06/04/2023 - Part 1 - Life Choices – Life’s Choices

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes June 4, 2023 Life Choices – Life’s Choices Luke 6: 46-49 Build on the Rock “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” 46 Is life harder than it was 40 or 50 years ago? I don’t think so. What I believe is not that life is harder, rather it’s the amount of opportunity we have at our disposal – along with the amount of access and freedom we have available to us. Why is this important? Because as we live, we’re inclined: • To wonder or second guess whether or not God cares [about me]. • To question why God is allowing so much tribulation [difficulty] in my life. • To conclude “Am I being punished or chastened [by God for something I did or didn’t do]? • To rationalize “Is God holding something against me?” In every case, the answer is “None of the above”! Sadly, and erroneously, God is blamed for so many of the things that have a negative effect on our lives. But we can be assured that God’s promises to us are true: He has promised that . . . • He will never leave us nor forsake us. • He is for us and not against us. [So, if God be for you, who or what else can be against you?]. • That He will cause all things to work together for good to those who love God . . . to those who are the called according to His purpose. • He will never put more on us than we can bear. • He has made us more than conquerors! Now, before we go further, let me insert one often misdirected promise from God. It is: “Those whom God loves, He chastens.” Hebrews 12:4-6 Hebrews 12:4-6 NKJV 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” [Chastening/Disciplining is Evidence of God’s Love and Ownership of His Children; vs. Bastard disownership]. Chastening is designed to keep us from going wrong. God won’t let His children go buck wild wrong.] 1 Corinthians 11:31-33 NKJV 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. [God’s Divine Intervening Protection] Currently, the fallout and aftereffects of the pandemic have left many people, including God’s children, confused, drained, empty, distanced, and disconnected. Life’s problems and challenges are enough by themselves – even without a pandemic. So, today’s message, entitled Life Choices – Life’s Choices, is intended to increase our discernment of how the choices we’ve made and/or are making are either hurting us or helping us. Life Choices are the choices we’ve made. Life’s Choices are the choices available to us. My personal mantra with regard to making choices is: People Live their Choices or another way of saying it is: The Life we currently are living is for the most part the result of the choices we made – good, mediocre, or bad. But the good news is . . . trouble don’t last always. But until it passes . . . we can all use a little pain medicine, [a little empathy and help] to get us through. [to the other side]. So, I want to encourage you today, to catch your second wind, get your bearings, and recommit your way to God anew. I know we often say “Well, I’ve been looking to God the whole time, but my change has not yet come.” Trust me, God Feels you. But there’s something we all need to be reminded of: God uses prayers not to only change the situation, but to change us. [That’s a HARD Pill to Swallow]. He knows what’s best, but we often find ourselves telling Him what we want – rather than hearing and observing what He has in mind for us that will place us in the center of His perfect will. Yes, life happens and we have to live it, but we need the wisdom of God to navigate it. Either way, whether we invite God in or leave Him out . . . We ultimately are found to be Living Our Choices. Such was the case found in Luke 6: 46-49 Luke 6: 46-49 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” 46 Let’s break it down . . . This parable represents choices: One Good and One Bad. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 46 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. [This is an illustration of Things you can’t control; - out of your control; Things that are inevitable in life that have nothing to do with whether you’re saved or unsaved, belong to God or serve the devil. The difference is Hearing and Obeying God vs. Not Hearing and Obeying (actually Hearing, but refusing to Obey.) ] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Let’s build our hopes on things eternal. Those things that have timeless, unending value. It’s time to assess your choices – as we should do often. In doing so initially, it may make you miserable because you know where you went wrong. And yes, in the near term, there seemingly is nothing much you can do about it. But reviewing it, can do 4 things: • Can make you wise not to repeat it – feel the present consequence. • Provide you contrast to learn from a risky decision; cause you to apply God’s Work (lean not to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him . . . and He will direct your path. • Elevate you to new thinking – trust God for a turnaround outcome. • Build hope . . . a better, new day will dawn. In the secular arena, experts have identified four types of choices: 1. A Dilemma Firstly, a Dilemma is a type of choice. While we may use this word to describe any sort of choice and its outcomes, it really represents a choice where we have two outcomes but both of them are equally unwelcome. Our task here is to then choose between one of these unpleasant outcomes. As an example, a dilemma would be where you need to drive home in exceptionally heavy traffic, knowing that whatever choice of route you make, it's going to take a long time. Sometimes, there are no good choices. 2. A Hobson's Choice Secondly, a Hobson's Choice is a choice where we get a choice between one thing or nothing. This terminology is typically applied where the thing we are offered is not what we really wanted. An example of a Hobson’s Choice would be arriving home late and having a choice between unappealing food or no food at all. 3. A Sophie's Choice Thirdly, Sophie's Choice is a moral choice. We have to make a choice between two desirable things, knowing that once we have chosen, we can never choose the other thing as well. The original meaning referred to a tragic movie, so this type of choosing has a connotation of being a very hard choice with tragic consequences. However, the same sort of choice can arise in everyday situations. Example: If two friends invited us to their weddings at the same time on the same day, that would be a Sophie’s Choice. 4. A Morton's Fork Fourthly, A Morton’s Fork is really a logical fallacy. Even though it might appear that you get a choice, either action that you take leads to the same bad outcome. For example, a student who procrastinates for too long before doing a major assignment still ends up having the same amount of time do the assignment, no matter what they did to procrastinate. The activities that they choose between to procrastinate are a Morton's Fork. In closing, I want to offer three spiritual types of choices: 1. The Rich Young Ruler Choice Matthew 19:20-22 NKJV 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 2. The Prodigal Son Choice Luke 15: 17-19. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 3. The Solomon Choice First Kings 3:5-15 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 6 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an [b]understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen[c] your days.” 15 Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Life Choices – Life’s Choices