Getting Back on Track

INTRO:

We’ve spent this past month focusing on the importance of ongoing spiritual growth. Our theme has been “Get Ready” and I’ve tried my best to explain how you are always growing, getting ready, for what God wants to do in your life.

However, I’ve realized that there’s one major part of this discussion that I haven’t really touched on yet, and that is what to do when you’ve stopped growing, stopped getting ready, when you’ve gotten off track in your pursuit of God.

It happens to all of us. We’ve all made a promise to ourselves and to God to stop doing this and start doing that, only to find ourselves in a surprisingly short period of time back in old habits and knee deep in broken promises. And it’s in that moment when we realized we’ve failed yet again that we experience shame. Again, we’ve all been there, but what’s truly shameful is when we let those moments get the better of us and we stop even trying to grow in our faith.

Paul said in our theme verses that he does his best to “forget what is behind” so that he can “strain toward what is ahead.” Sadly, I find that way too many people are simply stuck in the failures and mistakes of yesterday, so much so that they’ve gotten off track in their pursuit of God.

Well, that’s fix that this morning. In this final message of our “Get Ready” series I’m going to talk about “Getting Back on Track.” Back on track with God. Back on track with growth. Back on track with getting ready for what God wants to do with your life.

To do so, we’re going to spend our time reviewing a very important Psalm. I warn you that this is not a happy Psalm. It is a psalm of lament, sorrow and sadness, a psalm of repentance. It was written by King David in one of the lowest moments of his life, at a time when he had definitely gotten “off track” in his walk with God.

However, his words show us the path he took to get right with God and to get back in to growing in Him.

READ PSALM 51

TRANS

Before I walk you through this passage, let’s take the time to consider the circumstances this psalm was written under

after adultery and murder, lying and cover-up

You may be thinking, “Pastor, this is a pretty extreme example to use for you topic. I may not be growing in the Lord like I should, maybe I’ve plateaued in my walk, and have forgotten what it means to “get ready,” but I have done anything THAT extreme!”

Before you make the mistake of thinking that these verses don’t really apply to you situation, let take time to consider the issue of sin.

From our viewpoint, David’s sin was great. When you compare that to what I’m referencing, the sin of not maturing in Christ as you should, is doesn’t seem like a fair comparison.

But what does the Bible say sin is? Romans 3:23 tell us that “for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” In other words sin is just the big stuff, it is anytime we fall short of the glory of God. When we “miss the mark” of God’s plan and call for our lives.

At first, that may seem like terrible news for you might think “I’m sinning all the time then!” But here’s the good news - Christ has already paid for those sins!!!

How to Tell You’ve Gotten Off Track

Compounding Sin

David’s “big sin” stated in small ways. We got lazy and stayed home. Not a big deal, but he was already “off track” in God’s plan. Then he saw a beautiful woman and faced temptation. Temptation itself is not a sin, but giving into it just takes you further away from God. Then the adultery, then the cover-up which led to a man’s death (murder,) then pride, then anger, and hard-heartedness.

If you think it’s not really a big deal that you’re not passionately pursuing God, that as long as you show up to church and kind of listen to the preacher, you’ll be in good shape, you’re kidding yourself. God’s plan for you to pursue Him. When you don’t take that seriously, you’re heading for trouble.

Loss of joy, peace, and happiness

Again, look at David’s own description of how he was feeling. Sin hurts.

Just going through the motions

discuss the verses of offerings and sacrifice.

David was probably still doing all the right things outwardly, but his heart wasn’t right.

Just because you show up to church doesn’t mean your heart is right with God.

If you know right now that you’re just “going through the motions” you’ve gotten off track in you walk with God.

How to Get Back on Track

Recognize the problem

David admitted his sin

More importantly, he recognized that his actions caused the greatest pain to God Himself

Seek God to make the changes you can’t make yourself

Notice vs. 10 and 12. David asks for several things of God. He didn’t say, “I’ll try really hard not to mess up next time.”

Getting back on track with God is first and foremost about realizing that you can’t make the changes yourself. You can only seek after the God who can change you.

That’s why I stress the importance of “getting ready,” of ongoing spiritual growth. As you pursue Him, He changes you in ways you couldn’t change yourself.

Get back to work

David said that he would get back to doing what God put him here to do

Ref. theme verse

One of the best ways to get back on track with God is to serve him with your time, talents, and resources. Stop trying to fix your problems and start serving the God who put you here in the first place.

CONCLUSION & INVITATION

Some of you here must admit, at least to yourselves, that you’ve gotten on track in your walk with God.

The good news is that that can change right now. It’s time to get back to getting ready for what God wants to do in your life.