Romans 8:28

Introduction

• Have you ever tried to build or assemble something without first reading the directions?  Most of us men have the tendency to do just that and then we have to go back and do a do-over.

• How can we make sure next time won’t be like the last time!

• This morning, we want to focus on our spiritual life but what we are going to discover can be applied to any arena of one’s life (finances, relationships, career, etc.).

• We often learn from our mistakes in the areas that matter least (games, hobbies, sports, etc.).

• We often repeat our mistakes in the areas of our lives that matter most (faith, relationships, etc).

• We ask the question: When will I learn?

• Life has enough unpreventable pain; even if you were to make all the right decisions in life, one is still going to experience some disappointment and pain because some things are going to go wrong (we live in a sin-cursed world).  So why add more pain to a somewhat painful existence! Why make things worse on ourselves by making wrong decisions in life?  Some pain can be avoided!

Illusions

1. Experience makes me wiser!

• Experience alone does not make you wiser.  (Evaluated experience makes you wiser.  Assessing one’s experience can be a game-changer)  James 1:2 “Count it all joy . . .”  Count means to evaluate

1. Since I know better, I’ll do better!

• Knowing better ≠ doing better.

• Knowing better ≠ the ability to do better.

Unless one makes some personal changes, one will not do better.  Knowing better does not mean one will do better; knowing better does not mean one has the strength or self-control to do better.  That is why we need a partner who can empower us to make some changes – the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew that so that is why He told his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

1. Time is your enemy!

• Time is not your enemy, it is your friend.

• Leverage time to work for you by pausing long enough to evaluate and heal.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  God is doing something and God is going to leverage my past for my good.  (Notice the life of Paul – made a huge turnaround but paused before doing ministry to evaluate; God redeemed Paul’s past and to redeem something means to add value too. God used Paul’s past to add value to his future.)

Next time can be better than last time, but not just because you want it to be, but because you plan for it to be.  For the next few weeks, we are going to look at three things that we must do so the next time will not be like the last time.  We must:

1. Own it

2. Rethink it

3. Release it

1. Own it

One must own one’s role in one’s negative history.  Therefore, one must pause long enough to own one’s responsibility.

• We usually blame others or our circumstances instead of taking responsibility for our part in our past.

• In order for one to have a successful future, one must be willing to own one’s share of their past.  

• Ex: Genesis 2:17  In the creation of man, there was only one command – don’t eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil

       Genesis 3:8  We hide (kids hide when they do something wrong)

       Genesis 3:9  God pursued them

       Genesis 3:10 – 13  They blamed – what they said was true but not all the truth

• If one does not own his/her past of their own history, they will lay the foundation for undermining their future

• If one does not stop and take responsibility for their part in their history, they will drag it with themselves into their future and undermine their future, success and happiness.

• One can’t blame their way into a better future.  Blame simply enables one to smuggle their issues into their future.

• EVALUATE: What was my part?

• Blame sets one up for a repeat performance

• Blame keeps one from seeing with clarity.

• Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  There is a relationship between purity and clarity.

When one owns their part, they can’t be as mad at others.  One makes peace with one’s past by owning their piece of their part of their past.