Decision Affects Our Lives

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. LIFE IS FILLED WITH MAKING DECISIONS EVERY DAY.
    2. THE DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL HAVE LASTING AFFECT UPON THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
    3. STUDY WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT SOME THAT MADE DECISIONS IN THE PAST THAT WILL POSSIBLY HELP US IN THE MAKING OF OUR DECISIONS.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. ADAM AND EVE = DECIDED TO DISOBEY GOD AND FOLLOW THE SERPENT [Genesis 3:1-13]
      1. Man begins lie on earth making decisions and has made them ever since.
      2. Man’s first decision was influenced by human appetite and a desire to be wise.

        3. Genesis 3:5 = "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

      3. The results, or consequences, of this decision remains with us still today.

        4. 1 Corinthians 15:22 = "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

      4. The decisions that we make may affect many generations yet to be born.
    2. ABRAHAM DECIDED, UNHESITATINGLY, TO OFFER HIS SON ISAAC. [Genesis 22:1-13]
      1. This was a tremendous decision, a violent step for a father to make, as it was contrary to good human judgment.
      2. Abraham’s faith in God was the influence that enabled him to make the right decision.

      Hebrews 11:17-19 = "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."

    3. LOT CHOSE THE WELL WATERED JORDAN PLAIN FOR HIS HERD. [Genesis 13:1-13].
      1. The decision, it seemed to him, was as wise one, but it wasn’t, as it led to the further unwise decision in his family. [Genesis 19:1-26]
        1. Lot offered his daughters to be abused by the men of Sodom.

          2. Genesis 19:8 = "Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof."

        2. His two daughters lost their husbands.

          3. Genesis 19:14 = "And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law."

        3. He wife became a pillar of salt, in looking back on the city of Sodom.

          4. Genesis 19:17 = "And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape tot he mountain, lest thou be consumed."  Genesis 19:26= "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

        4. Lot’s two daughters got him drunk and had adulterous (incest) relations with him and both became pregnant.

        Genesis 19:30-38 = "And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our Father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day."

      2. Lot let material things influence him too much in his decision .

      Comment: The decision on a place to live and bring up a family should never be determined solely on material values.

    4. MOSES CHOSE TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH GOD’S PEOPLE THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A WHILE.

      5. Hebrews 11:24-26 = "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward."

      Comment: There was much to for Moses to give up, why would he give up these things?

      1. Because of his faith in God. -- The decision being made from what was within him and not without.

        2. Hebrews 11:24 = "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;"

      2. Because he had more respect for the heavenly riches than worldly riches.

        3. Hebrews 11:26 = "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward."

      3. Because Moses saw through faith that which was then unseen.

      Hebrews 11:27-28 = "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."

    5. KING SAUL UNWISELY DECIDED TO SPARE THE BEST OF THE AMALEKITES.

      6. 1 Samuel 15:3 = "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." 1 Samuel 15:15= "And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." 1 Samuel 15:20-24= "And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

      1. Fear of the people prompted the wrong decision.

        2. 1 Samuel 15:24 = "…. Because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

      2. We should fear God and keep His commandments.

      Ecclesiastes 12:13 = "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

      Matthew 10:28 = "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

    6. NAAMAN [II Kings 5:1-14]:
      1. The man Naaman:
        1. A captain in the Syrian army that was a leper [II Kings 5:1]
        2. His wife had a maiden captive out of Israel [II Kings 5:2].
        3. The maid said to her mistress, "…Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy." [II Kings 5:3]
        4. This was told the King of Syria and he sent Naaman to the King of Israel to be recovered of his leprosy [II Kings 5:4-7]
        5. Elisha tells the King of Israel to send Naaman to him [II Kings 5:8-9].
      2. Naaman’s first decision was prompted by:
        1. Wounded pride --- Elisha did not speak to him but a messenger sent by Elisha.

          2. 2 Kings 5:10 = "And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."

        2. A preconceived idea --- He thought the cure would be done in some other way.

          3. 2 Kings 5:11 = "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."

        3. Prejudice --- He thought the Arbana and Pharpar rivers were better than the waters of Israel.

        2 Kings 5:12 = "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage."

      3. He later overcame these obstacles and made the right decision.

        4. 2 Kings 5:13-14 = "And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."

        1. His future depended upon the outcome of his decision.
        2. Just as our future is determined by the decisions that we make.
    7. JOSHUA’S DECISION:

      8. Joshua 24:15 = "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

      1. His decision was based on the fact that the Lord was the t rue God and that He had done much for His people.
      2. The same should influence us to make the right decision.

        3. Psalms 119:89 = "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

        Ezekiel 12:28 = "Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD."

        1. There is no middle position that one can take and our future depends on our making the correct decision.

      Matthew 12:30 = "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."

      Matthew 6:24 = "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

    8. CHRIST’S DECISION:
      1. Satan presented three propositions to Christ that required a decision. [Matthew 4:1-11]
        1. That the Word of God was more important than physical food.

          2. Matthew 4:3-4 = "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

        2. That man should not tempt the Lord God.

          3. Matthew 4:5-7 = "Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

        3. That only the Lord is to be worshipped.

        Matthew 4:8-10 = "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

      2. Jesus made the right decision because He had the Scriptures upon His heart and lips and could say, "It is written".
    9. PILOT’S DECISION:
      1. He had to answer the question: Matthew 27:22 = "…What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? … "
        1. Pilot did not want to make the decision and tried to pass it off.
        2. Pilot was influenced by the people.

    Matthew 27:24 = "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it."

    Exodus 23:2 = "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:"

    Matthew 7:13-14 = "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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. JESUS INVITES US:

      2. Matthew 11:28-30 = "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

      Revelation 3:20 = "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

    2. THIS REQUIRES A DECISION ---THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE, AND EXCUSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

      3. Luke 14:16-24 = "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."

    3. WHAT SHALL YOUR ANSWER BE?

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