Remorse vs. Repentance
Remorse vs. Repentance, what’s the difference? Does it matter?
We sometimes hear about those who have committed a crime and, during the court proceedings, the offender shows remorse for their actions. We look for remorse as a sign that the offender understands they’ve done wrong. But, remorse alone isn’t enough, is it?
Matthew 27:3 “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.”
That’s right. Judas showed remorse. According to Strong’s Concordance, the word for remorse in Greek is “metamelomai” which means “to care afterward” (1). Isn’t that profound? Judas cared afterward. He only regretted his actions after the deed was done.
Remorse is incomplete. It’s only a half-step in the direction of change. It’s an act of sorrow without a transformation. But if the sinner goes no further, there is no change. It’s more of an “I’m sorry because I got caught”. Remorse is sorrow for the immediate consequences but there remains a desire to continue pursuing the life, attitudes and sinful pleasures that caused the occasion for regret. A show of remorse doesn’t mean the person’s changed their ways. The individual may only become more stealthy and more deceitful because, deep down, there was no change of heart, just a brief show of contrition to cover the offense.
Friends, remorse isn’t enough. We need to pray for repentance.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow is the word, “lype” and it describes a sorrow, pain and grief; a mourning (2). Godly sorrow is grieving according to the will of God, “kata” (3). When we allow God to stir our hearts, we’re grieved by our sin and we’re drawn to repentance- a desire to change, turn from sin to God. We begin to see how our sin is rebellion against God and how it drives us away from Him.
Repentance, ‘metanoya’ in the Greek, is a change of mind, a guilt that includes reformation and a reversal of decision or action. The word has two parts, ‘meta’- the whole, before, and after and ‘noya’ - the deeper understanding. Repentance is a deeper understanding of the grievousness of our sin and the gravity of the offense against God.
Remorse is being sorry for the moment. Repentance is grieving over the whole story, how the sin has impacted everything before and will continue to destroy everything following…unless there is a change. Does it make sense? Can you see the difference? Godly sorrow brings repentance. Remorse doesn’t bring change at all.
Godly sorrow brings repentance.
Remorse doesn’t bring change at all.
Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Can you see the deeper meaning here? If Godly sorrow is mourning over our sin…and Jesus is the remedy for our sin… what comfort!! What relief!!
Jesus wasn’t just speaking about those grieving loved ones lost, that’s the ‘surface’ meaning. No, He was talking about mourning our sin. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are those who see their sin and are grieved by it. Blessed are they who understand that sin brings death. Blessed are they who grieve its presence, its impact and the destruction it causes. Because when they do see and understand it, and grieve it honestly and ‘metanoya’= seek change through the redemption that Jesus brings, they will be blessed, they will live! Eternal life will be theirs to enjoy!
Oh how we want the hearts of our sons and daughters to be tender to the Lord! Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are confronted with their sin. That’s a hard prayer, but an important one. Don’t just pray that they are remorseful, because that’s an incomplete response to sin that doesn’t generate change. Pray for repentance and redemption. Pray for a life surrendered to Jesus.
“Father, You see our secret sins, the ones we hide and cherish. You see the things we choose to do when we think no one is looking. You see our desires and our endeavors. You know our motivations. I know You see the heart of my (son/daughter) and You know the sin they struggle with. Lord, they cannot hide from You and they cannot deceive You, I’m so grateful for that. I pray that You would work in (name)’s heart today. Don’t just cause them to be ‘caught’ and remorseful, but Lord, stir a deep grief in their heart and mind for any way they’ve opposed You. I pray that they would understand the pain their sin caused others and You. I pray, Lord, that they would mourn the ways that sin impacts their life, the ‘before, present and afterward’ unless they repent and seek restoration and redemption in Jesus. Lord, even if (name) knows You as Lord and Savior, sin still plays a role because we live in a sinful world. I pray that You would stir in them an honest mourning for sin and a desire to seek repentance. Work in my life, too, Lord. Help me to grieve over sin, as well. I’m not beyond making mistakes or stumbling. Help me not to be prideful but to admit any wrong that I’ve done. Change me, Lord, so that I reflect Christ in my life. Bring fruit. Destroy the “Judas” in my heart and replace it with Jesus so that I live for Him daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray for a life surrendered to Jesus.
Pray without ceasing
G3338 - metamelomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3338/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3077 - lypē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3077/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2596 - kata - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2596/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The Power of Praying in Jesus’ Name
Why is it that we pray in Jesus’ name?
Most of us, when we pray, finish by saying ‘In Jesus’ name, amen.” But why should we be intentional about doing so?
First, there is salvation in no one else, no other name under heaven , no god, no power other than Jesus Christ brings salvation, redemption, forgiveness and freedom.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Next, we know that Jesus holds ALL authority. He reminded the disciples of this in Matthew 28:18
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Who better to lift our appeals and praise to than the One who has all authority? He shares His position and power with no other. He truly is Almighty.
There is power in the name of Jesus; and everyone and everything will one day bow the knee and confess His Lordship.
Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The dangers of ambiguity
We live in a culture and age in which, too often, people will depend on “good vibes” or will “pray” to a ‘nebulous’ god, but not to the One to whom they should submit as Lord and Savior. In many ways, it’s an act of defiance and in others, idolatry. We hear people appeal to ‘goodness’ or comfort others by saying they will ‘hold others in the light’, but none has the power to do what Jesus’ can and will do. Remember, Satan masquerades as an ‘angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14) He will do whatever he can do detract and pull us from the true Powerhouse of Prayer. Authentic, life-changing prayer happens in true relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no substitute.
What evidence does scripture give of the effectiveness of prayer in Jesus’ name?
Prayer in Jesus’ name brings healing:
Acts 3:6 is the account of Peter and John providing healing for the lame man; “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Did you catch that? In the name of Jesus!
Prayer in Jesus’ name causes earthly authority to fear:
Acts 4:18 “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
Prayer in Jesus' name has power over supernatural/spiritual oppression and demonic influence:
Acts 16:16-18 Paul and Silas encountered a demon-possessed girl. “One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name gives life:
John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name gives boldness:
Ephesians 6:19-20 was Paul’s appeal to the believers to pray for him as he continued to share the gospel. “And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name brings unity:
1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name cleanses us, justifies us before God and makes us holy:
1 Corinthians 6:11 “…But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name brings comfort:
2 Corinthians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,”
Prayer in Jesus’ name guards and protects:
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer in Jesus’ name is powerful, effective and not only brings change to the situation, but has the power to change us in the process, as well.
James 5:17b “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
What is it that you’re praying for today? Pray boldly. Pray with confidence and pray in Jesus’ name.
Why not share your requests here? You can be as specific or as general as you feel comfortable. But we can all lift one another in prayer and bring these burdens and heartaches to the throne of grace. Prayer in Jesus’s name is powerful and effective. Let’s amp up our prayer life. Let’s grab hold of the power that is ours in Jesus. Let’s fight on our knees with the power of heaven on our side. No ‘good vibes’. No holding one another in the light. No generic drive-through prayers. Let’s pray bolding in the name of Jesus!
Pray without ceasing, friends. We serve the almighty God, maker of heaven and earth!
A Cry for Justice
Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Social justice is the rallying cry of this generation. And justice is important- we long to see it achieved. Too often we see the results of sin, the miscarriage of justice and we watch as what is right is overlooked, trampled upon and left in a hopeless heap. We see people, image-bearers of God, mistreated, exploited, abused and neglected. It’s grievous. A lack of justice is indicative of great darkness. And we want to see it change.
Yet, the way we go about pursuing justice is often just as broken. Too often we speak as if we know, yet we’re ill informed. We campaign for justice, yet we lack righteousness. We assert authority where we really have none. We cast judgment bue we, ourselves, lack clean hands and a pure heart. Vindication becomes a personal mission and the rallying cry of those who agree with us. Yet, we’re increasingly frustrated because the process seems slow…or immoveable.
What really lacks isn’t more power or funding, it is full reliance on God to accomplish what is His, alone, to do. Does He ask us to stand for what’s right? Of course. But God is a God of order and His order is that first we pursue righteousness. Righteousness and justice go hand in hand. Yet, we seem to skip over that first part because this world screams for the latter far more. Righteousness is disdained.
We need to look at it through the lens of God’s Word vs the world’s angst. God tells us to commit our way to Him. That word ‘commit’ in Hebrew means to roll oneself or to wallow (1). Picture that. If we commit our way to God, we’re not taking the proverbial bull by the horns, we’re surrendering ourselves to God, luxuriating in His will and devoting ourselves entirely to His plan and purpose. It’s not ours to manage, but His, and He is able!
But we don’t just commit. It doesn’t stop there. We also have to trust. We must have confidence and hope that God will accomplish what He promises. It’s not just wishing. It’s a confidence that God will do what He promises. That’s the dynamic duo of effective faith! When we commit and trust, the Lord works in us and through us. Note the order in which He works, though.
First, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn. Picture the sunrise. Everything is dark, and then that bit of light begins to break on the horizon. EVERYONE sees it because it’s the only light visible in the midst of all the darkness. Think about that. Our righteousness will shine in the darkness to those all around us. It’s not our experience, our credentials, our loud voice…it’s Jesus in us. When there is just one source of light in the darkness, all eyes are drawn to that light. It’s not the volume of our voice that garners attention, but the brightness of our life, surrendered to Christ. We need to allow God to bring our righteousness into the light to combat the darkness.. That is the first step toward effecting change in a dark and unjust world. And He WILL do it. Scripture doesn’t tell us He might or that He’ll consider it. No, He WILL do it.
But that’s not all. If we commit and trust, our righteousness becomes radiant AND the justice of our cause will shine like the noonday sun. Think about the sun at noon. It doesn’t preempt the dawn, but follows in good order.. The sun at noon is at its highest point in the sky offering total sunlight. Because it’s directly overhead, it illuminates everything and shadows are minimal. Don’t we long for the justice of our cause to shine? Don’t we want the least amount of shadow and darkness to inhibit the wheels of justice? And scripture tells us again that God will do it.
First righteousness, then justice. Too often we skip that first part to get to the second. But again, God is a God of order. He needs us to pursue righteousness first and be submitted to Him. It cannot be our agenda, it must be His. Righteousness illuminates truth. Truth supports justice. It is representative of God’s character. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” Psalm 89:14
Let’s change course. Let’s approach a pursuit of justice by first by committing our way to the Lord. We can’t affect real change simply by being passionate. The loudest voice in the room isn’t necessarily the one who makes a difference nor the one who is right. Let's ensure our heart is in step with the Savior and allow Him to bring change. He will do it.
“Father, there is so much in this world that grieves our hearts. I know my (son/daughter) sees it and is frustrated and overwhelmed. Our world pressures us to stand up and shout against injustice. Yet, You call us to first commit our way to You and then trust You to accomplish righteousness in us and justice through us. Lord, I pray that You would work in (name) and help them to understand Your order and what You desire for us. It seems backward us “but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor 1:27 Lord, help us to be weak so that You can be strong in us. Help us to be willing to be ‘foolish’ in the eyes of the world so that we can be wise in the Spirit and effective for Your kingdom. I pray that You would grow (name) in righteousness. Help them to commit and trust and be willing to watch You work according to Your plan and Your will. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
H1556 - gālal - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1556/kjv/wlc/0-1/
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Pray without ceasing. God is working! Trust Him!
Praying for Change
James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
What is it that we want most for our sons and daughters who are wandering...or straight up running away from the Lord? We want change. Honest, about-face, change of heart, mind and loyalty. But let’s dig in deeper. “Change” is a nebulous word. Let’s get specific.
What is at the root of their wandering or living as a prodigal? Often it’s rebellion, pride and selfishness. Our human nature rebels against God’s authority. We want to make our own rules and follow our own path. We refuse to see how God’s boundaries are really the lines within which we will thrive and flourish. The fertile soil, the protected land, the best irrigation and nourishment all lie within the boundaries God set for us. He’s marked off the very best ‘land’ for us to enjoy. Yet, we look longingly over the fence at what appears to be greener pastures. And we insist on pressing against the fence until it gives way. We want what we want….and we tell God “You’re not the boss of me!”. Oh, but He is.
We run, we laugh and mock, we revel in our ‘freedom’ only to find that we are lost, hunted by the Enemy and losing our ability to meet our own needs. It is dark, empty and the smell of death surrounds us. We reap the consequences of our ‘knowing better’ only to realize that we don’t. But sometimes, sometimes we are so prideful we refuse, even then, to admit our fault. We would rather sit in our own stench than submit to God.
But the remedy is simple and the change it brings is dramatic. All we need to do is submit to God. Submit and we will have the strength to resist the devil -he will flee! Submit and God will draw near to us. Submit and He will make us clean. Oh that our sons and daughters would see the benefits of following the Lord. But if they’re outside of God’s boundaries, they’re likely blinded to what is good and right because the Enemy has them in a stranglehold and bound in darkness.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are confronted with the awfulness of their sin and that they are grieved by it. Pray that their hearts are broken over their pride, selfishness and rebellion. Pray that they see their path only leads to death and they are terrified by it. Pray that they truly mourn their slow death of sin. Because scripture says, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted Matthew 5:4.
Jesus brings life. Jesus brings change!! Oh that our sons and daughters would embrace that change by submitting to God and letting all that He holds for them become their inheritance. Pray that they know life and freedom in Christ. Pray for the change that will turn their eternity into one of hope, joy, light and life.
Pray without ceasing!!
Don’t forget to join us tonight for our final Bible Study connected to the Without Ceasing devotional book!! We’ll be digging deeper into Scripture and talking about how to pray for a prodigal child.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J83ssz_JqEQ
Just go to the link and join us at 8pm EST. Can’t join us then? No worries, the video will stay on youtube and you can watch it later…and share with a friend!
Sorrow over Sin
2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
This week we’re focusing on prayer for the wanderer and our scripture is aligned with the live teaching that will play tomorrow night (October 19) at 8pm. There are SO many things we can and should pray for our sons and daughters. Today, we’ll pray for sorrow over sin.
God wants us to see our sin for what it is… rebellion and disobedience against Him and His will for our lives. It’s a selfishness that puts our fleshly desires above those spiritual boundaries and expectations that God put in place. When we see our sin for what it is, we see that it breaks the heart of God. If we truly love God, we’ll be broken over our selfish rebellion and we’ll desire to be back into right fellowship with Him. Worldly sorrow only leads to death. It doesn’t bring that heart change that leads us from darkness into light and brings salvation. Worldly sorrow is drenched in darkness and has no power to transform us.
Pray that, if our sons and daughters are not walking with the Lord, the eyes of their heart would be opened to see how grievous their choices are and how much their sin and rebellion distances them from God. Pray that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. Pray that they truly mourn and lament their sin.
Pray without ceasing.