Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:00.96\00:00:02.46 Today on Pressing into His Presence, 00:00:02.50\00:00:04.53 we're going to consider 00:00:04.57\00:00:05.87 how we can experience the grace of God's forgiveness. 00:00:05.90\00:00:09.77 After we've been through the joy of repentance, 00:00:09.80\00:00:13.07 please grab a Bible, a piece of paper and a pen, 00:00:13.11\00:00:16.28 because you may want to jot some scripture references down. 00:00:16.31\00:00:19.48 Welcome to Pressing into His Presence. 00:00:41.24\00:00:43.77 In this series on prayer, 00:00:43.81\00:00:45.57 we're learning various prayer segments, 00:00:45.61\00:00:48.34 if you will, that prepare our heart to meet with God 00:00:48.38\00:00:52.98 and step by step we're learning to draw near to him 00:00:53.01\00:00:57.35 to seek his face in a time of intimate communication. 00:00:57.39\00:01:01.72 And by matter of observation only, 00:01:01.76\00:01:04.29 we're also considering how each segment 00:01:04.33\00:01:07.23 correlates to an area of the sanctuary service. 00:01:07.23\00:01:10.50 Our companion book for this series 00:01:10.53\00:01:13.17 which I was privileged to write 00:01:13.20\00:01:14.97 is also titled Pressing into His Presence. 00:01:15.00\00:01:17.64 So if you're following along in this book, 00:01:17.67\00:01:19.97 today we're starting on Chapter 5. 00:01:20.01\00:01:23.45 In our last two programs, we studied repentance. 00:01:23.48\00:01:27.15 We considered how repentance resembles 00:01:27.18\00:01:30.12 the sanctuary service performed at the altar of burnt offering. 00:01:30.15\00:01:34.82 And we examined the anatomy of sin. 00:01:34.86\00:01:37.73 We thumbed through God's catalog of sins. 00:01:37.76\00:01:40.83 And we learned that confession 00:01:40.86\00:01:42.36 is the clearing house of our conscience. 00:01:42.40\00:01:44.90 The point of that study 00:01:44.93\00:01:46.67 was to awaken our need for our Savior 00:01:46.70\00:01:49.47 and for the Christians 00:01:49.50\00:01:50.67 continued attitude of repentance. 00:01:50.71\00:01:54.31 Before we go on, let's just review 00:01:54.34\00:01:56.14 that five-step process of repentance. 00:01:56.18\00:01:59.15 First we recognize and think differently 00:01:59.18\00:02:02.48 about ungodly behavior. 00:02:02.52\00:02:04.75 Then secondly, godly sorrow causes us to regret our sin. 00:02:04.79\00:02:09.22 Then our attitudes are altered 00:02:09.26\00:02:12.29 and we confess our sins asking for forgiveness. 00:02:12.33\00:02:15.96 The fourth step is to learn to receive God's forgiveness 00:02:16.00\00:02:20.50 applying His healing balm to our wounded soul 00:02:20.54\00:02:24.24 and the fifth step, Halleluiah, 00:02:24.27\00:02:26.71 is that God empowers us to change our conduct 00:02:26.74\00:02:30.75 and to make a U turn 00:02:30.78\00:02:32.58 into the right direction, straight toward Him. 00:02:32.61\00:02:36.15 Now the first three steps were addressed in previous programs. 00:02:36.18\00:02:39.95 Today, we're going to advance 00:02:39.99\00:02:43.06 to the all important conclusion of these final two steps. 00:02:43.09\00:02:47.50 And you might wonder why it's necessary 00:02:47.56\00:02:50.03 to make such a big issue of repentance. 00:02:50.07\00:02:53.30 Confession is so often undervalued 00:02:53.34\00:02:55.47 by the people of God. 00:02:55.50\00:02:57.24 We suffer spiritually when we don't understand its worth. 00:02:57.27\00:03:01.94 One great reward of confession is confidence. 00:03:01.98\00:03:05.58 A clear conscience gives us confidence before God. 00:03:05.61\00:03:10.95 And the Apostle John said, in I John 3:21. 00:03:10.99\00:03:17.39 He said, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, 00:03:17.43\00:03:22.06 we have confidence toward God." 00:03:22.10\00:03:25.83 You know, I went through a deep season of repentance 00:03:25.87\00:03:29.84 as I was learning to press into the Lord's presence. 00:03:29.87\00:03:33.24 It's a humbling thing to experience 00:03:33.27\00:03:36.85 as we draw near to our holy God to experience His brightness. 00:03:36.88\00:03:41.92 It reveals that the records of our best efforts 00:03:41.95\00:03:45.35 to do right are seriously smudged and stained. 00:03:45.39\00:03:49.42 I learned the vital necessity of confession of sin 00:03:49.46\00:03:52.73 at the beginning of my prayer 00:03:52.76\00:03:54.46 just as the priest of the sanctuary service 00:03:54.50\00:03:57.30 who dare not approach God without first taking time 00:03:57.33\00:04:01.40 to be cleansed at the courtyard laver. 00:04:01.44\00:04:03.91 In the courtyard the altar and-- 00:04:03.94\00:04:07.28 between the altar and the door of the temple, 00:04:07.31\00:04:09.71 stood a shining bronze laver, 00:04:09.74\00:04:12.41 it was a sacred wash bowl of the sanctuary 00:04:12.45\00:04:16.12 and it was made of two parts. 00:04:16.15\00:04:17.99 The laver served as a cistern 00:04:18.02\00:04:20.42 that stored the daily quantity of water 00:04:20.46\00:04:22.96 released its supply through spouts in its base 00:04:22.99\00:04:26.49 which the base was probably saucer like in shape 00:04:26.53\00:04:30.03 and it served as the washbasin. 00:04:30.07\00:04:33.57 The finest brass was used to fashion this laver. 00:04:33.60\00:04:37.67 It was made from the bronze mirrors 00:04:37.71\00:04:39.97 brought out of Egypt donated by the women 00:04:40.01\00:04:42.78 who served at the door of the tabernacle entrance. 00:04:42.81\00:04:46.08 And the lavers basin performed as a sort of reflection pool 00:04:46.11\00:04:51.19 where the priest could see any pollution on the person 00:04:51.22\00:04:54.66 or on their garments and they washed it away 00:04:54.69\00:04:57.83 before they could enter 00:04:57.86\00:04:58.83 into the tabernacle of God's holy presence. 00:04:58.86\00:05:02.16 The priests were required to wash their hands 00:05:02.20\00:05:05.00 and their feet in the water from the laver 00:05:05.03\00:05:07.90 under penalty of death for failure to do so. 00:05:07.94\00:05:11.51 They were required to inspect themselves 00:05:11.54\00:05:14.88 to wash away all impurities 00:05:14.91\00:05:17.31 and present themselves spotless, 00:05:17.35\00:05:20.92 spotlessly clean before the Lord. 00:05:20.95\00:05:23.95 And the application of our daily need 00:05:23.99\00:05:26.29 to confess our sins is transparent. 00:05:26.32\00:05:30.36 We must revere God's holiness 00:05:30.39\00:05:32.66 and we must come with purity of heart 00:05:32.69\00:05:35.13 and clean hands before His throne of grace. 00:05:35.16\00:05:38.20 Looking into the reflection pool of our conscience, 00:05:38.23\00:05:41.14 we should inspect our hearts and confess our sins. 00:05:41.17\00:05:44.94 Without confession and repentance 00:05:44.97\00:05:47.08 we cannot have confidence that our worship 00:05:47.11\00:05:49.61 is acceptable for our God. 00:05:49.64\00:05:52.11 it says. 00:05:52.15\00:05:56.92 "Let us draw near with a true heart 00:05:56.95\00:06:00.26 in full assurance of faith, 00:06:00.29\00:06:01.76 having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience 00:06:01.79\00:06:05.33 and our bodies washed with pure water." 00:06:05.36\00:06:09.33 The good news is that to us 00:06:09.36\00:06:12.17 a fountain has been opened for sin and uncleanness. 00:06:12.20\00:06:16.20 The guilt of sin is washed from us 00:06:16.24\00:06:18.54 by the blood of the lamb. 00:06:18.57\00:06:20.21 We are washed and sanctified by the word of God 00:06:20.24\00:06:23.61 in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God. 00:06:23.65\00:06:27.22 It is not by works of righteousness 00:06:27.25\00:06:29.28 that we are saved but according to God's mercy 00:06:29.32\00:06:32.92 through our daily repentance the washing of regeneration 00:06:32.95\00:06:36.29 and renewing of the Holy Spirit 00:06:36.32\00:06:38.56 will cleanse us from the pollution of sin. 00:06:38.59\00:06:41.86 So let us receive His grace of forgiveness 00:06:41.90\00:06:45.47 that we maybe spotless before our Lord. 00:06:45.50\00:06:49.40 And let us realize our need. 00:06:49.44\00:06:51.87 It never fails to amaze me 00:06:51.91\00:06:54.04 when someone will come up to me and they'll ask, 00:06:54.08\00:06:57.78 do you believe in righteousness by faith? 00:06:57.81\00:07:01.05 Are they kidding? 00:07:01.08\00:07:02.62 Isaiah 64:6 says this 00:07:02.65\00:07:05.82 "We are all like an unclean thing, 00:07:05.85\00:07:09.72 and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." 00:07:09.76\00:07:15.26 In other words, what Isaiah is saying, 00:07:15.30\00:07:18.00 if you read between the lines is that righteousness by faith 00:07:18.03\00:07:21.80 is the only kind of righteousness there is. 00:07:21.84\00:07:26.31 Dark motives are hidden in the crevasses of our heart 00:07:26.34\00:07:30.51 which can only be exposed and brought to the attention 00:07:30.55\00:07:34.85 under God's great search light of inspection. 00:07:34.88\00:07:40.19 When we're in His presence 00:07:40.22\00:07:42.39 inconsistencies in our conduct are revealed, 00:07:42.42\00:07:46.13 reflecting cracks in our character 00:07:46.16\00:07:48.90 and actually as Lord led me through this teaching, 00:07:48.93\00:07:52.07 I was quite startled at my own sinfulness. 00:07:52.10\00:07:55.07 As I considered my past, 00:07:55.10\00:07:56.94 I blushed at the words my unbridled tongue 00:07:56.97\00:08:00.21 at the one wastefulness of my resources 00:08:00.24\00:08:03.48 and the shame of self-indulgence. 00:08:03.51\00:08:05.71 I blushed at each time I had flaunted 00:08:05.75\00:08:09.05 my flesh nature in the face of the holy God. 00:08:09.08\00:08:13.12 In fact my face was crimson red 00:08:13.15\00:08:15.19 as I considered the conduct of my uncrucified flesh. 00:08:15.22\00:08:20.03 On one particular morning my acts of confession 00:08:20.06\00:08:23.73 engulfed my emotions and almost overwhelming. 00:08:23.77\00:08:27.90 Now I thank you might know what I mean. 00:08:27.94\00:08:30.27 Maybe you know someone 00:08:30.31\00:08:31.51 who is so focused on their own faults 00:08:31.54\00:08:34.11 that they become miserable and dejected. 00:08:34.14\00:08:37.31 They can't see what God is ready, 00:08:37.35\00:08:39.45 willing and able to do for them. 00:08:39.48\00:08:42.78 You know, I came dangerously close 00:08:42.82\00:08:44.82 to this morbid condition that day 00:08:44.85\00:08:47.16 but God came to my rescue 00:08:47.19\00:08:49.92 by teaching me to receive His forgiveness in faith. 00:08:49.96\00:08:55.60 When God impressed me to return to praying 00:08:55.63\00:09:00.37 His scripture promises, His affirmations 00:09:00.40\00:09:02.90 of what He would do in my life, 00:09:02.94\00:09:05.41 He provide-- actually proved to me 00:09:05.44\00:09:08.64 that I had missed the point of confession and repentance. 00:09:08.68\00:09:13.52 God does not call us to grovel in His presence, 00:09:13.55\00:09:18.49 repentance should bring joy. 00:09:18.52\00:09:21.69 The joy is found in 1 John 1:7-9, 00:09:21.72\00:09:27.13 it says this "If we walk in the light 00:09:27.13\00:09:30.80 as He is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ 00:09:30.83\00:09:34.27 His Son cleanses us from all sin. 00:09:34.30\00:09:36.87 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 00:09:36.91\00:09:39.41 and the truth is not in us. 00:09:39.44\00:09:41.58 But if we confess our sins, 00:09:41.61\00:09:43.91 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 00:09:43.95\00:09:49.32 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 00:09:49.35\00:09:52.95 You know, I marvel at God's mercy mingled with grace. 00:09:52.99\00:09:57.09 As we plead to be washed from our wrong doing, 00:09:57.13\00:10:00.73 the blood of Jesus Christ 00:10:00.76\00:10:02.80 cleanses us of all confessed sin. 00:10:02.83\00:10:06.13 God grants us forgiveness, 00:10:06.17\00:10:08.97 the gift that is precious beyond all price. 00:10:09.00\00:10:13.24 Acts 5:31 tells us that repentance is a gift. 00:10:13.27\00:10:17.35 Listen, it says, "Him, Jesus, God has exalted 00:10:17.38\00:10:22.38 to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, 00:10:22.42\00:10:26.59 to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin." 00:10:26.62\00:10:33.66 Yes, even repentance is a gift. 00:10:33.70\00:10:37.37 We can't do it under our own power, 00:10:37.40\00:10:40.00 but our gracious God will enable us 00:10:40.04\00:10:43.41 to turn away from sin. 00:10:43.44\00:10:45.64 He desires that we should open our hearts 00:10:45.67\00:10:48.51 and receive His gift of forgiveness. 00:10:48.54\00:10:52.38 Grace grants us forgiveness and liberty and access 00:10:52.41\00:10:56.58 to our heavenly Father, the God of new beginnings. 00:10:56.62\00:11:00.46 Indeed His mercies are new every morning. 00:11:00.49\00:11:04.29 Halleluiah. 00:11:04.33\00:11:06.49 And receiving His forgiveness takes our focus 00:11:06.53\00:11:09.70 from what we have done to what God has done. 00:11:09.73\00:11:15.47 Our situation no longer, it changes 00:11:15.50\00:11:19.97 and no longer must we wander in the wasteland of sin. 00:11:20.01\00:11:24.78 You know, God counsels us in Isaiah 43:18, 19. 00:11:24.81\00:11:32.09 He says "Forget the former things, 00:11:32.12\00:11:36.29 do not dwell on the past. 00:11:36.32\00:11:38.99 See, I am doing a new thing! 00:11:39.03\00:11:41.90 Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? 00:11:41.93\00:11:44.10 I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." 00:11:44.13\00:11:50.14 Do you hear the voice of God speaking to you right now? 00:11:50.17\00:11:54.64 Have you confessed your sin? 00:11:54.68\00:11:56.68 Then receive His forgiveness, let go off the past, 00:11:56.71\00:12:00.48 let go of your mistakes 00:12:00.52\00:12:01.72 and let God fulfill His purposes in your life. 00:12:01.75\00:12:05.12 Calling on God to hear our confession 00:12:05.15\00:12:07.66 and forgive our sins can be considered 00:12:07.69\00:12:11.03 a way of rededicating ourselves as His temple. 00:12:11.06\00:12:14.83 Does it not astonish you to consider 00:12:14.86\00:12:17.53 that we are the living temple of the living God? 00:12:17.57\00:12:21.97 Christ in us is our hope of attaining God's glory. 00:12:22.00\00:12:26.04 And He abides in us when we abide in Him. 00:12:26.07\00:12:30.41 Jesus tells us in John 15:4 00:12:30.45\00:12:33.62 that "Abide in me, and I in you. 00:12:33.65\00:12:38.75 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 00:12:38.79\00:12:41.39 unless it abides in the vine, 00:12:41.42\00:12:43.76 neither can you, unless you abide in me." 00:12:43.79\00:12:47.96 If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, 00:12:47.96\00:12:51.57 you are grafted into the vine. 00:12:51.60\00:12:54.74 The source of the life giving sap 00:12:54.77\00:12:58.07 which I think that S-A-P is can aptly be used 00:12:58.11\00:13:03.08 as acronym for the spirit's anointing power. 00:13:03.11\00:13:07.62 If we stay connected to divine Christ Jesus, 00:13:07.65\00:13:11.99 we will stay filled with His Holy Spirit. 00:13:12.02\00:13:16.86 You know, David understood 00:13:16.89\00:13:18.59 how important it was to stay connected. 00:13:18.63\00:13:21.26 Listen to these words from his famous prayer of repentance. 00:13:21.30\00:13:27.27 He said in Psalm 51:11. 00:13:27.30\00:13:30.01 "Do not cast me away from your presence, 00:13:30.04\00:13:33.81 and do not take your Holy Spirit from me." 00:13:33.84\00:13:38.01 David understood the presence of God dwells within us 00:13:38.05\00:13:41.85 by His Holy Spirit unless we have quenched 00:13:41.88\00:13:46.86 or extinguished His presence 00:13:46.89\00:13:49.09 by the continual practice of sin. 00:13:49.12\00:13:52.33 But even so once we confess 00:13:52.36\00:13:55.76 which is like cleansing our temple, 00:13:55.80\00:13:57.93 we can ask to be filled afresh by His spirit. 00:13:57.97\00:14:01.94 Here's what our Lord and Savior 00:14:01.97\00:14:03.97 instructed us to do in Luke 11, 00:14:04.01\00:14:07.18 we'll read verse 9 and verse 13 from the amplified version. 00:14:07.21\00:14:11.85 I love this. 00:14:11.88\00:14:13.18 He said, "So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking 00:14:13.21\00:14:18.09 and it shall be given to you, seek and keep on seeking 00:14:18.12\00:14:23.12 and you shall find, knock and keep on knocking 00:14:23.16\00:14:26.90 and the door shall be opened to you 00:14:26.93\00:14:29.63 how much more will your heavenly Father 00:14:29.66\00:14:33.00 give the Holy Spirit to those who ask 00:14:33.03\00:14:36.87 and continue to ask Him!" 00:14:36.91\00:14:42.48 When King Solomon, the wisest man 00:14:42.51\00:14:44.95 who ever lived dedicated God's temple, 00:14:44.98\00:14:48.18 he repeatedly called upon God to hear and forgive. 00:14:48.22\00:14:52.89 Solomon knew that the people 00:14:52.92\00:14:54.42 would fall short of God's glory, 00:14:54.46\00:14:56.32 but he trusted that God was ready 00:14:56.36\00:14:58.56 and able to hear the prayers of the penitent sinner 00:14:58.59\00:15:01.73 and willing to bestow the gift of forgiveness 00:15:01.76\00:15:04.90 to sincere hearted believers. 00:15:04.93\00:15:07.34 It was after his prayer of dedication 00:15:07.37\00:15:10.31 and the praises of the people in worship 00:15:10.34\00:15:12.97 that the cloud of God's glory filled the temple. 00:15:13.01\00:15:16.98 For us to be openhearted and ready to receive 00:15:17.01\00:15:21.52 this most special gift of forgiveness, 00:15:21.55\00:15:24.89 we must likewise be convinced of God's ability 00:15:24.92\00:15:30.73 to hear and forgive. 00:15:30.76\00:15:32.89 And God promised in 2 Chronicle 7:14. 00:15:32.93\00:15:37.27 He said, "If my people 00:15:37.30\00:15:38.33 who are called by My name will humble themselves, 00:15:38.37\00:15:42.80 and pray and seek My face, 00:15:42.84\00:15:45.07 and turn from their wicked ways, 00:15:45.11\00:15:47.44 then I will hear from heaven, 00:15:47.48\00:15:49.21 and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 00:15:49.24\00:15:54.68 Humble yourself, seek his face, confess your sin 00:15:54.72\00:15:59.19 and believe that the righteous judge of the universe 00:15:59.22\00:16:02.46 will dismiss the case against you 00:16:02.49\00:16:04.39 and declare you pardoned, then just as Salomon asked God 00:16:04.43\00:16:08.66 to clothe the priests with salvation 00:16:08.70\00:16:12.10 and to arise to his resting place in the temple. 00:16:12.13\00:16:15.60 You can now trust that you've been clothed 00:16:15.64\00:16:17.57 in the garment of salvation. 00:16:17.61\00:16:19.44 And you can do as Jesus said, 00:16:19.47\00:16:21.94 you can invite God to fill you again 00:16:21.98\00:16:25.18 with His Holy Spirit. 00:16:25.21\00:16:27.68 You know, Isaiah 1:18, 00:16:27.72\00:16:30.05 records these wonderful words of the Lord. 00:16:30.09\00:16:33.49 He says "Come now, and let us reason together,'' 00:16:33.52\00:16:37.93 Says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, 00:16:37.96\00:16:42.20 they will be as white as snow." 00:16:42.23\00:16:45.07 God invites us to come before Him, 00:16:45.10\00:16:48.57 to press into His presence, to consider our sinfulness 00:16:48.60\00:16:53.11 and to receive the gift of repentance. 00:16:53.14\00:16:56.44 Though our garments are tainted with sin, 00:16:56.48\00:16:59.35 the Creator offers to wash and purify us, 00:16:59.38\00:17:03.85 that His image maybe reflected in us 00:17:03.89\00:17:07.06 with the brilliance superior to the sun's reflection 00:17:07.09\00:17:11.16 on pure white snow. 00:17:11.19\00:17:13.90 That's why David prayed in Psalms 51. 00:17:13.93\00:17:17.93 He said, "Lord wash me thoroughly from my iniquity 00:17:17.97\00:17:22.57 and cleanse me from my sin, wash me 00:17:22.60\00:17:25.77 and I shall be whiter than snow." 00:17:25.81\00:17:28.58 David understood God's repentance process 00:17:28.61\00:17:32.58 and he yearned for the blessing of its outcome. 00:17:32.61\00:17:37.09 God would restore to him 00:17:37.12\00:17:39.22 the joy of His salvation by cleansing him of sin. 00:17:39.25\00:17:44.93 Revelation 1:5 speaks of Jesus Christ, 00:17:44.96\00:17:49.93 the faithful witnesses who loved us 00:17:49.96\00:17:53.27 and washed us from our sins in His own blood. 00:17:53.30\00:17:58.57 Through repentance our sin stained robes are washed 00:17:58.61\00:18:05.98 and they're made white in the blood of the Lamb. 00:18:06.01\00:18:08.95 We are redeemed through His blood. 00:18:08.98\00:18:12.45 We receive forgiveness of sins 00:18:12.49\00:18:15.12 according to the glorious riches of His grace. 00:18:15.16\00:18:18.63 I know that the joy of repentance 00:18:18.66\00:18:20.86 wasn't fully disclosed in our previous programs, 00:18:20.90\00:18:23.80 but let me ask you, are you getting happy yet? 00:18:23.83\00:18:27.94 Well, if you still need a little more, 00:18:27.97\00:18:31.04 here's something that ought 00:18:31.07\00:18:32.74 to make your heart leap for joy. 00:18:32.77\00:18:36.21 When God forgives, He forgets. 00:18:36.24\00:18:40.05 Let me prove this to you 00:18:40.08\00:18:41.55 from a scripture found in 1 Kings 14:8 00:18:41.58\00:18:45.49 and it is an amazing scripture. 00:18:45.52\00:18:48.32 It records what God had to say about David after his death. 00:18:48.36\00:18:53.50 These are the words of the Lord. 00:18:53.53\00:18:55.30 He said, "You have not been as My servant David, 00:18:55.33\00:19:00.07 who kept My commandments 00:19:00.10\00:19:02.04 and who followed Me with all of his heart, 00:19:02.07\00:19:06.21 to do only what was right in My eyes." 00:19:06.24\00:19:11.55 Well, you know, this is something 00:19:11.58\00:19:12.68 that I know that these words were direct quote from God 00:19:12.71\00:19:16.82 and it makes me really trust the Bible 00:19:16.85\00:19:18.85 because mere man would have made 00:19:18.89\00:19:21.39 mention of David's guilt in the murder of Uriah. 00:19:21.42\00:19:24.89 As actually the author of 1 Kings 00:19:24.93\00:19:26.80 proves in the very next chapter 00:19:26.83\00:19:28.63 where in 1 Kings 15:5. 00:19:28.66\00:19:30.43 Listen to what, when he is not quoting 00:19:30.47\00:19:32.83 the direct words of the Lord, 00:19:32.87\00:19:34.57 here's how the author of Kings says it, 00:19:34.60\00:19:37.04 he says, "David did what was right 00:19:37.07\00:19:39.81 in the eyes of the Lord 00:19:39.84\00:19:41.11 and had not turned aside from anything 00:19:41.14\00:19:43.78 that He commanded him all the days of his life 00:19:43.81\00:19:46.58 except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 00:19:46.61\00:19:52.05 Man is always going to point out sin, but not God. 00:19:52.09\00:19:57.53 He said David kept His commandments, 00:19:57.56\00:20:00.76 followed Him with all of his heart 00:20:00.80\00:20:04.10 and did only what was right in His eyes. 00:20:04.13\00:20:08.04 In this passage God was sending a message to the King Jeroboam, 00:20:08.07\00:20:12.91 He was prophesying 00:20:12.94\00:20:14.18 the destruction of Jeroboam's house 00:20:14.21\00:20:16.64 because the king did not followed God 00:20:16.68\00:20:18.78 with all of his heart like David. 00:20:18.81\00:20:21.08 But wait a minute, David was buried in his grave. 00:20:21.12\00:20:25.22 Why would God say that David 00:20:25.25\00:20:27.92 who was guilty of adultery, guilty of murder, 00:20:27.96\00:20:31.63 guilty of breaking all of God's commandments, 00:20:31.66\00:20:34.63 why would God say that God, 00:20:34.66\00:20:37.33 that David had kept His commandments 00:20:37.37\00:20:40.50 and done only what was right in His eyes? 00:20:40.54\00:20:44.47 I think Psalms 103:12 00:20:44.51\00:20:46.98 may actually answer our question. 00:20:47.01\00:20:50.35 It says "As far as the east is from the west, 00:20:50.38\00:20:56.28 so far has He removed our transgressions from us." 00:20:56.32\00:21:01.29 Wow. 00:21:01.32\00:21:03.43 God is not a man that He could lie. 00:21:03.46\00:21:06.86 It seems obvious to me that the only reason 00:21:06.90\00:21:10.30 that God would declare David's absolute innocence 00:21:10.33\00:21:14.27 is that God forgets the sins that we ask Him to forgive. 00:21:14.30\00:21:19.04 Halleluiah. What a thing. 00:21:19.07\00:21:21.08 Let's look at other scriptures that support this truth. 00:21:21.11\00:21:24.38 God said in Isaiah 43:25. 00:21:24.41\00:21:29.02 These are the words of the Lord. 00:21:29.05\00:21:30.99 "I, even I, am He who blots out 00:21:31.02\00:21:35.52 and cancels your transgressions, 00:21:35.56\00:21:38.06 for My own sake, 00:21:38.09\00:21:39.43 and I will not remember your sins." 00:21:39.46\00:21:44.33 Then He speaks again in Isaiah 44:22 saying 00:21:44.37\00:21:49.54 "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, 00:21:49.57\00:21:52.67 your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. 00:21:52.71\00:21:55.98 Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 00:21:56.01\00:22:00.82 And His New Testament promise 00:22:00.85\00:22:02.95 in Hebrews 8:10-12 says it this way. 00:22:02.98\00:22:07.79 "This is the covenant" He's speaking of the new covenant. 00:22:07.82\00:22:11.69 "I will put my laws in their minds 00:22:11.73\00:22:14.60 and write them on their hearts, 00:22:14.63\00:22:16.50 and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, 00:22:16.53\00:22:20.74 their sins and their lawless deeds 00:22:20.77\00:22:23.94 I will remember no more." 00:22:23.97\00:22:27.51 As we confess our sins in sincere hearted repentance, 00:22:27.54\00:22:34.38 God applies the blood of Jesus Christ 00:22:34.42\00:22:37.32 to blot out their stain. 00:22:37.35\00:22:38.99 They are covered and they're cancelled in the memory of God. 00:22:39.02\00:22:42.59 When He looks upon our record all 00:22:42.62\00:22:44.23 He sees is the blood of Jesus, indeed His grace is sufficient. 00:22:44.26\00:22:50.63 Oh, what joy? 00:22:50.67\00:22:52.27 Oh, how I hope your heart is soaring right now. 00:22:52.30\00:22:56.17 If its not, I hope you go back 00:22:56.20\00:22:58.37 and meditate on these scriptures in this segment 00:22:58.41\00:23:01.61 and ask God to illuminate the truth of the grace 00:23:01.64\00:23:06.18 of forgiveness in your mind. 00:23:06.21\00:23:08.12 You know, I can't think 00:23:08.15\00:23:09.72 of better news to share with you. 00:23:09.75\00:23:12.15 There are still some more wonderful truths 00:23:12.19\00:23:14.12 that we will examine but in my opinion 00:23:14.16\00:23:17.03 this is as good as it gets 00:23:17.06\00:23:19.73 as Micah wrote in Micah 7:7-9. 00:23:19.76\00:23:24.73 He says "I will look to the Lord, 00:23:24.77\00:23:29.27 I will wait for the God of my salvation, 00:23:29.30\00:23:33.07 My God will hear me. 00:23:33.11\00:23:35.54 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, 00:23:35.58\00:23:39.21 when I fall, I will arise, when I sit in darkness, 00:23:39.25\00:23:44.52 the Lord will be a light to me. 00:23:44.55\00:23:48.92 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, 00:23:48.96\00:23:51.09 because I have sinned against Him, 00:23:51.13\00:23:53.33 until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. 00:23:53.36\00:23:57.87 He will bring me forth to the light, 00:23:57.90\00:24:00.67 I will see His righteousness." 00:24:00.70\00:24:03.14 Now, there is one condition that I must add 00:24:06.41\00:24:10.95 because Christ added it first. 00:24:10.98\00:24:14.98 We are expected even commanded to forgive others. 00:24:15.02\00:24:20.66 And although many would like 00:24:20.69\00:24:21.89 to sweep this topic under the rug, 00:24:21.92\00:24:24.86 Jesus was adamant about us 00:24:24.89\00:24:27.40 developing a forgiving heart towards others. 00:24:27.40\00:24:30.07 He does not lay down the gauntlet 00:24:30.10\00:24:32.23 to challenge us to a losing battle. 00:24:32.27\00:24:35.44 Everything that he asks of us He will empower us to do. 00:24:35.47\00:24:41.14 Some Christians are alarmed to learn 00:24:41.18\00:24:43.48 that they must forgive an offending party 00:24:43.51\00:24:46.48 who has wounded them, just the thought of it 00:24:46.51\00:24:49.42 can make hearts raise and breathing accelerate. 00:24:49.45\00:24:53.39 If this describes you, please be assure 00:24:53.42\00:24:57.29 that just as God said for my own sake, 00:24:57.33\00:25:01.00 I will not remember your sins. 00:25:01.03\00:25:04.00 It is for your own earthly and eternal benefit 00:25:04.03\00:25:09.47 that Christ commands you to forgive others. 00:25:09.50\00:25:13.58 Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this manner. 00:25:13.61\00:25:18.18 He said, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:25:18.21\00:25:24.39 And in Mark 11:25-26. 00:25:24.42\00:25:30.53 He also said, "And whenever you stand praying, 00:25:30.56\00:25:36.93 if you have anything against any one, forgive him. 00:25:36.97\00:25:42.04 That your Father in heaven may also forgives you. 00:25:42.07\00:25:45.57 But if you do not forgive, 00:25:48.84\00:25:51.31 neither will your Father in heaven 00:25:51.35\00:25:53.15 forgive your trespasses." 00:25:53.18\00:25:56.55 Now that's a sobering thought, isn't it? 00:25:56.58\00:25:59.05 Here we are talking about the joy of repentance, 00:25:59.09\00:26:04.06 the grace of forgiveness, the idea that God can cancel 00:26:04.09\00:26:11.13 the memory of our sin 00:26:11.17\00:26:13.23 and look upon us as being pure as new snow 00:26:13.27\00:26:19.37 and yet sometimes we are so unforgiving, 00:26:19.41\00:26:25.25 but if we don't learn how to forgive 00:26:25.28\00:26:30.05 then we can end up unforgiven. 00:26:30.09\00:26:32.69 Now I don't want you to let this tamper your joy. 00:26:32.72\00:26:36.42 I'm sorry that we are out of time 00:26:36.46\00:26:38.69 and that I'm having to stop on this 00:26:38.73\00:26:41.26 but I want you to be sure and join us next time, 00:26:41.30\00:26:46.00 because so many of us like I went through 00:26:46.03\00:26:50.97 don't know how to truly forgive somebody 00:26:51.01\00:26:54.48 that has done us a very serious wrong. 00:26:54.51\00:26:57.95 But next time on our next program 00:26:57.98\00:27:00.85 we are going to uncover 00:27:00.88\00:27:02.72 how God can empower us to forgive others. 00:27:02.75\00:27:07.36 And I believe that you're going to be very blessed. 00:27:07.39\00:27:11.69 I hope that you are enjoying this series. 00:27:11.73\00:27:14.46 We have thus far looked at the idea 00:27:14.50\00:27:18.40 of entering into His gates 00:27:18.43\00:27:21.24 with thanksgiving and pressing forward, 00:27:21.27\00:27:25.14 walking through His courts with praise 00:27:25.17\00:27:27.74 and then we've talked about repentance 00:27:27.78\00:27:32.38 and confession of sin 00:27:32.41\00:27:34.28 and we've talked about receiving 00:27:34.32\00:27:37.15 that five step process of repentance 00:27:37.19\00:27:39.85 which ends with receiving the grace of His repentance. 00:27:39.89\00:27:45.26 And next time we're going to see how God can teach us 00:27:45.29\00:27:49.46 and empower us to be as gracious as He is. 00:27:49.50\00:27:53.40 A prayer for you is that the grace of our Lord 00:27:53.44\00:27:56.37 and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of the Father 00:27:56.40\00:27:59.31 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:27:59.34\00:28:02.58 will be with you always. 00:28:02.61\00:28:04.61 Thank you for sharing this time with us. 00:28:04.65\00:28:07.28 And we hope to see you next time. 00:28:07.32\00:28:09.55