Sermon Central
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The Joy Of Forgiveness
Contributed by Carl Willis on Mar 28, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: There is nothing like the freedom of forgiveness. The record of your past can be cleansed and God offers it freely.
The Joy of Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1 (NIV)
A psalm of David.
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Oh What Joy!!!!
David had been forgiven of many things
Adultery
Murder
Dishonesty
Sin is rebellion
Willing disobedience
Forgiveness cancels out the debt of sin
The covering of sin
Removed from the sight of God
Removed from the record of man
Psalm 32:2 (NIV)
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
It Doesn’t Count
No matter what our past looks like
Forgiveness is offered
No record past wrongs is kept
Forgiveness changes us from within
Forgiveness is the result of true repentance
Not just saying, “I’m sorry”
A change of mind
A change of actions
Psalm 32:3-4 (NIV)
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
The Discomfort of Conviction
To say nothing is to continue in disobedience
Lack of confession
Lack of repentance
Failure to yield
Conviction takes a toll
Physically weary
Mentally drained
Emotionally spent
That’s Not Your Conscience
The Lord continues to apply pressure
To gain our attention
To gain our repentance
To gain our obedience
You can’t outlast God
Pressure bends the will
Pressure bends the knee
Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
No Cover-Up Here
True confession begins with honesty
By acknowledging we agree with God that our
actions have been sinful
We must be brutally honest with ourselves and
with God, glossing over will not do
True confession gives a detailed accounting
Every sin is addressed
Every sin is confesed
Every sin is forgiven
Guilt is removed
Psalm 32:6 (NIV)
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
Don’t Delay
God is faithful to forgive
To delay repentance is to delay obedience
The longer we delay the longer we endure God’s
hand of conviction
Until we confess our sins we live in rebellion and our
fellowship with God is hindered
When we delay our obedience we open ourselves
to peril
God delivers those who cling tightly to Him
Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
A Place of Refuge
In God we find refuge
From guilt
From shame
From the cares of this world
In God we find protection
He is our defender
Going before us
Coming behind us
The battle belongs to the Lord
Forgiveness is a Beautiful Thing
When you are wrong - admit it
When you need to change – do it
Forgiveness is complete – receive it
The Lord offers shelter and strength – Seek it
If we will confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
**Powerpoint available on request
