THE GOOD NEWS

Eventually, I "painted myself into a corner" with no way out. By God’s grace a Chaplain in the Army gave me a Bible that included the Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament. I read it for 2 weeks.

For the first time in my life I believed I was a sinner in need of a Savior- Jesus Christ!

All the junk cluttering my mind, heart & life began to clear out. My MENTAL HEALTH was positively affected. Love, forgiveness and peace were new words to me that had great meaning; they were non existent prior to Jesus.

It's amazing how the truth of God’s word in verses like those below are needed in every one of our relationships. As a bonus, we receive the peace of mind that comes with forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS IS KEY TO MENTAL HEALTH

”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.“ ‭‭ Ephesians 4:32

HOWEVER, REPENTANCE IS ALSO KEY TO MENTAL HEALTH

“cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance"

As another writer concluded: “REPENTANCE is the most necessary but ignored topic in the church today.”

And another author said, we in church leadership are often guilty of "RESPECTABLE SINS". In comparison to the "biggies" of greed, drunkenness and sexual sin, leadership sin often looks like:

• worry
• fear
• control
• gossip/slander
• grumble
• workaholism 

Unfortunately- We often choose to live in denial of sin instead of knowing peace and forgiveness through ongoing REPENTANCE 

FRESH FORGIVENESS & REPENTANCE make us “alive” to share the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST. Do you ever wonder why you’re not excited to share Jesus with others? As Revelation says you’re lukewarm- neither hot nor cold. But good news- God, in His kindness is drawing you to Repent!

REPENTANCE & FRUITFULNESS



Want to become a more effective witness of your faith in Christ? REPENT OFTEN!

REPENTANCE makes us ALIVE in Christ!

We are forgiven and cleansed from all major and minor sins of thought, word, deed, omission and commission through Jesus' completed work on the cross. He was born, lived, died and conquered death so that our lives would be anything but boring as we reach out to all people with the Good News of Jesus our Savior and Lord.

As a reminder, listed below are the 5 churches Jesus asked to REPENT.

Listed beside them are SPECIFIC SINS they were to repent of as individuals and as the church body:

1-Ephesus- forsaken first love

2-Pergamum- tolerate compromise

3-Thyatira- tolerate immorality

4-Sardis- superficial

5-Laodicea- lukewarm

REPENT OFTEN- it will make sense for your own WELL BEING and the FRUITFULNESS we pass on to others

“Repentance and faith are distasteful to the unregenerate; they would sooner repeat a thousand formal prayers than shed a solitary tear of true repentance.” Charles Spurgeon

Think about what Spurgeon was saying. We can pray endlessly, but unless we repent sincerely of our sin, we will not know the peace & hope God designed for us to have through repentance.

Recently, I've found it strange that believers seem to avoid the term REPENTANCE in favor the term revival instead. But true revival can't exist without repentance!

It seems we initially accept Jesus for forgiveness and think that covers all future sins. That’s true for Salvation however Jesus mercifully offers us fresh REPENTANCE for all sin- thought, word, deed, omission and commission.

Let's confess our sin instead of forging ahead without concern for people we encounter daily, who also need good mental health through Jesus.

REPENT of being LUKEWARM and receive the benefits!-

love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, kindness, patience and self control.

EXHORTATION-

Hear this rebuke and discipline from Jesus because of His love for us: REPENT.

Please read and meditate on the following verses. Jesus wants to have intimate fellowship with you and me!

”I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.“

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭17‬, ‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭

"Four marks of true repentance are: acknowledgement of wrong, willingness to confess it, willingness to abandon it, and willingness to make restitution." Corrie ten Boom

REPENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH

-Ted