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We all make a multitude of choices everyday; what to wear, what to eat, the route to take,
paper or plastic; The other day I was at a grocery store in line behind a woman who was
having the checker examine every item of fruit and vegetables to see if there was a problem; I
wondered at that point, why I had chosen that line. I saw a young man there whose ear lobes
were giant holes! Just big loops; I thought I had stumbled on the member of some primitive
tribe. I wondered what kind of thinking goes into a choice like that?
We make our choices, whatever they may be, for many reasons: what is popular, what is fun;
what is profitable; what is easiest; This morning, I want us to limit our focus on our choices
regarding our relationship with God. What choice have you made concerning Him? Have you
chosen to stay close to Him, or would you say that you are not as close to Him as you maybe
at one time were.
In the country of Nepal, it is against the law to "change from the religion of your birth," that is,
from the religion of the family you were born into. So when the Gospel of the Lord Jesus is
presented to people who live there, the choice to follow Christ comes with the immediate
realization that they are also choosing to become fugitives. Upon being baptized, new faith in
Jesus is welcomed by arrest and punishment by law of a minimum of two years in prison.
Because of this, from the very beginning, these Believers in Christ understand that they have
to give the Lord everything; all of their lives. Of course, just like us, they have to grow, and be
sanctified in many areas of their walk, but because of such a good foundation, whatever
stage of life in the Lord they find themselves in, they are giving Christ their all. These saints
have a profound realization that they are here on the earth for the Lord and His purposes, no
matter the cost, and this is proven out in their lives and choices.
In sharp contrast, many people today in Western nations come to the Lord in a context that
costs them very little. Some want to add Jesus to their life to help them with their problems.
Others want Him for the "God section" of their lives so as to have a wholesome belief system,
ethics, inspiring devotions, and Sunday religion. Here in the United States, you can come to
Jesus at a "Christian alternative rock concert" and go right on piercing and tattooing your
body and pursuing worldly trends, but now supposedly be doing it for the Lord. Women can
come to Jesus and go right on pursuing feminist goals and ideals. Christians here feel
persecuted when someone at their restaurant table prays over the meal and a stranger gives
them a look. And we could go on and on. The message that so often tragically comes forth
today is that you can add Jesus to your life and pursuits, and it will cost you little in terms of
laying down your life, fitting around His Lordship, and putting to death the deeds of the flesh.
Many today have no comprehension that He mercifully saved them "for His good pleasure."
The Apostle Paul said that those of us who are born of the Spirit "are not our own," What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God's. for we belong to the Lord (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Much of our Christianized culture
encourages lukewarmness because lukewarm is closer to hot than cold is, and therefore
looks better and is more acceptable. God help us!
The Lord wants all of us: all of our lives, all of our motivations, all of our devotion. He does not
want us to allow anything to "rival" Him in importance in our hearts and lives. It is not
acceptable to Him that we section Him off to a devotional time in the morning or a meeting on
a certain day of the week. He wants all of our day everyday! It is not acceptable to Him that we
go to sleep from time to time, becoming passive of heart toward Him and His kingdom. He
desires us to be engaged in active faith, trusting Him in all things, seeking first His kingdom,
pursuing His will for our lives wholeheartedly, fervent in spirit, on our feet, on our face, on the
edge of our seat, always at the ready for whatever He has. Does He forgive us when we give
Him less than our all, hold to idols in our heart, go to sleep, and become weighted down with
the cares of this life? Yes, He does. But is a partial life for Him what we are settling for, or is
our pursuit to follow Him completely? What does our life and choices tell us?
Proverbs 8:34-36 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at
the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
Consider two individuals found in scripture; a male and a female.
Lot was the nephew of a Godly man; Abraham. Lot made the choice to come with his uncle
when the Lord called Abraham to leave his country and his family, and travel to where God
led him.
In Genesis 13:6-11, we read something of the mindset of Lot as he makes a choice
concerning where he was going to live.
We next read of Lot in Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in
the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Then note: Ge 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his
goods, and departed.
Again: Gene. 19:1; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom:
His choices led him to separate himself from his uncle who walked with God, to live in the
best area which would provide the best grazing; to live near Sodom then in Sodom, then a
person of influence in Sodom. When we leave those who teach us to walk with the Lord, we
are headed for misery!
The next person is a woman named Mary. She has a sister named Martha, and a brother
named Lazarus.
Look in Lu 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall
not be taken away from her.
Jesus has come to visit, and Martha is busy preparing a feast. Mary no doubt is helping, but I
can see her now, bringing things to Jesus and the disciples, listening to their conversations,
taking more time to stop and listen, until she is finally found seated at Jesus feet, hanging on
every word! Martha is upset; 40 Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled
about many things:
Somewhere Mary made a choice, that no matter what else was happening in her life,
whenever she had the opportunity, she was going to get as close to Jesus as she could get,
and stay there!
How do we make the choices which bring us closer to the Lord, rather than farther away from
Him?
Turn to Ephesians 5:15-17
What does it mean to walk circumspectly? It means to be careful, to be cautious; to look at
all sides of a decision before we make it. Does it honor Christ? Does it help us to walk nearer
to, or farther from? Every choice that we make has consequences- we will always reap
whatever we sow! Lot ended up being dragged out of Sodom as the Lord rained fiery
judgment down upon Sodom and Gomorrah. How many times have we like Lot, made a
wrong choice thinking it was OK, or just to have fun, or just to improve our circumstances,
only to find ourselves drawn towards something beyond our ability to control, or to escape
from?
To redeem the time, means to buy it up-to make the most of it. We only have so much time
given to us. An old saying goes: “Just one life, t’will soon be past; only what’s done for
Christ will last!” Because the days are evil. Because the times in which you live are evil. There
are many activities, recreation, business, and temptations that would lead you away from the
proper spending of time, and that would draw you into sin. Such were those that would tempt
them to go to places of sinful indulgence and revelry, where their time would be wasted, and
worse than wasted They redeem their time who employ it
We waste so much time pursuing:
Mary chose the better part! We find Mary in John 12 annointing Jesus with an expensive
fragrance that was very expensive-a whole years wages-she poured it out on Him: Many
considered it a waste-yet Jesus said what she had done would be remembered every where
the Gospel was preached! Mt 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a
memorial of her.
Understanding What God’s Will is for your life. How may times do we make choices with this
thought in mind?
What does God want for my life, and how will this choice affect His purpose for me?
Will my choice delay His plan being accomplished in me? Will my choice lead to sorrow,
disappointment, or joy?
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The word vex kataponeo, kat-ap-on-eh'-o means to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (figuratively,
harass):--oppress, vex.
Lot did not like what He saw going on; He did not like the sinfulness of those he lived with
and near, but He said, and did nothing about it-he was in too deep!
What about you? What choices are you making? Are they bringing you nearer to, or farther
from the Lord?
Are you cautious; do you see the danger? Are you alert to the fact that time is something that
you only have so much of, and you must make the most of it?
Do you consider that you are made in God’s image, to serve and worship Him? Do you even
consider what He wants for you before you decide?
You are making choices all the time! You are making one now! What will it be? Him, or the
World? His way, or yours? Life, or Death?
paper or plastic; The other day I was at a grocery store in line behind a woman who was
having the checker examine every item of fruit and vegetables to see if there was a problem; I
wondered at that point, why I had chosen that line. I saw a young man there whose ear lobes
were giant holes! Just big loops; I thought I had stumbled on the member of some primitive
tribe. I wondered what kind of thinking goes into a choice like that?
We make our choices, whatever they may be, for many reasons: what is popular, what is fun;
what is profitable; what is easiest; This morning, I want us to limit our focus on our choices
regarding our relationship with God. What choice have you made concerning Him? Have you
chosen to stay close to Him, or would you say that you are not as close to Him as you maybe
at one time were.
In the country of Nepal, it is against the law to "change from the religion of your birth," that is,
from the religion of the family you were born into. So when the Gospel of the Lord Jesus is
presented to people who live there, the choice to follow Christ comes with the immediate
realization that they are also choosing to become fugitives. Upon being baptized, new faith in
Jesus is welcomed by arrest and punishment by law of a minimum of two years in prison.
Because of this, from the very beginning, these Believers in Christ understand that they have
to give the Lord everything; all of their lives. Of course, just like us, they have to grow, and be
sanctified in many areas of their walk, but because of such a good foundation, whatever
stage of life in the Lord they find themselves in, they are giving Christ their all. These saints
have a profound realization that they are here on the earth for the Lord and His purposes, no
matter the cost, and this is proven out in their lives and choices.
In sharp contrast, many people today in Western nations come to the Lord in a context that
costs them very little. Some want to add Jesus to their life to help them with their problems.
Others want Him for the "God section" of their lives so as to have a wholesome belief system,
ethics, inspiring devotions, and Sunday religion. Here in the United States, you can come to
Jesus at a "Christian alternative rock concert" and go right on piercing and tattooing your
body and pursuing worldly trends, but now supposedly be doing it for the Lord. Women can
come to Jesus and go right on pursuing feminist goals and ideals. Christians here feel
persecuted when someone at their restaurant table prays over the meal and a stranger gives
them a look. And we could go on and on. The message that so often tragically comes forth
today is that you can add Jesus to your life and pursuits, and it will cost you little in terms of
laying down your life, fitting around His Lordship, and putting to death the deeds of the flesh.
Many today have no comprehension that He mercifully saved them "for His good pleasure."
The Apostle Paul said that those of us who are born of the Spirit "are not our own," What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God's. for we belong to the Lord (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Much of our Christianized culture
encourages lukewarmness because lukewarm is closer to hot than cold is, and therefore
looks better and is more acceptable. God help us!
The Lord wants all of us: all of our lives, all of our motivations, all of our devotion. He does not
want us to allow anything to "rival" Him in importance in our hearts and lives. It is not
acceptable to Him that we section Him off to a devotional time in the morning or a meeting on
a certain day of the week. He wants all of our day everyday! It is not acceptable to Him that we
go to sleep from time to time, becoming passive of heart toward Him and His kingdom. He
desires us to be engaged in active faith, trusting Him in all things, seeking first His kingdom,
pursuing His will for our lives wholeheartedly, fervent in spirit, on our feet, on our face, on the
edge of our seat, always at the ready for whatever He has. Does He forgive us when we give
Him less than our all, hold to idols in our heart, go to sleep, and become weighted down with
the cares of this life? Yes, He does. But is a partial life for Him what we are settling for, or is
our pursuit to follow Him completely? What does our life and choices tell us?
Proverbs 8:34-36 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at
the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
Consider two individuals found in scripture; a male and a female.
Lot was the nephew of a Godly man; Abraham. Lot made the choice to come with his uncle
when the Lord called Abraham to leave his country and his family, and travel to where God
led him.
In Genesis 13:6-11, we read something of the mindset of Lot as he makes a choice
concerning where he was going to live.
We next read of Lot in Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in
the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Then note: Ge 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his
goods, and departed.
Again: Gene. 19:1; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom:
His choices led him to separate himself from his uncle who walked with God, to live in the
best area which would provide the best grazing; to live near Sodom then in Sodom, then a
person of influence in Sodom. When we leave those who teach us to walk with the Lord, we
are headed for misery!
The next person is a woman named Mary. She has a sister named Martha, and a brother
named Lazarus.
Look in Lu 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall
not be taken away from her.
Jesus has come to visit, and Martha is busy preparing a feast. Mary no doubt is helping, but I
can see her now, bringing things to Jesus and the disciples, listening to their conversations,
taking more time to stop and listen, until she is finally found seated at Jesus feet, hanging on
every word! Martha is upset; 40 Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled
about many things:
Somewhere Mary made a choice, that no matter what else was happening in her life,
whenever she had the opportunity, she was going to get as close to Jesus as she could get,
and stay there!
How do we make the choices which bring us closer to the Lord, rather than farther away from
Him?
Turn to Ephesians 5:15-17
- 1. Walk Circumspectly
2. Redeem the time
3. Understand the will of the Lord
What does it mean to walk circumspectly? It means to be careful, to be cautious; to look at
all sides of a decision before we make it. Does it honor Christ? Does it help us to walk nearer
to, or farther from? Every choice that we make has consequences- we will always reap
whatever we sow! Lot ended up being dragged out of Sodom as the Lord rained fiery
judgment down upon Sodom and Gomorrah. How many times have we like Lot, made a
wrong choice thinking it was OK, or just to have fun, or just to improve our circumstances,
only to find ourselves drawn towards something beyond our ability to control, or to escape
from?
To redeem the time, means to buy it up-to make the most of it. We only have so much time
given to us. An old saying goes: “Just one life, t’will soon be past; only what’s done for
Christ will last!” Because the days are evil. Because the times in which you live are evil. There
are many activities, recreation, business, and temptations that would lead you away from the
proper spending of time, and that would draw you into sin. Such were those that would tempt
them to go to places of sinful indulgence and revelry, where their time would be wasted, and
worse than wasted They redeem their time who employ it
- (1.) in growing in the knowledge of God’s Word
(2.) in doing good to others;
(3.) in employing it for the purpose of an honest livelihood for themselves and families;
(4.) in prayer and self-examination, to make the heart better;
(5.) in seeking salvation.
We waste so much time pursuing:
- (1.) pleasure and entertainment
(2.) in the temptations to play video games, watch TV, go to movies, read silly worthless
magazines, books trash! We consume precious hours to no valuable purpose;
(3.) in the temptations of ambition, and when gained, it is all vanity, not worth the effort;
(4.) in wild and visionary plans;
(5.) and in luxurious indulgence--in dressing, and eating, and drinking.
Mary chose the better part! We find Mary in John 12 annointing Jesus with an expensive
fragrance that was very expensive-a whole years wages-she poured it out on Him: Many
considered it a waste-yet Jesus said what she had done would be remembered every where
the Gospel was preached! Mt 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a
memorial of her.
Understanding What God’s Will is for your life. How may times do we make choices with this
thought in mind?
What does God want for my life, and how will this choice affect His purpose for me?
Will my choice delay His plan being accomplished in me? Will my choice lead to sorrow,
disappointment, or joy?
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The word vex kataponeo, kat-ap-on-eh'-o means to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (figuratively,
harass):--oppress, vex.
Lot did not like what He saw going on; He did not like the sinfulness of those he lived with
and near, but He said, and did nothing about it-he was in too deep!
What about you? What choices are you making? Are they bringing you nearer to, or farther
from the Lord?
Are you cautious; do you see the danger? Are you alert to the fact that time is something that
you only have so much of, and you must make the most of it?
Do you consider that you are made in God’s image, to serve and worship Him? Do you even
consider what He wants for you before you decide?
You are making choices all the time! You are making one now! What will it be? Him, or the
World? His way, or yours? Life, or Death?
| Choices |
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