04/05/24 THE CHOICE WE HAVE

04/05/24 THE CHOICE WE HAVE

We cannot always determine what happens to us, but as Christians we can choose how we will respond to what happens to us.

This is because Christians are new creations, bought by Christ's sacrifice, born of God, indwelt by God's Spirit, taught by God's word, led by God's Spirit, conformed to the image of God's Son, partaker of Divine nature, delivered from the works of the flesh and producing the fruit of the Spirit (including self control).

Not every conflict we face is a direct attack on us by Satan.

Sometimes it is because of a general attack of Satan, but we are personally "caught" in the crossfire (such as, victim of war, disease, plague).
Sometimes "bad things happen to 'good' people" for our good and/or God's glory.
Sometimes God allows us to face troubles in order to perfect us, or correct us or to protect us.
Sometimes we are victims of our own decisions.

We are sometimes caught, "off guard," but God is never surprised or unprepared.

Not everything that happens to a Christian is good, but God works all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

In His sovereignty God gives man the power of the will, and through His grace God enables man to agree with, and accept the will of God.

We cannot will reality into existence, but we can will to do God's will, by His power that works within us.

Philippians 2:13-15
13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;