Create In Me A Clean Heart

Part Three: I Want to Have A Clean Heart for God (Is the Punishment Fair?)

Psalm 51: 10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O 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. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Turn to God. Renounce a life of sin and rebellion. Let God create a clean heart within you. He will give you direction, love and the power to change.

It is not God who must live up to our ideas of fairness. Instead, we must live up to His. Don’t spend time looking for loopholes in God’s law because there are none. God is perfect, we are not.

God will judge us for what we are, for our own sin, not someone else’s. Each of us is accountable for our own actions.

2 Timothy 4: 8

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalms Chapter 51

2 Timothy Chapter 4

Read Parts One and Two of the Sermon, Is the Punishment Fair?

Part One: That Isn’t Fair! In Reality God is Fair.

Part Two: Grace Is God’s Gift

The Lord Is My Shepherd; He Restores My Soul

Sermon: The Lord Is the Great Shepherd (He Restores My Soul)

Part Two: Psalm 23: 1-3

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God wants to take us to the green pastures and quiet waters. He restores us. If we are rebellious and disobedient, we are going against our best interests.

Yea, although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will have no fear because you are my God, my shepherd, and death has no hold on me. Since I am a child of God and know His son died and rose again on the third day, I know where I am going.

What about you? Do you where you are going?

Death has the last word on this side of life.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, death has lost. Without Jesus, death casts a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We will struggle with enemies, pain, suffering, disease, and injury, but with all of our strength we cannot overcome death.

Only Jesus Christ can walk with us in the valley of death and bring us into His eternal light. Life is uncertain, but God is not.

Psalm 23: 5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

In ancient near eastern culture it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil at a banquet. The host was also expected to protect his guests at all costs. God offers the protection for us even when the enemy surrounds us.

Psalm 25: 2

O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

The Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Perfect Shepherd, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into His Father’s house.

Read the Full Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm Chapter 23
Psalm Chapter 25

Read Part One of the Sermon, The Lord Is the Great Shepherd

Thanks Be to God for All He Has Done

Scripture: Psalm 30: 1-4

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Scripture Commentary: Did you give thanks to God today?

Have you thanked him for bringing you through this year? Have you thanked Jesus for taking your place on the cross and dying for your sins? If not, give thanks now!

We can get so into ourselves that we forget to thank Him for giving us another day. There have been times when we’ve gone to bed sick and in the morning have been healed. Praise the Lord! Also, there have been times when we’ve placed ourselves in danger, and He has shown us a way out. Praise God!

God has done more for us than we have for Him. All He asks is that we praise Him, and love one another. You haven’t yet been called to the grave so God has work for you. Are you ready to work for Our Lord Jesus Christ?

What does the future hold for you?

God has kept you alive so sing His praises, carry His Word, and give thanks to Him.

Be happy and blessed!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalm Chapter 30

Meditate on God’s Word Day and Night

Scripture: Psalms 1: 1-2, 4-6

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (1-2) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.(4-6)

Scripture Commentary: Meditate on God’s Word to Learn His Ways

Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will.

The more we allow those who ridicule God to affect our thoughts and attitudes, the more we will begin to separate ourselves from our source of nourishment.

True friendships will help, not hinder, our walk with God.

Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives. There are only two paths of life before us: God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction.

Learn how to follow God. Meditate on His Word. We must know what He says in order to follow him more closely. The more we know the scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily life decisions.

Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose will determine your eternity.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 1

The Lord Is My Mighty Fortress, My Deliverer

Scripture: Psalms 62: 1-8

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Scripture Commentary: God is the fortress that shields us from harm

David expressed his feelings to God and then reaffirmed his faith. Prayer can release tension in times of emotional stress. Trusting God to be our rock, salvation and fortress will change our entire outlook on life.

God values our faithful work for Him

No longer must we be held captive by resentment towards others when they hurt us. It can be tempting to us to use honor, power, wealth, or prestige to measure people. We may even think that such people are really getting ahead in life. But on God’s scales, we are all a “breath,” a puff of air.

Wealth, honor power, or prestige add nothing to our value in God’s eyes, but the faithful work we do for Him has eternal value. When we are resting in God’s strength, nothing can shake us.

Have you placed your life in God’s hands?

When you do, the so called burdens you carry will leave you because He will carry you through.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms 62

Blessed Is the Person Who Walks With God

Scripture: Psalms 1: 1-4

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law^[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Scripture Commentary: Are you a person who walks in God’s path or in Satan’s?

There’s no middle ground. Are you taking counsel in God’s Word by studying and living what you read? The person who walks in God’s path is the person who takes the time to know and live His Word.

God’s wisdom guides you, giving your life meaning. After you study God’s Word, meditate and think about what you have read. Talk to God. He will answer you.

The more you delight yourself in God’s presence, the more fruitful you will be. In contrast, the more you allow those who ridicule God to affect your thoughts, attitudes, and actions, the more you separate yourself from your source of nourishment.

Your true friends will build up your faith in God, not tear it down. The more you study God’s Word, the more you will be closer to Him and He to you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms 1

God’s People Must Live Together in Unity

Scripture: Psalms 133: 1-3

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Scripture Commentary: Love binds us together in perfect unity*

David stated that unity is pleasant and precious. Unfortunately, unity does not abound in the church as it should.

Do you have the true love of Our Lord Jesus Christ in you and in your church?

Oftentimes we disagree and cause division over unimportant and ungodly issues. Some of us delight in causing tension by discrediting others.

Unity is important because it does 3 things:

Makes the church a positive example to the world and helps draw others in
Helps us cooperate as a body of believers as God meant us to be, giving us a foretaste of heaven
Renews and revitalizes ministry because there is less tension to sap our energy

Living in unity doesn’t mean that we will agree on everything. There will be many opinions just as there are many notes in a musical chord.

We must agree on our common purpose in life, to work together as Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. We must love one another as He loves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms 133

*Additional Reading:
Colossians 3

God Discards the Record of Our Transgressions

Scripture: Psalms 130: 1-5

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Scripture Commentary: If God kept a record of our sins, it would become a wall between us and Him

When we ask God to forgive us our sins and when we live the life that Jesus Christ has told us to live, the record of our transgressions is gone. If God kept a record of our sins, it would become a wall between us and Him. God doesn’t keep the record when He forgives us. He forgives completely, tearing down everything standing between us and Him.

We can feel helplessly lost because of our sins, but we shouldn’t let that despair isolate or distance us from God. This is precisely when we need God the most. Despair over sin can lead to self-pity, making us think more about ourselves than about our God. Instead, we must confess our transgressions and let God’s mercy, forgiveness and redemption work through us.

The lines of communication between us and God are completely open

We can talk to God about anything. There’s nothing between us and Him. When we pray, we must remember that God is holding nothing against us.

Turn to the only One who can truly help.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms 130

Lord, Cleanse Me for I Have Sinned

Scripture: Psalms 51: 1-4

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Scripture Commentary: We have all sinned against God

Although David sinned with Bathsheba, David said that he had sinned against God. When someone slanders, steals, or murders, it is against someone. There is a victim.

Like David, our sinful actions can and do hurt many people, but most of all, our actions hurt our Lord. Sin offends God because sin in any form is a rebellion against how God wants us to live. David repented for his sins, and God mercifully forgave him.

No sin is too great to be forgiven!

God can and will forgive you of any sin. While God forgives us, He does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin. David’s life and family were never the same as a result of what he had done.

When Satan tempts you to do wrong, remember that you will be sinning against God. Ask God to strengthen, protect and guide you. God is here to protect you from harm with His love.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 51

Open Your Heart and Be Blessed By God

Scripture: Psalms 117: 1-2

Scripture Commentary: God has blessed you in every way

This psalm says a lot, using few words; however the message is to praise the Lord, let the world hear your praise, and lift up the Lord, your God. Be blessed!

Not only is Psalms 117 the shortest chapter in the Bible, it is also the middle chapter. Are you at the mid-point in your life? If so, ask yourself the following questions:

Have I accepted God?
Have I, at any time, given God the praise?

Have you ever said , “I can’t think of anything that God has done for me.”

If you are reading this, then God has given you another day. You aren’t in the grave. If you have a place to stay, if you’ve had a meal today, then give God the praise.

God has given you His love, and His faithfulness endures forever. You probably cannot say that you have been faithful to God all of your life but God has been faithful to you always.

If God did nothing else for you, He would still be worthy of your highest praise. Praise the Lord!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 117