LIVE BY DECISION NOT BY DEFAULT TEXT: Luke 9:51
God has convicted me of my need to be a person who does not live by default,
but to live by decision. To be a person who determines that I will do what it
takes to know God better and love Him more, so that He can work in me to become
more Christlike and to challenge you to become a person who is intentional in
all areas of your life, with the expectation that will do wonderful and
marvelous things in you because of it.
STEPS TO LIVING BY DECISION
• Choose to live decisively
• It always starts with a decision. The problem is that too many people end
there – follow through/action
• Ephesians 5:15-16
• Spiritual growth requires an intentional effort. Spiritual stagnation and
decline requires no effort at all.
• Decisive people strive to make wise decisions based on the Bible
• Commit to correct priorities
• Matthew 15:8
• Priority #1 – Honor God – How? Live by divine conviction not compromise - Live
by divine faith not by sight - Live by divine demonstration not by deception
• Covenant with God to submit to His authority
• Luke 6:46
• He is Lord, whether we want to admit it or not - He’s the boss, the One we
need to submit to above all others, especially ourselves.
• Tell Him you’re serious about following Him as Lord
• Increase time in the Bible and Prayer
• Colossians3:16
• Doesn’t it just make sense that if you want to live a life decisively seeking
to please God, you need to know what pleases God? Some of you need to increase
some - others need to just plain start! Start to Read 5-10 minutes a day. It
doesn’t have to be an hour - Pray while you are reading the Bible - as God
prompts your spirit to respond to what you’re reading, just do it - After that,
go over any requests for your family and others, then for yourself, always
keeping in mind that prayer includes praise, thanksgiving, and confession as
well as requests - Daily renew your walk with God - Renew your covenant of love
and submission on a daily basis - Expect God to move
• Let us return to the Lord
• Hosea 6:1-2
• Let us press on to acknowledge the Lord
• Hosea 6:3, 6
JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE
• In living by decision instead of default, Jesus is our example. He did
nothing by default - He was decisive about everything
• Luke 9:51 - “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (JKV) - He knew
what was coming up - He knew that going to Jerusalem would bring about His death
• Hebrews 12:2 - He went to Jerusalem and faced the cross, scorning its shame,
for the joy set before Him - How could knowing that He would be flogged almost
to death, then paraded down a street to be jeered at and mocked be reason to see
joy? Because He saw beyond Jerusalem. He saw the result. Pardon. Forgiveness.
Freedom. Opportunity for you and I to know God on a personal level
CONCLUSION
Is it easy to live decisively? No! But when you do - God works in you and
makes it worth it!
