Choice and Consequences
Notes
Transcript
Psummer in the Psalms
Psummer in the Psalms
This summer we are going to go through the Psalms
Psalms was written over a period of almost 1000 years 0 from Moses to the post exile
Psalms show how to relate to God in a myriad of circumstances in our lives
Psalms for joy and lament - covers all the emotions
Helps us vocalize our feeling towards God
“To recognize that the Psalms call us to pray and sing at the intersections of the times--of our time and God's time, of the then, and the now, and the not yet--is to understand how those emotions are to be held within the rhythm of a life lived in God's presence.” N.T. Wright
We are diving in head first all summer in the psalms
We are tackling things like - loneliness, freedom , hope, peace,
This is going to be an amazing journey this summer. If you can't be here watch it online.
My heart is for us to get past just feeling and get to knowing who God is
We base so much of our lives today on what we feel
Psalms expresses these feelings in a way that acknowledges who God is
The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go, his love for us does not. It is not wearied by our standards of indifference, and therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins at whatever cost to us; at whatever cost to him. C.S. Lewis
It all starts with our choices and that's today
Psalm 1
We look at Choices and Consequences
Let’s pray
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
We don’t really talk about consequences any more
Every choice you make has one - either good or bad
Every choice you make also affects others
“I can do whatever I want because it is my feelings and my wants” - not true
The choices you make determine the road your on
We all serving and pointing to someone - either us or God
But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
Today I will give you a couple of things about choices that should save you some heartache
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
Associate with everyone, be selective of your friends
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Notice the pattern - first I walk , then I stand, then I sit
The people you surround yourself with - is the person you will become
You around negative nitpickers - that's you
Your around positive up lifters - that’s you
Don’t isolate - insulate
Sharks vs Dolphins
Sharks - eat their own when they are hurt
Dolphins - surround, protect
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
2. What you believe, determines how you will live
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
2. What you believe, determines how you will live
How you live shows what you believe
You cannot say “I love Jesus” but not love His church, other people.
If you believe Jesus is all He said He is - then live like it.
I live by faith by knowing my faith - studying, meditating, serving, giving, going, telling
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
3. The way of the world descends to destruction, the way of the righteous receives God’s blessings
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Your Choice Determines Your Direction
3. The way of the world descends to destruction, the way of the righteous receives God’s blessings
This not saying you will get all you want, this is saying you will get all you need
God's commands are designed to guide you to life's very best. You will not obey Him, if you do not believe Him and trust Him. You cannot believe Him if you do not love Him. You cannot love Him unless you know Him. - Henry Blackaby
Choices and Consequences
Choices and Consequences
It all comes down tio choices
With every choice there will be a consequences
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?
You can’t
Basing your life on what you feel and what you want - will not get you far - get you alone in the end
The good news is Christ redeems all our choices
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
New sounds good
New starts with a choice -How about you
Let’s pray