Step Five - Step Forward in Faith
Notes
Transcript
Refuse to trust yourself
Seek and surrender to God’s will
Pray about your decision - A season of waiting
Don’t get anxious
Seek Godly counsel
This is a faith
God directs a moving vessel
2 things will come from this decision:
Affirmation
Testing
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul is speaking of a life that encountered difficulties
Stepped forward in faith and forward in commitment
Even the best decisions:
Can fall apart
Go through a moment of proving or testing
Life gets harder before it’s gets easier
Decisions based upon God, not upon emotions or feelings
Job 23:10 (KJV 1900)
But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Explorer Cortez - Veracruz, Mexico - landed - dismantle and burn the ships
Satan knows the best time to uproot a tree is when it is little and a seedling
It doesn’t have the roots developed or firmly woven into the soil with a deep root system
If your roots are rooted in God’s Word it will allow you to remain strong as they are anchored upon that which is enduring and faithful to all generations
Try this… it didn’t work out
Sampling
Wholly commit yourself even with the testing
Move froward with faith
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Expect immediate testing of your decision
Spiritual assault - emotions - it will fall apart
I know I am obeying God
God is using this decisions
2 Cor 4:16-17
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 years of doubt - married the right person
30 years no doubt married the right person
Joshua you conquer the land, but you will have to fight for it
God’s blessings are ahead
Testings are preparation for the blessing and the new joy and responsibilities
It WILL help - almost immediate testing
Venture through testing
Refuse to entertain doubts
Did I marry the wrong person?
I know I did the right thing!
Bible, prayer, clarity, counsel
Block out “What if”!
Play mind game
Renew your commitment to God’s call
You have clarity that you are take the next step
Return to Scripture
See what happened after God’s people made decisions
Decision = Life got harder = Fruitful = Decision = Life got hard = Fruitful
Claim Scripture
Ps 138:8
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.
I am teachable. God I know you will perfect those things that concerns me.
Wait on the Lord
If God takes away a dream, He is going to give a better one
Conclusion: What to do with bad decisions
Regret?
I did this to myself. God is done with me.
The grace of God leads us to repentance
Godly sorrow leads to repentance
Repentance - changing my mind - I did the wrong - now I am going to do the right thing
Emotion can thrust us into a moment to repent
Sometimes it is the goodness of God that can lead us to repent
There is blessings that you’re missing
Gift rejected?
Prodigal son - before you get to the pig farm
God doesn’t want us to pay for our bad decisions; He wants us to repent of them
Do the wrong thing - I do the right thing
John Mark:
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
God specialises in second chances
The faster you run to Him the sooner He will wrap you up in His love, mercy, and will
God’s perfect will always begins today
Some decisions have permanent outcomes
Some decisions leave you scarred
Don’t interpret that as God’s judgment
It is a natural consequence of a bad decision, and God can heal my scars
Philippians 3:12-14
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Yesterday’s decisions are yesterday’s decisions
God has something for you today
Useless - NO
Penance - NO
God brings good from well-handled bad decisions
Rom 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Renew your love for God
God often gives a moment of reversal
Rom 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?