Blind self righteousness

Wow! Talk about a smack in the face. I love listening to James MacDonald. He comes on at noon on 88.7. Today's message was really really good.

If you want to listen to it follow this link: https://www.walkintheword.com/broadcast_player.aspx?date=20090305&media=wm&bid=pYo7WQ4B4Fk%3d


I will summarize what he said for you anyway!


How we deal with our sin defines us. David had a lot going on and had a pretty good thing going on until he choose sin. He soon learns that no amount of spiritual victories can erase the sin that he choose., UNTIL he comes to a place of repentance. Repentance is the #1 survival skill for the follower of Jesus Christ!


2 Samuel 12 is the text he is using. There are 3 parts to repentance-


1. Realization - face the facts
- why do we resist this? Pride, we don't want people to know we have fallen. Fear, we are afraid of falling again. The difference between staying down and getting up is when we get up we get God's Grace.


I know that God is pursuing me


2 Samuel 1 The Lord sent Nathan to David. Think about this, David is guilty of rebellion and adultery and murder BUT the Lord sent Nathan to David. Even when we quit God he doesn't quit us, he comes after us and pursues us. Just think about Jonah, there is a whole book in the Bible about God pursuing him and him ACTIVELY running!He sent Nathan to David


2. I know that God is pursuing me, I know He is speaking to me through people!- God speaks through people!!
We miss this, God speaks THROUGH PEOPLE. Very seldom does God audibly say "HEY YOU". The Lord can speak clearly to us in our hearts that is pretty close to audible but mainly he speaks through people!!! Thank God for Nathans! We need people in our lives that will speak to us candidly and openly! This is where we encounter blind self righteousness. Nathan tells David a story of a rich and poor man and how the rich man took from the poor man. This enraged David, he didn't see that HE was the rich man. We are the same way! We get so mad at other peoples sins. How often do you hear something and think oh, if only so and so could hear this. We miss the sin in OUR lives. When was the last time you were as outraged about the sin in your life as you are when picking up the paper and reading about horrible happenings?? Get it?!?!



3. I know the consequences of my sin will be painful
Part of moving to a place of repentance is a preparation to embrace the full consequences of the wrong choices we have made.

This was part one of the series. There are 8 messages. Listen to them and you will be blessed!