Godly Sorrow Brings Repentance That Leads To Salvation

2 CORINTHIANS 7:10
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
“‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.7.10.NKJ

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Repentance is more than simply being sorry.
We are all sorry when we get caught, but true repentance is to have deep sorrow for the effects of the victim, taking responsibility for our own behaviour and then make the decision to turn to God, to submit to His will, and change one’s ways and direction-to sin no more.
We are not able to simply change our behaviour by our own strength, sin is complicated, often driven by unclean spirits and demons such as culture, fear, addiction and false beliefs.
The truth is, we need God’s help to set us free from the lies and bondage of the enemy before we can change the way we think and walk in His righteousness.
James said, ”Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.“
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
That is to say, submit to God’s will and direction in all things and turn from all sin, rebuke the devil (verbally evict them), and they shall flee from you.
But having been set free, one must stay free by filling the vacant rooms of the flesh with God’s furnishings, such as His Word, truth, and love. For Jesus said, ”“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
These demons if allowed, shall infiltrate our very souls, our mind, will, and emotions with sinful desires and lies. Their job is to steal, kill, and destroy your relationships, marriage, finances, and your life; to bring sickness, mental health issues, depression, and even death, but Jesus came to give us life, and that we shall have it more abundantly (JOHN 10:10).
Furthermore, they enter not only by our own sin, but through the sins of our ancestors, bringing all kinds of generational curses. The truth is, many come into this world demonised and in need of deliverance.
My beloved, deliverance is key to a changed life and repentance is key to deliverance.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
These two verses give us instruction for change. 1) submit to God (Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, which is the least one can do.
2) Cooperate with God (do not be conformed to the things of this world, but rather walk by God’s leading and separate from the sinful things of this world, taking in His word regularly and be obedient to it. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
God’s word is living and powerful; He actively works within doing great works, revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart.
But it can’t be active within you unless you take it in, digest, and speak it out.
Thus, you allow God to transform you by renewing your mind; [the results] that you will be able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
You will come to identify what is wrong in one’s thinking and to understand His perfect will for your life.
We believers cannot meet the mark of holiness in our own strength because of our sinful nature, but we don’t have to.
Jesus said, ”“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.“
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
God sends His holy Spirit to help, lead, and guide us in all truth (JOHN 16:13). But we must make the decision to walk in His truth by His leading and put the passions of the flesh to death.
This is when the battle begins within our soul, for the flesh has had dominion throughout one’s life and doesn’t let go of those sinful lust without a fight.
My beloved, we can do nothing good in the flesh, particularly when influenced by the demonic. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, who is in control, me (my spirit) or my flesh? While the fruits of the Spirit bring life, the fruits of flesh bring death.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭22‬, ‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.