Part 18: How To Overcome Sin, Storms, Stubbornness, And Sadness Series

Great Prayers of the Old Testament

Part 18: How to Overcome Sin, Storms, Stubbornness, and Sadness

Psalm 32:1-11

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared January 22, 2025)

BACKGROUND:

*Today we will study the 32nd Psalm. Here the Holy Spirit allows us to listen in on a conversation between King David and the LORD God Almighty. But there is a Hebrew word in the title of this Psalm that will help us understand it better. That word is "Maschil." It shows up in the titles of 13 different Psalms, and this is the first. Many Bible scholars believe that "Maschil" indicates a song written to be carefully studied with the promise of receiving godly wisdom. Charles Spurgeon called a "Maschil" a teaching Psalm where the experience of one believer can provide rich instruction to others such as new believers or seekers wanting to learn more about salvation. (1)

*With this bit of background in mind, let's get started by reading Psalm 32:1-11, thinking about how God wants us to be overcomers.

MESSAGE

*Church: We know that some people have a whole lot more trouble than others. But everybody goes through troubles. Everybody struggles with temptation on some level. Everybody has storms and setbacks in life. And everybody goes through times of sorrow.

*Rick Warren explained it this way: "Christians: God is far more interested in your character, than He is in your career. Why? -- Because you're not taking your career to heaven with you. -- But you are taking your character. That's what's going to last. So God's biggest goal for your life is not your career, and it's not your own personal comfort. God's biggest goal for your life is your character. Until we understand this, life is not going to make sense.

*All kinds of problems are going to come into your life: troubles, trials, difficulties. And you are going to think: 'Why me, Lord? Why is this happening to me?' as if your life is supposed to be a life of comfort. Well it's not, because this is not heaven." (2)

*Christians: One day we're going to be in a place with no sin, no sorrow, no problems, no pain. But we're not there yet, so all of us are going to have to be overcomers in life. And Jesus wants His followers to be overcomers. God's Word makes this clear in many places. For example Romans 12:21 tells Christians, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. The original word there is "nik-ah'- o." It's where Nike got the name for their shoes. And this word that we translate "overcome" is found 28 times in the New Testament. You see, God wants His people to be overcomers.

*1 John 5:1-5 is a good example. There John said:

1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

3. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.

5. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

*Through Jesus Christ we can overcome everything the world throws at us. And the reason why is because Jesus has overcome the world! As the Lord said in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And a thousand years before Jesus said those words, the LORD gave us Psalm 32 to help us win His victory in life.

1. FIRST: GOD SHOWS US HOW TO OVERCOME OUR SINS: DON’T COVER THEM UP. CONFESS THEM TO THE LORD.

*How many times have you sinned since you became a Christian? I would really hate to know. Wouldn't it be nice if after we received Jesus, we never sinned again? It would be fantastic! But that's just not the case. David was certainly saved. And he talked about it in vs. 1-2. Here we see a man who was at peace both with God and himself, and David said, "Blessed (or happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

*David was certainly saved by God's grace through faith in the salvation that God would provide through the future Messiah. And now, on the resurrection side of the cross, -- we know that the Messiah has already come! His name is Jesus Christ. And the only thing that can truly cover our sins is the blood that Jesus poured out when He died on the cross for us. Jesus died to take the punishment for all of our sins, and three days later, Jesus rose again forever from the dead. So when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior: Our sins are forgiven. Our record is cleared. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is put in our account. And we are saved!