The
Power of Our Choices
11/5/00
Josh 24:14-16
14 "Now therefore, fear the
LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your
fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were
on the other side of 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." 16 So the
people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the
LORD to serve other gods;
ONE OF THE GREAT
GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US IS THE GIFT OF CHOICE. WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO CHOOSE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIFE, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE CHOICE OF HOW
WE CAN RESPOND TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
NOW IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST NEVER REACT TO
THOSE SITUATIONS BUT WE MUST CHOOSE TO RESPOND TO THEM ON THE BASIS OF BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF CONDUCT. SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS MORNING, HOW ARE YOU
USING THE POWER OF YOUR CHOICES? MOST PEOPLE ARE TOO IMMATURE AND
IRRESPONSIBLE TO EVEN CONSIDER THE FACT THET THEY DO HAVE A CHOICE AND THAT
THEY DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CROWD.
THE QUESTION CAME DOWN TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN JOUSHA’S DAY:
“CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE. BY THE POWER OF OUR CHOICES WE CAN SET A COURSE FOR OUR DESTINY
IN CHRIST AS WE PURSUE A LIFE OF SERVICE TO HIM AND FOR HIM. THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS THAT WE CAN
LIVE FOR AND SERVE OURSELVES AND REAP THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNFRUITFUL,
UNFULFILLED AND UNPRODUCTIVE LIFE THAT WILL CULMINATE IN ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM
GOD.
Rom 2:8-11
8 But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation
and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil,
of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to
every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For
there is no respect of persons with God.
II Th 1:7-9
7 And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty
angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of
his power;
NOW, WEBSTER DEFINES CHOICE AS THE RIGHT, THE POWER AND THE
CHANCE TO CHOOSE, IT MEANS THE RIGHT TO PICK OUT BY PREFERENCE FROM WHAT IS AVAILABLE, TO TAKE AS A CHOICE. GOD HAS CREATED US IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND
LIKENESS WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF SOVEREIGNTY.
HE CREATED US WITH FREE WILL, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE LIFE WITH THE FREEDOM
OF OUR PERSONAL CHOICES AND DECISIONS.
NOW, THE PREMISE FOR THIS SERIES ON THE POWER OF CHOICES IS BASED ON
THIS STATEMENT I MADE A WHILE AGO: THE SUCCESS AND FAILURE OF OUR LIFE IS MADE UP OF THE LITTLE CHOICES WE
MAKE EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES. WE ARE
COMMANDED IN SCRIPTURE TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING WE DO SO WE MUST
BE CONSISTENT IN MAKING RIGHT CHOICES AND DECISIONS IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE THERE
WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR DECISIONS AND CHOICES.
Gal 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let
us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF TODAY THAT PRODUCE TOMORROW'S HARVEST. HIS CALL TO US IS THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF
CHOICE. HOW ARE YOU USING THIS BLESSING? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT LIES
BEHIND JESUS' WORDS IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.
Matt 7:13-27 (TLB)
13 "Heaven can be entered only
through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide
enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is small, and the
road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
15 "Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep,
but are wolves and will tear you apart.
16 You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a
tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs
with thistles. 17 Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by
examining their fruit. 18 A variety that produces delicious fruit never
produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can't produce
what is good. 19 So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and
thrown on the fire. 20 Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the
kind of fruit produced. 21 "Not all who sound religious are really godly
people. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but still won't get to heaven. For the
decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 At the Judgment
many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to
cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.' 23 But I will reply, 'You
have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.' 24 "All who
listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his
house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain
comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his
house, it won't collapse, for it is built on rock.
26 "But those who hear my
instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on
sand. 27 For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his
house, it will fall with a mighty crash."
HERE IN MATT. 7 WE
SEE THREE METAPHORS OF CHOICE, THAT JESUS SETS
BEFORE US. HE ASKS US TO CONSIDER: TWO ROADS, TWO TREES, AND TWO
BUILDERS.
THE LORD IS
REMINDING US THAT IN SEVERAL WAYS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ONE OF OBEDIENCE, ONE
IN WHICH OUR CHOICE IS TO OFFER OURSELVES TO HIS WILL AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE.
1 Pet 1:2
2 Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied.
2 Cor 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having
in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Rom 6:16-18
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye
yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death,
or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked,
that ye were the servants of sin,
but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered
you. 18 Being then made
free from sin, ye became the
servants of righteousness.
GOD HAS DESIGNED
US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE THE RULERS OF OUR OWN DESTINY. WE CAN CHOOSE WHO WE WILL SERVE AND OBEY AND
IN OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE WE CAN EITHER LIVE OUR LIFE BY DEFAULT OR BY HIS DESIGN.
IF WE CHOOSE TO LIVE OUR LIFE BY HIS DESIGN THEN WE MUST CHOOSE TO OBEY HIM AT
ALL TIMES AND IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE. HE TELLS US THAT THIS CHOICE TO DO WHAT HE SAYS AND TO LIVE LIFE
WITH HIS DESIGN WILL LEAD US TO WHAT IS BEST FOR US. WHEN WE STOP AND THINK
ABOUT THAT, MANY OF US INSTANTLY RESIST. MANY OF US ARE SURE THAT OBEDIENCE TO
JESUS' WORDS WILL BE GOOD ONCE WE GET TO HEAVEN, BUT WE HAVE OUR RESERVATIONS
ABOUT THAT WHILE WE ARE HERE ON EARTH.
OUR SELFISH NATURES FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS BEST TO
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK TO THOSE WHO ASSAULT OUR DIGNITY, TO GIVE UP ANGER AS A
MANIPULATIVE TOOL IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, TO DEFEAT LUST OR TO BEGIN TO VALUE
LOVE OF OTHERS ABOVE ALL OTHER TREASURES.
HERE IN MATT.7,
JESUS BRINGS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT TO A CLOSE WITH A CHOICE, CHALLENGE - TO
OBEY AND TO ACCEPT HIS LORDSHIP OVER OUR LIVES. HE DOESN'T SOFT SELL, OVER PROMISE, OR GLOSS OVER HIS APPEAL.
AFTER PREACHING THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE, HIS CLOSE IS DIRECT -- IT'S TIME FOR
DECISION.
Matt 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go
in thereat: 14 Because strait is the
gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
1. HE SAYS, ENTER
THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH THE NARROW GATE OF OBEDIENCE! HE ’S NOT TELLING US ABOUT FINDING A GATE OF BELIEVING ALL
THE RIGHT THINGS OR UNDERSTANDING EVERY DOCTRINE. THE ENTRY POINT IS ACCEPTANCE
OF HIS AUTHORITY, DOING THE WILL OF GOD.
JESUS MAY HAVE HAD THE CITY GATE AND ITS SECURITY IN MIND AS
HE TAUGHT. IN THE DAYLIGHT, WHEN THE THREAT OF INVASION WAS SMALL AND AN
APPROACHING ARMY COULD EASILY BE SEEN, THE GATE WAS OPEN WIDE. BUT IN THE LATE
EVENING, THE GATES WERE SHUT UP. ANY PERSON WISHING TO ENTER THE CITY HAD TO
COME TO THE GATE AND PROVE HIMSELF AS A RESIDENT. ONCE HE HAD ESTABLISHED HIS IDENTITY A SMALL DOOR CUT INTO THE GATE
WAS OPENED FOR HIS ENTRANCE. WE ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHEN WE
ARE READY TO IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH HIM AND ACCEPT HIS SOVEREIGNTY IN THE
DAILY DECISIONS OF OUR LIFE. WE MUST
CHOOSE TO OBEY CHRIST AND TO IDENTIFY OURSELVES AS A CHRISTIAN WHEN NOBODY IS
AROUND AND WHEN ITS HARD TO DO.
Matt 7:15-20
15 Beware of false prophets, which
come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by
their fruits ye shall know them.
2. HERE JESUS SAYS THAT WE BECOME SPIRITUALLY FRUITFUL
THROUGH OBEDIENCE. INITIALLY IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO TELL A
GENUINE CHRISTIAN FROM A FAKE ONE. A PERSON CAN ADOPT A MANNER OF ACTING, LEARN
A VOCABULARY, AND LOOK LIKE THE REAL THING. BUT, JESUS ASSURES US THAT
THEIR INNER REALITY WILL EVENTUALLY
BECOME OUTWARDLY EVIDENT. LET THIS TRUTH BE OF COMFORT TO YOU. A CHRISTIAN
DISCIPLE WHO COMMITS HIMSELF TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AS
GOOD AS THE PRETENDER. THE PRETENDER CAN BORROW SOME FAKE FRUIT AND PUT IT ON
DISPLAY. HE WILL SAY THINGS HE DOESN'T MEAN, MAKE COMMITMENTS HE HAS NO
INTENTION OF KEEPING, AND EVEN DECLARE THAT HE HAS WON OUT OVER TEMPTATIONS
THAT HE HASN'T EVEN CONFRONTED. HIS VERY LACK OF INTEGRITY MAKES IT EASIER FOR
HIM TO REALLY LOOK GOOD - MEANWHILE, YOU ARE WRESTLING WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF
FAITH, AND THUS WON'T MAKE PROMISES YOU AREN'T SURE YOU CAN KEEP. YOU ADMIT
THAT SOME SINS STILL HAVE A STRONG HOLD ON YOU APPEARING WEAK BY COMPARISON TO
THE MAN WHO SAYS HE HAS CONQUERED ALL. BUT, IN YOUR INTEGRITY, YOU ARE DEALING
WITH REALITIES NOT IMAGES. WHEN MR. FAKE FALLS APART IN THE BIG TEST, YOUR
OBEDIENCE WILL SHOW IN THE FRUIT OF CHARACTER THAT HOLDS YOU TOGETHER.
Matt 7:21-29
21 Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth
them, I will liken him unto a wise
man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his
house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of
it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were
astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and
not as the scribes.
3. AND THEN IN MATT 7:21-29 JESUS SAYS THAT THROUGH
OBEDIENCE YOU CAN BUILD A LIFE THAT WILL HOLD UP TO THE STORMS OF LIFE. WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF
A GOOD FOUNDATION BE IT IN A BUILDING, A LIFE,
A CAREER OR A MARRIAGE.
1 Tim 6:17-19
17 Charge them that are rich in this
world, that they be not
highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God,
who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy; 18 That they do good,
that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; 19 Laying up in store
for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal life.
1 Cor 3:11-17
11 For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work
shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
I HEARD ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION SITE ON BOSTON'S WATERFRONT.
WHAT PARTICULARLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THE FOUNDATION. IT WENT DOWN ABOUT 10
STORIES WITH MASSIVE STEEL FRAMEWORK. I WAS INTRIGUED BY ALL THE WORK THAT GOES
INTO A FOUNDATION, PARTICULARLY SINCE MUCH OF IT WILL NEVER BE SEEN. THE
ARCHITECT KNOWS THAT DESPITE BEING HIDDEN AWAY, THAT FOUNDATION IS ESSENTIAL.
BY CONTRAST, I READ OF THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT
CITY NOW SUBMERGED UNDER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA OFF THE COAST OF EGYPT. THE
ANCIENT BUILDERS CONSTRUCTED A BEAUTIFUL METROPOLIS ON POOR SOIL MADE UP MOSTLY
OF SILT. AN EARTHQUAKE TURNED THE GROUND TO SOUP AND THE ENTIRE CITY SANK INTO
THE OCEAN!
Rom 6:16
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye
yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death,
or of obedience unto righteousness?
2 Cor 10:5
5 Casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 Pet 1:2
2 Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied.
OBEDIENCE TO THE WORDS OF JESUS ON A DAILY BASIS, EVEN IN
SITUATIONS FAR FROM PUBLIC VIEW, STRENGTHENS THE FOUNDATION WHICH IN TURN MAKES
YOUR LIFE SECURE, SUCCESSFUL AND STRONG
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE STORMY SEASONS OF OUR LIVES.
YOU MIGHT CONCLUDE FROM THIS MESSAGE THAT EXCELLENT
CHRISTIANITY IS A LIFE ONLY FOR THOSE WITH WELL DEVELOPED QUALITIES OF
SELF-DISCIPLINE. MAYBE YOU'VE MADE ONE DUMB CHOICE AFTER THE OTHER IN YOUR
LIFE. OR MAYBE YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEVER FINISHES WHAT THEY
START! PERHAPS YOU ARE A MESSY PERSON, YOU KNOW; LIFE AROUND YOU IS GENERALLY A
MESS: YOUR CAR'S OIL CHANGE IS FAR OVERDUE, THE KITCHEN SINK IS FULL OF DIRTY
DISHES, YOUR LAWN RESEMBLES A HAYFIELD, YOU FILE YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN IN
JULY. AND THOSE SAME TRAITS ARE EVIDENT IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. YOU DON'T DEAL
WITH SIN, PREFERRING TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG. YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS ONE OF
DESPERATION, NOT PURPOSEFUL COMMUNICATION.
ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS CONCLUDED THAT EXCELLENCE IN CHRISTIANITY
IS FOR OTHERS AND THAT YOU WILL SETTLE FOR A LITTLE HUT ON A BACK STREET IN
HEAVEN? ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO WANTS TO HOPE FOR A LIFE OF OBEDIENT SERVICE
THAT HONORS THE LORD, BUT YOU ARE ALSO FAIRLY SURE, BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE,
THAT YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR STAR QUALITY CHRISTIANITY? HOLD ON NOW! THE FACT IS, EVEN IF YOU WERE
AN “A” STUDENT, A NEAT FREAK, AND BLESSED WITH ENDLESS SELF-DISCIPLINE, GOD'S
STANDARD IS PERFECTION. ANY PERFECT PEOPLE HERE? ONLY THE DELUDED AND DECEIVED
REALLY THINK THEY ARE PERFECT! THAT'S
WHY WE NEED TO HEAR THE REST OF THE GOSPEL. YES, THERE IS INESCAPABLY A PLACE
FOR CHOICES. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD AND HE WILL EVALUATE OUR LIVES IN
ETERNITY. BUT, HIS GREAT GRACE IS SUCH THAT HE NEVER DEMANDS FROM US WHAT HE
DOES NOT GIVE US THE POWER TO ATTAIN. JESUS LED HIS DISCIPLES LOVINGLY AND
FIRMLY DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY, THEN HE GAVE THEM THIS COMMAND…
LUKE 24:49
I am going to send you what my
Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have Been clothed with
power from on high."
WHAT DID HE MEAN? "CLOTHED WITH
POWER FROM ON HIGH?" IN ANOTHER TEACHING SESSION, JESUS HAD EXPLAINED IT
THIS WAY. JOHN 16:13-14
"When He, The Spirit Of Truth,
Comes, He Will Guide You Into All Truth. He Will Not Speak On His Own; He Will
Speak Only What He Hears, And He Will Tell You What Is Yet To Come. 14 He Will
Bring Glory To Me By Taking From What Is Mine And Making It Known To You."
JESUS PROMISED THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD WOULD COME TO LIVE IN
US, EMPOWERING US. THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES DID WHAT THEY WERE TOLD. THEY WAITED
IN JERUSALEM, PRAYERFULLY AND WORSHIPFULLY. TEN DAYS AFTER JESUS LEFT THEM, THE
SPIRIT OF GOD CAME INTO THAT UPPER ROOM AND OVERWHELMED THEM. THE MOST
REMARKABLE RESULTS WERE NOT THE IMMEDIATE SIGNS AND WONDERS - THE TONGUES IN
WHICH THEY SPOKE, THE FIRE THAT DANCED ON THEIR HEADS, OR EVEN THEIR ECSTASY! THE
WONDERFUL RESULT WAS THAT THEIR LIVES WERE TRANSFORMED. PETER, THE BUMBLING
FAILURE WHO IN HIS FEAR HAD CURSED AND DENIED THE LORD, BECAME A FEARLESS
PREACHER, DEFYING DEATH EVERY TIME HE PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL. THE CHRISTIANS WHO
HAD FEARFULLY HUNG TOGETHER, SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE EMPIRE OF ROME WITH A
MESSAGE THAT GAVE PEOPLE HOPE AND LIFE AND THEY PREACHED IT EVEN THOUGH IT COST
THEM THEIR LIVES. THAT'S OUR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE TODAY. WE CANNOT ADEQUATELY
SERVE GOD IN OUR OWN STRENGTH OR POWER.
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT ONLY DIFFICULT, IT‘S IMPOSSIBLE. ALL TOO
OFTEN, WE EITHER END UP FAILING MISERABLY OR REDEFINING OUR FAITH BY WATERING
IT DOWN TO MAKE IT LIVABLE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH.
GOD SAYS, "WAIT, BE CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED BY MY
SPIRIT WHO WILL LIVE NOT ONLY AMONG YOU, BUT IN YOU." THAT'S THE
MIRACLE OF CHRISTIANITY. IT ISN'T A RELIGION, BUT A RELATIONSHIP. IT’S
NOT A MATTER OF LEARNING RULES AND THEN DYING TRYING TO KEEP THEM. IT IS AN
INVITATION TO A RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD!
GOD INVITES US, "GET TO KNOW ME. WORSHIP ME. TAKE
TIME TO BE WITH ME, AND MY PRESENCE WILL TRANSFORM YOU FROM THE INSIDE
OUT." THAT'S THE ULTIMATE CHOICE OF OBEDIENCE.
ROMANS 8:9-14 9
You, however, are controlled not by
the sinful nature but by the Spirit,
if the Spirit of god lives in you. And if anyone does not have the
Spirit
of Christ, he does not belong to
Christ. 10 but if Christ is in you, your
body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness. 11 and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead
is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also
give life to
your mortal bodies through his spirit,
who lives in you. 12 therefore,
brothers, we have an obligation--but
it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 for if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,
you will live,
14 because those who are led by the
Spirit of God are sons of God.
MAKE UP YOUR MIND TODAY NOT TO BE OBEDIENT TO A PRINCIPLE,
BUT TO A PERSON. KEEP THE LORD ALWAYS IN YOUR HEART WITH THE AIM OF LOVING HIM.
THEN HIS SPIRIT WILL LEAD YOU, HIS DELIGHT WILL FILL YOU, AND YOU WILL PLEASE
HIM IN OBEDIENCE, EMPOWERED BY HIS SPIRIT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES OF
OBEDIENCE IN YOUR PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.
Matthew 7 the Message Bible
These words I speak are not
incidental additions to your lives, homeowner improvements to your standard of
living. They are foundational words, words to build your life on. If you work
these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house
on a solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit -- but
nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you use my words in
Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter
who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves
came up, it collapsed like a house of cards." --
