MEN WHO HAD SECOND THOUGHTS

Introduction:

1. The aim of the lesson today is to better understand the importance of examining our conclusions on any given subject and in some cases it is good for us to have second thoughts.
1. This is especially true when one considers his stand with God.
2. It does not hurt to examine oneself over and over again to be sure that we are walking as we ought to .
2. As one examines himself one can clearly see that first thoughts are not always the best thoughts to pursue.
1. Our intellect and our emotions help make up what we do think.
2. Sometimes our first thoughts would be the best choice, however, in c\many cases the initial thought needs to be considered and laid aside that we many arrive at the best conclusion.
3. Someone has said that if you are angry, count to ten before you act.
4. In many cases we do all think and think again.
1. However, in religion many do not have second thoughts.
2. It is so easy to stay in the same old way, so many do not want to entertain second thoughts about their relationship with God.
3. In today's lesson we want to examine several men who had what seemed to be good first thoughts, yet after seriously examining their situation and the evidences that were present, they all had second thoughts.
4. As Christians we ought to learn from these examples and apply them to our own lives.

Body:

1. THE PRODIGAL SON --- Lessons from the Parable of the Lost Son - Luke 15
1. The son wanted to live it up on the wild side --- Luke 15:11-13
2. Soon his riches failed him --- Luke 15:14-16
3. He was forced to rethink what he should be doing.
1. One thing made sense at one particular time but now it did not make any sense at all.
2. The second thought led to the only sensible thing that he was to do:
1. Return to his father --- Luke 15:17-20
2. Many will not do this because of fear of been seen as a failure.
1. Pride stands in their way of doing what is right and good.
4. Closer examination of his situation led him to see the consequences of what he had done.
1. He could see he had made mistakes.
2. He could see that he was wrong.
5. He now wanted to do what was right, so he acknowledged his error --- Luke 15:21-24
1. He did not try to justify his actions, nor did he return with a proud and haughty spirit but rather with one that was clothed in the cloak of humility.



2. THE REBELLIOUS SON --- A Lesson from the Parable of the two Sons - Matthew 21

1. This is a similar situation as we found in the parable we have just studied.
1. This son refused to obey his father --- he rebelled --- Matthew 21:28-29a.
2. Some today have this very spirit in themselves, they refuse outrightly to obey God in all things. --- cf. Acts 2:38, 41a.
3. Yet after a closer examination once again the rebellious son had second thoughts --- Matthew 21:29b.
1. This shows that it is never to late to re-examine our decisions and to change what we may have at first thought was a good choice.
4. All people who have not made their lives right with God need to have second thoughts about their eternal destiny --- Acts 3:19
1. PAUL --- THE APOSTLE BORN OUT OF SEASON
1. Paul was earlier called Saul and he was blinded to the truth as were many of the religious leaders at that time --- cf. Acts 7:58; Acts 9:1-2
2. It took the physical presence of the risen Saviour and the physical blindness that he experienced on the road to Damascus that opened his Spiritual eyes that he may see and accept the truth of God's Word --- Acts 9:8, 12.
3. When Paul's physical eyes were opened; --- cf. Acts 9:18a his heart was opened to the truth --- cf. Acts 9:18b.
1. Paul had second thoughts and he did much good for the cause of Christ --- Acts 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:15.



2. PETER --- THE IMPULSIVE DISCIPLE WHO LOVED THE LORD
1. The fact that Peter loved the Lord can never be denied --- cf. John 13:37
2. However, Peter was impetuous.
1. He was quick to act.
3. Many today are just like Peter and are apt to make bad mistakes.
1. Note: Peter was quick to vehemently deny that he would ever deny Jesus --- cf. Matthew 26:33-35 (Emp. vrs 35).
2. Yet, Peter made a severe mistake - he did deny Jesus --- cf. Matthew 26:69-75
1. In fact just as strong a denial as he had put up in Matthew 26:33-35.
4. Because of his love for the Lord it made him repent.
1. He had made a mistake but that did not keep him from doing what was right in the sight of the Lord.
2. After the resurection we see Peter made a positive affirmation of his love for the Lord --- cf. John 21:15-17
3. Peter later gave his life for what he preached and believed in.
1. History records that he suffered the cruel death of crucifixtion upside down.
2. He was beaten, imprisoned yet this did not stop his decision to stand for Christ come what may.



3. NAAMAN --- Lessons from a Gentile
1. Naaman was angry at the prophet of God's remedy for his leprosy and chose the wrong way to get rid of it --- cf. 2 Kings 5:9-11.
1. In 2 Kings 5:12 we see that he received nothing.
2. In 2 Kings 5:13 he had second thoughts:
1. He decided to do the right thing --- 2 Kings 5:14a
2. This action benefitted him greatly --- 2 Kings 5:14b.
3. In many cases it would be good for each one of us to examine ourselves and have second thoughts about our service to God.



4. JONAH --- Lessons from a runner
1. Jonah tried to run from God --- he went the wrong way to try to get out of doing what God demanded of him --- Jonah 1:1-3
2. Jonah got into trouble by his first thoughts of actions.
1. He suffered the punishments for his actions --- Jonah 1:4,15,17
3. In the belly of the great fish Jonah had second thoughts ---Jonah 2:1,7,10
1. His situation certainly aided in his ability to stop and reconsider.
4. Then as we see in Jonah 3:1-3a he decided to do the right thing.



5. SIMON THE SORCERER --- Lesson a brother who sinned
1. As a Christian, Simon sinned --- Acts 8:18-19
2. Peter cautioned him of his souls situation --- Acts 8:20-21
1. In this rebuke came the sturn voice of admonition --- Acts 8:22
3. This led to Simon the sorcerer to have second thoughts:
1. He was told of the severity of his mistake --- Acts 8:23
4. Yet, despite his error - he reconsidered and decided to make his life right with God.



6. DAVID --- Lessons from a man after God's own Heart.
1. This was a man, the King of Israel who loved God and gave his all to the service of God, yet still was able to go wrong --- 2 Sam. 11:3-4a, 5
2. He did wrong --- by making a bad decision then compounded this by trying to cover up the fact --- 2 Sam. 11:15
1. With many today this is the case in abortion.
2. Abortion is the end result of many trying to cover up the same of being immoral.
3. David reaped grim consequences because of his firsts thoughts --- 2 Sam. 12:15,19
4. Yet, despite this David had second thoughts --- Psa. 51:3b.
1. He made things right with God --- Psa. 32:5
5. Many today need to have the heart of David and return to God instead of trying to cover up the wrongs in their lives.



7. SOLOMON --- Lessons from a wise King

1. Solomon was a man of wisdom ---
1. This wisdom was given to him by God.
2. Used it for the most part in the right way, yet in his later life he mis-used and tried every pleasure --- Eccl. 2:10a.
2. He had second thoughts about this --- Eccl. 2:11
1. This man of wisdom could see what was best for him --- Eccl. 2:24
3. This great giant of wisdom also shows us that the most impoirtant thing that we can do in life is to serve God --- Eccl. 12:13.

Conclusion:

1. Finally, in most, if not in every one of these cases, there was some bad consequence that was faced before they had second thoughts.
2. Thus, there is good in many bad ordeals that we face.
1. These ordeals led these men to make their lives right with God.
2. What is it going to take for you to get your life right with God?
3. Let us benefit from these men's experiences.

Original Outline and Idea --- Author Unknown

Re-worked as my own --- John Cripps