Nov 113 min read

This is Living: Better Decisions, Less Destruction

It's no wonder we experience decision fatigue - we make about 35 000 of them every day, so battling to decide what's for dinner, whether or not to hit the gym, or choosing a specific social activity is a real thing. What if we became more intentional about pre-decision making - taking a lot of stress out of the process while aligning to God's will and direction for our lives? Yep - it's possible and, more importantly, can become a natural habit if we adopt a few basic principles while choosing the narrow road.

Message Notes 10/11/2024 - Gareth Nicholson

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Discernment > Decision > Direction > Destination

Pre-decisions pave the way to better decisions

by creating a margin for discernment

Two Ways

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
There is a starting point (gate) = initial decision:
- Jesus is the gate (John 10:9) and
Sustained progress (way) = daily choice - formation:
- Jesus is the way (John 14:6)
We can't become like Jesus unless we go through what Jesus went through
Do we choose conventional wisdom or follow Jesus on a narrow formative way?

Wide Road (Conventional wisdom)	Narrow Road (Formative way)
Groupthink	Counter-cultural
Conventional wisdom	Divine wisdom
Easy	Not easy
Liberty	Formative Freedom
Unrestricted	Constrictive
Fast / Hurried	Slow
Vengeance	Golden Rule
Hate	Love
Judge	Humble
Bible out of context	Held in context
Point out brokenness	Owning blind spots
My will	God's will

Two Voices

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Matthew 7:15-20
Influences may initially not be obvious, but you need to discern the good fruit - Galatians 5:22
You don't know when you are deceived. Do you see the fruit of the spirit in other people's lives?
Does your behaviour align with your relationship with God?
You can't follow Jesus on someone else's faith
“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”
1 John 4:1-2

Two Representatives

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"Matthew 7:13-23
Do you know about Him?
Do you have a relationship with Him?
Ministry is important, but not the point - He is the point!
How do you know the will?
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2