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Principles For Making Godly Decisions

Principles For Making Godly Decisions. Text: Hebrews 5:12-14 Date: January 1, 2005 Speaker: David Pike. A Simple Model For Godly Decision-Making. Why, Why, Why did this work or not?. What went right/wrong? What could be better?. Feedback. Examples: Study Mistakes History Examples

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Principles For Making Godly Decisions

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  1. Principles For Making Godly Decisions Text: Hebrews 5:12-14 Date: January 1, 2005 Speaker: David Pike

  2. A Simple Model For Godly Decision-Making Why, Why, Why did this work or not? What went right/wrong? What could be better? Feedback • Examples: • Study • Mistakes • History • Examples • Environment • Education • Analysis • Expert Advise Conscienceis based on good or bad principles and guidelines. I N P U T S O U T P U T S Godly Words and Deeds! Desire and Determination Am I pleasing? Do I want to do better whatever it takes?

  3. Principle #1:Know Thyself Examine all facets of our life in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis +) –“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove [test] yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Christ is in you?- unless indeed you are disqualified.” (II Co. 13:5) How can we know ourselves? Life is a balancing act (I.e. church, community, personal, work, family, government) –“…you have been found weighted in the balances, and found wanting.” (Dan. 5:27) Remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure –“giving all diligence, add to your faith…if you do these things you will never stumble.” (I Pt. 1:5-11)

  4. Principle #2:Know Where You Are Going Know your future direction –“…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Co. 4:16-18) How can knowing our future direction affect our decision-making? Decisions we make should be made with a view of the future –“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up…what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…nevertheless we, according to His promise look for new heavens a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (II Pt. 3:10-13) Remember: Life is short and we will not live forever –“…what is your life? It is even a vapor…” (Jm. 4:14)

  5. Principle #3:Train Your Conscience A good conscience is based on God’s truth. What we put into our heart will come out. –“holding the mystery [hidden truth] of the faith [system of teaching] with a pure conscience…meditate on these things.” (I Tm. 3:9; Ph. 4:8) Our conscience is our “internal compass.” –“Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one…having a good conscience that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct, in Christ, may be ashamed.” (Jh. 8:9; I Pt. 3:16; cf. I Co. 10:25; I Tm. 4:2) How does our conscience work and how is it trained? Remember: The Bible is not just a book of do’s and don’ts, but new principles need to be committed to “muscle memory.” –“…purge your conscience from dead works…having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…” (Hb. 10:22; 9:14)

  6. Principle #4:Learn From Mistakes We must learn to not repeat the same mistakes. –“…Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of you heart may be forgiven you…” (Ac. 8:21-24) If we don’t learn from history, then we will be apt to repeat it. –“…Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition [instruction], on whom the ends of the ages have come.” (I Co. 10:6, 11) How can we learn from mistakes? Remember: Provisions have been made when we do make mistakes. Be determine not repeat the same mistakes. –“…And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation [mercy seat] for our sins…” (I Jh. 2:1; cf. Ga. 6:1-5; Ac. 8:21-24)

  7. Principle #5:Be Determined And Desire To Do Right Desire to please God in all things. –“By faith Enoch…for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hb. 11:5-6) We must feel staved for righteousness. We are expected to grow. –“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” (Mt. 5:6; I Pt. 2:2) How does desire and determination affect our decision-making? Remember: The maturity process means to continually improve and relentlessly pursue excellence, which means doing right things right the first time. –“…But solid food belongs to those of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hb. 5:12-14; cf. Lk. 9:23)

  8. A Simple Model For Godly Decision-Making Learn From Mistakes Feedback Train Your conscience based on principles and guidelines. I N P U T S O U T P U T S Know Thyself & Know Where You Are Going Godly Words and Deeds! Desire and Determination Be desirous, willing, and determined to do right things right the first time.

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