David Wilkerson - The Heaviness of Sin

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David Wilkerson - Watch Sermon: The Heaviness of Sin. 

You know the story of King David - how he committed adultery with Bathsheba and secretly arranged for her husband's death. Yet, after the prophet Nathan exposed David's sin, holding it up before his face, the broken king repented of his horrible misdeeds. And he later wrote four psalms expressing the distress and terror he had felt as a result of his sin.

David's anguished heart-cries are found in Psalms 6, 32 and 51 - as well as in the psalm I want to focus on in this message, Psalm 38. In each of these psalms, David was looking back, recalling the torment he experienced during this dark period of his life. In Psalm 38 in particular, he describes being smitten by a tender conscience: "Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore" (Psalm 38:2).

The hard fact was, David had to live out the shame caused by his sin. His terrible fall quickly became public knowledge, and the whole nation began talking about it. All the people - including David's supposed friends - were saying, "How the mighty have fallen! David is finished. His power, influence and dignity all lie in ruins!"

Even Israel's enemies gloated over David's fall. Nathan pointed out to him, "...thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme..." (2 Samuel 12:14). These words probably hurt David most of all. He had brought reproach on his precious Lord's name!

Many Bible scholars believe it was during this period - when David was morally and spiritually weak - that his son, Absalom, planned to usurp his reign. David may even have heard about the plot. Indeed, I believe he had Absalom in mind when he wrote:

"My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long" (Psalm 38:11-12).

Obviously, David knew some kind of deception was going on. So, why didn't he speak out about it? Why didn't he point out the wicked plans of the plotting evildoers? It was because he was heavily burdened by his own hidden sin!

Proverbs tells us, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). The phrase "shall not prosper" here doesn't refer to material prosperity; rather, it speaks of physical health, emotional state, spiritual well-being. God's word is saying that anyone who covers his iniquity will be cut off from all spiritual prosperity. And David's life proves it!

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David Wilkerson - The Heaviness of Sin
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DAVID WILKERSON

David Wilkerson was the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He was called to New York in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book,The Cross and the Switchblade.

In 1987, David Wilkerson returned to "the crossroads of the world" to establish Times Square Church. As a pastor of the church, he faithfully led this congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encour ...

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