4. Lord Have Mercy

Introduction

General: Ballroom dancing with Corinne… Someone leads, the other follows. And there are steps in the dance. Hold that thought.

Personal: Prayer is communing with God. It’s talking but also listening. We can’t do anything to make God speak—it is entirely an act of grace. However, we can prepare ourselves to listen.

Spend time in the Bible (see Ps 1:2).

Quiet yourself—“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Ps 37:7).

Repent of your sin—“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph 4:30).

Biblical: Psalm 51 is one of the greatest prayers of repentance ever written… David’s story…

Subject: The Steps of repentance: Conviction, Confession, Contrition, Correction, Communion.

Body

Step 1: Conviction (God leads)

Exposition (Ps 51:1-2; include title)

Nathan confronted David… Repentance is ALWAYS initiated by God.

Illustration: A classic example: God throws out the life ring.

Conviction isn’t comfortable. But it’s God’s love to keep us from going farther down the path of death.

Application: Romans 8:1… God convicts but does not condemn. He calls us up. He never puts us down.

Step 2: Confession (We follow)

Exposition (Ps 51:3-6)

Confession is not apologizing but agreeing (Ps 51:3)… like when someone confesses a crime to the police.

Confession is not blame-shifting but accepting responsibility for my sin (Ps 51:4).

Confession is not just admitting to a mistake but acknowledging that I am sinful (Ps 51:5).

One of the hardest truths for us to accept today is that we are not good. Four hard words to say: “It was my fault.”

The great scandal of the cross is not that God rescues the oppressed but that God gave his Son as a ransom for the oppressors. Jesus doesn’t just save the victims and heal the hurting—he forgives the guilty!

Look at Ps 51:5-6… Both begin with “Behold.” // Behold, my heart is corrupted by sin. Behold, God restores my heart.

Illustration: “The incredible thing about the gospel is that you are more wicked than you would ever dare to admit. And you are more loved than you could ever hope to imagine.” —A pastor

Application: We confess our sin. We also confess our faith. See Rom 10:9-10.

Step 3: Contrition (God leads)

Exposition (Ps 51:7-12)

Contrition is feeling remorse or sorrow for your sin.

In Ps 51:7-9, David is saying, “I don’t want to be this way anymore!”

Am I sorry that I sinned or sorry that I got caught?

Do I honestly desire to leave my sin? // A man struggling with porn — “Get rid of your smartphone.” He said, “I don’t want to be free that much.”

Ps 51:10-12… We don’t do any of this. God does it all.

Application: Like conviction, contrition is not comfortable. But it is the gift of God’s love. It is only through God’s initiating action that we come to repentance and receive forgiveness. Justice and mercy come together in the cross.

Step 4: Correction (We follow)

Exposition (Ps 51:13-17)

God action leads to our response. God convicts, we confess. God gives contrition, we respond with course correction. // Like a man going the wrong way on the path…

Correction is NOT penance. See the word “Then” in v. 13… We don’t do anything to square with God or pay him back for any part of our sin. ALL our sin is paid for by Jesus, and thus correction comes AFTER forgiveness.

That said, repentance is not just saying sorry but living differently.

Illustration: We moved to the Show Me State… “Don’t just say you’re sorry. Show you’re sorry.”

Application: Ask God, “What do you want me to do?”

Step 5: Communion (God leads, we follow)

Exposition (Ps 51:18-19)

When we follow God’s lead and repent of our sin, we are brought back into fellowship with God.

Worship is restored. Relationship is restored. Prayer is restored. Joy is restored. Peace with God is restored.

Life is as it should be when we have Communion with our Heavenly Father.

Application: Let’s not miss the fact that all this is possible because of Jesus.

Conclusion: Communion