No Turning Back
November 23, 2014 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must not waiver in our commitment to Jesus.
Focus Passage: Genesis 19:15-26
Supplemental Passage: For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NASB)
Introduction: There is a story about a prospector during the California gold rush who was convinced he was going to find gold. He sold all that he had and purchased the tools necessary for prospecting. He found a little gold here and there, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. He spent years searching for the elusive “mother lode” but never could find it. Finally, discouraged, he sold all of his tools to a new prospector. The new guy began to dig and struck a huge vein of gold THREE FEET from where the old prospector had turned back.
I. Do Not Turn Back from Jesus
a. As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. (John 6:66 NASB)
b. And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." (Acts 1:24-25 NASB)
c. "Why then has this people, Jerusalem, Turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. (Jeremiah 8:5 NASB)
II. Do Not Turn Back to your old ways
a. "If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. (Job 31:7-8 NASB)
b. From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. (2 Chronicles 25:27 NASB)
c. But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62 NASB)
III. Do Not Turn Back to your old beliefs
a. "Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, SAYING TO AARON, 'MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT--WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.' (Acts 7:39-40 NASB)
b. Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. (1 Kings 11:9-10 NASB)
c. "Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. (Ezekiel 6:9 NASB)
d. "For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you." (Numbers 14:43 NASB)
Application/Invitation: The story of the Old Testament is of a people whom God loves, but they continually turn away from Him to follow other Gods. Some of them had their hearts turned, as in the case of Solomon, and some were scared, hungry, and impatient, as in the Hebrews who escaped Egypt and demanded an idol from Aaron while Moses was talking with God. One of the common denominators is being distracted. In our lives today, the world knows our name and knows which buttons to push to get our attention. In these last days, we must be careful to be die to ourselves each and every day, to pick up our cross, and to follow Jesus.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB)
