Lesson 2: Cornelius' Family And Friends Series

A. HOW DOES THE WORLD CHOOSE?

1. The world is awed by giants, i.e., Goliath over nine feet tall.

· Win battles

· Stand tall as examples

· Rally the troops

2. The world is awed by billionaire industrialists.

· Money is power

· Money is happiness

· Money is life

3. The world is influenced by powerful presidents.

· Shape civilization by a decision

· Change the way we live

· Influence the future

4. How does the world choose?

· Mate? Outward appearance

· Job? What it will do for me

· Dream? What I want to do

B. HOW DOES GOD CHOOSE?

1. God does not have our standards of choice. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, saith the Lord” (Isa. 55:8).

2. God chosen by the heart. “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”(I Sam. 16:7).

a. Look beyond appearances. “Judge not according to appearance” (John 7:24).

b. Absalom was a good choice/bad choice. “In all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him” (II Sam. 14:25).

3. Seven sons of Jesse were rejected. “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these’” (I Sam. 16:10).

4. What did God see in David?

a. Tender heart (poet). “The Lord is my shepherd.”

b. Courageous. “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear” (I Sam 17:37).

c. Faith. “You come to me with a sword . . . I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts” (I Sam. 17:45).

d. God awareness. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him” (Psa. 147:11).

5. God uses people who can’t help themselves.

6. Why does God choose weak things? “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9).

The power may be of Christ (II Cor. 12:9).

Glory may go to Christ.

Sin is defeated.

7. Why does the Lord use a minority, rather than a majority? “Nothing can hinder the Lord; He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few” (I Sam. 14:6).

a. Gideon’s 300 against 120,000, Samson against 1000, Hezekiah against the Assyrian army, Moses against Pharaoh’s army

b. “Little is much when God is in it.”

c. “Last I should be exhalted above measure” (II Cor. 12:7).

8. Why does God not use arrogant or proud people? “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea seven are an abomination until him: a proud look” (Prov. 6:16-17).

They walk in their strength.

They plan according to their understanding.

They do it for selfish reasons.

C. HOW TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES

1. We must take self off the throne of our hearts, and put Christ there. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

2. We must remove any selfishness by a complete act of yieldedness. Notice 7 commands from James. “Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts ye double-minded. Be afflicted and mourn and weep . . . humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 7-10).

3. We must become nothing before God can use us. “Not I but Christ” (Gal. 2:20). “I can do all things through Christ who also strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

4. Learn to appreciate and accept your weaknesses. “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12:9). “I am quite content with my weakness” (II Cor. 12:10, LB).

5. Yieldedness does not mean idleness, or inactivity, or worklessness.

a. We yield the results to God, but intercede for success.

b. We surrender to God, but work diligently in ministry.

6. Always make choices in keeping with your life’s goal and your core values.

7. Good choices keep us from making bad choices.

8. Your weakness plus Christ is empowered abundantly. “We are workmen/together with God” (I Cor. 3:9).

9. Christ “in you” makes you learn discipline, and practice, until you can do more for God than you ever expected.

10. Pre-disposition. The more bad choices you make the easier it becomes to make them. The more good choices you make, the easier it becomes to continue making them.

11. The choices of your “hero” will greatly influence your choices. “Tell me who your hero is, and I will tell you what you will be like five years from now.”