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Church News
20th April 2015
Choices, choices, choices! There are many choices that we must make each and every day, and often we wrestle with which choice is the right one to make. As people, we are inexplicably flawed, and more often than not, are tempted to make wrong choices, which seem to represent the 'easy' or 'simplest' way, but that is not always what God wants for us. Sometimes we are faced with dilemmas that are so big that we just do not know what to do or what decision to make.
In her sermon this week, Eirwen Parry spoke from 2 Corinthians, 4:16 that says:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
She began her message by talking about Eve. Eve was in Paradise. She had no reason to worry or be in want. She had a truly easy life, and yet, she found, even in that perfect place, that she wanted more. There was only one rule and limitation that God set in place for both Adam and Eve, which was
"but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Genesis 2.17
Eve heard this, and was immediately tempted. We all know this feeling well. She thought only of herself, and not of what God wanted for her. Eirwen spoke of three voices that Eve heard, God's, her's and Satan's, and this is where choice comes in. Each voice has something different to say, and it is up to us to decide which one we will listen to. In Eve's case, God told her not to eat the fruit. Satan told her it would be okay and that she would become like God, and Eve wanted what she was not supposed to have. Though God had given her almost everything, that was not enough, and Eve listened to her own voice, and ate of the tree despite God's warnings. She listened to Satan, and more importantly, she relied on her own voice, which ultimately led to her fall.
God gives us a very powerful gift, in that he gives us free will - the ability and freedom to choose, but not only this, he also gives us the Holy Spirit, whose guidance should give us the power to make the right decisions about things, as long as we listen to His voice.
God, through his Holy Spirit, makes us bigger on the inside than our circumstances say on the outside. We are built up inside, when we let God in, so that we can deal with pressures of life and move on, because, in reality, we are ordained to look like Jesus. This is who we are supposed to be like and to aspire to. An unreachable goal to us mere mortals, but with the added power of God's Holy Spirit, we are enabled to do things for His will and delight. He is with us and gives us the will to work at it and to press forward to make the right decisions and choices, while he stays right by our side, encouraging and guiding us, and ultimately gives us the power to become like Jesus. He gives is the power internally to change ourselves, if only we let Him. God changes our heart, but still gives us choice, so we can change the way we think.
This is one of God's greatest gifts. He glorifies us by giving us choice and dignity. And we glorify God by making the choice to please Him.
So, today, I challenge you. Will you choose the right path? Will you choose to listen to God's voice, or push ahead for your own, listening only to your wants and needs? I pray that today, you will find the strength to say No! to any temptation to listen solely to your own voice, but to have the courage to reach out to God and ask Him what He wants you to do, so that you, in turn, may glorify Him.
Have a great week!
Pastor Phyl
PS: Feel free to connect with me on Facebook or Twitter!
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