Refill Your Cup

 

Refill Your Cup

Luke 5:16, And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Mark 1:35, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

The Lord Jesus practice something we often miss in our hustle and bustle, he frequently prayed alone in solitary places to connect deeply with God, secure daily guidance, and find strength for the challenges ahead. Such solitude allowed him to focus and engage in undistracted communion with his heavenly Father. Again, such activities were vital for receiving instructions, spiritual power, and wisdom for his very complex ministries and God’s designs. These ‘get aways’ provided rest, reflection, refreshment, and a way to process emotions and challenges. Our Lord’s habit of withdrawing demonstrates the importance of personal solitude in the presence of God, spiritual growth, and recharging our serving capacity. 

Sometimes we are called upon to do the extraordinary! We typically don't even hesitate to meet the expectations and requirements. It is a part of what we do—forsake ourselves for the benefit of others! Doing so can be demanding, exhausting, depleting, and grueling at times, but we still come through in brilliant color and reliable force. Afterwards, it is important to reset in the wake of these episodes...to take a breather...a well-deserved break. I am talking about intentionally stepping back from daily demands to recharge spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

This may involve short resets like walking in God’s creation, praying, or meditating on a verse or phrase. You may try longer getaways like a trip on a long weekend to a location that permits you to unwind. What is critical is that we focus on non-work activities, clear our calendars, unplug from the various forms of tech, and prioritize time with God, rest and good food. There are multiple benefits to doing this like hearing from the Lord afresh, seeing things in Scripture you forgot were there, realizing there are matters we left unresolved, and even relationships we should pursue as well as those we need to eliminate. We can experience a boost in our health, inspiration for our interests, and a renewed eagerness to be more productive, and certainly preventing the various forms of burnout before returning to the fight. It is okay to reduce some of the stress.

Anybody with eyes can see we have been working at a fever pitch to make a lot of great things happen for many others. We have been there making events special, cherish-able, memorable, and picture-worthy-epics. We have treated others with dignity, respect, courtesy and service. But please remember you need a break too…a period of rejuvenation. Start planning now for enjoyable, restorative activities, rather than just passive screen time, these are your keys for true renewal. So, go ahead and steal way to sit prayerfully in God’s presence, plan a trip or even take a short drive, visit a museum you have been wanting to explore, journal your reflections and thoughts, disconnect from work/social media, read the Word slowly and thoughtfully, engage in other restorative activities like walking, hiking, gardening, an unscheduled nap, a long bubble bath, or just taking it down a few notches at home. 

The requirements will still be there when you return, and the demand will be also.... But please take that ‘needed break’ in the coming weeks. You don't have to feel guilty as you do so. We all need these types of respites several times a year. Afterward you may continue to pour from a cup that has been properly refilled.

Jesus's solitary prayer life and his ability to unplug from society was not a matter of avoiding people or merely being alone. Jesus intentionally prioritized a profound and personal interaction with his heavenly Father. Clearly his actions provide us with a model for finding peace, clarity, and strength in our own lives. It informs us to refill our cup often as a matter of priority.  

 

Revival Involves Brokenness

 

Revival Involves Brokenness

Mal 1:9

SUBJECT: NEGLECT OF WORSHIP

THEME: Honoring God in our Worship Must Be our Number One Priority.

RELEVANCE:  Have we succumbed to problems of neglect, expediency-convenience, and outright disobedience? Do we have a proper perspective of God, or do we doubt His faithfulness to His promises?  

Such opinions lead to widespread unfaithfulness, and it affects the worship of others. We need to renew our perspective, reestablish our hope, and promote a proper faithfulness to God. 

INTRODUCTION:

1. What sins were the priests committing as they carried on their duties in the restored temple? This showed in the way they kept up superficial religious behavior which actually insulted God.

2.  God calls his people to revival, repentance, and brokenness! Verse 9 of Malachi chapter one gives us some insight to this necessary condition of revival called brokenness.

MESSAGE:

I.  Give God the Honor Worthy of His Name.   (Mal. 1:6-9)

God focuses on the priests, who should have been the spiritual leaders of the land. The priests were not giving honor to God’s name; they were taking the best for themselves.

A.  THE ALLEGATION (Mal. 1:6)

B.  THE VERIFICATION (Mal. 1:7-8)

C.  THE INSTRUCTION (Mal. 1:9).

There must be a humbling of oneself before the Lord and a fresh acknowledgment of his greatness and majesty.  A believer should return to a right view of God!  This will afford him a right view of self.

Revival happens when God's people, real Believers, are prepared for it. Renewal occurs when we are ready for it with tender receptive hearts and humble submissive spirits. Neither preacher, churches, or Christians can manufacture, produce, or orchestrate widespread far-reaching revivals! Such work belongs exclusively to God Almighty. We may certainly come to sense our great need for revival…our need for God, but He alone must give it! Revival often begins with believers coming under deep conviction and crying out to the Almighty in confession and repentance for our sins.

   1.  Appeal to God with a Broken Heart—Seek Repentance Toward God. (Mal. 1:9)

      A.  Involves Returning:  Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of heart and actions.  Repentance or a broken and contrite spirit can lead to “godly sorrow that worketh repentance” when we yearn for forgiveness for our sins.

There must be a return to respect and honor the Lord once we recognize we have departed from this high motivation in our living and service. We need to return to devoted living and service…to the True and living God with respect this. A revived life is the new reasons for our existence and meaning.

      B.  Involves Brokenness:  Call upon God with all Humility, Brokenness, and Contrition. “And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us”; literally, the face of God.

APPICATION: Brokenness brings an intense regret for the things I've done to God and what I've done to his name. It’s a matter of say, “God, my sin is against YOU, I've done this…I've belittled your name - I've sinned against YOU.” Brokenness is not merely regretting the consequences of our sin, or the damage done to our lives because we messed up; it's understanding the real impact of our sin against a holy and generous God. This understanding is brokenness that involves a bottomless godward sorrowfulness for what has been done against God and his name, rather than just regretting the costs, extent, failures, circumstances, or magnitude of our actions.

Psalm 34:18, The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 

Psalm 51:17, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Such spiritual brokenness can be a key to developing a strong relationship with God. It can involve:

              1.  Brokenness can lead to humility, which can allow God to use someone in new ways. A humble brokenness is the proper attitude posture before God.  Like Joshua and the elders, we should humble ourselves so that we will be able to hear his words (Josh 7:6).

              2.  Humility keeps us from depending on our own strengths. Only after Israel was defeated did they turn to God and ask what happened (Josh 7:3). Too often we rely on our own skills and strength, especially when the task before us seems easy. It’s not that our strengths and various abilities do not matter, they do; but God expect us to not only give ourselves but to count on Him for victory, triumph, and achievement.

              3.  Humility makes our prayers direct and honest. Imagine praying the way Joshua prayed to God. Joshua poured out his real thoughts to God. Hiding your needs from God is ignoring the only one who can really help. God welcomes your honest prayers and wants you to express your true feelings to him. Any believer can become more honest in prayer by remembering that God is all-knowing and all-powerful and that his love is everlasting. So, it is okay to admit when we are depleted of zeal, our commitment is wanning, our devotion is periodic, or our service is perfunctorily. It is right to ask God to renew our strength, increase our discipline, and help us to stay the course! The Lord already knows these things and can help us experience revival in these areas.  Isaiah 57:15, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 66:2, For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Brokenness is being so crushed by our sin and the darkness of the world that we recognize there is no place to turn but to God. This comes when our desire to be cleansed from sin is so consuming that our hearts ache with sorrow and we yearn to feel at peace with our Father in Heaven.  

      C.  Involves Faith:  Regarding brokenness, trust God to deal with you in grace (Ex 32:11; Jer 26:19; Lam 2:19). Repentance and faith are the ways we response to God’s grace and initiative. Many fail to realize that brokenness is really a tremendous gift from God that demonstrates His remarkable and unfailing love.

APPLICATION: Keep in mind that God uses brokenness to deepen our understanding in at least three ways: 1) We gain a new perspective of His mercy and provision and learn to depend on Him more. 2) We develop a more complete comprehension of ourselves. 3) Our compassion and understanding for others' suffering grows. Beloved, embrace brokenness and trust God alone to bring you through the difficulties, challenges, and persecutions.

   2.  Approach God Seeking to Please Him.  (Mal 1:9)

Regarding the person, “Will he regard your persons?” The idea seems to be this: “You are expecting that God will accept you just because you are priests, on account of your official standing alone. You think that it does not matter to him what you are morally, so long as you go through the routine of his service according to the standards;” It is intimated plainly enough that their intercessions on behalf of the people must be in vain so long as they are acting unworthily. -W. W. Wiersbe

Certainly the governor (peḥâh, a Persian title) would not have been pleased with the meat of blind, crippled, or diseased animals; in fact he would not have accepted it. How much more absurd it was to expect the favor of the Lord Almighty (cf. Mal. 1:4) with such offerings. He did not accept such sacrifices, nor did He accept (vv. 8–9) the priests. ^[1]

      A.  The Sense in Which God Does Regard the Person.

            1. He deals with everyone individually, never loses the one in the many; each person stands out distinctly before him as if there were no other. We need to dwell on this truth, because people readily hide themselves from their own view, and mistakenly perceive thy are hiding themselves from God’s view, in the class, group, church, or ethnicity they belong to. Such actions do not prevent God from dealing with individuals or a single person.

             2. He deals with a person’s moral condition. That belongs exclusively to the individual. This is the matter of supreme concern to God.

      B.  The Sense in Which God Does Not Regard the Person.

He is no “Respecter of persons.” This enlarges the idea, and we may see:

             1. That God takes no account of attractions, appearances, or stature. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.”

             2. God takes no account of social rank. He pays no attention to the rich; he shows no special attention to the poor. His supreme interest is in the individual, not the status of the person. This does not imply any failure in our appreciating the value of social status and influence; it only emphasizes that these are not the matters of Divine consideration.

             3. God takes no account of official position. No one has special favor with God because he is a king, and no one has any special ground for pleading with God because he is a preacher. A believer’s power of intercession with God depends on his personal relations with God! No matter what our office may be, if there is not a correct state of mind and heart, God does not acceptance the person bases on their ministry or office.

The prophet urges them to repent of their sins so that God’s wrath might be averted.^[2]

CONCLUSION:

QUOTE: “The consideration of God's universal dominion, and the universal acknowledgment of it, should restrain us from all irreverence in his service.”   — Matthew Henry's Commentary

The priests were treating God in a way that they would not dare treat a human leader (1:8). The priests were listlessly going through the motions….  Malachi called on them to repent (1:9)! How can we avoid making the same mistakes?

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^[1] Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1578.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1175.

Restoration Will Come

ROMANS 11:1-2a

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S FUTURE

THEME: God will regather, redeem, restore, and return to reign over the nation of Israel.

INTRODUCTION: The nation of Israel will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (New Covenant) and according to the covenant of God to Abraham. Therefore, Israel’s rejection is not permanent and certainly not final—she has a brilliant future before her. Like the rest of the world her hope is in Christ Jesus.

In many regards, Israel’s history and future serves as an object lesson teaching us something about God’s grace, wisdom, power, and faithfulness. The following passages outline God’s future plans for the Nation of Israel. Today, they are an unbelieving nation; a people who have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According to God’s dispensational management, they have been temporarily set aside (Rom. 11:1-2). However, everything God promised Israel will be fulfilled within the context of her national experience. Israel will be saved nationally and spiritually by the grace of Almighty God; this is the profound eschatological reality—a clear fact of Scripture.

LESSON:

Is There a Biblical Foundation for Israel’s Restoration in the Future?

The Scriptural and Theological Foundation for the Restoration of the Nation of Israel is Abundant and Strong.

Here is what we know from clear statements in the Word of God:

1. We Know the People of Israel Will Be Regathered

Matt 24:31, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect [Israel] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Deut 30:3-6, That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 4, If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5, And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6, And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (Ezek. 20:33-44)

2. We Know the Nation of Israel Will Be Redeemed

Rom 11:26-27, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27, For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Isa 45:17, But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Isa 54:5-10, For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6, For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7, For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8, In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9, For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10, For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

3.  We Know the Kingdom of Israel Will Be Restored

Dan 7:17-18, These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan 7:22, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Dan 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

4. We Know the True King of Israel Will Return

Isa 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7, Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Matt. 24:29-31)

CONCLUSION:

If you take the Word of God as the final authority, then restoration will come to the nation of Israel. Yes, restoration will come! This study simply permits the holy Scriptures to speak with brilliant clarity. The truth that Israel has a promising national future cannot be denied. God will regather, redeem, restore, and return to reign over the nation of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ. Nothing in Scripture can be more certain than this. To believe these teachings is to believe the Lord God Almighty who promised such developments thousands of years ago.

Nations, regimes, and terrorist organizations may oppose and attack Israel today, but the nation will not ultimately be destroyed. Hitler’s Nazi’s could not cancel this promise! The world cannot prevent these developments no matter how they use the United Nations to oppose Israel. Israel will ultimately be sustained by a faithful God who keeps covenant and promises!

Our Lord God can be trusted; He is supremely faithful to His Word. Go ahead and trust Him; it is entirely safe. Trust Him as Savior and Lord. Trust Him as your Source of everything—your Provider. Acknowledge Him as your Creator…the one to whom you are accountable. Take His promises to heart and walk in the power they avail…the grace He wills for you. Each of us should be daily hanging on to some specific promise God made in the Scriptures. Even if it is as basic as 1 John 1:9, its God’s promise to you and me for forgiveness, cleansing, restoration, and renewed fellowship. So, again go ahead and take Him at His Word. It is entirely safe to do so.   

Spiritual Restoration and Renewal

Psalm 51:9-19

David viewed his sins as being so hideous that he asked God to hide His face; “Hide Thy face from my sins,”(vs 9), he earnestly pled.  He felt deeply ashamed for God to behold such disgraceful and rebellious behavior. He had ignored God; he had violated God’s law. Instead of attempting to further cover it up or pretending it did not happen, David appealed to God. Yes, in fantastic boldness David turned to the grace and mercy of the Lord asking that his iniquities be blotted out. Can this be done? Can it be there is a real solution to gross sinful indulgences...profound moral failures?

Isaiah the Prophet conveys the tender heart of Almighty God saying, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25) God, motivated by who He is, moves to forgive and forget our sins when we turn to Him! He is willing to blot out our transgressions refusing to bring them to mind again! There is hope for the discouraged, depressed, guilt-ridden soul! Furthermore God invites us to His throne of grace to secure grace and mercy as we need them. Note what Hebrews 4:16, says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” That is correct! Though we have greatly offended the Lord with our sinfulness, He insists on being the key to our help, healing, forgiveness and restoration.

David knew this and He provides an illustration of God’s marvelous grace and willingness to restore and renew his fallen people. David secured Wall-to-Wall Forgiveness because he fully sought Forgiveness from the God who restores and revives. Consider now how all of this unfolds.

I.   DAVID'S WALL-TO-WALL RENEWAL, Psalm 51:10-12.

David was interested in far more than having his sins forgiven, he asked God to use His creative powers to make him a brand new creation with a new, fresh clean heart.  He obviously did not want to continue in this pattern of sin any more.

A.  GOD’S WORK OF RENEWING IS THOROUGH AND COMPLETE.

David’s life was in ruins and shambles; he could now clearly see the damage the old nature can cause. But, please do not fail to note where our true help comes from! 

   1.  God Can Still Create Purity Deep Within Us.  Vs. 10

“Create in me” is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, meaning to make something from nothing. The request was for a heart that would be suitable to the purging and “clean heart” washing he had asked God to perform. David longed for a fresh start with the Lord and cried out to God to do the supernatural on his behalf. There are many religions in the world, but only the Lord God can create in us clean hearts. Hearts that are free of gross contamination and hearts that love God supremely!

   2.  God Can Change Our Attitudes About Sin.

 “Renew a right spirit” had to do with a steadfast heart toward God.  He asked that God perform a radical work in his soul–he did not want to keep sinning in the future. He was aware that he had become indifferent in his attitudes toward sin so he needed total renovation. He did not want to fall back into the same sins! We all desperately need this ministry of God in each of our lives. Because we are compassed about with so much sin, we can become desensitized and careless in our choices. We can begin to tolerate little sins and before we know it we are excusing larger transgressions. If we are not careful we can begin to justify a warp and twisted lifestyle plagued with sinfulness. Beloved, periodically we need God to change our attitudes about sin through His Word, sound preaching, and by His Spirit.  

B.  THE PURITY OF LIFE AND TESTIMONY HAD BEEN LOST.

David's witness for the Lord among his family, Israel, and the nations had become nil. The need was for a steadfast spirit so he would not be tossed aside as worthless.

You may recall how Paul prayed that his ministry would never be considered a throw away item (1 Cor. 9:27). In 1 Corinthians 9:27, he says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” When we disqualify ourselves we limit our usefulness for the Lord.  

C.  THE SALVATION OF DAVID WAS NOT LOST.

Psalm 51:11, Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

    1.  This Was Not a Cry for Salvation or Even the Fear of  Losing Salvation.

David had been anointed by God, and His Spirit had been with him in a mighty way (1 Sam. 16:12, 13). God had made a covenant with the house of David.

    2.  David Was Fearful That God Would Think Him Unworthy and Put Him Aside. We can rejoice with David that He who promised is faithful. 

    3.  David Remembered When Saul Was Rejected as King.

Thirdly, David witnessed firsthand what King Saul went through when God removed His Spirit and Presence from the Life of Saul and gave him instead an evil spirit. (1 Sam. 16:14-23)

D.  DAVID REPRESENTS FALLEN CHRISTIANS IN DEEP DEPRESSION.

Sins and past failures can dig a mighty deep hole and sap us of all hope!

    1.  He Lost His Joy.

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” is the cry of this weary saint of God. The Christian life that has little joy is a poor testimony to the grace of God.

    2.  He Prayed For Steadfast Power.

It was David's desire never to be guilty again. Thus he prays, “Uphold me with thy free spirit” (Vs 12). His heart longs for a complete cleansing that purges, washes away and blots out every taint of sin in his life.

He wanted to be preserved from falling into this practice again by the power of God’s freeing Spirit!

David secured Wall-to-Wall Forgiveness because he Desire Real Spiritual Renewal; he did not merely want to use God to remove his guilt feelings! He wants to be right with God, right deep within, and renewed that He could steadfastly live for the Lord’s honor.

II. DAVID'S WALL-TO-WALL DEDICATION, Psalm  51:13-17.

Psalm 51:13, Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

David wants his talk and his walk to be a matched set. The mixture of guilt and shame had formed a strong adhesive that had kept David silent far too long. The blood of Uriah had left a great weight of regret on David. Guilt can be confining and restrictive. Like a python it can squeeze the very life out of its prey! In contrast, David yearns to be totally free. So he asks the Lord to deliver him from the guilty stain of Uriah's blood, and all the others who had been so adversely affected by his sin. As a result of his renewal he turns his attention to dedicated ministry to others and service to God.

A.  DEDICATION TO WINNING SOULS.

Psalm 51:13, Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

    1.  David's Witness Had Become Both Inappropriate and Inactive.

    2.  Dedication to Winning and Teaching Transgressors Should Be a Priority in the Life of Every Child of God.

We do not want to be guilty of the blood of anyone (Ezek. 3:18; Acts 20:26, 27). Note the following quotes from the Prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle Paul:

Ezekiel 3:18, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Acts 20:26-27, Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

B.  DEDICATION TO BROKENNESS OVER SIN AND PURITY OF LIFE

Psalm 51:16-17, For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Verses 16 and 17 are one hundred percent applicable for today. David knew what God required. The Law of Moses appointed no sacrifices for these sins. Those guilty of adultery and murder were to be put to death (Lev. 20:10; Num. 35:16). The cities of refuge were not to hide those guilty of premeditated killings. David's only plea was to the mercy and grace of God. David's confession, plea for forgiveness, cleansing and dedication were right on track with God's will.

The same must be true of us today. Micah 6:6-8, is still the standard for God's children.

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? ⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ⁸He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:6-8)

III.   DAVID'S WALL-TO-WALL INTERCESSION, Psalm  51:18, 19.

Herein lays more proof of David's sincerity and humbleness. He looks beyond himself to the needs of others. David in these closing verses is once again the prophet who looks to Israel’s glorious future when they shall turn to God and He will fully bless them. This will be a time when David and Israel may offer acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord.

IV. LET US MAKE A WALL-TO-WALL APPLICATION.

What happens when a child of God commits a sin or lives for a period in sin?

A.  FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE OR SHE DOES NOT LOSE HIS/HER SALVATION.

Jesus promised never to leave us comfortless (John 14:18). He promises to never send us away or leave us behind like orphaned children. As Believers, once we are children of God, we should never fear being deprived of our spiritual parent. Our Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, are eternally committed to a saving relationship with us. When we sin, God treats us erring believers as children in need of His correction (Heb. 12:5-10).

B.  THE JOY OF GOD'S SALVATION MAY BE LOST THOUGH, PSALM 51:12. A less than joyous service is a testimony that something is not right between us and the Lord. God is not the one who changed or needs changing, we are. So if ministry and service has become drudgery and church attendance is a burden to us, it is time to take some personal inventory. We have allowed some sinful thought, deed, value, or habit to come between ourselves and the Lord Jesus.

C.  SIN WILL HINDER EVERY ASPECT OF OUR CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

If the joy of our salvation has waned away, we will find little joy in prayer, Bible study, worship, giving or witnessing. Sin is a massive hindrance to service and ministry. Remember God is plenteous in mercy and is ready to forgive and pardon the very moment we pray and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:7-10). This does not excuse the effects and consequences of sin. We will reap what we have sown (Gal. 6:7, 8). If we continue to sow to the spiritual and godliness we will eventually begin to reap the good as well. Do not become discouraged with the consequences of sinful decisions, stay focused on the Lord Jesus and draw on His faithful supply of grace.

CONCLUSION:

Beloved, you too can know the blessings of forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-11).  The way of blessing is through confession, forgiveness, and sweet restoration. It is progressing from the sorrows of gross failures, deep soul-stirring convictions, and on to experiencing the joy of our Lord’s gracious salvation again! Not by being saved again, but by being fully restored to fellowship with God. There is cleansing and mercy available to each of us when we return to the Lord. Yes, we will have ups and downs in our spiritual journeys, but Psalm 51 and 32 give us reasons to hope in the gracious and merciful nature of our Heavenly Father!

I am of the opinion that the message of forgiveness and restoration need to be herald with brilliant clarity and deep conviction. Those who have been restored can perhaps tell it better than any other. While it is far better to prevent and avoid extended periods out of fellowship with our Lord, God can still use a life broken by the harshness of sinfulness to serve as admonition to others. Yes, the restored Believer can effectively minister to other believers who have strayed.

Yes, Beloved, the Lord can remove the incredible weight of guilt. You can know forgiveness and restoration deep within, just as King David was aware of his forgiveness. Give yourself permission to pause and appreciate this truth. Permit it to affix itself to your very innermost being. There is real forgiveness with the Lord! It will do us well to remember the words of 1 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.”