Psalm 32 The Joy of Forgiveness Stop and Reflect

Intro

(NKJV) Psalms 32 A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.

I. Reflect on the joy in forgiveness: The blessing of being forgiven

A. Forgiven rebellion Psalm 32:1a

(NKJV) Psalms 32 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1. Transgression: Rebellion / Personal offense to a relationship

2. Forgiven: Lifted off / carried away / removed

B. Covered over guilt Psalm 32:1b

(NKJV) Psalms 32 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sinis covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1. Sin: Miss the mark / emphasis on guilt

2. Covered: Hide it from view

C. No accounting of wickedness Psalm 32:2

(NKJV) Psalms 32 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1. Iniquity: Wickedness / action worthy of judgment

2. Not impute: Not credited to your account

II. Reflect on the joy of forgiveness: Trouble comes from unaddressed sin

A. Physical pain Psalm 32:3a

(NKJV) Psalms 32 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

B. Emotional sorrow Psalm 32:3b

(NKJV) Psalms 32 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

C. Constant pressure Psalm 32:4a

(NKJV) Psalms 32 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

D. Opposition by God Psalm 32:4b

(NKJV) Psalms 32 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

E. Lost enjoyment of life Psalm 32:4c

(NKJV) Psalms 32 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

III. Reflect on the joy in forgiveness: So deal with sin

A. Don’t resist the Lord Psalm 32:9

(NKJV) Psalms 32 9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.

B. Admit your guilt to Him Psalm 32:5a

(NKJV) Psalms 32 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

C. Don’t hide your wickedness from Him Psalm 32:5b

(NKJV) Psalms 32 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

D. Surrender your will to Him Psalm 32:5c

(NKJV) Psalms 32 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

1. Agree with God

2. Rebellion

E. Respond while He is speaking Psalm 32:6a

(NKJV) Psalms 32 6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found;

IV. Reflect on the joy in forgiveness: He will personally act

A. Provides personal deliverance Psalm 32:6b-7

(NKJV) Psalms 32 6 … Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. 7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

B. Gives intimate guidance Psalm 32:8

(NKJV) Psalms 32 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

C. Offers individual mercy Psalm 32:10

(NKJV) Psalms 32 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

D. Generates inner joy Psalm 32:11

(NKJV) Psalms 32 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

(NKJV) Psalm 130 3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

A. Truth

(NKJV) Psalm 103 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

B. Truth

(NKJV) Isaiah 43 25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

C. Truth

(NKJV) 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.

D. Truth

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 5 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

AFTER SPECIAL Pastor ascends to the pulpit

This morning I would like for us to reflect on the source of our forgiveness. Christ’s died for our sins so that He could offer us forgiveness if we trust Him as Savior

May the deacons come forward

Deacons come forward remove the sheet and stand at the front

Pastor: “As a body, the assembled church is to remember this death of Christ that brings forgiveness. One way that we do this is through the Lord’s Supper. We do this by taking bread and juice as they did on that night before His crucifixion.

(NKJV) Matthew 26 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The bread broken – a symbol of Christ’s broken body as He died for us

The juice – a symbol of Christ’s blood poured out as a sacrifice and payment so that our sins might be forgiven / covered over. Through His blood we have a new relationship established based on a new covenant – centered in the death and resurrection of Christ.

So now We reflect on Christ’s death in our place

We examine ourselves in light of His work in our lives

We respond to Him as He speaks to us

We worship Christ because of His sacrifice and because of the impact His salvation has on our lives.

His salvation is so profound – it is free – but it does not come cheap – It came only because He died.

You don’t have to be a member of this local church, but must be a Christian and be seeking for Christ to be honored in your life.

We invite every Christian that is seeking to live for Christ to partake with us.

The deacons will serve you a double cup – Bread in one / Juice in one

Please hold the bread and juice until all have been served – then we will pray and eat and drink together.

Spend the next few moments reflecting on Christ and the forgiveness that He has given to us

SPECIAL MUSIC Amazing Love

Pastor descends

The pastor gives the deacons the plates of bread/ juice

Deacons serve the congregation

Return and place the plates on the table

Stand at the front The pastor will serve the deacons the bread / juice

The Chairman of the deacons will serve the pastor

Pastor places the plates back on the table.

Pastor: “Please stand with us”

Charlie pray and give thanks for the broken body of Jesus

Bob pray and give thanks for the Jesus’ blood

Pastor: “Let us take the bread and juice together”

Thank you for being here may we continue to remember the forgiveness He has given – closing prayer