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2.7.16 Psalms: Feb: Disorientation/Reorientation (bridges between worlds) O. INTRO: *There are seven penitential Psalms book of Psalms. *Latin word for "repentance" *Sound familiar? Penitentiary comes from same word. *House of corrections...house of "repentance" *Unfortunately getting caught doesn't automatically "produce" "repentance"...it can be opportunity for some to repent...but having an institution named after "repentance" is certainly not a guarantee that it will occur there. *Recidivism: The return rate of prisoners who return to prison, normally measured within three years. *PEW study: "The Revolving Door of America's Prisons." 1973-2009 the prison population in American grew from around 250,000 to 2.3 million -1 in 100 adults are behind bars right now. -As a comparison 1 in 200 serve in the military...we have twice as many serving out a sentence as we do serving in the armed forces. *The national average of recidivism (measured state by state) for 2004-2007 was 43%...some states it was up to 65%. *Locking someone up in a penitentiary can create opportunity for repentance...but real repentance flows from the heart. *Prison Fellowship: Founded by Chuck Colson after he was imprisoned for Watergate. *2 year in prison program with 1 year after release follow-up. *Those who complete the program have an 8% return rate...vs. the average of around 50%

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*But for those who drop out of the program, the rate of return to prison is the same for those who didn't take part at all. *I read a response by an atheist who Colson had invited to read and comment on their results. *This man was disputing the claims of success because by limiting the numbers to those who finish the program and get a job(which is who they measured)...its a slanted study. *Its not, because Colson's point is that the "program" works...not good intentions. *The success of those who finish the program points to the path of lasting change...it begins in the heart...but what is in the heart shows up in our lives...they finish. *John the baptizer said..."Produce fruit in keeping with repentance..." *John said, you say you have "repented"...(metanonia...a change in life direction)...then we should be able to "see it." *So in response to the critic of Colson's ministry...were "changed people" participating in the program and so these were the ones who would have made it anyway? *No...the ones who were successful were most often men and women who had "repented"...confessed, had been forgiven and freed of their sins...and the fruit of their repentance was the desire and the ability to stay the course. *They had been changed...they had a new appetite for ongoing freedom. *The program is called "InnerChange" because on the change that begins on the inside is real change...but inside changes will so up in outside change. *This month in the Psalms we are going to look at the theme of "Disorientation and reorientation"....specifically the three bridges between these worlds. *The world of disorientation (a life apart from God) *The world of orientation (a life with God) *The bridges between the worlds from the Psalms are: 1. Repentance: 2. Worship: 3. Obedience:

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*Everyone has a worldview. *Not everyone's is fully developed, or articulated or in line with what is real...but everyone has one. *The one you have is the one you "do" not the one you "say" you have. *So if you say "There is a God" and you live as if there is not one...then you may be a confessing theist, but a practical atheist. *Of course the opposite can be true...and often is...thus the confessing Atheist who prays. *Just like there is no neutral space, or time, choice...no one is neutral in regards to how they view and live live in the world. *For instance Agnosticism seems like a neutral stance, somewhere between the "theist" and the "atheist"...(I don't know, or I can't know) but is it neutral? *If I say "I don't know if there is a God"...am I then going to live for the glory of God just in case there might be one? *Its unlikely... *So its not a neutral position...when it comes to ultimate questions...there are no neutral positions. *Everyone lives in practical ways out of their view of the world. *In addition, as we have discussed at length...its not just what we believe in our heads that influences our choices...it is what we have embraced in our hearts...what we have come to love that dictates the course of our lives. *So God wants us to worship him...not because he is insecure or an egomaniac...but because he is God...he wants us to worship him so that we will live safely and happily in the world that exists...a world he has made and in which he is the King. *So ultimate reality, origin of the cosmos, human life, meaning, destiny...something is real(true) about these and other important things and all other things that can be said or believed about them is wrong.

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*The cosmos cannot be both intelligently designed and not intelligently designed at the same time...someone is wrong, someone is right. *Jesus cannot be the Christ and not the Christ at the same time...some are wrong about this and some are right. *So, every single person looks out from behind their eyes...and views a cosmos, a world in a certain way. *We see the same world...but we do not see the world the same way. *Diversity of race, personality, gifting...all this is good...but diversity of views on reality is not...because to get it wrong on life's ultimate questions is not a matter of preference but a tragedy. *Here how Nietzsche saw the cosmos: "Man now sees everywhere only the horror or absurdity of existence..." *Here's how Isaiah saw the Cosmos as revealed to him by mighty messengers of God (angels):Is. 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” *Somebody is wrong here...disoriented to reality...somebody is right. *Nietzsche and Isaiah...cannot both be right about what is real. *We are easily disorientated...we need ongoing re-orientation. *The Psalms orientate us...mentally, emotionally, spiritually...to the world that is out there. *They describe the processes of God's people over many hundreds of years, in a variety of every conceivable human circumstance...good and bad, war and peace, suffering and success... *As they become disorientated by circumstances and became re-orientated through choices, actions...habitiliazing the truth of God in their lives. *The three main bridges in the Psalms between the world of disorientation and the world of orientation to reality are: repentance, worship, and obedience.

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*I'm using the term "bridge between worlds" because often in the Psalms we see this at work...someone becomes disorientated(circumstances, suffering, success, temptation, failure) and then through repentance, worship and obedience... *Their lives are re-orientated to God...to the real world. *So today...the bridge to reality from unreality...and from bondage to freedom..."repentance" *Ps 32...a penitential Psalm. *Let's walk through it with an eye for how "repentance" brings freedom. V.1-2: The Happiness of Forgiveness: *"Blessed" (2 times) because of forgiveness (3 times). *The tone of this Psalm is joy...relief...happiness...freedom. *How often do you think people would put the words "repentance" and "celebration" together in their thoughts and lives? *Think of a man holding a sign saying "repent, the end is near"...now is that the guy you want to invite to you...child's birthday, Super bowl party... *The Psalmist has a celebratory tone here...why is that? V. 3-5: He gives us personal story: Here's why so joyful about repentance *He knows what guilt feels like...in a word...Misery. *When I kept silent (ie=unrepentant, sins unconfessed)...I was miserable. *Bones wasted away...could be a figure of speech, could be real disease. *The stress of guilt can certainly produce disease. *I read an OT scholar commenting on this Psalm...at one point in his life he was hospitalized in great physical pain...and they could find nothing wrong with him. *He finally repented of sin he was holding on to, he was forgiven and forgave himself...and he was freed of the physical condition he suffered from.

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*Groaning all day long...His life had become an unspoken, never ending "groan" *Why? *Conviction of God...his hand was heavy on him day and night. *Is God that cruel...no he is that kind. Rom. 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? *His guilt was literally sucking the life out of him...like staggering under the wilting heat of the sun. *Because of his guilt...he was living a miserable life. *But then...he stopped hiding, running...and confessed. *And he was forgiven... *Why did he take so long? Why indeed. *I think that is what he saying..."While I was wasting away in guilt it made perfect sense to live in that pain rather than face repentance." *Why did the prodigal son have to go all the way to eating the food of pigs...before it made more sense to return and confess to his father? *Why does it make more sense for me or for you...to not immediately confess and be free? *Why indeed. *But the Psalmist is saying..."How dumb, how wrong I was!" *Because when I acknowledged (confessed my sin) and stopped trying to cover them...then God covered them. *One of the words here for forgiveness means to "cover"...take them away, remove them. *When we "cover" our sins...they are like covering cancer...it will eat away at us.

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*When God "covers" our sins...he "atones" for them...removes them. V. 6-7: Suffering is not always the result of our own sin, but sometimes it is. *It is important to reflect on how much of the difficulty of our lives is self-inflicted. *Not in order to wallow in guilt...but so that we will see as things really are. V. 8: Now God is speaking...this is the center and anchor the Psalm. *God says in response to confession (admitting sin) and repentance(leaving sin) then he will: a. Instruct (give insight) b. Teach c. Counsel *Three words that add up to this...wisdom...a clear view of what is real and true. *Repentance opens up the world as it really is. *The result of confessing and repenting (admitting fault and turning from sin) is reorientation. "Wow...I see." *"I see that I am responsible for my choices there...I blamed it on them." *"I see that my own stubbornness made me unhappy...not her or him." *"I see that I was miserable and afraid to give up what was killing me, making me miserable...because I was proud." *"I see that my sin was problem, not God." Prov. 19:3 A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. *Repentance can be scary because we face our failures and our faults, honestly. *Who wants to do that? The one who wants to be free. V. 9: Example from the animal world.

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*Uses the example of an animal that will not go the right way unless they have a bit in their mouth...compelling them...forcing them. *His advice...don't be like this...this is stupid...why would we want to act this way? *Why not live in the freedom of forgiveness and walk God's path willingly? *God doesn't want pack animals...he wants friends, children. V. 10-11: The conclusion is Psalm 1 all over again...two paths, two outcomes. *One path...misery *Another path...unfailing love, joy. *The outcome of repentance is joy in God...worship. *The second bridge (next week). *The result of repentance is joy...freedom. *The natural response of the free heart is worship. *Lewis: "Praise is inner health made audible" *But that's for next week. *Let's look deeper at confession and repentance and freedom. CONFESSION: James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Matt. 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

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*To confess to God and to others is to openly agree, admit, declare...this is wrong, I am sorry. *Not to excuse or evade...not to parcel out percentages of blame (I may have been wrong about this, but you were too.) *It is simply to declare to God and others...that God is right and I am wrong. *"But I wasn't arguing with God I was arguing with my spouse, or I was offended, or just made a choice." *Yes but every time we sin we are saying "God you don't know what you are talking about, your path is not the path of life...my own path is." *All sin is a challenge to God's wisdom, authority, and love. *To confess...is to agree with God that this is sin...he right, we are wrong. REPENT: The NT word is "metanoia"....change of mind...but more than that...it is a life re-orientation to what is real. *Confess...with your lips agree with God. *Repent...with your life agree with God AND REPENTANCE IS A GIFT FROM GOD. Is. 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. *Here is a beautiful offer...repentance, rest...strength that comes from trust. *But here the gift is rejected. *Then in the NT you find the same thing...a prayer for the gift of repentance for those who are actively rejecting the path of God. 2Tim. 2:25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, A MODEL FOR REPENTANCE AS A BRIDGE TO REORIENTATION:

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2Cor. 7:9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. *Paul is happy with their sorrow...but its because he knows the fuller joy of repentance that comes from the right kind of sorrow. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. *Two kinds of sorrow: godly, worldly *Godly sorrow:...to become sorry in a way that sends you towards God. *Worldly sorrow: To become sorry in a way that takes you farther from him. -Image management -Pride -Blaming -Hiding -Using destructive and sinful methods to dull the guilt -Or wallowing in guilt and shame 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. *"You have proved yourself innocent in this matter." *This doesn't mean they made their case and were right to start with...they had godly sorrow...they had been wrong...but they repented. *The result was forgiveness...they cleared of the offense...free. Godly vs. Worldly sorrow: G. Specific W. General G. The sin W. The sinner

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G. Relenting W. Unrelenting *It is very important that you recognize these differences and choose to live out what is real about guilt and forgiveness. CONCLUSION: Question: How do I live with the consequences of my own choices? I may be forgiven but I have not forgotten...and I am not free from all the consequences *It is called godly "sorrow" for good reason...the difference is in what form the sorrow takes and where it takes it. *Paul said that when our loved ones die we grieve but not like those who have not hope. *Grief is real...but our faith means that grief does not lead us down a destructive path. *In the same way our sorrow over our sins is real, even though we have been forgiven...but godly sorrow takes us down a different path. 1. When suffering from ongoing consequences...we must continually put our confidence in the reality of forgiveness and freedom in Christ...this is part of training our hearts and minds. -Forgiveness is an objective reality...like a rock, or tree...you don't have to feel like the tree is there...it just is. -Forgiveness in Christ is independent of your current emotional state of affairs. *Important that you start by remembering and holding on to that. 2. Worship and obedience are important parts of moving our hearts, emotions, in the direction of the facts of forgiveness -We will look at this the next two weeks...so that's all I will say today. 3. Living with consequences -Some are devastating...our own sins can create burdens of consequence and regret we will carry the rest of our life.

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-This is where the concept of "right column/left column" living is very important. ***Give the left column to God...over and over...he will use the process of giving him the pain you feel to build relationship and depth. *** in the right column...make the choices you can make now. Question: Why do we continue to return to sin? 1. Maybe we have habitualized it...we must form new reflexes. -Thus you have: 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! *Yet...two chapters later Paul addresses sorrow over our sin. *Yes, we are new creations in Christ...we no longer have to live as slaves to sin...and because of this fact...we can form new reflexes. *We have been given a new capacity in Christ...a path to walk and access to power to walk the path...the potential for transformation is real. *But we are responsible to actualize that potential...we are to walk the path of repentance, worship, obedience. 2. Maybe we have identified with our sin...it has become us...we want this...but we don't...but we do. *Maybe your sin has become a part of who you are *I've spoken with people over the years and asked them if they are addicts...I have often been told "no". *I then list the things they have traded for their addiction...families, jobs, health, respect. *Then I state and if you try this...you must be very gentle...and feel some compassion because this is a very difficult thing if people actually see it for themselves. "In the past family, respect, health, opportunity, freedom were the most important things in your life...you have traded them for this thing...that is an addiction." *I had this conversation last week...and it is a hard and loving thing to say to someone.

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*Hard because they may see that they have caused their own misery...this is a terrible thing to face. *Loving...because only when they face the facts will they repent and be positioned to change. *Perhaps you have become addicted to the very thing that is causing or has caused damage in your life...it has become a part of your identity. *This does not have to be. *CS Lewis: Great Divorce...Lizard 3. Sin makes us stupid...it feels like we are "right" in our anger, our lust, our pride, our shame. *It makes perfect sense...until it doesn't. *For example...how many times have you gone to bed thinking strongly about something...feeling justified in your anger, your hurt, you have formulated what you will say and do. *Then you wake up and think "Who was that person last night...what an idiot." 4. We are easily divided and conquered by our sin. *We cannot over trust ourselves...we have all proven how unreliable we are when it comes to honesty about ourselves...this is especially true when we have traveled into the land of disorienation. *We do so much better when we stay together. 5. The land of disorientation is disorienting. *So are you looking for someone to blame, feeling justified in your anger, or looking for an excuse for failure, finding reason why you can't be wrong? *You are living in the land of disorientation...repent. Testimony: *When Christ began to take ground in my heart...I was compelled to go back and confess sins against people from my present and past...it took some time...no internet help to track people

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down...I remember when as best I could tell...I was finally "fessed up"and able to begin keeping short accounts...I can only describe it as being...FREE. Rom. 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

SMALL GROUP NOTES 2.7.16

Intro: "Man now sees everywhere only the horror or absurdity of existence..." Nietzsche “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah *Discuss the different ways people "see" the world? *Why do we "see" the same world different ways? *What are the consequences of seeing the world in ways that are wrong? Read: Psa. 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Discuss: 1. What do you think and feel when you hear the word "repent"? 2. Describe a time when you lived with guilt. What was it like? 3. Describe a time when you felt forgiven. What was it like?

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4. Why do we often "feel" like repent is negative when its results are positive? 5. Suffering is not always because of our sin...sometimes it is. Can you think of a time when you suffered and it was because you had sinned? 6. Prov. 19:3 A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. *Can you think of a time when this was true for you? 7. Read and discuss these verses. Can you name some personal implications for them? James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Matt. 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Apply: *Think through how to personalize and practice the differences between godly and worldly sorrow:

• godly • Specific • Sin • Relenting

• worldly • Vague • Sinner • Unrelenting

*Why do you continue to return to sin? *What will you do about this? *Turn Romans 2:4 into a prayer of Thanksgiving. Rom. 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

Psalms

Disorientation to Reorientation

1. Repentance 2. Worship 3. Obedience

"Mannowseeseverywhereonlythehorrororabsurdityofexistence."

Nietzsche

"Holy,holy,holy,istheLORDAlmighty;thewholeearthisfullof

hisglory."Isaiah

1. Repentance 2. Worship 3. Obedience

Psalm32:1-2Blessedishewhosetransgressionsareforgiven,whosesinsarecovered.BlessedisthemanwhosesintheLORDdoesnotcountagainsthimandinwhosespiritisno

deceit.

Psalm32:3-5WhenIkeptsilent,myboneswastedawaythroughmy

groaningalldaylong.Fordayandnightyourhandwasheavyuponme;mystrengthwassappedasintheheatof

summer.Selah.ThenIacknowledgedmysintoyouanddidnotcoverupmyiniquity.Isaid,“Iwillconfessmy

transgressionstotheLORD”—andyouforgavetheguiltofmysin.

Ordoyoushowcontemptfortherichesofhiskindness,toleranceandpaVence,notrealizingthatGod’skindnessleads

youtowardrepentance?

Romans2:4

Psalm32:6-7Thereforeleteveryonewhoisgodlypraytoyouwhileyoumaybefound;surely

whenthemightywatersrise,theywillnotreachhim.Youaremyhidingplace;youwillprotectme

fromtroubleandsurroundmewithsongsofdeliverance.Selah

Psalm32:8Iwillinstructyouandteachyouinthewayyoushouldgo;Iwillcounselyouandwatchoveryou.

Aman’sownfollyruinshislife,yethisheartragesagainsttheLORD.

Proverbs19:3

Psalm32:9Donotbelikethehorseorthemule,whichhavenounderstandingbutmustbe

controlledbybitandbridleortheywillnotcometoyou

Psalm32:10-11Manyarethewoesofthewicked,buttheLORD’s

unfailinglovesurroundsthemanwhotrustsinhim.RejoiceintheLORDandbeglad,yourighteous;sing,allyouwhoareuprightin

heart!

"Praiseisinnerhealthmadeaudible."

James5:16Thereforeconfessyoursinstoeachotherandprayforeachothersothatyoumaybehealed.

1John1:9Ifweconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjust

andwillforgiveusoursinsandpurifyusfromallunrighteousness.

Mad.5:23-24“Therefore,ifyouareofferingyourgifatthealtarandthererememberthatyourbrotherhas

somethingagainstyou,leaveyourgifthereinfrontofthealtar.Firstgoandbereconciledtoyourbrother;then

comeandofferyourgif.

ThisiswhattheSovereignLORD,theHolyOneofIsrael,says:“Inrepentanceandrestisyour

salvaVon,inquietnessandtrustisyourstrength,butyouwouldhave

noneofit.

Isaiah30:15

Thosewhoopposehimhemustgentlyinstruct,inthehopethatGodwillgrantthemrepentanceleadingthemtoaknowledgeofthetruth,

2Timothy2:25

...yetnowIamhappy,notbecauseyouweremade

sorry,butbecauseyoursorrowledyoutorepentance.ForyoubecamesorrowfulasGod

intendedandsowerenotharmedinanywaybyus.Godlysorrowbringsrepentancethatleadsto

salvaVonandleavesnoregret,butworldlysorrowbringsdeath.Seewhatthisgodlysorrowhas

producedinyou:whatearnestness,whateagernesstoclearyourselves,whatindignaVon,whatalarm,whatlonging,whatconcern,whatreadinesstosee

jusVcedone.Ateverypointyouhaveprovedyourselvestobeinnocentinthismader.

2Corinthians7:9-11

godly

Specific

Sin

RelenVng

worldly

Vague

Sinner

UnrelenVng

"HowdoIlivewithconsequencesofmyownsin?"

"WhydoIconVnuetoreturntosin?"

Maybeyouhavehabitualizedit...youneednewreflexes

MaybeyouhaveidenVfiedwithyoursin...ithasbecome"who"youare.

Sinmakesusstupid.

Weareeasilydividedandconqueredbyoursin.

ThelandofdisorientaVonis...disorienVng.

Rom.2:4Ordoyoushowcontemptfortherichesofhiskindness,

toleranceandpaVence,notrealizingthatGod’skindnessleadsyou

towardrepentance?