1. When the subject of Sin arises – Avoid the issue… Externalize – see how the lesson applies to others but not to us
2. David after he had received a great promise from God. God had promised to establish a kingdom through the linage of David that would stand forever. Because of Gods promise, David knelt in reverence declaring the sovereignty of God. For all intents and purposes, David had reached a pinnacle in life that few ever reach. But when David reached that pinnacle, he did what many others do - he fell.
3. Tell story from chapter 11.
- David at home – should have been with his men
- Roof top – Bathsheba
- Had wives – why this? Seductiveness of sin. Not about need. DESIRE
- Pregnant – cover up – Uriah home to “give report” – Go home
- Slept outside – Why?
- David Arranged to have him killed
4. In chapter 12 we read where David was rebuked - A young man named Nathan approached him and told him a story. Proof that we don’t often see ourselves – we externalize sin – we say “The person who did that must be punished” Not realizing – we are that person. (Read 12:1-13)
5. At one point in our lives, we have all fallen. We all have sinned. Something has happened that has caused us to see our sin and led us to a realization that we have sinned against God. Maybe our sin is not the same sin as David’s - but all sin is the same - it is a slap in the face of a God who has made us great promises. You may be sitting in the audience today thinking “that’s me - I’ve let God down. I have gone back on my promises.”
6. David was finally at the point that he was ready to take it personally, and we see his personal acceptance in…
PSALM 51
This Psalm we have just read is a Psalm of repentance - David recognized his sin. Many times we feel like people repent because they Got caught. “The only reason she responded was because she got pregnant.” Maybe “getting caught” caused one to see a sin they had been blocking. This is what happened to David. Nathan, in so many words said “David - I know what you did” - This confrontation caused David to recognize that he had let God Down. It led him to repentance. It led him to pray this prayer we just read.
This morning as we are studying together about sin - I imagine some of you might be thinking rather specifically. You’re hearing Satan whisper in your ear “I know what you did, he is trying to condemn you - trying to hold you down in the guilt of your sin” - well friend if that’s the case - God is whispering “I know what you did” as well. But you see his purpose is not to condemn you for your sin, but to help you overcome it. If you need help with a sin in your life, if you have let God down, let’s take a few minutes and look at this wonderful psalm as to help you come to a point where you are ready to take revival personally.
I. Taking Revival Personally requires Humility (1-2)
A. David had just seen himself sinning in a mirror
1. Nathan’s parable
B. If you are caught up in a sin - imagine watching your sin on a big screen
1. When we see our sin, it brings us to humility
2. So often we have on our “Sin blockers” we commit the sin and then forget about it
3. David could no longer block it - it was “ever before him”
II. Taking revival Personally requires Confession (3-6)
A. Often times our confession before God is nothing more than a quick “forgive us of our sins”
B. We don’t like naming our sin - we don’t like admitting our faults
C. David in his confession made some very bold statements - some every uncomfortable statements
1. His sin was against God
2. His sin was a result of being a sinful person
III. Taking revival personally recognizes the need for Pardon (7-9)
A. He realized his pardon could only come from God
B. We cannot forgive our own sins
1. Jesus on cross - opportunity to have our sins cleansed in baptism
2. Cannot do it on our own
C. David recognized the source of purity was God (10-12)
1. As hard a we try - we cannot be good without God’s grace
2. God is the source of purity
IV. Taking revival Personally requires Repentance (13-19)
A. Prior to teaching
B. Prior to worship
C. The sacrifices the God really wants
1. Broken spirit - broken and contrite heart
2. These things that we in our nature we consider week, are the things God desires from us.
D. God want’s us to recognize our sin - to be sorry for it and to simply bring it to him.
1. God can make us strong - God can cleanse us - God can purify us - but we must make the first step - that first step is a step to our knees.
Conclusion
1. If you have noticed, to this point I haven’t used any non-biblical illustrations, nor have I quoted any scriptures outside of the assigned text.
2. Reason - I wanted you to be focused on this text - this story.
3. You see - I am convinced that in a crowd of this size some have realized their sin this morning. Oh, it may not be the sin of David - but all sin is against God. Against the God who has promised to love you eternally.
4. So often we, unlike David, fail to recognize that only God can create a pure heart within us. We try and try and try to fight our sin battles without coming to God for intervention. We have all seen this and the same thing happens every time, Satan wins.
5. If you are not careful - Satan will take you to a point where God’s word will not even evoke a response anymore. And the same one who tempted you in the first place, will win.
6. David had let God down, and he did not wait around thinking “well, I’ll repent one day.” He fell on his knees before God and said “Have mercy on me O God”
7. If you are caught up in sin today - Don’t wait - fall on your knee’s today saying “Have mercy on me O God”
