The Power of Repentance

This morning Tammy and I are heading up to Duke to have my surgically implanted torture device removed (happiness!).  I want to sincerely thank all of you who have been and will be praying for the procedure!  It shouldn’t be a big deal: They’ll put me to sleep, take out a few screws, and wake me up.  I should be home for dinner (which I am looking forward to after not eating since last night!)

This Sunday we’ll be going into chapter 7 of 1 Samuel. The ark has been returned, but after the event at Beth Shemesh (50,070 died after peeking into the ark), the Israelites are as afraid of God as the Philistines were! So they move the ark to Kirjath Jearim, and according to the scriptures, “all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”   The reality of God, His power, His majesty, His mighty hand, has had a different effect on the Israelites than it did the Philistines.  Instead of turning God away, they are turning to God.  In essence, the house of Israel is coming to a place of repentance before God.

Repentance is a topic that is often overlooked, a practice that is often disregarded, because it brings us into conflict with one of our deepest weaknesses: Our inability to admit we have done something wrong.

However repentance is one of the most important elements of our spiritual walk. Matter of fact, without it we would have no spiritual walk at all, as repentance is the beginning point of our relationship with God. But it not only is the beginning point, it helps us stay in fellowship with the Lord.

Join us Sunday as we look into the power of repentance.

... till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay