The Forgiving Nature of God
David Wilkerson shares how remembering God's forgiving nature can bring believers up from the depths of despair and give them confidence in God's love.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the forgiving nature of God, illustrating how even in deep despair, like that experienced by David, one can find hope and restoration through God's mercy. He highlights the struggles believers face when overwhelmed by sin and feelings of unworthiness, often leading to anger and apathy towards God. Yet, through intense prayer and remembrance of God's forgiveness, believers can rise from their depths, knowing that God is always ready to forgive and never abandons them. Wilkerson encourages the faithful to trust in God's love and mercy, reinforcing that true fear of the Lord comes from understanding His willingness to forgive.
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At times David suffered greatly under the Lord's chastening rod. He was afraid the Lord had utterly forsaken him because of his sin, a thought he could not bear, and he pleaded with the Lord, "Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth on me" (Psalm 69:15). He was saying, "Lord, please don't let me go so far down I can't get out!"
In David's despair, his praying became intense. We read on many occasions where he cried out to God in anguish: "Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!" (Psalm 130:1-2).
For many believers, sinking to the bottom means the end. They become so overwhelmed by their failures, they develop a sense of unworthiness, and over time they feel trapped beyond any help. Isaiah wrote of such believers, "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted" (Isaiah 54:11).
Some eventually get mad at God because they don't think he is moving quickly enough. "Lord, where were you when I needed you? I cried out to you but you didn't answer. I'm tired of waiting without seeing any change." Many such believers simply give up trying and give themselves over to their sin. Others fall into a fog of spiritual apathy, convinced that God doesn't care about them anymore: "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me" (Isaiah 49:14).
David was brought up from the depths by remembering the forgiving nature of God. After all his weeping to the Lord, David ended up testifying, "There is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared" (Psalm 130:4). The Holy Spirit began to flood his spirit with memories of God's mercies and the Father's forgiving, pardoning nature.
Walking in the fear of the Lord makes us able to say, "I know my Father loves me and will never abandon me. He is always ready to forgive me whenever I call on him."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Depths of Despair
- A. David's experience of being overwhelmed by sin
- B. The fear of being forsaken by God
- C. The prayer for deliverance
- II. The Nature of God's Forgiveness
- A. God's mercies and pardoning nature
- B. The Holy Spirit's role in remembering God's mercies
- C. The importance of fearing the Lord
- III. Walking in the Fear of the Lord
- A. Knowing God's love and forgiveness
- B. The confidence to call on God for forgiveness
- C. The ability to say 'I know my Father loves me'
Key Quotes
“There is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” — David Wilkerson
“I know my Father loves me and will never abandon me. He is always ready to forgive me whenever I call on him.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We can say with confidence that God loves us and will never abandon us.
- Remembering God's mercies and pardoning nature can bring us out of despair.
- Walking in the fear of the Lord gives us the ability to call on God for forgiveness.