No U Turns Series

Road Trip #2 – No U Turns

Luke 9:62 (p. 724) July 20, 2014

Introduction:

I had to go all the way to Florida to find a girl that didn’t know me too well...and because of that I married a native Floridian. But before we were married I lived and worked in Florida for 2 summers, and yes those 2 things went together. But, I noticed something about driving in Florida that was radically different from Kentucky. In most places and situations U turns were perfectly legal.

I will not make any snide comments about Florida drivers, or older drivers...to be politically correct “chronologically challenged” drivers. Who needs to turn around because they forgot where they’re going...”Uh oh Honey, we missed our turn...let’s do a U’eee!”

[I remember hearing about a senior citizen driving down the freeway when his wife called him on his cell phone. “Honey I just wanted to tell you I heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on New Circle Road. Please be careful...and her husband yelled back at her over the phone...it’s not just 1 car...It’s hundreds of them!!!}

That man needed to make a U turn bad. But there are places U turns just aren’t allowed...places where they are dangerous and illegal.

And one of those places, that spiritually speaking, U turns are forbidden are on the road we choose when we commit to follow Jesus Christ.

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

When it comes to following in the footsteps of Jesus...“No U turns allowed.”

On this road trip we call Christianity I need to be crystal clear with you this morning...what this truth means and doesn’t mean in our lives. First of all:

I. JESUS ISN’T TALKING ABOUT “NEVER” SINNING AFTER OUR CONVERSION

Perfection isn’t something we as fallen human beings do very well, even saved, born again...spirit filled human beings don’t do it very well.

The Apostle Paul wrote...“I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do...this I keep on doing...although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” (Romans 7:18, 19, 21)

Paul’s not using this as an excuse, not to seek holiness. He’s stating a truth...a law. “I am selfish as long as I live in this temporary body of flesh.” It’s as sure as the law of gravity...drop an apple...it falls to the ground. Put me in this selfish body...sin will be a problem.

There were early believers who twisted this truth, individuals Paul addresses in Romans 6 who said, “God loves to forgive sin, so I’ll keep on sinning so God can do what He loves.” “That’s grace!”

Paul responded to that lie with: “By no means:” We are those who have died to sin, how can we live in it any longer.” (Romans 6:1-2)

The key words here are “live in.”

My favorite description is the difference between a guy who steps in a mud puddle and a pig that lives in his muck. There’s a huge difference between the way the two live and how long they spend in the mud and muck of sin.

Saying “I’d like to go to heaven, but I’d rather not change the road I’m on. I’d rather not give up control...makes many try the bare minimum for salvation. I’ll say a prayer. I’ll get baptized. It’s the very reason Paul wrote:

ROMANS 6:1-4 (p. 785)

In layman’s terms the Apostle Paul is saying, when you’re buried with Christ, united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection, your road changes. You’re not travelling 75N any longer you’re 75S. It’s a new journey, a new direction, death to life, darkness to light.

You cannot put the Holy Spirit in the old life...the old purposes and motives and attitudes.

LUKE 5:36-37 (p. 719)

New wine in old wineskins...new patch sewn on an old garment...it just doesn’t work!

Our battle with sin isn’t over...but God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It’s what God promised Ezekiel He would eventually do to prove His holiness through His people.

EZEKIEL 36:26-28 (p. 602)

This is the only way I can follow God effectively. He has put a down payment on my soul. He has entered a tent making it a temple. Jesus’ Spirit now is my internal GPS, not the world or its philosophies.

You might hit some pot holes, even have a wreck. Your car might break down, But, your directions and destination remain the same because no U turns are allowed on the road of discipleship!

You see, it’s all about remembering