Taking Revival Personally (Lesson #7 In Revival Series) Series

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