(notes from sermon preached in 2010 @ Haven of Hope)
Hebrews 12:17
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Lincoln Proclaims National Fast Day
Abraham Lincoln wrote an address to the nation during the Civil War that was at least as important as the Gettysburg Address.
It was his proclamation for a national fast-day, by which he did designate and set apart Thursday the 30th day of April 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer.
Lincoln wrote: “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
“The awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people.
“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
“It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
—The Bible Friend
There is a blessing to be had when we are living a life of repentance.
A life that says I choose Christ over my flesh,
Christ over desire,
Christ over indulganece,
Christ over self-sufficiency,
Christ over Annalytical thinking,
Christ over social significance,
Christ over…..
I want us to consider something the Apostle Peter had to say on the subject of blessing.
1 Peter 3:9-17
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness 'sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
In verse 9 Peters is saying, “Do not impair your blessing by fearing man's terror in your times of adversity.”
We cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet we should have compassion for one another, love as brothers and sisters in Chrsit.
Peter is saying that if we want to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, we must bridle our tounge from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. Leave eveil actions and do all the good we can. To seek peace with all men!
Why? It is His desire to bless us.
He is a blessing God!
But we must not forget our text this morning. He desires to bless, he desires all these things for us but Cain would not inherit the blessing of God because he found no place of repentance.
Notice “he sought it carefully with tears.” Just because you shed some tear, just because you come to an alter area in a church setting or at home on your couch you have a break down and start talking to your creator with tears in your eyes, does not mean you have a repented spirit!
God help us to have a spirit of repentance come over us that says,
I want the real deal Lord.
I don’t want to live after my flesh Lord.
I don’t want to pursue my self interest but your Lord.
I no longer want to look for the reasons why I can serve you Lord,
Forgive me Jesus, I want my sacrifice to be pleasing in your eyes.
Don't despaired in your dilemma!
Three Hebrew children, the fourth never came out of the fire. He is still in the fire for you!
What was waiting for Cain had he simply repented? There was a blessing waiting.
Don't rob yourself of blessing due to your stubbornness, He stands in the fire! He's waiting to bless you.
Repentance is an about face, a turning from sin to Christ! It's not just words but a conscious decision.
Repent from what? Sin, what is sin? Sin is anything that is anti-God. Sin is anything that inhibits our relationship with Christ.
That’s a strong statement. The Word of God says, to know to do right and not to do it is a sin!
I would that each of us would do some soul searching this morning. There is a blessing to be had in a repented spirit! A blessing to totally submit and consecrate our life to Him!
[1]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.
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