Bible Text: Psalm 51 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in the Lord
God wants us to know that we can move past our failures
ASK the Lord to FORGIVE you!
Psalms 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
God’s love never fails
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
God instructs us to admit and confess our guilt and sin
God wants us to come completely clean and open
Psalms 51:2-4 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and Your judgment against me is just.
David realized that he hurt God first and foremost
Psalms 51:5 For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
Salvation is essential! Nobody is born a Christian. We were all born in sin.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth of God is not in us.
God teaches us to be responsible for our actions so we will grow and mature
Psalms 51:6-8 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
The Lord will break us in order to heal us!
Psalms 51:8 that the bones You have broken may rejoice
Shame versus Guilt
Shame is a powerful damaging emotion where we feel we are defective, unacceptable, or fundamentally damaged.
Guilt is a related but distinct emotion in which a specific behavior is viewed as unacceptable or wrong, rather than the person.
Live as God intended and created us to live
Ephesians 4:21-24 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off (take off) your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
God CREATE in me a CLEAN heart
Psalms 51:10-11 Hide your face from my sin and blot out my iniquity. 
How is God going to do that?
Create in me a clean heart God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
ASK God to change your life!
Often we seek to change our behaviors or LEARN how to not sin as an answer to the infection of sin. The REAL answer is to let the Lord create in us a clean heart!
We can ask for forgiveness, but unless we have REPENTED and asked the Lord to create a clean heart we are eventually going to return to our sin.
Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
David knows he will have to deal with the consequences, but he asks for God to bring him joy that is the result of forgiveness and reconciliation of his relationship with the Lord.
We become Healed Healers
Psalms 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Now is the time to sacrifice to the Lord; give Him your heart!
Psalms 51:14-19 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
Forgive us: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins ….
Cleanse us: …and to purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness releases us from guilt. Cleansing removes our shame. Forgiveness takes care of our past. Cleansing gives us hope for our future.
1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.