Godly Sorrow 2 Corin 7:10

Saturday, October 30, 2010 Pray For Your Spouse’s Repentance & Salvation Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.   2 Corinthians 7:10 Do you know the most important event in you and your husband’s or wife’s life? It is both you and your spouse confessing your sins, repenting and receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord of your life. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood… Romans 3:22-25a If I were to ask standers the question, "What is the most important part of your marriage being restored?" many would think it was their spouse coming home. You must know that to have your marriage totally restored and rebuilt on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, we need both spouses touched and to be changed by the Lord Jesus Christ. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdomofGodunless he is born again.”  John 3:3 This not only gives you both eternal life, but it will also change you, your character, and your attitudes regarding everything in your lives. When you both know Jesus as Savior and Lord, He will transform both of you into new creatures in Christ. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 Marriage restoration is a process, much like restoring an old house. It takes time, but in the end, it will be beautiful and worth all the work. Then you will have a heritage for your children, grandchildren and future generations of all that has been accomplished inside those walls. Some spouses come home by Holy Spirit conviction, but not every spouse comes home repenting and asking Jesus Christ into their life as Savior and Lord. The marriage may have to go through more difficult days, if the returned prodigal spouse has not repented of their sins, or if they will not run from their sinful lifestyle or totally sever the relationship with the other person. In fact, you may have to walk through some deep waters if your beloved spouse is home, which is a praise, but they are living in sin. Your actions as a husband or wife with unconditional love will continue to allow the Holy Spirit to speak conviction to their heart every day. Your prayers as the prayer warrior are powerful and essential to get victory. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:12, 21 As a stander, pray specifically for your spouse's repentance and their salvation every day before they come home. Nevertheless, always be ready to open the door wide, bringing them in from Satan's trap and territory. Jesus will do the changing of the heart. If the Lord brings your prodigal home, He will do the cleansing from their sinful lifestyle. Every spouse who is on the road of marriage restoration must learn to seek the Lord and pray through many different issues and learn how to react as the Lord wants you to react. Just pray and lay them at the Lord’s feet daily. Let me suggest you pray and read Psalm 51 and Romans 12:9-end each day which will come alive to you quickly. Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."  Luke 19:10 This Lord's Day may you and I never forget to pray for all spouses, family and friends, who need to come to know our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will speak conviction so loudly that they will want to repent and turn from sinful lifestyles. May every spouse who does not know our Lord Jesus Christ this Lord's Day call on His Name to be saved from the enemy, who is a liar and the deceiver. Imagine how many hurting marriages that are still together could be changed forever, by putting Jesus Christ first in their lives! "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"  Ezekiel 18:30-32 What does "repentance" mean? "To change one's mind from sin or evil; change or turn away from past; process of transformation of character and attitudes." If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:9 "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."  Acts 2:38-39 "Salvation" from Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference Companion says: "The total work of God in affecting a right relationship between mankind and himself." In another concordance, salvation is explained as saving us from the practice and dominion of sin, filling us with the Holy Spirit. "’Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’"  Acts 2:21 Is that not your prayer for your spouse and other loved ones who are living blatantly in sin? Salvation comes as a gift of God's grace which is God's unmerited favor, mercy, and compassion for all of His people. Do you believe that your spouse can be saved? Believe every day that your Lord wants your spouse to be saved and have their life changed completely. Now pray for them forever! For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 The first step in having a restored marriage is to ask Jesus Christ into your life and into the mess of your marriage. You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior of your life. Our God and Creator wants a personal relationship with you and to have intimate conversations with you daily. Have you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life? When you confess your sins, repent and ask Jesus to come into your life, He will save you and become your Comforter, Counselor, Deliverer, Defender, Advocate and Friend in the days ahead, regardless of your circumstances. Are you lacking the assurance of your salvation you made years ago? Just pray this prayer below and know for certain that you are a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Here is a prayer for you: "Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and that You rose again on the third day. I confess to You that I am a sinner and that I need Your love and forgiveness. Come into my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me eternal life. I confess to You now that I want You to be my Savior and I want you to be Lord of my life. I surrender every part of my life to You, Lord. Thank You for my salvation. Lord, show me Your will and Your way for my marriage. Mold me and make me to be the spouse I need to be for my husband/wife. Thank You for rebuilding my marriage on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen." Let me personalize a prayer for the salvation and repentance of your prodigal husband or wife: "Lord, I am praying for my husband or wife and every spouse and prodigal child who are away from You that are in the pigpen of life away from their families. Lord, open their spiritual eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You. Lord, go, deliver, touch, and rescue them from the trap of Satan and bring my husband/wife home and all Your  prodigal children home to their waiting spouses, quickly. I know nothing is too hard for You. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen." Never stop praying and believing for your husband’s or wife’s heart to be transformed, suddenly, today! Prodigals do come home, Charlyne