Choose
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Illustration: Football (Chain Gang)—provides a unique perspective (with the opposition, seeing the game closely).
Player #6 (Short, small) — The reason why his team won!
Player #6 was dedicated—he was ALL IN!
Look what God said through the prophet Jeremiah to Israel about being ALL IN:
Series Text
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
The decision God is looking for in you is a choice you make WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
Throughout God’s Word we are confronted with choices.
This is no time to waver—to stay on the sidelines—to be lukewarm.
God wants you to be ALL IN (Series Title)
And it all begins with a choice: choose God’s way or choose your way (or the world’s way).
Text
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Embedded in these instructions are choices we need to make—choices on how we are to live, whether or not we will like wisely—making to most of every opportunity.
Ask your self this question: Are you truly willing to choose what God’s Word instructs when it comes to your faith (beliefs) and actions (what you do and think)?
Look carefully how you walk
Look carefully how you walk
Illustration: Getting up in the morning from a deep sleep (to get the kids up for school) and becoming disorientated and falling).
The word “walk” is used often as an idiomatic expression describing life—how we ought to live.
We face the challenge of living in a world filled with darkness—and living distinctly from it requires thoughtful, strategic effort.
Key elements of living life faithfully:
Be imitators of God (v. 1). We need to reflect God’s character to the world.
Live in love (v. 2) — in the same selfless, serving way “as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Live in the light (v. 8-9)—that which is good and right and true.
Identify “what is pleasing to the Lord” (v. 10) and do it.
Point about living (walking):
Live a life ruled by love
Live a life ruled by love
As we carefully look at how we live life, we need to:
Live a life guided by wisdom
Live a life guided by wisdom
What is wisdom—the type of wisdom necessary to live life God’s way?
Sensitive perception that has ethical insight into God’s will in the face of circumstances that often are not ideal.
How do we get this kind of wisdom?
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This wisdom does not come naturally—it takes work: prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship.
It is this wisdom, carefully employed in our lives, that is necessary to:
Live a life motivated by divine opportunities
Live a life motivated by divine opportunities
Spiritual preparation will lead toward open doors of opportunity.
The challenge is to see those opportunities in the midst of evil.
Evil can enlist emotions of anger, discouragement, fear, and even doubt and unbelief.
But living life God’s way suggest that we need to take advantage of the time—seeing the open doors God sets before us and engaging in His purpose and plan.
Conclusion
So what does a wise walk (wise life) look like?
Besides being discerning, the wise walk cashes in on opportunity by making the right decisions across time (we become consistent in godly decisions).
A wise walk snaps up every opportunity.
It steers clear of evil days, not be escaping, as that is not possible, but by living distinctively, showing the way of Christ..
Fear is not necessary because believers have been given what they need and a model for how to live in such a dangerous context.
CHOOSE
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”