Transcript THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDING

THE PRINCIPLE OF
PREDECIDING
Dr. Jobe Martin
Biblical Discipleship Ministries
www.biblicaldiscipleship.org
HERE’S THE IDEA:
1) You have a recurring problem such
as: laziness, cheating, stealing,
swearing, anger, lust, pride, lying,
immorality, lack of self control,
pornography, drugs, selfishness, etc.
OR
2) You have a potential problem, a
problem that might pop up some day in
the future such as: (see above )
HERE’S WHAT TO DO:
Find a Scripture that deals with the
problem.
Memorize this Scripture.
Meditate on this Scripture.
Personalize the Scripture (put your
name in it wherever possible).
Pray the Scripture back to God.
THEN WHAT?
Ask the Lord to use this
Scripture in your life the
next time (or first time)
you are confronted with
the problem, test or
temptation!
FOR EXAMPLE:
If you have an anger problem you might
memorize Ecclesiastes 7:9,
“Do not be eager in your heart to
be angry, for anger resides in the
bosom of fools.”
This can be uncomfortably convicting!
God calls eagerly angry people fools!
ARE YOU SELFISH?
Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and
pray back to God Philippians 2:3:
“Let nothing be done through strife
[selfishness, NASB] or vainglory
[pride, NASB]; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem the other
better than themselves.”
IS YOUR TONGUE OUT OF
CONTROL?
Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and
pray back to God Ephesians 4:29:
“Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good
to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers.”
Pre-decide to let God use this Scripture
the next time your tongue needs taming.
LUST OF THE EYES
“For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world.”
I John 2:16
“I will set no wicked thing before
mine eyes.”
Psalm 101:3a
LUST OF THE FLESH
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh to
fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
Keep watching and praying, that you
may not come into temptation; the
spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 14:38
PRIDE OF LIFE
Pride goes before destruction, and a
haughty spirit before stumbling.
Proverbs 16:18
Therefore let him who thinks he stands
take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12
“ . . . Do not be wise in your own
estimation.
Romans 12:16b
YOU ARE TEMPTED TOWARD
IMMORALITY
Memorize I Corinthians 10:13: “There
hath no temptation taken you but such
as is common to man; but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will
with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
For example, what are the ways of
escape?
You are tempted to enter your
girlfriend’s apartment. . .
Has God provided a way of escape?
Yes, you don’t have to go into the
apartment.
But, you DO go into the apartment.
Has God provided a way of escape
now?
Yes, you can say “goodnight” and
leave.
But, you do not leave . . .
Has God provided a way of escape now?
Yes, you could sit on separate chairs
instead of the same couch.
But, you find yourselves on the couch.
Has God provided a way of escape now?
Yes, you can get up off the couch and go
home! Etc., etc., etc.
GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A
WAY OF ESCAPE!
ROMANS 8:5,6 & 13:14
“For they that are after the flesh, do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the
Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
(fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.”
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts
thereof.”
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready (willing), but the flesh
is weak.”
Mark 14:38
THE PRINCIPLE OF
PREDECIDING
Find a Scripture that deals with the
problem.
Memorize this Scripture.
Meditate on this Scripture.
Personalize the Scripture (put your
name in it wherever possible).
Pray the Scripture back to God.
THEN WHAT?
Ask the Lord to use this
Scripture in your life the
next time (or first time)
you are confronted with
the problem, test or
temptation!