God be merciful to me a sinner - Prayer of repentance

 

Here is one of the greatest prayers a man can pray in his lifetime. It is a hearty prayer of a penitent sinner. It is a prayer that when accompanied with the right state of mind God will not turn away from it; He (God) says, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice…” Matthew 9:13.  It is a prayer of genuine repentance.

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Here is that one prayer which whosoever finds his way unto it with the right heart will find pardon, ’cause there is a blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. This blood of which anyone who rightly taps into it will raise up sufficient indignation against the camp of the enemies to be free!!! This is that blood of the first begotten Son of GOD shed for the redemption of any man and of every man who will apply it for him/her-self.

Jesus gave the referenced parable in Luke 18:9-14.

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Notice this: the pharisee’s sin was not that he recounted his righteousness unto God, but because he was a hypocrite and he was proud! That which he did he did before men that he might receive their praises and gain their approval. That he did receive but not of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:2-5, “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments”. His (pharisee) standard was not God but the sinners around and his fellow men. Are you such?

Paul said, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2Corinthians 10:12. There in his heart was the holier than thou attitude which God hates.

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Isaiah, through the Spirit of God, spoke about them when he said, “A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;” Isaiah 65:3,4.

Now, here on the contrary we see the publican, (Luke 18:9-14),

·         He stood afar off – a sense of unworthiness. Jacob said, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant…” Genesis 32:10. He was sincere, no wonder God heard him. When you approach God in prayer, do you ‘package’ yourself to look quite different from the original you before him? Or, do you appear sincere? (Answer this to yourself!).

 

·         He would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven – He was humble. He was not like the pharisee who despite his secret transgressions, hid it, made a bold face before God and men in the temple, forgetting that YOU CAN NOT HIDE IT FROM GOD!

Little wonder, Job knowing this said, “If I covered my transgression as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom”. Here is what happened, Adam ate the forbidden fruit after his wife who was deceived by the serpent gave him to eat, and then his relationship with God was broken; sin came in and death loomed at the door. After all these, the good LORD opened up a conversation that could have led to acknowledgement, confession, forgiveness and restoration {as the good LORD is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrew 13:8, Malachi 3:6}, but No! Daddy Adam, rather than confessing and pleading for forgiveness for himself and his wife, shitted the blame for his transgression to his wife, his wife in turn to the serpent and they ruined that precious chance!!

“A deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?”. Job said, I did not do like Adam did and we see the publican also, he did not do so. Do you do so? Will you keep doing so? “Whoso confesses and forsakes his sins shall find mercy!”.

As long as Jacob is still bearing Esau, there can be no forgiveness!

As long as Jacob is still bearing Esau, there will be no deliverance!

As long as Jacob is still bearing Esau, there shall be no blessings!

Jacob said, “I am Esau…” Genesis 27:19, but now, “Who are you?”.

Are you the sinner calling himself a saint? Sister Jesus the fornicator?!?

“Who are YOU?”.

The publican felt unworthy, he humbled himself (no man did that for him, he did it himself as you would have to do yourself!).

 

·         He smote himself upon his breast (Luke 18:13), he felt grieved by his own iniquities, he felt wretched by his own sins. He said, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” |As though I hear him, holding on his breast with hot tears roll out of his eyes, crying out loudly “God be merciful to me a sinner! Tears in my eyes, who would have turned away from this prayer???|

Oh, how would you think God will turn away from this cry?!? “…a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17.

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When you loathe your sins and you come to God for mercy and pardon, God will not turn you away!

When haven realized your wickedness you, like the Psalmist, say unto God, “I acknowledge my sins unto thee and mine iniquity I will not hide!” Psalm 32:5, God will not turn you away! No, he will not!!

When you come to realize that all your struggles unto self-righteousness will not do, and just as Bildad said in Job 8:5, you go and seek unto God early, making your supplication to the Almighty, God will not turn you away!!!

 

You prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands towards God; if iniquity be in your hand, put it far away and do not let wickedness dwell in your tabernacles. It is then that you will be able to lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear, because you will forget your misery and remember it as waters that pass away. Job 11:13-16.

 

Here is a chance rolling by your side this very moment, Jesus passing by your own way, do not turn Him away! Here comes the moment of your salvation, you have delayed so long,

the blood of cleansing is still flowing, ever fresh as ever it had been. Why not turn to Jesus today! Why not, like Bartimaeus, cry out now, “Jesus, thou son of God, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:46-48. He will not turn you away!!

He said, “…him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37.

 

Friend, where are you now!?! Jesus is calling for you! He said that I should call for you. Come!

No longer withdraw! No longer delay! Jesus is calling for you!!

Today is the day of salvation! No longer delay!!!

He is calling for you, Come!

Ask Jesus to have mercy on you. Ask him now!

Ask God to forgive you your wickedness: for all sins no matter how simple is wickedness against the holy and true God. Ask hm now!

Ask him to take away all your transgression and give you a new heart. Ask him now!

Ask him all these in the name of his son Jesus. Ask him now!

Tell him you give your life to him; decisively promise to put away all objects of sin. Tell him now!

Ask him to help you live an acceptable life before him henceforth In the name of his son Jesus. Now worship him because, haven done all these according to his words, he has forgiven you and added your name into his book of life. Congratulations.

 

Heaven is now rejoicing because of you!

 

***From now on,

·         Always keep faith strong and never as before go back to those things/ways which made you a sinner before God in the past (this is because you are now a new creature and the old things are now passed away).

·         Always company with true children of God and always put Jesus as your standard in everything you do.

We love you and we will reign together with Christ in heaven at the last day In Jesus Name.

 

Shalom

Article written by Ifeoluwa Animashaun