Midwest Message 2: It’s Time

Welcome

Main Passage:

Romans 4:4–8 NLT

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Title:

It Time.

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!

Introduction

I love action movies. Anything Marvel or Mission Impossible is my cup of tea. Anybody else in the room? The final scenes in every mission impossible movie always keeps me on edge of my seat. In the final scene of Mission Impossible: The Fall out, Tom cruise who plays Ethan Hunt is trying to get a remote key to deactivate atomic bombs. The only problem is Hunts team have no communication with him and they need to cut the wires in the bomb so it doesn’t blow up. If he doesn’t get the key, it blows. If they cut the wire before he gets the key, it blows up. So in order to deactivate the bombs, Hunt needs the key to disarm it and then his team needs to cut the wires. Timing is everything in this moment. Luther, in the scene is the bomb expert and he’s leading his team on what to do with the wires. They are sweating, I’m sweating. They are screaming, Im screaming please. They are like no, i’m like ‘No don’t do it yet.’ They were like it’s time, I’m like ‘the time is now!’ DO IT! They cut the wires and the scene goes blank and you’re left wondering, did it blow up or not? Of course, the bomb didn’t go off and Ethan hunt got the key to disarm the bomb.

I share this because God has been saying it’s time to cut the wire. What do I mean by cut the wire? I mean it’s time to do what he’s been asking you to do. No more delay or procrastination.

Yesterday, I spoke about who the shepherd is. Today, I want to speak about what the shepherds does. The shepherd leads his flock, his people.

Yes Jesus our shepherd leads us to green pastures and still waters but I think something we forget that he also leads us through uncomfortable situations. Situations that make us question, is this God leading me? He will lead us to make difficult decisions. Decisions that may risk our image. Decisions with the potential of being rejected by others but accepted by God. Lead us to forgive, say sorry, have that conversation, let go and etc.

Today, I want to specifically speak about God leading us into confession.

Context

David learned a powerful lesson about God leading him into confession in Psalm 32.

Most scholars believe Psalm 32 is a song David wrote after committing his sin sleeping with Bathsheba and orchestrating the death of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11).

There is an important detail I don’t want us to miss. After David commits his sin and Bathsheba mourns over Uriah, 2 Samuel 11:27 says:

2 Samuel 11:27 NLT

When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

Lock in. It says she gave birth to a son. How long is a baby in the womb? 9 months before giving birth. By the time Nathan the prophet comes to rebuke David for his sin in 2 Samuel 12:1-25, the baby has been born and a few days, weeks or months have passed. So it’s fair to assume that 9-12 months has passed since David committed his sin and did not confess his sin until Nathan, the prophet called him out.

Psalms 32 gives us insight into what those 9-12 months looked like for David.

Bible

Psalm 32 NLT

A psalm of David. Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Interlude When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Interlude Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Transitional Sentence:

Here are six lessons David learned in Psalm 32.

Lesson 1: The Blessing of Forgiveness.

Psalm 32:1–2 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Ephesians 1:3–8 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Lesson 2: Unconfessed or Unaddressed sin is a burden

Psalm 32:3–4 NLT

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hosea 7:9 NLT

Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.

The Body Keeps score quote.

Lesson 3: The Power of Confession

Psalm 32:5 NLT

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

1 John 1:9 NLT

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Lesson 4: Don’t Delay, It’s time.

Psalm 32:6–7 NLT

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

Hebrews 3:13 NLT

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

Lesson 5: Let the Lord Lead

Psalm 32:8–9 NLT

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Psalm 32:3–4 NLT

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Psalm 77:19–20 NLT

Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

Exodus 13:17–19 NLT

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 32:9–11

The psalmist advised his readers to submit to the LORD rather than resist stubbornly like a horse or … mule that has to be controlled

Lesson 6: Unfailing love and Joy surround those who trust in God.

Psalm 32:10–11 NLT

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Romans 4:4–8 NLT

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

So what:

Gospel Presentation.

Now what:

It’s time to do what God told us to do, it’s time to surrender, it’s time to receive grace, it’s time to live in the joy and love he’s called us into.

Call to Action:

Altar Call:

Salvation Call

Come to the Altar to confess.

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!