The Gift of God is God - Part 2 - Forgiveness

GREET EVERYONE-

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

Our Vision:

We Desire see every follower of Jesus well equipped and fully deployed on the mission of Jesus.

What mission? - This questions leads us to articulate His mission for His church in a simple way.

Our Mission:

Is to engage people into a multiplying relationship with Jesus!

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to Psalm 51 today as we continue in our current series “The Gift of God is God” knowing that the most powerful Gift from God is God.

PRAYER OVER SERIES

In this series we will be Exposing What the word of God says about the fact God gave to mankind and more specifically those who are saved by faith through grace, Himself.

And as we come to know that becasue God reveals this to us that we will trust that there is no greater or superior gift than God himself.

And as a result we would strive more and more to love the lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

PRAYER OVER THIS MORNINGS MESSAGE

That we would come to know in a deeper and more abiding way the severity of salvation.

And when I say severity, I’m not just talking about how serious it is or how difficult it is for God to save people or what it costs Jesus.

For it did Cost Jesus everything! And we are grateful for that.

But rather this morning I pray that we would begin to take the first step in understanding the WHY of salvation.

Why does God save?

Why does God desire that All people come to repentance and be saved?

Why does God save people?

Some of you might say: well Pastor, if you don't know this let me explain this - “it is becasue God loves us”

To which I will say - Yes God does in fact love us. But we must be very careful becasue if we begin our salvation with “God saved me becasue God loves me - We are making the motivation of salvation about us!

We are making us the central aspect of God saving Story.

Were making the story of God redeeming a people for Himself about US.

Loved ones - It is not ever about us. It is FOR us but not about us.

This is my hope for the rest of the series that we will come to know the biblical answers to these 4 statements

Over the next 4 Sundays we will be moving towards the unfolding 4 over arching truths from the bible of these 4 for Statements.

We are saved BY GOD

We are saved TO GOD

We are saved FROM GOD

and We are saved FOR GOD

CURRENT CONTEXT

This year as the over arching theological thyme of the Preaching is the Holy Spirit we have come to the time in the preaching calendar that we begin to expose what the Scripture says about the Spiritual Gifts.

And as we begin to expose what the Scripture says about the spiritual gifts we must begin with the greatest and most powerful gift that God can possibly give to anyone and everyone and that is Himself.

Here is the importance - If we ever look to anything that God does, God empowers, God provides in a more focused desirous way than God himself then we are looking to and worshiping the gifts and not the Gift Giver.

This is why it is so important to know that what the scripture says about our salvation is that:

We are Saved By God

We are to God

We are saved From God

and we are saved For God.

ENGAGEMENT – TENSION

By the way… Ever heard the question: Which came first the Chicken or the Egg?

ou might be thinking - WHy does that matter?

The Chicken or the Egg question is such an important question.

If you say the Egg then you have a certain world view of the place that we live. If you say the Chicken than that denotes a completely different world view.

How might you answer is important - Getting Salvation Right is also important.

TRUTH -

BACKGROUND

Chrissy read for us this morning Psalm 51

and Some historical context to Psalm 51 is important to understand.

A Psalm is somewhat of a confusing term as most of us do not come to the Book of Psalms with an understanding of that a Psalm is.

Search Dr. Google as to what is the English Definition is and the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language would say that a Psalm is:

“a sacred song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the biblical Book of Psalms and used in Christian and Jewish worship.”

So a Psalm is a Song or a Hymn” although I don't think that many of our Bibles actually contain the musical aspect of those Hymns.

The Hebrew Language uses a term that means “praises”

The book of Psalms is a book of Praises

Psalm 51 is praise it is a Hymn to God.

Psalm 51 is written by King David.

It is interesting to remember that what is said about King David is that King David is “A man after God’s own heart”

But king David writes this Psalm ( as some of your bibles will note) “when Nathan the prophet when to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Some people may know the Story of King David and Bathsheba but as a quick refresher turn with me to 2 Samuel chapter 11

What we are about to review and recap is the historical connection between Psalm 51 and the historical narrative of some of the crazy that King David went through.

Lets look at some of the Story

2 Sam chapter 11 -

Vs2 - One late afternoon David was walking on the roof where he could see a beautiful woman bathing.

David has a lust issue.

Verse 3

King David gets her identity - and discovers she is married to a man in His army.

Verse 4

David sent messengers to her, Took her, Notice what happens. “She came to Him” and He laid with her.

Verse 5

“I’m pregnant”

After that David enlists the Help of her unknowing husband to cover up the problem and it does not work.

Never does!

Verse 14-17 here is what David does. He executes a Scheme to make sure the problem is never discovered or at least Her husband never find out and make a spectacle of David.

Here is the deal - Right now, under the Jewish Law, King David and Bathsheba both have committed Adultery.

Remember - David is already Married to a woman named Abigail.

So Reality is under Jewish Law - David has violated one of the 10 commandments

AND under the Leviticus code David and Bathsheba both should have been stoned to death.

So to make sure that doesn't happen - David executes a Scheme to make sure that problem doesn’t come to light.

VERSE 14-15

David writes a letter setting Uriah up to be killed in battle.

Verse 17 - It happens - Uriah is Dead

Verse 26

Bathsheba hears about it goes into morning - Weeps for her husband and when her time of morning is completed she Goes to Davids house and He takes her as His wife and the child that she is pregnant with is born.

Verse 27 - “but the thing that David has done displeased the Lord”

But at this point in the Game David probably thought “Well not problem free but at least I wont have to get stoned”

Here is the problem - Now, not only does David have Adultery on His resume he now had murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

All three of these, according to Jewish Law required that King David be Stoned.

Then Nathan Shows up.

Nathan is A Prophet of God. Tradition has it that He studied under Samuel - The Very same Samuel that anointed David King by the instruction of God.

Samuel Dies and Nathan takes over.

Nathan had counseled David before.

One of the bigger times was around Davids desire to build a House for God to dwell in.

SO Nathan comes back and lets read the discourse between David and Nathan.

2 Samuel 12:1–15 (ESV)

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

Look at what David has just done - Gas lighted some third party mystery man.

He knew in his heart of heats that Nathan was talking about Him but got righteously indignant about it.

But Nathan turned the tables.

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Nathan then tells Davis what the lingering consequences are for David and His family.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ”

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.

Now we might be asking ourselves :”Why is David not making some sort of Sin sacrifice in the temple?

Why is David not making a sin offering of animals to the priests?

We will talk about that later.

In verse 13 we hear the lament of David!

“I have sinned against the Lord”

Watch what Nathan - The prophet of God.

Now watch and listen to what David pleas before the Lord. We can almost feel the weeping of David:

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

In these Verses David has asked for actions on the Part of God:

Made one statement and

Confessed or Agreed with God about what happened.

4 Requests of God Questions:

Have mercy on me oh God.

Have mercy in the original language of the Old Testament - is a word that means “Have Mercy” which comes with the definition of “take pity on me” “bend down, stoop to the the who is less than you and Help me”

This is what David Cries - Have pity on me -

Why David call on the Character of God. 2nd request - “According to your Steadfast Love”

The word and the meaning that David is using when he says “steadfast Love” it is certainly meaning the Love of God that never fails but the way david is using it is in the context of the relationship that God and David have with each other.

Then David also recalls another attribute of God n his lament.

He then says “ According you your Abundant mercy” Abundant meaning having an endless supply and mercy meaning: Deep Compassion

David then asks the 2nd of 4 requests: Blot out my transgressions - Blot out meaning to wipe out, destroy, wipe away like cleaning a slate or like you and I do when we clean the dry erase board.

Transgression means “rebellion” rebellious act - My breach of trust.

SO verse 1 - in the Pastor Scott Amplified version:

Have pity on my, help the one who is less that you, according to the love that we have between one another where you are the one who never stops loving. According to your deep compassion completely wipe away like a clean slate my rebellion, my breach of trust that you had with me.

Now we see a King who is on His knees begging God - A king who is poor in Spirit. Knowing that He is completely morally bankrupt before the Holy God who loves him.

This is what Jesus is referring to when He says: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs and theirs alone is the kingdom of God.

3rd Request: Wash me and now just wash but wash me thoroughly from my inequity = Guilt

4th Cleanse me from my Sin - Sin meaning Sin.

Verse 3 - The statement

For I know that my sin and transgression are always before me. In other words - What I did wrong and the guilt is alway here to remind me.

The Consequences are severe.

then The Confession - the Agreement with God to what God already knows. It is SO very important that we walk in agreement with what God already knows.

Psalm 51:4 (ESV)

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Watch and List to the rest of Davids lament and pleading before God in Verses 5-11

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

In Verses 10-11-12 David begs for the Relationship to be restored -

He does not ask for Ease of Consequence - He does not ask for some supernatural event or blessing - His child is sick and going to Die and He does not plea for God to heal or Restore - Bathsheba is involved, He didn't plea for Her sin?

He begs with God to Transform Him and in the Midst of this transformation not to take Himself away from David.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Verse 13

Then David will do what David will do He says to the Lord.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

Watch verse 14 - Very important verse in this whole thing. David is coming to God, seeking salvation from God and He is begging for God to save Him. David knows that it is God and God alone that can save Him, restore Him and reconcile the relationship that they once had.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

Bloodguiltiness - David deserved Death!

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

Verse 16 David Knows there is nothing HE can do but to plead with God. Listen and feel what He says in 15-17

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Verse 18

Then David pleads for the people that David is responsible for

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

build up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Here is the beautiful Part - David knew that He had broken the relationship[ with God - David knew that the only way that the relationship could be restored is if God allowed it. David also knew that IF God allowed it God would remove His guilt and take away His sin - Wash Him clean.

Remember David deserved Death - But God was his salvation form Death.

But How did God forgive David? Did God just let David off the Hook?

David has violated the moral law of God - David has done something with Bathsheba that under erh Law deserved them to receive the full wrath of God and be stoned to death.

I mean really, How could God just look the other way -

I mean think about it - God who is supposed to be loving and faithful and Just and Judge well the sin of people - How could he just let David off the hook?

Loved ones He didn't - he didn’t just turn the other way! He took Davids Guilt and he place it on Jesus on the Cross of Calvary --

This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus:

THIS IS WHERE THE STORY BRING US TO THE GOSPEL.

In this story - Each and every one of us is David! WE are the adulterer and Murderer that deserves death.

Love ones there is not a single one of us that is not afraid of Dying - We yearn for life. We hold on to life with Both hands.

SO loved ones - What have you done that deserves death? what in your life should brings Gods eternal Judgement come crashing down?

You might say” No pastor I have never committed adultery and then Killed someone. I am a good person!

TO which I would say “Yes we all think we are good people, and that is a reasoned thing to say.”

So now loved ones let us move from reason to conscience.

To do this I would ask you...

Have you ever told a lie?

Have you Ever stolen something?

Have you ever used God’s name as a cuss word to express disgust or anger or filth?

Have you ever look with lust?

Have you ever been so angry that you wanted vengeance?

We have now dealt with 5 of the 10 commandments and we have violated all 5.

If God, the loving and right a perfect Judge, judges you on the day you take your last breath and meet him face to face. Will he find you guilty or innocent?

Because He finds you guilty would you deserve Heaven or Hell?

Yes, becasue we have all broken the Law of God, we all deserve Hell.

But what did God, the only true God, the only God there is, the Right and pure and Holy God do to so that He could have relationship with unholy, bloodguilty people?

He sent Jesus into this world to take on flesh and dwell among us and Go to the cross and take our guilt and become sin for us even though He never knew Sin - So that we might become the righteousness of God.

This is why Paul writes in His letter to the Ephesian Church.

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

What must we do to be saved. Hear the Gospel, Trust in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary as the Only way that we can be saved by God, Respond to this Good news that your Guilt can be washed away, Turn your life over to Jesus as Lord and Master of your life in a lifestyle the Bible called Repentance. Be baptised for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the Holy Spirit and become a child of God, adopted by, regenerated by, renewed by and a made new creature in Christ by His holy Spirit.

This morning we have several who are doing Just that in the waters of Baptism.

PRAYER TEAM