Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, December 21, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of my sermon outlines of recent years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:
IT'S YOUR CHOICE
by Michael D. O'Neal                    Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Deut. 30:1-20

Text: Deut. 30:19

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:

Introduction: The main issues of your life - your wealth, your health, and your relationships with God and man - are largely determined by the choices you make. You make choices every day all day long - when to wake up or keep on sleeping, how to dress, shave, and groom, what to eat, etc.

Even if you avoid a decision, you have made a choice.

"Not to decide IS to decide."

I. YOU CAN CHOOSE STUPIDITY OR WISDOM

Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

A. It's a choice of affection - they hated knowledge

B. It's a choice of attitude - they did not choose the FEAR of the Lord

C. It's a choice of action - to pray for heavenly wisdom or pursue the wisdom of this world

II. YOU CAN CHOOSE SINFUL ASSOCIATES OR WISE ONES

Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Such as:

A. A candidate for marriage

B. Companions
1. After school
2. After work
3. Away from church

C. Church
1. Fundamental or liberal
2. High standards or worldly
3. Your preference or God's preference

III. YOU CAN CHOOSE THE SCRIPTURES OR WORLDLY ACTIVITIES

Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Psalms 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Psalms 119:173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

The average Christian reader can finish the Bible from front to back in around 15 minutes a day. The reason the average Christian never reads his Bible through from cover to cover is that he CHOOSES to do something else.

You can choose to put the Bible above and before

A. Fantasy
1. Television
2. Novels

B. Fun
1. Computer games
2. Sports
3. Hunting, fishing, etc.

C. Finances
1. Overtime and Sunday work causing you to miss Bible teaching and preaching

IV. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD OR WICKEDNESS

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. The Father or the flesh
1. Pleasing one or the other
2. Promoting one or the other

B. The Son or sin
1. Rom. 6 - you're serving one or the other

C. The Holy Spirit or hellish spirits

CONCLUSION:

Make the RIGHT choice!

Make it deliberately!
Make it daily!
Make it delightfully!

Return to "The Bible Believing Fundamentalist" |  Return to the "Sermon Notes Page"