A. APPROACHING YOUR PROBLEMS
“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! 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.” Joshua 24:14-15
1. Life is a choice. People have the most success when they make right choices – most of the time – about important areas, at the right time.
2. God who knows the dangers gives negative warning.
a. The Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not have any gods, idols, take God’s name in vain, misuse the Sabbath, dishonor parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet things.
b. Over 600 negative rules.
3. God spells out/directs through:
a. Sovereign guidance (Romans 8:28).
b. Inwardly (Romans 8:14).
c. Opportunities/open doors (1 Corinthians 16:9).
d. By our yielded spirit (Romans 12:1-2)
e. Our spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 7:7).
f. Our common sense (Proverbs 16:9).
g. Pray (Matthew 7:7).
The wrong decision at the wrong time – disaster
The wrong decision at the right time – mistake
The right decision at the wrong time – unacceptable
The right decision at the right time – success
B. TEN PRINCIPLES FOR MAKING SUCCESSFUL DECISIONS
1. Take time to listen to God’s voice. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
2. Ask and answer questions about yourself. God comes with questions, “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). “Cain, why are you angry?” (Genesis 4:6). Paul asked, “Who are you Lord?” (Acts 9:5).
3. Recognize objective truth. Sometime God’s voice is loud, other times it is “a still small voice.” Sometimes God is silent. Yet, truth like gravity always stands there next to us. Two continuous problems: our omniscient memory and insight (?).
4. Stop all self-effort and yield to God. “Whatever you plan to do, put your whole life into it” (Colossians 3:23, ELT).
5. Pay attention to your physical. Sometimes your body speaks so loudly you cannot hear yourself thinking.
6. Pay attention to your spiritual:
a. Yield like Paul, “Lord, what would You have me do?” (Acts 9:6).
b. Search with your whole heart. “You will seek Me, and find Me, when you search … your whole heart”(Jeremiah 29:13).
c. Allow God to search/ask you questions. “I the Lord, search the heart” (John 17:10).
d. Let the Holy Spirit show you. “The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance” (John 14:26).
e. Study. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV).
f. Searching prayer. “Search me O God” (Psalm 139:23).
7. Obey what you learn. “I was not disobedient”(Acts 26:19).
8. Be patient.
a. God speak slowly like the dawning of a new day.
b. Sometimes suddenly Archimedes. “Eureka … I found it.”
9. Be open to insight to others. Ask – Paul prayed – God sent Ananias, “Brother Saul … God sent me … receive your sight” (Acts 9:17).
10. Be prepared to be misunderstood. God spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road, not to the others traveling with him.
a. Did not see Jesus.
b. Did not fast for answer.
c. Ananias did not come to them.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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