Temple Baptist Church - 1-1-2023
Philippians 1:20-26
Introduction: Happy New Year! 2023! We made it through another year. 2022 has become history and 2023 is not the future arrived. I do not know that this new year will hold but I do know Who holds it, so let us face it in hope.
A. Life is full of choices, and they can be either right or wrong.
1. Choices are made by each of us every day and, for the most part, they have little temporal or eternal value. But some choices have eternal value and MUST be made right.
2. Little decisions, little consequences; big decisions, big consequences.
B. I will make a lot of choices today:
1. I can choose to have a good attitude or a bad attitude. I choose to have a good attitude.
2. I can choose to trust God or not to trust God. I choose to trust God.
3. I can choose to murmur and complain when trials come, or to learn a lesson from hardship. I choose to learn a lesson.
4. I can choose to be a blessing or a discouragement. I choose to be a blessing.
5. I can choose to smile or to frown. I choose to smile.
6. I can choose to be faithful or unfaithful. I choose to be faithful.
7. I can choose to be used of God or to live for self. I choose to be used for God.
8. I can choose to live in sin or to be pure and holy. I choose to be pure and holy.
9. I can choose God’s blessing or God’s cursing. I choose God’s blessing.
C. Here, we find Paul’s Choices - 17-24
1. He chose to be Uncompromising - 17 “set...defense” It cost Paul his friends and family. There is an unspoken peer pressure by unsaved friends and family members that constantly pressures God’s children to compromise the gospel through acceptance and quietness.
2. He chose to be a Soul Winner - 18 “do rejoice ... will rejoice” It cost Paul his time. To be soul conscious, we must not be self-conscious. Jesus first, others second, and you last is the acrostic for JOY.
3. He chose to be Unashamed - 20 “in nothing” It cost Paul his pride. When we become something, Jesus becomes nothing; when we become nothing, Jesus becomes everything! By the grace of God, we are what we are.
4. He chose to be Bold - 20 “with all boldness” It cost him his comfort - quietness brings no conflict but boldness brought persecution. There is a time to be quiet and there is a time to speak out. Wisdom is knowing when and where to speak.
5. He chose to be a Testimony - 20 “magnified ... life” It cost Paul his liberty. Paul said that all things were lawful to him but not all things were expedient. “If you can prove me wrong, I will stop doing what I am doing” instead of “I will stop what I am doing until I can prove that I am right by doing it” is the mentality of this newfangled “Christianity”.
6. He chose to be Faithful - 20 “magnified ... death” It cost Paul his life. Is not our will but God’s will that must be done. Our Lord prayed for this in the Garden.
7. He chose to Trust - 20 “death” It cost Paul his self-reliance. We are to trust the Lord with all our hearts in this New Year. To live is Christ or to die is gain.
8. He chose to be Holy - 21 “Christ” It cost Paul his worldly pleasure. We live in a fun oriented society. “If it feels good, do it” is the mentality of this world but is not to be the mentality of the child of God.
9. He chose to be Used - 24 “abide ... needful” It cost Paul his personal desires. Paul made himself available in the service and work of the Lord. President Kennedy said that we are not to ask what our country can do for us but for what we can do for our country.
D. Some of our choices have little value but some are of great value both now and later:
1. Making Right or Wrong Choices About Salvation. It’s heaven or hell and it is Eternal.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
a. God will not force you to be saved!
b. God has done everything necessary for you to be saved!
c. God gives you the choice: eternal life or eternal death in hell!
2. Making Right or Wrong Choices About Sin. Its peace and safety or consequences and regrets.
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalms 51:1-3 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (That is one sad passage! The sorrow and regret of a man after God’s own heart!)
3. Making Right or Wrong Choices About Marriage. Its heaven on earth or it is hell on earth. I cannot stress this enough to our youth! Make sure you find the Lord’s choice for a mate for life.
a) Do not make quick decisions - Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
b) Do not simply go for looks - Genesis 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. (Leah was God’s choice!)
Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
4. Making Right or Wrong Choices About Service It is happiness or unhappiness.
Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
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