Recovery, Repentance and Recovery (R-R-R)
Recovery, Repentance and Recovery (R-R-R)
Pastor Toks Oshokoya
2 Timothy 2: 24 – 25
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will”
There are three important instructional truths established here:
One, the ultimate and unalterable responsibility of leaders, ministers of God, towards those under their spiritual care and cover – patient and gentle stimuli to teach or guide those experiencing oppressive challenges to acknowledge the true state of their situation and need for seeking help.
Two, believers (sometimes even alike unbelievers) may inadvertently, get to the point that they have allowed themselves to be ensnared by the enemy of our salvation and taken captive (compulsive/repeated sinful habits and mind-state).
What then is drastically needed is total recovery of soul from the bondage!
Thirdly, the need for such persons to seek God if they accept the fact that it is God that grants grace to come to realization of the sinful state and coming to repentance from such.
Matthew 9: 10 – 13
“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, ‘I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance’”
God is not interested in the death of sinners. He has provided avenues for repentance and recovery, even for those of us who got ourselves re-entangled by sin. However we must seek Him.
Lamentations 5:21
“Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned”
This prayer expresses the utter inability of anyone to heal their own spiritual wounds, to draw near to God in their own strength, or to turn from sin without His divine intervention and assistance: turn us unto Thee, O Lord.
As sinners, we are completely shut up to the grace of God; there is nowhere else to turn and no one else who can help. We cannot even repent with genuine tears unless God grants us true remorse for sin and gives us the desire to walk in His way.
Yet this prayer also expresses the certain conversion, the inevitable response of those who are so moved by the grace of God. When God turns us to Himself, we will be turned! There has never yet been a heart so obstinate that God cannot overwhelm it with His love. Even the dirty tax-collector Matthew and the pharisaical Saul of Tarsus were won by the gracious work of God in their hearts.
Romans 2: 4, 5
“….Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;…”
Luke 15: 10
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”
When a true believer has gone through total deliverance, that is – recovery to wake up and realise true shameful state of things around him and hate it, then move to guidance by God’s grace to repentance, and total turnaround in thoughts and actions to recovery of oneself from the hellish bondage, there must a ‘2Corinthians7’ experience!
2 Corinthians 7: 8 – 12
“…For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
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. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 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”
What is your state today? Have you felt the irresistible grace of God, moving by His Spirit in your heart, and turning you to Christ? Have you felt the resistance of your cold heart crumble before the warm rays of God’s goodness?
Turn to Him, and know that it is He who is turning you.
Release yourself to God… let Him help you…
Prophet Nathan visited King David, and spoke in gentility but with divinely guided firmness. Immediately a motion of R-R-R was set on course!
This words have come like Prophet Nathan to the door of your heart this day.
Let the motion for RRR commence in your heart, my dear.
King David….prayed:
“Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge”
“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit”
Why delay? Go on your knees… call me or someone that you feel you can be comfortable with. Let God help you.
Jesus cares, and I do as well.
My goal is God.
The Liteman T