How God Makes Tough Choices Easier
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Right now, we are at a point of growing tired of this Pandemic… It hasn’t gone away like people said it should, but it’s bounced back. Politics has gotten involved and that always messes stuff up.
So today, I want us to look at How Faith Make Tough Choices Easier. Think about it. How should you react to circumstances beyond your control? We are living in circumstances that in a great part are beyond our control.
Here is what I believe.
Faith that doesn’t work is useless.
Faith that doesn’t work is useless.
If my faith doesn’t help me in times of crisis and difficulty, it’s not worth anything. We are always going to have crisis in our lives. We are in a crisis in our nation… and around the world. Not just with the virus. I have never seen the threat to stable governments as right now. In several of our major cities, you have such lawlessness and riots all aimed at bringing down our government. In one city, the city council sent out letters telling citizens that they could not do anything about the crime… good luck while we reduce the police department.
Total nonsense, but these ideas are destabilizing.
I want us to real quickly look at how most people typically react to these kinds of times. These are actually stages we go through and our goal is to arrive at number 7. You will see yourself in some of these stages. I went through and saw people go through these after Katrina and now through this pandemic.
Reactions to Crisis
Reactions to Crisis
1. Denial
1. Denial
It’s not my problem… It may not even be real.
That’s what a lot of people are saying right now about wearing masks… It’s not my problem if someone else gets sick…
2. Dismissal
2. Dismissal
You finally admit it’s real, but it’s no big deal. It will end fast and won’t last.
Most people felt this way about the virus when it began… it won’t last.
3. Defiance
3. Defiance
I refuse to let this limit my freedom. I’m healthy. This is where a lot of people are at right now, so they are not physical distancing nor are they wearing face masks.
4. Delayed Acceptance
4. Delayed Acceptance
Ok, it is a big deal and it will affect me. You may still be defiant, but you are accepting that we have a problem…
5. Disruption
5. Disruption
Most people are here now. Schools are teaching kids at home… Millions are out of work. Play grounds are closed… Your life is turned upside down & you must make some tough choices.
6. Distress
6. Distress
It’s going to last a long time & it will change everything. This is global and it is changing the world forever. That causes a lot of stress and distress in people’s lives. Overdose deaths and suicide deaths are up.
But here is where we want to get too.
7. Determination
7. Determination
With God’s grace we’ll get through this together. Here in our area, we know how this works. Katrina wiped out everything down here and we fought back. With God’s help we can do this… we can make it.
Today we are going to talk about decisions. Life is a series of choices and decisions. Every day we are presented with problems that we have to evaluate and choose a course of action.
Someone said, We make our choices and our choices make us.
So…
How does having faith in God make tough choices easier?
How does having faith in God make tough choices easier?
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
A tough choice doesn’t have to be a life-changing choice. What you might wear can be difficult… etc. You may have to choose between something that’s good and bad… or two good choices… or two bad or painful choices.
In these instances, there often doesn’t seem to be an advantage to either choice. You may feel like flipping a coin… don’t.
People are the only creation on this planet with the ability to choose, so never give that up.
Before we look at solutions in the WOG, think of a problem you are facing right now or will be facing shortly.
1. When I put my faith in God, He gives me His wisdom
1. When I put my faith in God, He gives me His wisdom
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
God wants to give us help, but too often we don’t ask. Here is a bit of wisdom…
18 Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.
Do you want to be happy? You need God’s wisdom and you will be.
You need wisdom… I need wisdom. Often God’s wisdom is the opposite of what our world puts out.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can ever do. It’s more important than money, friends, anything. Seek wisdom so that when you go back to work, or to a new job or a promotion, you will be ready.
14 you may be sure that wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you have a bright future.
It doesn’t matter when you get wisdom, when you get it, you have a bright futures. Remember the Holiday Inn.
When you trust God, he will give you wisdom.
How do I get the wisdom I need?
How do I get the wisdom I need?
Three ways
Put God first in my life
Put God first in my life
This is where it begins. You put God firs tin every area of your life… your thoughts… your schedule… you finances… your relationships… your careers…
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!
The respect and healthy fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. This means you make him part of everything in your life and especially in your decision making.
33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.
When you listen to God, you make fewer mistakes which leads to honor.
Look what follows wisdom and humility… honor or power and prestige. All that stuff y9ou think you want happens when you put God first in your life.
Apply God’s Word in my life
Apply God’s Word in my life
You don’t get wisdom from learning verses. You get wisdom when you apply the WOG in your life.
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
Jesus had just finished washing the disciples feet and teaching them to serve, and he said…
17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Applying wisdom means action. You may wonder why you should study and apply God’s Word in your life. Look at this…
31 “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
If you and I will just do things God’s way, we will do the right thing all the time… He way is perfect. And when we are doing the things he calls us to do, he will protect us. It may not look like we think it ought to look, but he will protect you.
When you have a tough decision to make, remember, God’s way is perfect… his word is true.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
The more you study and apply the WOG, the more free you will be. When you apply it, it will become a habit.
Corona Virus or not, you will be blessed every time you get into God’s Word.
Surround yourself with godly people
Surround yourself with godly people
You not only need the WOG in your life, you need godly people. The people you hang out with are either building your faith up or tearing it down.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Spend time with godly people… You can attend Sunday services or watch on FB. You can watch on FB on Wednesdays. Small groups will be starting back up soon. When we do something on Zoom, take advantage of it.
Trusting God will make tough choices easier.
God makes tough choices easier by setting me free from second guessing myself
2. When I put my faith in God, He frees me from doubts
2. When I put my faith in God, He frees me from doubts
You know… you make a tough choice and then the doubts begin… did I make the right choice… you begin to second guess yourself…
24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
When you depend on God, you will KNOW you made the right decision. When you feel like you can’t make up your mind, you are depending on your wisdom. You stop depending on God’s wisdom and stop getting into the WOG, and hanging around godly people… so you struggle.
Depend on God and ask him for his wisdom…
6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
We are living in a time where the winds of change are changing every day. One day the news says this works and the next they say it doesn’t. If you fall for that, you will be unstable and insecure. When you are double minded, you doubt yourself and your ability to make the right decision.
When you are divided in your loyalty… our double minded, you will not get the answers you want and need.
Review:
God makes tough decisions easier by acting on my behalf
3. When I put my faith in God, He acts on my behalf.
3. When I put my faith in God, He acts on my behalf.
God is not moved by whining and crying. He is moved by faith.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;
According to your faith. Big faith brings big blessings… little faith = little blessings. In the middle of this pandemic, HOW MUCH will you trust God. When you trust HIm, it moves him to action.
God makes tough decisions easier by using my mistakes
4. When I put my faith in God, He uses my mistakes
4. When I put my faith in God, He uses my mistakes
Even of you make the wrong decision… the wrong choice, God will use it for your good. We can’t lose… look at this…
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
When you have to make a tough decision, God will bring the stress of that down because he will use your mistakes for your advantage and for his glory.
If you love God, he wants to work on your behalf. Even if you make the wrong choice, repent and he uses it for your good.
Prayer...
Trust God with your life… put him first… ask for wisdom… study the WOG… apply the WOG
Get Godly friends - stop hanging around people who pull my faith down...
I trust you with each area of my life … no doubts...
Use my mistakes… I repent from them… use them.