Summer 2006 Series - Prayers of the Bible

Prayers for Restoration, dealing with a guilty conscience

There is nothing like a guilty conscience! Whether a person is 4 or 40 or 84, feeling guilty is not a pleasant experience! I’ve been kept awake half the night more than once because I realized that something I had done was wrong and needed to be set right. Some people believe that guilt is a bad emotion, that we should alleviate guilt by eliminating all standards that help to create it. The message implied is:

Do you feel guilty ‘cause you’ve broken the rules?

Don’t feel compelled to change; instead, change the rules!

Ill.- When I was a teenager, America was at the height of the so-called sexual revolution. The widely accepted standard of sexual conduct prior to that time was that sex properly belonged in marriage, that sleeping around was an immoral choice, and that those who were promiscuous rightly experienced guilt. Yes, of course, there was a lot of hypocrisy, but never the less the standard was generally accepted. And it served a good purpose. (By the way, it is a Biblical, not merely cultural standard.) Not wanting to experience the disapproval of others and the pain of a guilty conscience kept more than one teenager from having sex with her boyfriend!

Then in the 1960's came birth control. In the early 70's the courts created a woman’s right to abortion on demand, and the rules about sexual behavior where thrown out the window. I remember plainly to this day a jarring experience that happened when I was the tender age of 14, a freshman in high school. I went to an honors conference where a prominent psychologist urged the teenagers filling that auditorium to forget the rules our parents’ were teaching us about sex. He insisted that we would only become sexually repressed and possibly neurotic, if we didn’t experience as much sexual pleasure as we desired.

I’m sure his authoritative tone and the fact that he had Dr. in front of his name, caused more than a few kids in that room to decide to toss the old standards as he lessened the weight of a guilty conscience.

It is true that guilt can be a terribly toxic emotion! False guilt produced by overly condemning authorities - be they parents, pastors, or teachers - is extremely destructive. Guilt that finds no relief can drive us mad or make us depressed.

But guilt itself is not a bad thing. It is a God-given part of our mind that serves a similar purpose to the pain sensors in our skin! Do you realize that if all the nerves in your hand were deadened that in a short time you would destroy your fingers by griping things too tightly, by picking up things that would cut or burn you? The sensation of pain keeps us from destroying ourselves, notifies us of abuse or neglect in our bodies. Guilt is designed by God to serve the same purpose in our morality. The feeling of guilt notifies us that we need to change our behavior, that we are harming ourselves or others.

Ever felt guilty? Not a pleasant memory, is it? Since I started to talk a few moments ago, you have been trying not to think about that very thing that makes you squirm inside.

What do we do with that kind of emotion?

Where do we turn for relief from guilt?

Sometimes it isn’t too difficult. A simple, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me” makes everything all right. When we were a kid and we swiped a couple of cookies, Mom was ready to forgive. But, as we age and our transgressions become ‘bigger’ so does the guilt!

Some of us in this room today are dragging around a ton of guilt, some real and, in some cases, some false. For example —

∙ We realize, 20 years too late, that the divorce that caused so much pain to our family, could have been avoided if only we had made better decisions.

∙ That abortion that seemed to be the right decision in the crisis moment, haunts us in the quiet of our mind.

∙ Cutting corners on the job was an obvious way to ‘get ahead.’ Yeah, we knew better, but we turned off the little voice of conscience. Now every time we see that guy that we took advantage of, guilt stabs us in the heart!

∙ For years we ignored God’s invitations. We were so busy with making a living, enjoying the good life, having fun every weekend - and now - we’re older and we realize that the importance things got shoved aside for the urgent things. “God, I wasted so many years,” is the guilty cry.

There is a story in the Bible of man who made some very wrong, some very immoral choices, despite being a good man!
The story is told in the book of 2 Samuel, chapters 11 and 12.

I’m not going to read it to you since it a familiar story, but let me re-tell it briefly. You may wish to have your Bible open for I’m going to read a couple of lines from the story in a moment.

After years of work, of living on the run because the previous king’s insane jealousy made Saul murderous, after working to secure his kingdom, David finally had come to a time when he could relax a little. He had finally ‘made it.’ The youngest son of Jesse, who had been dismissed as ‘that shepherd boy’ by his own Dad, had arrived. His royal city was secure, his palace comfortable, his people prosperous. So, that Spring, when it was time to go out to battle and secure the borders of the kingdom, David stayed home - for the first time ever! He sent off his army in the care of General Joab, confident that all would be well.

Except David failed to realize that his greatest enemy lived inside of himself!

One evening, he couldn’t sleep so he got up to walk on the flat roof of the palace, admiring the little city that spread out around him. He couldn’t help feel some justifiable pride in what he’d done, who he had become.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw her. She was absolutely ravishingly beautiful as he watched her while she bathed. She had no idea she was being watched. He turned away, knowing he should take his attention to another side of the city, but her beauty had awakened desire in him and he returned to gaze again. Calling for a servant, he pointed out the woman and said, “Go find out who she is!”

Moments later, the answer came - “Her name is Bathsheba and she’s married to Uriah, one of your best warriors - an honorable man, who is serving in your army right now.”

David knew what he was about to do was inexcusable on so many levels, but he did it anyway. Perhaps he thought he deserved to break the rules after all he’d been through. Perhaps he was just blinded by his lust. The story doesn’t tell us what he thought, only what he did. He abused his power as king. He ignored his responsibilities as a godly man, and he took advantage of a woman who was powerless to resist him. He sent for Bathsheba, seduced her, slept with her, and send her home!

A month later she sent word, “I’m pregnant!” This was no simple matter. Her husband was away at war. Her friends, neighbors, and family could only come to one conclusion - that she was unfaithful to her husband. If Uriah found out, he could ask that she be put to death for her infidelity!

David, too, realized that his sins were about to be discovered. What he did next is evidence of the amazing wickedness that every person is capable of. He called Uriah home from the war under the pretext of getting a report from him. He sent him home, expecting that he would sleep with his wife, but he wouldn’t because he felt it would be a betrayal of his fellow soldiers who were living in tents at war! So David had a dinner with him and got him drunk, hoping he’d forget his honor and go home to Bathsheba, but Uriah slept in the palace’s servant quarters!

It gets worse!

Let me read this part from the Bible - 2 Samuel 11: 14-17; 26-27

I wonder what David thought in the year that followed.

Did ever awaken with a start in the night, seeing Uriah’s face?

As he held Bathsheba in his embrace, did he ever feel sickened by the thoughts of his cruelty?

I have to believe that God’s Spirit was dealing with his heart, that there was guilt.

Did he drink too much to quiet the voices?

Did he laugh too loud trying to drive away the fear of discovery?

Did he throw himself into his work to distract himself from the thoughts of adultery and murder?

Did he rationalize his actions with excuses about the stress of being king, or that he was too

depressed to think clearly?

That’s how many people handle their guilt today. But it never works - at least - not in a fool proof way. For a time it can appear that we have outrun our sins. With the passage of time, the memory may dim and we may not feel the sting of guilt all that often. However, the Bible tells us this - "IF... you have sinned against the Lord, ... you may be sure that your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23, NLT)

God is both holy and just! His judgments are not always swift to fall, but they are certain. And so it was for David!

In 2 Samuel 12, the story continues after a year’s time.
The chapter opens with these ominous words, “The LORD sent Nathan, the prophet of God, to David.”

The prophet came to the king with a story to tell. He told of two men who were neighbors, one very rich and the other poor as the dirt! The rich man had herds of cattle and flocks of sheep by the hundreds. The poor man had next to nothing, but he had a pet lamb that he had raised. That little ewe lamb lived in the man’s tent with his family and slept in his arms.

A traveler came through and stopped to visit the rich man. As customs of hospitality demanded, a meal was prepared. The rich man somehow got his hands on the poor man’s pet lamb and made lamb stew out of it for his guest!

Anybody here see where this is going? Strangely, David didn’t. Well, perhaps it isn’t so strange. A conscience that is repeated abused becomes dead, losing sensitivity, and failing to guide us. The Bible says that as David listened he grew more and more angry and declared, “That rich man deserves to die. Tell him he has to repay that poor man 4 times over for his crimes.” Take a look at what Nathan said to the king.

READ 2 Samuel 12:7-10; 13-14

“You are that man!”

Imagine, with me, the stab of the knife in David’s conscience. There are no more excuses, nor rationalizations. The monstrosity of his actions is clear and God cares about it!

When the Holy Spirit convicts a person in that way, it is a terrible thing. But, He is not cruel! God convicts us because He is pursuing us. He brings the pain of our guilt to cause us to turn to Him. When He convicts, let me urge you to turn - quickly!

I had a friend years ago who was a good Pastor, a man who desired to serve God. He made an immoral choice and when found out, refused to turn to God, refused to admit his sin. In the subsequent years, he descended into bitterness, hatred, and ultimately into agnoticism, far from faith, far from God. Last time I saw him, he was a pathetic man, paranoid, and without meaning or purpose in his life.

Sin’s power over us is broken when we confess it, when we agree with God about what we’ve done, and seek His forgiveness.

David did just that. Out of that time of sorrow, comes one of the most wonderful prayers in the Bible.

Turn with me to Psalm 51.

Listen to the intense desire for restoration that comes through these words. Don’t get stuck on phrases you don’t understand, concepts that elude your understanding. Listen to the passion for God that comes through David’s prayer.

READ

A. MERCY is the beginning point of the restoration of our relationship with God!

David begins and ends his prayer with a focus on God’s work, God’s mercy, God’s desire for humility.

“Have mercy on me.... you do not delight in offerings... the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit!”

What a futile thing it is to try to ‘pay’ God for our sins! The Devil loves when people fall into that trap because it’s never enough. No matter how much a person gives, no matter how good they try to be, no matter what they sacrifice - there is no release from guilt with our own efforts. That’s just religious practice.

Our restoration comes from God’s mercy. In a great text from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we read :

"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)

If you’re struggling with guilt today - throw yourself on the mercy of God. Stop looking at yourself. Don’t insult God’s grace by trying to ‘pay’ for your sins.

B. ACKNOWLEDGE your sins and your sinfulness without excuse.

David says, “I know my transgression... you are proved right ... you desire truth in the inner parts!”

As long as we give ourselves an inch, as long as we are playing the blame game, as long as we are looking for excuses - there will be no complete restoration.

Friend, thank God for the misery of that guilty conscience, but don’t wallow in it. As the Spirit shines the bright light on your actions, revealing them for what they are - just say, “Yes, Lord. I agree!”

The Bible promises that "if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:9, The Message)

There is wonderful freedom in this kind of honesty.

I love the story of Chuck Colson, a man who lived at the height of worldly power and influence as the personal counselor to President Nixon in the 1970's. Colson was a ruthless politician who did what was necessary to keep Nixon in power, but with the President’s downfall, came Colson’s ruin. He was convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison. As his life was collapsing, a friend presented him with the Good News that Jesus Christ loved him and had already purchased his forgiveness. All he had to do was accept it. Colson’s book, Born Again, tells of his conversion. He looked at his life and admitted his sins. He found peace, God granted forgiveness. Since 1976, he has headed Prison Fellowship - giving his life for those men and women that society has thrown away! Many people wrote off Chuck Colson, but God didn’t! He found mercy, new life, at the Cross of Christ as he acknowledged his sins! And, so can you!

C. EXPECT NEW LIFE!

Take a look again at vv.10-12. READ

The word - create - in that passage is the same word for God’s work at the dawn of history! In Genesis we learn that God, by His own will, by His own power - called the worlds into existence. He spoke the word of creation and the worlds were formed!

David’s appeal to God is for a creative word - “Speak a new me into existence!” That, my friend, is what you and I can pray. When we are dogged by our sins, broken by the guilt of Spirit conviction, we can - if we throw ourselves on God’s mercy without excuse, expect new life. God puts no one on probation. God does not tell - “OK, I’ve heard your prayer, now prove it for a year and then I’ll work in you!” No, friend. He begins a transforming work the moment that we receive His grace.

The Bible promises - “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, NIV)

_________________________

Guilt is real! Guilt can serve good purposes!

If you’re here today weighed down by guilt, torn by memories of sins and failures, hiding from God while longing to know Him at the same time –

it’s time for a change. Restoration to the Father’s love is not only possible, it is promised.

Take David’s prayer and make your prayer.

- Lord, it’s your mercy!

- Lord, it’s my sin, I’m standing here in honest confession, owning my actions without excuse.

- Lord, I receive your transformation. Let me serve you, not from some sense of guilt, or pay-back,

but rather for the joy of knowing You and loving You.

Amen.