Date: 10-11-2009

Message: The Commitment Choice

Series Title: Life’s Healing Choices (Part 3)

REALITY CHOICE: Realize I’m not God. Admit I’m powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.

HOPE CHOICE: To earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to him and he has the power to help me change.

COMMITMENT CHOICE:

Consciously choose to commit all my life and will
to Christ’s care and control.

Matthew 5:5 (NIV) “Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.”

1. Meek is STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL

1 Peter 2:21-23 (NLT) ²¹ Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. ²² He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. ²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

Meekness has always been God's way for humanity

(see Job 5:11; Num. 12:3; Ps. 25:9; Eph. 4:1-2; Col. 3:12; Titus 3:1-2)

2. Meekness means I acknowledge GOD’S HOLINESS

a. Meekness is a confidence in WHO I am.

Deuteronomy 10:17 (MSG) God, your God, is the God of all gods, he's the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome.

b. confidence in WHOSE I am.

1 John 5:1 (NLT) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God.

The Commitment Choice:

1. “Consciously”: IT’S MY DECISION

2. “choose to commit” OVER AND OVER

Romans 6:16 (NLT) Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

3. “all of my life and will” EVERYTHING

Luke 14:33 (NLT) So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.

4. “to Christ’s care and control” HE LOVES ME

Matthew 11:28 (Phillips NT) "Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest!"

COMMITMENT CHOICE: Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.

Before Your Next Group READ Chapter. 2 of

John Baker’s book: “Life’s Healing Choices” Pay particular attention to the stories from Mary and Tim at the end of the chapter.

Daily Doses:

For those with extremely busy schedules: Take just a minute a day to start out with a Word from the Lord. Read it! Listen Again! Write down how it applies to you. Finally pray about it.

qMon. 1 Pet. 2:21-23	qWed. Rom.6:16	qFri. Mat. 11:28
qTue. 1 John 5:1	qThr. Luke 14:33	qSat. Mat 5:5

Through the Bible in One Year "Parson Larsen's Quiet Time Notebook" or “Through the Bible In 1 Year” brochure study guides are available in the lobby of the church. This free resource should help you to develop a Bible reading plan that will certainly bless your week.