Choose Ye This Day

by Loy Clements
(Springhill, LA. U.S.A.)

Text:Joshua 24:15

Introduction: I would like to give you the Kingdom key to a successful, and fulfilled life. That key is a quality decision that we make before our feet even hits the floor every morning.
Decision making is the power that people, who live in the Spirit, allows to guide their lives everyday.

I. Decision one must be to walk in the Spirit

To walk in the Spirit means we don't allow ourselves to follow the desires of our flesh. Within our flesh is the nature of sin. You might be asking yourself, what is the nature of sin. The nature of sin is living under the nature of sin and death.

The nature of the old man came when Adam fell from sonship. Adam was made in the image and likeness of God. In other words Adam had God's nature. His disobedience to God brought Satan's nature into his spirit when he bowed his knees unto God's enemy.

To walk in the Spirit first requires a new nature. This is what the new birth is all about. Through Jesus, and Calvary, God provided a way where man could once again have God's nature; being freed from Satan's nature.

Well, why do Christians sin? The old nature even though it is no longer in someones spirit; it is still in their flesh. The problem is as my friend Mark Hankins is always saying, "the stinking thinking of their peanut brain." This is why it is so important we renew our minds with God's Word.

To walk in the Spirit we must make God's Word the first place and final authority in our every decision.

II. Decision two is to rejoice and be glad

Scripture clearly teaches us that everyday we have in the earth is the day the Lord has made! I have discovered that He had a purpose for everyday. That purpose is to simply rejoice and be glad in the day He has made.

Just because everyone around us is singing the blues doesn't mean that we have to let them drag us down. Let me give you a quick example from something that happened to me while I was in Shreveport.

I was working in a department store, and after about a week of Revival at Tabernacle, I made a big no-no at work. I found myself rejoicing and praising God where He wasn't welcome. We had one guy there that was constantly singing Jeremiah was a bull frog; but nothing was said to him.

But, that day "Amazing Grace" kept flowing from my heart, and out of my mouth. I was not only fired from that job; but I was escorted out the front door by two police officers. "Choose you this day whom you will serve."

I could have chosen to quit singing and saved my job, or I could take a stand and lose my job. My boss told me it is your decision, shut up and do your job or go home. I walked out of those doors singing "amazing grace how sweet the sound."

III. Decision three is to be bold about the gospel

In 55 years of walking with the Lord, I have discovered that people in the world love more than most folks sitting on the pews every time the church doors are open. There is more mercy, and compassion among drug addicts than most ministers!

I had a friend that was a police officer, and he told me one day that he would get more respect from people he arrested than what he called church goers. This is an indictment against the church. This indictment does not honor God; if anything it bring reproach against Him!

Religion has never brought the knowledge of salvation to anyone. Jesus God made the decision to come and be made in the image of man, so that man could become like the Son of God. Righteousness comes according to scripture through faith, and faith comes only one way: hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Conclusion: The Spirit walk is the life of decisions based on what God has said in His Word. II Peter 2:24 says, "by His stripes we were healed." Believe it or die. To die is a decision of sin and death. God tells us in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 to choose life. One question: whom will you serve today. It is your choice, please choose life. Amen in Jesus Name!