The Greatest Joy St. Peter & St. Paul Church Servant Preparation Retreat February 17, 2007

Luke 15:5-7 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilder- ness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. which was lost.

Q. What is the percentage here?

1 :1 :1 :1 : %

How about the joy of the lost sheep that was found? W Wouldn’t it be rejoicing greatly as it goes back to the flock and the kind shepherd ???

“I say to you that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Or what woman having ten coins, if she loses one coin Or what woman having ten coins, if she loses one coin

does she not does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and seek carefully until she finds it?

And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.

Q. What is the percentage here? 1:10 10%

“Likewise I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

What is repentance? Repentance is LOVE, the love of God that protects man from every wrong, instinctively and with little struggle and with the support of Divine grace. Repentance is LOVE, the love of God that protects man from every wrong, instinctively and with little struggle and with the support of Divine grace. This grace radiates from the Cross of Christ into the heart of man to make him despise this passing world and its mortal pleasures. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” (Is. 43:1) This grace radiates from the Cross of Christ into the heart of man to make him despise this passing world and its mortal pleasures. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” (Is. 43:1)

The return to the tender arms of the Father The return to the tender arms of the Father Being saved from the attack of adversary who wants to destroy us. Being saved from the attack of adversary who wants to destroy us. The return to the divine image in which we were originally created: PURITY, WISDOM and FREE WILL The return to the divine image in which we were originally created: PURITY, WISDOM and FREE WILL The Effects of Repentance

The Glory of Repentance Fellowship with the striving and victorious church Fellowship with the striving and victorious church Fellowship in the divine Nature itself Fellowship in the divine Nature itself A happy eternity in the Lord with the hosts of angels and saints A happy eternity in the Lord with the hosts of angels and saints

Back to the Lost coin 1. A girl is given 10 coins to save 2. She threads the coins in a necklace 3. She wears that necklace in preparation for her wedding day. 4. If the bridegroom discovers that one is missing, he would not marry her!!!

The woman your soul + The GroomOur Lord Jesus christ + The 10 coins The 10 Commandments + The lost coinbreaking one or any the or any the Commandments Commandments

+The searching light The word of God +Sweepingcleaning the heart from sin and its causes + seekingdiligent work to uncover the lost virtue uncover the lost virtue (Commandment) and restore it.

+ Rejoicing when I hear the voice of God saying: “Your sin is forgiven”

How do I offer acceptable repentance? Pray hard to discover your sin Pray hard to discover your sin Search diligently with the LAMP of the Bible to spot your sin or weakness Search diligently with the LAMP of the Bible to spot your sin or weakness Sweep your heart and mind and remove all causes sin away Sweep your heart and mind and remove all causes sin away Humbly admit your sin to God and then confess it before the Holy Spirit and your father of confession. (Pride might prevent you from so doing !!!) Humbly admit your sin to God and then confess it before the Holy Spirit and your father of confession. (Pride might prevent you from so doing !!!)

The Holy Spirit will inspire you and the father of confession to solutions and absolution of sins. The Holy Spirit will inspire you and the father of confession to solutions and absolution of sins. After confession and partaking of Holy Communion, the sins you repented and confessed are forgiven and forgotten by our merciful God. After confession and partaking of Holy Communion, the sins you repented and confessed are forgiven and forgotten by our merciful God. To maintain the life of repentance “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14) To maintain the life of repentance “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14)

Therefore, let us rejoice for this great love and grace our compassionate Lord granted us.. hurry up and take advantage of this great privilege of forgiveness of sins, “redeeming time for the days are evil.” Therefore, let us rejoice for this great love and grace our compassionate Lord granted us.. hurry up and take advantage of this great privilege of forgiveness of sins, “redeeming time for the days are evil.”