Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn,
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and we welcome you
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to our live
Wednesday night Bible study
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here at Thompsonville, Illinois.
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We are coming to you
from the 3ABN Worship Center,
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and we are just so
glad that you are joining us
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for this Bible study.
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This program is
called A Sharper Focus,
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and tonight we are going
to be taking a sharper focus
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on the joy of repentance.
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Just want to
welcome all of you as well.
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And how many of you
think of repentance and joy
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in the same sentence.
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I'm seeing some confused faces.
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Sometimes people say,
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"What do you mean
the joy of repentance?"
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Well, there is joy in repentance
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and we are going
to look at it tonight.
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But first, let us begin,
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we are not going
to sing our song.
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I asked about the
theme song, and they said,
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"Well, usually it's
just Pastor Lomacang's mike
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that you hear going
along with the track."
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And I said, "No."
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If Pastor Lomacang
were here, we'd sing,
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but they don't pay me to
sing, they pay me not to.
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Let's go to the Lord in prayer.
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Heavenly Father, we
come in the name of Jesus,
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and Lord, thank You for everyone
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who has come out tonight.
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It has been a rough
week, and we just are looking
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for a breath of
fresh air, Father.
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We ask that You would send
Your Holy Spirit, and Lord,
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as we open Your Word,
it is alive and active,
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and I pray in the name of Jesus
that by the power of Your Word,
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You will sanctify us.
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Lord, set us apart from sin.
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And, Father, help
my tired mind to think,
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just get me out of the way
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and speak
through me is my prayer,
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in Jesus' name, amen.
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How many of you agree...
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Has this been a
rough week for everybody?
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It has been. I don't know.
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Everybody I've talked
to had said the same thing,
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and I for one I'm
not getting any sleep,
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I'm kind of having
to walk around like this
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trying to keep my eyes open.
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But what I like you
to do is open your Bibles
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to Matthew Chapter 5.
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Matthew Chapter 5.
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And as you're turning there,
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I want to tell you
a story that's found
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in 2 Samuels 11 and 12,
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you all will be
very familiar with it.
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This is the
story about King David.
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David was a man
after God's own heart.
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That's what the
Lord said about him.
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He was a man
after his own heart.
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But David was in the wrong place
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at the wrong time.
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The time when king
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should have been
going out toward,
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David stayed back.
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He kind of just
took it for granted,
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and let his people do
what he thought they could do,
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and he got bored.
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So he goes out for a
walk on the palace roof,
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and what happens?
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He sees Bathsheba,
and she is bathing,
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and his heart is
inflamed with torrid lust.
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And here we have a man
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after God's own heart
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who suddenly,
unexpectedly finds himself
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racing toward the
cliff of spiritual death,
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but he becomes
blinded to his own condition.
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First, what does he do?
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He sends for
Bathsheba, he takes Bathsheba.
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Then, once he's kind
of like, "Oh, my goodness.
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This is, you know,
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something bad
could happen here, "
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he calls for her
husband, brings him in.
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And what does he do?
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When the husband will not...
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Bathsheba's husband
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was more
honorable than King David.
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And when he
would not accept bribes
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or go down to see his wife,
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then David plots
his murder, doesn't he?
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And so now we find King David
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who is blinded to
his own condition,
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and I think that the thing
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that makes this
alarmingly glaring
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is that David was a
man after God's own heart.
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He was sensitive to sin,
he understood what it meant,
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what sin meant, but
here we have this man.
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So the next chapter
in 2 Samuel Chapter 12,
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God in His mercy
sends the Prophet Nathan,
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and Nathan tells
David the story about a man,
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a rich man who owned
many, many flocks of sheep.
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But when he has
someone, a stranger
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who comes for
dinner, what does he do?
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He goes to a man
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who only has
one little ewe lamb,
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a lamb that was
his special treasure,
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and he goes and he
takes this man's lamb
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and he serves it up for supper.
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Well, when David
heard about this,
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he was enraged,
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and he was ready to have
the rich man put to death.
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But can you imagine
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the abrupt
reversal of David's rage
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when suddenly Nathan
looks at him and says,
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"You are the man."
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Well, David
thought he was a good man,
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but he was blinded
to his own condition.
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Now I think I'm a good person.
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I try to be a good person.
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Do you think you
are a good person?
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For the most part, don't we?
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Maybe we think we
are better than David
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because we've never
committed murder or adultery,
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or have we?
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Let's look at what Jesus
said in Matthew Chapter 5,
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and we are going to
begin with verse 22.
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Matthew 5:22.
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Jesus says, "But I say
to you that who is ever..."
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Am I in the right place? Nope.
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Matthew Chapter 5:27.
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Excuse me.
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"'You have heard that it
was said to those of old,
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'You shall not commit adultery.'
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But I say to you
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that whoever looks at
a woman to lust for her
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has already committed adultery
with her in his heart.' "
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Wow.
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Do you realize
what Jesus is saying?
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He is saying that
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the thoughts of
lust are the sin,
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adultery is the fruit of sin.
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Let me repeat that.
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The thoughts,
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the lustful
thoughts are the sin,
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adultery is simply
the fruit of the sin.
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And you know in our day and age,
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it's very difficult,
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especially I think for
men, to control their thoughts.
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You know, I think
if there's anything
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that we need to
teach our young women,
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we need to teach
them to dress modestly.
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You know, it's amazing to me
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when you can go
to a church function
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and see someone
show up in short shorts
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or, you know, tank tops
that are pretty revealing.
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Women don't understand
how men are visually wired
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and they respond to that.
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But a man has to
take responsibility.
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If you are tempted, you have...
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You know, you've heard
of the old saying that,
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"It's one thing if a
bird flies over your head,
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but it's another thing
if he nests in your hair."
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So you've got to take
control of those thoughts.
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But now I did want to
go to verse 22 as well.
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The Lord says, "But I say to you
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that whoever is
angry with his brother
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without a cause
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shall be in
danger of the judgment."
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Thoughts of
hatred are heart murder.
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Did you catch that?
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If you hate someone,
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it's like you are
committing heart murder.
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But the act of
taking someone's life
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is simply something that
grows out of an unclean heart.
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So when we start looking
into scripture for what sin is,
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we can realize
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we are in the same
condition that David's in,
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and we need to open our eyes,
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and let the reflection
pool of our conscience
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help us inspect our
hearts and confess our sins
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because without
confession, without repentance,
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we can't have confidence
that God is going to hear us
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or accept our worship.
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Turn to Psalms 24,
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and we are going to look
at a very important verse
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that sometimes I
think we forget about.
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Psalms 24, and let's
look at verse 3 and 4.
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Psalms 24:3 and 4.
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"Who may ascend into
the hill of the Lord?
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Or who may stand
in His holy place?"
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Who is it?
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He who has a clean heart and...
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A pure heart and clean hands,
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or clean hands and a pure heart.
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To us, a fountain
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has been opened to wash away
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the impurities of our heart,
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to wash way the
filth of our hands.
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The guilt of sin is washed
away by the blood of the lamb.
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Amen?
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And I'm so thankful
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that it's not by
works of righteousness,
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not by anything
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that we have to
do that we are saved,
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but according to God's mercy,
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we are saved by the regeneration
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and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
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And when we receive
His grace of forgiveness,
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we are spotless before the Lord,
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we are clean from this,
the pollution of our sin.
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Now let's go back to
our story just a second.
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How did David react
to Nathan's statement,
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"You are the man."
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You know, if he had
been a hot headed king,
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he could have
easily said to the prophet,
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"Off with your head."
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But no, David's eyes
were open to his lawlessness.
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He recognized what his sin was.
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And he said, "I have
sinned against the Lord."
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And then we find
the most precious,
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and we'll get
into it just a moment,
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but the most precious
book for repentance is Psalm 51
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which we'll look
at in just a moment.
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He confessed his
sin against the Lord,
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and he repented,
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and even to the point that
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he said to the
Lord in Psalm 51:4,
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"Against you and
you only have I sinned."
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Isn't that an
interesting statement?
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You know,
00:11:25.38\00:11:26.72
I think if we
recognize it every time we sin,
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no matter what we do, if
we are hurting someone else,
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it's God who we
are sinning against.
00:11:32.15\00:11:36.02
Isn't that amazing?
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So what is repentance?
00:11:37.43\00:11:39.43
What is repentance?
00:11:39.46\00:11:40.96
It's more than just a
mere confession of our sins.
00:11:41.00\00:11:45.13
It's more than
just feeling remorse.
00:11:45.17\00:11:48.64
We have to know
how to truly repent
00:11:48.67\00:11:51.14
according to God's pattern.
00:11:51.17\00:11:53.78
And we are going to look
at five steps of repentance.
00:11:53.81\00:11:57.31
Let me tell you what
those are very briefly,
00:11:57.35\00:11:59.91
and then we'll go over them.
00:11:59.95\00:12:01.58
The first is recognition of sin.
00:12:01.62\00:12:04.89
The second is godly sorrow.
00:12:04.92\00:12:07.79
The third is confession.
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.82
Then we must
receive God's forgiveness,
00:12:09.86\00:12:13.80
that's the fourth step.
00:12:13.83\00:12:15.43
But the fifth step is
that we change our conduct.
00:12:15.46\00:12:18.40
So let's look at these
five steps of repentance,
00:12:18.43\00:12:23.04
and then, by the time we finish,
00:12:23.07\00:12:25.51
you will understand
the joy of repentance.
00:12:25.54\00:12:29.81
So number one is
the recognition of sin.
00:12:29.84\00:12:34.08
Repentance begins
with this recognition.
00:12:34.12\00:12:37.49
David would never have repented
if he hadn't recognized his sin
00:12:37.52\00:12:41.46
for what is was.
00:12:41.49\00:12:42.82
And when we examine ourselves
in the light of God's Word,
00:12:42.86\00:12:45.66
the character of
our conduct is exposed.
00:12:45.69\00:12:48.73
The Holy Spirit
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.10
by His convicting power
helps us to think differently
00:12:50.13\00:12:53.80
and recognize
how foul our sin is.
00:12:53.84\00:12:56.77
I think of the
word sin as an acronym
00:12:56.81\00:13:01.14
that really aptly explains
00:13:01.18\00:13:05.61
what lies at the root of it.
00:13:05.65\00:13:07.75
S is for
Selfishness, I is for Ignorance,
00:13:07.78\00:13:12.79
N is for Neglect.
00:13:12.82\00:13:15.09
Selfishness,
Ignorance, and Neglect.
00:13:15.12\00:13:18.49
Selfishness, if we
have self-centered behavior,
00:13:18.53\00:13:21.76
this is what causes us to
commit sins intentionally.
00:13:21.80\00:13:27.10
This is when we know
that doing something is wrong
00:13:27.14\00:13:30.57
but we do it anyway
because it pleases us.
00:13:30.61\00:13:33.68
Now ignorance is
when we commit sins
00:13:33.71\00:13:37.91
that are unintentional.
00:13:37.95\00:13:39.28
We don't know
what God's Word says,
00:13:39.31\00:13:40.98
we don't know that
what we are doing is sin.
00:13:41.02\00:13:46.32
Neglect is when we...
00:13:46.35\00:13:49.06
This is another
intentional act of sin.
00:13:49.09\00:13:52.23
This is when we
know what is right
00:13:52.26\00:13:56.53
but we fail to do it,
00:13:56.56\00:13:58.00
sometimes perhaps just
because we are too busy.
00:13:58.03\00:14:01.84
So Selfishness,
Ignorance, and Neglect.
00:14:01.87\00:14:06.61
Now turn to James Chapter 4.
00:14:06.64\00:14:12.51
We are going to look...
00:14:12.55\00:14:14.28
In order for us
to recognize our sin,
00:14:14.32\00:14:16.65
we have to know what
the Bible says sin is.
00:14:16.69\00:14:21.86
So we are going to look
at several categories of sin.
00:14:21.89\00:14:26.73
This is by no means
an exhaustive study,
00:14:26.76\00:14:29.93
but we're going to look at
00:14:29.96\00:14:31.30
what the Bible
talks about is sin.
00:14:31.33\00:14:34.47
The first one
is to miss the mark
00:14:34.50\00:14:37.74
of God's righteous requirements.
00:14:37.77\00:14:41.11
This is like, if
you were to think
00:14:41.14\00:14:42.91
that we had over
here a bow and arrow,
00:14:42.94\00:14:47.02
and we've got the target,
00:14:47.05\00:14:48.38
if you were to
pull back this bow
00:14:48.42\00:14:50.45
and release the arrow,
it's to miss the bull's eye.
00:14:50.49\00:14:54.62
We are not doing
what God requires us.
00:14:54.66\00:14:57.53
So let's look at James 4:17.
00:14:57.56\00:15:00.20
James 4:17.
00:15:00.23\00:15:04.93
Here's what the Bible says.
00:15:04.97\00:15:07.14
"To him who knows to do
good and does not do it,
00:15:07.17\00:15:13.04
to him it is sin."
00:15:13.07\00:15:16.98
Wow.
00:15:17.01\00:15:18.35
This is a sin of omission.
00:15:18.38\00:15:20.52
This is when we know
what God requires of us,
00:15:20.55\00:15:24.09
yet, we refuse to
do it, and that is sin.
00:15:24.12\00:15:30.03
Now turn to
00:15:30.06\00:15:32.39
Romans 14:23.
00:15:32.43\00:15:38.53
Romans 14:23.
00:15:38.57\00:15:45.44
We know that if
we know to do good
00:15:45.47\00:15:47.91
and we don't do it,
that means we are sinning.
00:15:47.94\00:15:52.71
Well, I'll give you an example.
00:15:52.75\00:15:54.08
Let's say that we know
that the Sabbath is the Sabbath,
00:15:54.12\00:15:59.05
it's God's holy day,
but we refuse to do it,
00:15:59.09\00:16:03.16
we are sinning, all right?
00:16:03.19\00:16:04.86
But look at what
Romans 14:23 says,
00:16:04.89\00:16:07.93
"Whatever is not
from faith is sin."
00:16:07.96\00:16:13.34
Whatever is not
from faith is sin.
00:16:13.37\00:16:16.34
So let's say that
00:16:16.37\00:16:19.54
we are getting
ready to do something
00:16:19.57\00:16:22.84
and we kind of have this...
00:16:22.88\00:16:25.75
You know, do you
ever get that check
00:16:25.78\00:16:27.38
where it's kind of like,
00:16:27.42\00:16:28.75
it holds you back
for just a minute,
00:16:28.78\00:16:30.12
"Should I do it
or shouldn't I do it?
00:16:30.15\00:16:31.62
Is this right to do
or is this wrong to do?"
00:16:31.65\00:16:34.26
If we go forward and
do it not knowing by faith
00:16:34.29\00:16:40.63
that it is in
agreement with God's Word,
00:16:40.66\00:16:43.43
we are sinning.
00:16:43.47\00:16:44.80
So when you get that check,
when you get that red flag,
00:16:44.83\00:16:50.01
go to the Word of God,
go to godly counselors,
00:16:50.04\00:16:53.94
find people who
can help you find
00:16:53.98\00:16:55.91
what the Bible says about it
00:16:55.94\00:16:57.55
because if you do something
that is not from faith,
00:16:57.58\00:17:02.58
it is sin.
00:17:02.62\00:17:04.35
Now turn to 1 John Chapter 3.
00:17:04.39\00:17:08.96
1 John Chapter 3.
00:17:08.99\00:17:12.33
So that first category of sin
00:17:12.36\00:17:15.23
is to miss the mark of
God's righteous requirements.
00:17:15.26\00:17:19.83
Let's look at a second category.
00:17:19.87\00:17:24.77
This isn't a sin of omission,
this is a sin of commission.
00:17:24.81\00:17:29.34
1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin
00:17:29.38\00:17:35.05
also commits lawlessness,
00:17:35.08\00:17:38.45
and sin is lawlessness."
00:17:38.49\00:17:41.92
You know, it's
so interesting to me
00:17:41.96\00:17:43.63
that people have,
00:17:43.66\00:17:46.13
some people in
some denominations
00:17:46.16\00:17:48.76
have such a negative view
of God's Ten Commandments.
00:17:48.80\00:17:53.54
It is so amazing
because to me what God has done,
00:17:53.57\00:17:56.87
we've been
studying on our worship,
00:17:56.91\00:18:01.28
we've been talking
about the love of God,
00:18:01.31\00:18:04.25
and God in His love
gave us Ten Commandments.
00:18:04.28\00:18:09.65
It's kind of like...
00:18:09.68\00:18:11.02
I remember when JD and I
00:18:11.05\00:18:12.39
were going
somewhere up in Colorado,
00:18:12.42\00:18:14.92
and we were going up
to a very high mountain,
00:18:14.96\00:18:17.46
and there was no
railing along the road.
00:18:17.49\00:18:21.76
You know, as we are going
up this kind of winding road
00:18:21.80\00:18:24.27
up the mountain, and
when you looked over,
00:18:24.30\00:18:26.53
and I'm on the driver side...
00:18:26.57\00:18:27.90
I mean, I'm on
the passenger side
00:18:27.94\00:18:29.27
and I can look over,
00:18:29.30\00:18:30.87
you know, 1,000, 2,000 feet down
00:18:30.91\00:18:33.11
and you are thinking
00:18:33.14\00:18:34.48
"Ah! Oh, please don't let us..."
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.41
You know, don't let
there be anything wrong.
00:18:37.45\00:18:39.98
You feel so much more secure
when there's a railing there,
00:18:40.02\00:18:42.62
don't you?
00:18:42.65\00:18:43.99
Why do parents
fence in a backyard
00:18:44.02\00:18:46.82
for children to play?
00:18:46.86\00:18:48.76
Why did they put a fence up?
00:18:48.79\00:18:50.63
To keep their children
from getting into trouble,
00:18:50.66\00:18:52.86
to keep stray
dogs from getting in,
00:18:52.89\00:18:54.60
to keep their kids
00:18:54.63\00:18:55.96
from getting out
into the highway.
00:18:56.00\00:18:58.67
This is
something that is important
00:18:58.70\00:19:00.87
that God has given
us the Ten Commandments
00:19:00.90\00:19:04.44
for our protection
00:19:04.47\00:19:06.37
and they are ten
promises of what he'll do.
00:19:06.41\00:19:09.78
But when we commit lawlessness,
when we break the law of God,
00:19:09.81\00:19:15.82
this is what this
is, is an iniquity,
00:19:15.85\00:19:18.39
is an intentional, or
get this, an unintentional,
00:19:18.42\00:19:23.06
intentional or unintentional
offence against God's law.
00:19:23.09\00:19:28.36
Now a third category of sin is,
00:19:28.40\00:19:32.10
turn to 1 John 5,
00:19:32.13\00:19:35.17
you are right there and just
turn a couple of chapters over.
00:19:35.20\00:19:37.84
1 John Chapter 5,
00:19:37.87\00:19:40.98
and we are going
to look at verse 17.
00:19:41.01\00:19:44.31
This is the one that
gets me more than anything.
00:19:44.35\00:19:47.38
1 John 5:17.
00:19:47.42\00:19:51.42
"All unrighteousness is sin."
00:19:51.45\00:19:57.46
You know what that's saying?
00:19:57.49\00:19:59.76
Any deviation from God's holy
00:19:59.79\00:20:03.26
and righteous character is sin.
00:20:03.30\00:20:07.27
All unrighteousness,
righteousness is simply
00:20:07.30\00:20:09.70
to do things in the right
way that God has prescribed.
00:20:09.74\00:20:14.61
All unrighteousness is sin.
00:20:14.64\00:20:17.88
The reason I thought
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.25
it was important
to talk about this,
00:20:19.28\00:20:20.72
and we could talk about the sins
00:20:20.75\00:20:22.45
against the Holy Spirit,
00:20:22.48\00:20:23.82
how we can
grieve the Holy Spirit,
00:20:23.85\00:20:25.92
how we can
resist the Holy Spirit,
00:20:25.95\00:20:27.99
how we can
quench the Holy Spirit.
00:20:28.02\00:20:30.49
The reason I
think it's important,
00:20:30.53\00:20:32.69
if recognition of sin
00:20:32.73\00:20:34.46
is the first step to repentance,
00:20:34.50\00:20:38.13
it is so important for us
to know what sin is, is it not?
00:20:38.17\00:20:43.81
I had a young
man, I was teaching,
00:20:43.84\00:20:46.24
this is probably 12 years ago
before I became an Adventist.
00:20:46.27\00:20:49.74
But I was
teaching about repentance
00:20:49.78\00:20:53.31
and our daily need
to examine our self,
00:20:53.35\00:20:56.38
and he came to me
after this meeting
00:20:56.42\00:20:59.15
and he said,
00:20:59.19\00:21:00.52
"You don't understand
the good news of the gospel.
00:21:00.56\00:21:04.06
Once you've invited
Christ into your heart,
00:21:04.09\00:21:06.83
you don't have to
confess your sins anymore.
00:21:06.86\00:21:09.53
You don't..."
00:21:09.56\00:21:10.90
And I'm thinking, mercy
sakes, there is no repentance
00:21:10.93\00:21:15.37
if there is no
recognition of sin.
00:21:15.40\00:21:18.21
Romans 2:23, you
don't have to turn there,
00:21:18.24\00:21:21.24
you are going to know this one.
00:21:21.28\00:21:22.94
Paul said to the Romans,
00:21:22.98\00:21:24.91
"All have sinned
00:21:24.95\00:21:27.02
and fallen short
of the glory of God."
00:21:27.05\00:21:30.19
Actually, this in
the original Greek is...
00:21:30.22\00:21:35.39
The fall short is
a continuous action.
00:21:35.42\00:21:40.10
So a more appropriate
translation would be,
00:21:40.13\00:21:44.10
"All have sinned
00:21:44.13\00:21:46.63
and keep falling
short of the glory of God."
00:21:46.67\00:21:51.27
What is God's glory?
00:21:51.31\00:21:53.27
It's His character.
00:21:53.31\00:21:54.98
Let me ask you this.
00:21:55.01\00:21:57.35
Did you fall short of
God's character today?
00:21:57.38\00:22:00.92
How about yesterday?
00:22:00.95\00:22:02.92
You know, I
know that day by day,
00:22:02.95\00:22:05.49
I'm falling short.
00:22:05.52\00:22:07.79
We all fall short, we
all keep falling short.
00:22:07.82\00:22:11.79
And if day by day,
00:22:11.83\00:22:13.16
I'm falling short
of God's character,
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.46
then day by day
00:22:16.50\00:22:18.03
I need to
confess my sins, don't I?
00:22:18.07\00:22:21.17
I need to repent.
00:22:21.20\00:22:23.07
And this is something that
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.37
I just want to encourage you.
00:22:25.41\00:22:28.34
And people don't...
00:22:28.38\00:22:30.35
Sometimes this
doesn't equate in our brain,
00:22:30.38\00:22:32.81
but when you
recognize your sin, rejoice.
00:22:32.85\00:22:37.42
You know, don't beat yourself up
00:22:37.45\00:22:39.05
when you recognize your sin.
00:22:39.09\00:22:41.06
That's actually the Holy
Spirit with His convicting power
00:22:41.09\00:22:44.63
is showing you,
00:22:44.66\00:22:46.66
and that's your
first step of repentance.
00:22:46.70\00:22:50.27
So recognize
your sin and rejoice
00:22:50.30\00:22:54.44
in recognizing your sin there
00:22:54.47\00:22:55.87
because God delights in mercy
00:22:55.90\00:22:58.04
and He stands
ready to forgive you.
00:22:58.07\00:23:00.94
You know, his heart is
filled with love and pity
00:23:00.98\00:23:05.31
for the penitence sinner
00:23:05.35\00:23:07.02
and He won't leave you
with your head hanging low.
00:23:07.05\00:23:10.45
When you recognize your sin,
00:23:10.49\00:23:11.82
it's time to cry out
for God's mercy, right?
00:23:11.85\00:23:14.89
Turn to Micah.
00:23:14.92\00:23:18.66
This is the little book,
00:23:18.69\00:23:20.03
one of the minor
prophets over there
00:23:20.06\00:23:21.56
between Jonah and Nahum,
00:23:21.60\00:23:26.27
Micah,
00:23:26.30\00:23:28.54
and I love this
verse, one of my favorites.
00:23:28.57\00:23:33.01
Micah Chapter 7...
00:23:33.04\00:23:37.45
Micah Chapter 7.
00:23:37.48\00:23:42.48
We are going to
look at verses 18 and 19.
00:23:42.52\00:23:48.42
Micah 7:18.
00:23:48.46\00:23:53.86
Listen what Micah has written.
00:23:53.90\00:23:57.50
"Who is a God like
You, pardoning iniquity
00:23:57.53\00:24:01.94
and passing over
the transgressions
00:24:01.97\00:24:04.47
of the remnant of His heritage?
00:24:04.51\00:24:07.28
He does not
retain His anger forever,
00:24:07.31\00:24:11.38
because He delights in mercy.
00:24:11.41\00:24:14.98
He will again
have compassion on us,
00:24:15.02\00:24:18.92
and will subdue our iniquities."
00:24:18.95\00:24:23.22
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:24:23.26\00:24:25.09
by the blood of the lamb,
00:24:25.13\00:24:26.70
he's going to
subdue our iniquities.
00:24:26.73\00:24:29.36
Now he's saying
to the Lord again.
00:24:29.40\00:24:31.57
"You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea."
00:24:31.60\00:24:36.87
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
00:24:36.91\00:24:40.04
There is joy in repentance.
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.41
When we recognize our sin,
00:24:42.44\00:24:45.51
we have made the first step
00:24:45.55\00:24:50.05
of the process of repentance.
00:24:50.09\00:24:53.39
So I had a lady today
00:24:53.42\00:24:56.12
that I was
talking to on the phone,
00:24:56.16\00:24:58.23
and she'd made a
mistake on Sabbath,
00:24:58.26\00:25:00.96
she felt really bad about it,
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.33
and she'd been
beating herself up about it.
00:25:02.36\00:25:05.10
And we can't do that.
00:25:05.13\00:25:06.90
When we recognize our
sin, fall to your knees
00:25:06.94\00:25:09.47
and just say, "Oh, Lord.
00:25:09.50\00:25:10.84
Thank you for showing me this.
00:25:10.87\00:25:13.17
Thank you, Holy Spirit,
00:25:13.21\00:25:14.81
for opening my eyes
just as you did with David
00:25:14.84\00:25:18.75
so I don't go
over the cliff here."
00:25:18.78\00:25:21.92
So that's your first step.
00:25:21.95\00:25:23.65
The second step is godly sorrow.
00:25:23.69\00:25:27.72
Turn to 2 Corinthians Chapter 7.
00:25:27.76\00:25:32.86
2 Corinthians Chapter 7.
00:25:32.89\00:25:35.26
You know, as we
begin to interpret
00:25:35.30\00:25:36.83
God's marvelous love,
00:25:36.87\00:25:39.50
we see how we have
sinned against Him,
00:25:39.53\00:25:42.37
and then godly
sorrow ceases our hearts.
00:25:42.40\00:25:46.57
We regret our
sins and godly sorrow
00:25:46.61\00:25:49.58
produces a change of heart
00:25:49.61\00:25:51.91
that leads us to
salvation and repentance.
00:25:51.95\00:25:54.12
2 Corinthians 7:10,
00:25:54.15\00:25:59.79
"For godly sorrow
00:25:59.82\00:26:01.76
produces
repentance leading to" what?
00:26:01.79\00:26:04.86
"Salvation."
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.23
Leading to salvation.
00:26:06.26\00:26:08.86
Godly sorrow produces
repentance leading to salvation
00:26:08.90\00:26:14.60
not to be regretted.
00:26:14.64\00:26:17.01
But the sorrow of
the world produces death.
00:26:17.04\00:26:22.94
You know, there
are so many people
00:26:22.98\00:26:25.38
who have guilty consciences.
00:26:25.41\00:26:26.82
There are so many people
00:26:26.85\00:26:28.45
who are
weighted down with guilt,
00:26:28.48\00:26:31.12
the sorrow of the world,
00:26:31.15\00:26:33.59
and they don't
know about our Lord
00:26:33.62\00:26:35.12
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:26:35.16\00:26:37.39
And all that produces is death,
it produces spiritual death.
00:26:37.43\00:26:41.93
But when we have godly sorrow,
00:26:41.96\00:26:45.77
that's something
to rejoice about,
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.57
because godly sorrow
00:26:48.60\00:26:51.21
brings us to that
point of repentance
00:26:51.24\00:26:54.11
leading to salvation.
00:26:54.14\00:26:56.68
Paul wrote to the Romans,
and he said this in Romans 2:4.
00:26:56.71\00:27:03.52
Romans 2:4.
00:27:03.55\00:27:08.56
I love the Book of Romans,
it's probably my favorite book.
00:27:08.59\00:27:11.49
If there were only
one book in the Bible,
00:27:11.53\00:27:13.29
if I had nothing
but the Book of Romans,
00:27:13.33\00:27:15.90
that would be the
book I would choose.
00:27:15.93\00:27:18.23
Romans 2:4.
00:27:18.27\00:27:20.54
Paul says, "Do you despise
00:27:20.57\00:27:24.67
the riches of His goodness,
00:27:24.71\00:27:28.64
His forbearance,
00:27:28.68\00:27:30.11
and His
longsuffering, or patience,
00:27:30.15\00:27:32.81
not knowing that it
is the goodness of God
00:27:32.85\00:27:37.35
that leads you to repentance?"
00:27:37.39\00:27:40.76
It is the goodness
of God that produces
00:27:40.79\00:27:44.33
that godly
sorrow in your hearts.
00:27:44.36\00:27:46.33
It is the goodness of God
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.86
that will lead
you to repentance.
00:27:48.90\00:27:51.30
He is constantly wooing us
and drawing us by His love.
00:27:51.33\00:27:56.50
So godly sorrow,
we recognize our sins,
00:27:56.54\00:28:00.41
then godly sorrow,
00:28:00.44\00:28:01.78
two things that should
bring joy to our hearts.
00:28:01.81\00:28:06.72
Joy, sounds like that's,
00:28:06.75\00:28:10.62
you know, a
juxtaposition of sorrow and joy,
00:28:10.65\00:28:15.56
it sounds like
those are two thing,
00:28:15.59\00:28:17.06
but when it's godly sorrow,
00:28:17.09\00:28:18.73
it should bring
joy to our heart.
00:28:18.76\00:28:20.60
All right. Number three.
00:28:20.63\00:28:22.90
Our third step.
00:28:22.93\00:28:25.37
Confession.
00:28:25.40\00:28:27.54
Confession is the
next critical step
00:28:27.57\00:28:30.17
because sin hinders prayer,
00:28:30.21\00:28:34.41
sin erects a barrier
between us and our holy God.
00:28:34.44\00:28:39.75
Turn to Psalms 66:18.
00:28:39.78\00:28:46.05
Psalms 66:18.
00:28:46.09\00:28:50.16
If anyone knew
about sin and the barrier
00:28:53.23\00:28:57.80
that it could erect
between them and God,
00:28:57.83\00:29:02.97
it was certainly David.
00:29:03.00\00:29:05.51
And in Psalms 66:18,
00:29:05.54\00:29:10.91
here's what he writes.
00:29:10.95\00:29:13.31
"If I regard
iniquity in my heart,"
00:29:13.35\00:29:16.95
what's going to happen?
00:29:16.99\00:29:19.15
"The Lord will not hear."
00:29:19.19\00:29:22.32
When you have a cherished sin
00:29:22.36\00:29:26.53
that you continue to repeat,
00:29:26.56\00:29:29.53
don't think for one second
00:29:29.56\00:29:32.33
that you can go to our holy God
00:29:32.37\00:29:35.54
and He is going
to listen to you.
00:29:35.57\00:29:38.17
Now if you are
asking for forgiveness, yes,
00:29:38.21\00:29:41.18
of course he is, if
it's a spiritual request,
00:29:41.21\00:29:43.98
but we've got to understand that
00:29:44.01\00:29:47.42
regarding iniquity means
that we love this iniquity,
00:29:47.45\00:29:51.19
we are holding on fast to it.
00:29:51.22\00:29:53.52
There was a man,
00:29:53.56\00:29:56.66
I'm not going to tell you
what country this happened in.
00:29:56.69\00:29:58.66
It was a most
unfortunate situation
00:30:01.56\00:30:03.77
because a speaker came
through to talk to them
00:30:03.80\00:30:08.47
about grace and he
did a series on grace,
00:30:08.50\00:30:13.27
but he gave a very
lopsided series on grace,
00:30:13.31\00:30:17.55
an incomplete series
on grace, and he left.
00:30:17.58\00:30:23.12
He delivered a message
00:30:23.15\00:30:25.45
and he left
everyone with impression
00:30:25.49\00:30:27.89
that grace gives
you license to sin.
00:30:27.92\00:30:32.23
What a tragedy?
00:30:32.26\00:30:33.60
That is a travesty.
00:30:33.63\00:30:34.96
I mean, that is
the saddest thing
00:30:35.00\00:30:37.00
I've ever heard because
grace is God's divine power
00:30:37.03\00:30:40.60
and His supernatural
assistance for salvation.
00:30:40.64\00:30:43.27
And when we think about
00:30:43.30\00:30:44.64
the three
greatest gifts of grace,
00:30:44.67\00:30:46.17
Jesus Christ, the
Holy Spirit, and the Word,
00:30:46.21\00:30:48.91
you can see that grace is not...
00:30:48.94\00:30:53.88
It frees us from
pharisaical legalism
00:30:53.92\00:30:56.89
but it is not a license to sin.
00:30:56.92\00:31:00.36
What grace does for us is it...
00:31:00.39\00:31:04.73
We can only obey by grace.
00:31:04.76\00:31:07.03
Do you realize
obedience is by grace
00:31:07.06\00:31:09.23
because it's God who
is working in you to will
00:31:09.26\00:31:12.40
and to do His good pleasure
00:31:12.43\00:31:13.90
by the power of His Holy Spirit.
00:31:13.94\00:31:16.07
So this was something that
00:31:16.10\00:31:19.67
this man who was in the church
00:31:19.71\00:31:23.55
and held a
position in the church.
00:31:23.58\00:31:25.95
After the speaker left,
00:31:25.98\00:31:27.68
you know what
he said to someone?
00:31:27.72\00:31:29.92
"Hallelujah.
00:31:29.95\00:31:31.29
I can come out of the closet,
I can enjoy my pornography
00:31:31.32\00:31:35.92
because I'm saved by grace."
00:31:35.96\00:31:40.76
He was regarding
iniquity in his heart.
00:31:40.80\00:31:44.83
What does Psalms 66:18 say?
00:31:44.87\00:31:49.50
God wasn't going to hear him.
00:31:49.54\00:31:52.31
Now I want to be certain
that I don't leave someone
00:31:52.34\00:31:56.21
who's watching
today by television
00:31:56.24\00:31:59.65
or who's listening by radio,
00:31:59.68\00:32:01.68
I don't want to leave
you with a wrong impression
00:32:01.72\00:32:05.02
that if you are
ready to confess your sin,
00:32:05.05\00:32:07.99
if you want help in changing,
00:32:08.02\00:32:10.19
God is anxious, he
is there to hear you.
00:32:10.23\00:32:13.13
But if you think that
you can live like the devil
00:32:13.16\00:32:16.23
and then go to God
00:32:16.26\00:32:17.60
like He's some
Santa Claus in the sky
00:32:17.63\00:32:20.74
and He's going to
listen to your prayers,
00:32:20.77\00:32:22.60
you are wrong.
00:32:22.64\00:32:23.97
So let's turn to Hosea and
we'll see a little bit more
00:32:24.01\00:32:27.84
what God says
about shutting His ears
00:32:27.88\00:32:31.65
to those who are unrepentant.
00:32:31.68\00:32:34.55
Hosea Chapter 5,
00:32:34.58\00:32:38.69
Hosea's right after Daniel,
00:32:38.72\00:32:41.19
Hosea 5:15.
00:32:41.22\00:32:48.06
Hosea 5:15.
00:32:48.10\00:32:51.07
It shows us that
God shuts His ears
00:32:51.10\00:32:53.17
to the unrepentant sinner
00:32:53.20\00:32:54.57
and requires that we
acknowledge our offences
00:32:54.60\00:32:57.21
toward Him.
00:32:57.24\00:32:58.57
Hosea 5:15 says this.
00:32:58.61\00:33:01.28
"I will return..."
00:33:01.31\00:33:02.64
This is God speaking.
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.01
"I will return again to my place
00:33:04.05\00:33:06.08
till they
acknowledge their offense.
00:33:06.11\00:33:10.19
Then they will seek My
face, in their affliction, "
00:33:10.22\00:33:15.69
when God's
turned away from them,
00:33:15.72\00:33:17.26
when He's turned
His face from them
00:33:17.29\00:33:19.13
and let whatever happen to them
00:33:19.16\00:33:21.33
that comes along, he says,
00:33:21.36\00:33:23.06
"Then in their affliction
00:33:23.10\00:33:24.60
they will earnestly seek Me."
00:33:24.63\00:33:30.51
So once again,
what is God saying?
00:33:30.54\00:33:32.77
If you are not going to
acknowledge your offense,
00:33:32.81\00:33:36.68
then I'll just...
I'm not going to...
00:33:36.71\00:33:39.35
I'll turn my face from you,
00:33:39.38\00:33:40.72
I'm not going to
have ears to hear.
00:33:40.75\00:33:42.08
But boy, as soon as you
are ready to demonstrate
00:33:42.12\00:33:47.26
that you trust God
for salvation and change,
00:33:47.29\00:33:50.36
then He will come along.
00:33:50.39\00:33:53.13
So confession
is a critical step.
00:33:53.16\00:33:55.50
It demonstrates
our change of mind
00:33:55.53\00:33:59.73
about our sin-sick behavior.
00:33:59.77\00:34:02.24
And through confession
00:34:02.27\00:34:03.61
we seek forgiveness of our sins,
00:34:03.64\00:34:05.21
and it helps us acknowledge
our need for a savior.
00:34:05.24\00:34:09.21
We had a woman
00:34:09.24\00:34:10.58
who came to 3ABN
with Cheri Peters,
00:34:10.61\00:34:13.88
and this precious woman
00:34:13.92\00:34:15.25
who is a
beautiful Christian woman,
00:34:15.28\00:34:17.79
said, she's been in
the church for 30 years,
00:34:17.82\00:34:20.92
and she said,
00:34:20.96\00:34:23.59
"I didn't have any
passion for Christ."
00:34:23.63\00:34:26.80
As a matter of fact, she said,
00:34:26.83\00:34:28.46
"People would talk
about Him dying on the cross,"
00:34:28.50\00:34:31.83
and she said, "And I would think
00:34:31.87\00:34:33.67
I don't really understand
00:34:33.70\00:34:35.30
what the big deal
is about all of this.
00:34:35.34\00:34:37.84
I've never broken any
of the Ten Commandments.
00:34:37.87\00:34:40.01
I've been raised in the church.
00:34:40.04\00:34:41.88
I have been a good person.
00:34:41.91\00:34:44.88
I've never broken
any of the big Ten."
00:34:44.91\00:34:47.95
See, if we don't understand
our need for a savior,
00:34:47.98\00:34:52.95
we are not going to have
any passion and love for God.
00:34:52.99\00:34:56.02
It was only as
God opened her eyes
00:34:56.06\00:34:59.73
and she recognized her sin
00:34:59.76\00:35:02.43
that he produced godly sorrow,
that she confessed her sin,
00:35:02.46\00:35:06.60
and that God
totally changed her life.
00:35:06.63\00:35:10.31
We know that when
confession is accompanied,
00:35:10.34\00:35:14.18
turn to 1 John Chapter 1
00:35:14.21\00:35:18.58
because the good news is
00:35:18.61\00:35:20.58
when confession is
accompanied by godly sorrow
00:35:20.62\00:35:24.62
and a sincere desire to change,
00:35:24.65\00:35:27.29
God forgives us
of all of our sins,
00:35:27.32\00:35:29.99
and He cleanses of
all unrighteousness.
00:35:30.03\00:35:33.60
1 John 1:8.
00:35:33.63\00:35:37.90
John writes, "If we
say that we have no sin, "
00:35:37.93\00:35:42.00
what are we doing?
00:35:42.04\00:35:43.44
"We are deceiving
ourselves," self deception.
00:35:43.47\00:35:47.68
"If we say we have no sin,
we are deceiving ourselves,
00:35:47.71\00:35:50.35
the truth is not in us.
00:35:50.38\00:35:54.05
If we confess
our sins," and again,
00:35:54.08\00:35:57.52
this is the present
active condition in the Greek,
00:35:57.55\00:36:01.19
so he's saying,
00:36:01.22\00:36:02.56
'If we keep on
confessing our sins,'
00:36:02.59\00:36:06.03
He, God, is faithful and
just to forgive us of our sins
00:36:06.06\00:36:11.50
and cleanse us of
all unrighteousness."
00:36:11.53\00:36:15.47
Never become
calloused to this idea
00:36:15.50\00:36:20.71
of confessing your sin.
00:36:20.74\00:36:23.31
Confession is the clearinghouse
of the conscience, isn't it?
00:36:23.35\00:36:26.82
And this is God's
prescribed manner to purify us.
00:36:26.85\00:36:31.95
This confession
is where the place
00:36:31.99\00:36:34.79
or the place where
misery meets mercy.
00:36:34.82\00:36:38.73
And when you bring
your sins into His light,
00:36:38.76\00:36:41.03
don't think you're telling Him
anything that He doesn't know.
00:36:41.06\00:36:44.57
He knows everything, doesn't He?
00:36:44.60\00:36:46.27
So you can't keep anything.
00:36:46.30\00:36:48.24
But what he says in Hosea,
00:36:48.27\00:36:50.24
I should have told you to
keep your finger in Hosea,
00:36:50.27\00:36:53.24
if you want to flip back
over there to Hosea again.
00:36:53.27\00:36:56.21
I love what he says
in Hosea Chapter 14,
00:36:56.24\00:37:01.52
Hosea 14.
00:37:01.55\00:37:03.39
God says come to Me
and bring words with you.
00:37:06.55\00:37:11.39
Hosea Chapter 14,
we'll look at verse 1.
00:37:11.43\00:37:15.73
It says, "Return
to the Lord your God,
00:37:15.76\00:37:19.97
for you have stumbled
because of your iniquity.
00:37:20.00\00:37:24.81
Take words with you..."
00:37:24.84\00:37:27.04
What are those words?
00:37:27.08\00:37:28.41
Words to confess your sin.
00:37:28.44\00:37:30.55
"Take words with you
and return to the Lord.
00:37:30.58\00:37:33.75
Say to Him, 'Take
away all iniquity.
00:37:33.78\00:37:37.19
Receive us graciously.' "
00:37:37.22\00:37:39.72
Now jump down to verse
4 and look what God says.
00:37:39.75\00:37:43.53
When you come to
Him, bringing words
00:37:43.56\00:37:47.60
asking Him to
forgive you of your iniquity,
00:37:47.63\00:37:50.40
to receive you graciously.
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.20
Here's what God says in verse 4,
00:37:52.23\00:37:54.60
"I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
00:37:54.64\00:37:59.97
for My anger has turned away."
00:38:00.01\00:38:03.28
If we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:38:03.31\00:38:06.01
the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses us of all of our sins.
00:38:06.05\00:38:11.89
And one great reward of
confession is confidence
00:38:11.92\00:38:17.53
because
00:38:17.56\00:38:20.13
confession will give
you a clear conscience.
00:38:20.16\00:38:23.33
And we don't have to turn there,
00:38:23.37\00:38:24.70
but in 1 John 3:21, John said,
00:38:24.73\00:38:28.67
"Beloved, if our
heart does not condemn us,
00:38:28.70\00:38:31.91
we have confidence before God."
00:38:31.94\00:38:35.64
So let's review the steps.
00:38:35.68\00:38:37.48
Recognize your sin,
second, godly sorrow,
00:38:37.51\00:38:42.22
three is confession,
and here's number four.
00:38:42.25\00:38:46.45
It's to receive
God's forgiveness.
00:38:46.49\00:38:49.79
Now that's easier
said than done for some.
00:38:49.82\00:38:53.26
You know, it is a challenge
for some people to receive
00:38:53.29\00:38:56.40
God's forgiveness.
00:38:56.43\00:38:58.27
I've had people
who've called here at 3ABN
00:38:58.30\00:39:02.24
who are still remorseful
and miserable about a sin
00:39:02.27\00:39:08.78
that they've committed
maybe 30 or 40 years before,
00:39:08.81\00:39:13.18
and they keep confessing
the same sin over and over.
00:39:13.21\00:39:17.45
But if we would just
receive God's forgiveness,
00:39:17.49\00:39:20.69
this is how we disarm the
devil and we extricate ourselves
00:39:20.72\00:39:26.90
from his quick sand
trap of condemnation.
00:39:26.93\00:39:30.40
Turn to Luke
Chapter 7, Luke Chapter 7.
00:39:30.43\00:39:34.67
While you are turning there,
00:39:34.70\00:39:36.04
I'm going to set up a
story that Jesus is telling.
00:39:36.07\00:39:38.81
He is sitting at a feast
00:39:38.84\00:39:43.18
and at this feast
that was in Simon's house,
00:39:43.21\00:39:48.18
a Pharisee's house,
00:39:48.22\00:39:50.82
he tells the story of a
creditor and two debtors.
00:39:50.85\00:39:56.93
One debtor owed the
creditor just a little amount
00:39:56.96\00:40:02.76
and the other
owed him quite a lot.
00:40:02.80\00:40:05.03
Neither one could pay.
00:40:05.07\00:40:07.44
But in the story,
00:40:07.47\00:40:08.84
the creditor freely
forgives both debts.
00:40:08.87\00:40:12.57
Now turning to the
Pharisee, Jesus says,
00:40:12.61\00:40:15.24
"Who do you think is
going to love him more?"
00:40:15.28\00:40:18.71
Well, the Pharisee says,
00:40:18.75\00:40:20.08
"Well, I suppose the one
who had the greater debt,
00:40:20.12\00:40:24.42
relieved, the
debt was forgiven."
00:40:24.45\00:40:26.45
He says, "That's
probably the one."
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.52
And Jesus says to him,
"You are absolutely right."
00:40:28.56\00:40:32.46
But here's the
punch line of the story.
00:40:32.49\00:40:36.73
The reason Jesus
told this parable
00:40:36.77\00:40:40.74
is because the
Pharisee had recoiled
00:40:40.77\00:40:45.27
from an act of a woman
who came into his home.
00:40:45.31\00:40:48.91
She was a woman of ill repute
and she was at Jesus' feet
00:40:48.94\00:40:53.68
weeping and washing
His feet with her hair.
00:40:53.72\00:40:58.09
And she had
taken an alabaster box,
00:40:58.12\00:41:02.46
and she'd broken,
00:41:02.49\00:41:03.83
and she was anointing
Jesus' feet and His head,
00:41:03.86\00:41:06.63
and this
Pharisee is sitting there,
00:41:06.66\00:41:08.83
thinking, "Ah, who is this man
00:41:08.86\00:41:11.43
that He would
let her touch Him?"
00:41:11.47\00:41:14.77
Jesus knew what
his thoughts were
00:41:14.80\00:41:17.54
and so he's telling this story.
00:41:17.57\00:41:20.48
"Who's going to love more?"
00:41:20.51\00:41:23.11
Look at Luke 7:47.
00:41:23.14\00:41:27.82
This woman who had been
filled with unspeakable shame
00:41:27.85\00:41:32.49
and of sins of
unutterable, unworthiness knew
00:41:32.52\00:41:38.69
what Jesus had done in
forgiving her sin debt.
00:41:38.73\00:41:42.13
She could not contain her
00:41:42.16\00:41:44.10
overflowing love for the Savior.
00:41:44.13\00:41:46.00
Luke 7:47, Christ
concluded telling this story
00:41:46.03\00:41:50.87
to the Pharisee by saying,
00:41:50.91\00:41:53.74
"Therefore I say to you,
her sins, which are many,
00:41:53.78\00:41:58.91
are forgiven,
for she loved much.
00:41:58.95\00:42:01.68
But to whom little is forgiven,
00:42:01.72\00:42:05.79
the same loves little."
00:42:05.82\00:42:08.16
That's the story
I was telling you
00:42:08.19\00:42:09.72
about the woman who
came with Cheri Peters.
00:42:09.76\00:42:12.53
She didn't feel like
00:42:12.56\00:42:13.90
she needed any
great forgiveness.
00:42:13.93\00:42:16.43
"I haven't broken the Big Ten."
00:42:16.46\00:42:19.63
So she didn't feel like...
00:42:19.67\00:42:21.64
She didn't appreciate
her need for the Savior.
00:42:21.67\00:42:25.31
That's why recognizing
our sin debt is so important
00:42:25.34\00:42:28.48
because the more we recognize
what God has done for us
00:42:28.51\00:42:33.21
in forgiving
this great sin debt,
00:42:33.25\00:42:36.58
the more we are
going to love Him.
00:42:36.62\00:42:38.79
We'll be like Mary here
00:42:38.82\00:42:41.32
who could not
contain her overflowing love.
00:42:41.36\00:42:44.99
You know, the more I understand,
00:42:45.03\00:42:47.40
and study the
Bible, and understand sin,
00:42:47.43\00:42:50.00
the more I recognize how much
God has had to cast off of me,
00:42:50.03\00:42:55.34
and it makes me love Him more.
00:42:55.37\00:42:57.94
The closer I get to
Him, the more I realize
00:42:57.97\00:43:01.78
how sinful I really am.
00:43:01.81\00:43:04.58
The closer you get to
the brightness of His being,
00:43:04.61\00:43:07.68
the more you'll
see your filthy rags,
00:43:07.72\00:43:10.85
I guarantee it.
00:43:10.89\00:43:12.39
And God will open our hearts
00:43:12.42\00:43:14.92
to receive the
gift of forgiveness
00:43:14.96\00:43:19.39
if we will just ask Him to.
00:43:19.43\00:43:21.83
He wants to give us
forgiveness and liberty of sins
00:43:21.86\00:43:25.17
because
Lamentations 3:23 says that
00:43:25.20\00:43:28.34
He is the God of new beginnings.
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.07
His mercies are
new every morning.
00:43:30.11\00:43:33.31
Hallelujah.
00:43:33.34\00:43:34.68
So once we confess our sins
00:43:34.71\00:43:38.35
and then we'll
receive His forgiveness,
00:43:38.38\00:43:40.82
we're no longer
confined to wandering around
00:43:40.85\00:43:46.09
in the wasteland of our own sin.
00:43:46.12\00:43:48.89
Turn to Isaiah 43.
00:43:48.92\00:43:54.66
We gonna have to go just
a little bit faster here.
00:43:54.70\00:43:58.40
Our time is running so quickly.
00:43:58.43\00:44:00.60
Isaiah 43...
00:44:00.64\00:44:02.20
18 and 19.
00:44:08.08\00:44:10.45
Isaiah 43:18 and 19.
00:44:13.45\00:44:16.69
The Lord says this.
00:44:16.72\00:44:18.69
And this is God speaking.
00:44:18.72\00:44:20.96
He says, "Forget
the former things,
00:44:20.99\00:44:26.23
do not dwell on the past.
00:44:26.26\00:44:29.56
See, I am doing a new thing!
00:44:29.60\00:44:32.03
Now it springs up,
do you not perceive it?
00:44:32.07\00:44:36.27
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland."
00:44:36.30\00:44:42.41
God doesn't want us
focusing on our past mistakes.
00:44:42.44\00:44:48.62
He says, "Forget
the former things.
00:44:48.65\00:44:51.12
Don't dwell on the past.
00:44:51.15\00:44:52.82
I am doing a new thing in you.
00:44:52.85\00:44:54.96
I am the God of new beginnings.
00:44:54.99\00:44:56.49
I am the God who
is here to save you,
00:44:56.52\00:45:00.40
to make you
righteous, to sanctify you,
00:45:00.43\00:45:03.23
and I will make
a way in the desert
00:45:03.26\00:45:05.97
and streams in the wasteland."
00:45:06.00\00:45:10.21
Don't you love what He
said when He told Isaiah,
00:45:10.24\00:45:12.67
"Come let us reason together
00:45:12.71\00:45:15.18
though your
sins be like scarlet,
00:45:15.21\00:45:17.58
I will make them white as snow."
00:45:17.61\00:45:21.25
Now turn to Psalm Chapter 51.
00:45:21.28\00:45:24.32
This as I said
trying to figure where,
00:45:28.16\00:45:33.16
we're going to have
to finish this next week,
00:45:33.19\00:45:35.70
we're not going to finish.
00:45:35.73\00:45:37.07
I'm trying to figure a
jumping off point here.
00:45:37.10\00:45:39.73
We're going to go through this.
00:45:42.87\00:45:44.21
Psalm Chapter 51.
00:45:44.24\00:45:48.11
If you look at verse 4...
00:45:48.14\00:45:50.35
No, excuse me. Yeah.
00:45:50.38\00:45:51.88
Psalm, I'm in the wrong Psalm.
00:45:51.91\00:45:54.22
Psalm 51:4.
00:45:54.25\00:45:56.89
This is
00:45:56.92\00:45:59.99
David's written
record of his repentance
00:46:00.02\00:46:05.66
after Nathan the
Prophet came to him.
00:46:05.69\00:46:08.36
In verse 4, well,
let's start with verse 2.
00:46:08.40\00:46:12.57
Let's start at the beginning.
00:46:12.60\00:46:14.04
Huh.
00:46:14.07\00:46:15.67
Why not?
00:46:15.70\00:46:17.27
He says, "Have
mercy upon me, O God,
00:46:17.31\00:46:20.18
according to
Your lovingkindness,
00:46:20.21\00:46:21.74
according to the multitude
of Your tender mercies,
00:46:21.78\00:46:25.28
blot out my transgressions."
00:46:25.31\00:46:27.88
Oh, how we can
all pray for that.
00:46:27.92\00:46:30.25
"Wash me
thoroughly from my iniquity,
00:46:30.29\00:46:34.06
and cleanse me from my sin.
00:46:34.09\00:46:35.59
For I acknowledge
my transgressions,
00:46:35.62\00:46:37.83
and my sin is always before me."
00:46:37.86\00:46:40.20
Now look at this.
00:46:40.23\00:46:41.56
"Against You, and
You only, have I sinned,
00:46:41.60\00:46:45.50
and done this
evil in Your sight."
00:46:45.53\00:46:47.70
What?
00:46:47.74\00:46:49.07
Are you saying he
hasn't sinned with Bathsheba
00:46:49.10\00:46:53.31
and killing her
husband, committing adultery?
00:46:53.34\00:46:56.01
But he says, "
Against You, and You only,
00:46:56.04\00:46:57.75
have I sinned, and done
this evil in Your sight.
00:46:57.78\00:47:00.15
That You may be
found just when You speak,
00:47:00.18\00:47:02.62
and blameless when You judge."
00:47:02.65\00:47:07.32
Now look at verse 7.
00:47:07.36\00:47:08.69
"Purge me with
hyssop, and I shall be clean."
00:47:08.72\00:47:14.10
Do you remember the
significance of hyssop
00:47:14.13\00:47:17.67
during the Passover?
00:47:17.70\00:47:19.70
What did God tell them
to do during the Passover?
00:47:19.73\00:47:24.57
They were to take the
hyssop, they were to dip it
00:47:24.61\00:47:27.64
in the blood of
the sacrificial animal,
00:47:27.68\00:47:30.35
and they were to
apply it to their doorposts.
00:47:30.38\00:47:34.38
What David is saying is purge me
00:47:34.42\00:47:37.42
by the blood of the lamb.
00:47:37.45\00:47:40.26
"Purge me by the
blood of the lamb
00:47:40.29\00:47:43.29
and I will be clean.
00:47:43.32\00:47:45.16
Wash me, and I will
be whiter than snow."
00:47:45.19\00:47:50.10
When you wash me
through regeneration,
00:47:50.13\00:47:52.53
rebirth, and the
renewal of the Holy Spirit,
00:47:52.57\00:47:55.64
and I put on that
rope of righteousness,
00:47:55.67\00:47:58.01
I am going to be
whiter than snow.
00:47:58.04\00:48:01.04
"Make me hear joy and gladness,
00:48:01.08\00:48:03.65
that the bones You
have broken may rejoice.
00:48:03.68\00:48:06.21
Hide Your face from my sins,
blot out all of my iniquities.
00:48:06.25\00:48:10.92
Oh, Lord, create
in me a clean heart,
00:48:10.95\00:48:13.86
and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
00:48:13.89\00:48:16.96
Do not cast me
away from Your presence,
00:48:16.99\00:48:20.60
do not take Your
Holy Spirit from me."
00:48:20.63\00:48:24.43
Oh, what a precious prayer.
00:48:24.47\00:48:26.30
Anytime you feel like
you don't know how to repent,
00:48:26.33\00:48:29.27
just go to Psalm Chapter 51.
00:48:29.30\00:48:32.77
He says, "Restore to me
the joy of Your salvation, "
00:48:32.81\00:48:36.61
and that is the
end goal of repentance,
00:48:36.64\00:48:39.18
"And uphold me by
Your generous Spirit."
00:48:39.21\00:48:42.45
Then what is he going to do?
00:48:42.48\00:48:44.29
Then, when that joy is restored,
00:48:44.32\00:48:47.52
"Then I will teach
transgressors Your ways,
00:48:47.56\00:48:50.19
and sinners shall
be converted to You."
00:48:50.23\00:48:53.43
Isn't that precious?
00:48:53.46\00:48:55.23
I absolutely love this.
00:48:55.26\00:48:56.70
Now David understood
God's repentance process
00:48:56.73\00:49:02.54
and he yearned for the blessings
00:49:02.57\00:49:05.24
that God would bring.
00:49:05.27\00:49:06.88
He yearned for the
joy of his salvation
00:49:06.91\00:49:09.31
to be restored.
00:49:09.34\00:49:11.58
Here's something
that I think David knew.
00:49:11.61\00:49:17.09
If we get what we
deserve, that's justice.
00:49:17.12\00:49:22.42
When we don't get
00:49:22.46\00:49:24.89
what we deserve, that's mercy.
00:49:24.93\00:49:29.06
But when we get
what we don't deserve,
00:49:29.10\00:49:33.40
that's grace, that's grace.
00:49:33.44\00:49:37.14
So turn to 1 Kings
'cause I want to show you,
00:49:37.17\00:49:40.71
after David prayed this prayer,
00:49:40.74\00:49:44.38
and I know I've
shared this before
00:49:44.41\00:49:45.98
but I just...
00:49:46.01\00:49:47.35
This just excites me.
00:49:47.38\00:49:49.02
1 Kings Chapter 14,
00:49:49.05\00:49:53.52
let's look at what happened
00:49:53.56\00:49:56.83
after David prayed this prayer
00:49:56.86\00:50:00.36
because this
scripture will prove
00:50:00.40\00:50:03.33
that God forgives and forgets
when we have confessed our sin.
00:50:03.37\00:50:08.67
1 Kings Chapter 14,
00:50:08.70\00:50:12.81
and let me set this up.
00:50:12.84\00:50:14.28
There was a
prophet named Ahijah.
00:50:14.31\00:50:19.08
God went to him and
said, "You tell King Jeroboam
00:50:19.11\00:50:23.05
that I'm going to
bring his house down.
00:50:23.08\00:50:25.55
I'm going to destroy his house
00:50:25.59\00:50:27.69
because he has not
been like my servant David."
00:50:27.72\00:50:31.26
So look what he says.
00:50:31.29\00:50:32.96
1 Kings 14:8.
00:50:32.99\00:50:35.16
This is the Lord speaking
and this is what he told
00:50:35.20\00:50:38.90
Ahijah to tell King Jeroboam.
00:50:38.93\00:50:42.70
"You have not been
as My servant David,
00:50:42.74\00:50:46.27
who kept My
commandments and who followed Me
00:50:46.31\00:50:50.91
with all of his heart,
00:50:50.95\00:50:53.72
to do only what
was right in My eyes."
00:50:53.75\00:50:58.32
Now wait a minute.
00:50:58.35\00:51:01.02
Now just wait a minute.
00:51:01.06\00:51:03.22
David is dead and buried.
00:51:03.26\00:51:06.43
These were the words of the Lord
00:51:06.46\00:51:09.43
recorded in the
Bible and He's saying,
00:51:09.46\00:51:14.37
"David kept all
of My commandments
00:51:14.40\00:51:18.04
and did only what
was right in My eyes."
00:51:18.07\00:51:22.78
God can't lie.
00:51:22.81\00:51:26.15
So how could he say that David,
who is guilty of adultery,
00:51:26.18\00:51:30.39
David, who is guilty of murder,
00:51:30.42\00:51:32.45
David, who numbered the troops
00:51:32.49\00:51:33.82
when he told him
not to number the troops
00:51:33.86\00:51:35.32
did only what was
right in His eyes?
00:51:35.36\00:51:38.79
Because David repented.
00:51:38.83\00:51:43.47
He recognized his sin.
00:51:43.50\00:51:45.57
Godly sorrow grabbed his heart.
00:51:45.60\00:51:49.50
He confessed his sin.
00:51:49.54\00:51:51.87
And God, when we
confess our sins,
00:51:51.91\00:51:54.64
God is faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins
00:51:54.68\00:51:57.61
and cleanse us of
all unrighteousness,
00:51:57.65\00:51:59.61
and suddenly,
00:51:59.65\00:52:00.98
he is looking at
David when he said,
00:52:01.02\00:52:03.35
'Purge me with hyssop..."
00:52:03.39\00:52:04.72
he's looking at David
through the blood of the lamb.
00:52:04.75\00:52:07.66
He's forgotten what
David asked him to forgive.
00:52:07.69\00:52:12.33
Now let me see
if I can find this.
00:52:12.36\00:52:15.06
This gives me
great, great assurance
00:52:15.10\00:52:18.77
that the Bible was written
00:52:18.80\00:52:21.47
by the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:21.50\00:52:24.17
The reason I say that is because
00:52:24.21\00:52:28.84
any man's account written,
00:52:28.88\00:52:33.75
we would say something like,
00:52:33.78\00:52:39.29
"David, after he repented
00:52:39.32\00:52:42.76
from his murder
and his adultery,
00:52:42.79\00:52:45.39
then he did everything
that was right in my sight
00:52:45.43\00:52:49.46
and kept all of
his commandments."
00:52:49.50\00:52:51.17
I mean, that's just
the way we would write it
00:52:51.20\00:52:53.00
if we were writing
an accurate account.
00:52:53.03\00:52:55.40
But the writer here
was recording God's words.
00:52:55.44\00:52:59.34
So the writer,
00:52:59.37\00:53:00.71
when he records
God's words says,
00:53:00.74\00:53:04.58
"You have not been
as My servant David,
00:53:04.61\00:53:06.08
who kept My commandments,
00:53:06.11\00:53:08.15
who followed Me
with all of his heart,
00:53:08.18\00:53:10.39
to do only what
was right in My eyes, "
00:53:10.42\00:53:12.72
showing that God had
forgiven what he forgot.
00:53:12.75\00:53:14.69
But now turn to 15:5.
00:53:14.72\00:53:19.66
Because now the writer
00:53:19.69\00:53:22.26
still inspired
by the Holy Spirit
00:53:22.30\00:53:25.00
is giving a detailed account.
00:53:25.03\00:53:27.44
Let's compare the
writer's detailed account
00:53:27.47\00:53:33.01
compared to what
God's words were,
00:53:33.04\00:53:37.05
the direct quote of God's words.
00:53:37.08\00:53:38.68
He said in
verse 5, 1 Kings 15:5,
00:53:38.71\00:53:42.32
"Because David did
00:53:42.35\00:53:44.02
what was right in
the eyes of the Lord,
00:53:44.05\00:53:46.99
and had not turned
aside from anything
00:53:47.02\00:53:50.33
that He commanded him
all the days of his life,
00:53:50.36\00:53:53.96
except in the matter
of Uriah the Hittite."
00:53:54.00\00:53:59.83
That's still
inspired, don't take me wrong.
00:53:59.87\00:54:03.41
The Bible was
inspired Word of God.
00:54:03.44\00:54:05.64
This writer was giving
the accurate full account.
00:54:05.67\00:54:09.81
But what proves to me
that this is all inspired
00:54:09.84\00:54:15.82
is because he could actually
record God's words saying,
00:54:15.85\00:54:19.99
"David did only what
was right in My eyes.
00:54:20.02\00:54:22.29
He kept all of My commandments."
00:54:22.32\00:54:24.39
'Cause you and I
can't look at it that way,
00:54:24.43\00:54:26.96
that had to be God's quote.
00:54:27.00\00:54:28.73
And that proves to me
00:54:28.76\00:54:30.10
that God forgets
what He forgives.
00:54:30.13\00:54:33.03
We are going to
end on this scripture,
00:54:33.07\00:54:35.70
Psalms 103:12.
00:54:35.74\00:54:40.44
Psalm 103:12.
00:54:40.48\00:54:43.95
Ah, I love the
Word of God, don't you?
00:54:47.52\00:54:50.82
It brings such hope
and it gives me great joy.
00:54:50.85\00:54:56.22
Psalm 103:12.
00:54:56.26\00:54:58.13
The Psalm says, "As far
as the east is from the west,
00:55:01.50\00:55:05.97
so far He has removed
our transgressions from us."
00:55:06.00\00:55:11.77
East never meets west.
00:55:11.81\00:55:14.34
"As far as the
east is from the west,
00:55:14.38\00:55:17.15
so far has He
removed our transgressions."
00:55:17.18\00:55:21.45
God is not a man
that He could lie.
00:55:21.48\00:55:24.15
The only reason
that He declared David
00:55:24.19\00:55:26.96
was totally righteous
00:55:26.99\00:55:29.56
is because he forgot
00:55:29.59\00:55:33.40
what David asked him to forget.
00:55:33.43\00:55:38.03
So if you've got
something in your heart
00:55:38.07\00:55:41.44
that you have prayed about...
00:55:41.47\00:55:42.84
I had a lady call
me, she was in her 80s,
00:55:42.87\00:55:47.11
and she had had an abortion
when she was like 16 years old.
00:55:47.14\00:55:53.95
And she lived for the Lord...
00:55:53.98\00:55:55.82
I mean, once she grew
up, she lived for the Lord
00:55:55.85\00:55:58.69
all of her life,
00:55:58.72\00:56:00.06
but she couldn't believe
God would forgive her for that.
00:56:00.09\00:56:05.33
And so she had beat
herself up, for 64 years,
00:56:05.36\00:56:10.77
she had beaten herself up.
00:56:10.80\00:56:14.04
And as I took her
through these steps,
00:56:14.07\00:56:17.61
it was the hardest thing.
00:56:17.64\00:56:19.24
She recognized her
sin, she had godly sorrow,
00:56:19.27\00:56:23.21
she had confessed her sin,
00:56:23.24\00:56:26.65
but her difficulty was in
receiving God's forgiveness.
00:56:26.68\00:56:31.12
I just want to
encourage you at home.
00:56:31.15\00:56:33.25
No matter what you've done,
if you've confessed your sin
00:56:33.29\00:56:36.26
before the Lord...
00:56:36.29\00:56:37.63
Now this isn't our final
step, we still got one more step
00:56:37.66\00:56:40.90
that we're going to look at,
00:56:40.93\00:56:42.26
and we'll
continue this next week,
00:56:42.30\00:56:44.03
and that is the fifth
step is to change our conduct.
00:56:44.07\00:56:48.40
But let me clue you,
the joy of this is that
00:56:48.44\00:56:52.51
it's nothing that
we can do on our own,
00:56:52.54\00:56:55.31
it is only by the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:56:55.34\00:56:58.18
it is only as God
works in us to will and to
00:56:58.21\00:57:02.22
do that repentance
00:57:02.25\00:57:04.39
the Bible says
is a gift from God.
00:57:04.42\00:57:09.12
So when you're
praying for forgiveness,
00:57:09.16\00:57:12.09
also pray that God will give you
00:57:12.13\00:57:15.03
the gift of repentance,
that He will turn you around.
00:57:15.06\00:57:19.17
And we're just...
00:57:19.20\00:57:20.54
We're out of time now,
so we'll continue next week.
00:57:20.57\00:57:23.37
We want to thank you
so much for joining us
00:57:23.41\00:57:26.17
and let's close with prayer.
00:57:26.21\00:57:28.44
Heavenly Father,
how we praise You
00:57:28.48\00:57:30.55
and thank You for grace,
00:57:30.58\00:57:32.18
how we praise You and
thank You for the power of grace
00:57:32.21\00:57:34.98
and what you do in us, Lord,
00:57:35.02\00:57:37.59
please help us to
recognize our sin,
00:57:37.62\00:57:40.09
give us godly sorrow.
00:57:40.12\00:57:41.69
Oh, Lord, help us
to be quick to confess
00:57:41.72\00:57:44.63
when we're not pleasing You,
00:57:44.66\00:57:47.90
and let us receive
Your forgiveness, Lord.
00:57:47.93\00:57:50.27
Now bless us, Father God,
go with us through this week,
00:57:50.30\00:57:54.10
and bring us
back again next week,
00:57:54.14\00:57:55.77
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:57:55.80\00:57:57.57
Thank you.
00:57:57.61\00:57:59.01
Thank you so much, and good bye.
00:57:59.04\00:58:02.78