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Choices have consequences
Belief and its Blessings
It's more powerful than God.
It's more evil than the Devil.
The poor have it.
The rich need it.
If you eat it you will die.
What is the word???
Believe it or not, 70% of elementary school children quizzed
solved the riddle, and only 17% of college age people figured it out.
Choices have consequences
Not just negative – positive too
Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Numbers 14:5-9
Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
“If the Lord is pleased with us”
Hebrew verb = “to be pleased with,” “to enjoy,” “to smile over”
Numbers 14:24
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Numbers 14:30
Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Numbers 14:38
Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.
Where you there when:
1968 Tigers / 1984 Tigers
Sodom and Gomorrah
Flood
Wilderness wandering
3 Keys to Living the Blessed Life
1. Places
Avoid certain situations / places
Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Matthew 6:9-13 Lord’s Prayer
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Proverbs 5:7-8 Immoral woman
Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
2. People
“Who you hang out with will determine who you become”
People / friends
1 Corinthians 15:33 - negative
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
Samson - Delilah
Philippians 4:9 - positive
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
Small groups
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - synergy
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up
Moses – Aaron
Joshua – Caleb, Moses
“Be strong and courageous” Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18
Paul – Silas, Barnabas, Dr. Luke
David – Jonathan, Nathan
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, so that you and your children may live
3. Processes – thought processes
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Prosperous – meditate on God’s Word
Think about what you think about!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Joel 3:14 Valley of decision
Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.
Joshua 24:14-15 Choose this day
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Who is smiling over you? God or Satan
Hear the applause / Celebrate small victories
It's more powerful than God.
It's more evil than the Devil.
The poor have it.
The rich need it.
If you eat it you will die.
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