The Choice

(2 Timothy 1:16 TLB) May the Lord bless Onesiphorus and all his family because he visited me and encouraged me often. His visits revived me like a breath of fresh air. 


STUCK IN THE DOLDRUMS 


1. You start faking it. 


(Jeremiah 6:14 NIV) They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.



 2. You put it off. 



(Hebrews 12:15) See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 



3. You give up. 



(Job 17:13) Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?' 


4. You die. 


(2 Corinthians 1:8-9) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. 



THE CHOICE 


(Genesis 2:9) In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 


(Genesis 2:16-17) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” 



(Deuteronomy 30:19) This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life. 


 Doing more. or 

 Receiving what has been done. 


(John 5:39-40) You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 



 Trying to get God’s approval. or 


 Receiving God’s love for you. 


(Romans 5:8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 


 Obeying out of duty. or 

 Obeying out of delight. 


(John 14:15) If you love me, you will obey what I command. 



FRESH AIR PRINCIPLE #1 



(Matthew 7:21-23) Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.' 



Fall in love with Jesus.   


Chris Hodges, Church of the Highalnds

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-choice

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/09-09-12.pdf