"Don't Go Back" Series

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July 29, 2014

Over the years we have discussed many topics from trials to doctrine. What we always come back to is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen. That is the hope for all Christians who believe. In our 21st Century to be a Burger King Gospel (Have it your way) our preaching on God’s grace has morphed into do what you like then repent tomorrow. Now I will be the first to tell you that there is an abundance of Grace to cover all our sins. But since that is the case I think we need to take a couple steps back and realize that it was OUR sin that put Christ on the cross. If we are not careful we can gloss over our sin.

1 John 5:18 “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

If you CONTINUE to do what you know is wrong then there are consequences. God is as just as He is loving. I am not here to scare you but I hope I do. We have watered down our sin so much by being in a tolerant world that truly nothing is off limits in our lustful appetites today. But if you and I are Christians we are sealed with Christ. We need to learn how to live in and by the Holy Spirit and to put of all that hinders our walk with the Lord away. How do we do that?

In the 1500’s there was a commander named Cortes who was trying to conquer the Yucatan Peninsula for its gold. To prevent retreat Cortes ordered his ships to be sent to sea and scuttled so they could not retreat. How where they to get home? They weren’t, they would either win or perish!!

Sometimes when you make a decision to stop a particular sin in your life we need to burn all ships of retreat. If you are getting married or are married you need to burn all ships to any former boyfriends or girlfriends. If you are starting a new job then you need to put all your effort into that job as if you will never get another one. In our ministry it was not until I scuttled all ships to the past in making any income that the Lord opened the floodgates of His mercy and wisdom. It doesn’t make sense on paper to burn all ships but if you are serious about your relationship and desire to be a disciple and Warrior then there is NO RETREAT to your past.

Today you may be in the same dilemma. You may be holding onto some secret sin to help you self medicate through life. The thinking that this is ok is from the evil one. When you desire to stop sinning and to draw close to God He runs to you. We daily need to burn all ships. No retreat, no surrender. Will you perish or win in the Lord’s name?

Philippians 3:13,14 “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Can you leave your past behind and STRAIN towards the future. We cannot do anything with our past sins except learn from them. The first part is to take sin seriously then truly repent not because we were caught but because we felt it in our heart.

Lord, please forgive me for ________. I desperately desire to live a joyful life that is holy before you. I desire to be a pure vessel that you can use. Please breaks these bonds of sin that have entangled me Lord. Please help me to stop today. Help me to live like there is no means of retreat to past sins. Lord please give me your wisdom to move ahead as so many days I seem to be too paralyzed to move. Lord thank you for loving me and having a great plan for me. Please help me today to feel your love, your presence and you will for my life.” Amen

Burn them today and don’t look back. God has set you free. Don’t go back.

Brad

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