CHOICES THAT SHAPE YOUR GOD GIVEN FUTURE
The Choice
Only the right value will give you the future you want.
“Today I AM GIVING YOU A CHOICE. You can choose life and success or death and disaster. I am commanding you to love the LORD your God, to live the way he has told you, and to obey his laws and teachings. You are about to cross the Jordan River and take the land that he is giving you. IF you obey him, you will live and become successful and powerful.” Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (CEV)
“But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, you will be destroyed… You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God’s blessing or curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. CHOOSE LIFE!” Deuteronomy 30:17-19 (GNT; TEV)
MOSES’ FOUR LIFE-SHAPING CHOICES
“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, REFUSED to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He CHOSE to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He REGARDED disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; He PERSEVERED because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:23-27 (NIV)
1. REFUSE TO BE DEFINED BY OTHERS.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, REFUSED to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” Hebrews 11:24 (NIV)
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good…” Romans 12:2 (PHILLIPS)
“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for your good, plans to prosper you and not harm you. They are plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
2. CHOOSE SHORT-TERM PAIN FOR LONG-TERM GAIN!
“Moses CHOSE to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” Hebrews 11:25
• GOD WILL USE IT TO HELP ME GROW
“We can have joy in our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NCV)
• GOD WILL REWARD ME IN HEAVEN
“[These] present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)
3. CHOOSE GOD’S VALUES, NOT WHAT CULTURE VALUES
“Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Hebrews 11:26
WHAT THE WORLD VALUES
Popularity, Prestige & Power, Pride of Life, (vs. 24).
Pleasure “The pleasures of sin” (vs. 25).
Possessions “The treasures of Egypt” (vs. 26).
“The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.” 1 John 2:17 (GNT; TEV)
WHAT GOD VALUES
• GOD’S PURPOSE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POPULARITY (vs. 24).
• PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PLEASURE (vs. 25).
• PEACE OF MIND IS MORE VALUABLE THAN POSSESSIONS (vs. 26).
4. CHOOSE TO LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY FEAR!
“By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV)
“… No one can please God by simply obeying his Law. So we put our faith in Jesus Christ and God accepted us because of our faith.” Galatians 2:16