Forward in Faith 7 – BACK Track

Theme: Realize, repent, renew

reverse gear – “back up”

Fix mistakes

How to get back the vision

Get your groove back

Illustration = prodigal son

Luke 15:11–13 NLT

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.

DRIVER = LOST

· what has the driver become? –

· a LOST son, a WAYWARD soul, a PRODIGAL son,

· represents a BACKSLIDDEN Christian

Luke 15:14 NLT

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

ROAD = dead end street

· the ROAD is now a dead-end street.

· at least all the other roads allowed for motion, but this one does not.

Luke 15:15–16 NLT

15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

CAR = disabled vehicle

· Out of gas – bankrupt

· now pushing it on foot

· the driver is now on the OUTSIDE of the car, pushing what used to push him

· you can see the emergency lights flashing and the rag sticking out of the window

· no roadside amenities, no racetrack pit crew, no friendly neighborhood garage

Luke 15:17–20 NLT

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

JESUS = AAA!

· portrayed by the Father

· roadside assistance – 24/7

· ever present help in time of need

· the sinning child of God can boldly enter God’s throne room of grace to obtain mercy in time of need

· Jesus will fix the flats, fill the tank, and give you food!

Repentance comes to Jesus

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Luke 15:21–24 NLT

21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

CHURCH = home

where is the CHURCH? = calling you home on the cell phone, leaving you voicemails, and texts sharing their love and concern. That they miss you

1 – REALIZE your error

acknowledge you are off track – have missed the mark – sinned

Lamentations 3:40 NLT

40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.

2 – REPENT of going the wrong way

or return – confess sins – recommit to Jesus – get born again (again)

What is repentance?

Repentance is confession of sin with intent to change

with regret and remorse

Repent = return

Paul turned around

Notes by Nicky Gumbel

· Paul was a very ambitious person, even before He met the Lord.

· While he was a Pharisee, Paul was very zealous for the Jewish Law.

· However, his misunderstanding of the Law caused him to not recognize the Lord or His followers.

· His misguided zeal caused him to persecute the church, by arresting and putting into prison both men and women who, ironically, were “on track” for the Lord’s call on their lives.

· He even tortured some until they blasphemed God.

· Paul was also an accessory to the death of the first martyr of the New Testament, a deacon named Stephen.

1 John 1:9 NLT

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Acts 3:19 NLT

19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

3 – RENEW the vision

your focus to God’s map

Revision = returning to the vision

· After meeting the Messiah on the Damascus road, Paul did not lose his zeal,

· it was turned and put on “the right track” for God. its direction changed.

· If anything, he was even more ambitious! He describes himself as being like an athlete desperate to win a race.

Paul helped others turn around – even when he used force…

shipwreck by sin – gone too far

1 Timothy 1:18–20 NLT

18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

God “turns” our bad for His good

Romans 8:28 NLT

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Bear fruits of repentance

Matthew 3:8 NLT

8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.