Confronting Your Dark Side Psalm 51

I. The Discipline of Honesty

II. The Downward Spiral of Sin

“Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity.” Psalm 26:1a

II. The Downward Spiral of Sin “Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity.” Psalm 26:1a “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:27b

II. The Downward Spiral of Sin “…The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13b

II. The Downward Spiral of Sin “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed.” Romans 3:25

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness

“Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:11-12

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.David turns to God

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.David turns to God “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.David turns to God “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty...” Exodus 34:6-7a

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 2.David prays for cleansing

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 2.David prays for cleansing “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 2.David prays for cleansing “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin a)David says that he can’t get the sin out of his mind

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin a)David says that he can’t get the sin out of his mind “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.” Psalm 51:3

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin b)David says that the exceeding sinfulness of his sin is that it is only against God

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin b)David says that the exceeding sinfulness of his sin is that it is only against God “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-” Psalm 51:4a

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin c)David vindicates God, not himself

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin c)David vindicates God, not himself “…That You may be found just when You speak,” Psalm 51:4b

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin d)David intensifies his guilt by drawing attention to his inborn corruption

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin d)David intensifies his guilt by drawing attention to his inborn corruption “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin e)David admits that he sinned against God’s merciful light in his heart

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 3.David confesses the seriousness of his sin e)David admits that he sinned against God’s merciful light in his heart “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal a)David prays for a heart and a spirit that are new and right and firm

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal a)David prays for a heart and a spirit that are new and right and firm “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal b)David prays that God would confirm his security

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal b)David prays that God would confirm his security “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:11

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal c)David prays for the joy of God’s salvation and for a joyful willing spirit to follow God’s Word

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness “Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.” Psalm 51:8

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness “Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.” Psalm 51:8 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalm 51:12

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal d)David asks that all of this will lead to a life of effective evangelism

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal d)David asks that all of this will lead to a life of effective evangelism “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” Psalm 51:13

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal e)David asked God to bring his joy to the overflow of praise

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal e)David asked God to bring his joy to the overflow of praise “O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.” Psalm 51:15

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal f)A broken and contrite heart is the mark of all God’s children

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 4.David pleads for renewal f)A broken and contrite heart is the mark of all God’s children “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” Isaiah 57:15

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.Enter the “No Excuse Zone”

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.Enter the “No Excuse Zone” 1.What are the “self-talk” phrases that I use that are really excuses or blaming someone else?

III.The Daily Appropriation of Forgiveness 1.Enter the “No Excuse Zone” 1.What are the “self-talk” phrases that I use that are really excuses or blaming someone else? 1.What restitution, apology, or sacrifice beyond repentance and confessing, do I need to make?