LOOKING BACK VARIOUS WARNINGS ABOUT LOOKING BACK Looking

LOOKING BACK

VARIOUS WARNINGS ABOUT LOOKING BACK Looking Back • Lot’s Wife – Genesis 19: 15 -26 – cf. Luke 17: 32 • Jesus – Luke 9: 57 -62 2

WHY WE SOMETIMES LOOK BACK Looking Back • • To assess impending danger To assess position or progress To view mistakes of the past In historical studies Research our ancestry To review our record To see what is behind us 3

THE APOSTLE PAUL LOOKED BACK! Looking Back • He reminded the Corinthians of the mistakes of the Israelites in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10: 1 -11) – Discussed their forefathers – Baptized unto Moses • To be loyal to the Law of Moses – Partook of spiritual meat • Manna from heaven – John 6: 31 • A type of Christ – John 6: 48 – Drank Spiritual drink • Received blessings from God – But, they were overthrown in the wilderness • Idolatry, lusts, committed fornication, tempted Christ! – Written for our example & warning 4

THE APOSTLE PAUL LOOKED BACK! • He looked back at his days as a persecutor – Acts 22: 4 -16 – 1 Corinthians 15: 9 – Galatians 1: 13 -16 • He looked back and gloried in his sufferings for Christ – 2 Corinthians 11: 22 -30 • He pressed on when he was persecuted – Philippians 3: 14 Looking Back 5

SHOULD WE LOOK BACK OR NOT LOOK BACK? Looking Back • Some say never look back! – That is right in some instances! • But we must look back and reflect! At Who and What? 6

MUST LOOK BACK TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST • Must look back in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus for us – Look at His suffering • Acts 17: 2, 3 – His willingness to be offered • Matthew 26: 26 -29 • John 6: 35 -40 • When we break bread we must Look… – Back to the benefits of the cross • Ephesians 2: 13 -22 – Inwardly at self • 1 Corinthians 11: 27 -30 • Philippians 3: 17 -21; Romans 14: 17 – Forward to the Promise of Heaven • 2 Timothy 4: 8; Revelation 21: 1 -5. 23 -27 • Are we willingly making sacrifices? Looking Back 7

WE MUST LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE OF CHRIST Looking Back • We must contemplate his endurance in sufferings: – 1 Peter 2: 21 -25 • Reflect on His compassion for sinners – Matthew 14: 14 • 15: 32 • 20: 29 -34 • Do we have such compassion? – 1 Peter 3: 8 8

WE MUST LOOK BACK TO HIS TEACHING AND HIS WORD Looking Back • Jesus is the firm foundation on which we must build our hope – Matthew 7: 24 -27 – 1 Corinthians 3: 10 -15 • Peter, James and John were commanded to “hear ye Him” on the mount – Matthew 17: 1 -5 • Do we have faith in His Word and obey Him? – Romans 10: 17 9

WE MUST LOOK AT OUR SACRIFICES AS COMPARED TO JESUS Looking Back • We must give our bodies as a living sacrifice – Romans 12: 1 -2 • Must be Holy as He is Holy! – 1 Peter 1: 13 -16 – Colossians 1: 21 -23 – Ephesians 1: 3 -4 • Are we striving to live Holy lives? 10

WE MUST LOOK BACK AT OUR OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD Looking Back • We are to hear Him – John 12: 48 -50 • We must look to Jesus’ example of obedience to the Father – Hebrews 5: 8 -9 • How He Humbled Himself to the will of the Father – John 4: 34; 5: 30; 6: 38 -39 • Make corrections where needed! 11

LOOKING BACK IS NECESSARY AND NEEDFUL Looking Back • Look back at your spiritual deficiencies • Look back at your study of God’s word • Look back your level of support for the church here • Look back at your influence – It is either good or bad! • Look back at your example – 1 Timothy 4: 12 • Is it good or bad? • Look back at your service to God with the end in view of being a better servant going forward • If you are on the wrong road, change directions! 12

THE LORD • 2 Corinthians 5: 9 -10 WILL LOOK • Ecclesiastes 12: 13 -14… BACK ON – 13 Let us hear the conclusion OUR WORKS of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his ON THE DAY commandments: for this is OF the whole duty of man. JUDGMENT! – 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Looking Back 13