No Regret Living
No Regret Living
TEXT: Philippians 4:6
INTRODUCTION: Someone has said that most Christians find themselves living between the "regrets of yesterday" and the "worries of tomorrow". Anyone familiar with the Scripture knows that this is not a part of God's plan! In fact, the believer is to forget the past and press on without anxiety. Note: Philippians 3:13-14. How can we move on to "no regret living"? I believe we must deal with the Past, Present, and Future.
I. Dealing with the past means that we must have a clean slate toward God and man
A. A clean slate toward God
1. The Gospel is not good advice for good people; it is good news for bad people!
2. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness to those who are willing to repent and trust Him to save them.
3. The salvation that Christ offers is from sin.
a) Its guilt
b) Its penalty
c) And ultimately from its very presence
4. Only the blood of the Lamb can cleanse from sin
5. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
6. So powerful is the blood of Christ that God puts our sins away from Him as far as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
B. A clear conscience toward men
1. The blood puts us right with God, but its up to us to make things right with men.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
2. Satan relentlessly accuses the saint with an endless barrage of guilt over areas where reconciliation or restitution needs to be made.
3. The only cure is total obedience in going and putting things right.
4. Once the conscience has been cleared and the believer has done his part in settling things right, he is free!
5. Whenever those thoughts of past sin recur he can resist Satan on the basis of the shed blood of Christ!
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
II. The Christian Life is a present- tense, moment-by-moment walk.
A. A walk of obedience
1. Obedience is the test of genuine devotion to God
John 14:15, If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
a) A person cannot go wrong if he obeys God.
2. Obedience must be instant.
a) When God speaks, He is always right.
b) There is no need to consider the options or weigh the alternatives.
c) Once God speaks, it is time to act!
3. Obedience must also be complete
a) The call to obedience is a call to thorough obedience, not just partial.
b) A little boy confessed to the farmer that he had stolen a rope out of his barn, but failed to confess that there was a cow on the other end of the rope.
c) A conscience-stricken man sent some money along with a note to the IRS. The note said that he had cheated on his taxes and that he hoped that this would ease his conscience, but if not he would send them the rest later.
d) True obedience demands full compliance with God's direction.
4. Obedience requires the proper attitude.
a) Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.
b) What we do is important, but why we do things is equally important.
c) The Christian living in instantaneous, complete, and heart-felt obedience will never have cause to grieve over missed opportunities.
B. A walk of unwavering faith.
1. God's Word has much to say about faith.
a) Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
b) Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
c) The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
d) Faith is not only believing our beliefs, but learning to believe God.
2. Unbelief, fear, worry, and the like not only will bring regrets later, but cause misery now.
3. Freedom from these sins that rob our joy can be experienced by lifting high the shield of faith.
C. A walk in servanthood
1. Only the attitude of servant- hood can give proper perspective for everyday living.
2. Paul referred to himself as a bondslave, one who willingly and joyfully served his Master Jesus Christ.
3. The self-centered notion of "What can I get?" is replaced by "What can I give?"
4. Since we reap what we sow, servants are careful to select the right kind of seeds.
5. Reaping pertains not only to the next life, but to this earthly life as well.
III. What we do right now in relation to the gospel and others counts for ever
A. We must have boldness
1. The book of Acts records the deeds that were accomplished by the same men who, because of fear of men, had forsaken the Lord at the crucifixion.
2. What made the difference?
a) It wasn't a course on public relations...
b) It wasn't even a seminar on how to win souls...
c) It was because they were filled with the Spirit of God!
3. God has called us to warn the wicked and preach the gospel.
4. We must have the boldness that only comes from the power of the Holy Spirit if we are to fulfill God's calling.
B. We must have compassion.
Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
1. Jude exhorts, "...of some have compassion, making a difference."
2. Compassion is love in action!
3. It is doing something about the need of others.
4. After the Titanic sank, congress passed legislation, which required a life jacket for every passenger on a ship, but the action came to late to help any of those who had already drowned!
5. Now is the time to boldly share Christ with our friends, relatives, and those we do not know!
6. We cannot call back the past, but we can act now before it is too late.
2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
7. The destiny of men hinges on what we do today!
Conclusion: God has given us how we ought to deal with the past, present, and the future. No regret living prepares us for no regret dying. Wouldn't it be a blessing to go out of this life without grief and regrets? Deal with the past and get every sin under the blood. Make every attempt to reconcile broken relationships. Live each day God gives us in obedience and faith as His servant. Prepare for eternity by lovingly and boldly sharing Christ with the lost.
