1 Th. 3:1-2; Phil. 2:25-26

How do you decide?

1) You can restrict yourself for God’s holiness 1 Cor. 9:19-22

• Lev. 11:3, 7; 1 Cor. 10:27
• Num. 6:1-8
• 1 Cor. 9:19-22

2) God gives you freedom to choose within His holy will Rom. 14:1-5

3) Freedom requires responsibility and accountability Rom. 14: 7-10,12

4) Pursue wisdom from God’s Word by His Spirit Jam. 1:5-8

• Jam. 1:5-8
• Heb. 5:12-14

The Lord Jesus gives you freedom within His sovereign, holy will!

• God’s sovereignty does not exclude your need to know His word.
• Wisdom from Scripture will guide you to His holy will.
• God gives open doors for service, not specific guidance. If he gave specifics, you’d depend on the circumstances instead of on Him.

Message Based Discussion Questions

1) How does the world teach people to make decisions? How well do you perceive that they work?

• Pursue what appeals to your flesh, or if you want what this person has or looks like, buy it!
• Choose for the now, rather than for Biblical principles or eternal consequences.
• Choose for self, rather than to glorify the Lord Jesus.
• They do not work well!

Digging Deeper

2) Is there a difference between legalism and voluntary restrictions (cf. Num. 6:1-8; Rom. 14:5-10? _yes__ How would you describe the differences? How does one become the other or become confusing to young believers? What principles should you consider?

• Legalisms are spiritual rules imposed to impress God and others, whereas voluntary restrictions are individual choices to move toward the holiness of God.
• Voluntary restrictions become legalism when the choices are imposed on others for spirituality, whereas legalism cannot become a voluntary restriction.  Legalism appears spiritual, but distorts grace and confuses young believers regarding grace.
• Communicate 1) legalism from Col. 2:20-23 and grace from (Eph. 2:8-10). 2) you are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14-15). 3) grace causes thanksgiving (2 Cor. 4:15). 4) We have freedom in Christ Jesus (Gal. 5:1). 5) Use the liberty for serving others, not puffing up the flesh (Gal. 5:13)

3) Was Gideon directed by the Angel of the Lord on what to do? _yes___ What were the directions (Judg. 6:7-14)? Why did Gideon ‘fleece” the Lord? Did God give Gideon the answer he requested? Why is that an invalid practice today?

• Go in his might to deliver Israel. Israel had not obeyed. It was general in direction, but became more specific in later passages.
• Gideon doubted the words and directions.
• God gave Gideon the fleece answer, because Israel was in dire straits and there were 120,000 soldiers that could have destroyed Israel’s army and God received the glory in the end.
• Today, we have the completed Bible. We have sufficient resources in it to determine the wisdom of God and the holy will of God.

4) Does God direct the Old Testament believers to give a free will offering (cf. Lev. 22:18)? _yes____ When an Israelite made a vow before the Lord, does the person still have the option to keep it (cf. Deut. 23:21-23; Ecc. 5:4-5; Num. 30:2)?

• There is no option, he must fulfill it.

Making application from the message to life:

5) Indecision is often difficult for people. How would you disciple them to understand God’s freedom in making decisions?

• Help them understand several options may be in the holy will of God.
• He can choose any of those options and still be pleasing to the Lord.
• Teach him that delays in making decisions can be unloving to others, because they have to wait on him to make the decision, e.g. while waiting to order at a restaurant.

6) How would you disciple a young person in choosing a mate in order to understand how to choose within God’s will? What five considerations should be made regarding general understanding and specifics?

• He should only develop a relationship with another Christian (2 Cor. 6:14) and he should follow courtship principles of inviting the parents into the process. This develops trust and affirms the Lord’s rulership in his life.
• Five considerations might be:
  • Ensure the potential mate is seeking righteousness (Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 15:33).
  • Maintain a holy, God-honoring mental, emotional and physical relationship (1 Thes. 4:3).
  • Seek one who has been discipled by parents or older Christians (Titus 2:1-8).
  • Enter into a carefully thought out process of greater responsibility and accountability (Rom. 13:12-14).
  • Receive wise counsel from others (Pro. 24:6).

7) How much should a person study Scripture before making a decision? How would you disciple someone to not become parallelized from fear in making the wrong decision?

• Scripture should be studied regularly, if not daily. If you spend an hour watching television, then spend an hour in Scripture. It’s a growth process and builds on studying.
• Teach the principle of God’s holy will and within that holy will there are various options, like a train that comes to a fork in the track.  It has freedom to take either fork as the engineer decides. Make the choice according to your preference. Rejoice in the freedom to choose your preference.