sermon, by Lester Roloff, this morning and I thought that it was pretty good.  Hope you have a little time to read it.

The following is from a sermon by the late Evangelist Lester Roloff. It is excerpted from sermon #R03404 from Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises, Corpus Christi, Texas --

Every man must repent of his sin. What is repentance? John the Baptist told the people to bring forth fruit meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8). I want to say this to my preacher brethren. I really mean this. We ought not to be too hasty in getting them to join the church, if they haven’t repented. It doesn’t hurt for them to prove their faith for awhile. It doesn’t hurt for them to prove that they have been saved by the grace of God and their lives are changed. John said, "Bring forth some fruit meet for repentance." What are the fruits?

Number one would be a new heart and a new start. You’ll become new. The Bible says that "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). One fruit of that experience ought to be restitution. I believe we ought to make right what we can make right. What if I was staying with a group of preachers and one of them stole my wallet while I was sleeping? The next day he comes up to me and tells me he is terribly sorry and asks me to forgive him. I would be glad to hear that he is sorry for stealing my wallet, but I would certainly want and expect more than that from a repentant thief. I would want my wallet back! I don’t believe he has really repented unless he brings my billfold back. I DON’T BELIEVE YOU HAVE REPENTED UNTIL YOU GET RIGHT AND SAY, "LORD, I’M GOING TO LIVE DIFFERENT FROM NOW ON," AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU WILL LIVE DIFFERENT.

I don’t believe you ought to smoke another cigarette. I don’t believe you ought to have to taper off in your liquor drinking. I believe you ought to cut out your gambling. When you get saved FROM sin, you ought to stay out of it. I’m not saying that you will be perfect the rest of your life, but I will say this: you will hate sin the rest of your life. If you can live in sin as the habit of your life, you have never been saved.

I believe that when a man really gets saved from his sin he ought to make a public profession of his faith in Christ. I don’t believe in these little secret decisions. We’ve had too much of this "Ya’ll just slip down the isle." Slip, nothing; come a walkin’ and a talkin’ and a weepin’ and a repenting. It’s all right for the devil’s crowd to slip around, but we’re not slipping anywhere. You’re not going to slip into heaven. We’re going to go there by grace through faith!

And if you think I’m trying to get a report, with a bunch of "decisions" and a bunch of cards to haul off or share or do anything else with, in the first place, I don’t have anybody on earth that wants my report. I don’t care about a report; I want to see people saved. I want to see the church revived. I want to see the cause of Christ flourish in this city.

As sure as we live, it is God who must bring about Bible repentance. Have you repented? "…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5).

Repentance is a godly sorrow for sin. Repentance is a forsaking of sin. Real repentance is putting your trust in Jesus Christ so you will not live like that anymore. Repentance is permanent. It is a lifelong and an eternity-long experience. You will never love the devil again once you repent. You will never flirt with the devil as the habit of your life again once you get saved. You will never be happy living in sin; it will never satisfy; and the husks of the world will never fill your longing and hungering in your soul.

Repentance is something a lot bigger than a lot of people think. It is absolutely essential if you go to heaven.

The previous is from a sermon by the late Evangelist Lester Roloff. It is excerpted from sermon #R03404 from Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises, Corpus Christi, Texas --

Why Do Men Love Darkness?

We were having family bible devotions the other night and I went over the subject of why men love darkness rather than light.  We looked at John 3:14-21.  The bible clearly states in these verses that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  John 3:19

Men don't want to come to the light, because if they come to the light, they will have to face who they are and what they are before an Holy God.  The other day I saw a website that had an old friend on it.  This old friend had some things that they liked and they are as follows: Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Desperate House Wives, American Idol, Silence of the Lambs, and oh, I forgot --the Bible.  Today's so called "Christianity" is a shame and a joke.  Tell me how can you watch and listen to all of these things and yet say that you love the bible?  Today's churches tell you that you can have the world and God too, but the bible says:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:15-16

The God that I serve and love is an holy and jealous God.  The Lord requires of us to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

JEALOUS:

1. Suspicious; apprehensive of rivalship; uneasy through fear that another has withdrawn or may withdraw from one the affections of a person he loves, or enjoy some good which he desires to obtain; followed by of, and applied both to the object of love and to the rival. We say, a young man is jealous of the woman he loves, or jealous of his rival. A man is jealous of his wife, and the wife of her husband.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

Exodus 20:5

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:  
Exodus 34:14

For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

Do we not think that God is jealous over us?  Do we not think that God desires our full devotion?  Have you ever been to a wedding?  When the bride walked down the aisle, did she have some old boy friend on one of her arms?  Would the groom, put up with his soon to be wife, coming down the aisle with an old boy friend?  I would think not!  Why then do we treat our Lord and Savior this way? 

Tell me one thing in this world that will give you endless happiness, joy, peace and rest?  There is nothing in this world that will meet all of the things that I have listed.  There is only One that can fulfill all that I have listed, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalms 144:15

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Psalms 146:5

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:12-17


Are you happy?  If not, why?  What is keeping you back from the happiness that can be found in the Lord?  


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25


There is joy that can be found in God's word and the Lord Jesus Christ.




But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalms 5:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalms 16:11

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Psalms 42:4

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Psalms 43:4
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: Luke 24:52

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:11

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:22-24
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:52

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

One of the reasons I believe that so many don't have joy and happiness is because they have never been truly born from above.  They have never been under Holy Ghost conviction.  They have said some sinner's prayer and are relying upon this to gain them righteousness with God.  One major thing that is missing in our churches today is true Holy Ghost conviction.  I'm not talking about having your emotions stirred by some contemporary christian song and you feeling bad over some sins you have committed.  I'm not saying that it is wrong for your emotions to be stirred in church.  What I am saying, is that all too often it is the music that is doing the stirring of the emotions and not God's word through the witness of the Holy Ghost. There were many times in my life that I had my emotions stirred in church and said the sinner's prayer and was never born again!  The reason why, is that I was never truly willing to give up my life!  I wanted to keep my worldly music, movies, talk, and life.  I wanted to have some of God and some of the world.  It wasn't till I got my nose in a 1611 King James Bible, that I started to see who I truly was before God.  I finally got to a point in my life, glory to God, that I was sick of who I was and only wanted truth!  Thank the Lord, on March 19, 2000, the Holy Ghost dealt with me about sin, righteousness, and judgment to come.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.    

John 16:7-13

I repented of my sin and put my complete faith in what the Lord Jesus Christ did for my on Calvary, 2000 years ago, on an old rugged cross.  Where he shed his blood and became sin, who knew no sin, that I might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

If you are not happy, don't have joy, peace or rest, why not seek the Lord?

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Isaiah 55:6-7

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:6-9

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Don't let the world draw you away from the one who truly loves you!  Come to the light of the Lord Jesus Christ! 

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. 2 Peter 3:9

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Brother Chris

What are you eating?

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. Psalms 119:176

About a month ago, I took a trip to San Juan with Brother Darren, to take a group of people to a medical clinic.  While I was waiting for everyone to be seen, I saw the most ugly and tattered sheep.  I went to the van to grab my camera and when I came back the sheep was gone.  After searching for a few minutes, I found the sheep down near the main road.  As I walked to where the sheep was, I noticed that it was eating something.  When I got close enough, I noticed that the sheep was eating trash near the roadside.

My question to you this morning is this:  What are you feeding on?  If you claim to be saved this day, are you feeding on the things of God or of the world?  Are you consuming the trash that this world has to offer?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 2:15-17

I wonder how many "Christians" are no different then those goats of the world.  Could it be that so many who claim Christ are not known of the very One they claim?   On the other hand, how many Christians today have the testimony of the sheep I have pictured?  Their fleece is all tattered and dirty.  They waste most of their day consuming trash and are not eating from the pasture of God's word.

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:15

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4
 
Are you spending time and fellowship with the Lord in his word or are you spending the majority of your time feeding on the things of this world?

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 14:36



So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17


For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23


He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

 

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. Psalms 95:7-11

Have you grieved the Lord by not spending any time with him?  Have you erred in your heart and turned from the truths contained in God's word? Spending time in God's word and prayer will give you peace and rest!

Have you been born-again?  Is Jesus Christ the shepherd of you life?  Are you one of God's sheep?  The Lord desires for you to be saved and to have fellowship with him.  Dear brethren, what does this world have to offer us?  The Lord God Almighty gave his precious life for us.  He died on the cross for you and I, that we may have eternal life and fellowship with the one who created us!  He became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him!  He loves us, should we not therefore love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength?


For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:8-9
Let us go to the word of God for the living bread of life!  Let us come to the great Shepherd for help and nourishment!


I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:15

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. John 10:11-16
 

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:11-17

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

May we make sure that are garments are pure and white at the great appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ! 

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

Are you a stranger?

I would just like to take a little time today and ask if you are a stranger to this world?  Does the world look at you in a peculiar way?  I was reading this morning in Psalm 119 and I came across this verse:

Psalms 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

I began to think on this verse and how I am viewed by the world.  Right now, my family and I are in the Dominican Republic.  To the Dominicans we are strangers.  When you travel around down here, it does not take long for you to hear someone shout out "Americano!"  Is the response of me being a Christian that quick?  When you go out into the world, does your life make people say "he or she is a Christian?"  Are we a stranger and pilgrim in this world?  Can we say with the hymnist that "I can't feel at home in this world any more."  I say these things, not to condemn nor put down, but to stir up our minds and hearts to the things of God.  Where are we at with "...him with whom we have to do?"

The bible says:

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

What country are you seeking?  I believe today more than ever, that there needs to be a difference in the way a Christian acts, talks, dresses, and conducts himself or herself in this world. 

The line today between Christianity and the world has become so blended that it is shameful.  So called "Christians" can act, talk, dress and conduct themselves just like the world and think everything is "ok"!  The church as a whole needs to do an examination.  Have you been converted?  Does His Spirit bear witness with your spirit, that you are a child of God?

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 

EARNEST, n. ern'est. Seriousness; a reality; a real event; as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance.

Has the new birth ever occurred in your life.  Can you point to a time in your life,  when the Holy Spirit made you a new creature.  I'm not talking about some feeling you may have had sometime in church, though feeling does often accompany salvation, but a Holy Ghost conviction of your sin, that caused you to repent and turn from your sin and self, to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit on the inside?  Is he a reality?  Did a real event of salvation occur at some point in your life?  God does not jest nor leave you guessing about your salvation.  If you are saved the Holy Ghost should bear witness with your spirit, that you are a child of God. 

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

2 Corinthians 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

To many bible-believing Christians are touching the unclean thing and it is grieving the Holy Spirit.  By touching the unclean thing (the world and its ways), we are hindering what God can do in our homes, churches, jobs and life!

The word of God says:

Psalms 4:1  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

 

Psalms 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 

Psalms 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Psalms 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

May we be still, commune with our own hearts, and draw night to God in these last days.  May we allow the Lord to search and try us to see if there be any wicked way in our lives.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Psalms 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.


In Christ our Lord,
Brother Chris