This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

We’re going to talk about you today. You and your free will. If a man’s will is free, does that mean God is not sovereign? God in His sovereignty, the right to do all things after the counsel of His own will, chose to give man a free will, allows us to make choices, decisions. You see, if you are not free to make choices and decisions, it means that you’re nothing more than a puppet that has been pre-programmed before you were ever born and you really are not in charge.

There are people who teach that when you do something wrong, God is the one that’s at fault because He programs you to do that wrong. If you commit adultery, God wanted you to do it because that was His will. You rob a bank, that was the will of God. You see, if God pre-determines the good, then God also pre-determined all the bad. So therefore, does man have a responsibility or not? How can God judge me for that which I am not at fault?

If my decisions were all pre-programmed by God. But you’ll read the Bible and you’ll find out that this philosophy is not in the word of God. You’ll find out that God has truly given to you and I the freedom to choose. So if you want God’s blessings, serve the Lord. And if you don’t, then God says you’ve got your reward. He’s gonna have to beat the Torah to you. Maybe take you home before your time. But salvation, going to heaven, is free.

But God has chosen from the beginning of the world to honor your decision. And He has chosen to save all of those who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. So yes, God does. Pre-determined certain things. He has predetermined, before we were ever born, did he good or bad, that all those who trust Christ is Savior would be made pure and holy, set apart, and we’ll go to heaven whenever our destiny is fixed for all those who believe. But you’re the one that determines to believe or not believe it is your choice.

So when he says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believe it, it’s your choice. But we’re talking now this morning about those who have made the decision to trust Christ as Savior. You may have already trust the Lord, you know you’re going to heaven when you die, and then you’ve got what 20, 30, 40, 50 years maybe to live after you trust the Lord, and you have a multitude of decisions to make, in every area you can think of.

Well the Bible is God’s wisdom concerning every issue of life. Whatever you have to decide upon, there is guidance from the principles laid down in the Word of God. But if you laid this aside, all you have is your human wisdom. And you can listen to the smartest man guide you. You can follow your directions from Hollywood or Hollywood or from politicians. You know, they always tell the truth. And so you can listen to that or you can go to the source of truth and learn what God has to say.

So we’re going to talk about exercising your free will and learning how to make the right choices, because you will have to give an account to the Lord. And I want you to follow with me now. I believe there’s some of these things are important to recall. And hopefully I can get everything done here. What should every Christian learn? Now, how to refuse evil and to choose good. Well, whenever we get married and have children, we want to teach our children how to make wise decisions.

How to refuse the evil and choose the good. Well, there’s a verse in the Bible that talks about butter and honey. Shall he eat that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good? Teach them right. Teach them truth. Let them learn consequences to good decision, bad decisions. I still believe in the old-fashioned paddle. I’m not interested in what government says. Train up a child on the way he wants to go. Train up a child on the way he should go.

And sometimes they might need a little help from the back into their little body. God made a special place there with extra little meat that’s supposed to be just the right spot to make it burn like fire. And you’ll be surprised how you can help your child to know there is pain if I do wrong and there’s joy if I do and you teach them while they’re young you got a taste in before they grow up so that they won’t learn how to refuse it.

So you teach them why they’re young and then when they grow up they should be able to be wiser in their life. As he says in the book of Timothy, Dao has from the Holy Scriptures learned how to be wise and desalvation from a child. So God wants us parents to teach our children right from wrong and right from wrong is not based upon the movies and other people in the world. It’s based upon what the scripture says. So it is the will of God that every parent know the Word of God.

If you’re a parent today and you don’t know the Word, I’m not saying you don’t love your wife or love your husband, love your kids, but you don’t love them the way God wants you to because you can’t. Because the most important thing is for them to come to know the Lord. Then you have to know the Lord. And this is why it’s so important. So where does one learn to reject what is evil? Well, you’ve got to know Christ as your Savior.

You need to know the Lord so you can teach Him about the Lord. You can’t teach people what you don’t know and you can’t lead them where you’ve never been. So you want to teach them the things that you’ve learned from the Lord of God. This is what makes studying the Word of God on a daily basis if necessary. Go into church regular so you you can learn truth so you can teach truth. Otherwise, understand it is not within man that walk up to directest steps.

In other words, man is not smart enough on his own. Children left to themselves don’t get better and better and better. They have what is called a sinful nature. It means they sin naturally. And when they grow up, they become adults who sin naturally. They just better at it. And so they become experts like when Charles says, is as much fun in adultery is there is an infancy and they don’t understand and some people just don’t get it at all.

So here in the book of Proverbs says the fear of the Lord, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance and the evil way in the flowered mouth do I hate. Toward means going toward truth. Forward means from and and going from truth. So you want to teach them how to go toward truth, seeking truth, always seeking what God says, understanding the will of God. And when he talks about these things that he hates, pride and arrogance in the evil way, in other words, that is not what God wants you to do.

God does not want you going your own way, doing your own thing according to your own wisdom. because that makes you know better than anybody else because that’s what everybody does and look at the mess the world is in. What do you think so many families are just a mess? I’ve had kids come to see me and they want to get married. Can you believe that? And I say have you ever seen a family like you want to be like?

Have you ever seen a marriage, a home that you want yours to be like and you be surprised how over and over and over again I say, they say, I haven’t. They’ve never seen a happy family that’s later on in life that’s been the way God designed it because somewhere along the line everybody gets filled with arrogance and pride and no one wants to yield, no one wants to give in and they’re filled with hatred toward each other. But at one time they loved each other with all their heart.

Something went wrong. Now, through thy precepts, I get understanding. Precepts find in 119 Psalm, you’ll find that it’s a lot of scriptures in there. But it’s talking about the Word of God will give you understanding. You’ll understand life, you’ll understand yourself, you understand why you are the way you are. You understand why children do what they do. The next point is, what is a biblical motivation to do right? What motivates? In other words, like having a car on the road going in the right direction, the right lane, but the forgot to put gas in the car, no motivation.

There’s people who got talent and skills, but they don’t usually because there’s no motivation. What motivates you to do what you do? Well, it’s being trusted by God to know that God in heaven trusts me. to do something. Do you realize He has trusted you with life? He gave you life and He can take it away in one heartbeat? Do you really understand that? If there’s anybody I don’t want to upset or make mad, it’s God. He has my life in His hands and that doesn’t take much to take me out of this world.

I am here and you are here only by the grace of God. And God has trusted you with time. You see, God could have let you be born 2,000 years ago or 3,000 years ago or 4,000 years ago. But He put you in this period of time for this life. Now, this is it. And you’re not going to get to do it over again. You’ll get one trip through life. No reruns, no instantly plays one trip through. How you doing?

Do you want to live like everybody else does? So don’t you want to be different. You’ll never be more different than when you are serving the Lord because majority of people don’t and they don’t love God with all their heart. So you can be like everybody else if you want to and you can might think to yourself, well I’m going to be different. Nobody’s going to tell me what to do. Well that’s what everybody else says. So you’re no different.

not a bit. I’ve had people say, well, I don’t want to go to church. I always hit my crit. So were there. Well, we got room for one more. They go shopping. There’s hypocrites at the grocery store. There’s hypocrites at the gas station. You go get gas anymore. I’ll never get me another tank of gas. Double Bulgaria. He’s trusted us with the gospel. See, this verse is so important. He says, but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel.

Even so we speak not as pleasing men but God was triath our heart. You and I have been trusted. How are you doing with this trust? You know Christ is your Savior. You know you’re going to heaven when you die. And God left you here to get the gospel out. Is that what your life’s about? Is that the main purpose of your life to get the gospel to spread somehow, someway, and by a body of believers, we can be on radio or on the YouTube and this ministry, that ministry, but we work together for the sake of the gospel.

What are you doing for the sake of the gospel? What are you doing for Christ’s sake? What are you doing for Him? Or is your whole life of just about you living your life? You’re free to choose. You are at liberty. Now there’s six basic reasons just to look at real quick, just from the book of Romans in chapter 14. You need a biblical motivation to do right, make right decisions. In Romans he says, none of us liveeth to himself and no man dieeth to himself.

In other words, we are influenced by others and we influence others. What kind of an influence are you making? The power of God in your life is revealed by the power of influence you have in other people’s lives. Some people don’t have much influence in people’s lives, and if they’re not going to serve the Lord, praise the Lord. But the power of God in your life is revealed by the power you have in other people’s lives to do what God wants them to do.

Can you have you? Do you motivate people to do right to live a godly life? Or is your testimony of such that you can’t do it and it shuts your mouth because you don’t want to say something because you’re afraid somebody’s gonna say something back to you. Number two therefore whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we are the Lord’s. Whether I live or I die I belong to the Lord. He bought and paid for me.

Whether we live there for a die we are the Lord. Do you know who you belong to. If God looked at you and says, did you know who I am? You’re my father. And God said, you’re my child. Do you know you’re my child? You better live like you’re my child. Act like you’re my child. Isn’t it a shame when you have children and they dishonor you or cause you shame by not living like you want them to live?

Is it possible? Do they ever do something like that? What about you as an adult and you are his child? But to keep your testimony above reproach. For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord. Both of the dead and the living. You see, God is in charge. When you serve Him, He can bless. And when you do not serve Him, He can chase Him. God’s still on the throne. He didn’t get off the throne just because you became obedient.

God also watches over us. Always remember this little statement. I should tell two little kids. There’s an eye up on how watching you, because it’s true. And somebody who watches over everything that we say, think or do, he knows our thoughts. And this is why it’s so important. He is the Lord, but he does want to be the Lord of your life. He wants to be your Lord. He is Lord whether you let him or not, but will you let him lead you and guide you?

Would you let him be your boss, your master? I’m not talking about to get to heaven, we don’t believe in lordship salvation. We believe that salvation is the gift of God, it’s free. But after you trust Christ as your Savior, either He will be the boss or you’re going to be the boss. Who’s the boss? You know what causes most trouble in most marriages? If they can’t find out who’s the boss. And they come and see me. And you know what?

It takes me about five seconds to find out who’s the boss and who’s not the boss. I can tell who’s the boss. I can tell them God says who’s the boss and you may not accept it. And you’d be surprised how many women do not accept God’s view of who’s the boss. The man is the head of the home, like it or not. I didn’t write the book, but I’m not going to change it and compromise so that the women will be happy.

You’re not in charge. You may be the neck that turns the head. And in most cases, that’s the way it is. I told a young person one time they’re getting ready to get married. I told that girl, I says, some of the vows, you know, love on an obey. She’s, oh, she says that word, obey. Would you take that out? I says, not on your life. She said, a lot of want that in there. I said, if you don’t want to obey him, why are you marrying him?

Let him get him a wife, not a boss. Anyway, I’m moving right along. You watch next Sunday, the lowest attendance that we’ve ever had in this church. But why just thou judge thy brother to make thyself better? You see, we’re always trying to exalt ourselves. Why just thou not set it not thy brother to make thyself equal with the Bible says in Corinthians, he says, they, they compare themselves among themselves and commend themselves among them are not wise. In other words, you base what you’re doing based upon what everybody else is doing.

No, compare yourself with what the Word of God demands from you. Compare yourself with the Lord. He says, as I live, say it to the Lord, every need. That means every believer too. This is in context to the believers in Rome there. He says, every need shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess. In other words, the day will come when you will bow. Every child of God. And you’re going to admit he was the Lord. But your days upon earth are over.

You’re recognizing great truths too late. Now if you learn it now, you’d be surprised how God can bless your life. You know, it’s so much easier in your life when you don’t have to make some of the decisions. You just let God make them for you. And you just abide by it. !. Some of your frustrations and your stress and your despair all come because you’re trying to make decisions for yourself and you don’t know what God wants you to do.

If you know what’s right, it’s easy. just do what’s right. Find out what God says and find out where God stands. I’ve had people trying to find out, I don’t know what side to stand on this abortion issue. Well, that’s simple, where does God stand? God is the one who ordains life. And He has given to us the right to life. Now, I know where to stand. See how simple that was? Anyway, so then every one of us, now get the, shall give account.

Do you believe that you’re gonna give an account to God for how you lived? It don’t matter what anybody else says. It don’t matter what, I’m gonna go to another church. Go ahead, I don’t care. I always preach every sermon as though I’ve got my bags packed right there. There’s not one person in this room I fear. I don’t care how much money you give, I don’t even look at the records, I don’t take up the offering, I never look, I don’t care about it.

I want to be able to look everybody in the eye the same way, treat everybody the same way. And so, yes, I got my bags packed and it doesn’t matter. I have a responsibility and I’m going to fulfill mine, you fulfill yours. You do what’s right because it’s right to do. do. Every one of us, even me, I’ve got to give an account to God for what I say. And that’s why I try to be careful what I say.

I never preach in theology. Second Corinthians talk about fear and love. Two great motivations. These are two verses in the Bible, found in 2 Corinthians in chapter 5, where it says, knowing therefore the care of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are made manifest unto God. And I trust also are made manifest in your conscience. In other words, God wants you to know you the way God knows you. So when you study the Bible, you’re looking in a mirror and it will talk to you about your spirit, your attitude, your love and everything else in your life and about your soul and your body and the Bible covers it all.

But you see, some people they don’t want to know how God thinks. They’ve already made up their own mind and they’re going to do what they want to do and they do it in rebellion to God and resisting the will of God and they don’t know that everything that they do is going to cost them. Every sin has a great price to pay. There’s something you will not get from God. Some blessing, some reward for every disobedient. So it’s costing you.

You say, well I can live out please, you sure can. And there’s consequences. The next verse, are you aware of God’s presence in your life? As you live your life, are you aware you’re always living in the presence of God? Where does God live? Well, he live way up there in the place go heaven. Where does God live? He’s living inside of me. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God lives in me. Do you live in the presence of God?

Though I know that whatever I say, think, do, I’m always in the presence of God. See, nobody can live your Christian life for you. You have to do it. And he says this, for the love of Christ constraineth us, that’s to motivate us. Because we thus judge that if one died for all, then all were dead, that they which live should not hinge forth, live unto themselves, unto him who die for them and rose again. So the reason we should serve the Lord is because of what He has done for us.

There’s our motivation that we need. Correct your priorities. How was Mary’s choice better than Martha? When you read this in Lazarus, he had these two sisters and Jesus saw often visits their home. But now time with the Lord is more important than service. But there has to be time with the Lord. and there has to be service. But which one’s more important? Well, the first one is this, get this story. Jesus, he says, now he came to pass as they went that he entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister named Mary, which also said at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. But Martha was comfort about much serving and came to him and said, Lord, Thus thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone, bid her therefore that she help me.” Now, two sisters, Jesus is there. One is sitting there listening and learning and just eating up every word. And one is serving and doing work. Which one’s doing wrong? Jesus would not always be with her.

He was going to leave. He’s not always in their presence. Who makes the right choice? At this time, Mary makes a better decision. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and trouble about many things. In other words, there’s more behind the scenes than what’s been revealed. Jesus knows there’s other things, many other things. Did you know that you can work yourself to death? And people that are workaholics, it could be a problem because you haven’t learned how to rest and trust the Lord and then just enjoy some things in life and you’ll work yourself to the grave.

What do you think so many people, they finally retire, they die. Well, if that was on the option, I don’t know if I’d quit. But anyway, he says this, but one thing is needful. Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. In other words, I don’t want her to get up from doing this to go serve. There’s a time to listen and to learn. There’s a time to become the church and to listen and to learn, and then there’s the time for service, but you got to get your priorities right.

And so it’s so important to make the right decisions while you can study the Word of God and it’ll help you in your decisions. But Mary has chosen. That means she made a choice. And Mary and Martha had a choice. Everybody has choice. You’re free to choose. Notice that Mary and Martha made separate decisions that were not determined by cry. He didn’t determine their decision. He could have a priority and say this is what you ought to do, but they make up their decision.

They determined what they did. You’re the one that determines what you do. Jesus revealed that both were free to choose. One thing that was needed was learning before serving. Why do you think we want kids to come to college and learn the word before they start running? Because a lot of people run and they haven’t got the message right. Get the message down. Get the gospel down. Learn the word before before you start running because if you don’t, you’re going to run out of gas.

We try to give him enough to keep him. He can to three weeks. Missionary Jim Elliot said, a man is no fool to give what he cannot, keep the gain that would be. What are the two biblical categories to consider when choosing your priorities. and there’s a mayoral. and there’s aSexual. that has both of those in it. So when you’re making your decisions on a day by day basis, there’s always now, but God wants you to think about later.

The results down the road, eternity. Look down the road. Lift for things that’s gonna mount to something a hundred years from now. Well, we look not at the things which are seen, but all the things which are not seen. The things which are temporal things which are not seen are eternal. So God wants us to focus on that which is not seen. That means on down the road believing the things that God says about heaven where we’re WARN and a holy city that we’re gonna have and walking on gold and.

Summary the worth themselves, the death of the things of the world. And when you die, who gets it? Your little bracks that you didn’t think deserved anything, and you’re gonna give it all of them. I’m just telling you straight, who deserves first consideration when we make our plans? Does it reveal my love for God? You see, the Bible says, Jesus said unto them, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

If you love the Lord, then you want to do things that place the Lord. You’re making choices by where you go, how you spend your time, how you make money, save money, spend money. Your whole life is to you love the Lord. And so life is revealing that by the decisions that you make. He also says, what other priorities of the Bible said for us? Love won another. Now this is very important, let me just mention this to you.

You see, if you loved one another, you see love work at no ill toward anybody. What doesn’t do that? Because love always wants the best for the other person. This is your invitation to join us for our third Sunday dinner held in the Florida Bible College of Tampa building on the Calvary Community Church Campus. The dinner is a family-style, covered dish dinner, and a great way to showcase your favorite dish and pick up new recipes. Each month you have the opportunity to invite your family and friends to join us for our Sunday morning service at 1030 and then stay for our third Sunday dinner immediately following noon.

Third Sundays at Calvary Community Church where you’ll be fed spiritually and physically. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound. And we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.