From This Moment On
Galatians 1:13-24
I wish there were some wonderful place called the Land of Beginning Again,
Where all of our past mistakes and heartaches,
And all of our poor selfish grief,
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
Never to be put on again”
Source:(Louisa Tarkington quoted in Putting Your Past Behind You, E. Lutzer, Here's Life, 1990, p.13.)
If we are honest, there are many things from out past that we regret. There are words that we have said that would like to take back. There are relationships that we have damaged that we would like to repair. There are things that we have done that we would like to do over (and differently). Maybe we look back and the things that we spent most of our life focusing on no longer seem important.
We all have regrets, and chances are we have learned some lessons the hard way. And the fact is we cannot go back, there are no do-overs. Though we may have been given a second chance, we cannot erase the errors of the past. But I come have good news tonight… though “The past has past, the future is wide open! No matter how old or how young you are… your past cannot be altered, erased or re-written. But you can start today to make the rest of your life, the BEST of your life!
There are some people who cannot get past their past! They spend their life dwelling on regrets and missed opportunities. Some of you can’t move forward for God because you are dwelling on sins that have long been forgiven. The Devil will remind you of sins of your past and convince you that you are worthless! The whole time, the sins that are holding you back are sins that you have repented of and God no longer remembers.
Listen to this portion of scripture from Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
You have heard it said that “The Lord has cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness and put up a no fishing sign” - But many times we ignore the sign and cast our reel and bring up sins that have been forgiven. Many believers today are living lives that are consumed with guilt, shame and discouragement. I am here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way! The Christian life should be an abundant life... a life of VICTORY!
If you are “in Christ” you are a new creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
If you are lost I hope that you will turn to Jesus today and let Him begin a new life in you. If you are saved I hope that you will realize that you don’t have to wait till you get to Heaven to have a great life. I hope that everyone here today can move past the past and start a new life before you leave here today.
- Join me in Galatians 1:13-24 as we preach on the thought “From This Moment On”.
As we arrive at our selected text we see The Apostle Paul as he recounts some events from his past: I am sure he would have liked to change a few things. I am sure he wished he had not held the coats as they stoned Steven. I am sure he wished he had not wreaked so much havoc on the early church. I am sure he had many issues from his life before Christ that he would like to do over. Paul realized that he could not change the past, but he could make the rest of his life the best of his life!
Friend, you have a choice to make… Will you allow your past to hinder your future? Or, will you make today a turning point and ensure that the future will be brighter than the past? In these few verses I would like to identify 4 things that you can do to determine that your future will be better than your past…
I. FROM THIS MOMENT ON… REMEMBER YOUR PAST v13-14
It is beneficial for us to remember our past. But we CANNOT dwell on our past! It helps for us to remember where we came from and learn from past situations and errors. The benefit in this is looking at what we were before our conversion and then seeing what Jesus has done for us!
Paul has been confronting the Galatian believers about their decision to listen to false teachers and the fact that they have returned to the bondage of the Law. In order to illustrate the grace of Jesus Christ, Paul shares his own personal testimony. In fact here are SEVERAL occasions where Paul recounts the events surrounding his conversion.
- Let’s take a while and look at the testimony that Paul shares: - v13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
- Let’s examine a few details of Paul’s life before Damascus Road:
1. His Home town: Tarsus - Tarsus had a famous university. He was born there, he Spent his youth there and he received his education there
2. His Heritage - Paul’s father was a Pharisee… of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul was of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5).
3. His Reputation - He was a zealous religious man - Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
4. His Vocation - It was a Jewish custom, to learn a trade before preparing for religious vocation. Saul became a tentmaker, a common trade in Tarsus.
5. His Religious Training - At approximately 13 years old he was sent to Jerusalem to be trained by the celebrated Rabbi Gamaliel. He spent many years studying the Scriptures and traditions of the Jews.
6. His Life As A Persecutor - 2 years after Pentecost, Christianity was spreading in Jerusalem. Around this time Stephen publicly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. Persecution arose against Stephen and the followers of Christ, Saul was a prominent figure in this persecution. Some Christians had taken refuge in Damascus, SAUL obtained authorization to retrieve any Christians and bring them to Jerusalem to face persecution.
- Throughout the Bible we have great detail concerning Paul’s past. How do we know these things…? Because he told us himself! Paul “Remembered His Past” . We read enough to know that Paul did not spend his life dwelling on the mistakes of his past. He also did not attempt to forget all that he had done. He used his past to illustrate the transformation that had occurred in his life. Paul understood that his reputation preceded him – “You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.”
Too many times we handle our past the wrong way:Many spend time obsessing on past mistakes… Some focus on what might have been…. some constantly analyze missed opportunities. Some are right now beating themselves up over things that happened years before. The past may be difficult but it can be beneficial! Lessons learned the hard way so to speak!
Others will try to hide their past, and ignore it themselves. If you have a history of drug abuse, alcoholism, sexual sins or any other issue you have a better chance of reaching someone with that problem that on who has never faced that temptation! You are also a picture of what God can do with a life surrendered to him.
- I encourage you, From This Moment On…Remember your past:
a) Your past before Christ will show you what He has done for you!
b) Your past since your conversion will show you what areas to focus on for improvement!
c) Your past victories will encourage you!
d) Your past failures will teach you!
Friend, if you see to be victorious in the Christian Life REMEMBER YOUR PAST! As we move further in the text we see another detail that will benefit us greatly:
II. FROM THIS MOMENT ON… REALIZE YOUR PRIVILEGE v15-16
We may encounter many privileges in this life... but none compare to the privileges that we experience as a child of God.
A. It Is A Privilege To Be Called By God - v15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul realized that God had a separated him for His work before he was ever born. - Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
What an honor to it is to know that God has called us by name! We have received a personal calling to salvation by the Heavenly Father. If you have TRULY been saved then just like Saul on Damascus Road, Jesus met you where you were! Just like He appeared to Saul, He has appeared to you! Just as Jesus called Saul’s name, HE CALLED YOUR NAME! What greater privilege is there than for the Son of God to see you for who you are and while knowing your faults and failures loved you enough to offer you ETERNAL LIFE! We are unworthy sinners who have been adopted into the household of God and made joint heirs with Jesus! Sometimes we don’t grasp the privilege that we have.
- If you truly want to improve the rest of your life, you must “Realize Your Privilege”. Not only is it a Privilege To Be Called By God we also see that:
B. It Is A Privilege To Be Commissioned By God - v16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen
When Paul was persecuting the church, when he was receiving his religious training, when he was being raised by his earthly father, even before he was born. God had a plan for Saul of Tarsus!
Jesus revealed this plan to Ananias when Paul was at Damascus, blind and hungry - Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
In times past God used visions, prophets, and angels to bear His message. He also used Doves, Donkeys and Ravens! But in the New Testament Church He has entrusted the responsibility of reaching people with the message of Christ to you and me! What a great privilege to be entrusted with the task of delivering the Gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world.
If you have ever gone through an application and interview process you know that you are never the only person seeking that position. After an employer interviews dozens of people, looks at their qualifications, talks to them personally and then offers you the job, there is a sense of pride a sense of fulfillment and pleasure that you were chosen. It is an honor! What greater honor than for God Himself to look at you with all of your imperfections and shortcomings and choose you to do a task for Him!
- If you are going to make your future better than your past then “From This Moment On… Realize Your Privilege”. As we continue we will find that if we are going to be successful in the Christian life then:
III. From This Moment On… Revise Your Priorities - v16b immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Paul’s priorities were completely different after his conversion. He was headed to Damascus and made it there but when he arrived he was a new man. He had a different outlook, a different agenda in fact he had a different life. Now, his life before Christ was not one lived for himself. In fact it was the direct opposite; he was extremely dedicated to the Jewish faith. Before Christ Paul’s actions were in direct contrast to the Church and Christ.
This is the case for us as well. Before salvation we were sinners focused on everything but Christianity. Before salvation we were living for ourselves:
We were:
1) Focused on worldly pleasures
2) Focused on climbing the corporate ladder
3) Focused on attaining material goods
4) Focused on recreation and hobbies
5) Focused on things that were sinful and contradictory to the Word of God
I encourage you to take a moment and examine your priorities.
i. Are they centered on fulfilling the will of God in your life?
ii. Are you building His Kingdom or yours?
iii. Are your priorities any different than before salvation?
If your priorities have not changed, there is still time! You can make your future more productive than the past… How? …By “Revising Your Priorities!”. If you will Remember Your Past, Realize Your Privilege and Revise Your Priorities it will help you to accomplish the 4th item on our list… It will set you up to where you can Reach Your Potential!
IV. From This Moment On… Reach Your Potential - v22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.
As we all know a reputation will follow you around for a long time. Sometimes that reputation will arrive before you do!Paul dealt with the affects of his reputation constantly:
- The Cause - Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him (Steven) with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord; lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 8:1 ¶And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This is just one occasion where Saul’s past was recorded, surely there were many others! Not only do we see the cause of Saul’s reputation, we also see the effect:
- The Effect - Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
* Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
The people of Galatia knew his reputation. But he has already been with them; he has a different reputation among these people. This is the missionary who led them to Jesus. His reputation among these people was as one who had been so radically transformed by the power of God was a cause to rejoice in the church - v24 And they glorified God in me.
Did you have a bad reputation before you were saved? Has it followed you around even since you have been saved? So what…. USE IT TO SHOW WHAT GOD CAN DO IN SOMEONE”S LIFE! Your testimony can have a great impact on the lives of people who need a savior. God called Paul, He had a plan for Paul and obviously he reached his potential for God.
a) Are you reaching your full potential for Christ?
b) Or are you dwelling on the mistakes of the past.
c) If you have never been saved, God can transform you just as he did Paul!
If you have been saved and look on your life after salvation with regret, you cannot change the past but you can make some necessary changes FROM THIS MOMENT ON!
Ian L. Wilson tells the story of a London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. "Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."
The Lord doesn’t want to clean your life up! He wants to completely transform you! The Lord didn’t just clean Saul’s life up…
- He gave him a new life
- He gave him a new name
- He gave him a new outlook
- He gave him a new relationship
- He gave him a new purpose
If you are saved then He has done the same for you! Maybe you are consumed with the guilt and shame concerning things you did before salvation… LET IT GO! Your sins are under the blood of Jesus! Maybe you have not done what you should since you have been saved! Today is a new day. You have an opportunity to make a fresh start right here right now. Remember Your Past, Realize Your Privilege, Revise Your Priorities and then Reach Your Potential. Then watch to see what Jesus can do through you… FROM THIS MOMENT ON!
