WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.940 If you have your Bibles, look with me this morning to Psalm 51. 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:10.080 Psalm 51, and we're going to read the first 13 verses here in just a few moments. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:14.960 Psalm chapter 51, verses 1 to 13. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.559 I want to begin just a real short sermon series this morning. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:22.160 It's only this week and next week. 00:00:22.699 --> 00:00:25.120 I want to preach two messages, though, that go together, 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:27.859 and I'm calling this a fresh start. 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:34.700 I don't know about you, but I look forward to the beginning of a new year each and every year. 00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:39.980 The only thing I don't like is writing checks and then continue to put the last year, right? 00:00:40.480 --> 00:00:45.260 But I like a new year because it gives us a fresh start. 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:49.219 And let me just tell you two things about myself that probably you don't know. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.379 One, I'm a little bit of perfectionist. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.039 Now, I'm not a full-blown perfectionist. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.079 A lot of things, you know, just don't really matter. 00:00:57.079 --> 00:00:58.799 But certain things, I am. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:01.979 And in the area of neatness, I'm a little bit of a neat freak. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:05.219 You know, I just like things to be orderly, and I like them to be neat. 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:08.280 And that's just part of my personality. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:10.500 But there's a contradiction to that. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:11.579 I'm a doodler. 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:12.819 How many of y'all are doodlers? 00:01:12.900 --> 00:01:13.439 You know what I mean? 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:18.280 And one of the things I like about a new year is when I was working full-time, 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:20.840 my secretary every year would buy me a calendar, 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.799 and she'd bring it into my office on January 1 and say, 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:23.439 Here it is, Pastor. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:24.920 You have a brand-new calendar. 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.820 And she knew I looked forward to it because a brand-new calendar is just fresh, right? 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:29.980 There's no scribbling on it. 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:30.960 There's no marks on it. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.900 And you get to plan out the whole year in advance. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:36.579 And it's just always cool. 00:01:36.820 --> 00:01:39.799 And with me, because I'm a neat freak, that part of my personality, 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:43.180 I would always begin, like on January 1, if I had an appointment, 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:47.040 I'd put those down, and I'd just write so neat, you know, 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:48.480 either in cursive or in print. 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:49.560 It would just be so neat. 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.980 And I'd do that for the next few days, the next week. 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.180 But then in about four or five days, I'd be on the phone talking to somebody, 00:01:57.340 --> 00:01:59.719 and if that conversation goes more than about two or three minutes, 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:01.439 then I'd just start doodling. 00:02:02.379 --> 00:02:04.140 And that was always there by my phone. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:07.800 And so I'd start drawing birds, or I'd draw fish, or, you know, 00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:09.640 I'd draw trees, or I'd draw mountains, 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:12.319 or I'd just make triangles and circles and figuring, 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:14.180 just all kinds of crazy stuff. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:18.020 And so after about two weeks, my calendar just looks a mess. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:22.540 And I just sometimes attempt just to tear out January and go to February, you know, 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:24.319 get another fresh start, right? 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.219 Any of you like that, you know what I found through the years? 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.260 Our lives are a lot like my calendar. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:35.740 By the time you get to December 31, boy, our calendars are a mess, aren't they? 00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:37.659 Because you've written phone numbers here and there, 00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:40.879 and little notes that you go back now, you don't know what your note meant, 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:42.480 all those kind of things. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.919 And my life gets that way a lot of times. 00:02:46.399 --> 00:02:49.479 It gets kind of muddled, and the lines get confused, 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:52.120 and it's not neat anymore. 00:02:52.299 --> 00:02:53.759 Life is messy, right? 00:02:54.139 --> 00:02:59.060 And I don't know about you, but I found a whole lot of times I need a fresh start, 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:00.459 not just with a new calendar. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.439 I need a fresh start with a lot of things. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:07.039 Sometimes people need a fresh start with a new job, right? 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:10.759 The old one's not working out, and I just need to go find a new job. 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:16.459 And sometimes you're involved in some relationships that just aren't working out, 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:19.199 and you say, you know what, I just need a fresh start here. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:21.899 Or you're in one, and you're not going to walk away from that relationship. 00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:24.479 But you know there are some corrections that need to be made, 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:28.659 because we need to make this thing better than what it's been in the past. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:31.139 We need to get a fresh new start. 00:03:31.899 --> 00:03:32.899 I'll tell you something else. 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:36.980 A lot of folks I've found, and this includes me at times in my life, 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:45.340 we come to a place in our relationship with God where we need a fresh new start. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:51.060 If you'd be honest about it this morning, not all of you, but some of you in this room, 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:56.580 you look at your relationship with God as it is today, and you just know this, 00:03:56.580 --> 00:03:59.719 it's just not what it should be. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.340 It's not what you want it to be. 00:04:04.220 --> 00:04:07.420 There was a closeness you enjoyed once with God, 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:10.439 and a fellowship you enjoyed once with Him, 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:15.820 and a sense of joy and peace and power that just filled your life. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.259 And somehow that's gone. 00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:23.879 You pray now, and it feels as though God's a thousand miles away. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:26.620 You wonder, does He even hear me? 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.439 And those things that once brought you joy, 00:04:29.539 --> 00:04:31.740 you just were elated because of your relationship with God. 00:04:32.719 --> 00:04:35.060 Now, it's just not like that. 00:04:35.659 --> 00:04:39.439 And you hear people talk about having a sweet, intimate, personal relationship with God, 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:41.199 and you get a little bit envious. 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:44.939 I wish mine were like that, but it's just not. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.019 I just kind of find myself going through the motions. 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:51.139 And so the million-dollar question is this, 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:56.000 what causes us to find ourselves at that place in our lives spiritually? 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:57.459 Can I just tell you this? 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:00.639 Most people I know, it's not that one day they get up and they say, 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:02.539 you know what, I'm not going to believe in God anymore. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:06.379 It's not that anyone ever just stands up in Sunday school class, 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.459 I've never heard of this happening, may have happened somewhere, 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:10.500 but not in the churches I pastored, 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:12.259 where somebody stands up and says, you know what, 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:15.899 I just don't hold to the same things I used to hold to. 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:21.779 I'm becoming a liberal as of this particular day in my life. 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:25.459 Most times people don't consciously walk away. 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:31.479 What happens is they just find themselves getting more and more and more distant from God. 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:34.419 And there are a variety of reasons why that can happen. 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:39.079 But I want to tell you one big one I found as a pastor is this, 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:41.219 and this may surprise you, 00:05:41.979 --> 00:05:46.879 it is because of the presence of unconfessed sin in our life. 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:48.839 Because I'm going to promise you something, 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.579 if we're to have a meaningful, intimate relationship with God, 00:05:52.979 --> 00:05:58.039 and fellowship between us and God is to be sweet and pure in what it should be at its height, 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:03.560 it requires above everything else transparency on our part, 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:07.280 because God absolutely hates hypocrisy. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:12.639 And God will not deal with us when we're living in a fashion of hypocrisy. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:18.540 So if we sin against God, and it doesn't have to be some big moral sin, 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:22.259 if we sin against God and we fail to go to God and say, 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.579 God, I need to confess this to you and get this right with you, 00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:27.439 and we harbor that in our heart, 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:29.279 and it builds up and builds up and builds up, 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:32.779 after a while, it's as though the relationship is strained, 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:35.759 and we find ourselves distant from God. 00:06:36.719 --> 00:06:39.979 Now, I'm going to preach this message in two messages, 00:06:39.979 --> 00:06:42.259 because I can't get it all in in one. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:44.519 You'd want to leave before I got through this morning. 00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:47.739 But here's what we're going to do in this first message. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.299 We're going to look at a guy, a guy you know. 00:06:50.479 --> 00:06:53.099 I'm confident everybody in this room knows this guy. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:56.919 And you're going to see a guy who allowed that to happen in his life. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:02.100 He allowed unconfessed sin to break his relationship with God, 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:04.379 to make him feel distant toward God. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.480 And when you know who it is, you'll be surprised, 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:09.879 because you just think, oh, this guy's been so close to God. 00:07:11.140 --> 00:07:13.100 And then next week, we're going to come back, 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:16.460 and we're going to talk about how do you fix that problem. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:18.840 Because I'll just tell you this much now. 00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:22.080 The way you fix the problem is you come clean with God, 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:23.400 and you confess your sin to God. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:25.060 And I just got to be honest with you, 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:28.360 that's something we Baptists just don't know much about. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:31.680 We kind of look at our Catholic friends, 00:07:31.899 --> 00:07:35.980 and we kind of, you know, just almost look down on them, 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.879 because they go into this confessional booth, 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:39.280 and they talk to a priest, and we say, 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.720 you can't get rid of sin that way. 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.500 But you know the Baptist idea? 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.220 The Baptist idea is this. 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:48.740 At the end of the service, when they sing the invitation, 00:07:48.840 --> 00:07:50.579 you go forward and take a pastor by the hand, 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:52.740 and you say, Pastor, I've sinned, 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:54.819 and I need to rededicate my life to God. 00:07:54.919 --> 00:07:56.139 And the pastor prays. 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:57.419 Usually the person doesn't even pray. 00:07:57.719 --> 00:07:59.800 The pastor prays, and they go back to their seat, 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.379 thinking, well, now I've got that out of the way. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.539 I'm ready for a fresh start with God. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:07.560 And you and I both know, because you've done that before, 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:09.899 that only lasts about three minutes, right? 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:14.659 I mean, you just know that doesn't really accomplish what you want it to. 00:08:14.739 --> 00:08:17.659 You go back to your seat, and you may feel better for a moment, 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:21.299 but it's not long until, man, nothing's changed. 00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:24.099 So next week, if you'll come back, 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:26.659 I'm going to preach a comprehensive message on confession, 00:08:26.919 --> 00:08:30.319 and I'm going to show you what confession really and truly involves, 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.879 and I'm telling you, it's a painful process. 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:36.799 But if you ever want to have peace and power with God again, 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.139 confession is necessary. 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:43.600 So let's jump in, and let's just find out 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.240 what causes us to lose this relationship. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:48.059 And as I said, it's unconfessed sin. 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:53.939 And the life I want us to look at is the life of a man by the name of King David. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:57.240 Everybody knows King David, right? 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:02.360 You read about King David when you're a little bitty boy or girl in Sunday school. 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:07.159 First story you come to is the story of David out tending his sheep, 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:10.159 and he reveals this to Saul. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:15.839 There were times when he would have to rescue his sheep from the hands of bears and lions. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.860 And so, you know, man, this is an unusually gifted young man. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:22.139 He's powerful, even as a young man. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:26.059 We later know he becomes a great, great warrior in Israel. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:28.819 He goes out to fight Goliath. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:33.020 When all the adults in the Israeli army are fearful, 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.020 little David, teenager David, musters the courage and says, 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:42.379 I'll go in the name of the Lord and fight this great giant, this Goliath of Gath, right? 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:45.879 So we fall instantly in love with David. 00:09:46.040 --> 00:09:48.980 And we find out he's multi-gifted. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:51.180 He's a great musician. 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:56.079 In fact, he writes lots and lots and lots of the Psalms. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.899 He plays his heart for King Saul, 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:02.959 and it soothes his nerves when he was troubled by evil spirits. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:05.239 He's a great friend to Jonathan. 00:10:05.359 --> 00:10:07.819 Remember those early chapters about David? 00:10:08.099 --> 00:10:11.039 He creates his friendship with Jonathan, the son of the king. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:12.899 He's a loyal, trusted friend. 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:16.059 Even when Saul becomes jealous and turns against David, 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:19.679 David will not lay a hand on Saul. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:22.179 He won't hurt a hair on his head. 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:24.699 He's noble, so much so. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:27.500 You know what one biblical writer says about David? 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.779 You know what I'm going to say, don't you? 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:34.659 He was a man, say it with me, after God's own heart. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.459 Now, I want you to think about this for a minute. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:42.599 God is directing these men as they write the Scripture, 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:47.639 and this man says, here's a man after God's own heart. 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.100 I want to tell you something. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.960 I'd have to think long and hard if I'm writing something 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:56.759 that's really important that's going to one day be Scripture. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.399 They didn't know that at the time. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:01.439 But if I'm under the inspiration of God, 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.220 and I'm writing, here's a man who is after God's own heart, 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:07.899 I'm going to be real careful about pinning that, 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:08.779 because I'm going to tell you something. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.139 I don't want to be guilty of blasphemy. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:17.159 Who could say of anybody, here's somebody after God's own heart? 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:22.860 So I'm going to tell you, David's stature in my eyes just rises 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:24.740 as high as it can get with that. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.500 I mean, how do you top that? 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.480 He's a man after God's own heart. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:32.299 When you see him worship, remember his wife, Michael, 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:36.039 got angry with him because he's worshiping so transparently 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.080 in the streets of Jerusalem when they bring the Ark of the Covenant back? 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:43.020 I mean, here's a hero of heroes. 00:11:44.020 --> 00:11:45.740 But you know the rest of the story, don't you? 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:50.600 One day his men are in battle, and David is out on his balcony. 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.420 He's a good-looking guy, and he's out on his balcony, 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:54.480 and he spots this woman down below, 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:58.560 and he looks too long, and he lusts after her, 00:11:59.180 --> 00:12:02.060 and he sends a servant to get Bathsheba. 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:04.600 She's a beautiful woman, and bring her to him. 00:12:05.540 --> 00:12:07.240 Now, have you ever thought about this? 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:10.980 He's not just guilty in doing that of adultery. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.860 He's guilty of abuse of power. 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:19.720 Right now, in our land, that's a big discussion, right? 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:24.320 Where these powerful guys, they just think they can have their way with any woman, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:26.480 and they just put demands on them? 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:30.419 You think she thought she had a choice in coming to the palace? 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:33.159 It's the king who's beckoning her to come. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:36.579 It's clearly an abuse of power sexually. 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:40.639 And then he sleeps with her, and she becomes pregnant with his baby, 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:43.839 and now he really sees himself in a bind. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:49.240 David finds himself in a place he's never been before spiritually. 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:50.899 So what can he do? 00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:52.100 Well, he can confess it. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.360 He can come clean with God and with man. 00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:56.500 But in his mind, I'm sure he thought, 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:58.919 this will cost me my kingdom if I do that. 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:02.939 So David decides, I'll just cover it up. 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:06.379 And he sends for Uriah and has Uriah come home, 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:08.959 and he thinks when Uriah gets home, he'll go in and be with his wife. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.059 But when he gets home, guess what? 00:13:10.599 --> 00:13:12.879 Even though David has been unfaithful to Uriah, 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:16.740 Uriah is faithful to David, and he won't go home to his wife. 00:13:17.719 --> 00:13:21.539 And now, in David's mind, he's really in a pickle. 00:13:22.459 --> 00:13:24.259 I mean, what am I going to do? 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.839 He won't go home. 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:27.539 What's the matter with this crazy guy? 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.500 Go home to your wife. 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.459 He won't do it. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:36.399 Well, now he has no recourse unless he's going to come clean, 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:39.299 except to have Uriah killed. 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:44.120 And he pens a note and sends it by the hand of Uriah himself to Joab, 00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:45.500 the leader of his army, 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:49.000 saying, I want you to send him out into the front and then fall back. 00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:49.860 Can I tell you something? 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:51.819 I don't know if you've ever thought about it like this, 00:13:52.339 --> 00:13:55.159 but that's premeditated first-degree capital murder. 00:13:55.159 --> 00:14:00.100 David wouldn't have been any more guilty had they had guns in those days, 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:03.019 had he called for Uriah, and as Uriah turned to walk off, 00:14:03.339 --> 00:14:06.179 he stuck the pistol in the back of his head and blew his head off. 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:09.519 It was that premeditated. 00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:10.659 It was that intentional. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.559 It was that dastardly and cowardly. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:18.079 This noble, noble man who has fought for Israel, 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:19.359 put his own life on the line, 00:14:19.599 --> 00:14:21.919 now takes the life of an innocent man. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.500 He's as guilty as guilty gets. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:31.980 And so, you read the life of David, 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.919 and can I tell you something? 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.580 There's nothing there to indicate, 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.860 and David fell away from God. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.600 And David stopped worshiping God. 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:45.659 And David stopped trying to write psalms. 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.899 You know what happened? 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.179 Next morning, it's business as usual. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.419 In fact, can I tell you something? 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:56.659 He turns what looked like a possible tragedy 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.919 into a victory for himself. 00:14:59.079 --> 00:15:00.199 I don't know if you ever thought about this. 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:02.479 He marries Bathsheba, takes her home. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.360 You know what it looked like to the public? 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.620 Think about it for a moment. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.399 Well, that good old King David, 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:12.459 he's taken this fallen soldier's wife, 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.299 and he's made her his wife. 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:16.319 Wasn't that a noble thing for him to do? 00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:19.179 He's just done a treacherous thing. 00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:22.419 But now, he looks like a hero. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:25.019 And so, time passes, 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:27.059 and he just gets on with his life. 00:15:27.339 --> 00:15:29.519 He goes right back to doing probably all the things. 00:15:29.599 --> 00:15:30.319 I'm just guessing. 00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.099 I don't know this. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.399 But there's nothing to indicate otherwise. 00:15:33.959 --> 00:15:35.479 Then he just goes right on singing, 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.659 right on doing all the things 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.259 he's always done in the past. 00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:40.360 But I'm going to tell you something. 00:15:40.459 --> 00:15:41.399 What it doesn't tell us, 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:43.860 we know because of what Psalm 51 tells us. 00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:46.719 Things did change in David's heart and in his life. 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:49.939 His relationship with God began to deteriorate. 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:53.120 And David knew that and felt that. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.700 But he doesn't say anything about it. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.040 He just says the way many of us do in church, 00:15:59.260 --> 00:16:00.900 when that happens in our lives, 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:04.880 and we just go right on pretending everything is hunky-dory. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:09.380 Until one day, this prophet of God, Nathan, 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.400 God discloses to him what's happened. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.240 And Nathan goes to David. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.100 He says, King David, I need to talk to you. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:19.500 And he tells him this story 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:24.079 about this rich guy who's got lots of lambs. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.319 I mean, they're just in abundance. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.559 But rather than kill one of his own 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.799 to serve to one of his guests, 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.860 he goes to this poor man down the road 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:33.059 who only has one. 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.419 It's not a part of a flock. 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:35.379 It's his pet. 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:40.460 And he kills that lamb and serves it to his guests. 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:42.460 And boy, when David hears that 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.860 because he's a man who's after God's own heart, 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.120 he knows righteousness. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.620 When he hears it, he is outraged. 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:51.500 And he thinks, how conniving and how sorry. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.900 And David says, tell me who that man is 00:16:53.900 --> 00:16:54.740 and I'm going to punish him. 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.040 And you know the story, don't you? 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:59.920 Nathan points his finger in David's face 00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:01.639 and says, David, it's you. 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.600 You're the man. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.759 And David, I'm confident, 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.519 he wept there in Nathan's presence. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:12.920 I want you to read the psalm he wrote 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:16.180 as a result of that conversation with David. 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.779 Go with me to Psalm 51. 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:19.319 We're going to have to move real quickly. 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.059 Look at Psalm 51. 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:24.180 Be gracious to me, God. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.039 Do I need to do something? 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:28.640 Okay. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.920 Mike's going to take care of it. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.460 Be gracious to me, God, 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:35.340 according to your faithful love, 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:37.240 according to your abundant compassion, 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.720 blot out my rebellion, 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.539 wash away my guilt, 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:42.940 and cleanse me from my sin. 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:45.400 Boy, aren't you thankful we have guys 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.360 that know about that stuff. 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:50.059 Yeah, give him an applause. 00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.299 Good guy. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:51.900 Thank you. 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.120 Thank you so much, Michael. 00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:55.759 For I am conscious of my rebellion 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.000 and my sin is always before me. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.759 Against you, you alone, 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.819 I have sinned 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:03.140 and done this evil in your sight. 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:06.160 So you are right when you pass sentence. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.539 You are blameless when you judge. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:12.160 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born. 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:15.220 I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:17.220 Surely you desire integrity 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.019 in the inner self 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:20.640 and you teach me wisdom deep within. 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.740 Listen to this. 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.400 Purify me with hyssop 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.259 and I will be clean. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.599 Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.199 Let me hear joy and gladness. 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:31.039 Let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.939 Turn your face away from my sins. 00:18:33.439 --> 00:18:35.079 Blot out all my guilt. 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:38.299 God, create a clean heart for me 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:40.799 and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 00:18:41.139 --> 00:18:43.039 Do not banish me from your presence 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.980 or take your Holy Spirit from me. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.619 Restore the joy of your salvation to me 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:49.980 and give me a willing spirit. 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:52.459 Then I will teach rebellious, 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.099 the rebellious your ways 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:57.639 and sinners will return to you. 00:18:58.339 --> 00:19:00.119 Boy, what a beautiful, beautiful prayer. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.779 I want to show you four things 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:03.899 that happened to David real quickly this morning 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:05.019 in these remaining moments. 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:07.139 Four things that happened to David 00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:11.240 because he harbored unconfessed sin in his heart. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.199 The first thing is this. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:16.699 David was eaten up with guilt and shame. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.719 David was absolutely eaten up with guilt and shame. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.559 I want to tell you something. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:26.319 When a believer sins against God, 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:29.079 the Holy Spirit of God lives within us. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.819 He is going to bombard us with conviction 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:35.700 which leads to us feeling guilt and shame. 00:19:36.120 --> 00:19:38.420 God doesn't desire that we feel guilt and shame. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:41.200 He desires to remind us through guilt and shame 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:43.700 that we need to confess our sin to Him. 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.740 But when we fail to do that, 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:48.000 it takes a toll on our life. 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.720 I want you to look at verse 1. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:52.860 Just a portion of the verse real quickly. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.460 Blot out my rebellion. 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.460 That's what he says to God. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.079 He recognizes he's rebelled. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:01.779 He says, God, blot out my rebellion. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.160 Verse 2, wash away my guilt. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:06.740 Cleanse me from my sin. 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:11.400 Verse 3, my sin is always before me. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.799 You know what he's saying in that? 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.379 I can't get away from this thing, God. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:20.279 Everywhere I turn, I see me and Bathsheba. 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.659 Everywhere I turn, I see Uriah. 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.259 I see a fallen soldier. 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:28.419 I see his corpse that they brought back for burial. 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:32.539 God, my sin is ever before me. 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.680 Now, don't you know, 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:37.759 people can be or suffer from insomnia 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.299 for a variety of reasons. 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:42.240 It's not always guilt and shame. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.659 But I'll promise you this, 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:46.079 when you're feeling guilty and shameful, 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:48.559 you're going to have a hard time resting. 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.700 You understand that? 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:53.799 Boy, you're going to lay your head down on the pillow 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:57.000 and you'll see that sin right there before you. 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.059 You'll be in somebody's midst 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.519 and they're talking about something 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.079 and something will come up related to what you've done 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.779 and you're going to relive that moment in your life. 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:10.559 David was eat up with guilt and shame 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.119 and he says, 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.819 my sin is always before me. 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.480 Verse 5, 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.920 I was guilty when I was born. 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.180 Can I ask you, 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.539 are you eaten up with guilt? 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.299 Through the years, 00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:24.500 I can't tell you how many people came into my office 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.899 and they sat down and they said, 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.839 oh, pastor, I'm just beside myself 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.399 and I just need some counseling. 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.319 I just need some help. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.559 Man, I'm down. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.339 I'm depressed. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.740 And they begin to tell me about their life 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.039 and I say, 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.819 well, what's been happening in your life? 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.839 And they would tell me one thing or another 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.700 and I'd say, 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.960 was there any sin in your life? 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.700 And they would then begin to tell me 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.980 about something that had happened. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.980 And they would tell me about this sin 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.259 and that sin and the other sin. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.619 They said, 00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:48.939 you see, 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.619 I just think about these things all the time 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:52.839 and I just feel so, 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.419 so guilty. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.960 Can I tell you, 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.799 a lot of times I'd listen to that for a few minutes 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.759 and after I would, 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.259 I'd say, 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.740 can I tell you something? 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:03.279 There's a difference in feeling guilty 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.359 and being guilty. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.700 Sometimes we feel guilty 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.559 when we're really and truly innocent. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.839 That's called shame. 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.700 When I, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.380 as a pastor at times, 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.700 needed to be three places, 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.859 but there was only one of me 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.200 and I could only be in one of those places, 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.599 I felt bad that I couldn't be 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.660 in all three of those places. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.400 But I'm going to tell you something, 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.359 that's shame. 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.180 That's not guilt. 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.160 I'm doing the best that I can do. 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.740 But I feel shame about that, 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:31.240 but that shame feels very similar to guilt, 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:31.940 doesn't it? 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.100 But I want you to know something. 00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:36.620 When I do something that is wrong, 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:40.000 I feel that same sense, 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.100 but then it's not that I feel guilty, 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.820 it's what? 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.320 I am guilty. 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:48.080 And I've said to a lot of folk 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:49.759 when we would be in counseling sessions, 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.980 is it that you feel guilty 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:55.480 or is it that you are guilty? 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.940 Have you established the fact that 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:00.940 I did this or I did that 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:03.519 or I neglected to do this or that? 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.799 And as a result of that, 00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:06.400 it's not just a feeling I have. 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.579 That feeling is a genuine feeling 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:10.039 because it is true. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.880 I am in fact guilty. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.620 And David felt guilty 00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:17.579 because David was in fact guilty. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.140 Let me show you a second thing 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:22.720 that harboring unconfessed sin will do. 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.920 It will leave us feeling dirty. 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.519 And David felt dirty. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.160 Look again quickly at the scripture 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:30.039 if you have that Bible passage open. 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.039 Verse 2, 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.039 Wash away my guilt. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:36.759 Now seven times in just six verses, 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.539 he's going to say something about being clean. 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.940 Wash away my guilt. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:43.079 Clean me from my sin. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.940 Verse 7, 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:46.779 Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.620 Verse 7, 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:50.059 Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.779 Verse 9, 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.539 Blown out all my guilt. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.200 Verse 10, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:55.879 Create a clean heart in me, 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.779 O God. 00:23:58.099 --> 00:24:00.259 Do you think it's just coincidental 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.879 that again and again and again 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:05.139 he prays this same phrase 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:07.720 about being cleansed and being washed 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:10.279 and having his guilt blotted out? 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:12.240 I'm telling you, 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.879 nothing could be further from the truth. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.279 The reason he prays that so often 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.660 is because it's heavy on his mind 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:18.899 because he feels dirty 00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:20.920 because of his sin. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.500 And you're going to see in the passage 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:24.839 we look at next week in 1 John 1, 9 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:27.399 that that's what sin and guilt does. 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:29.720 It makes us feel dirty. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:32.759 It makes us feel as though we're impure 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:34.639 and we're unclean. 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:36.280 Years ago, 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:38.580 Dr. Graham was preaching in London 00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:40.759 and he was speaking with a man 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:43.220 who was the director of a large mental asylum. 00:24:43.800 --> 00:24:45.640 And Dr. Graham asked this man 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.400 who was running the asylum, 00:24:47.520 --> 00:24:47.900 he said, 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.540 tell me, 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.800 why are most of the people in this asylum? 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.120 And you know what the man told him? 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.880 He said, 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.960 85% of the people here today 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.040 could leave 00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:57.920 if they could come to accept 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.320 God's forgiveness in their life 00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:00.640 because they're eaten up, 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.040 they're ridden with guilt. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.980 They're ridden with guilt. 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:06.079 Guilt will leave us feeling dirty. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.759 Remember the story of Pilate 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.460 in the New Testament? 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:12.480 Pilate has Jesus brought to him 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.339 by the Sanhedrin. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.400 They make their charges. 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.400 Pilate questions Jesus. 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.160 You know the outcome of that, right? 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.720 Pilate says, 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.220 this man's not guilty of anything. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.220 He hears Herod's intent. 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.900 He sends him quickly to Herod 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:26.240 because he wants to get this monkey off his back. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.360 And when Herod questions him, 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.900 guess what? 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.599 Another guy didn't have any reason to love Jesus. 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.460 But Herod questions Jesus 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.319 and he realizes 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:36.120 he's done nothing guilty 00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:38.900 deserving of murder 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.940 or deserving of death. 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.799 And he sends him back to Pilate. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:45.100 So Pilate questions him a second time, 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:46.660 this time even more carefully. 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.660 And when he gets through, 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.299 here's the conclusion he reaches. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.740 This guy's not guilty of anything. 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:53.400 He doesn't deserve to be put to death. 00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:55.120 And so he goes out to the crowd 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.440 and he tries to appease the crowd 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:56.799 by saying, 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.019 hey, 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.500 it's that time of year 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.440 I released somebody. 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.079 Who do you want me to release? 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.579 Why don't I release Jesus? 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.659 And the crowd says, 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:04.879 no, 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:06.439 don't release Jesus. 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.839 Release Barabbas. 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:09.179 Crucify Jesus. 00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:11.299 You remember what Pilate does? 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.439 Interesting thing. 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:15.139 He calls for a bowl of water to be brought 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:17.139 and Pilate takes that water 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:19.059 in front of those religious folk 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.500 and he washes his hands 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:22.279 and he's sending them a message. 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.740 He says, 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.399 symbolically, 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.720 I'm washing my hands of this 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.759 because I know 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.480 and you know 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.059 Jesus doesn't deserve 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.160 to be put to death. 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.799 And so I'm going to 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:32.319 wash my hands of this. 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:32.720 You know why? 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.019 Because he felt dirty. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.680 Because he knew 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:37.160 he had Jesus' blood 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:38.079 on his hands. 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.799 I want to tell you something. 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.359 If you could look 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.519 in the depths of hell today, 00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:42.240 I believe you'd still see Pilate 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.640 wringing those hands 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:45.279 and trying to wash his hands 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.480 and rid himself 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.359 of the blood 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:49.200 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.079 I'm going to tell you today, 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.480 sin will leave you feeling 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.500 violated 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.960 and leave you feeling dirty 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.700 before God. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.880 There's a third thing. 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.700 It left him feeling 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.759 apart from God 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.460 and abandoned. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.519 He had a deep sense of loss. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.920 He hadn't lost 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.579 his relationship with God. 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.140 But get this, 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.160 he felt that way. 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.880 He felt a deep sense of loss 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.220 in his relationship with God. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:16.440 He hadn't lost his relationship 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:16.980 with God. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:19.240 But that's how David felt. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.079 You know how I know that? 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.299 Listen to verse 11. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:23.519 Do not banish me 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.539 from your presence 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:26.519 or take your Holy Spirit 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.000 from me. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.319 Verse 12. 00:27:29.419 --> 00:27:30.139 Listen to this verse. 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:32.039 Restore the joy 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.659 of your salvation 00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:35.419 to me. 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.579 Here's the sad thing. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.480 Here's a guy who knows God. 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.339 He has a relationship 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.079 with God. 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:44.460 But the joy of that relationship, 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.019 it's gone. 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.259 He has a relationship, 00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:49.419 but he doesn't even know 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:50.639 he has a relationship. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.240 He thinks what he's done 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.980 is so horrendous 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:55.060 that God has removed himself 00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:57.040 from David. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.840 But the truth is, 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.400 David has removed himself 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.740 from God. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.360 God still loves David 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:06.100 as much as he ever loved David. 00:28:07.280 --> 00:28:08.200 But David's sin 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.160 made him feel 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.840 as though God 00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:12.180 were far, far away. 00:28:13.520 --> 00:28:14.860 Can I ask you right now, 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.740 you don't have to raise your hand, 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.720 you don't have to indicate 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.380 to a neighbor, 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.960 just right there 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.660 in your seat 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.820 as you think about this. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.920 Am I describing you? 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.100 Do you feel as though 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:29.820 you really have the joy 00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.660 of your salvation? 00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.500 Do you feel as though 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.840 God is really close 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.560 when I pray 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.660 he listens to me? 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.600 I can talk to him 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.280 about anything 00:28:39.280 --> 00:28:41.100 because we're close, 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.760 we're tight. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.859 Is that what you feel? 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.500 Or do you feel 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:46.039 maybe what David felt here 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.640 in this song? 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.420 You see, 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.059 I'm convinced 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.819 that there are lots 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.599 and lots and lots 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.420 of us in churches 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.279 just like this 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.180 from all over the country 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:56.099 where we come Sunday 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.680 after Sunday 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.299 after Sunday 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.799 and rather than admit 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.539 we've got a problem, 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.660 we'd rather just go 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:01.319 through the motions 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.140 and pretend that, 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.319 boy, everything's okay 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:03.980 in my relationship 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.519 with God. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.339 And I want you to know 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.460 you're robbing yourself 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:09.079 of great, great joy, 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.960 peace and power 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.779 when you do that. 00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.460 There's one final thing 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.500 and I close the message. 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.960 It led to a lifeless worship 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.139 and a lack of power 00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:18.839 in serving God. 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:21.039 I want to show you that 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.660 from the scripture. 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.980 It says in verse 13, 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.500 Then I will teach 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.819 transgressors your ways 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:28.420 and sinners will return to you. 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.920 That's what he says 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.720 in that 13th verse. 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.579 You know why he says that? 00:29:31.639 --> 00:29:32.819 Because he feels as though 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.500 I can't do that. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.039 right now. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.660 He says, 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.379 If you will cleanse me 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.379 and you will restore 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.200 this relationship 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.599 and I'll get this joy back, 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.000 then I can teach 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:44.059 transgressors sinners 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.720 your ways. 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.460 But right now, 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:47.319 I can't do it. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.220 Interesting thing. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.960 I'm really anxious 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.900 to find out one day 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.579 when I get to heaven 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.680 what the answer 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.559 to this question is. 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:57.079 Did God put David 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.799 on a shelf 00:29:57.799 --> 00:30:01.319 and just refuse to use him? 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.119 That's what we often 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.940 think in church. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.319 Well, that guy's got 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:04.639 in sin. 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.439 God can't use him 00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:05.839 like that. 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:06.419 God will put him 00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:06.919 on a shelf. 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.379 Or did David 00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:09.899 put himself 00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.480 on the shelf? 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.759 Because either way, 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.399 he's on the shelf. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.279 You understand that? 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.159 Whether God just says, 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.299 I refuse to use you 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.980 like this, 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.980 or David says, 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.339 he couldn't possibly 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.319 use me like that. 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:24.939 And he just 00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:25.619 withdrew himself. 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:28.879 I had a deacon 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.339 one time 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.259 when I was a young pastor. 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.039 I was just fresh 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.839 out of seminary. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.459 Had a deacon 00:30:33.459 --> 00:30:34.179 about four or five 00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.919 years older than me. 00:30:34.979 --> 00:30:35.479 He came to me 00:30:35.479 --> 00:30:35.719 and said, 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.079 Pastor, 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.059 I want to resign 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.619 as a deacon. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.879 And I called him 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.699 by name and I said, 00:30:40.979 --> 00:30:41.139 man, 00:30:41.179 --> 00:30:41.639 why do you want 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.139 to do that? 00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:42.959 Does anybody 00:30:42.959 --> 00:30:43.599 hurt your feelings? 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:44.259 Have I done something? 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:44.959 No, no, 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.619 it's not about you. 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.179 It's about me. 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.659 I said, 00:30:47.699 --> 00:30:47.839 well, 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.939 why do you want 00:30:48.939 --> 00:30:49.419 to resign? 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:51.060 He says, 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.320 well, 00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:53.580 I mismanaged my money. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.920 I was too selfish 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.860 and greedy with my money 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.580 and I started spending 00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.220 more on myself 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:58.800 than I should 00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.779 and now I'm in debt 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.620 and I can't tithe. 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.340 And I just, 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:03.360 I want to resign 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.400 because I can't tithe. 00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.400 You see, 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.279 he felt disqualified 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.080 from service. 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.840 You know what I said to him? 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.460 I said, 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.080 can I give you 00:31:10.080 --> 00:31:11.160 a better solution to that? 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.480 He said, 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:11.880 what's that? 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.060 I said, 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:13.000 why don't you just repent? 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.740 Why don't you just tell God, 00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:15.960 God, 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.600 I've been greedy 00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.400 and I've been selfish 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.500 and I've misused my money 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.380 and let us help you 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.200 to get on a budget 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.500 and you begin 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.240 to tithe again. 00:31:24.300 --> 00:31:25.180 Why put yourself 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.780 on the shelf? 00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:27.860 And I want to tell you something, 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.920 I've seen a lot of believers 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.660 who've done that. 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.840 They stop teaching Sunday school, 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:34.040 they fall out of this, 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.880 they fall out of that. 00:31:36.280 --> 00:31:36.940 Sometimes though, 00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:37.760 here's the other thing 00:31:37.760 --> 00:31:38.120 that happens, 00:31:38.780 --> 00:31:39.940 they just keep doing 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.780 what they've always done, 00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.280 they're just going 00:31:41.280 --> 00:31:42.000 through the motions. 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.860 You see, 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:45.300 if David did continue 00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:46.320 to lead worship, 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.180 if he did continue 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.220 to write psalms, 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:51.200 can you imagine 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.780 how empty 00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:52.560 that must have felt 00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.000 to David? 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.240 Can you imagine 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.380 how he must have stood 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:58.300 when he told other people 00:31:58.300 --> 00:31:59.800 about faith in God? 00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:01.040 He's sitting there 00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:01.900 thinking to himself, 00:32:02.780 --> 00:32:02.960 boy, 00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:03.620 I don't even have 00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.280 this relationship 00:32:04.280 --> 00:32:04.780 with God 00:32:04.780 --> 00:32:05.500 that I'm telling them 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.440 they need to have. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.140 Can you imagine 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:09.920 what that was like? 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.640 Sin in David's life, 00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:15.020 unconfessed, 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:17.639 led to a lifeless worship 00:32:17.639 --> 00:32:18.779 and a lack of power 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:20.200 in serving God. 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.500 Well, 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.119 what does David do? 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:25.180 That's where we are now. 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.000 What does David do? 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.680 David 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.940 prays this prayer 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.819 we've read this morning 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.559 in Psalm 51 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.359 when he confesses 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.160 his sin to God. 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.619 And God 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.819 restores him 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:37.119 to a right relationship 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.799 with himself. 00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:40.759 But it doesn't stop there. 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.839 I want to show you 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.359 something else. 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:42.940 I want you to turn 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.900 to one more psalm 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.340 with me. 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.680 Psalm 139. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:48.240 One of my favorite psalms 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.059 in all the word of God. 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:50.160 Psalm 139. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.420 I want you to find that 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.440 and look at this with me 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.019 if you will 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.740 for just a moment. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.440 Psalm 139. 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.460 And while you're 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.019 turning there, 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.620 after you've turned there, 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.980 I want you to look up 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.720 and listen 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.220 for about two minutes 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.840 and we're done. 00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.160 Ready? 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:08.900 In fact, 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.720 I'm going to come down here. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.840 In Psalm 139, 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:15.360 many of you know that psalm, 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.080 but a lot of you don't. 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.320 You say, 00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:16.440 well, 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.299 what's that about? 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.779 24 verses long. 00:33:22.100 --> 00:33:23.320 First 22 verses, 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.660 David only talks 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.820 about three things. 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.420 It's a psalm 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.100 that David wrote. 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.700 One of the greatest psalms 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.220 you'll ever read. 00:33:29.820 --> 00:33:30.720 He says three things 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.420 and I can break it down 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.059 for you real, 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.559 real quick. 00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:33.940 He says, 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.400 God, 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.900 you are 00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:37.200 everywhere. 00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:39.279 Word we use 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.960 in theology 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.960 is omnipresent. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:42.299 God, 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:42.680 you are 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.700 everywhere. 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.299 I can go down here. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:45.819 You're there. 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.500 I go up there. 00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:46.980 You're there. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.680 I go over there. 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.279 You're there. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.120 You lift up a rock. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:50.900 You're there. 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.460 You're everywhere. 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.980 You see everything. 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:55.880 Then he says, 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.259 God, 00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:58.100 you know 00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:58.840 everything. 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.519 Word we use there 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.240 is omniscient. 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.340 You know everything. 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:05.259 It's not like that 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.140 champion on Jeopardy. 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.180 He knows most of the questions. 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.360 He knows everything. 00:34:09.160 --> 00:34:09.559 Everything. 00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:11.619 Everything. 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.420 He saw it all. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.320 He created it all. 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.059 He thought it all. 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.900 He imagined it all. 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.700 He spoke it all 00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:18.280 into existence. 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.180 There's nothing 00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:19.840 he doesn't know. 00:34:20.140 --> 00:34:20.820 You know what keeps you 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:22.039 from making perfect decisions? 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.260 Lack of knowledge. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.039 If you knew everything, 00:34:24.140 --> 00:34:24.900 you'd never make 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.720 a bad decision. 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.500 God knows everything. 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:28.960 So he says, 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.360 God, 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.800 you are everywhere 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.480 and you know everything 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:36.240 and you're all powerful. 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.400 You spoke the world 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.059 into existence. 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:40.219 What kind of power 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.880 is that? 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.059 That you just think it 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.659 and say it 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.519 and it is. 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.139 Now, 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.500 in view of that, 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.840 here's his conclusion. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.820 Look at verse 22 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.440 and 23. 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.719 Search me, 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.099 God, 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:55.460 and know my heart. 00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.639 Test me 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.960 and know my concerns. 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.300 See if there is 00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.860 any offensive way 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.420 in me 00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.700 and lead me 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.480 in the way 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.760 everlasting. 00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:07.900 Wow. 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.440 I don't know 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.260 if that sunk in. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.099 Do you get 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:12.200 what he's saying there? 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:14.440 In view of what he said 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.579 in his first 22 verses? 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:17.700 Let me put it 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.220 in perspective 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.200 for you if you don't get it. 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:21.139 You're a CEO 00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:21.760 of a company. 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:24.000 You go tomorrow morning 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.720 to your office. 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.619 You're singing, 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:26.300 listening to the radio. 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:26.920 You pull up 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.599 in the parking space 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.599 and there's 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:30.019 the 60-minute truck 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:32.420 and it's in your 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.639 parking lot. 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.619 Or there's 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.780 the 2020 truck 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:38.679 and you get out 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:39.719 and they got cameras 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.460 going and they got 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.059 microphones, 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:42.139 they shove it in your face 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:42.579 and they said, 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:44.079 we're here because 00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.480 we're launching today 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.420 a full-scale 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.059 investigation 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.219 of you 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:50.539 because we hear 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.579 you're practicing 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.599 corrupt business 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.219 practices. 00:35:54.300 --> 00:35:55.059 Makes you a little 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.400 nervous, 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:55.820 wouldn't it? 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:58.100 I mean, 00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.059 have you ever thought 00:35:59.059 --> 00:35:59.480 about running 00:35:59.480 --> 00:35:59.920 for President 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.480 of the United States? 00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:03.100 When you sign on 00:36:03.100 --> 00:36:04.120 to run for President 00:36:04.120 --> 00:36:04.539 of the United States, 00:36:04.660 --> 00:36:05.039 I want to tell you 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.220 something, 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:07.039 in about three hours, 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:09.380 they know every move 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.080 you've ever made 00:36:10.080 --> 00:36:10.760 in your life. 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.680 They know everything 00:36:13.680 --> 00:36:14.019 about, 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:14.940 that's government 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.200 though. 00:36:15.720 --> 00:36:16.760 This is God 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:17.780 David's talking to. 00:36:19.200 --> 00:36:20.080 And he says, 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:20.600 God, 00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:22.460 you see it all, 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.200 you're everywhere, 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:25.019 you know everything, 00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:26.259 you're all powerful, 00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:28.179 I'm inviting you. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.159 He's actually 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:30.460 giving the invitation. 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:31.759 He's not just 00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.440 subject to it. 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:32.960 He says, 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.199 God, 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.519 I'm inviting you 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.659 to do a full-scale 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:37.159 investigation of my life. 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.539 Now you're probably 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:39.820 thinking, 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.780 he's crazy. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:42.639 Can you imagine 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.199 what that's going 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:43.800 to turn up? 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.699 Why would he do 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.320 such a thing? 00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.059 I'll tell you why. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.199 Because he knew 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.380 what it was like 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.840 to harbor 00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.840 unconfessed sin 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.380 in his heart 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:54.219 and how far away 00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:55.159 it took him from God 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:56.019 and he doesn't 00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.699 ever want to go 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.419 there again. 00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.539 And he says, 00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:00.359 oh God, 00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.779 that's why he's a man 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.779 after God's own heart. 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:03.480 God, 00:37:03.859 --> 00:37:04.839 I know what it is 00:37:04.839 --> 00:37:05.579 to be right with you 00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.379 and I know what it is 00:37:06.379 --> 00:37:07.359 to not be right with you 00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:08.199 and I don't ever want 00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:08.899 to not be right 00:37:08.899 --> 00:37:09.579 with you again. 00:37:09.819 --> 00:37:10.819 And I'm begging you, 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.379 oh God, 00:37:11.899 --> 00:37:12.759 reveal to me 00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:13.980 any sin in my life 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.980 and if you do, 00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:17.379 I'll confess it to you. 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:17.820 Now, 00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.660 I wish we could 00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:21.360 wrap this up 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.720 neatly in just 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:23.579 a moment or two 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.420 but we can't. 00:37:25.160 --> 00:37:26.059 We won't even be able 00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:27.039 to do it next week 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:28.280 but I'm going to show you 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.079 what real genuine 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:30.059 confession looks like 00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.619 but I'm going to tell you 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.119 where it begins. 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.480 It begins by knowing 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.700 the truth about yourself 00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:34.800 and the only way 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.440 you're ever going to 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.220 know the truth about yourself 00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:36.900 if you can't even 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.840 trust your own memory 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:39.240 because you've glossed 00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:40.280 over many things. 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.640 I've glossed over 00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.300 many things 00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:43.380 but I'm going to tell you 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:43.579 something, 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:44.480 God hadn't. 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:46.800 He saw everything 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:47.440 that ever went down 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:47.920 in your life 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:49.139 and He's not forgotten it. 00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.199 And if you would 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:51.960 pray that prayer, 00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:53.260 if you'd be willing 00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:54.079 and daring enough 00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:54.760 to pray that prayer 00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:55.199 this morning, 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.240 we could begin 00:37:56.240 --> 00:37:56.940 that process 00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:58.139 of your restoration. 00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.900 You're getting 00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:01.019 a fresh start with God. 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:01.900 If you would be 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:02.480 man enough 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.260 or woman enough 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:03.880 to say, 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.240 God, 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.000 there are things 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.380 I've done 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.119 I don't even remember. 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.599 I just kind of 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.400 swept all those 00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.420 under the rug 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:10.920 by saying 00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:11.880 at the end of the night, 00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.500 forgive me of my sins 00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.360 and my shortcomings. 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:14.760 Okay, 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:15.400 I'm good 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:17.000 but you're not good. 00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:20.260 Would you pray 00:38:20.260 --> 00:38:20.760 that prayer 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:21.380 and would you 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.480 begin to get ready 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.559 for God to show you 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.880 would you pray it today 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.619 and tonight 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.260 and tomorrow 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:27.000 and the next day 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.519 and the next day 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.059 and the next day 00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:29.380 until we meet again 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:31.320 and just begin 00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:32.139 to catalog God 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.840 here's what's wrong 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:33.099 with me 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.800 and I need to write 00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.400 some of these things. 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.199 Show me how 00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:36.119 I treat my wife, 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.099 how I treat my husband, 00:38:37.219 --> 00:38:38.019 how I treat my children, 00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:39.240 how I treat my employees, 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:40.599 how I treat my neighbors, 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.559 how I respond 00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:42.420 to what your word says. 00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:42.920 Listen, 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:44.320 you don't get in this shape 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:45.039 just by committing 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:46.039 adultery and murder. 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.320 It's whatever sin 00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.460 is present in your life 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:50.300 that you've just kind of 00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:51.440 covered over 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.400 and swept behind you. 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:52.700 Okay, 00:38:52.780 --> 00:38:53.420 I'm good to go. 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.400 I'm an okay guy. 00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.360 It comes down 00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:57.200 to you want to play church 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:58.440 or do business with God. 00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:00.420 You really want to have 00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.940 a real meaningful relationship 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.480 with God 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.200 or you just want to 00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:04.559 play at it. 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:07.840 Lawrence is going to lead us. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:09.200 I'm going to ask you 00:39:09.200 --> 00:39:09.840 to stand your feet 00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:10.579 and I'm going to ask you 00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:10.840 even, 00:39:11.120 --> 00:39:11.940 I don't care if you sing 00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:12.860 a word of the song, 00:39:13.660 --> 00:39:14.500 what I'd like you to do 00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.300 is at least begin 00:39:15.300 --> 00:39:16.100 that prayer with God. 00:39:16.180 --> 00:39:16.760 Maybe you just need 00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:17.980 to read those two verses. 00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.380 Just say, 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:19.740 God, 00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:21.519 do a full-scale investigation 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.240 in my life 00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:23.340 begin right now today 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.260 showing me 00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:25.880 what I need to confess to you. 00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.680 Would you do that? 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:27.900 Let's stand. 00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:28.660 Lawrence lead us 00:39:28.660 --> 00:39:29.100 if you will. 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:59.079 Thank you.