Distinguishing Marks of True Repentance, Part 1

2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Today, Pastor Colin delves into the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, as seen through the stories of Saul, Esau, and David. Unlike worldly sorrow that leads to regret and bitterness, godly sorrow illuminates our path towards true repentance and transformation by providing light from God, a genuine desire for Him, and hope in His promises. Join us as we unpack the significance of repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no room for regret.

100:00:00,960 –> 00:00:02,960I200:00:03,500 –> 00:00:08,800Know my transgression and my sin is always before me300:00:10,200 –> 00:00:13,760See here is a man who unlike Saul his pastes sin400:00:14,560 –> 00:00:16,559He sees it500:00:17,120 –> 00:00:22,160He doesn’t minimize it. He doesn’t blame it on other people. There are no excuses here600:00:23,160 –> 00:00:25,160This is Godly sorrow700:00:25,440 –> 00:00:28,260Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith800:00:28,260 –> 00:00:31,879I’m David Pick and glad you could join us today and Colin900:00:31,879 –> 00:00:36,520I’m sure you must have spoken to really godly people who are sorry for there sin1000:00:36,560 –> 00:00:43,439They know that they’re a sinner, but they haven’t expressed godly sorrow over their sin. What would you say to that person?1100:00:43,820 –> 00:00:49,020That’s a great distinction and there’s a huge difference between Oh, yes. I’m sorry and a real1200:00:49,939 –> 00:00:52,259recognition of having grieved God and1300:00:52,799 –> 00:00:57,419having a heart that breaks for what breaks the heart of God and I think that1400:00:57,680 –> 00:01:04,500That comes when there is is light that comes from God to actually see my own sin for what it is1500:01:04,639 –> 00:01:07,879There’s a godly sorrow. The Bible says that leads to repentance1600:01:07,919 –> 00:01:12,459So we shouldn’t just jump to repentance and say well now, you know, that’s just being sorry and moving on1700:01:12,459 –> 00:01:16,599No, there’s a godly sorrow that leads to the repentance, which is a change1800:01:17,220 –> 00:01:21,440So if there’s a pattern in my life of sinning saying sorry sinning saying sorry1900:01:21,440 –> 00:01:26,239But never really changing then I’ve not really got to the heart of what repentance is all about2000:01:26,320 –> 00:01:29,919People often say God doesn’t want you to beat yourself up over this2100:01:30,199 –> 00:01:35,180So, how would you characterize real godly sorrow? Well, I think that’s right2200:01:35,180 –> 00:01:38,540God doesn’t want you to be beating yourself up but God does call us to change2300:01:39,559 –> 00:01:45,660He’s in the business of calling us to a transformed life and that’s very different from I’m sorry2400:01:45,699 –> 00:01:47,699And I’m carrying on in the same regards2500:01:47,699 –> 00:01:52,419so we’re trying to get at the heart of what repentance actually looks like and2600:01:52,480 –> 00:01:59,080There is a work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to an awareness of what our sin is2700:01:59,080 –> 00:02:04,860what our sin cost what its affect has been on us what its effect has been on others and most of all what its effect2800:02:04,860 –> 00:02:07,639Has been on Christ because he died for it2900:02:07,639 –> 00:02:13,020Yeah, and when I begin to see that then something deeper is going to happen. That’s more than just being sorry3000:02:13,100 –> 00:02:19,380It’s the beginning of a path of actually changing what is true repentance. That’s today’s message3100:02:19,380 –> 00:02:24,339So join us if you can in 2 corinthians chapter 7 as we begin the message3200:02:24,960 –> 00:02:31,279Distinguishing marks of true repentance. Here’s pastor Colin. Now. Today, we’re coming to a very important question3300:02:32,779 –> 00:02:40,059How do you know if you are on the path of repentance, how do you know if you have really repented3400:02:41,059 –> 00:02:46,139What are the marks of being on the hidden path to a transformed life3500:02:47,160 –> 00:02:49,600How could you recognize or discern?3600:02:50,520 –> 00:02:53,000True repentance in another person3700:02:53,660 –> 00:02:59,139there’s a very important and very practical questions and I want us therefore to look at the3800:02:59,479 –> 00:03:04,580distinguishing marks of true repentance and that subject is addressed for us in3900:03:05,020 –> 00:03:07,0202nd Corinthians in chapter 74000:03:07,080 –> 00:03:14,220So I do hope that you will have your Bible open at the passage that has just been read as we focus particularly on verse 104100:03:14,419 –> 00:03:15,600together4200:03:15,600 –> 00:03:19,440Notice the Paul says here that Godly sorrow4300:03:20,100 –> 00:03:22,100brings repentance4400:03:22,619 –> 00:03:25,520That leads to salvation and leaves no regret4500:03:26,399 –> 00:03:28,339But he says4600:03:28,339 –> 00:03:30,820worldly sorrow brings death4700:03:31,679 –> 00:03:33,720And straightaway you will see from this verse4800:03:34,440 –> 00:03:39,199that there are two very different kinds of sorrow and4900:03:39,860 –> 00:03:44,199The difference between them is seen most clearly in their effect or their result5000:03:44,919 –> 00:03:48,559There is worldly sorrow Paul says and that brings death5100:03:49,520 –> 00:03:54,460now that’s telling us something very important it is possible to be full of regret and5200:03:55,460 –> 00:03:57,460Yet, never to change5300:03:57,479 –> 00:03:59,240You can be sorry5400:03:59,419 –> 00:04:06,699Without ever repenting there is a kind of worldly sorrow that does not lead to repentance but just leads Paul says to death5500:04:07,339 –> 00:04:12,600Now that is telling us something important to grasp that being. Sorry and repenting are two different things5600:04:12,600 –> 00:04:18,660They are not the same thing and we’re going to see some examples from the Bible today of people who were very sorry5700:04:18,940 –> 00:04:22,920about things that they had done and yet never really changed and5800:04:23,399 –> 00:04:28,679Their sorrow did not heal them rather it destroyed them. That is worldly sorrow5900:04:28,679 –> 00:04:34,279It just brings you down it caves you in and eventually brings you to death itself6000:04:34,279 –> 00:04:37,579it it makes a person bitter and angry and6100:04:38,260 –> 00:04:43,440living in the past and full of self recrimination and even despair6200:04:44,260 –> 00:04:47,399now nobody here wants to be there and6300:04:47,959 –> 00:04:51,320So it is good news that there is a second kind of sorrow6400:04:51,779 –> 00:04:59,160And Paul says here. There is also godly sorrow, and it’s very very different in its nature and in its results6500:04:59,859 –> 00:05:06,540godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and will leave a man or a woman without6600:05:07,399 –> 00:05:08,679regret6700:05:08,679 –> 00:05:14,040In other words there’s godly sorrow leads to real and lasting change in your life6800:05:14,399 –> 00:05:21,579it takes you on to the hidden path to a transformed life, and it is the kind of sorrow that god wants all of his people to6900:05:21,859 –> 00:05:23,859experience and7000:05:24,040 –> 00:05:29,679He says it is a sorrow that will not harm you in any way7100:05:29,679 –> 00:05:36,079it’s a sorrow that’s redemptive verse 9 you became sorrowful as god intended and7200:05:37,320 –> 00:05:40,260So you were not harmed in any way7300:05:40,380 –> 00:05:41,459Anyway7400:05:41,459 –> 00:05:44,559So two kinds of sorrow that lead in opposite directions7500:05:45,179 –> 00:05:50,980one that takes you downwards to death and the other that brings you upwards to life and7600:05:51,179 –> 00:05:57,920The obvious question then is what is the difference between these two kinds of sorrow the worldly sorrow on the one hand and the godly?7700:05:57,920 –> 00:06:02,380Sorrow on the other hand and really it boils down to one word and that’s the word godly7800:06:03,019 –> 00:06:07,179the sorrow that is redemptive is God-centered god is7900:06:07,980 –> 00:06:13,480Infused into it and I want us to see what that looks like from the Bible together today8000:06:14,899 –> 00:06:18,119I want to suggest three distinguishing marks of8100:06:19,100 –> 00:06:20,760godly sorrow8200:06:20,760 –> 00:06:22,579That is three8300:06:22,579 –> 00:06:30,019Evidences by which you may know with confidence that real and lasting change is going on in your life or in the life of another person8400:06:31,160 –> 00:06:34,559they’re very simply so that you know where we’re going godly sorrow means8500:06:35,320 –> 00:06:37,980First that you have light from God8600:06:39,059 –> 00:06:45,640Second that you have desire for God and thirdly that you have hope in God8700:06:46,619 –> 00:06:49,339These three and we’re going to see them from the scriptures together8800:06:50,679 –> 00:06:56,359First then godly sorrow is distinguished by this mark that in it you have light from8900:06:57,399 –> 00:06:59,399God9000:06:59,559 –> 00:07:03,739Now let me try and paint a picture so that we can get a frame of reference here9100:07:04,019 –> 00:07:09,640I want you to imagine for a moment that you are in a darkened cellar9200:07:10,480 –> 00:07:14,279It’s pitch dark, and you are struggling to find your way around9300:07:14,940 –> 00:07:18,459In the cellar that are large planks of wood9400:07:19,119 –> 00:07:24,320heavy filled barrels and large suitcases full of stuff and9500:07:24,859 –> 00:07:30,839So you find yourself stumbling over these various things that are strewn around the cellar though9600:07:30,839 –> 00:07:34,079You think to yourself if I was here for long enough9700:07:34,079 –> 00:07:38,839I could locate where all of these things are and I could find my way around safely9800:07:39,559 –> 00:07:41,559But there’s another problem9900:07:42,040 –> 00:07:44,140Someone else is in the cellar10000:07:44,679 –> 00:07:50,579You can’t see that person in the darkness, and he never makes himself directly known to you in fact10100:07:50,579 –> 00:07:53,000he hates you and he wants you to stumble and10200:07:53,640 –> 00:07:57,500So he is constantly moving the barrels moving the suitcases10300:07:58,000 –> 00:08:02,859Moving the planks of wood so that as you move around in the cellar you keep stumbling10400:08:03,220 –> 00:08:09,119Over the same things in different places. You don’t know where you’re going to encounter them next10500:08:11,179 –> 00:08:17,799But you keep falling over the same obstacles and you endure yourself on them again and again10600:08:19,179 –> 00:08:23,739Now I paint that picture because it really is I think a good picture of our natural human condition10700:08:24,739 –> 00:08:31,140In Ephesians chapter 4 in verse 18 Paul says that we are dark and in our10800:08:31,619 –> 00:08:37,280Understanding that is by nature. That is our human condition to be darkened in our understanding10900:08:37,280 –> 00:08:40,739In other words, our natural condition is simply that we do not see11000:08:41,340 –> 00:08:43,340We don’t see clearly11100:08:44,299 –> 00:08:51,039That’s why Jesus spoke in his teaching about people who are always seeing with their eyes, but never perceiving11200:08:51,739 –> 00:08:58,500They’re always hearing they hear many truths in church and so forth, but they’re never really understanding. They just don’t get it11300:08:59,619 –> 00:09:03,219Because this is the natural condition of the human heart that11400:09:04,099 –> 00:09:07,900In that inward way we we just don’t see we’re in the dark11500:09:09,119 –> 00:09:12,599that’s why Jesus spoke on one occasion you remember about a11600:09:13,080 –> 00:09:18,760Person who is able to identify a spec of sawdust in someone else’s eye11700:09:19,580 –> 00:09:24,280By using a remarkable illustration jesus said even if there was a plank of wood in their own eye11800:09:24,299 –> 00:09:26,299They wouldn’t be able to see it11900:09:26,739 –> 00:09:32,000in other words, here’s a person who has very heightened sensitivity to failure in others, but12000:09:32,479 –> 00:09:38,960No capacity to discern or see what really needs to be changed in his or her own life12100:09:40,200 –> 00:09:42,700now that is the natural human condition and12200:09:43,179 –> 00:09:50,520Worldly sorrow is in the first instance sorrow that cannot see it is like the man in the cellar who injures himself12300:09:50,900 –> 00:09:57,900Repeatedly by falling over the same things many times because he does not know where he’s going to stumble against them12400:09:58,559 –> 00:10:00,559next12500:10:00,679 –> 00:10:05,140now the obvious example of this from the bible is king Saul and12600:10:06,119 –> 00:10:08,200Let’s take a moment to think about12700:10:08,380 –> 00:10:11,440What this looks like in the life of a real person12800:10:12,140 –> 00:10:16,900Worldly sorrow the sorrow without light the sorrow that doesn’t see12900:10:18,520 –> 00:10:25,559we’re told in the first book of Samuel that King Saul was given a special assignment by God and he didn’t do it and13000:10:26,679 –> 00:10:31,440So Samuel the prophet came to Saul and called him on his disobedience13100:10:32,400 –> 00:10:35,979when that happened Saul came up with a whole list of evasions13200:10:36,200 –> 00:10:42,099Excuses a kind of spin we would say today to try and get out of his responsibility13300:10:42,099 –> 00:10:49,200but then Samuel spoke to him very directly because God had already revealed the hidden truth to Samuel as a prophet.13400:10:50,140 –> 00:10:56,219When that happened, this is what Saul said first Samuel chapter 15 in verse 30. I have sinned13500:10:57,219 –> 00:11:00,780But very interesting these words together. I’ve sinned but13600:11:01,460 –> 00:11:03,520He says I’ve sinned but13700:11:03,520 –> 00:11:08,119Please honor me before the elders of the people and13800:11:09,280 –> 00:11:14,219Before Israel, please come back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God13900:11:15,520 –> 00:11:19,820Now you see what Saul is saying here. He’s very sorry and14000:11:20,859 –> 00:11:26,239Rightly. So because he has lost his kingdom on result of as a result of his disobedience14100:11:26,239 –> 00:11:31,320So he’s very sad about what has happened. He acknowledges that he’s done wrong. I have sinned14200:11:32,080 –> 00:11:35,539But it is the kind of sorrow that does not see14300:11:36,479 –> 00:11:41,580Which is why his instinctive resulted is instinct rather is to say, okay, I’ve sinned14400:11:41,580 –> 00:11:46,179But let’s just now put all this unpleasant us behind us and let’s go to worship and please14500:11:46,179 –> 00:11:50,140Will you come with me because I don’t want to be let down in front of the elders and all the people14600:11:52,520 –> 00:11:56,280So he’s saying to Samuel oh, you’re right I was wrong14700:11:57,559 –> 00:12:00,400But now let’s just go to church and put all that behind us14800:12:02,000 –> 00:12:04,119Now that is worldly sorrow14900:12:05,219 –> 00:12:09,239There is no ownership here on Saul’s part of his actions15000:12:10,179 –> 00:12:12,719Nor of the problem within his heart15100:12:13,239 –> 00:12:18,940That led him to these actions. So what happens remaining in the darkness? He goes on through his life15200:12:19,539 –> 00:12:25,099stumbling over the same heart problem that was never addressed in 1st Samuel chapter 15 and15300:12:25,440 –> 00:12:29,900Stalks him and injures him again and again throughout the entire course of his life15400:12:30,080 –> 00:12:31,219and15500:12:31,219 –> 00:12:33,900you can read about it in the book of 1st Samuel you15600:12:35,239 –> 00:12:39,960See that he continued as king, but he never changed15700:12:42,340 –> 00:12:44,580Worldly sorrow leads to death15800:12:46,359 –> 00:12:49,299Because all it is is sadness about well, you know15900:12:49,299 –> 00:12:52,719I did wrong and it didn’t work out as I hoped but it takes no ownership16000:12:52,719 –> 00:12:57,700And so there is no fundamental change in the person’s life and they continue Saul16100:12:58,039 –> 00:13:05,380Bumbled his way through life neither knowing God nor knowing himself full of his own pain full of self-pity16200:13:05,739 –> 00:13:07,080a16300:13:07,080 –> 00:13:11,039misery to his family and a burden to his people16400:13:12,179 –> 00:13:15,960You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called16500:13:16,659 –> 00:13:22,760Distinguishing marks of true repentance and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there, but we’ll be back shortly. So do stay with us16600:13:23,760 –> 00:13:25,760Message is part of a series called16700:13:26,479 –> 00:13:32,119Repentance the hidden path to a transformed life and if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back to and16800:13:32,119 –> 00:13:35,359Listen to them again. They’re all available online at our website16900:13:35,679 –> 00:13:38,080Open the Bible dot org dot UK17000:13:38,599 –> 00:13:45,659also as a podcast on all main podcast sites, which you can find by searching for open the Bible UK or17100:13:46,039 –> 00:13:51,479Following the link from our website back to the message now here again. Is pastor Colin17200:13:52,119 –> 00:13:54,359worldly sorrow brings death because it’s17300:13:55,159 –> 00:13:57,159It’s sorrow without light17400:14:00,599 –> 00:14:06,479Now contrast that with David who of course is the model of True17500:14:06,580 –> 00:14:13,679Repentance, especially in psalm 51 where he lays out for us a pattern of what real and lasting17600:14:14,039 –> 00:14:16,039change looks like17700:14:16,400 –> 00:14:21,760And in some 51 where David asks God for mercy he says this in verse 3 I17800:14:23,419 –> 00:14:26,219Though my transgression I17900:14:27,599 –> 00:14:31,039Know it now, that’s a different world from Saul. I18000:14:32,320 –> 00:14:37,559Know my transgression and my sin is always before me18100:14:39,000 –> 00:14:42,580See here is a man who unlike Saul has faced his sin18200:14:43,640 –> 00:14:45,640He sees it18300:14:46,960 –> 00:14:52,580He doesn’t minimize it he doesn’t blame it on other people there are no excuses here18400:14:53,500 –> 00:14:55,500this is godly sorrow and18500:14:57,919 –> 00:15:01,760It’s a painful thing of course but look at its result it18600:15:03,200 –> 00:15:05,200brings repentance18700:15:05,239 –> 00:15:11,820Which leads to salvation Paul says and leaves no regret for God wipes away all tears from our eyes18800:15:12,820 –> 00:15:14,580and18900:15:14,580 –> 00:15:20,000You look at the contrast between Sol and David, and it’s a no-brainer. Isn’t it would you want to be like Saul?19000:15:20,000 –> 00:15:22,000Or would you like to be like David?19100:15:24,679 –> 00:15:26,679Worldly sorrow leads to death19200:15:28,619 –> 00:15:32,820Godly sorrow in which a man or a woman has light from above19300:15:35,400 –> 00:15:37,400Brings repentance that leads to19400:15:38,500 –> 00:15:40,539salvation and leaves no regret19500:15:41,520 –> 00:15:47,840Now I’m struck therefore by how often we find David in the Psalms asking God for light19600:15:48,659 –> 00:15:52,739Once you start spotting that theme you’ll see it all over the Psalms19700:15:53,659 –> 00:15:58,919he says in Psalm 19 who can discern his own errors and19800:16:00,900 –> 00:16:02,280So19900:16:02,280 –> 00:16:07,479Recognizing that there are things in ourselves that we just don’t see. What do you do? You pray to God for light?20000:16:07,960 –> 00:16:15,359And so David says will you search me and try me and know me and show me will you shine your light?20100:16:15,739 –> 00:16:19,900Upon my path the entrance of your word gives light20200:16:22,900 –> 00:16:28,140The more I’ve looked at that theme in the Psalms and then thought about how it relates to David experience20300:16:28,159 –> 00:16:34,400I’m sure that some of it must have come under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through David’s long20400:16:34,799 –> 00:16:36,799experience of observing Saul20500:16:37,539 –> 00:16:39,539I20600:16:39,760 –> 00:16:41,760Saw that20700:16:42,359 –> 00:16:48,000Man drift through his life without ever seeing what needed to be changed. I20800:16:50,099 –> 00:16:52,460Saw that in Saul and it’s death20900:16:54,520 –> 00:16:57,659Don’t let me be like that Lord21000:16:58,940 –> 00:17:00,940Give me light21100:17:01,400 –> 00:17:06,420Let your word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path21200:17:07,099 –> 00:17:09,099Godly sorrow is marked by this21300:17:09,599 –> 00:17:11,599distinguishing mark that21400:17:12,180 –> 00:17:14,339There is light from God21500:17:15,780 –> 00:17:23,420in which a man or a woman comes to see in the light of the Scriptures and by the work of the Holy Spirit what21600:17:23,640 –> 00:17:27,699Needs to be changed and thereby to find the power21700:17:28,420 –> 00:17:30,420To do it21800:17:31,160 –> 00:17:34,119First distinguishing mark godly sorrow means you have light21900:17:34,859 –> 00:17:36,859From God, you know, you’re not like Saul22000:17:37,880 –> 00:17:39,880You’re like David22100:17:41,619 –> 00:17:46,780Second distinguishing mark of true repentance is a desire for God22200:17:47,319 –> 00:17:50,619And it seems to me that that this feature is particularly22300:17:51,119 –> 00:17:56,540Clear if we contrast this time again David who’s the model of true repentance?22400:17:56,800 –> 00:18:02,359With on this occasion eSaul who goes the other way of worldly sorrow22500:18:02,479 –> 00:18:06,400I may remember that we looked at ESA earlier in our series22600:18:06,400 –> 00:18:11,680And you might like to turn over to the book of Hebrews and chapter 12 for a moment here22700:18:12,239 –> 00:18:14,560Hebrews chapter 12 gives us the New Testament22800:18:15,280 –> 00:18:17,280commentary on the life of22900:18:17,680 –> 00:18:24,000Isa and in Hebrews 12 and verse 15 and 16 we read these words23000:18:25,079 –> 00:18:27,079Hebrews 12 1523100:18:27,619 –> 00:18:29,599See to it23200:18:29,599 –> 00:18:35,359that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many and23300:18:36,819 –> 00:18:40,260See that no one is sexually immoral or is godless23400:18:40,979 –> 00:18:42,780like Esau23500:18:42,780 –> 00:18:46,660Who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the?23600:18:47,959 –> 00:18:49,959oldest son23700:18:50,359 –> 00:18:52,839Now the striking thing about Esau is23800:18:53,359 –> 00:18:55,040That he was23900:18:55,040 –> 00:18:57,040deeply sorry24000:18:57,219 –> 00:18:59,219About what happened in his life24100:18:59,699 –> 00:19:04,400In fact, I think you could make a case for saying that no one was more deeply or longer24200:19:04,420 –> 00:19:08,800Sorry in all the old testament than this character Esau24300:19:09,540 –> 00:19:12,239the book of genesis places particular24400:19:13,300 –> 00:19:14,939emphasis on the24500:19:14,939 –> 00:19:17,099intensity of his regret24600:19:17,900 –> 00:19:21,959It talks about how he cried out when he discovered that he had lost24700:19:22,020 –> 00:19:26,859The blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob he wept and cried out with a laugh24800:19:27,119 –> 00:19:28,239loud and bitter cry24900:19:28,439 –> 00:19:33,819there’s a kind of an agonizing shriek that comes from the core of this man25000:19:34,579 –> 00:19:37,479And this remorse, this regret, this25100:19:38,760 –> 00:19:45,079churning pain as to what he had lost in his life went on and on and he never got over it25200:19:45,319 –> 00:19:47,319Never got over25300:19:48,180 –> 00:19:53,079And I’m sure that if you could have met Esau he would have told you his story with deep feeling25400:19:53,079 –> 00:19:59,760I was the firstborn, you know, I could have been the father of the faithful25500:20:01,560 –> 00:20:08,140But I lost it and it was all my fault and Esau blamed himself and he never got over it25600:20:10,280 –> 00:20:12,280Full of remorse25700:20:13,040 –> 00:20:17,959And of course remorse which always looks backwards, repentance always looks forward25800:20:18,020 –> 00:20:23,839That’s the difference remorse kills you. It ties you to a failure in the past and25900:20:24,900 –> 00:20:26,859And Esau never got beyond that26000:20:28,300 –> 00:20:30,660grieving over what might have been26100:20:32,680 –> 00:20:35,319And Esau lived a life of regret26200:20:37,400 –> 00:20:40,939But here’s the tragedy he never changed and26300:20:42,040 –> 00:20:46,719The New Testament tells us just two things about him here in Hebrews chapter 1226400:20:46,780 –> 00:20:48,780The first is that he was bitter26500:20:49,439 –> 00:20:55,719See to it that no root of bitterness grows up among you the writer to Hebrews says that will defile many26600:20:55,839 –> 00:20:58,819Like what happened with Esau, so he was bitter26700:20:59,420 –> 00:21:04,099And then the second thing that we’re told in the New Testament about Esau is that he was godless26800:21:04,780 –> 00:21:09,219See to it that no one becomes like Esau a godless man26900:21:10,400 –> 00:21:14,319Now you see that is what worldly sorrow will do to you27000:21:15,219 –> 00:21:17,239It will make you bitter and27100:21:18,260 –> 00:21:20,760It will distance you from God27200:21:22,380 –> 00:21:27,599Reminder from Pastor Colin there that being sorry doesn’t necessarily equal repentance27300:21:27,859 –> 00:21:35,359There are two kinds of sorrow worldly sorrow which can lead to death and godly sorrow which leads to repentance27400:21:36,180 –> 00:21:37,479and life27500:21:37,479 –> 00:21:41,920You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called27600:21:42,859 –> 00:21:47,560Repentance the hidden path to a transformed life and today’s message was called27700:21:48,160 –> 00:21:50,160distinguishing marks of true repentance27800:21:50,760 –> 00:21:53,660If you tuned in late and miss the first part of the broadcast27900:21:53,660 –> 00:21:56,280Or if you want to go back and listen to it again28000:21:56,339 –> 00:22:01,760You can do that by coming online to our website open the Bible or U.K28100:22:02,439 –> 00:22:04,640How do you like to start your day?28200:22:05,280 –> 00:22:11,520Why not try open the Bible daily taken from the teaching of pastor Colin Smith and read specially in the UK28300:22:11,800 –> 00:22:15,119Open the Bible daily is a 2 to 3 minute reflection28400:22:16,079 –> 00:22:22,739Available on our website openthebible.org.uk or as a podcast on all your favorite podcast sites28500:22:23,079 –> 00:22:25,079That’s open the Bible daily28600:22:25,880 –> 00:22:28,520Open the Bible is supported by our listeners28700:22:28,619 –> 00:22:35,439It’s people just like you who keep open the Bible on this station on the internet and on all the podcast sites28800:22:35,640 –> 00:22:39,459So if you already give to support the work, thank you so much28900:22:39,479 –> 00:22:45,280If supporting open the Bible financially is something that you’d like to begin to do this month29000:22:45,280 –> 00:22:48,500We’d love to say thank you by sending you a free gift29100:22:48,640 –> 00:22:54,040if you’re able to begin a new direct debut of five pounds per month or more or a29200:22:54,099 –> 00:23:00,420One-off gift of sixty pounds or more, we’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book29300:23:00,439 –> 00:23:05,699I’m praying for you 40 days of praying the Bible for someone who is suffering29400:23:06,380 –> 00:23:10,859Call him what’s the one thing you hope people who read this book will take away from it29500:23:11,099 –> 00:23:11,599well29600:23:11,599 –> 00:23:15,300The thing that I’ve gained from this book is that it is a way of staying29700:23:15,560 –> 00:23:16,520fresh29800:23:16,520 –> 00:23:21,359In praying for people that we want to intercede for over a long period of time29900:23:21,400 –> 00:23:28,319And I think every Christian has friends loved ones for whom we’re committed to pray over the long haul30000:23:28,319 –> 00:23:35,199And the question of course is always how do I stay fresh in praying for the same person day after day after day?30100:23:35,319 –> 00:23:40,800Well what Nancy Guthrie has done wonderfully is she’s brought together from Scripture30200:23:41,439 –> 00:23:47,040Forty different ways of praying for someone you love someone in need someone who’s suffering30300:23:47,239 –> 00:23:50,819You can use one of these every day and you can reuse them many times30400:23:50,859 –> 00:23:54,020So it’s in 40 very simple sections. I mean for example30500:23:54,339 –> 00:24:01,560I’m praying that the Lord will keep you. And another one, I’m praying that you will not fear bad news30600:24:01,920 –> 00:24:08,000I’m praying that God will make you fruitful. I’m praying that you’ll grasp how deeply you are loved by God30700:24:08,219 –> 00:24:14,400I’m praying that you’ll cast your anxieties on God. I’m praying that you’ll learn the secret of being content30800:24:14,579 –> 00:24:19,359So here are 40 distinct ways to pray for someone you love30900:24:19,599 –> 00:24:24,800It’s a marvelous resource. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, but it will inject31000:24:25,280 –> 00:24:29,819Freshness into your prayer life, and I think it’ll be a great blessing and a help to many31100:24:29,880 –> 00:24:32,640Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book31200:24:32,640 –> 00:24:38,880I’m praying for you when you begin a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible of five pounds per month or31300:24:38,880 –> 00:24:41,719More or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more31400:24:42,160 –> 00:24:46,660You’ll find full terms and conditions online at our website openthebible.org31500:24:47,099 –> 00:24:53,119UK and you can also give online if you want us to send you this free gift31600:24:53,579 –> 00:25:00,260Please don’t give anonymously and don’t forget to leave your full name and address so that we can send you your gift31700:25:01,020 –> 00:25:06,219For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith. I’m David pick. Thanks for being with us today31800:25:06,219 –> 00:25:08,219And I hope you’ll join us again next time31900:25:16,780 –> 00:25:23,560How can you tell if someone has repented by counting their tears or by the passing of time32000:25:24,439 –> 00:25:29,040Discover the real marks of true repentance next time on open the Bible

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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You want to change, but you don’t know how. Real and lasting change can happen in your life by the grace of God. That’s the hope-filled message of this series. Explore the meaning of repentance and see how God wants to use it as a continual agent of change in your life. Discover God’s hidden path

Colin Smith

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