From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
www.trumpetoftruthonline.org
Have No Regrets
II Timothy 4:6-8
Intro: The Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy as he looks out at the chopping block where the Roman guards will soon chop off his head and he says these words in this passage. As much as anything Paul was saying to Timothy as he neared the end, “I HAVE NO REGRETS.” There was much that Paul had regretted about his past:
1. His Persecution of the Church: He stood consenting to Stephen’s death, and the stoning mob cast their garments in tribute to him at his feet. It appears that he may have well been the primary one who stirred up the people against Stephen (Acts 7:58). Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Acts 9:1 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” Acts 22:4 “And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” I Tim 1:13 “(I) was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious.”
2. His Pride in Himself: Philippians 3:5-9. Paul declared in v. 5-6 that he was, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” But Paul could not rejoice in that. He regretted that he had ever taken pride in himself and the religious works of his flesh (7-9) “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
3. His Power With the Government: Acts 9:1-2 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” Paul said himself in Acts 22:5 “As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” When standing before the court of King Agrippa Paul told about this and his regret over it, “many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities... I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests.” Acts 26:10-12
How could a man with such a checkered past face the executioner and write to Timothy with a message of “No Regrets?” It was because Paul was not dwelling on the past; he was looking at his life since the light shined down on him. As he examined what really mattered.... what he had done since he saw the light... he could readily declare even at the moment of death, “I HAVE NO REGRETS ” Paul was not being executed for persecuting Christians... he was being executed for preaching the Gospel of the Christ he once had hated STILL HE COULD SAY, “I HAVE NO REGRETS” Paul had no regrets about:
I. HIS CONVERSION: Acts 9, on the road to Damascus Paul was interrupted by the Lord. He later said in Acts 26:19, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” One might say, “Paul, all your trouble has been since you were converted and you’re about to die Don’t you regret giving your life to Christ?” But Paul said, “I am ready now to be offered.” I have no regrets
II. HIS CALLING: Paul said in Acts 26:16 that the Lord told him, “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness” It was because of that ministry and witness Paul was about to be executed. We might ask Paul if he regrets being called into the ministry and being obedient to that calling. But he answered that in I Timothy 1:12, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” As a matter of fact in this chapter, his last written words, he spends his time telling another minister the right way to carry out his calling Paul is telling us, “I HAVE NO REGRETS ”
III. HIS COMMISSION: Paul had been given a specific commission. He was o preach to the Gentiles. Gal 2:8 “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” Eph 3:1-2 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward.” Eph 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” II Tim 1:11 “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” Paul do you regret preaching to the Gentiles? He answers in v. 17, when I stood all alone, the Lord stood with me NO REGRETS
IV. HIS CONSTANCY: Paul, you stood when no one else stood. You preached in the far corners of the earth. You declared Christ to the heathen. You had troubles galore. He chronicled them in II Cor 11:23-30 where he says I have been “in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” NO REGRETS He said in our text, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Those are the words of a man with NO REGRETS
V. HIS CROWN AWAITING: v. 8, He was about to have his head cut off, but the thought of the crown made him quit worrying over his head He finished his life with NO REGRETS.
Conclusion: What are your regrets? Many regret that they did not get right with God sooner. Do like Paul and only look at life since you saw the light If you die in the will of God, you can leave with no regrets, but if you meet God in eternity without a Damascus Road Experience, you will regret every time you rejected his convicting spirit. Sinners... Saints... when you examine your life in light of eternity, can you say with Paul, “I HAVE NO REGRETS?” If you do nothing today, you may regret it forever Now is the time to prepare to meet thy God.
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