December 20, 2020

A THRILL OF HOPE: HOPE FOR THE HEART
 December 20, 2020
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

What is the greatest pain you have ever endured? Why do you still remember it today?

Open:

We continue our series “A Thrill of Hope” today, as we remind ourselves what Jesus Christ did to provide us with a hope that is certain, what He is still doing, and how He will bring us home to Himself when life is ended. We know we continue to sin while we are in these bodies, but nothing can take us out of His hand if we repent and seek His forgiveness. Today we look at the restored fellowship we can have with Him when we think we may have no hope left.

Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6-7a: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”

Focal Passages: Psalm 6:2-3, 31:24, 51:17; Eph. 2:4-5; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rom. 8:35-39.

There is no pain too great

  • Read Psalm 6:2a. David had just experienced a season of sin with Bathsheba; what is his cry before God? How does he see himself?
  • What did he need to hear from God? How can emotional pain paralyze us?
  • What kind of experience have you gone through where you feel that everything has fallen apart after a season of sin (share if you can)?

There is no grip too strong

  • Read Psalm 6:2b. What is the difference between the first phrase he prayed, and this one? How does it seem as though his pain was escalating? How would you infer he was suffering both physically as well as mentally?
  • Bathsheba’s presence as a wife could only remind David of the depth of sin he had committed before God; do you think he felt that his sin had too much of a grip on him for God to forgive?
  • Read Romans 8:38-39. We have this testimony to assure us that no one is exempt from God’s forgiveness. How can one be certain of salvation like this?

There is no journey too far

  • Read Psalm 6:3a. Where has David now found trouble? What do the three areas he’s mentioned represent?
  • How does he end this verse? What are some endings he could have used to close the thought?  
  • Read Ephesians 2:4-5. What assurance does Paul give us in this passage? Read 1 Peter 1:3-5. What protects and keeps us?

Close:

The pain we bring on ourselves when we intentionally sin can be excruciating. Many of us can recall a time when we were in a self-inflicted season of sin. It brings such shame and pain in the years afterward that we can only cry out, “God, great is Your faithfulness, Your mercy and Your compassion, that you would take a lowly sinner and restore him to have fellowship with You!” We have to get to the place in our faith that we know we have been cleansed from the filth of the sin, so Satan is not able to throw it back into our face and destroy our peace.

           David knew the ultimate pain as he prayed for God’s mercy to cover him. In Psalm 51, another of his Psalms written after the season of sin with Bathsheba, he begs God to restore to him the glory of God’s salvation, and in the end prays that God will allow him to comfort others who may be caught in the web of sin, and sinners be converted to God. Have you prayed to be used like this?

  How fortunate that we have the Bible and can read the Word of God! We know the history of the cross that Jesus was sacrificed upon, and we know from witnesses in the Scripture that He conquered death and rose to life again! David did not have these marvelous truths. He did not know a man named John would write, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). How blessed we are.

Whatever the pain we have caused ourself, whatever the distance we have gotten away from God, if we repent and cry out for His mercy He will gather us to Himself and restore the relationship. It is incredible to have a Father like that, isn’t it? Nothing can ever be compared to the wonder of being God’s child, being loved and cared for. It should give us tremendous thankfulness, love, and peace that our God is everything we need. We have a Savior who paid for all our sins, continues to hold us in His hand, and will keep us to spend eternal life with Him. That is a sure Hope that should thrill our soul and heart every day.

/by