Opening blessing
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Romans 1:7
Beginning reading
Then David consulted The Lord. He asked, “Should I go in pursuit of these raiders? Will I catch up with them?” And The Lord ]answered him, “Go in pursuit, because you will overtake them and recover everyone and everything." 1 Samuel 30:8
The reason for message
The Bible teaches us how to live godly lives; a life which is acceptable to God and which also is a blessing to people we affect. We see this in Mathew 22:37-40. 37 He told him, “‘You are to love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[c] 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All of the Law and the Prophets are dependent on these two commandments.”
When it comes to making specific decisions on so many matters in life, though, the scriptures does not always speak directly to what we are having to deal with. My aim here is to articulate a spiritually sound approach for determining answers to the difficult questions of life. Realize that if you maintain an attitude of prayer and meditate on God's word, you shall be sensitive to the leading of God and will easily have answers to even perplexing questions. What does apostle Paul say to this? 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s peace, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Preamble
Most of the decisions we have to make can, and will, be made based on our everyday knowledge, understanding and experience. This is quite in order; God created humankind with that ability.
There are, however, occasions when the answers may not be clear cut, where the ordinary everyday wisdom and experience is not able to bring solutions. These may be consequential decisions that you just have to deal with.
In cases like these, our God still has equipped us to deal with the difficult questions. The scripture states in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Jesus. He has become wisdom for us from God, and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well!" Jesus is our wisdom. Jesus is scripture. He solves puzzles.
Some decision making steps
Whenever you have a difficult question about life to resolve, it is good to begin by asking God's help in prayers. You can pray. Request also the prayers of other Christians, if need be. 7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. Mathew 7:7-8
How will the answer come? I can only tell you you will get an answer. You will know when it comes. 8 "The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going." John 3:8
Even as you pray, search scriptures for answers. Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path." Scripture will provide illumination on any issue. It does not matter whether it addresses the problem directly or not. This is why it is good to read and contemplate scriptures. At the time we need that guidance, the Holy Spirit opens our understanding to how a specific scripture unlocks the answer.
Invitation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Romans 1:7
Beginning reading
Then David consulted The Lord. He asked, “Should I go in pursuit of these raiders? Will I catch up with them?” And The Lord ]answered him, “Go in pursuit, because you will overtake them and recover everyone and everything." 1 Samuel 30:8
The reason for message
The Bible teaches us how to live godly lives; a life which is acceptable to God and which also is a blessing to people we affect. We see this in Mathew 22:37-40. 37 He told him, “‘You are to love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[c] 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All of the Law and the Prophets are dependent on these two commandments.”
When it comes to making specific decisions on so many matters in life, though, the scriptures does not always speak directly to what we are having to deal with. My aim here is to articulate a spiritually sound approach for determining answers to the difficult questions of life. Realize that if you maintain an attitude of prayer and meditate on God's word, you shall be sensitive to the leading of God and will easily have answers to even perplexing questions. What does apostle Paul say to this? 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s peace, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Preamble
Most of the decisions we have to make can, and will, be made based on our everyday knowledge, understanding and experience. This is quite in order; God created humankind with that ability.
There are, however, occasions when the answers may not be clear cut, where the ordinary everyday wisdom and experience is not able to bring solutions. These may be consequential decisions that you just have to deal with.
In cases like these, our God still has equipped us to deal with the difficult questions. The scripture states in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Jesus. He has become wisdom for us from God, and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well!" Jesus is our wisdom. Jesus is scripture. He solves puzzles.
Some decision making steps
Whenever you have a difficult question about life to resolve, it is good to begin by asking God's help in prayers. You can pray. Request also the prayers of other Christians, if need be. 7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. Mathew 7:7-8
How will the answer come? I can only tell you you will get an answer. You will know when it comes. 8 "The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going." John 3:8
Even as you pray, search scriptures for answers. Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path." Scripture will provide illumination on any issue. It does not matter whether it addresses the problem directly or not. This is why it is good to read and contemplate scriptures. At the time we need that guidance, the Holy Spirit opens our understanding to how a specific scripture unlocks the answer.
Invitation
36 Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Jesus, whom you executed on a cross!
37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be baptized on the authority of Jesus the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as the Lord our God may call!” Acts 2:37-39
Closing blessing
25 Now to God, who can strengthen you, according to my Good News,
in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth
which is the proclamation of Jesus the Messiah,
kept hidden in silence for ages and ages,
26 but manifested now through prophetic writings,
in keeping with the command of God the Eternal,
and communicated to all the Gentiles
to promote in them trust-grounded obedience —
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah,
be the glory forever and ever!
in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth
which is the proclamation of Jesus the Messiah,
kept hidden in silence for ages and ages,
26 but manifested now through prophetic writings,
in keeping with the command of God the Eternal,
and communicated to all the Gentiles
to promote in them trust-grounded obedience —
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah,
be the glory forever and ever!
Amen. Jude 1:24-25
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