YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 6, 1999,
at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE
By Michael D. O’Neal……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church……Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:11-16
Text: Isaiah 7:15
Isaiah 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Introduction: When I was a child, a black comedian named “Flip Wilson” was well known for saying, “The DEVIL made me do it!”
It is human nature for us to blame our decisions on someone else:
Adam: “The WOMAN made me do it!” (eat the forbidden fruit)
Eve: “The SERPENT made me do it!” (eat the forbidden fruit)
Aaron: “The PEOPLE made me do it!” (making the golden calf)
King Saul: “The PEOPLE made me do it!” (disobey God about destroying the Amalekites)
I hope you will realize that you DO have a choice.
I hope that you will make the RIGHT choice today.
I. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE TO BE SAVED
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Acts 16:29-31 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
A. The Savior died for every sinner
B. The Spirit deals with every person
C. Salvation depends upon your response
II. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE TO BE SEPARATED
2 Corinthians 6:17a Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
A. You can choose to be separated in appearance
B. You can choose to be separated in your associations
C. You can choose to be separated in your activities
III. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE TOWARD THE SCRIPTURES
Psalms 119:173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
A. You can choose to recognize them
B. You can choose to read them
C. You can choose to receive them
IV. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST
Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
A. You can suffer the loss of friends for him
B. You can suffer the loss of finances for him
C. You can suffer the loss of “fun” for him
* Worldly pleasure
* Sinful activities
V. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT A SPOUSE
Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
A. You can choose how you will seek a spouse
B. You can choose how you will select a spouse
C. You can choose how you will stick with a spouse
VI. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT SI
N
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
A. You can choose to resist it
B. You can choose to run from it
C. You can choose to recognize it
* Confess it for what it is — rebellion against God
VII. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE TO SERVE
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
A. You CHOOSE to go to church
B. You CHOOSE to give tithes and offerings
C. You CHOOSE to grow in grace
* To grow is a COMMANDMENT – 2 Pet. 3:18
Admit your responsibility. Take your responsibility.
AN HONEST CROOK? If there is such a thing as an honest crook, Brandon Coble might fit the description. Recently he pleaded no contest to a charge of armed robbery in March. He entered a book store, flashed an unloaded gun and then glued a clerk’s hands to the counter after she gave him about $580.00. The judge sentenced him to an 8 year prison term, after throwing out a charge of forgery and criminal trespass. Coble stated that he spent up to $100.00 a week on alcohol and occasionally more on cocaine. In a statement to the court, Coble said he was taking full responsibility for the crimes he committed. Drugs and alcohol are not to blame,” Coble said. “I made the decisions that put me where I am today.” Taken from Racine, WI – Journal Times, Saturday June 5, 1999, page 3B