WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.160 Well, thank you all for having me in. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:17.199 And certainly thankful for the years of growing up here 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:23.000 ! And being able to hear the word of God preached faithfully here. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:27.740 ! And how even myself, I was trained up here. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:37.759 And thankful for how the Lord works in people that would have no hope without Christ. 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:39.079 And by the way, that's all of us, right? 00:00:39.879 --> 00:00:45.280 We have no hope without Christ, and yet He chooses to use us to be the light, 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:51.259 not only to each other, to remind each other of it, but to take that light to the world. 00:00:51.259 --> 00:01:00.140 I hope that you've been able to see us or come by and introduce yourself to us. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:05.859 We'd love to get to know you afterwards as well. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:11.539 But I'll introduce my family in a little bit afterwards if you come by. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:14.280 But hopefully you're able to be here this morning too. 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:18.659 This morning we're going to be looking at Psalm 51. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.700 And I'm thankful that in the midst of all of life, 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:31.159 that Psalm 51 has been one of those psalms that I've kind of gone to constantly. 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:37.799 And it's been something that has probably influenced and changed my life forever. 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:44.500 And so as I think about coming back to the church where you could say maybe it all started, 00:01:46.179 --> 00:01:51.780 I thought what would be better than maybe a psalm that has probably impacted me the most. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:59.739 So if you turn to Psalm 51, if you're there, and let me read Psalm 51 for us, 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:02.060 and then I'll pray and we'll get in the text. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:32.039 Psalm 51 says, 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:36.199 You only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:40.300 so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:45.479 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:48.900 Behold, you delight in truth and the inward being, 00:02:49.099 --> 00:02:51.800 and you teach me wisdom and the secret heart. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:54.960 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:57.599 Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 00:02:58.699 --> 00:03:00.920 Let me hear joy and gladness. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.500 Let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:07.679 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 00:03:08.459 --> 00:03:12.599 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 00:03:13.419 --> 00:03:17.159 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:22.279 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:27.900 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.639 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:36.060 and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:41.479 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:45.199 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it. 00:03:45.899 --> 00:03:47.979 You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:51.739 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, 00:03:52.399 --> 00:03:56.359 a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 00:03:57.459 --> 00:03:59.359 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:01.060 Build up the walls of Jerusalem. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:06.579 Then will you delight in right sacrifices and burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:10.800 Then bulls will be offered on your altar. 00:04:11.440 --> 00:04:11.719 Amen? 00:04:12.600 --> 00:04:13.380 Let's pray. 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:22.280 Father, work in our hearts this morning that we might be able to see who you are all the more. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.060 That we might understand who we are all the more. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.560 And that we might be able to seek you all the more. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:34.740 And recognize the freedom and promises you give to those who trust in you. 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:37.780 So Lord, break our hearts this morning. 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:39.319 Work in us, I pray. 00:04:39.900 --> 00:04:40.680 In Jesus' name. 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:41.280 Amen. 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:47.660 As I think about growing up in this church, 00:04:48.400 --> 00:04:54.939 I'm tempted to be kind of horrified at all of the things and all of the ways that I might have acted. 00:04:54.939 --> 00:05:01.819 And yet I'm thankful for God's mercy in all of that, even as I come before you. 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:06.879 Some, I'm sure, of you have stories that you could even share. 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:09.719 Just write those down, then throw them away and burn them if you could. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:18.699 But as you know, in a church like this, it was cool to see many children around. 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:20.719 Many of you have children. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:25.500 And even if you don't have children, I'm sure you get the blessing of seeing other people's children 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:29.279 and them encouraging you and making you laugh, probably. 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:35.899 But as you know, with children, as they're growing up, sometimes they push each other a bit, right? 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.279 Sometimes they're nagging each other. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:45.319 One of them might take something and then the other person's yelling and running after them 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:49.040 with some kind of item in their hand, probably, or wanting to throw something at them. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:56.760 Sometimes, well, lately we haven't had too much sun in Scotland, but here we've had plenty of it. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:01.240 So we've been getting sunburns and perhaps just hypothetically, of course, 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:05.460 there might be some that like to slap the other person's back after a sunburn. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:08.280 Again, all hypothetical, of course. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:19.279 And as any good parent would, when you see this offending party go and do whatever they did, 00:06:19.599 --> 00:06:24.199 you tell that person that they need to say what? 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:26.299 I'm sorry. 00:06:26.739 --> 00:06:30.019 Yes, which obviously is always quite heartfelt, right? 00:06:30.119 --> 00:06:34.379 It's always deep from the soul that they go in and they share this, 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:37.239 oh, I have wronged you, my brother, right? 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:41.779 We know what that apology looks like sometimes, right? 00:06:42.059 --> 00:06:45.959 It's, sorry, and then off you go, right? 00:06:46.059 --> 00:06:49.919 Or maybe saying, like, I'm sorry. 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:55.079 You know, like the deep, like, anger, the kindling going on there. 00:06:55.539 --> 00:06:58.739 And then sometimes it might be even so quiet that you don't even hear, 00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:00.000 like, did they just say something? 00:07:00.119 --> 00:07:01.939 Like, all right, then they're off, you know? 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:04.899 Here's the thing, though. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:16.620 So, I think, many times our repentance before God, even as adults, looks strikingly similar. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:27.699 Maybe you know you responded in an angry way, or you know you were selfish in a situation, 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:33.500 and we don't have a parent there saying, all right, what do you say, right? 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:36.259 Go say sorry. 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:44.180 How often in situations like that do we fail to go to our Heavenly Father 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:47.620 because we think maybe it's just not a big deal? 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:49.939 Ah, I'll just say it real quick. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:51.719 He died for my sins. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.039 It's okay. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:57.439 Is it possible, whether maybe you're a Christian in here, 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:01.280 maybe you've been a Christian for years and years, and you've been here, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.300 maybe you even trained me up. 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:04.160 Thank you for that. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.100 Thank you for your patience. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:13.800 Is it even possible that maybe either you or those even dabbling in Christianity, 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:19.920 is it possible that we forget and don't realize that every one of our selfish acts, 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:26.120 every grudge that we hold on to, every outburst of ungodly anger, 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:32.120 every small bit there, that that sent Jesus to the cross? 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:33.600 Do we remember that? 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:39.240 Maybe you're new here. 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:41.360 Maybe this is the first time you've been here. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:49.120 Have you heard that our sin has that much of an effect or had that much of an effect? 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:57.800 And what we find as we look at Psalm 51 here is that there's a man who knows he's done something wrong here. 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:03.919 He knows that he messed up, and it's against God and others that he's messed up against. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:10.459 And he goes to God not just to say sorry real quick, but to truly repent. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:14.219 He knows he needs to change. 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:20.879 And so he's had this change of heart and the way he thinks, a change of mind, 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:26.600 and it changes the ways that he thinks about things and the things that he does. 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:28.700 And that's what repentance is. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:33.620 Repentance is a change of heart and mind that changes what I think and what I do. 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:38.279 And the fact is that all of us have sinned before a holy God. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:43.100 We've all committed high treason against this holy king of the universe, 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:48.940 claiming that our way is the best way every time we take things into our own hands. 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:52.940 And the reality is that we deserve death because of it. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:57.980 Eternal separation from God, suffering, that's what we deserve. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:04.600 But what I hope you see in this text is much more than that, praise God. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:13.040 That here, and maybe you hear this morning, or maybe you feel this morning broken. 00:10:14.140 --> 00:10:17.100 And maybe you're longing for hope. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:21.159 And I hope what you see here is this matchless hope for the sinner. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:26.860 The sinner in Psalm here, and Psalm 51 here, who turned to the Lord. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:32.840 And so today, we're going to look at how just saying sorry doesn't cut it. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:37.440 We're going to look at what true repentance looks like. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:42.860 And I hope this morning we can encourage each other as we look at the word this morning. 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:47.660 We're going to look at confessing, telling on yourself to God. 00:10:48.260 --> 00:10:53.340 We're going to look at remembering, calling to mind what is true of me and God. 00:10:54.040 --> 00:10:57.120 We're going to look at apologizing, asking for forgiveness. 00:10:58.260 --> 00:11:02.980 We're going to look at worshiping, responding to our sin with acts of worship to God. 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:09.159 And then we're going to look at seeking, asking God to restore us, build us up, and protect us. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:16.920 And I hope that in that process, what we learn is that actually, when it comes to saying sorry, 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:23.560 it might be a little bit more than maybe we thought it should be on a regular day-to-day basis. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.939 So let's look there, and we start in Psalm 51. 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:29.139 Look there in your Bibles at the very beginning. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:33.979 You'll notice that the beginning of Psalm 51, there's this quote in the beginning. 00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:38.000 And that quote actually goes back to 2 Samuel 11 and 12. 00:11:38.119 --> 00:11:40.079 Now, I'm just going to describe that quickly. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:43.559 I don't want to spend too much time going into that full story. 00:11:43.599 --> 00:11:46.919 But what you find is that King David is at home, 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:52.539 and instead of going to war like his military guys did, 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:57.719 he's there and he's perhaps even shrieking his responsibilities. 00:11:58.699 --> 00:12:04.419 And in the midst of that, there is a woman of one of his soldiers. 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:07.759 Her name is Bathsheba, and she is taking a bath. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:12.919 And he is seeing from the top of where he is, 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.319 he's just looking out, and he sees Bathsheba. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:21.980 And instead of turning away, he decides to continue to look, right? 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:25.520 The slow spiral that begins. 00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:32.200 And that turns into David eventually calling Bathsheba over, 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:35.120 and he commits adultery with her. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:40.600 And then, soon after, she finds out that she's pregnant. 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:43.060 Oh no, what happens now? 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.540 So, what does he do? 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:51.139 He sends for her husband, Uriah, to be killed at the front of the battle. 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.000 If it wasn't bad enough, now he's committed adultery. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:58.299 Now there's a child involved. 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:05.259 And now he wants to send his friend to go get killed at the front of the battle. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:10.700 And now, because of that, not only is Uriah killed, 00:13:10.819 --> 00:13:13.059 but in the process of trying to get him killed, 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:15.500 lots of other people from Israel are killed. 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:21.539 Lots of other military are killed, leaving families left without fathers. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:25.480 And finally, David takes Bathsheba as his wife. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.360 What a guy. 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:38.800 Finally, you get to the story where Nathan goes to him and tells him a story that symbolizes what David did with Bathsheba. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:45.439 And it's in telling this story that Nathan the prophet, he confronts David, 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:49.199 and David is finally convicted of his sin. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:55.240 And this is his response as a song from his soul. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:14:04.620 And the first thing that we see, this first step of real repentance that we see David describe is this confession. 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:07.080 You see this in verses 1 through 4. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:12.620 He starts off with something very good for us to do when it comes to confession. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:16.799 He says, have mercy on me, O God. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.139 He goes to God and he asks for mercy. 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:24.720 He knows he's going before this holy judge, this one who is perfect. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:31.799 And he knows that this judge has something about him that we don't see a lot in our culture. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:36.720 This true love and mercy that doesn't compare to this world. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:46.360 David isn't just going here because he knows he's messed up and he's been found out. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.759 He's not just going to relieve himself of this punishment. 00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:59.740 He hates what he has done because he knows that he's broken his relationship with God. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.899 And that was important to him. 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:14.419 And as we think about what that looks like, I think sometimes we often just are sad because we get found out. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.819 Or we know it's the right thing to do. 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:23.039 Charles Spurgeon said, if I hate sin because of the punishment, I have not repented of sin. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:26.879 I merely regret that God is just. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:34.779 I think so often maybe the reason why we're sorry is because we know it means something else later on. 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:39.539 It means that life might be a little bit uncomfortable, whether you're kids or adults. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:46.559 If we don't hate our sin because we've offended God, we're missing something. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:52.480 And so asking for mercy is an appropriate start for confessing your sin. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:55.120 And we don't like admitting we are wrong. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.940 Can you remember the last time you admitted you were wrong? 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.200 Sinfully or otherwise? 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:08.519 If you can't, perhaps you should listen closely to what David is pointing out here. 00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:14.919 How much do we forget about the mercy that was poured out on us? 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.860 In fact, every day. 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:20.720 Every sin deserving instantaneous death. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:23.980 And yet here we are at Maranatha Baptist Church. 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:27.360 As Jonathan mentioned, 4663 Travue Road. 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:32.180 And I think that's important that we get to be here this morning hearing about the mercy of God. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:38.980 If you've never turned to Christ, it's a blessing to be able to hear about the mercy of God. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.860 Thankfully, it's the word of God. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:43.580 And that the power is not through me. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.200 It's the word. 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:54.900 And we can look at this and we can say, look, if we haven't trusted in Christ, confession is a good place to start saying, I need your mercy, God. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:17:07.519 And if you haven't followed him, if you don't go to him, and if you don't confess to him, you won't receive the mercy that you will need. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:17.339 But if you're a believer, you know what God has done for you, and you've believed, you've said, I trust in him alone. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:21.879 We know something about our Lord. 00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.379 Lamentations 3. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.159 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. 00:17:29.959 --> 00:17:31.599 His mercies never come to an end. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.119 They are new every morning. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.980 Great is your faithfulness. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:39.579 Aren't we thankful for the mercy of God that's new every morning? 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:50.000 And when you confess your sins before God, I wonder how often we ask the God who poured out his horrific judgment for mercy. 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:55.159 A mercy that you could never deserve and never earn. 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:59.740 And in verse 2, we see David asking God to thoroughly wash him. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:02.819 He says, I need you to cleanse me of this. 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:08.480 He recognizes that his sin has brought a separation between him and God. 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:19.439 And you recognize also in verse 4, he says, even though I messed up with a whole bunch of people, he says, it was you and you only I sinned against. 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:20.720 Right? 00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:23.779 Now, you read the first part here. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.819 Right? 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.399 Against you and you only. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:31.280 And as we remember the story, it's like, really, David? 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.680 Only you? 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.460 Only him that we sinned against? 00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:35.680 Right? 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:38.519 It may be David overstated a bit. 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:38.759 Right? 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:42.320 Like, you let down your soldiers by not going to war with them. 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:46.500 You let down Bathsheba and Uriah by committing adultery. 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:54.500 You forced the commander of your army to send this man in the front lines to be killed. 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:58.819 And in the midst of that, you killed many other men just to make sure that Uriah got killed. 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:03.200 And then you put Nathan, the prophet, in front of you to confront the king. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.940 Which, by the way, prophets confronting kings, you can imagine at that time, didn't usually go well. 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.440 Right? 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.299 Confronting a king wasn't usually on the, like, bucket list. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.980 I need to do that before I die. 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:16.400 In fact, usually the next thing you would do is die. 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.039 Right? 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:19.440 And he sinned against everyone. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:19.779 Right? 00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:19.859 Right? 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:28.119 And yet he goes to God, the law giver, whose moral code he broke, and he said, 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.700 I know it's against you and you only. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:39.099 And while, and I think it's important for us to see, that he's the one that we've broken the law against. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:41.920 He's the one that we've done things against. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.680 We need to see that that's first. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:50.660 And while it's very appropriate to go and say sorry to those that you have sinned against. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.860 Or that your sin has affected. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.420 And even try to make things right. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.140 It's a very good thing. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:05.480 We must remember that the one who we've sinned against the most or first is God. 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:10.400 We must go to the law giver, the creator. 00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:17.059 And as we think about sin in our lives and what it looks like to tell on ourselves to God, you could say, 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:21.019 are we all more concerned with how our sin has affected other people? 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:24.579 Or how our sin has offended God? 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:28.200 I know what my answer is most of the time. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.420 Unfortunately. 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.720 Have you told God about your sin lately? 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.980 Have you gone before him? 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:40.539 Have you ever told God about your sin lately? 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:48.120 Is there something that you've been ignoring in your life that's been gnawing at you and you don't even want to admit it in your head? 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:51.220 Because then you know you're going to have to do something about it. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.180 Is it eating you inside? 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.380 Go to him. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:58.220 He says his mercy is new every day. 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.420 Confess it. 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:04.980 Can I just say even confess now if you need to? 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:15.599 Right now, if you haven't done that, just feel free right now to tune out the next two minutes and just be ready to say, 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:19.000 I want to confess this to you. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:24.839 Because he's listening and he's ready with new mercies no matter what it is even now. 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:29.179 First step to real repentance is confessing. 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:34.779 The second step to real true repentance is remembering. 00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:38.139 Calling to mind what is true of me and true of God. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:41.000 And we're very good at believing lies. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.480 We do this all the time. 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:46.220 We deceive ourselves into thinking that we're not too bad. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:53.860 And David, what he's trying to remind himself of is he's calling to mind this truth about his condition before God. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.160 I was desperate. 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:58.339 I didn't even start in the right way that I needed to. 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:05.240 Even while I was in my mother's womb, I was in sin. 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:07.200 Verse 5 talks about. 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.600 We were born into this sin. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:15.199 David knew that you can't bring something perfect out of something that is flawed. 00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:19.399 Romans 5 verse 12 says, 00:22:19.719 --> 00:22:25.480 Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin. 00:22:25.679 --> 00:22:29.679 And so death spread to all men because all sinned. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:41.759 And while it's unfortunate that we started off in that condition, it's the fact that because Adam, we continue with that sin curse. 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:45.340 The reality is from day one, we were messed up. 00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:52.120 David didn't say that like this as he was like enlightening God in some way. 00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:55.279 He's just reminding himself of these things. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:59.720 But then he also remembers who God is. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:16.099 He wants to make it clear that Jesus, that God the Father, that all of the Godhead here is justified in whatever happens to him. 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:22.000 Because he deserves it and because the true God is a holy God. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:33.279 And that it's only through him actually that my secret heart, the deep, dark depths of my soul can be revealed to a point where he shows me what I've done wrong. 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:35.299 It has to be through him. 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:42.619 And he delights in giving us that knowledge so that we can actually draw closer to him. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:46.420 But it's something you have to actually believe. 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:49.519 It's what you live off of. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:54.119 Job 38, 36 says, 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:59.319 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.079 Who has? 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.400 It's the Lord. 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.900 He gives us that. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:13.259 The thing that he was trying to hide in the deep recesses of his heart and mind, God brought it to light. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.839 And that was a good thing. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:22.399 And because God loves truth and teaches us wisdom, we can have a hope in that. 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:25.539 In the midst of repentance, we can have hope. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:30.899 So as he's repenting before God, these things were important enough for David to mention. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:40.259 And as Nathan spoke to him from God, David realizes that God was teaching him about the horrendous nature of his heart. 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:50.759 And so I guess I wonder, when we're saying sorry to God, do we tell him and remind ourselves what we know about ourselves first? 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.900 What we know of God? 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.799 Do we remember that as we go to him? 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.759 Do we remember the gospel as we confess that? 00:24:56.759 --> 00:25:08.119 Can I just say, it's important for us to remember the truth in our sin, but also remember who God is and his mercy in that. 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.119 Remember. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:14.379 And so he starts with confessing, and then he goes to remembering. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:18.619 And then the third step he goes to is apologizing. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:21.619 Actually asking for forgiveness. 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:26.839 And I know we can tend to kind of mix up words here, right, confessing, apologizing. 00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:29.339 What's the difference here, right? 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:39.359 Telling God what you did wrong or confessing is different than asking God to remove that guilt, asking for forgiveness. 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:45.299 We start our apology by recognizing he has the power to clean the slate. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.500 We see in verses 7 through 9, 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:49.659 Purge me with hyssop, I shall be clean. 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:52.160 We know it has to be him that washes me. 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:54.620 And David realized that he couldn't do it himself. 00:25:55.160 --> 00:26:01.680 No matter how much I try to do good things or try to be good or even try to convince myself that I'm good, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.019 there's nothing there without him. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.620 It actually has to be him. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.400 Sacrifices weren't enough. 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.320 Magic words are not enough. 00:26:11.040 --> 00:26:14.259 There's nothing that wipes the slate clean except him. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:22.180 God had to purge him to do a work in his heart and in his life to remove that guilt. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.099 And as Christians gather every Sunday here, 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:31.180 I'm thankful even as we sang so many songs how much gospel we got. 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:37.259 We need to remember the guilt-removing work that Christ did for his people. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:45.740 Aren't we glad that God stepped into our world and acted in a way for us to be forgiven of our sins? 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:50.420 That Jesus, the Messiah, that was long awaited by David actually, 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:57.560 that he came many years after him so that he could be guaranteed salvation when trusting in him. 00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:04.339 Jesus, as this willing sacrifice, taking punishment on that cross, 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:09.179 dying the death we deserve, rising again the third day. 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:17.240 And we're told that if we confess our sins to him and believe in him alone for our salvation, 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.940 we will be saved. 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.859 That's good news. 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:24.219 Because no matter how much of a dirtbag you feel like today, 00:27:24.979 --> 00:27:28.319 no matter how far ruined you feel today, 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.879 you can know that if you trust in him, 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:34.779 just as sure as he came back to life, you can be saved. 00:27:36.719 --> 00:27:38.579 So if you're the worst sinner ever here, 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:42.219 or if you think that you're the best person, 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.019 you need it just as much. 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:48.720 Repent and believe genuinely, 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.900 and you can be saved. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:53.720 And as we looked at verse 7 there, 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.339 purge me, 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:59.960 we know it's not just us going to him 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:03.440 that he has to do a work in our lives. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.859 It's not going to be enough to do good things, 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:13.420 or maybe we pray and we think that we're cleansing ourselves by praying. 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:15.039 It's him alone. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:21.240 Let's not act like as we pray to God that we're washing that sin away, 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.240 that that's our penance. 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.380 No, it's him. 00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:27.019 We can't rely on ourselves to say, 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:29.240 I can wash my sins away. 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:33.160 We go to him recognizing he has done it. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:38.880 So we apologize, recognizing it's only him. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:43.940 And maybe you're at a point where you feel like your sin is just killing you inside, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:47.120 like the bones are breaking, right? 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:49.020 Like what he says here, 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.800 he says, 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.800 let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:55.120 He's at a point where his soul is just all meshed up. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.580 He can't handle it anymore. 00:28:56.579 --> 00:29:01.359 But there's something that we need to remember, 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:04.460 that if we confess our sins, 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:06.240 he's faithful and just to forgive us, 00:29:06.699 --> 00:29:08.460 to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:12.339 That I will never leave you nor forsake you, 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:13.679 he promises to his people, 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:15.419 so that we can confidently say, 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.619 the Lord is my helper, 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.980 I will not fear, 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.480 what can man do to me, 00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.500 because it's all him. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:24.180 And when we hear those promises, 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:26.119 it brings this unique joy in us, 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:31.220 that because there is a part of us that still mourns over our sin, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:38.180 we are joyful because we can know that we've been restored by Christ's blood. 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:42.500 That we have relationship with him. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:46.240 It's not just about being thankful for the big man, 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.599 who did what we needed to do. 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:51.619 No, it's I have a relationship with my Lord, 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:53.759 and I can't wait to see him face to face someday. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:59.159 And so in this process of David asking God to wipe his slate clean, 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:01.659 and restoring this joy of his salvation, 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.199 he goes to verse 10, 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.899 and he says, 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.899 one of my favorite verses in all of scripture, 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:09.139 the one that I need to say the most, 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.619 create in me a clean heart, O God, 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.899 and renew a right spirit within me. 00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:17.480 And I wonder if we could be missing 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:22.440 the joy of our salvation that comes when asking God to forgive us. 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:26.759 Yes, God wants us to recognize our sin, 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:28.980 but he doesn't want us to dwell on that. 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:31.039 He wants to wipe the slate clean 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:35.559 and then have us dwell on the promises that we forget all the time. 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:39.500 To remind ourselves of what he has done, 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:42.180 and that it's not about us. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:45.440 And then too many times I'm tempted to short this process. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.259 How about you? 00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:50.859 I know that there's too many times where I don't go to him 00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:52.660 and recognize what I've done wrong, 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.700 and I just say sorry. 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:59.140 Or I don't remember the complexities of what the Lord went through 00:30:59.140 --> 00:31:00.740 to save me from my sin, 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.420 that it was at the cross, 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:04.180 that as his blood shed. 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:07.680 Do we remember at communion time, 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.740 do we take that seriously and say, 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.620 I get to participate in this 00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:13.279 because he died on the cross for me? 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.259 Could you be missing out on the process 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:20.559 that God uses to stir your heart to stay away from evil? 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:24.839 I would argue that if you don't clearly have in mind 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:26.480 what you have done wrong 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:28.259 and how you've offended God, 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:30.419 is it really an apology? 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.859 Or is it some religious step that you say, 00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:36.399 I'm going to go ahead and do this, 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.879 wipe that, done, 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:39.099 confession is done, 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.679 repentance is done, 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.339 but has your heart changed at all? 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:45.019 Especially if you don't even recognize what you did wrong. 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:53.000 Are we too busy just trying to be a good Christian 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:58.259 and we forget what the Lord has done 00:31:58.259 --> 00:32:00.940 to allow us to have relationship with him? 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.660 So the first step of real repentance 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:06.019 was confessing, 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.359 then remembering, 00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:08.019 and then apologizing 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.980 because he wants our hearts. 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:12.879 The fourth step then is worshiping. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.980 We worship as a response to our sin 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.880 with acts of worship to God. 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:20.520 And it's good for us to praise God 00:32:20.520 --> 00:32:22.140 for the forgiveness that he's given us. 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.480 Look at verse 14 and 15. 00:32:24.280 --> 00:32:25.620 Some of us don't get here 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:27.660 because we stick on the whole, 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.560 I've sinned, I've sinned, I've sinned, 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:31.160 and we can't get past that. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.320 What does he say? 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:34.600 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God. 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:36.440 O God of my salvation 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:39.540 and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.420 O Lord, open my lips, 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.860 because I can't do that myself, right? 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:44.440 O Lord, open my lips 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:47.160 and my mouth will declare your praise. 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:49.760 He says, I wanna worship my God. 00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:53.380 And I've experienced two tendencies with this. 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:58.120 Either I just dwell on my sin and mope, 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:04.180 or I'm just super apathetic, 00:33:04.520 --> 00:33:06.180 unappreciative of what God has done 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:08.420 when I've been forgiven 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:13.220 and what David appreciated with God 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.800 is that in verse 13, 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:16.580 he says, I know, 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.900 and I wanna get to the point 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:18.980 where I can worship you 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:20.100 and not only worship you, 00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:21.560 but then also tell others 00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:23.300 about how they can have this freedom. 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.580 And the reality check here is this. 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.519 When we don't worship God 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:30.720 for the forgiveness he has given us, 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.819 we will tend to be apathetic 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.380 and telling others about the forgiveness 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:36.980 that they can have in Jesus too, right? 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.019 It makes sense. 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:40.339 If we can't recognize what the Lord has done for us, 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.620 why would we share it with other people? 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:43.620 If it doesn't give us hope 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:45.839 as we go in repentance before God, 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:47.819 why would we go tell other people about it? 00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.860 It's not giving me hope, 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.179 why would I tell other people about it? 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:53.039 How much do I not, 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:55.579 and after apologizing to the Lord, 00:33:55.679 --> 00:33:58.619 say, man, the Lord has done amazing things for me. 00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:03.219 Let me with my lips praise my God. 00:34:03.939 --> 00:34:06.000 And also let me tell others 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.359 about how they can have a hope 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:09.119 that goes beyond what this world can have. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:13.420 He goes and you recognize 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:16.719 that he can't earn this forgiveness 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:18.059 and he says, look, 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.559 it's not gonna be through sacrifices. 00:34:19.779 --> 00:34:21.619 In fact, in verse 17 he says, 00:34:21.919 --> 00:34:24.439 the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. 00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:26.819 It's not a physical act. 00:34:26.879 --> 00:34:28.879 It's my heart being broken before the Lord. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:30.759 A broken and contrite heart, 00:34:30.859 --> 00:34:32.139 oh God, you will not despise. 00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:33.919 That word contrite there is like, 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.779 if you think of ash, 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:38.539 just something absolutely pulverized, 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:40.119 there's nothing that you can pick up. 00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:43.419 That is the status of us going before God. 00:34:43.419 --> 00:34:44.679 And when we do that, 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:47.019 he makes us into something good. 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:51.239 And he puts this jar together 00:34:51.239 --> 00:34:54.819 that's broken and probably gross looking a little bit, 00:34:55.339 --> 00:34:57.179 and the light comes out of that 00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:58.440 and it produces such good. 00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:03.019 I wonder if in our worship 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:05.319 we remember, 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:08.379 but he was pierced for our transgressions. 00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:10.379 He was crushed for our iniquities. 00:35:10.379 --> 00:35:13.299 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:15.060 and with his wounds we are healed. 00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:19.460 I wonder if in thinking about our repentance before God, 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.840 we remember that and say, 00:35:21.060 --> 00:35:22.120 look what the Lord has done for me. 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:26.840 And yet in the midst of remembering his forgiveness, 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:29.580 David worshipped God, 00:35:29.660 --> 00:35:31.600 even though he recognized 00:35:31.600 --> 00:35:34.560 that Jesus was crushed for his sins, 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:37.300 that the Messiah would one day come 00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:39.300 and that he would be forgiven. 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:44.060 When was the last time you thanked God 00:35:44.060 --> 00:35:48.660 or even sang just by yourself, 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:50.280 maybe it's just even in your head, 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:53.039 saying thank you Lord for forgiving me. 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:58.620 If you struggle doing that, why? 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:01.420 Why do you struggle getting to the point 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:03.240 of worshiping and repentance? 00:36:04.160 --> 00:36:05.220 Are you above that? 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:07.000 Is that just not you? 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:10.139 Are you seeing your sin before God 00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.459 in the right way, maybe? 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:15.319 Do you see your sin at all? 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:20.599 As David is going through this confession 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:23.559 and remembering and apologizing 00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:24.659 and then worshiping, 00:36:24.919 --> 00:36:27.959 he's pointing his heart closer to the Lord 00:36:27.959 --> 00:36:30.179 and using truth to do that. 00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:33.659 And in this last step of real repentance, 00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:36.019 he finally ends with seeking. 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:40.019 He's asking God to restore him 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.440 and his people. 00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:44.659 Asking God to restore us 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:48.440 and build us up and protect us. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.379 And as David was ending this process, 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.879 being the leader of his people, 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:53.879 he was asking God to restore 00:36:53.879 --> 00:36:55.639 and protect the people once again. 00:36:55.859 --> 00:36:58.199 He recognized that he did wrong. 00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.539 He committed adultery 00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.579 with this woman. 00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:05.219 He killed his friend. 00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:11.679 He broke the hearts of many in Israel. 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:15.880 And now, what we find him doing 00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:17.559 is saying, 00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:20.559 Lord, please restore your people. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:24.880 As we think through 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:28.980 all of what the Lord has done in our lives. 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.480 As we think through 00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:33.719 how God has forgiven us. 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:35.460 As we think through 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.599 what it looks like 00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.940 even now as a church 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.519 to say, 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.940 what does it look like 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:42.219 for us to go before God? 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.759 And remember that together. 00:37:44.279 --> 00:37:45.420 Not being ashamed 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.739 of our sin anymore 00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:48.259 because what's on us, 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.519 we're marked with Christ. 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:53.920 Are we able to come together, 00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:55.820 encourage each other, 00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:58.199 show us what sin looks like, 00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.840 and then be able to say, 00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:02.340 look at what the Lord has done for me. 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:07.460 Look at how he has restored me. 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:10.840 Look at how I can now go 00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:12.500 into this world being changed 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.400 once again 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:15.179 and go tell others 00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.960 about the good news 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.579 that I've been given. 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:16.659 Amen. 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:22.179 I think too often 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:24.340 we lose sight 00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:26.799 in the midst of 00:38:26.799 --> 00:38:29.039 beating ourselves up over sin 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:31.159 or being apathetic of our sin 00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:32.380 and we forget 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:34.179 what the Lord means to do in us. 00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:40.899 what if he is using the sin 00:38:40.899 --> 00:38:42.159 in your life right now 00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:44.899 to help others 00:38:44.899 --> 00:38:46.619 be transformed by the gospel? 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.799 And as you tell people 00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:50.019 of the hope that you've found, 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:52.500 others can then be transformed. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:55.139 I understand that there 00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:56.379 are people in here 00:38:56.379 --> 00:38:57.599 that have been sinned against. 00:38:57.599 --> 00:39:01.199 that there have been people, 00:39:01.319 --> 00:39:01.779 I'm sure, 00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:03.199 that have things 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:04.139 that they don't even like 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.819 to think about. 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:06.339 And the reality is 00:39:06.339 --> 00:39:08.420 that God can even use 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.940 the most horrific things 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:13.139 to help others 00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:17.339 with no better example of that 00:39:17.339 --> 00:39:18.019 than Jesus, 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:20.079 the innocent God-man 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:21.900 coming and dying on the cross 00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:22.839 for us. 00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:25.940 can he use 00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:27.720 all of what 00:39:27.720 --> 00:39:29.500 you've done in life 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:32.079 in repentance 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:34.500 to be able to show 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.500 others in the church 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:37.240 and others in our community 00:39:37.240 --> 00:39:38.519 who he really is? 00:39:39.640 --> 00:39:40.740 Have we really, 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:43.660 do we really regularly 00:39:43.660 --> 00:39:45.440 practice the process 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.600 of repentance in our lives? 00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:48.860 Let's not shortchange it. 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.579 Let's not be quick 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:52.480 to just say sorry real quick. 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:54.220 Let's go 00:39:54.220 --> 00:39:55.160 and seek 00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:56.500 the king 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:58.920 who has forgiven us 00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:02.420 and will one day 00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:03.059 enjoy 00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:04.860 no more tears, 00:40:05.160 --> 00:40:05.760 no more sin 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:06.559 with him forever. 00:40:07.240 --> 00:40:08.019 Let's pray. 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.079 Father, 00:40:10.200 --> 00:40:10.860 thank you for 00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:11.820 your love for us. 00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.200 Thank you for how 00:40:13.200 --> 00:40:13.820 you have 00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:15.420 given us life 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:17.200 through your son, 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:17.579 Jesus. 00:40:18.100 --> 00:40:19.220 Thank you that 00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:20.240 we can have 00:40:20.240 --> 00:40:21.019 the spirit 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.880 that seals 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:23.019 us 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.440 as we turn 00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:24.980 in repentance 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.539 to you 00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:26.280 that we don't 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:27.079 have to wonder 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:28.320 if we're defined 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:29.440 by our sin anymore 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:31.400 but we have been 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:31.940 stamped, 00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:33.420 all those who've 00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:34.079 called on you, 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:35.980 we've been stamped 00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:36.699 by your blood 00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:38.360 and we can now 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:38.900 understand 00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:39.579 and know 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:40.179 that we're free. 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.199 So Father, 00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:43.059 I pray that all 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:44.219 those here, 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.800 if they haven't 00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:47.139 trusted in you, 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:47.739 that they would. 00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.500 that they would 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:49.759 see the beautiful 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:50.659 thing that you did 00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:52.679 in sending your son 00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:53.359 to the cross 00:40:53.359 --> 00:40:55.099 and giving us life. 00:40:56.139 --> 00:40:56.619 And for those 00:40:56.619 --> 00:40:57.159 that have, 00:40:57.539 --> 00:40:58.000 that you would 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:59.439 restore us once again 00:40:59.439 --> 00:41:00.319 as we come 00:41:00.319 --> 00:41:00.779 in repentance 00:41:00.779 --> 00:41:01.359 to you 00:41:01.359 --> 00:41:02.399 and that we might 00:41:02.399 --> 00:41:02.939 tell others 00:41:02.939 --> 00:41:03.779 all for your glory. 00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:04.799 In Jesus' name, 00:41:04.959 --> 00:41:05.159 amen. 00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:05.259 Amen. 00:41:05.259 --> 00:41:05.319 Amen. 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.319 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:07.319 Amen. 00:41:07.319 --> 00:41:07.319 00:41:07.319 --> 00:41:09.319 Amen. 00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:10.320 Amen.