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Called By God: Repent NOW! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 2, 2023 sermon, “Called By God: Repent NOW”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Amos 5:4-6, 14-15

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series which is based from the Old Testament book of Amos.  If you’re wondering how applicable the message from this book of the Bible can be today, consider the following description of the world in the days of Amos.  See if this sounds familiar at all to the world we currently live in.

“A spirit of self-sufficiency and smug complacency thrived on material prosperity.  The rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.  Idolatry, hypocrisy, moral corruption, and social injustices were everywhere.  The nation was truly on the brink of disaster.”  (Irving Jensen)

The story of Amos is not only about God calling ordinary people to do extraordinary things, it is also about God calling His people to return . . . to come home.  The way of returning always requires that we change direction in what the Bible calls repentance.  When God’s Word convicts us and calls for repentance, the best response is to repent . . .

  • Noticeably:

    • Repentance may be about changing our mind, and it may well begin in the mind, but true and godly repentance will always involve a noticeable change.  It can be easy to go about the motions that give a casual observer the impression you desire, but real change stand up to the scrutiny of examination.  When we turn, or return, toward God in repentance, He begins a work in us that should be visible in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

  • Obediently: —

    • Rather than being about judgment or condemnation, the repentance God calls us to is a restoration of obedience.  The change of direction we choose to make becomes led by our desire to obey God’s Word as we look to Him for help in doing so.  Our attitude and desires change so that our obedience is not done out of compulsion, but rather out of love.  When we turn, or return, toward God in repentance, He creates both the desire and ability within us for a life of obedience.

  • Worshipfully: —

    • One result of our responding to God’s call for repentance ought to be an increase in our offering of worship to Him.  It is through repentance that we allow God to examine us fully and purify our heart and mind so our worship flows freely from a life devoted to Him.  Rather than allowing our sin to distance us from God, repentance invites God in to clean up our mess so that nothing would hinder our worship.  When we turn, or return, to God in repentance, He creates within us a clean heart which can worship Him fully.

Today, will you hear God’s call and repent NOW?

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