WEBVTT 00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:05.219 Our scripture reading for today is found in Psalm 32. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:12.780 ! Please follow along with your Bibles, and if you don't have one, you can get one on either side of the stage or at the back. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:18.140 So in the Church Bible, our passage is on page 432. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.460 Let's listen to God's word for today. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:25.300 Psalm 32, a mascal of David. 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:29.560 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.620 Whose sin is covered. 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:38.799 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:42.920 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away. 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:49.379 Through my groaning all day long, for day and night your hand was heavy upon me. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:53.240 My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:57.760 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:05.200 I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:06.319 Selah. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:13.479 Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found. 00:01:14.119 --> 00:01:17.139 Surely in the rush of great waters they shall not reach him. 00:01:17.819 --> 00:01:19.859 You are a hiding place for me. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:22.119 You preserve me from trouble. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:25.419 You surround me with shouts of deliverance. 00:01:25.919 --> 00:01:26.319 Selah. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:30.439 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:33.539 I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 00:01:34.179 --> 00:01:43.079 Be not like a horse or a mule without understanding, which must be curved with bit and brittle, or it will not stay near. 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:50.599 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:57.560 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:02:00.980 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:01.060 Amen. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.080 Hey, can I pray for us before we start? 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.080 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:16.840 We thank you that you are a God who speaks, who reveals yourself through your word. 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:23.039 And God, as we look into your word this morning, Father, we pray that you would speak to each one of us this morning. 00:02:23.420 --> 00:02:29.980 That you would convict our hearts of places that we have let go, the places that we have hidden away, 00:02:29.979 --> 00:02:34.639 and places that we try to hide away from the world, sins that we try to cover. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:41.219 And God, we pray that through your spirit, you would also show us the grace and the beauty of Christ 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:45.359 that calls us into your forgiveness, into your presence. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:49.519 So God, we pray, would you do this work for your glory and our good. 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:50.819 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:51.799 Amen. 00:02:53.079 --> 00:02:55.839 Before I start, just a quick note. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:01.180 For youths, if you do grab those paper at the back, and if you give it to, at the end, 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:05.340 if you give it to a youth leader or a volunteer, there's actually also a gift waiting for you. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:06.560 So it's not just a conversation. 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:09.759 So a gift is waiting for you, so go for it. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:12.259 Okay, let's begin. 00:03:12.740 --> 00:03:16.300 I wonder what comes to your mind when you hear the word confession. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:21.680 For many, if not all, it's something that's quite difficult, isn't it? 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:28.300 Whether that's confessing our wrongs or our offense to our family, a friend, or a colleague, 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:31.300 or whether that's confessing our sin to God. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.480 And what makes it so difficult is because we struggle with pride. 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:37.680 We struggle with shame. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:39.240 We struggle with our own ego. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.240 Fear, fear of what might happen to the relationship if I confess. 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:46.920 Fear of what might happen to my reputation if I confess. 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:53.979 And we also wrestle with self-justification, thinking that, hey, maybe it's not that terrible 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:55.039 that I need to confess. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.119 Maybe it's not necessary. 00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:02.879 And yet, beyond confession, when we are met with mercy and grace and embrace, 00:04:03.399 --> 00:04:07.679 we know that there is a peace and joy that's waiting for us. 00:04:09.279 --> 00:04:14.000 Between two friends, confession might be something that is talked about once in a while 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.959 when there's an offense, but between God and us, if confession is something that is regular 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:22.839 and an important part of our faith journey. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:27.319 So over the summer, we've been going through this series called Praying Through the Psalms. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:34.699 Praying, a psalm is a book that touches on the whole range of human emotions and human experiences. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:41.039 And what we are trying to do is we are trying to let this book guide us by teaching us how to pray, 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:45.339 and not just how to pray, but also how to grow in prayer. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.159 And this book gives us words and vocabularies to pray. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:55.459 And today's psalm, David is going to speak about something that's a core theme, 00:04:55.719 --> 00:04:58.819 one of the core themes of Christianity, and it is confession. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:02.680 And he speaks about confession in quite an interesting way. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.720 He starts off by giving his big idea up at front, 00:05:06.280 --> 00:05:09.360 and after that, he's going to teach us through giving us his experience, 00:05:09.780 --> 00:05:14.220 and at the end, he's going to call us into confession by encouraging us, 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.019 and at the same time, warning us. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.980 So if you do have Psalm 32 open before you, do keep it open. 00:05:20.340 --> 00:05:24.420 We're going to look at it verses by verses. 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:28.340 So David begins here by talking about a blessing. 00:05:28.780 --> 00:05:32.420 And right at the beginning, he gives us two profound sentences. 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:33.959 Verse 1 and 2, he says, 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:37.000 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven. 00:05:37.780 --> 00:05:39.500 Blessed is the one whose sin is covered. 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.060 Blessed is the one against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.480 in whose spirit there is no deceit. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:49.180 Now, before we dive in into what David is saying here, 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:52.920 it would be good to understand the word blessing. 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:57.620 Now, it is a word that is used quite often, even nowadays, right? 00:05:57.620 --> 00:06:01.100 And if you go on Instagram, and if you search up hashtag blessed, 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:09.500 you're going to find a whole range of pictures depicting a whole lot of experiences and emotions. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.300 Now, you might find like, oh, I got a new car, hashtag blessed. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:17.959 Oh, I'm finally to the top of the hike, what of you, hashtag blessed. 00:06:18.340 --> 00:06:21.560 I won a billion dollars in lottery, hashtag blessed. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:22.980 And so on and on and on. 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:28.220 Now, whether you have a social media or not, or whether you use this hashtag or not, 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:33.759 this is something we all have experienced in our life, one way or the other. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.220 Maybe it's when you're spending a really meaningful time with someone you love or with your family, 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:43.860 and you just mutter under your breath, oh, what a blessing. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:52.560 Or maybe when you are on a trip to Japan, and you are sipping that coffee without a care about your work or life, 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:55.220 and you're just feeling deep in your heart, what a blessing. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:57.699 Hashtag blessed. 00:06:58.900 --> 00:07:03.120 Now, if you know what I mean, and I'm sure we all do, here's a question for us. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:10.960 What emotion or state are we trying to capture when we say hashtag blessed? 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:20.180 What exactly are we trying to describe when we say softly to our hearts, wow, such a blessing. 00:07:22.359 --> 00:07:26.099 Now, if you really think about it, we are trying to describe something that's, 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.699 there's a sense of peace and fulfillment. 00:07:30.219 --> 00:07:33.179 It's the sense that we're getting something that we don't really deserve. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:39.500 It's the sense that this is happiness, but it's not exactly just happiness, is it? 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:47.560 In the Bible, blessing can be translated to happiness, but then it's much more than happiness. 00:07:48.239 --> 00:07:49.879 It's being deeply fulfilled. 00:07:50.359 --> 00:07:54.680 It's this deep joy that is independent of one's circumstances, 00:07:54.859 --> 00:07:57.579 whether one is going through suffering, loss, or poverty. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:03.399 It's also this idea that God's favor is resting on that person, 00:08:03.859 --> 00:08:07.399 that there's this God's protection and strength over him, 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:10.259 that there's just this God's face shining on him, 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:14.539 and there's just peace and comfort and fulfillment 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:18.039 and a sense of satisfaction deep within our soul. 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:21.259 Now, isn't that a wonderful place to be? 00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:25.359 To be blessed, to be deeply fulfilled. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:28.579 And the question is, how does one be blessed? 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.759 How does one be truly happy in this truest sense? 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:36.759 How can one be deeply fulfilled in the deepest sense? 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:41.179 Now, if you go around and if you pick up a self-help book 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:44.080 about happiness and fulfillment, 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:47.179 most of the books would deal with five things. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:51.240 They would say, these are the five things you need to conquer in life 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:54.319 that's going to give you deep happiness and deep fulfillment. 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:56.620 And the five things are gratefulness, 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.159 that you've got to be grateful in life, 00:08:58.220 --> 00:08:59.319 you've got to be thankful in life, 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:02.139 always be giving thanks for the small things that you have, 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.759 you've got to be mindfulness, 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:06.879 be aware of your own emotions and their surroundings, 00:09:07.699 --> 00:09:09.080 you've got to have purpose in life 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.699 so that you don't feel lost in life, 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:12.919 you have a clear vision of where you're going in life, 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.279 you've got to be loving and devoted to others, 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:16.319 do some charity work, 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.179 when you help others, you become happy, 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:22.580 and finally, you know how to approach suffering in life. 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:23.740 You conquer all this five, 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.840 and that's how you'll be deeply happy and fulfilled. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:30.879 But look at what David says in God's Word. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:32.620 Blessed is who? 00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:37.259 Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:39.639 And now that is interesting, 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:42.519 because it's not blessed is the man who is righteous 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:46.240 or who is successful and educated and has his life together. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:49.240 It's not blessed is the man who lives a grateful life 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:50.320 and who has a clear purpose, 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.220 does charity work, 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:52.659 and knows how to deal with pain. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:53.700 No. 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:58.540 The one who is blessed is the sinner who has been forgiven. 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:01.360 Now that begs the question, 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.960 what does being forgiven and blessing have to do with one another? 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:09.300 If you think about it, 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:13.220 well, when we talk about forgiveness between two friends or two people, 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:17.200 we know how much joy and peace and happiness that brings. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.420 To have that misunderstanding finally cleared up, 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:24.639 to be met with embrace when you are full of guilt and shame, 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:28.840 to be finally reconciled with the one you deeply love. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:34.899 But this forgiveness and this blessing that we see in Psalm 32 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:36.780 is a little bit different than that. 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:43.120 Because you see, this is talking about God and us. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:47.100 And unlike the offense and forgiveness between two human beings, 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:48.399 though it is important, 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:52.680 the forgiveness between God and us is of infinite importance. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.599 Because this is between God, the creator, 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.500 and us, the creation. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:01.859 It's between God, the source of all life, 00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:04.120 who is powerful, who is king over all things, 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:07.239 who is holy, who is the standard of purity, 00:11:07.839 --> 00:11:09.899 and us, mortals. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:13.299 You see, when we talk about sin, 00:11:13.459 --> 00:11:16.639 sin is first and foremost against this God. 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:20.679 And like sin between two friends creates a divide, 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:25.179 sin between God and us creates a divide that is devastating. 00:11:26.859 --> 00:11:28.299 And unlike sin between, 00:11:29.219 --> 00:11:30.379 and it's not like a, 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.239 this relationship is not like a business relationship. 00:11:34.739 --> 00:11:38.859 You see, when there's a divide between two friends, 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:41.359 when there's an offense between two friends, 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:45.279 the grief is not so much about the things that have been lost. 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:49.299 It's not so much about the benefits that have been lost. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:51.639 Whenever two friends, there's a fight, 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.439 the grief is always about the relationship that has been lost. 00:11:57.299 --> 00:12:00.179 You see, when the sin creates a divide between God and us, 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:04.199 yes, it separates us from all things that's good, 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:06.699 where God is the source of all good things. 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.359 But actually, you see, 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.759 when sin divides us between God and us, 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:12.659 this devastating divide, 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:16.359 the grief is not mainly because of all the good things that is lost along with it, 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:21.560 is because of the sweet fellowship between God and us that has been lost. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:26.419 The sweet fellowship between the God who created us in his image 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:30.519 and us who was created in his image that has been lost. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.519 And along with that, 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:34.440 all the things that is good, 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.120 the source of life, 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.480 the source of blessing. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:42.639 Now imagine that this sin was taken away. 00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:46.759 Imagine that this transgression that was between God and us, 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:48.259 the source of all blessing in life, 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.480 was taken away. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:52.860 Can you start to see how that would be a blessing? 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:58.440 Because that brings us back to that relationship which we were created for, 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:01.759 to the one whom all things good flows from. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.939 You see, blessedness is not found in creation, 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.580 but is found in the one who created us. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.419 Therefore, blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:15.980 Blessed is the man whose sin is covered. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:20.519 Blessed is the one against whom God does not hold or count any iniquity. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.120 How do you define blessed? 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.240 In your life, how do you define hashtag blessed? 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.860 Is it in material goods and things of this earth? 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:35.620 Or is it in the fact that we've been forgiven in Christ? 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:40.060 What is it that causes you to say under your breath, 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.039 I'm blessed? 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:44.019 Now it's not wrong to say, 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:46.899 I'm blessed when you're sipping that coffee in Europe 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.820 and enjoying that time. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:49.279 No. 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.720 But what is it that stirs your heart 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:54.419 and above all of these things, 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.820 causes you to say and feel blessed? 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:03.440 Now David, having made these profound statements 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.879 that blessed is not the one who's grateful 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.560 and all of these things that this world offers, 00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:10.039 blessed is the one who's forgiven. 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:13.860 Now he goes on to give us his experience 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:16.340 and through which he's going to tell us 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:18.740 how does one actually do get forgiven. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:22.560 So let us look at verses 3 to 5 in the passage. 00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:24.639 The path to being forgiven. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:29.000 And what you'll see here in these two or three verses is 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.240 we see David here in anguish 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.419 as God's hand is on him over the sins 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.379 that David has hidden away. 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.699 He's groaning. 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.360 His strength is dried up. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.799 Now this does not just seem to be spiritual, 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.279 but it seems to be quite physical for him. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:46.460 He's struggling under God's hand. 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:50.899 And it's very obvious that it's painful and heavy. 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:53.759 But if you really think about it, 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:56.620 this hand, this is actually God's hand of grace. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.559 It's God's hand of love. 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:02.079 Because ultimately, this is going to lead David 00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:03.860 to the path of being forgiven. 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:07.079 And I'm sure you have felt this in your life once in a while 00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:10.939 where God has convicted you of a sin in your life 00:15:10.939 --> 00:15:12.740 and your soul is restless 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:15.439 and deep down you know you've done something wrong, 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:17.660 but you try to justify yourself. 00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.860 You say like, that's okay. 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:22.220 I was tired and I was not thinking straight. 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.960 And you try to justify yourself 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:25.180 and you wrestle with it. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.400 And we do this in all parts of life, right? 00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:29.060 Not just with God. 00:15:29.140 --> 00:15:30.780 We do this in between our relationships. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.700 I mean, just this past week, 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:35.540 I had ordered a bed guard from Taobao 00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:37.480 so that our son does not fall off bed. 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:40.360 And I ordered the wrong size. 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:43.220 So our bed is 180 cm. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.700 I ordered a 180 cm guard. 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.840 And I knew my wife wanted something smaller 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.519 so that we got a way to get in the bed. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.700 And my wife comforted me. 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.800 And deep down I knew that was a mistake. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.040 I made a terrible mistake. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.320 We paid money for it. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:58.840 But what came out of my mouth was not that. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.320 And I said, you know what? 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:00.740 It's okay. 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:02.019 He's got to be more protected. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.500 That's fine. 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:03.660 What's done is done. 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.600 Let's move on. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.080 It doesn't matter, you know? 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.220 It's okay. 00:16:08.300 --> 00:16:08.980 It's just a few dollars. 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.820 We can order it again. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.120 Now, obviously my wife was not happy about it. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.340 And I knew deep inside I was wrong. 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:17.519 And I had to come clean and say, okay, I'm sorry. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.379 That was a stupid mistake. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:22.879 But what was more stupid was my reaction to that stupid mistake. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:31.059 Now, if you're in this hall and you do feel God's heavy hand over a situation, 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.860 a certain circumstance in your life, 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:36.519 where you might be wrestling with it, 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:39.360 saying, maybe you're trying to justify it. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.000 Maybe you know that people, your trusted friends and leaders have been coming 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.919 and trying to confront you about certain things. 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.919 And you do feel heavy about it. 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:51.659 And I would say, really consider it wisely. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:57.199 Are you fighting it with self-justification? 00:16:58.579 --> 00:17:01.699 Is there some kind of defense mechanism at work there? 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.379 Consider it. 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:06.220 But if you are a Christian this morning, 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:11.559 and you have stopped feeling this heavy hand of grace over your sins, 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:14.700 then that's a dangerous place to be. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:18.500 A place where sin no longer grieves us. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:23.480 A place where sin no longer makes us go into despair. 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:27.960 Where sin becomes habitual and normal for us. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:31.059 Beloved, that's a dangerous place to be. 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:35.240 Do reach out to a trusted friend or a leader if that's you this morning. 00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:38.919 Because this heavy hand is God's grace, 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:43.200 is God's love, and is God's discipline in calling us back. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:50.159 So here we see David feeling the weight physically of God's hand over his hidden sin. 00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.700 Now, what does he do? 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.539 Let's look at verse 5. 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.099 What does he do? 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.000 Verse 5 says, 00:17:55.899 --> 00:17:59.480 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity. 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:02.360 And I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord, 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:05.079 and you forgive the iniquity of my sin. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.480 What does he do? 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.640 He comes to a place of confession. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.960 You see, blessed is the man whose sin is forgiven. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.819 But how do you reach the place of being forgiven? 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.339 It's through confession. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.559 And that is crucial here. 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.779 Because one pastor talks about this. 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.200 He says, 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.420 Forgiveness is free, but it isn't automatic. 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:27.060 Now, what he means by that is, 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:29.740 every year, once a year, in the month of June, 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:32.500 I receive a notification on my Starbucks app saying, 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.720 Happy birthday, Alan. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.000 You got a free cake waiting for you. 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.960 Now, the cake is free, 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:42.120 but it doesn't mean it automatically appears in my hand on my bed. 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.680 I need to get dressed, 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.019 go down, show them my app, 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.160 and get my cake. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.060 Okay. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:52.220 You see, forgiveness is free, 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:56.579 but the confession is the path to that, to get there. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.419 And this is crucial because we could go through all of life 00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:01.980 knowing about forgiveness, 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.539 learning about forgiveness, 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:06.500 knowing all the details and the steps of forgiveness, 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.659 and missing it. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.539 Because we've missed confession. 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:15.940 Confession is the boat that brings us to the shore of forgiveness. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:20.259 And I want us to see one thing about confession here. 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.799 Because you see, from verses 3 to 5, 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.420 there's a small change that happens in David. 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.440 He goes from silence to speaking. 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:31.980 He goes from hiding to uncovering. 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:35.920 And that's what confession is, isn't it? 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.480 It's to lay bare in front of someone. 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:43.100 It's to come clean in front of someone. 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:46.839 And figuratively, it's to be naked in front of someone. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.119 And there's shame and there's fear in that. 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:56.000 And we sometimes think that we need to come before God 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.980 a little polished, you know? 00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.119 Even with our confession, 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.839 we need to hide a little 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:03.539 and give them a kid-friendly version of our confession. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.019 But see what David says here. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.740 I acknowledged my sin. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.179 There's no excuses. 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.860 God, I did it. 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.799 This is what I've done. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.700 This is who I am. 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.920 This is what I felt. 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.740 This is what I thought. 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.660 I did not cover my iniquity. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.560 It's an openness. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.620 It's a bareness before God. 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.900 There's no hiding anything. 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:27.100 I mean, it's already foolish to hide anything from God 00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:28.039 who sees all things. 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.500 And yet we do it. 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:32.120 And yet that's what Adam did in Genesis 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:34.740 to hide from a God who sees all things. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:37.940 You see, confession is an openness to God 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:39.440 about our brokenness. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.859 The disgusting thing that we try to hide in the dark 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.660 is to come open. 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:46.819 And that is the place where David is met with forgiveness. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.759 I mean, look at verse 5. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.799 The forgiveness is so instantaneous. 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.039 It's like, I confess my sin. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:56.579 And the next line is, and he forgave my sin. 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.259 It's so quick. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:02.500 So you see, David, through his experience, 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:04.140 is telling us two things here. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:07.039 The only path to forgiveness and blessing 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.720 is through confession. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:11.779 And confession is bare, is open, 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:16.160 and is truth, and is spoken. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:20.599 And finally, at the end, 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:23.319 David is going to call us to confession now 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.700 through two things. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.279 He's going to warn us, 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:28.200 and he's going to encourage us. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:31.940 And let's look at verses 6 to 11, finally. 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.440 The call to confession. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:37.539 Now, David gives us two negatives in these verses. 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.440 The first one is in verse 6, 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.480 where he tells the reader 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:42.339 that they should offer prayer 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.960 when God can still be found. 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:47.140 Now, we can understand that in two ways, 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:48.759 in a big picture and a small picture. 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.099 In a big picture, 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:52.140 we're living in a time of grace right now. 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:55.539 But one day, Christ will return, 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:58.180 and it is going to be a time of judgment. 00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:00.240 And the thing is, 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.799 we don't know when he's going to be back, 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.900 when he'll return. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.940 All we know is, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.339 Scripture says that he's going to return 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.359 like a thief in the night. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.039 In other words, 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.259 no one's going to expect 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.059 when he's going to come. 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:12.420 So if that's the case, 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.859 then don't delay confessing your sin. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.660 And in the small picture, 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.379 don't delay, 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:20.559 because we really don't know 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.400 what's going to happen 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.000 in the next few hours, 00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:24.560 let alone tomorrow. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.380 Are we going to be alive? 00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:28.000 Are we going to be somewhere else? 00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:28.900 Suffering? 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:29.800 Sickness? 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.820 We don't know. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.360 I mean, look at verse 6. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:33.800 It says, 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:35.580 Surely in the rush of great waters, 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:37.340 they shall not reach him. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.180 Now, the rush of great waters 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.160 can mean two things. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.180 One, it means judgment. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.600 We can't tell what happens in a few hours, 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.500 but one thing we do know for certain 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.719 is that there is judgment after death. 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.519 Hebrews 9 says that, 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.339 And just as it is appointed 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.619 for man to die once, 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.240 and after that comes judgment, 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.599 when there's no more time for confession. 00:22:58.179 --> 00:22:58.879 So don't delay. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.639 Now, the rush of great waters 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.980 can also mean chaos. 00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:05.500 When you hold off confessing, 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.439 and soon the chaos of life 00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:09.879 and the wrestle of our own souls come in, 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:12.240 we slowly start to drift away, 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.539 drift off into this chaos. 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.899 It's further and further away 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:17.339 from the shore of forgiveness. 00:23:20.459 --> 00:23:21.619 So that's what happens 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.699 if you really think about it, 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.919 when our sin, 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.199 unconfessed sin, 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.039 slowly becomes normal, 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.199 habitual, 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.619 and we stop even thinking about it. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.859 It no longer grieves us, 00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:34.500 and we slowly fade away into this chaos. 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:39.339 The second negative David gives us 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.679 is in verse 9 and 10. 00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:42.799 Don't be like a horse or a mule. 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.119 Don't be stubborn. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.779 That's what he's basically saying. 00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:48.259 And many are the sorrows of the wicked. 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:51.519 Now, David is saying not only not to delay, 00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:53.479 but also don't be stubborn about it. 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:56.199 It's like he's talking about his own experience 00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:57.539 in verses 3 and 4, right, 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:59.859 where he tries to stay silent, 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.159 and he tries to sleep it off. 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:03.500 But you see, 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.660 missing out on confession, 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:05.759 being stubborn, 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.000 brings about many sorrows. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:11.120 Mainly missing out in forgiveness, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.120 missing out in this blessing 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:15.200 of coming into a relationship with God, 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.220 the Creator. 00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:18.820 So don't delay. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.160 Don't be stubborn. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:22.420 But then, 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.720 David also gives an exhortation. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.460 He gives an encouragement. 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:28.180 Look at verses 7 and half of 10. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.220 David says, 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:32.500 David speaks as one who is forgiven, 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.860 and I want us to notice 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:35.259 how God is depicted here. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.840 Look at verses 9. 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.240 He says, 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:42.559 Oh, sorry. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.299 Verses 7. 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.920 Verse 7. 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.720 David says, 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:48.120 You are a hiding place for me. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.880 God becomes a hiding place for David. 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:53.359 God is the one who preserves David from trouble. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:56.579 God surrounds David with shouts of deliverance. 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.380 Half of verse 10. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:01.940 God's steadfast love surrounds David 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:04.400 because he trusts in the Lord. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:07.579 Do you see the position of God in these verses? 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.059 You know, 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:11.500 because when we think of confessing our sins to God, 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.539 we imagine a God who's disappointed 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.839 and frustrated 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:17.960 that we have yet again messed up. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.720 We imagine God going, 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.539 Oh, gosh. 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.559 Again? 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.599 This guy? 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.220 Same sin? 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.099 How many times has it been? 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.380 70 times? 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.880 He's got seven more left. 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:35.200 And we also think that when God does forgive us, 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.460 then he does it begrudgingly, 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.220 like, Oh, fine. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.940 I forgive you. 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:41.000 And he goes on back to his business of, 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.220 I don't know, 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.059 running the universe. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.039 But that isn't true. 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:47.779 You see, 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.759 one of the things we struggle with confession 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.160 is the feeling of shame. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:54.279 Because confession is coming 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.440 and being naked 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.799 with our sinfulness and brokenness before God. 00:25:58.340 --> 00:26:00.059 It's showing the things that we hide away. 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.600 But look, 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:03.400 God becomes our hiding place. 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.740 He covers our sin 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.480 and he forgives them. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.500 Isn't that wonderful? 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.180 I think the image that comes to my mind 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:14.780 is someone who's dirty and broken 00:26:14.780 --> 00:26:16.640 and who's naked 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.759 because he has lost everything 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.320 coming before God. 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.860 And God lovingly embraces 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.940 and covers him 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:24.420 with his coat and love. 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:27.160 And he says, 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.120 he surrounds us 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:29.560 with his steadfast love, 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:31.000 a love that is faithful 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.100 and unchanging 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.200 throughout all history. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.620 And this is precious 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:36.300 because you see, 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.039 confession 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:39.420 is also a step of faith. 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.800 Between two friends, 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:43.160 when one comes to confess 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.380 his wrongdoings, 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:46.180 he does not know 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.980 whether he will be met with mercy. 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.279 But he has to come in faith 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.880 and trust 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.740 that his friend would forgive him. 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.860 And when we come to God, 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.940 we too come in faith, 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.319 trusting that he will forgive us. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.279 But then what happens 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.079 when we trust him? 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.819 Look at verse 10. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.759 But steadfast love 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.799 surrounds the one 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.720 who trusts in the Lord. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.920 See, 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.120 when we come in faith 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:14.799 and confession to God, 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:17.500 we don't really have to doubt 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.680 because we are met 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.079 with steadfast love. 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:22.079 We are met with a love 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.539 that does not change, 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.900 that is committed, 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.779 that's loyal. 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.720 And this morning, 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.819 if all of this 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.660 have failed you 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.859 to draw you 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.980 to come into confession, 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.359 then let me point us 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.900 to that one place 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.240 where the steadfast love 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:43.660 was on full display 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.920 and is at the cross. 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.940 Why can't you 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.220 and I be assured 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.420 of forgiveness 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.279 when we confess? 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.700 It's because Christ 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.519 took the penalty 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.119 and punishment 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.000 of our sin 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.279 so that anyone 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.920 that comes 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.119 and puts their trust 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.480 in him 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.500 and confesses 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.200 and repents 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.380 will receive 00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.160 the blessing 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.700 of forgiveness. 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.680 You don't have 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.599 to dread shame. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.319 You don't have 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.819 to be afraid 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.660 of being shamed 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.819 because Christ 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.660 took our sin 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.500 and shame 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.480 as he hung 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.759 naked on the cross 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.140 so that our shame 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.120 would be covered 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:19.360 with his righteousness, 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.620 with his blood. 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.640 Church, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.860 let your eyes gaze 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.000 upon this king 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.740 of all kings 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.059 that is beaten, 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.480 that is tortured, 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.880 dying the dead 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.720 that you and I 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.259 deserved 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:34.279 for our sins 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.740 and as you fix 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.640 your eyes on him, 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.920 it will begin 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.579 to melt 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.759 our pride 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.599 and egos away 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.640 slowly. 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:43.720 this ego 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.460 and pride 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.400 and shame 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:46.000 that comes 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.740 between us 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.740 and confession 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.759 and as you've 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.700 confessed your sins, 00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.800 you will find yourself 00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:52.560 on the path 00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.460 of forgiveness. 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.560 You will find yourself 00:28:54.560 --> 00:28:55.220 on the path 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:57.000 to that sweet fellowship 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.100 between the creator 00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:58.600 and us. 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.240 You will find yourself 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.800 forgiven, 00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.259 a blessing 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.800 in the deepest sense, 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:05.380 one that all humans 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.900 of all this earth 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.880 is looking for, 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.000 that blessing, 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:11.259 but can only be found 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.539 in God 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.819 and in forgiveness. 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.539 And when you reach 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.259 that place, 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.839 then you can truly hear 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.339 and say the words 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.660 that's found in verse 11 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:24.079 where David says, 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.379 be glad in the Lord 00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:26.839 or you righteous, 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.900 the ones that have 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.440 been forgiven, 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.700 and shout for joy 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.640 all you upright 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.279 in heart. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.440 So church, 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.140 make confession 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.920 a deep 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:39.240 and joyful part 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.819 of your prayer life. 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.140 It's crucial, 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.400 it's wonderful, 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.119 it's joyful. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.460 Do it daily 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.660 for we need 00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.599 forgiveness daily. 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.740 And let confession 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:51.599 drive you to joy, 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.640 humbling you 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.779 as you confess 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.299 your sin 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.859 and receive the forgiveness 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.960 that you did not earn, 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.259 you did not deserve, 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.779 but out of the 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.740 steadfast love 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.259 of God, 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.420 you receive 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.799 in Christ Jesus, 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.160 our Lord and Savior. 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:07.720 And that is 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:09.019 today's message 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.500 for us. 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.519 Confession, 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.120 the blessing 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.680 of forgiveness 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.019 through confession. 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.600 So church, 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.080 in a second, 00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.240 after I close 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.680 in prayer, 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:19.779 after I close 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.340 God's prayer, 00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:21.040 God's word 00:30:21.040 --> 00:30:21.540 in prayer, 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:23.279 we're going to spend 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.220 some time in confession 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.720 and assurance. 00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.420 We're going to do it 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.380 as a church. 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.320 We'll do assurance 00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.140 later after that 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.100 through communion. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.399 So, 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.339 as I start praying, 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.659 I'd love for communion 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:35.519 stewards to get 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.019 into position 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.919 as I start praying 00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:39.599 and just stay 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.099 in position. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.179 The music team 00:30:41.179 --> 00:30:42.240 can also come up 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.240 as I start to pray. 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:43.959 So church, 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.859 can I pray for us 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.839 as we respond 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.879 to God's word? 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.459 Father, 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.419 we thank you 00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:52.799 that the greatest 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.759 blessing in all 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.399 creation 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:56.359 is found in you, 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:56.659 God. 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:58.719 God, 00:30:58.719 --> 00:30:59.480 we confess 00:30:59.480 --> 00:30:59.859 that we 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.859 try to find 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.399 this blessing 00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.339 and joy 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.839 in the things 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.379 of creation, 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.919 but what incredible 00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.979 news that we find 00:31:05.979 --> 00:31:06.419 in you, 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:06.659 God, 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.199 the one who 00:31:07.199 --> 00:31:08.039 creates us, 00:31:08.479 --> 00:31:08.819 the one who 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.559 creates our hearts, 00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.779 the one who 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.699 satisfies our 00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.439 deepest longing. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:14.779 God, 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.419 we thank you 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.379 for this forgiveness 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.439 that we receive, 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.979 not because of 00:31:18.979 --> 00:31:19.579 our merit, 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.279 not because of 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.119 how good we are, 00:31:21.219 --> 00:31:22.539 of how well 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.959 our life is going 00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:24.799 and how educated 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.240 we are, 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.259 so on and on. 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.779 For the forgiveness 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.459 that we find 00:31:28.459 --> 00:31:29.240 because of 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.000 Jesus, 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.680 what you have 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.120 done on the 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.440 cross. 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.579 God, 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.039 it is true 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.400 that your 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:35.779 forgiveness 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.480 is free. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.859 We don't earn 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.059 it, 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.859 we cannot buy 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.120 it, 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.500 but we come 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.000 in faith 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.539 and we can 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.220 receive it 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.799 because with 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.559 full assurance 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.460 because of you, 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:46.819 Christ. 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.759 God, 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.359 what joy 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.720 it is, 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.099 it says, 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:53.640 what goodness 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.099 this is, 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.339 God, 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.480 that we are 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.279 forgiven in you, 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.859 that this 00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.359 wonderful 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:57.920 relationship 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.460 with you 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.639 is restored 00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.619 through your 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:00.859 blood. 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.660 Father, 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.680 we praise you 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:05.039 that there's 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.619 nothing to be 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.339 proud of, 00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:06.779 there's nothing 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.740 to be boast 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.960 about in all 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.480 of this, 00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:11.779 but in the 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.180 works of 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.539 Christ, 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.480 through which 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.139 we are saved, 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:15.960 we have made 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.440 a life, 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.139 and we thank 00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.279 you, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.500 God, 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:20.119 and we praise 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:20.379 you, 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.579 in Jesus' 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:21.920 name. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.099 Amen. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.220 Amen. 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.220 Amen.