TITLE: THERE IS FORGIVENESS 2/10/02
TEXT: PSALM 130:1 – 8; *4
INTRO:
I BELIEVE SOME OF THE MOST MISERABLE CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA TODAY ARE THOSE CHRISTIANS WHO GO THROUGH LIFE WITH A CONSCIENCE FILLED WITH GUILT. WELL, HERE IN THE 130TH PSALM, WE READ THE WORDS OF A BROKENHEARTED MAN WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH THE PROBLEM OF GUILT. IN THESE VERSES, WE HEAR THE CRY OF DAVID AS HE DEALS WITH THIS HAUNT-ING SENSE OF GUILT THAT STEMS FROM HIS PAST.
YOU REMEMBER DAVID AND HIS SIN –
1. DAVID HAD COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH ANOTHER MANS WIFE.
2. HE HAS LIED AND EVEN WENT TO THE EXTENT OF MURDERING ANOTHER MAN. 3. BUT THEN CAME THE DAY WHEN NATHAN (GOD’S PREACHER) CAME TO DAVID
AND SAID, “THOU ART THE MAN!”
4. SO DAVID ADMITTED HIS WRONG DOING, CONFESSED HIS SIN AND RESTORED
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
AS YOU STUDY THE SCRIPTURES, YOU WILL FIND THAT DAVID WAS –
1. THE KING OVER ALL THE NATION OF ISRAEL
2. A MIGHTY WARRIOR BEFORE THE LORD
3. 3 TIMES HE WAS ANNOINTED FOR GOD’S SERVICE
4. HERE WAS THE SHEPHERD BOY THAT KILLED GOLIATH
5. A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
6. THE SWEET PSALMIST OF THE SCRIPTURES
7. YET ALSO A HUMAN BEING – AND A MAN THAT FELL INTO SIN.
AND EVEN THOUGH DAVID HAS REPENTED AND HIS SIN HAD BEEN FORGIVEN BY GOD – THE SCARS AND THE MARKS OF SIN WERE STILL THERE!
NOW I BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD LIKE THAT TODAY, STILL CARRYING A LOAD OF GUILT FROM SOMETHING VILE IN THEIR PAST. IT MAY BE THAT YOU –
A. HAD AN IMMORAL RELATIONSHIP
B. LIED TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE
C. SAID SOMETHING THAT DEEPLY HURT SOMEONE ELSE
D. MAYBE IT IS SOME WICKED HABIT YOU HAVE AND YOU STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME IT, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU GIVE IN.
E. YES, YOU HAVE WENT TO CHRIST AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS
BUT THE GUILT AND THE SENSE OF FEELING DIRTY AND SPIRITUALLY UNCLEAN ARE STILL THERE AND GUILT PLAGUES YOUR CONSCIENCE EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.
NOW IF THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE, I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU AND THAT IS WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID: BUT THERE IS FORGIVENESS WITH THEE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE FEARED.
WHERE IS IT THAT GUILT COMES FROM?
1. OUR ADVERSARY: THE DEVIL
THE BIBLE CALLS HIM THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN. AND SATAN IS A LOT SMARTER THAN WE THINK HE IS, AND HE WILL FIND SOMETHING IN YOUR PAST AND COME ALONG AND CONTINUALLY BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH IT UNTIL YOU ARE -
A. OUT OF CHURCH
B. OUT OF YOUR BIBLE, THINKING THERE IS NO HOPE.
AND WHAT THE DEVIL WILL DO IS LIE TO YOU.
ILL. HE WILL COME ALONG AND TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN SIN AND GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU. THEN WHEN YOU GIVE IN TO SIN, HE WILL COME ALONG AND TELL YOU GOD WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR DOING SOEMTHING LIKE THAT!
BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THIS: (IF YOU AS A CHRISTIAN WILL REPENT AND TURN FROM THAT SIN TO JESUS CHRIST, HE WILL FORGIVE YOU – NO MATTER HOW VILE THAT SIN MAY BE!
ROMANS 5:20 – WHERE SIN DID ABOUND, GRACE DOTH MUCH MORE ABOUND!
DON’T LET THE DEVIL HARRASS AND BRING YOUR PAST UP AGAINST YOU.
ILL. WHEN HE REMINDS YOU OF YOUR PAST – YOU REMIND HIM OF HIS FUTURE
THERE IS A SECOND SOURCE OF OUR GUILT AND UNFORTUNATELY IT COMES FROM THE –
2. SAINTS
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE THOSE (CHRISTIANS) IN THE CHURCH THAT ACTUALLY ENJOY POINTING THEIR SELF RIGHTEOUS FINGER EVERY TIME THEY SEE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN WHO FALLS INTO SIN.
AND THE REASON WHY THEY DO THAT IS TO KEEP THE ATTENTION OFF THEMSELVES SO THAT HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL EVER SEE ANY OF THEIR OWN FAULTS AND FAILURES.
I TELL YOU THIS – GOD SEES THEM! AND ANYTIME YOU OR I STAND IN CONDEMNATION OF ANOTHER CHRISTIAN TO BRING THEM DOWN AND TRY AND MAKE THEM FEEL GUILTY AND UNLOVED – YOU ARE DOING THE WORK OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF! WHERE IS IT THAT THIS GUILT COMES FROM? OFTEN TIMES IT COMES FROM -
3. SELF
YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG IN YOUR YOUTH, THE YEARS PASS BY, 5, 10, 15, MAYBE EVEN 20 YEARS LATER AND THE MEMORIES AND THE GUILT IS STILL ETCHED DEEP INTO YOUR MIND! THEN, THERE IS A FOURTH AND A FINAL SOURCE OF GUILT THAT COMES FROM OUR –
4. SAVIOR
BUT HIS GUILT IS A GUILT THAT COMES RIGHT AFTER A CHRISTIAN SINS. ONCE A CHRISTIAN HAS SINNED – GOD WILL ALLOW HIM OR HER TO FEEL GUILTY, MISERABLE AND DIRTY. AND GOD USES THE FEELING OF A GUILTY CONSCIENCE TO DRAW A SINNING CHRISTIAN BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE HE BELONGS.
SO THE QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF IS THIS: WHERE IS THIS GUILT COMING FROM?
1. IS IT GUILT BECAUSE I HAVE JUST SINNED AND HAVEN’T GOT RIGHT - OR
2. IS THIS GUILT CAUSED BY SOME AWFUL MEMORY OF THE PAST – AND
SATAN, SELF OR OTHERS KEEP BRINGING IT BACK TO MY MIND.
NOW I DO NOT KNOW YOUR HEART – BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THIS: WHATEVER YOUR CASE MAY BE – YOU CAN FIND ABSOLUTE FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM FROM GUILT TODAY.
VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE THIS MORNING, SO LETS GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS. NOTICE WITH ME FIRST OF ALL THE –
I. SOURCE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS V.3 - 4
IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES, O LORD, WHO SHALL STAND? BUT THERE IS FORGIVENESS WITH THEE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE FEARED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FREEDOM FROM GUILT CANNOT BE FOUND –
· IN RELIGION
· AT THE BOTTOM OF AN EMPTY BOTTLE
· FROM YOUR PSYCYATRIST – YOU’LL DO NOTHING BUT MAKE HIM MISERABLE AS YOU TELL HIM ALL YOUR PROBLEMS AND SINS!
LISTEN, FORGIVENESS FROM GUILT LIES IN THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS TO CLEANSE US AND FORGIVE US OF EVERY SIN.
JESUS: I AM COME THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY
AND WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS ALL OUR GUILT AND SIN WAS PLACED UPON THE SON OF GOD! THEREFORE WHEN HE DIED, THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN WAS MADE AND YOU AND I (IF YOU ARE SAVED) NO LONGER STAND GUILTY IN THE EYES OF GOD.
YOU SAY YES PREACHER, BUT THIS GUILT I CARRY IS CAUSED FROM SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER I BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
I JOHN 2:1 – 2
MY LITTLE CHILDREN, THESE THINGS WRITE I UNTO YOU, THAT YE SIN NOT. AND IF ANYMAN (CHRISTIAN) SIN, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS: AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY, BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD!
WORD ADVOCATE IS THE WORD WE USE TODAY FOR AN ATTORNEY! CHRIST ACTS AS OUR LAWYER WHEN SATAN BRINGS ACCUSATION AGAINST US BEFORE GOD.
ILL. MY ATTORNEY IS –
1. FREE – HE DOESN’T CHARGE A DIME
2. AWESOME – FOR HE HAS NEVER LOST A CASE!
3. ALL KNOWING – FOR HE’S THE ONE WHO WROTE ALL THE LAWS
4. SPECIAL – FOR HIS FATHER IS THE JUDGE
5. UN-BEATABLE – FOR HE TELLS ME THE VERDICT IS FIXED!
YOU SAY PREACHER, WHAT IS THAT LAWYERS NAME? HIS NAME IS JESUS AND HE HAS MADE A PROVISION FOR OUR EACH AND EVERY NEED. AND (GOD) KNOWING WE WOULD SIN WROTE:
I JOHN 1:9
IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
ISAIAH 55:7
LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS: AND LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON!
AND SO THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL GRACE OF GOD, (IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN) YOU STAND JUSTIFIED AND FORGIVEN IN THE SIGHT OF ALMIGHTY GOD. EVEN IF YOU HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES IN YOUR PAST, (MAYBE EVEN TODAY) – AS LONG AS YOU HAVE CONFESSED AND REPENTED OF IT, GOD DOES NOT HOLD ANY OF THAT AGAINST YOU!
ILL. I READ A STORY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT SOME MISSIONARIES THAT WENT TO LABRADOR ALASKA. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THAT THE ESKIMO’S HAD NO WORD IN THEIR LANGUAGE FOR FORGIVENESS. SO THEY HAD TO MAKE ONE UP WHICH MEANT, "NOT BEING ABLE TO THINK ABOUT IT ANYMORE."
WELL WHEN YOU COME TO GOD FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN – GOD NOT ONLY FORGIVES IT – BUT HE FORGETS ALL ABOUT IT!
SO NOT ONLY THE SOURCE OF FORGIVENESS, NOTICE ALSO THE -
II. SCOPE OF GOD’S FORGIVENSS
I JOHN 1:7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER AND THE BLOOD OF JEUSS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.
DAVID SAID: IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES, O LORD, WHO SHALL STAND?
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE SCOPE OF FORGIVENESS, I AM TALKING ABOUT THE LIMITLESS BOUNDRIES OF GODS GRACE!
NOW WE CHRISTIANS ARE GOOD AT LABELING ONE SIN AS BEING WORSE THAN ANOTHER. FOR INSTANCE, WE THINK THAT –
· HOMOSEXUALITY IS FAR WORSE THAT IS HATRED.
· RAPE OR MURDER IS FAR WORSE THAN IS PRIDE.
BUT THE REALITY IS – SIN IS SIN IN THE EYES OF GOD!
ILL. GRACE AND IT TAKES JUST AS MUCH GRACE TO SAVE A POOR LITTLE INNOCENT CHILD AS IT DOES TO SAVE A GUILTY RAPIST AND MURDER WHO IS SEATED ON DEATH ROW!
LISTEN, GOD IS SO RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY THAT EVEN THE MINUTEST SIN HAD TO BE PAID FOR!
ILL. EVE EVEN IF EVES SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY SIN EVER COMITTED, JESUS CHRIST STILL WOULD HAVE WENT TO THE CROSS AND DIED OR EVE COULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SAVED. WHY?
ROMANS 6:23 FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!
AND WHAT I WANT ALL OF US HERE TO SEE (ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO FEEL DIRTY AND GUILTY FROM SINS OF YOUR PAST) IS THE FACT THAT THE SCOPE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS INCLUDES EVEN YOU!
OH YOU SAY BUT PREACHER I’VE -
· HAD A DIVORCE AND SAID SOME THINGS AND DID SOME THINGS THAT WERE WRONG.
· SPENT SOME TIME IN THE PAST LIVING IN IMMORALITY
· LIED, STOLE & CHEATED
SO YOU HAVE! AS LONG AS YOU HAVE REPENTED AND MADE THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD AND WITH THOSE YOU HAVE OFFENDED, THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO FEEL GUILTY OVER YOUR PAST! THE SCOPE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!
ILL. When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Mr. Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court the next day.
The next day as he stood in court the judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That’ll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."
Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister and said. "You have violated the law," The fine must be paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He then took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner!
AND THAT IS JUST HOW GOD TREATS YOU AND I. WHEN WE SIN, AND I MEAN WHEN WE BLOW IT BIG, GOD -
1. REACHES WAY DOWN TO THE PIT THAT WE HAVE DUG FOR OURSELVES
2. COMES TO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE
3. CLEANSES US FROM ALL OUR SINS AND GIVES US THE BEST THAT HE CAN GIVE!
ILL. PRODIGAL SON: HERE WAS A BOY WHO HAS –
· GRIEVOUSLY SINNED AGAINST HIS FATHER
· TOOK THE MONEY HIS FATHER HAD GIVEN HIM AND BLOWN IT ON WINE, WOMEN AND SONG & RIOTOUS LIVING.
· BUT WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, HE GOT RIGHT AND WENT BACK TO HIS FATHER AND WHEN HIS FATHER SEEN HIM COMING, HE RAN TO MEET HIS SON!
· KILL THE FATTED CALF, BRING FORTH THE BEST ROBE, GIVE HIM THE MOST VALUABLE RING IN THE HOUSE
FOR THIS MY SON WAS LOST, BUT NOW HE’S FOUND!
AND NOT ONE TIME DO WE READ IN THAT STORY WHEREBY THE FATHER OF THAT BOY EVER MENTIONED HIS SONS SIN, WHY? BECAUSE IN HIS FATHERS EYES HIS SON WERE FORGIVEN!
OH WHAT GRACE!
SONG: GRACE, GRACE GOD’S GRACE, GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL MY SIN!
SONG: WONDERFUL THE MATCHLESS GRACE OF JESUS, DEEPER THAN THE MIGHTY ROLING SEA, HIGHER THAN THE MOUNTAIN, SPARKLING LIKE A FOUNTAIN, ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE FOR EVEN ME, BROADER THAN THE SCOPE OF MY TRANSGRESSION, GREATER FAR THAN ALL MY SIN AND SHAME, OH MAGNIFY THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS, PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
DEAR FRIEND, THE SCOPE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS GREATER THAN ALL YOUR SIN AND SHAME! SO NOT ONLY THE SOURCE, SCOPE – NOTICE LASTLY -
III. SOOTHING TOUCH OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS
ILL. I HEARD THE STORY OF A PREACHER WHO WAS AT A CERTAIN CHURCH PREACHING ON THE SUBJECT OF FORGIVENESS. AND IN THE CROWD THAT DAY THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE HEART WAS HEAVY WITH A LOAD OF GUILT AND SHAME. AND AFTER HE HAD FINISHED PREACHING, A FEW MOMENTS HAD PASSED BY AND NEARLY EVERYONE HAD LEFT THE AUDITORIUM. AND THERE BY THE FRONT PEW STOOD A YOUNG WOMAN GATHERING SONG BOOKS, GLANCING UP AT HIM EVERY NOW AND THEN (TRYING NOT TO BE NOTICED). SO WHEN I SEEN HER, I WENT UP TO HER AND THANKED HER FOR COMING AND ASKED HER IF SHE HAD ENJOYED THE SERVICE.
IMMEDIATELY SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD AND ENJOYED THE MESSAGE AS WELL. SHE SAID HOWEVER, “I DO NOT THINK THE MESSAGE WAS FOR ME,” “YOU DO NOT KNOW MY PAST.” AND THEN SHE BEGAN TO EXPLAIN HER HISTORY.
SHE TOLD THE PREACHER –
1. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE NOTICED OR NOT, BUT I AM NOT A VERY
BEAUTIFUL GIRL – PREACHER SAID, “I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT.”
SHE SAID, “WELL I AM NOT.”
2. WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I GOT SAVED BUT MY HOME LIFE WAS SUCH A
MESS.
3. AS A CHILD MY FATHER REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT I WAS UGLY, HE WAS
AN ALCOHOLIC AND STAYED DRUNK MOST OF THE TIME.
4. MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT I WAS WORTHLESS AND WOULD NEVER
AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.
5. SO WHEN I BECAME A TEENAGER, I MET A TEENAGED BOY WHO TOLD ME I
WAS SPECIAL. I HAD NEVER HEARD WORDS LIKE THAT, NOR FELT THAT
WAY BEFORE. AND SO IN MY IGNORANCE I GAVE HIM EVERYTHING. A
MONTH OR TWO AFTER WHEN HE FOUND OUT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY,
HE LEFT ME AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM SINCE.
5. I COULD NOT GO TO MY MOMMY OR MY DADDY
6. SO I WENT TO A HEALTH CLINIC AND DID AWAY WITH MY CHILD – AND NOW
EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS AGO, I STILL FEEL SO GUILTY
AND DIRTY OVER WHAT I HAD DONE.
7. PREACHER, CAN GOD REALLY FORGIVE ME FOR DOING SOMETHING
LIKE THAT? THE PREACHER THEN WITH A TEAR IN HIS EYE AND A BROKEN
HEART BEGAN TO TELL HER WHAT JESUS COULD DO FOR HER.
8. AFTER THEY PRAYED, SHE HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE AND A GLOW ABOUT HER THAT GOD HAD REMOVED ALL GUILT FROM HER HEART!
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY BY SAYING THIS: YES, YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, YOU COME TO CHURCH WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. BUT DEEP DOWN ON THE INSIDE THERE IS (HURT) SOMETHING THAT HAS TORMENTED AND HAUNTED YOU FOR YEARS.
(THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY BE SHOWING YOU EVEN RIGHT NOW WHAT IT IS.) GOD WANTS YOU TO COME AND GET A FRESH AND A CLEAR CONSCIENCE FROM HIM TODAY. READ V.1 – 4: WITH HEART
