"The Deciding Factor"

The Deciding Factor

Foundational Principles for Successful Decision Making

Life Changers Church

WEEK ONE: THE POWER OF CHOICE

INTRODUCTION:

DECISIONS….every single week of our lives we are faced with hundreds (if not thousands) of decisions that we must make for ourselves and our families. What to eat, what to wear, what route to take to work, etc. are decisions that are much easier than others and require little to no thought when deciding. But what about the harder ones? What about when things are not clear and blatantly obvious? What about when we have made poor decisions in the past that ended up costing us time, relationships, money and opportunitites and now we are afraid to confidently make a decision?

That is the focus of the sermon series over the next few weeks. Through this teaching, my goal is to give each of you tips, tools, resources, etc. that will boost your confidence and empower you as you make decisions for your lives and those under your care.

1. DECISION: What is It?

a. Definition:

i. A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. A choice that you make after thinking about it.

b. The Difference Between A Decision & Choice

i. Decision: A decision is a conclusion that you reach after a thorough review of the facts and a careful deliberation has been made. It is an act of your mind.

ii. Choice: Is an act of selecting or making a decision once all of the facts have been presented. A choice that is made when faced with two or more possibilities. It is an act of your will.

iii. So you must first make a decision PRIOR to you making a choice. You make a decision with your mind, you make a choice with your feet.

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

iv. THREE CRUCIAL STEPS IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS

1. DETERMINATION: The act of finding something out

a. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; but it is the glory of Kings to search out (investigate) a matter.”-

2. DELIBERATION: Long and careful consideration, discussion or meditation.

a. Slow and careful thought or movement.

3. DECISION: Deciding a direction and going that way.

v. EXAMPLE/ILLUSTRATION:

1. FURNACE REPAIR: Time when I had our furnace tuned up and the gentleman told me that it wasn’t working and that we had a carbon monoxide leak. He stated that if I didn’t immediately replace the furnace I was placing my family in jeopardy of being hurt even possibly killed.

My Response? As he we was telling me these things, inwardly I began to pray and ask God for wisdom/clarity and was it true. I sensed that I was not supposed to proceed as he suggested. I went and purchased carbon monoxide detectors from Walgreens and proceeded to rest. I prayed and the word of the Lord came to me in the form of a name (RJ HEATING). I proceeded to call them to inquire why the Lord spoke their name to me. Came to find out that our furnace was which was 18 years old, had two more years of warranty left. I called them and they came out. Not only was there no CM leak, but I also found out that the previous company was notorious for scamming. That was over a $7,000 savings ($5k for Furnace & $2k for AC).

2. 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL DECISION MAKING

a. PRAYER

i. Specific Prayers Get Specific Answers

1. Pray and ask God specifically “Should I do such and such?”

2. Await His response (This may come the same day, days later, or through other ways.)

a. I.E.-My Relationship w/Apostle Eckhardt

i. Same Week:

1. Frieda moves down from Chi and states Ap. Eckhardt sent her to LCCI.

2. I get a piece of mail from some radion station out of South Carolina that is sent here to the school but addressed to Apostle John Eckhardt.

b. WORD FROM THE LORD

i. The Bible deals in generalities, when trying to decide what direction that you need to go in, you need something specific.

1. General Word, Logos

2. Specific Word, Rhema

a. The Mind of Christ ()

i. Mind, Nous: The mind, comprising the faculties of perceiving and understanding.

ii. The power of considering and judging soberly, calmly and impartially.

c. WISDOM

i. “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom…”

ii. “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it…”

1. Can Come Through:

a. Man’s Widsom

b. Carnal/Worldly Wisdom (Sensual)

c. Word of Widsom (Gift of the Holy Spirit)

d. UNDERSTANDING (INTERPRETATION SKILLSET)

i. “In all of your getting, get understanding…”-

e. PEACE

i. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart…”-

1. Peace, brabeuo: To be an umpire (official); to decide, to determine, to direct, control or rule.

ii. If something doesn’t fit, don’t force it…

1. Resistance and something not fitting are two different scenarios.

f. CONFIRMATION OF 2-3 SOURCES

g. IT “JUST SEEMS RIGHT”

h. DESIRES IN ONE’S HEART

i. Caution must be exercised here due to the fact that you can have idols in your heart and that the heart is deceptive.)

i. LEADINGS

j. COUNSEL

WEEK TWO STOP HERE!

WEEK THREE START HERE:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God.”-

Sons, huios: Thos who revere God as their father, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God.

Stages of Spiritual Growth: Nepios, Paidion, Teknon, Huios, Teleios...

A mark of spiritual maturity is the ability to lead a spirit-led lifestyle.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Lead

1lead \ˈlēd\ verb

led \ˈled\; lead•ing [Middle English leden, from Old English l∓dan; akin to Old High German leiten to lead, Old English līthan to go] verb transitive before 12th century

1 a: to guide on a way especially by going in advance

b: to direct on a course or in a direction

c: to serve as a channel for 〈a pipe leads water to the house〉

2: to go through: LIVE 〈lead a quiet life〉

3 a (1): to direct the operations, activity, or performance of 〈lead an orchestra〉

(2): to have charge of 〈lead a campaign〉

(3): to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions

b (1): to go at the head of 〈lead a parade〉

(2): to be first in or among 〈lead the league〉

(3): to have a margin over 〈led his opponent〉

4: to bring to some conclusion or condition 〈led to believe otherwise〉

5: to begin play with 〈lead trumps〉

6 a: to aim in front of (a moving object) 〈lead a duck〉

b: to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate) verb intransitive

1 a: to guide someone or something along a way

3. ENEMIES OF SPIRIT-LED DECISION MAKING:

a. IMPATIENCE

Be aware of the strategy of the enemy (partnering with our unbridled flesh), to cause us to make hasty decisions.

b. OVERLY CAUTIOUS (Not Fast Enough)

c. VACILLATING/FICKLE EMOTIONS

Share personal story here...

Either story of Zion’s birth OR...

d. IGNORANCE

d. IGNORANCE

d.

Of God’s will and ways

e. OPP (Other People’s Positions (Opinions))

i. The Bible says that the fear of man is a snare. At times, God will force your hand to make decisions that go against the consensus of the majority. This builds character and courage in the individual. This goes against the traditional American democratic mindset. God’s Kingdom is just that….A Kingdom. Only one Person’s opinion matters in a Kingdom and that is the opinion of the King. When the King speaks, you obey.

f. Ignorance To God’s Word, Will and His Ways

(How He Typically Operates)

g. FEAR

h. Leaning To Your Own Understanding

(cite personal example)