STE:Making the right choices in life  by David L. Brown

   by Pastor David L. Brown Th.M.

   TOPIC: HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL

   INTRODUCTION

   Psalm 37:23-28 is an exciting and instructive passage of scripture.
Let's focus in on verse 23, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the
LORD: and he delighteth in his way." Ponder those words for a moment.
The verse says that the steps of a good person are directed and made
firm by the LORD and that the LORD delights in each step we take
because it is in HIS will.

   But Proverbs 14:12 reveals another pathway that a person can take.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways of death."

   It makes sense to let the Lord be the one who is pointing out the
pathway to walk on in life considering where the road leads when we
make choices that seem right to us doesn't it?

   If you want the direction of the Lord you must first be on the right
road.

   I. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT ROAD -- Mat. 7:13-14

   We picked up my daughter Karla from Bible College a recent Thursday
in October. As we were going back to her dorm she told us about her
friend who was walking on the wide new dirt road that had recently been
cut through the property. It was getting on toward dusk and as this
girl walked along, she had no idea of the danger that was just ahead.
She was walking along, thinking all was right with the world, when
suddenly and unexpectedly she fell headlong into a pit. She lay spread
eagle, face down in the pit. Her papers and books were scattered
everywhere.

   That story reminded me of the TWO WAYS spoken of in 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."

   Though Karla's friend was not hurt seriously, she illustrates the
many people who are on the BROAD WAY, the super highway to destruction.
They are cruising along at optimum speed not knowing that the pit, HELL
is up ahead. While doing the Halloween & Occult seminars over the past
month, I have run across many people who are traveling the Expressway
to Condemnation. They are moving happily along that highway and they
are irritated when someone tries direct them off of that highway. They
are content to be lost, living in sin, without Jesus Christ.

   On the other hand, what a pleasure it was to see at least eight
others decide to trust Christ as their Savior. They took the exit off
the Expressway of Condemnation and are now traveling the NARROW WAY of
life. In addition a good number of others who were formerly in bondage
to heinous kinds of sin have called to tell me how Christ has set them
free and put them on the right road.

   My friends, Christ is still on the throne! Jesus is still in the
business of saving sinners. Praise His Holy Name.

   WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON? If you are not on the narrow road which leads
to life that means you are on the broad road that leads to destruction.
There is no median between the two roads. You are either on the BROAD
ROAD or the NARROW ROAD. I stand here before you today and invite you
to Christ. He is the WAY, the only way to get on the narrow road of
life (John 14:6). If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior from
sin, why not pause right now and ask the risen Lord Jesus to forgive
your sins and save your soul. When a person does that, he or she exits
the Expressway of Condemnation on to the Narrow Road Of Life.

   Once you are on the Narrow Road of Life you want to be sure that you
don't end up taking a detour. Detours will always take a lot of time
and lead you out of God's will. Romans 12:1-2 gives us clear directions
on HOW TO STAY OFF DETOURS.

   II. HOW TO STAY OFF DETOURS -- Romans 12:1-2

   A. DEDICATION (1)

   Have you ever noticed that if you do not have a goal in mind you
will wander? That happened to me Saturday. One of the men of the church
asked me to go Pheasant hunting. I turned him down because I was not
sure my leg would hold out. That's something for me to turn down
hunting. Anyway, I decided to give my leg a brief trial because I want
to go Pheasant hunting in the next week or two so. With that in mind my
son, Pastor Boyd and I went squirrel hunting. Truth is, I was paying so
much attention to my leg that I did not pay any attention to where I
was in the woods. I was just wandering around. My leg went completely
out on me once and I found myself flat on my face. When it came time to
meet up with Steve and Terry I had no idea where I was so I just walked
east, to the road, so I could get my bearings.

   That brings me to my point. If you are going to know and do the will
of God in your life, you must keep off detours and the first way to do
that is BE TOTALLY DEDICATED to the Lord. The reason there are so many
messed up Christians is because they are wandering around in life with
NO GOAL in view. Romans 12:1 says, "...present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God..." Paul was saying, give
yourself to God. Make following him you #1 goal in life.

   I like the way Paul expressed this idea of having the goal of being
totally dedicated to God ever before you in Philippians 3:14. "I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus."

   DEDICATION to Christ will keep you off the detours that will take
you out of God's will. Not matter what the temptation, no matter how
you feel, no matter how strong the peer pressure is, keep your eyes
focused on the Lord and His will and you will not get side tracked.
Detours always waste precious time and the Bible says we are to redeem
the time. Detours take us out of God's will and often damage our
testimony. Detours are dangerous.

   B. SEPARATION (2)

   "And be not conformed to this world..."

   Separation is the second guideline that will keep you off the
detours that will obstruct you from doing God's will and making the
right choices in life.

   Far too many believers lose their Christian identity because they
allow the world squeeze them into its mold. They get stuck in the
world's rut. They adopt the humanistic philosophies of the day. They
bow to peer pressure. Blend in with the world just like Lot did in
Sodom.

   God wants you to clean up your act. He wants you to separate
yourself from wrong. He wants you to reject philosophies that
contradict the teaching of the Bible. In short we must learn to stand
for the Lord despite the pressure to conform exerted by others. As old
Dr. Bob Jones used to say, "do right, no matter what!" You can be sure
if you follow that advice you will stay off the detours of life and
find it much easier to discern the will of God.

   C. TRANSFORMATION (2)

   "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

   Transformation is the third thing that will keep you on track and
off the detours of life. Our minds are renewed or transformed by...

   1) Regeneration (being saved) -- Titus 3:5

   The moment you are saved you receive the mind of Christ (1 Cor.
2:16). I think that means we have the power to reason like Christ,
discerning God's will. Before we are saved, the carnal mind is in
control (Rom. 8:6-8).

   Transformation begins with the washing of regeneration and continues
as we

   2) Read the word of God -- Eph. 5:26

   The Word of God is the best mind cleanser in the world. As you daily
get into the word it cleans out the dirt of rationalization and the
scum of false philosophies and much more.

   Summary

   Romans 12:1-2 gives us general directions for keeping on the right
track in life. If we follow these three guidelines it will keep us off
the detours of life.

   DEDICATION

   SEPARATION

   TRANSFORMATION

   III. STEPS TO FOLLOW SO THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES How do
you find God's will when you are about to make an important decision?

   A. ERASE YOUR OWN WILL -- James 4:13-15; Psa. 143:10; Mat. 6:10

   B. PRAY FOR GOD'S WISDOM & WILL IN THE MATTER --Jam. 1:5-6

   C. READ SCRIPTURES THAT DEAL WITH WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING -- 2 Tim
3:16-17

   D. REMEMBER THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF SCRIPTURE

   1) Would Jesus make this decision? 1 Jn 2:6

   2) Will what I am going to do glorify God? 2 Cor. 10:31

   3) Would I want to be found doing this when the Lord returns? I John
2:28

   4) Will this activity hinder my spiritual growth? Heb. 12:1-2

   5) Will this action bring impurity or useless harm to my mind or
body, which is God's temple? I Cor. 6:19-20

   6) Will this choice offend another Christian, causing them to
stumble, or make them weak in the faith? Rom. 14:21

   7) Will this decision or action be a help or a hindrance to those
unsaved people around me? Titus 2:5

   E. CONSIDER YOU OPTIONS

   It is often helpful to write down your options and what is for and
against each. Take into account your gifts and abilities, godly counsel
of others and the circumstances of your life.

   F. THINK & DECIDE

   You must come to a decision.

   G. CHECK YOUR PEACE

   If you continue to have inner peace, you have probably decided
correctly. If not begin again particularly considering point 1 & 2.

   There is nothing so fulfilling as being in the center of God's will.
Make your choices carefully. The above suggestions should help.

   [This pamphlet is available in printed form from LOGOS
COMMUNICATION, P.O. BOX 173, OAK CREEK, WI. 53154 or leave a message
for David Brown which includes your name and address]
