https://youtu.be/GLFesS0nCnM

2 Sam 12: In last weeks sermon, we see david being rebuked by Nathan and his repentant attitudeHe admitted his sins with no qualifiers or demands. He simply repents (turns from sin- admits)In our human relationships, often times people ask someone else for forgiveness, but they don’t experience the restoration of the relationship- Repentance with God always equal the reestablishment of the relationship. We repent- God forgives- That’s how it works. What we see immediately after this is what happens in his life- Great things. A few things we want grab out of this story this morning- 3 things that repentance brings

Repentance brings mercyWe serve a God of mercy- he desires to show mercy- he loves to show mercy. Its in his nature to do so. HE is loving caring, merciful God- time and time again in the OT we see his mercy. Isaiah 55:6-7  Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the [a]wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.God abundantly pardons sin- He doesn’t hold grudges or offenses. He forgives the repentantThis is see in the beginning of our verse this am- 12:24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, The lord LOVED him. Last part of scripture David suffered deeply for his sin. Son was killed, he was rebuked, told he caused others to blaspheme God. Just punishment for his sinBut NOW- God isn’t holding it against him because he REPENTED- God isn’t like “well, the past” No- “The Lord loved him” God loved Solomon, the son of David- Because of his MERCYThose of you who are at home today- I’m sure you’ve had the experience of having something bad happen to you- Someone did you wrong, and you spent far too much time in your mind planning their demise in your mind. OR- you hold a grudge- you wont move past itYou feel justified in your anger and frustration and hold onto it like a warm blanketYou understand that about yourself- but you need to not put that on God- he aint like that. 2 Chronicles 7:14  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

That’s the nature and character of God- he forgives sin. He restores relationshipProverbs 28:13  He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.What does it mean to you?Are holding yourself in a grudge that God is not holding you to? Have you repented and walked away from your sins? Jesus forgives you and LOVES you- He isn’t holding anything against youAs much as God forgave David and loved Solomon- he love you as well. Since God has forgive you, maybe its about time you forgave yourself and moved on?James 4:9-10  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.God desires to forgive you and show you mercy and when you REPENT it brings MERCY. Ezekiel 33:11 READEzekiel 18:27-30 READ “its not fair”Yeah man- favor aint fair! There’s many of us in the church that don’t deserve what we have and didn’t get half of what we deserved but that’s the nature of OUR GODSales job- best territory- best sales. Best promotion- Over guys who had been there longerI didn’t DESERVE IT- But favor aint fair-

Repentance brings victoryThis is an interesting part of the story- if you remember back in 2 sam 10- the Israelites went to war with the ammonites and the Syrians. They beat the Syrians,