WEBVTT 00:00:09.869 --> 00:00:13.710 Psalm 51, we're going to read verses 10 through 00:00:13.710 --> 00:00:19.809 13. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew 00:00:19.809 --> 00:00:24.190 a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me 00:00:24.190 --> 00:00:26.530 away from your presence, and do not take your 00:00:26.530 --> 00:00:30.629 Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of 00:00:30.629 --> 00:00:33.829 your salvation, and sustain me with a willing 00:00:33.829 --> 00:00:39.450 spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, 00:00:39.750 --> 00:00:45.909 and sinners will be converted to you. As we come 00:00:45.909 --> 00:00:51.250 to Psalm 51 once again, our emphasis today will 00:00:51.250 --> 00:00:58.590 be in verse 13, which reads, Then I will teach 00:00:58.590 --> 00:01:03.329 transgressors your ways, and sinners will be 00:01:03.329 --> 00:01:08.319 converted to you. There's three simple things 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:12.939 we have to examine and spend time considering 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:21.180 this morning. The endeavor spoken of first. The 00:01:21.180 --> 00:01:25.760 endeavor's success, as it's described, secondly. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:32.040 And the endeavor's conditional nature, third. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:37.120 We'll follow this. with a few applications for 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:42.140 our lives. Beginning with the first, the endeavor 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:48.400 spoken of. David says in verse 13, I will teach 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:55.079 transgressors your ways. David is determined 00:01:55.079 --> 00:02:03.079 that he is going to teach transgressors the ways 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:06.760 of God. David is determined that he is going 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:11.560 to undertake, that he is going to carry out this 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:14.860 task, that he's going to clearly communicate 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:19.460 and instruct sinners in the ways of God. He's 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:22.719 going to teach them about God's dealings with 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:28.620 man, how God deals with men. He's going to teach 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:33.419 transgressors and sinners about God's grace. 00:02:34.430 --> 00:02:39.150 About God's mercy. David is determined. He has 00:02:39.150 --> 00:02:43.430 resolved that he is going to undertake this service, 00:02:43.449 --> 00:02:46.990 this ministry. He's going to witness and testify 00:02:46.990 --> 00:02:53.349 and proclaim about the work of God and the work 00:02:53.349 --> 00:03:04.900 of God in his life. We read in Psalm 71. Of David's 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:09.280 determination. To do the same thing. We read 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:14.599 in verses 15 through 18. My mouth shall tell 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:18.680 of your righteousness. And your salvation all 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:21.719 day long. For I do not know the sum of them. 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.539 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:28.580 God. I will make mention of your righteousness. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:33.699 Yours alone. O God, you have taught me from my 00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.840 youth and I still declare your wondrous deeds. 00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:40.919 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:43.819 forsake me until I declare your strength to this 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:48.340 generation, your power to all who are to come. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:53.319 David is determined that from forth or coming 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:56.659 forth from his lips will be the praises and the 00:03:56.659 --> 00:04:03.699 works and the deeds of God. And so he here resolves 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:08.000 to do that. He's determined to do it. Who is 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.439 it that David's going to teach the ways of God? 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:15.860 Who is he going to clearly communicate and clearly 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:22.680 instruct in how God deals with men? Transgressors 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:26.829 and sinners. It's not the assembly of the righteous 00:04:26.829 --> 00:04:29.689 that David is going to minister to. It's not 00:04:29.689 --> 00:04:32.689 the assembly of the saints and God's godly ones, 00:04:33.009 --> 00:04:36.370 his holy ones, that David is going to proclaim 00:04:36.370 --> 00:04:39.310 the good news to. In this text, it's transgressors, 00:04:39.350 --> 00:04:41.910 it's sinners, it's those who need to be converted, 00:04:41.990 --> 00:04:46.430 it's those who don't know God. It's wicked men 00:04:46.430 --> 00:04:49.790 that David is going to proclaim these grand realities 00:04:49.790 --> 00:04:54.139 and the works and deeds of God to. He's not talking 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:59.240 about backslidden and sinful people who have 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:03.100 fallen into lack of repentance that are in the 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:06.420 assembly of God's people. He's talking about 00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:12.139 haters of God. He's talking about fools and mockers. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:16.620 He's talking about people who don't know the 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:19.879 ways of God. That is who David has determined. 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:24.310 He's resolved that he is going. to teach the 00:05:24.310 --> 00:05:31.149 ways of God to those in need around him of knowing 00:05:31.149 --> 00:05:36.589 the ways of God. David is determined that he 00:05:36.589 --> 00:05:43.550 will be useful for God's purposes and God's plans 00:05:43.550 --> 00:05:48.490 in this world by teaching transgressors and sinners 00:05:48.490 --> 00:05:53.519 the ways of God. There's a few interesting, with 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.839 regards to verse 13 in particular and the flow 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:03.639 and the context of Psalm 51. Notice that this 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:08.839 is the first time that David has mentioned anybody 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:14.800 other than himself and God. Now he's talking 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:19.899 about transgressors and sinners. This is the 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:23.930 first time. That David has actually mentioned 00:06:23.930 --> 00:06:30.889 doing anything at all. He's determined to speak 00:06:30.889 --> 00:06:33.209 these things, to teach these things, to proclaim 00:06:33.209 --> 00:06:35.589 these things. This is the first time David said, 00:06:35.649 --> 00:06:39.370 I'm going to do this. And this is the first time 00:06:39.370 --> 00:06:42.370 David's eyes have turned from God in his repentance 00:06:42.370 --> 00:06:48.129 to other men, to people around him in need. Now 00:06:48.129 --> 00:06:49.930 that's important for us to understand in the 00:06:49.930 --> 00:06:56.149 context of this psalm. Because this is following. 00:06:57.149 --> 00:07:01.149 This is following David's repentance. We'll see 00:07:01.149 --> 00:07:05.069 a little bit later that this work, this endeavor 00:07:05.069 --> 00:07:09.069 that David is determined to undertake is conditional 00:07:09.069 --> 00:07:16.850 on his being restored with God. This flows from... 00:07:17.230 --> 00:07:20.430 repentance, as a result of repentance, this is 00:07:20.430 --> 00:07:24.689 not part of his repentance, brothers and sisters. 00:07:25.490 --> 00:07:28.790 This good deed, this work, this service, this 00:07:28.790 --> 00:07:34.629 ministry that he's about to undertake, this is 00:07:34.629 --> 00:07:39.149 not part of his repentance. This is a result. 00:07:40.370 --> 00:07:43.129 This is something that true repentance leads 00:07:43.129 --> 00:07:48.430 to. That's important. Because it shows us that 00:07:48.430 --> 00:07:52.569 true repentance, genuine repentance, is always 00:07:52.569 --> 00:07:58.430 between a person and God. It doesn't involve 00:07:58.430 --> 00:08:03.050 other people. You don't repent for someone else. 00:08:04.529 --> 00:08:07.610 You don't forsake sin on somebody else's behalf. 00:08:07.790 --> 00:08:11.209 When you repent of sin, when you go to God in 00:08:11.209 --> 00:08:17.050 prayer, it's you and God, nobody else. And out 00:08:17.050 --> 00:08:24.910 of that will come the desire to be used, the 00:08:24.910 --> 00:08:32.029 desire to look and see the need of others. Out 00:08:32.029 --> 00:08:37.889 of that will result and come works which are 00:08:37.889 --> 00:08:45.149 pleasing to God. Out of that will result ministry. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:52.220 In service. Witnessing. Testifying of God's grace. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:58.360 Speaking the word of God. Influencing and impacting 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.740 and affecting others around you for the sake 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:08.840 of the gospel. This is not part of your repentance. 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:14.149 This flows from your repentance. We don't do 00:09:14.149 --> 00:09:17.090 things for other people as the Roman Catholic 00:09:17.090 --> 00:09:23.029 Church teaches in penance. We deal with God in 00:09:23.029 --> 00:09:28.190 our sin and repentance. And as a result of true 00:09:28.190 --> 00:09:33.850 and genuine repentance, we will then go and serve 00:09:33.850 --> 00:09:40.529 our fellow man. So we see this endeavor. that 00:09:40.529 --> 00:09:43.070 David is speaking of, that he's determined to 00:09:43.070 --> 00:09:47.090 undertake and carry out in his life. But we also 00:09:47.090 --> 00:09:50.269 see the endeavor of success as he has described 00:09:50.269 --> 00:09:53.230 it in this text. The second part of verse 13 00:09:53.230 --> 00:09:59.450 says, and sinners will be converted to you. Consider 00:09:59.450 --> 00:10:03.009 that statement for a moment. And sinners will 00:10:03.009 --> 00:10:08.470 be converted to you. David's speaking with... 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:13.720 Surprisingly, he's speaking with confidence and 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:20.940 certainty regarding the effectiveness of his 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:25.519 ministry to transgressors and sinners. He's not 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:30.059 talking in wishful thinking. This is not hopeful. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:36.320 This is certain. Confidence that his ministry, 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:42.639 he will be useful to God. He is certain and he 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:48.179 is confident that God will use his proclamation. 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:55.259 That sinners will in fact be converted to God. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:11:00.200 This is ultimately what we all hope for, isn't 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:07.809 it? Don't we all long not just to be useful for 00:11:07.809 --> 00:11:11.870 the Lord and to do good deeds and works and to 00:11:11.870 --> 00:11:14.450 be instruments and to be used by God in mighty 00:11:14.450 --> 00:11:16.789 ways? Don't we all long to be used by Him, but 00:11:16.789 --> 00:11:19.009 not just to be used, but to be used in an effective 00:11:19.009 --> 00:11:21.610 manner that He would accomplish His purposes 00:11:21.610 --> 00:11:25.559 and His plans in us and through us? We don't 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:27.899 want to just be used to speak the word of God. 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.960 We want to see the word of God effectively work 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.480 through us in the lives of our children and the 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:37.039 lives of our loved ones. We want to see the word 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:42.019 of God effectively change people. We don't want 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:44.379 to just see the ministry carried out and conducted. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:49.539 We want it to be effective and powerful to accomplish 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:53.399 that which it's intended for. Isn't that what 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:57.539 you long for in your life? If you're a believer 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:00.940 in Jesus Christ, don't you long to be used unto 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:03.019 the glory of God in the life of your children, 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.759 in the life of your wife, in the life of your 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:09.779 husband, in the life of those around you? Don't 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:13.980 you want God to bless your service? Don't you 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:19.990 want God to speak through you in His words? Don't 00:12:19.990 --> 00:12:23.149 you want God to use you as a vessel and an instrument 00:12:23.149 --> 00:12:28.610 for his kingdom and for his purposes? We all, 00:12:28.750 --> 00:12:31.730 as believers in Jesus Christ, long for that. 00:12:33.330 --> 00:12:38.110 But how do we have a confidence that he's going 00:12:38.110 --> 00:12:42.830 to do that? How do we have the hope, not just 00:12:42.830 --> 00:12:44.950 the hope, but how do we have the certainty and 00:12:44.950 --> 00:12:49.320 the confidence that God will, in fact, work effectively 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.659 through us. That he will use us in the life of 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:57.340 our loved ones. That he will use us through our 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:59.919 preaching, through our evangelism, through our 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.440 teaching, through our instruction, through our 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:09.139 correction. How do we have this certainty that 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:15.519 David was in possession of? Because he certainly 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:24.809 has it. Sinners will be converted to you. This 00:13:24.809 --> 00:13:28.070 leads us to the third thing. The endeavor's conditional 00:13:28.070 --> 00:13:32.750 nature. This helps us answer that question of 00:13:32.750 --> 00:13:36.330 how can we be certain, how can we have confidence 00:13:36.330 --> 00:13:42.820 that God will use us? We see the word then. At 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:45.539 the very beginning of verse 13, notice that it 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:49.779 is italicized. This means the translators have 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:55.360 supplied it because the verbal form of the Hebrew 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:59.039 verb cannot accurately and fully be expressed 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.679 in English one for one. So they provide the word 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:07.279 then. It carries this idea that once this occurs, 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:14.899 after this takes place, then, I will do this. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:20.179 So this helps us understand when David will undertake 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:25.860 this endeavor to teach transgressors and sinners 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:32.440 the ways of God. When he will find and be met 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:36.419 with success in his ministry and his service. 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:43.159 So when is it? It's once. He has been restored 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:52.039 by God. David cannot undertake this endeavor 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:55.220 in his current state and his current condition. 00:14:57.700 --> 00:15:03.960 He cannot teach transgressors and sinners the 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.700 ways of God with his conscience bearing down 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:13.179 on him and guilt and shame. He cannot communicate 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:17.200 and proclaim and announce the gracious and merciful 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:21.740 ways of God when corruption is active in his 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:29.360 heart. It's not until it follows genuine repentance 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.139 and God answers his prayer for restoration that 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:41.320 then David can be useful to God. It's not until 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:44.980 God has made purity and created purity in his 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:48.600 heart. It's not until God has restored a steadfast 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:51.159 spirit in his heart. Until David has experienced 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:54.860 steadfastness in his life. It's not until God 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:58.360 has restored the joy of his salvation to David's 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:05.879 soul. It's not until God is upheld. David's spirit 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.960 with a willing and steadfast spirit. It's not 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.700 until the spirit of God begins to intimately 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:16.860 work and exert his gracious influence in David's 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:19.759 heart, in David's soul, in David's life again, 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:26.919 that then David will be able to be useful and 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:32.559 he will find success in this endeavor. It's then 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:37.470 and only then. That David can be used of God. 00:16:38.250 --> 00:16:46.429 It's not until God has restored David in sweet, 00:16:46.610 --> 00:16:53.309 unbroken, good fellowship with him. It's not 00:16:53.309 --> 00:16:55.210 until he's been cleansed and purified of his 00:16:55.210 --> 00:16:59.889 sin that David will undertake this endeavor. 00:17:00.590 --> 00:17:05.000 David knows. certain realities. He understands 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:11.440 certain things. He understands that his usefulness 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:17.720 is dependent on genuine repentance. He understands 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:23.180 that successful usefulness and effective ministry 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:28.440 is dependent on genuine and sincere repentance 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:38.759 of sin. David, that those who lack or those whose 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:44.259 hearts are weighed down by sin and corruption 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:53.059 will not undertake such an endeavor. Think about 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:57.579 that. David is consciously aware of the fact 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:04.960 that those who have corruption and pollution 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:10.519 actively present within their heart, those people 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:17.900 will not endeavor to be used by God. Whether 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:26.700 you know Christ or not, you won't do it. There's 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:29.900 several reasons for this. There's several reasons 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:32.599 that the heart where corruption and pollution 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:37.259 are present, will not undertake to be used by 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:42.740 God. To take part, to participate in the things 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:48.859 of God. When corruption is sensed, when it's 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:54.000 present, when it's predominant in a heart, the 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:58.799 flesh will not willingly. Take part in that which 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:05.819 the heart is at enmity with. Meaning when you're 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:11.200 in sin, you don't want to talk about Christ. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:17.000 When you're in sin, you don't want to worship. 00:19:19.309 --> 00:19:22.089 When you have not repented of sin and corruption 00:19:22.089 --> 00:19:24.630 is running wild in your heart. When your affections 00:19:24.630 --> 00:19:28.089 are entangled by pollution because of sin in 00:19:28.089 --> 00:19:33.269 your life. You will not desire to talk to your 00:19:33.269 --> 00:19:37.930 children about the gospel. You will not long 00:19:37.930 --> 00:19:41.509 to speak with your wife about the truths of scripture. 00:19:43.609 --> 00:19:46.109 Because you're being held back, you're being 00:19:46.109 --> 00:19:52.259 restrained by the corruption within you. The 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:56.519 flesh and the conscience will not eagerly or 00:19:56.519 --> 00:20:00.619 willingly submit itself to such utter hypocrisy. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:08.619 Brothers and sisters, do you know that when we 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:14.440 remain in sin and corruption has a grip on our 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:19.059 hearts, what it steals from those around us? 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:24.700 Do you know what it takes away from your children? 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:27.460 Do you know what it takes away from your co -workers? 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:36.839 Your usefulness. It takes away your willingness 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:45.839 to be used of God. When there's corruption and 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.839 pollution present, the flesh and the conscience, 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:53.859 they just say, we'll abstain. We'll withhold 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:57.480 this time. We won't take part. We aren't going 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.940 to go against it, but we're not going to actively 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:03.220 take part in that which is good, that which is 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:07.819 righteous, and that which is holy. Because there's 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:10.079 corruption, there's sin, there's pollution that 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.759 remains. It's because you haven't repented of 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:15.519 sin and God hasn't cleansed you of that corruption 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:26.059 in your heart. David understood this. David understood 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:29.980 that those who lack repentance lack usefulness. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:39.619 God will not use, God will not bless those who 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:47.099 willingly cling to their sin. He will not work 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:53.569 in or through those Who willingly give themselves 00:21:53.569 --> 00:21:59.349 to that which he is displeased with. Consider 00:21:59.349 --> 00:22:03.289 David's year where he was in sin up to this point. 00:22:05.349 --> 00:22:11.069 A whole year of his life. Where there was no 00:22:11.069 --> 00:22:18.089 vital godliness or power within his soul. Consider 00:22:18.089 --> 00:22:22.279 the... The usefulness that he lost for the entirety 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:29.319 of that year. The godly influence that he could 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:32.799 have exerted on those around him in that year. 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:36.700 If the Spirit of God had not been grieved in 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:40.539 his soul. If the Spirit of God had actively been 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:43.500 exerting and exercising his influence in and 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:51.200 through his life. No power. No vital godliness. 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:55.039 No divine activity present in the soul and the 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:58.920 mind. No gracious influence of the Spirit of 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:02.299 God. No enjoyment of God. Just dullness and coldness 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:04.940 and uselessness for the whole year, brothers 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:12.839 and sisters. Why? Because of sin. He gave it 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:16.319 up. When he willingly clung to and he chose his 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:19.839 sin, God didn't use him. He wouldn't use him. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:28.160 Consider this. When you cling to sin and you 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:34.559 refuse repentance unto God, he's not going to 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:40.329 bless the work of your hands. He's not going 00:23:40.329 --> 00:23:44.089 to work through you in the life of others because 00:23:44.089 --> 00:23:48.529 the Spirit of God is going to withdraw. Your 00:23:48.529 --> 00:23:54.829 words will fall flat. How much time have we lost 00:23:54.829 --> 00:23:59.950 where we could have been making a significant 00:23:59.950 --> 00:24:02.269 impact in the life of our children, in the life 00:24:02.269 --> 00:24:04.150 of our loved ones, in the life of those around 00:24:04.150 --> 00:24:12.519 us? Why? Because of sin. How much godly influence 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:14.960 have you given up? Because you won't give up 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:21.279 sin, brothers and sisters. It should cause us 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:29.559 to think and consider. If we continually lay 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:37.059 our head in Delilah's lap, don't be surprised 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:44.670 when your hair Is cut off. Don't be surprised. 00:24:45.390 --> 00:24:48.829 When you have no usefulness. When you have no 00:24:48.829 --> 00:24:53.349 power. In your witness. In your testimony. In 00:24:53.349 --> 00:24:57.910 your communication. Of the things of God. In 00:24:57.910 --> 00:25:00.309 your discussions with your children. And your 00:25:00.309 --> 00:25:11.670 wife. We lose usefulness. when we choose to remain 00:25:11.670 --> 00:25:17.970 in sin. David knew this. He knew that those whose 00:25:17.970 --> 00:25:19.890 hearts were weighed down by sin and corruption 00:25:19.890 --> 00:25:26.450 would never undertake such an endeavor. And he 00:25:26.450 --> 00:25:30.269 knew that those who lack repentance lack usefulness. 00:25:30.869 --> 00:25:33.769 But he also knew that there's a relationship 00:25:33.769 --> 00:25:41.400 between the condition of your heart And your 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:45.960 usefulness in this life. He understood this. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:50.480 That's why he knows this is conditional. David 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:53.799 understands that his heart is not right with 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:57.819 God. He knows that the condition of his heart 00:25:57.819 --> 00:26:00.920 is in no place to be useful to God Almighty. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:07.529 He knows this, brothers and sisters. He knows 00:26:07.529 --> 00:26:10.170 that he is not in right fellowship with God. 00:26:10.289 --> 00:26:12.809 He knows that the Spirit of God is not actively 00:26:12.809 --> 00:26:14.630 exerting his influence. He knows that he has 00:26:14.630 --> 00:26:17.329 no joy. He knows that he's not steadfast. And 00:26:17.329 --> 00:26:24.650 he knows that he's not willing. And he knows 00:26:24.650 --> 00:26:28.369 that if he's to be useful in this life, if he's 00:26:28.369 --> 00:26:30.750 to carry out and undertake this endeavor of teaching 00:26:30.750 --> 00:26:35.849 transgressors the ways of God, then he must have 00:26:35.849 --> 00:26:40.410 his heart right. He knows that if he wants to 00:26:40.410 --> 00:26:43.109 lead others to know Christ, then he himself must 00:26:43.109 --> 00:26:46.769 know Christ himself. He knows that if he wants 00:26:46.769 --> 00:26:48.970 to teach others what it means to be godly and 00:26:48.970 --> 00:26:51.930 holy and to know God, then he has to be godly 00:26:51.930 --> 00:26:58.970 and holy and know God himself. How do we... Think 00:26:58.970 --> 00:27:01.609 we're going to teach our sons and our daughters 00:27:01.609 --> 00:27:04.250 and our wives and those around us who Christ 00:27:04.250 --> 00:27:10.589 is if we don't know Christ ourselves. We want 00:27:10.589 --> 00:27:12.750 our children to study the Word of God. We want 00:27:12.750 --> 00:27:14.849 our wives and our daughters to study the Word 00:27:14.849 --> 00:27:20.769 of God. But we don't study the Word of God. How 00:27:20.769 --> 00:27:24.410 can we teach others to be that which we are not? 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:32.319 How can we encourage others unto holiness and 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:35.420 godliness if we ourselves are not giving ourselves 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:43.440 to holiness and godliness in our lives? There 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:50.059 is a relationship between our hearts and our 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:54.519 usefulness in this life. This is not a secret 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:57.900 formula to being useful. That's not what this 00:27:57.900 --> 00:28:09.140 is. But it's to know God himself. It's to have 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:12.920 experiential religion in our hearts where our 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:15.579 affections, our desires, and our longings and 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:21.500 our thoughts are entangled by Christ. Where they're 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:24.920 caught up in heaven. That's what this is about. 00:28:25.809 --> 00:28:30.630 It's not a secret path to usefulness. Brothers 00:28:30.630 --> 00:28:32.410 and sisters, your heart has to be right with 00:28:32.410 --> 00:28:35.509 God if you're ever to be useful to God in this 00:28:35.509 --> 00:28:41.609 world. How is your heart? What's the condition 00:28:41.609 --> 00:28:45.230 of your soul? What are you doing to care for 00:28:45.230 --> 00:28:47.029 your soul? What are you doing to look over your 00:28:47.029 --> 00:28:49.170 soul? What are you doing to examine your heart? 00:28:51.190 --> 00:28:53.410 Do you think about your heart? Do you think about 00:28:53.410 --> 00:29:00.369 your soul? the condition of it. There is a deep 00:29:00.369 --> 00:29:08.369 connection between God using who God uses as 00:29:08.369 --> 00:29:12.670 instruments and vessels to accomplish His purposes 00:29:12.670 --> 00:29:16.470 and His plans and the condition of the hearts 00:29:16.470 --> 00:29:24.650 of those individuals that God uses. David understood 00:29:24.650 --> 00:29:29.710 this very clearly. He knew that he couldn't undertake 00:29:29.710 --> 00:29:33.730 this task, and he knew that he would find no 00:29:33.730 --> 00:29:37.450 success whatsoever in teaching transgressors 00:29:37.450 --> 00:29:42.029 or sinners the ways of God if he himself was 00:29:42.029 --> 00:29:48.150 not right with God. Let me offer you three things 00:29:48.150 --> 00:29:57.400 for application. Firstly, don't seek to be restored 00:29:57.400 --> 00:30:07.900 through your endeavors. The temptation that I 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:10.519 think we've all given into and all considered 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:15.440 at times is this. I've sinned. I'm going to do 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:21.970 more for Christ. I've broken the moral law of 00:30:21.970 --> 00:30:29.190 God. I've committed immorality. Therefore, I'm 00:30:29.190 --> 00:30:33.970 going to work harder than the next person. I'm 00:30:33.970 --> 00:30:36.390 going to serve better. I'm going to be more faithful. 00:30:37.869 --> 00:30:41.950 But brothers and sisters, listen. David's endeavor 00:30:41.950 --> 00:30:47.230 is not his repentance. There is no substitute 00:30:47.230 --> 00:30:50.660 in the Christian life. for repentance in your 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:57.259 life. Our ministry, our service, our good deeds, 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:03.079 our work is meant to result and flow from our 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:09.359 repentance. We can't work our way back into good 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:12.660 fellowship with God, just like people can't work 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:17.799 their way to the righteousness of Christ. We 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:20.220 must trust in Christ and repent of our sins, 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:26.359 then labor unto his glory. There's no substitute 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:31.140 for repentance in the Christian life. Secondly, 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:40.400 we must pursue holiness above usefulness. In 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:49.000 some ways, usefulness is kind of... A glorified 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:54.559 state. Because in some ways, people still get 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:58.019 recognized when they're useful. Oh, you teach 00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:05.240 transgressors God's ways. You teach sinners about 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:08.160 God. There's some sort of recognition involved 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:17.799 in it. Everybody wants to be used of God. Everybody 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:22.799 wants to be used for his glory. They want to 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.680 do the mighty things. They want to do the big 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:27.740 things. They want to serve. They want to minister. 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:30.079 They want to witness. They want to testify concerning 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:37.400 his grace. Brothers and sisters, do you want 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:47.069 to pursue holiness in your life? Do you want 00:32:47.069 --> 00:32:55.430 godliness in your soul? Because if you don't 00:32:55.430 --> 00:33:01.109 want holiness, if you don't want godliness and 00:33:01.109 --> 00:33:06.910 the diligent, ongoing pursuit of it, then you 00:33:06.910 --> 00:33:13.670 don't truly want usefulness in your life. What 00:33:13.670 --> 00:33:17.710 comes before? And what's underneath the ministry 00:33:17.710 --> 00:33:21.589 and the service? What comes before and what's 00:33:21.589 --> 00:33:25.049 underneath teaching transgressors their ways 00:33:25.049 --> 00:33:29.990 as David has committed himself to? The work of 00:33:29.990 --> 00:33:34.950 God in his soul. The experience of the grace 00:33:34.950 --> 00:33:37.710 and mercy and the work of the divine spirit working 00:33:37.710 --> 00:33:41.809 in his sanctification. A heart that's right with 00:33:41.809 --> 00:33:48.420 God. Remember, a restoration. must precede his 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:56.079 usefulness in this life. It's no coincidence 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:59.259 that those the Lord has used throughout history 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:02.619 to do the mightiest things for the glory of his 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:08.139 name and the majesty of Christ are also those 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:12.199 who diligently gave themselves to the pursuit 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:17.610 of holiness. and godliness in their life. It 00:34:17.610 --> 00:34:20.429 was a battle. It was difficult. It was a struggle. 00:34:20.650 --> 00:34:23.849 And it remained and it continued. But those men 00:34:23.849 --> 00:34:26.250 of old and men throughout history and men of 00:34:26.250 --> 00:34:31.130 our day, they persevered in godliness and holiness 00:34:31.130 --> 00:34:36.130 in their lives. And it's no coincidence that 00:34:36.130 --> 00:34:41.110 they are the ones that God used to work through. 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:46.599 in this world. Brothers and sisters, if you want 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:49.139 to influence your children and be used in their 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:52.440 lives, if you want to be used in the life of 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:55.440 your wife and your husband and those around you, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:35:02.619 what ought you to focus on? What ought to be 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:11.639 your aim in life? Usefulness? Or godliness? What 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:22.380 is great gain? Personality? Charm? Talent? Giftedness? 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:30.800 What is great gain? Persuasiveness? Readiness? 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:38.849 No. Godliness is great gain. If we truly want 00:35:38.849 --> 00:35:40.949 to be useful in the life of those around us, 00:35:41.130 --> 00:35:44.949 then we must diligently give ourselves to the 00:35:44.949 --> 00:35:49.289 pursuit of holiness over and above usefulness 00:35:49.289 --> 00:35:55.869 in our lives, day in, day out. Every day. We 00:35:55.869 --> 00:35:58.670 must commit ourselves to it. But if we will do 00:35:58.670 --> 00:36:03.510 this, we can have a confidence that God will 00:36:03.510 --> 00:36:09.159 use us. Even If the effects aren't rolling in 00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:15.719 as we so desire. Even if sinners and transgressors 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:19.519 are not being converted. If we are pursuing holiness 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:22.719 and faithfulness according to the word of God, 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:26.500 you can be confident that you are in the will 00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:33.840 of God. There's a lot of questions about what 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:37.440 should I be doing? How should I be used? What's 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:40.980 the best way to make me useful? What should I 00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:45.239 be doing in order to be useful? You know, I'm 00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:51.139 a school bus driver or whatnot. Can I really 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:58.199 be useful to God? The emphasis of the Bible is 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:02.780 not so much on what you do. But the emphasis 00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:09.940 of the Bible is on who you are in the Lord. The 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:13.659 emphasis of the Word of God is how you live, 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:19.119 who you are in Christ, the holiness and godliness 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:24.320 of your life, not what you're doing. And if you 00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:28.239 will pursue those things, you can have a confidence 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:31.929 that no matter the circumstances, no matter the 00:37:31.929 --> 00:37:36.849 effects, that you are in the will of a sovereign 00:37:36.849 --> 00:37:41.070 and a good and a holy God, because it is his 00:37:41.070 --> 00:37:48.050 will that you be holy and godly in this life. 00:37:49.289 --> 00:37:54.789 Lastly, for application, I want to encourage 00:37:54.789 --> 00:38:02.030 all the people of God. Care for your own soul 00:38:02.030 --> 00:38:10.289 before you care for the souls of others. This 00:38:10.289 --> 00:38:16.409 is a vital necessity. If you want your ministry 00:38:16.409 --> 00:38:23.429 service, witness and testimony to be useful. 00:38:24.230 --> 00:38:31.500 We might say, listen, I don't have time. To give 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:36.219 myself to knowing God. I don't have time to study 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:38.920 the word of God and to spend time in prayer. 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:41.980 I can't afford it. I can't do that. I've got 00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:47.320 other more important things to do. There's more 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:51.420 significant things which I have to take part 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:59.219 in at this time. The reality is you can't afford 00:38:59.219 --> 00:39:07.789 not. To take care of your own soul. The souls 00:39:07.789 --> 00:39:12.530 of your children depend on it. Your usefulness 00:39:12.530 --> 00:39:16.090 in this life depends on you caring and you nurturing 00:39:16.090 --> 00:39:21.409 your soul before God. Do you want your words 00:39:21.409 --> 00:39:24.590 to be meaningful and impactful and life changing 00:39:24.590 --> 00:39:29.280 because of the words of life? Then care for your 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:32.519 own soul before you care for others. Then it 00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:34.920 will be full of vital godliness and holiness 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:37.519 and grace at work through the Spirit of God. 00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:40.940 So that when you interact with those around you, 00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:46.900 it will be meaningful and impactful. The Spirit 00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:53.219 of God will use it for the purposes of God in 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:58.469 this life. So we've seen that... The endeavor 00:39:58.469 --> 00:40:02.929 which David undertook was to teach transgressors 00:40:02.929 --> 00:40:08.510 the ways of God. The endeavor's success, that 00:40:08.510 --> 00:40:13.550 sinners would be converted to God, and we see 00:40:13.550 --> 00:40:17.349 that this endeavor was conditional upon David's 00:40:17.349 --> 00:40:21.650 genuine repentance and God's restoration of him.