Questions to Ask Before You Decide Decisions Decisions
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
Decisions, Decisions • Every day we make decisions that directly affect our faith and our relation with God, Josh. 24: 15 • Sometimes Christians have a hard time deciding what to do in specific situations that call for clear, decisive decisions, 1 Kgs. 18: 21; Jas. 4: 7 -10 • Use some questions to exercise our senses to make right decisions, Heb. 5: 14 2
Questions Before You Decide 1) Can you ask God to bless your decision? – Prov. 10: 22: God’s blessing makes us rich beyond earthly treasures and removes sorrows, cf. Num. 6: 22 -27 – Psa. 19: 14: Will your words and your heart be acceptable to God? 3
Questions Before You Decide 2) Can you thank God for it? – Col. 3: 17: Whatever you do – 1 Ths. 5: 18: In everything give thanks – the will of God for you 4
Questions Before You Decide 3) Are you doing this to the glory of God? – 1 Cor. 10: 31: “a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory” (Thayer) – Phil. 1: 9 -11: Filled with fruits of righteousness by Christ to God’s glory 5
Questions Before You Decide 4) Will your decision be a stumbling block to others or help them follow Jesus? – 1 Cor. 8: 13: Including matters of liberty – Matt. 18: 6 -10: Warned against being a stumbling block – 1 Pet. 2: 11 -12: Honorable conduct as light and salt (Matt. 5: 13 -16) 6
Questions Before You Decide 5) Are you doing this to please God rather than people? – Col. 3: 23: Is it serving Christ with your whole heart? – Eph. 6: 7: With goodwill (“well-minded”), peaceable spirit – Gal. 1: 10: Please the Lord first (2 Cor. 5: 9) 7
Questions Before You Decide 6) Have you thought ahead about the consequences of your decision? – Gal. 6: 7 -9: You will reap what you sow – Jas. 4: 4 -6: Befriending the world brings strife with God – Pain, sorrow, spiritual and eternal death – Humility before God brings grace 8
Questions Before You Decide 7) Would you want to be doing whatever you decide when Christ returns? – Matt. 24: 44 -51: Unfaithful servant is unprepared for Christ’s return; fit only for punishment when He returns – Would you do it in the presence of your earthly father? Your heavenly Father? Prov. 5: 21; 15: 3 9
Decisions, Decisions • The world will always try to make you doubt your decisions of faith (and so become lukewarm in faith, Rev. 3: 1516) • The word of God must guide us in all our decisions • Faith in God must direct us and determine our decisions, Heb. 11: 6; 1 10
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