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| Reaching Albanians with the Gospel |
| "God is not willing that any should perish..." 2 Peter 3:9 |
| CD Sampler |
| Rick's Music Videos |
| Guilt and Forgiveness Psa 51:1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. David had sinned - adultery and murder. You cannot hide from God. The prophet confronted David. Observe David's reaction. The realization devastated him. We have to be on guard against sin and temptation. 1Pe 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Eph 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. David grieves over his sin. He cries out to God. "Blot out my sin." Erase it Lord, from your records. You can never really erase most of the things you do in life. Sin comes with a price. You lose virtue, face shame, hurt your familiy and others. Every sin erodes your character and your purity. Sin always leaves a scar, physical, emotional, or spiritual, or to your reputation. Worst of all, sin damages your relationship with God. Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. The good news is that God is a merciful and forgiving Father. He knows our weakness and he has made provision for our forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins… Look again at David's prayer: Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. Not just 'forgive me' but - 'wash me' and 'cleanse me'. Get this junk out of my life. Psa 51:3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. David does not deny his wrong or his weakness. He confesses it. Confession is the key to receiving forgiveness. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. David was considered 'a man after God's own heart'. Not because he was perfect, but because he faced his sin and dealt with it. Psa 51:4 Against You, You only, I have sinned ... Though your sin may hurt others the worst result is the damage to your relationship with God. Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. The problem is that sin is in our nature. You are not a sinner because you sin. You sin because you are a sinner. David is asking for an inner cleansing. Not just clean life, but a clean heart. Psa 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. A clean heart will produce a clean life - not the other way around. Mat 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. Psa 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psa 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Forgiveness means 'choosing not to remember'. Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins." Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. God promised to renew our hearts. Ezk 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezk 36:27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Psa 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. "Lord, please don't give up on me." Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. This sin is taking away my joy. Take away my guilt - my feelings of condemnation - of unworthiness. (When I was 7, I went to school one rainy morning wearing brand new clothes. But I slipped on the sidewalk and was covered head-to-toe with mud. The school called my mother. She came and cleaned me up and brought the exact same outfit for me to change into. You would have never known about my mishap.) Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. God knows we will not achieve perfection. He is looking for cooperation. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins… |
