Matthew 18:3
We Need to Turn
4/28/2013 AM
GPS, Global Positioning Systems, are wonderful things. They help
keep you on the correct course. I use mine often. However, even
with a GPS, there are some roads that are so close together, unless
you are looking directly at the screen, you might end up making the
wrong turn.
A couple of nights ago, I was heading to a business from a different
direction. No GPS. It was dark. There were no street lights, only
my headlights, and as I approached the road onto which I thought I
needed to turn, I slowed and asked Kathy, "Is this the turn we need
to make." "Yes," came her rely. Guess what? We were both wrong.
We had made the wrong turn. We weren’t bad off, just one block; but
we had made the wrong turn and needed to turn again.
Lu 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren.
Introduction:
Please notice that in both verses, the word converted is used. I
draw your attention to that fact because even though in the English
they are the same words, they have different meanings. In fact, in
the Greek, they are actually different words.
For those who prefer light preaching, please bear with me a moment.
1. The Greek word for convert in Matt 18:3 is stref-o.
a. It means "to turn."
(1) In fact, quite often in our Bible, it is translated
to turn.
(2) When this word is used, there is no indication of
any previous turning. It speaks of first turns.
b. The translators most likely translated it converted in
Matthew 18:3 because they recognized it as a spiritual
turning rather than a physical turning.
(1) The thought Jesus is giving us in this verse is that
we must all somehow be turned or else we will never
see heaven.
(2) The word conveys the same broad meaning as the Bible
terms salvation, born-again, regenerated.
(3) However, it specifically deals with an effect that
must take place in the matter of salvation; namely,
we must be turned, converted, changed, brought to
the place of repentance.
c. A few thoughts about this turn.
(1) I notice that while Jesus demanded the change of us
(we are the ones to which this action must happen),
the labor comes from another.
"except ye BE converted…."
(a) In our English, we would call this the passive
tense.
(b) It means this is a work being done to us rather
than by us.
(c) In other words, God is the One who will
actually have to turn us.
i. Our role in this act is to submit to God’s
turning hand.
ii. When will fill the pressure of it upon us,
we must yield to it.
iii. It is my prayer that every soul will feel
the weight of God’s hand upon them,
directing them, today.
(2) Jesus’ directive places this action of being turned
into the "all" series.
(a) All are sinners.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God;
(b) All are separated from God.
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid
his face from you, that he will not hear.
(c) All are condemned.
Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(d) All must be born again.
John 3:7 …Ye must be born again.
(e) To be born again, all must be converted or
turned.
(f) Have you ever turned to Jesus?
(3) You cannot turn again until you have first turned.
(I know that makes no sense to you right now, but I
hope it will in a moment.)
2. The Greek word in Luke 22:32 is epi-stref-o.
a. Both words have the same root word but the one in Luke has
a prefix, epi.
b. The prefix epi equates with English prepositions.
(1) You might wonder, "Which preposition?"
(2) Pretty much all of them. Epi can mean above, over,
on, upon, beside, in addition to, to, toward.
(3) The context tells you which way to translate it.
(4) Here, I would say epi means again.
(5) So the Greek word epi-stref-o means "turn again."
c. Peter had turned to Christ once before. The word Jesus
is using here is to tell Peter that he will have to turn
yet again.
(1) Once is all it takes to be saved.
(2) However, just like we must constantly adjust our
earthly directions to get to a destination, so
we must constantly make spiritual turns to arrive at
destination for God.
(3) Some are smitten with such a bad case of pride that
they think they never need turn again in their walk
with the Lord. I tell you, I must make adjustments
constantly and I think you do too.
d. So the Lord is not telling Peter that he needs to turn
(that is, to be saved) but that he will need to turn
again (that is, make some adjustments to get back on
course.)
e. I come back to the statement I made a few moments ago,
"You cannot turn again until you have first turned.
(1) You can not make adjustments in your walk with the
Lord until you have first been saved.
(2) It is hard to know when Peter first turned to Christ.
(3) There are many possible times given in the Scripture.
(a) When Jesus went fishing with Peter.
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down
at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I
am a sinful man, O Lord.
i. Why can’t we know that Peter was saved here?
ii. Because salvation does not always come with
the realization of sin.
(b) When Peter went for a walk with Jesus.
Matt 14:28 And Peter answered him and said,
Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on
the water.
32 And when they were come into the ship, the
wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and
worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the
Son of God.
i. Why can’t we know that Peter was saved here?
ii. Because salvation does not always come with
an emotional experience.
(c) When Peter understood who Jesus was.
Mt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
i. Why can’t we know that Peter was saved here?
ii. Because salvation does not always come with
an understanding of who Jesus is.
(4) So when does salvation come?
(a) When you have been turned, changed, converted.
(b) There is no other way of knowing that you have
been saved but the evidence of a permanent,
powerful, change taking place in your life.
I. Notice that Jesus was certain Peter would both fail and then
return.
A. Of course, Jesus is God and knows those kinds of things,
B. However, one does not have to be God to know both of those
things are going to happen to each of us.
C. You and I can know we are going to fail.
1. I make that statement for three reasons
a. \\#Luke 22:31\\ The same devil who wanted to sift
Peter wants to sift you.
b. You and I wear the same weak and frail flesh as
Peter.
c. You and I make the same foolish mistakes that
Peter made.
2. All of that means the changes are high, very high,
that we are going to fail God.
3. In fact, it is most likely that a good portion of
those sitting here this morning are in some state of
sin toward God.
(a) Obviously you have not quit on God.
(b) However, you are latched a hold of some form of
sin and you will not turn it loose.
(1) bitterness
(2) lust
(3) disobedience to the Holy Spirit
(4) selfishness
(5) pride
(6) busybody, gossip, liar
D. If you are God’s, you can also be certain that you will
turn again.
1. How can you be sure of that?
2. Because Jesus will do whatever it takes to turn you
again.
a. Jesus does not loose His children.
John 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek
ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he:
if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he
spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost
none.
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.
b. If you are God’s, you will fail but you will be
brought back.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you
as with sons; for what son is he whom the father
chasteneth not?
II. Christian. your part in staying on course is to yield to God.
A. For us, GPS means God’s Positioning System.
1. God speaks to His children through the Holy Ghost who
is within you.
2. If you cannot hear Him speak, you are not on His
network.
3. I say again, you cannot turn again until you have
first turned.
B. If you are on the network, you need to listen to your
God Positioning System.
1. God is trying to direct you to the place He wants you
to be.
2. He uses many things to make certain you hear Him.
a. That still small voice
b. Sermons, counsel of godly friends
c. Circumstances - job, finances, sickness, death
3. But you must choose to listen and obey. You must
turn again.
C. God will not be ignored or disobeyed by His children. He
will do whatever He must to turn you again.
Psalm 38:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath:
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy
hand presseth me sore.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because
of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my
bones because of my sin.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:
as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of
my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go
mourning all the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome
disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared
by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
D. Let me give you five reasons why you need to turn again
right now.
1. You promised God you would live for Him.
2. You meant it.
3. You have a position and place of duty in His work.
a. You are letting someone down, letting someone go
to hell.
b. It is probably your own family.
4. You are unhappy now. You might be having fun, have
money, have freedom, but you are still empty and
disappointed.
5. You are going to be even more unhappy if you do not
turn again.
a. In this life, things will only get worse.
b. Then there is the Bema Seat.
(1) You will receive no reward.
(2) It would be better for you to go through this
whole life with nothing than to go through
eternity with nothing.
