Acceptable Sacrifice

ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE

Holy Ground “Spirit Filled” Church

Pastor: Joe M. Garza

4-6-06

Text: Psalms 51:17

INTRODUCTION:

This Psalm is David’s I am sorry Psalm. It may be fitly so called, because it is a Psalm by which is manifest the unfeigned sorrow which he had for his horrible sin, in defiling of Bathsheba, and slaying Uriah her husband; a relation at large of which you have in the 11th and 12th of 2 Samuel.

This Psalm reveals that this poor man had mercy dealing in his heart as soon as conviction fell upon his spirit. While he cries for mercy, then he confesses his heinous offenses, then he bewails the depravity of his nature

----sometimes he cries out to be washed and sanctified

----then He is afraid that God will cast him away from His presence

----He is afraid that God will take His Holy Spirit utterly from him

*He goes on to say in the text and there he fixes his mind, finding in himself that heart and spirit which God did not dislike

* “The sacrifices of God,” says he, “are a broken spirit” as if he should say, I thank God I have that

----a broken and a contrite heart, says he, “O God, Thou wilt not despise” as if he should say, I thank God I have that

[We come now, in order, to show you what a broken heart and what a contrite spirit is. This must be done, because in the discovery of this lies both the comfort of them that have it, and the conviction of them that have it not………..]

I. WHAT A BROKEN HEART IS NOT

A. WHAT IS A HEART THAT IS NOT BROKEN, THAT IS NOT CONTRITE

Zechariah 7:12 (AMP)

Yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone or diamond point, lest they should heart the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore there came great wrath from the Lord of Hosts

Deuteronomy 2:30 (AMP)

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might give him into your hand, as at this day

Deuteronomy 9:27 (AMP)

Remember earnestly Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness

----the heart before it is broken, is hard and stubborn, and obstinate (to have one’s own way; stubborn)

----when a person’s heart is like this you are against God and the salvation of the soul

2. It is a heart full of evil imaginations and darkness

Genesis 8:21 (AMP)

When the Lord smelled the pleasing odor (a scent of satisfaction to His heart), the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination (the strong desire) of man’s heart is evil and wicked from his youth; neither will I ever again smite and destroy every living thing, as I have done

Romans 1:21 (AMP)

Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking (with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations) and their senseless minds were darkened

3. It is a heart deceitful and subject to be deceived, especially about the things of an eternal concernment

Isaiah 44:20 (AMP)

That kind of man feeds on ashes (and finds his satisfaction in ashes) A deluded mind has led him astray, so that he cannot release and save himself, or ask, Is not this thing I am holding in my right hand a lie

Deuteronomy 11:16 (AMP)

Take heed to yourselves, lest your (minds and) hearts be deceived and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them

4. It is a heart that rather gather iniquity and vanity to itself, than any thing that is good for the soul

Psalms 41:6 (AMP)

And when one comes to see me, he speaks falsehood and empty words, while his heart gathers mischievous gossip (against me); when he goes away, he tells it abroad

Psalms 94:11 (AMP)

The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain (empty and futile only a breath)

5. A heart not broken is an unbelieving heart, and one that will turn away from God to sin

Hebrews 3:12 (AMP)

Therefore beware brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart (which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him), leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God

Deuteronomy 17:17 (AMP)

And he shall not multiply wives to himself, that his (mind and) heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself sliver and gold