April 23, 2007

Text: Psalm 130

DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF INIQUITY
1. Dealing with the fear of being found with iniquities in life
a) Fear of judgment

b) Fear of condemnation

c) Fear of never being redeemed

2. Finding assurance in the following truths:-
a) That God will not mark us according to our iniquities
"If You, LORD should mark iniquities,
O LORD, who could stand"    Psalm 130:3

b) That there is forgiveness with God
"But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared"    Psalm 130:4

c) That there is much mercy with God
"O Israel, hope in the LORD,
For with the LORD there is mercy..."    Psalm 130:7a

d) That there is redemption with God
"And with Him is abundant redemption"    Psalm 130:7b

e) That there is hope for redemption from all iniquities
"And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities"    Psalm 130:8

3. Exercising Hope in the Lord
a) Waiting upon the Lord
"I wait for the LORD. My soul waits..."    Psalm 130:5a

b) Earnestness in waiting for the Lord
"My soul waits for the Lord,
More than those who watch for the morning-
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning."    Psalm 139:6

c) Hoping in the Word of God
"And in His word I do hope"    Psalm 130:5b

Our sense of hope can heighten significantly when we read the Scriptures

4. Word of encouragement to exercise hope in the Lord
"O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is mercy"    Psalm 130:7

a) Not the time to give up hope

b) Every reason to exercise hope

c) God's dealings with Israel in the past... highlights that hope in God is never in vain