Overcoming worldly sorrow

Dearest Saints.

When we considered some of the results of worldly sorrow, we first mentioned about being a victim of someone elses abuse. What I have found helpful is to recognize that the real enemy to all mankind is the devil and his angels, not flesh and blood. I know it is very difficult to get this concept around our minds when I see how I have reacted many times in the past when being confronted from other people. When we focus on flesh and blood as our real enemies, we will see ourselves as a victim from those who would otherwise oppress us or persecute us. When we realize that the ones who oppress others are a victim of the real enemy who is able to use them, we will see the true picture of what is taking place in the spiritual realm. When we consider the grave eternal consequences of their actions, we will understand that they are blind by their actions and they have no concept of the account they may give because of their actions. When we keep our focus on who the real enemy is (satan and his angelic followers), we will be like Jesus and like Stephen. They did not see themselves as a victim, but they saw those who were crucifying Him and stoning Stephen. They both cried out to God with Godly sorrow for those who came against them and said "Father, forgive them for they not know what they do". When we focus on this and have this mindset, it is an awesome liberating truth that sets us free from becoming a slave to the enemy. If our enemies would only have their spiritual eyes opened, they would see the evil of their ways and repent immediately. But, because the enemy has blinded them from knowing this reality, they are truly the ones who are the real victim.
In 2 Cor 4:3-10, we read: But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to those who are lost, 4whose unbelieving minds the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Therefore, when we are troubled and persecuted, we don't have to be a prisoner and feel like a victim when we see the bigger picture, focus on who the real enemy is and stop seeing ourselves as the victim.

Another point we talked about is how a person is deceived by the enemy to think that their sins are bigger than Gods Grace to pardon and forgive us of our past sins when we repent. I liked a story I recently heard during our service from my Senior Pastor. It was about a man who was caught stealing from the US Mail back in the 1800s. During that time, as we thought of this as a petty crime, he was in fact sentenced to be executed. When President Lincoln at the time was granting a full pardon to the man, the man never accepted the pardon that was granted. He then stood before the Judge and he was eventually executed. The pardon that was offered to this man in full was worthless simply because he refused to receive a pardon and ended up being penalized. I wonder how often we have that mindset. As His Children, we can come to Him to receive a full pardon that we would be otherwise convicted. Christs pardon and forgiveness is always available to us, but when we don't accept His pardon because we don't feel worthy, this is the enemy sowing these thoughts in to our minds. We end up punishing ourselves and remaining a prisoner when we can otherwise be set free by receiving Gods Grace and pardon for us. Gods pardon and Grace is valued differently to many people. Some people will see the full value of His Grace and Mercy, while others in different measure will not have its value simply because they are believing a lie from the enemy and not seeing the truth of His Grace and Mercy that has been extended to each of us. His Grace is worth to us to the measure that we believe and receive His Grace and pardon for us. It never has anything to do with the measure of Gods Grace, but it has to do with the measure of how we believe and receive His Grace for us. Don't let us be like that man who was executed. His actions by feeling sorry for himself are never justified. Worldly sorrow lead this convicted man to his eternal death, just like it did for Judas Iscariot!

Think of how God would react if one would not receive His full pardon and the price He was willing to pay by His Son Jesus to offer us His total forgiveness? Do you think for one minute God would be pleased with the man who would not accept His Grace? Friends, let us always believe and receive the Lords Grace, Mercy and pardon when we do repent regardless how big we think our sins are or how many times we commit the same sins over again. God is BIGGER than our sins and His GRACE is mightier than our faults. When we don't receive Gods Grace and Pardon, what a devastation that will be to anyone to refuse such an awesome and priceless gift!!


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In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayer
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