REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE BAPTIZED? HOW DID YOU FEEL? WASN'T IT A GREAT FEELING KNOWING YOUR SINS WERE WASHED AWAY? CAN YOU EXPERIENCE THAT FEELING AGAIN? YOU MAY HAVE SINNED GRIEVOUSLY, BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS MADE PROVISION FOR US WHEREBY WE CAN ENJOY THE CLEANSING OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. DO WE CONTACT THE BLOOD AGAIN BY BEING BAPTIZED AGAIN AND AGAIN? OF COURSE NOT!
DAVID TEACHES US HOW TO CONFESS OUR SINS. HE HAD SINNED WITH BATHSHEBA THAT LEAD TO MORE SIN, AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE A PENITENT INDIVIDUAL TEACHING US THE ART OF CONFESSION. LET'S EXAMINE ALL VERSES OF CHAPTER 51 THIS MORNING.
1) GOD IS MERCIFUL AND LOVING
A. TITUS 3: 3-7 - HERE WE READ ABOUT THE GREAT POWER OF GOD'S KINDNESS AND LOVE
B. NOT ON THE MERIT OR WORTHINESS OF MAN, BUT THE GOODNESS AND GRACIOUSNESS OF GOD
C. PSALM 103:8 - HE IS ABOUNDING IN MERCY
D. WE SING A SONG,"GOD IS LOVE"AND HE CERTAINLY IS!
2) AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SIN
A. ROMANS 3:23 - ALL HAVE SINNED
C. ROMANS 6:23 - THE SEVERE PRICE PAID FOR SIN
D. JAMES 2:10 - EVEN ONE SIN IS SERIOUS
3) A REALIZATION OF HIS/OUR SITUATION
A. ISA 64:4 - A VIVID DESCRIPTION OF OUR CONDITION IN SIN
B. ISA 59:2- ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SERIOUSNESS OF LIVING IN SIN
C. 1 PET 3:12 - THE SAME THING DESCRIBED IN THE NT FROM THE OT
D. QUITE SIMPLY, WE ARE LOST!
E. AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR SINS - 1 JOHN 1:9 "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS"
4) UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOD WANTS
A. UNTIL FORGIVEN, ONE IS MIRED IN A DESPERATE SITUATION
B. GOD DESIRES THAT WE KNOW TRUTH AND WISDOM
C. JOHN 8:32 - "YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE"
D. 1 KINGS 2:4 - "TO WALK BEFORE ME IN TRUTH" - DAVID'S CHARGE TO SOLOMON, TRUE TODAY
5) A DESIRE FOR RESTORATION AND TO START ANEW
A. DAVID DESIRED FOR MORE THAN JUST FORGIVENESS, ALTHOUGH HE DOES ASK FOR THAT - 7,9
B. HE ALSO WANTED JOY AND GLADNESS
C. HE ALSO WANTED A NEW HEART AND A RENEWAL OF A STEADFAST SPIRIT
D. THAT RETURN TO THE JOY WHEN WE FIRST OBEYED THE GOSPEL - ACTS 8: 37-39
6) A DESIRE TO SERVE
A A DESIRE TO TEACH - 13
B. PRAISE GOD - 14-15
C. TO HAVE A BROKEN SPIRIT AND CONTRITE HEART -17
D. ISA 66:1-2
7) THIS RESOLVE IS IN KEEPING WITH TRUE REPENTANCE
A. GOD'S WANTS A TOTAL RESTORATION - 51:6
B. WHAT IS AN INDICATOR OF TRUE REPENTANCE? ZEALOUS SERVICE! - 2 COR 7: 10-11
8) A PRAYER THAT GOD'S PURPOSES BE CARRIED OUT - 18-19
WE SHOULD NOT BE SELFISH IN ONLY PRAYING FOR OUR OWN NEEDS, BUT THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE!