THE POWER OF CHOICE

Lesson 2 for the 10th of April, 2010

 FREEDOM OF CHOICE

God gave the man moral

freedom.
Freedom involves making
right or wrong decisions.
Every right decision we
make increases our
freedom.
Every wrong decision we
make reduces our
freedom (sin rules our
lives)
 FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Freedom of choice is extremely
important for God. He gave it to us
although he knew that a wrong use
of it would mean a great sacrifice:
Jesus.
 RESULTS OF OUR WRONG CHOICES
EMBARRASSMENT “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and
they realised that they were naked; so they
sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for
themselves” (Genesis, 3: 7)
FEELINGS OF
GUILT (FEAR)

“He answered, "I

heard you in the
garden, and I
was afraid
because I was
naked; so I hid."” TRYING TO
(Genesis, 3: 10) EXEMPT ONESELF
FROM GUILT
(BLAMING
SOMEONE ELSE)
“The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some
fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."” (Genesis, 3: 12-13)
 RESULTS OF OUR WRONG CHOICES
EMBARRASSMENT
FEELINGS OF GUILT
TRYING TO EXEMPT
ONESELF FROM GUILT

This process is repeated every

time we make a wrong decision.
We can act in two different
ways:
I. Getting rid of our guilt (or
minimizing it) and going
deeper into sin.
II. Admitting responsibility for
our wrong decision and
asking Jesus for forgiveness
and help to make better
decisions in the future.
 EXAMPLES OF CHOICE
We still have free will. Everything we do is What choices did these biblical
our responsibility. characters make?

He defeat a
He accepted
Midianite army
God’s call
Gideon with 300 men
(Judges, 7
and 8) It was an
He made an
obstacle for
ephod of gold
Gideon and
as a memorial
Israel

He governed
He chose
with wisdom, his
wisdom to
kingdom had
Solomon govern Israel
peace
(1 Kings, 3
and 11) He worshipped
He married
the gods of his
pagan wives
wives
 EXAMPLES OF CHOICE
We still have free will. Everything we do is What choices did these biblical
our responsibility. characters make?

He ask God for He obtain

help before the victory without
Jehoshaphat battle fighting
(2 Chronicles,
18 and 20) He formed an He almost died
alliance with in the battle of
Ahab Ramah

He became
He left all to
one of the 12
follow Jesus
apostles
Peter
(Luke, 5 and 22) He didn’t stay
He denied
awake and
Jesus three
pray on
times
Gethsemane
HOW TO MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS

“I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you”
(Psalms, 119: 11)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is

true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable--if
anything is excellent or
praiseworthy--think about such
things” (Philippians, 4: 8)

“Set your minds on things

above, not on earthly
things” (Colossians, 3: 2)
 EFFECTS OF OUR CHOICES ON OUR CHILDREN

“God did not mean in his threatenings that children would be compelled
to suffer for their parents' sins, but that the example of the parents would
be imitated by their children. If the children of wicked parents should
serve God and do righteousness, he would reward their right doing. But
the effects of a sinful life by the parents are often inherited by the
children. They follow in the footsteps of their parents. Sinful example has
its influence from father to son, to the third and fourth generations. If
parents indulge in depraved appetites, they will, in almost every case,
see the same reproduced in their children. The children will develop
characters similar to those of their parents. If parents are continually
rebellious, and inclined to make void the law of God by precept and
example, their children will generally pursue the same course. The
example of God-fearing parents, who respect and honor by their own
course of action God's rule of right, will be imitated by their children and
their children's children; and thus the influence is seen from generation
to generation” E.G.W. (The Signs of the Times, June 3, 1880)

“Maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and
their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth
generation” (Exodus, 34: 7)
 EFFECTS OF OUR CHOICES ON OTHER PEOPLE
Every choice we make affects the people around us in a positive or
negative way.

“We all have an influence, and that

influence is telling upon the destiny of
others, for their present and future good,
or for their eternal loss”
E.G.W. (The Review and Herald, June 22, 1886)

“We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others.
What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our
eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most
important results for good or for evil”
E.G.W. (Counsels on Sabbath School work, cp. 4, pg. 102)
 CONDITIONAL CHOICE
The place we were born, our genetic inheritance, our family, our school (if
we had that privilege) ... Everything has an influence on us and conditions
our power of choice.
The most important choice in our lives doesn’t depend on any
circumstances.
“Jesus, our Advocate, is acquainted with
all the circumstances with which we are
surrounded and deals with us according
to the light we have had and the
circumstances in which we are placed”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the church, vol. 2, cp. 8, page 74)

Everyone is free to
accept Jesus as his
personal saviour.

When we choose to accept Jesus

─regardless of the circumstances─,
He qualifies us for making right
decisions and growing in our
Christian life.