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"Decisions and Consequences"

November 9, 2003
Pastor Cliffe Knechtle (40:21)

How do we make decisions? Do we consider consequences? In Romans 7, Paul speaks of his struggle with knowing what is right and good but yet doing that which is wrong. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus struggled and prayed that God's will would be done. Our lives are a series of decisions. How do we make wise decisions?

1. By using the minds that God has given us. Our minds are a tremendous tool and gift from God. We are to sharpen our minds by thinking analytically and critically in order to make sharp decisions. (Proverbs 18:13, 15, & 17)


Good News Gospel Choir led worship music.
2. By praying to God for wisdom and discernment. Wisdom is looking at life from God's eternal perspective and comes from having a respect for God and a growing ability to tell right from wrong. We can be bitter about the unfairness of life or we can instead ask God for wisdom to respond to the unfairness in an appropriate and wise way. (Proverbs 1:7)

3. By praying that God's Holy Spirit will guide us. When we yield to God, He fills us with His Spirit, He guides us and we develop the mind of Christ. If we ask what would Jesus do and how can I honor God in this situation, God will grow within us the self-control and patience to make wise decisions. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through inner promptings and other people. (Ephesians 5:18 & 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15)

4. By praying. Prayer is talking to Jesus and developing intimacy and a relationship with Him. He loves us and listens to us. Prayer is not an exercise in getting but in giving and connecting with God.

5. By doing what is right and good. If we obey Him in all that we know He has asked us to do, He will grow character within us and guide us through the gray, confusing areas of life. We can be confident of this because we know that God is good. In the midst of criticism, we are to stand firm, even if we have to stand alone, not give in to pressure and know that we have done good. Through discipline, decisions become habits. If we make decisions that honor God in all the small areas of our lives, we will develop wisdom and God will give us the ability to make wise decisions in the big areas. (Matthew 5:6)

6. By considering consequences. God has given us a free will. We can not blame our environment or our parents. We are responsible. In Joshua 24, 1 Samuel 14, & Acts 20, the Bible tells of how Joshua, Samuel and Paul sought to live their lives by making right decisions that honored God.

7. By accepting and responding to the grace of God. God's grace, acceptance and forgiveness covers over the poor decisions we have made, gets us back on track, encouraging us to continue on and become people of integrity.

God will guide us as we humbly seek to honor him.

Summary submitted by Karen Walsh