Bro. Doug's Revival Fire Teaching

EDUCATION - THE LORD'S CONCERN

MAKING DECISIONS

(June 1999)

The time comes when we have to learn to make responsible decisions. There are consequences for good decisions and consequences for bad decisions. The decisions that we make will also affect our families.

Rahab made a decision to become a prostitute in the city of Jericho. This was not a good decision. Rahab's lifestyle was very questionable. Later she made another decision and that was to hide the enemies, the spies from Israel. The spies were seen coming into Rahab's house. As a matter a fact the king of Jericho sent Rahab the following message: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land." Instead of listening to the king, she made a life treating decision to hide the spies from Israel." The consequences of her decision were very good. She and the lives of her family were spared. Because of her decision she is included in the book of Hebrews as one of the heros of faith. The scripture says "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."

A thief made a decision to rob from God. The instruction from God were very clear, "Keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into the treasury." The thief was Achan from the tribe of Judah. He made a decision to steal some of the "devoted things", articles that belonged to the Lord.

The consequences for Achan's decision affected his entire family and the people of Israel. It was a heavy price to pay for this decision. God said "He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him." As the head of his family, Achan involved his whole household in his guilt and punishment. Achan later admitted that he had made a wrong decision when he said "I coveted them and took them". The consequences were deadly to Achan and his entire family.

Making decisions is not an easy thing. We may be young or we may not have much experience in life. We listen to our families, friends, the radio and TV as they give advice in matters of life. The problem is that many people don't give very good advice. If they were all giving good advise the world would not be in the condition that its in.

The scripture says that each one of us will give an account of himself to God. With this in mind we need to focus on the Word of God to guide us in making good decisions. Give pride, ego and "me" a break and "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Seek His will and make your decisions in on this basis. Let Jesus be the Lord, the boss, the manager of your life.