Proposition:Dwelling in the past will not help us move forward. At some point we must acknowledge past failures, and then move our focus to future triumphs.

Introduction: The power of a dream

Not long ago in America there were a set of laws called “Jim Crow Laws”. These laws dealt primarily with the conduct of southern blacks, but the purpose of these laws was much deeper than controlling conduct. These laws attempted to control the mind of a black person.

White supremacist were more threatened by the “high minded” Negro than anything else. There was a problem when a black man felt he was as good as a white man, even if that black man did not break any of those foolish laws. The minds of blacks were a threat to white supremacists.

A black man stood near the Lincoln Memorial and shared with America his dream. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his “I Have A Dream” speech explained his vision that little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and little white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. In spite of the horrible situation that Dr. King lived in, he still explained his dream.

Fast forward to our present time, and we have a black president. I began to listen to music and talk shows that I normally don't listen to, and I herd words of encouragement from those who normally speak words of discouragement. What is the reason for their encouragement? Militant young black men are proud to have a black man as president. It's amazing what vision and dreaming can do.

In our text today we see David transition his focus from his failures of the recent past to the future he hopes to see.

I. We Must Not Get Stuck in the Past

A. We must let go the the past

1. We must “own” our actions of the past. (don't play the blame game)
2. We must let go of the behavior that has doomed us in the past
3. We must let go of the thought process that doomed us in the past

B. We must let go of those who want to keep us in the past

1. Some people need you to fail for them to feel successful
2. Some people gain their identity based on you being a failure

II. What Was David's Vision

A. David envisioned himself being Clean

1. This was a ceremonial cleansing
2. Hyssop and washing in verse 7 refer to ceremonial cleansing
3. David saw the possibility of being pure in the eyes of God

B. Ten lepers were made clean in Jesus' day

1. Jesus cured these men of leprosy, but wanted them to show themselves to the priest
2. Jesus told them this so that they could be declared ceremonially clean
3. Until the priest declared them clean they would have not be able leave the life of a leper

C. We need to have a desire to be “clean” by God's standards

1. We need not worry more about what friends, and the world say about what's right
2. We don't want to establish our own righteousness at the expense of God's righteousness

III. How David's Vision Would Come True

A. David was looking for God clean him

1. If God were to purge him, David would be clean
2. If God were to clean him, David would be whiter than snow

B. You can't e-sponge your own record

1. We must go to the court system and have them erase our bad record

C. We must depend on God to make us clean

Conclusion: Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.