PP0854 DATE
DO WE FEAR GOD?
CHRIST FIRST AND FOREMOST
PSALM 51
Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (KJV)
David had committed the terrible sin of adultery and now he is repenting to God for his sin. He cries out with a heart of brokenness and regret. He has experienced the murder of Uriah and the death of his own son – he has no place to go but to God.
We don’t see sin as God sees it. Sin is the worst thing that any person could get involved in. Sin is not nor was not just a bad decision that would bring much displeasure or discomfort to man. Sin is not nor was not just a misfortune that a man would get involved because of ignorance.
Sin was the ONE thing that would eternally separate man from God and bring the death penalty to all man. There is nothing worse than sin that could possibly happen to man.
Nathan confronted David with the sin and David knew that God was now involved in the matter. It was no longer just David and Bathsheba – God was now in the equation. That brings a whole different concept into the matter of sin. All sin is committed against God. Notice David’s confession in Vs. 4. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”
Some would ask, “Didn’t David sin against Bathsheba.” He sure did.
Didn’t he sin against Uriah? Most certainly.
The Bible tells us that he even sinned against his own body. But all sin is ultimately against God – therefore God is the One that we must answer to for our sin. If we could get every person to understand that they will answer to God personally for their sin it would made a world of difference how they live.
After Nathan had pointed out David’s sin and made him realize that he had been found out David became very repentant.
Look with me in:
I. NOTICE WHERE GOD BEGINS WITH DAVID
2 Samuel 12:6-10
You will remember that Nathan told David the story about a rich man and a poor man – the rich man had many lambs and the poor man had only one. One day a traveler came and the rich man took the one little lamb from the poor man and prepared it for his friend.
As Nathan was telling this David became very angry and told Nathan – beginning in Vs. 6.
2Sa 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. (KJV)
Remember what David said back in Vs. 4 of Psa 51, “Against thee and thee only have I sinned.” He was in agreement with God concerning his sin.
Notice where God started with David: He started with grace. I am so glad that God started with grace on me. Had He started with wrath there would have been no place to stop.
A. He Shows David What Grace Is All About. Why does He begin with Grace with David? Why would that be? Because David’s just penalty should have been stoning. He should have been stoned to death. God is showing him what grace has granted him.
1. No one has been as good to you David, as God has been. Vs. 7-8 - Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
David, you could have named it and I would have given it to you.
“I made you the greatest king that will ever lived – I gave you the greatest kingdom that will ever exist – I gave you a name that has been revered for all ages – I have made you a great warrior – there was nothing that I would not do for you.”
2. God is telling David that more was expected out of him than other men.
I anointed thee.
I delivered thee.
I gave thee thy master’s house.
I would have given thee such and such things – He was a man after God’s own heart.
Then he tells David that he has done the lowest of all sin. Vs. 9. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
That which you have done David is the lowest of all sins. Even the most vile of sinners would go no lower than this. “You have despised my word, you have rejected it. You have counted it as dung. That’s what God thinks of sin.
You and I know a lot more of the grace of God than David ever knew. We have been witnesses of it for hundreds of years.
B. God’s Definition Of Sin - in the O.T. 2 Sam 12:9-10.
Then notice God’s definition of sin:
2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?
What was his sin? He despised the word of God.
Where does that put you and I?
Notice this: 2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. (KJV)
God takes all sin personal. Vs. 10 – “….because thou has despised me…”
David, had you not despised My word then you would not have done this terrible sin against me.
Every time you and I sin we are saying to God that we despise His word – more so “that we despise Him.”
Think about what God did for you in His grace.
We were all hell bound – deserving of the worst of God’s wrath – unworthy to even look upon His name -
He gave us a life that will never end.
He gave us a love that can’t go wrong.
He gave us a light that never goes out.
A home where no darkness comes.
A place where no sickness can invade.
A place of eternal happiness.
Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV) There is no limit to grace.
I have to come to Him in repentant prayer and say Lord I have trampled your word. I have despised You and Your word. “HAVE MERCY ON ME, O LORD. – according to thy loving kindness.”
II. LET’S CARRY THIS OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT
God’s definition of sin – In the N. T. Heb 10:23-29
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (KJV)
What is the discussion in these few verses? Committing willful sin! Sinning on purpose – committing sin knowing all along that it is sin – but doing it anyway. It’s no wonder this church is not growing – there is too much willful sin going on.
You talk about serious sin – when a person starts trampling the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ under foot God will take it personally.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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When I see the Blood
I will pass over you.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stain.
We have counted the precious blood of the Lamb of God as dung:
God’s definition of sin is different than ours. We always minimize it. It’s never a sin of consequence – it is only a small matter in our eyes. God sees it as willful sin. When you have the opportunity to choose whether to sin or not and you choose to sin it is willful sin – then Vs. 26 becomes the issue. “There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
How many of you in growing up your dad put the fear of God in you. When he gave an order you knew you had better carry it out? Why is it different with God today? I feared my dad – I knew he meant business and I had better do what was ordered. Churches have not taught the members to fear God.
Some picture God as a grey-haired grand-father setting in a rocking chair – laughing at everything we do.
You will not fear sin if you don’t fear God. (Repeat)
Luke 12:5 - Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (KJV) You had better fear God.
We have lost our fear of sin. Sin has become so common place with us until we do not fear it. Sin has become part of our everyday life and we don’t pay it much mind. To most people sin is a pleasure or pastime. We can live with sin and even be comfortable with it.
De 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. (KJV)
“Swear by His name” – “Lord I am going to live for you – I am going to give my life to you for your whole purpose and will”. I’m going to love You. – Lord, I am going to do what Your word says.”
The fear of God is not to run from him – but to draw close to Him. (Psa 51) David drew close to God during his time of repentance. “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.”
The Old time saints feared sin. The Apostles feared sin. Our great-grandparents feared sin, but not many fear sin today. There is no condemnation of sin. No penalty required for sin. Most people do not know what sin will do to the life of an individual. Sin is the worst possible thing that could be done by man. Sin in the Garden of Eden destroyed all that existed between God and Adam. Sin will ultimately cause this world to be burnt to ashes.
We think that because we don’t see results right now that nothing is happening.
Think about an Ocean Liner – The size of a football field or larger sailing across the ocean – 3000 people on it . We could drill a one-eighth inch hole in the hull of that ship and nothing much would happen- but if we drilled another and another, and another, and another the ship would eventually sink – that which was of no consequence became the cause of destruction.
The more familiar we are with sin the less we fear it.
What was it that made Adam fear God? His sin. He was not afraid of anything before his sin. Adam was so afraid he ran and hid from the Lord. When he realized he had sinned he was afraid to face the Lord. Adam’s fear was now a different fear. He feared God knowing he had disobeyed Him. Where is that same type fear today? The reason our churches and homes are so powerless and weak is we do not fear God.
Ge 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (God had never had to ask this question before – Adam was always ready and waiting for God to show up)
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Question – Why was he afraid? (He had never been afraid before his sin)
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (KJV)
Immediately following his sin Adam was separated from God. The very next time God came to him Adam ran away and hid. That’s what has happened to the Christian of today. Sin has driven us away from God and now instead of running to Him in confession and repentance we run from him in guilt and shame and fear.
Why do you suppose so many church members run away on Sunday to some place other than the house of God – I wonder could it be they are running from their sin – They don’t want to be reminded of their sin so they run and hide somewhere. They will give it some special respectable title that makes it sound necessary. I’ll tell you why most run off - Their sin has come between them and God and they don’t want to face God in their sin – so they run.
Adam said, “I was afraid.” Why was he afraid? He was afraid because he had sinned against God. A person with sin in their heart doesn’t want to come to church because the Gospel hymns remind them of their sin – then we have the time of blessing when we tell of the good things God has done for us and that also reminds them of their sin and then the preacher preaches on some subject totally different than their sin, but the Spirit of God pricks their heart and their sin comes up before them and they start running again.
People want to separate themselves from God – They run off on a vacation somewhere and leave God out of their plans. They run off somewhere that will take their mind off their sin.
Jesus says, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t say run off somewhere.
People run to the lake – they run to grandma’s house – anywhere just to get away from God. They are afraid of God. Being afraid of God is different than fearing God.
The fear of God is a recognition of His holiness. The fear of God draws us to Him.
Afraid of God is a result of rebelling against His authority or His Word and you don’t want to face Him in that matter – so you run away. Don’t forget, God came looking for Adam, and God will come looking for you also. He knows where and how to find you and I. There have been times when I wanted to try to hide from God, but how foolish to think such nonsense.
There are people here tonight with things in their heart that they have been harboring for a long time. It’s time to bring them to God. David allowed this sin to remain in his heart for nearly a year without facing it. Then in Psalm 51 he begins to pour out his sin before God.
Would you suppose that there is anyone tonight that needs to pour out sin and confess it to God. What will happen if they keep on trampling and despising the Word of God? Great consequences will occur.
It makes me think of that old hymn: Turn in your hymn book and we will sing page 471.
Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
If God has spoken to your heart about something – come and take care of it.
