AH! Regrets, I have had a few... WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?
TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES?
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
IF YOU DO THIS IN ONE PART--- You must move quickly.
I. THERE IS A LOST WORD THAT WE NEED TO LEARN: AH!
Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jeremiah 22:18 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Mark 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
A. AH:
A great expression of sorrow and regret.
B. AHA:
A term of derision.
Scoff or ridicule.
C. REGRET
To feel or express sorrow, repentance or distress over words, actions or deeds.
An expression of disappointment.
Remorse, sadness, contrite
Deep hurt for a wrong committed
D. Some notes on REGRET!
1. It is better to do the things you should do than to spend the rest of your life wishing you had.
2. Words said while you are angry will often lead to regret you even spoke.
3. Danger, drop the "D" and you have ANGER. Anger almost always begins
with MADNESS and then ends with REGRET.
4. Godly contentment is looking to yesterday without regrets.
Face tomorrow without doubt, fear and worry.
5. Count what you have. Don’t keep a list of what you don’t have.
II. THE NEW TESTAMENT HAS THREE TERMS FOR REPENT/REPENTANCE.
A. REPENT: METAMELMAI
Matthew 14:9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayeth him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
METAMELOMAI:
This verb is used to demonstrate A CHANGE OF MIND...
There first comes REGRET ...
Then comes REMORSE ...
METAMELLOMAI IS THE TERM FOR REMORSE WITH NO CHANGE OF HEART ...
B. REPENT: METANOEO
METANOEO: This is "I am very sorry I got caught!"
This verb COMES AFTER LEARNING OR APPLYING A LESSON TO ONE’S HEART.
THIS MEANS A COMPLETE CHANGE OF ONE’S MIND ---
TO COME TO A NEW SENSE OF PURPOSE ---
TO BE A GOOD GARDENER YOU MUST HAVE TO DO MORE THAN LOVE PLANTS,
YOU MUST HATE WEEDS...
I love garden foods. Do you want to know the best garden I ever had?
I planted the beans, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, okra, etc.
For some reason we planted the rows far a part that year.
I got real busy doing my busy things, I took the LAWN MOWER BETWEEN THE
ROWS OF PLANTS.
I can never be a good gardener I DON’T HATE WEEDS ENOUGH.
C. METANOIA IS THE 3RD TYPE OF REPENTANCE.
METANOIA:
2 Cor. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
This word form is a NOUN.
This is TRUE REPENTANCE --- WITH A REAL CHANGE OF HEART --- MIND --- ATTITUDE.
METANOIA MEANS TO HATE SIN ---
TO ACCEPT SELF AS GUILTY WITH NO EXCUSE OR TAKEN LIGHTLY.
METANOIA COMPREHENDS THE TERRIBLENESS OF SIN, BUT IT ALSO
COMES TO THE LIGHT OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY --- TENDER MERCIES!
ALTERATION --- CHANGE!
AS THE BLOSSOM TO THE FRUIT ---
MEN SEEM TO DESIRE TO FORGIVE THE FAULTS AND STUPIDITY OF MOVIE
STARS AND SPORTS, BUT MEN ARE SO QUICK TO JUDGE THE SMALL
TRIVIAL STUMBLING IN THOSE THAT FOLLOW JESUS.
III. WHY DINE ON POSSUM WHEN YOU CAN HAVE LOBSTER AND A T-BONE?
REGRETS, I HAVE HAD A FEW... REGRETS IN LIFE ARE INEVITABLE. NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL YOU WALK AND PLAN YOUR PATH YOU WILL STILL KNOW REGRET.
A REAL TESTING OF ONE’S FAITH CHECKS ATTITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS.
We need to be held ACCOUNTABLE?
A. You ever ponder the difference in WOOD TREES and FRUIT TREES?
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
B. Around 1890 a boy wrote a report about ROBERT E. LEE.
The lad read the report to his Grandfather.
His Grandfather said: YOU WROTE ABOUT GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.
Seems the boy knew a lot about General Lee.
The Grandfather told his Grandson about serving under the great General.
The Grandson knew about Robert E. Lee.
The Grandfather KNEW ROBERT E. LEE.
C. What is the difference between CHAFF and WHEAT?
Ponder CUBIC-ZIRCONIUM and DIAMOND?
IMAGINE THE CORN HUSK IN THE PIG PEN VS THE MEAL AT THE FATHER’S
TABLE?
Think about eating a little BREAD and a small cup of wine vs. COMMUNION?
How about considering ENTERTAINMENT and PRAISE and WORSHIP?
Will we settle for the OUTER COURT MECHANENICS? OR WILL WE KNOW
THE INNER COURT?
IV. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW YOU WOULD TEST SOMEONE’S FAITH?
HOW IS FAITH STRETCHED AND TESTED?
A. Have you ever heard the story about the lesson the rich man wanted to teach his son? The rich man made arrangements for his son to stay with a poor family on a little farm and thus teach the lad to appreciate a LIFE OF EASE he knew.
B. After 3 days the father picked up his son. The father asked how the poor people lived? He enquired of his son what lessons he had learned from the very poor people? The boys answers amazed the Dad.
C. The boy answered his Dad: We have one little dog trapped in our house, they had 4 hunting dogs that run free. We have street lights, they HAVE THE STARS AT NIGHT.
We have a little yard, they have acres of land. We have horns and loud traffic, they have peace and quiet. We have house cleaners and servants, they go and help their neighbors. We build a wall around our house to protect us and keep others out.
They have good friends that are welcomed at their house anytime.
We have to go to the store and buy canned food, they have fresh garden food. They sit on the porch and sing and laugh, we watch TV.
D. The boy said: THANK YOU DAD FOR TAKING ME OUT IN THE COUNTRY TO THE
FARMERS HOME. I LOVED STAYING OUT THERE. I HAVE LEARNED HOW POOR
WE REALLY ARE.
V. COA OR DOA? DO YOU HAVE A COURSE OF ACTION? OR WILL WE BE
DEAD ON ARRIVAL? THERE ARE NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE THAN THE WORDS: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN... IS A LIFE OF NO REGRETS REALLY POSSIBLE?
A. I place REGRET in the same classification as PAYING TAXES and DYING.
B. We tend to live with THE GREENER GRASS SYNDROME ---
I WOULD BE HAPPY IF _________?
C. I have heard people say: IF I HAD LIFE TO LIVE OVER, I WOULD
NOT DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT?
I seriously doubt every time I have heard this.
It is unrealistic to dream of a LIFE WITH NO REGRETS?
D. Regrets grow out of our basic human nature that will always question
our actions.
E. COA is our COURSE OF ACTION?
You are a PRODUCT OF YOUR SUM TOTAL OF YOUR MENIAL DAILY CHOICES?
VI. WE SO FOCUS ON THE EXTERNALS? GOD SEES THE MOTIVE?
IS IT POSSIBLE TO SETTLE FOR SOME CHEAP SUBSTITUTE? IS IT POSSIBLE
TO DO GOD’S WORK WITHOUT GOD?
1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
A. When I was teaching school two boys were arguing over a problem?
The problem was: IS THIS STICK STRAIGHT, OR IS IT CROOKED.
Each young man gave his reason to back up his point.
The test was easy ... GET A STRAIGHT STICK and lay them down beside
each other. The straight line would prove or disprove the straightness?
B. How do you know when a 16 year old is ready to drive?
Make them take driver’s education? Learners permit? Drive with an adult?
Follow them?
C. I would never buy a car without first taking it for a test drive? If it is used Iwould take the car to a friend to look it over.
VII. WE ARE OFTEN EVENT DRIVEN PEOPLE. WE CAN ALLOW ONE EVENT TO
DRIVE THE REST OF OUR LIFE’S?
A. We must develop SHORT-TERM GOALS. These must be easily within reach
and measurable.
B. We must develop LONG-TERM GOALS.
C. It is very sad to wake up one day on your death bed and realize,
I HAVE MISSED IT...
1. To miss it is to DO THINGS YOU WILL LATER REGRET!
2. TO LEFT UNDONE THINGS YOU WISH YOU HAD DONE.
D. Years ago I was at the hospital where my friend was dying. He faced major surgery on his heart. He was dying. He was dying and he knew it.
BY CHANCE IN THE ROOM NEXT TO HIM WAS A BITTER ENEMY FROM THE
PAST. The person in the next room had told some true and some not true stories on him and the man and his family suffered dearly in the community. The person in the next room that had been so mean to him was dying.
During the night the man could not sleep, he knew he hated that person.
He also knew he was dying and his EX-FRIEND was dying. The man got up and went into his enemy’s room --- he did not know how he would be received?
The enemy was now bedfast, all the families were gone.
The two men cried and cried, they both admitted their mistakes and each
asked the other for forgiveness. They kissed each other and had a prayer
together.
Both men were dead within a few days!
God had ordered the steps of these men to be placed in adjacent rooms at
the same time to repair what misunderstanding and hurt had destroyed.
I was in my friends room at 4:30 am the next morning, he told me the
wonderful news of THE BURIED REGRETS and their sweet prayer together.
VIII. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU DO! BE MORE CAREFUL TO
DO THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER...
GROW IN GRACE! GROW IN LOVE! GROW IN FAITH! GROW IN THE WORD!
GROW IN DEED!
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
A. Any good soldier has learned to endure hardship and has graduated from
many obstacle courses.
B. I WOULD TEST FAITH BY A SERIES OF DISAPPOINTMENTS, PROBLEMS,
SHORTAGES, SICKNESSES, TRIALS, OBSTACLES, HURTS, PAINS, DEFEATS
AND GREAT DIFFICULTIES.
C. A REAL TESTING OF ONE’S FAITH CHECKS ATTITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS?
WE MUST NEVER FORGET LOOKING AT ONE’S MOTIVES?
We need to be held ACCOUNTABLE?
IX. FEAR, DREAD AND REGRET CAN BE LEARNED BEHAVIOR. DOUBT COMES
FROM A LACK OF TRUST AND KNOWING GOD’S WORD.
Exodus 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
A. WE MUST FACE OUR DREADS AND FEARS! Your enemy wants to use fear
to impede God’s work.
B. Seems all the magicians could duplicate the ability to change their rods into snakes.
Zech. 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
C. GOD HAD A GREATER LESSON, A GREAT SYMBOL OF HOW SURE HIS WORK
WAS ABOVE THE OTHER MAGICIANS --- AARON’S SNAKE ATE THE OTHERS!
D. The world and the religious games of many churches try to DUPLICATE GOD. Our enemy throws down our SINS and REGRETS ...
BUT OUR GOD and OUR FAITH will team up and SWALLOW UP the enemy’sFAKE.
E. GOD’S PLAN WILL BRING HEALING TO THE SICK, FREEDOM TO THOSE UNDER
BONDAGE, RECONCILIATION TO THOSE SEPERATED FROM THE CROSS, HOPE
TO THE HOPELESS. God wants to tear down the walls and barriers that hinder His Word and His Work.
CONCLUSION:
Arise O, wounded spirit. Bury the past or it will bury you!
Arise out of regret and deep depression. Dark room of despair yield to THE LIGHT! Come ’neath the SHADOW OF THE CROSS.
Tomorrow is a new day! Try again! Don’t let the negative voices overcome you!
YOU MUST OVERWHELM THEM WITH GOD’S PRESENCE!
These DRY BONES CAN LIVE AGAIN!
COME ALL THAT ARE HEAVY LADEN ---
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to another? Don’t bury it.
