C.        ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OR THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE THING?” (Ephesians 5:11)

                        1.         There Are Places The Believer Should Not Go And Things He Should Not Do Because The Atmosphere Is Not Conducive To Maintaining A Christian Witness And/Or Our Personal Development As A Child Of God.

                        2.         To Avoid All Contact With Evil Is Impossible, But To Conform To It Or Be An Accomplice Is To Partake Of Its Spirit Or Atmosphere.

D.        ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “WILL THIS HELP OR HARM MY CHRISTIAN LIFE AND WALK?

                        1.         If It Will Harm Our Christian Life By Producing Wrong Thoughts Or Actions, We Should Avoid It. 

                        2.         If It Will Draw Us Away From Christian Growth By Interfering With Church Attendance Or Christian Service, We Should Avoid It.

                                    Several Questions Related To This That We Should Consider:

                                    1.         Can We Ask God To Bless It?

                                    2.         Can We Thank God For It? 

                                    3.         Can We Do It To The Glory Of God? 

                                    4.         Will This Be A Weight To My Christian Life?

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            E.        ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “HOW WILL MY DOING THIS INFLUENCE AND AFFECT OTHERS?”

                        Romans 14:7–“For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself.”

                        1.         All Of Life Is Interrelated.

Our choices affect not only ourselves, but our wives, our children, our friends, and our church.

Therefore, we must consider what our decisions will mean to a variety of people.

                                    If we fail to do so we can ruin our testimony.

                        2.         There May Be Things That Though Not Harmful To Us May Be A Stumblingblock To Others Who Are Weaker.

1 Corinthians 8:9–“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”

We are to be an example and we cannot enjoy the luxury of doing only that which pleases self.

Philippians 2:4–“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

1 Corinthians 10:23–“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

            F.        ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “COULD THIS BECOME A HABIT OR COULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT TRIES TO TAKE CONTROL OF ME?”

1 Corinthians 6:12–“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

            G.       ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “WHAT WOULD I THINK IF I FOUND OUT MY PASTOR AND/OR HIS FAMILY WERE DOING THIS?”

                        1 Thessalonians 5:22–“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

There are no double standards of righteousness. If it would be questionable for the pastor and his family, that means that it is for you too.

            H.       ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “IS THIS SOMETHING I WOULD WANT TO BE DOING WHEN CHRIST COMES AGAIN?”

                        1 Thessalonians 5:6–“Let us watch and be sober.”

            I.         ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, “DO I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT DOING THIS?”–IF SO, DON’T DO IT.

                        1.         Giving God The Benefit Of Any Doubt Is A Good Principle To Follow.

                                    a.         Romans 14:23–“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

                                    b.         2 Corinthians 3:17–“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”

                        2.         If There Is Constraint In The Conscience And A Sense Of Uneasiness In The Heart–Stop!

                                    a.         A Good Conscience Is A Free Conscience.

                                    b.         After the Bible has been read, prayer offered, consultation given, and the soul is searched, and you still have no peace, you need to leave it alone.

Conclusion

These are some principles that we can use to discern the will of God.

So, How are you doing in discerning the will of God in your life?

Can you see how absolutely vital studying God’s Word is?

Principles for right decisions come from the Word of God.

Are you in the Word like you should be? Are you learning God’s principles? Are you applying God’s principles?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!