Deep satisfaction and joy of the soul comes to those who weep over their sins...

Great news GCT:  God’s blessing is promised upon HIs people.  He seeks to bless us everyday with lives filled with a complete deep satisfaction that only comes through lives devoted to Him.  He calls us to listen and obey and enjoy the blessing of deep satisfaction no matter your circumstances, trials or hardships.  As you look throughout the entire story of the Bible we are reminded that His blessing to His children is conditional upon our obeying and listening to Him.  Samuel reminds us in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Saul missed the blessing of the Lord because he did not listen to the voice of the Lord, he also rejected the word of the Lord and both of these decisions resulted in disobedience.  Saul missed the deep blessing of the Lord.  God expects as His children to obey and listen to Him and His Word.  When we do this His promise of blessing comes powerfully.  The blessing He promises is a soul that is completely satisfied in this life and for eternity.  Don’t you want to live a life filled with deep satisfaction no matter what circumstances that you are presently suffering?

This week we are going to focus on the call of Jesus upon us "to weep.”  Jesus says deep satisfaction of the soul comes to us as we weep.  What is He calling us to weep over?  Is He calling us to a life of perpetual sorrow, depression, melancholy, tears and sadness?  No.  Jesus is calling us to weep over our own sin.  Why is this so important to Jesus, that He should make this such a high priority in His teaching?  Jesus knows that sin is the great enemy!  Jesus knows that our own sinful flesh is strong enough to deprive us of spiritual life and strength to the point of our heart delighting in that deadly sin.  Then as sin begins to become our heart’s desire it hinders our spiritual walk and energy to fight against it as it slowly darkens our soul.  Not too long after delighting in sin, we experience spiritual death (Romans 8:5-7).  Jesus says, I want you to recognize your sin as the enemy of your soul.  I want you to weep over your sin.  Weep over so deeply that you take action and kill your sin.  Put sin to death.  Thomas Watson said, "Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”

One great promise that comes with a perpetual sorrow for sin is that great Joy is attached to the sorrow.  When we come to our loving God and with sorrow say, “Lord I am sorry that I have this sin in my heart and I am acting on this sin. I am sorry that I have justified this sin and have been ignoring Your call to holiness.  I am sorry that this sin remains in me. I am sorry that I have offended Your loving kind steadfast love towards me.  Lord, I hate this sin, please help me not to go back to it.”  And what is our loving God’s response?  "You are forgiven, I will strengthen you by My Spirit to turn from this sin, I will provide for you a way of escape and I will take away your taste buds for this sin, I love you, and remember there is no more condemnation upon you for this sin, Jesus Christ has taken it all.”  These truths bring great Joy to our sorrow.  We are promised laughter!  Why laughter?  Because we stand forgiven without curse or condemnation with the promise of a perpetual deep satisfaction on this Earth.  Thank you Jesus for being merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness towards us!

Luke 6:21 ...Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

I look forward to worshipping our Loving and faithful God with you this Sunday, Steve