FREE to Choose - #224

Whenever you are facing temptation, any temptation, you always have a choice. You can choose to do what is right, choosing to deny yourself, worship God and be blessed. Or you can refuse to do what is right, choosing to deny God, worship yourself, and suffer the consequences. The choice is yours.

Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at  http://www.thepuritycoach.com

Transcript

Whenever you are facing temptation, any temptation, you always have a choice. You are free to choose either King Me or God every time. And with each choice there are always consequences. You can choose to do what is right, choosing to deny yourself, worship God and be blessed. Or you can refuse to do what is right, choosing to deny God, worship yourself, and suffer the consequences. The choice is yours.

Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #224 entitled “Free to Choose.”

Last week’s episode was entitled “Choose Right – Choose Now.” In that episode you may remember our look at Genesis 4:7, where we brought out the point that you always have a choice. If you have not done so yet, I challenge you to commit Genesis 4:7 to memory. This is where God warned Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that whenever you are facing temptation, any temptation, you always have a choice. You will choose either King Me or God every time. You are always free to make either choice. However, with each and every choice there are always consequences.

Now think with me about what God is telling Cain (and us). “IF you do what is right,” if you choose to turn your back on King Me and worship God, “will you not be accepted?” Choice—consequences. “If you do not do what is right,” if you choose to turn your back on God and worship King Me instead, sin is crouching at the door.” It desires you. It desperately wants to devour you. If you don’t do what is right, if you choose to turn your back on God and worship King Me, you will sin, and it will try to consume every aspect of your life. Choice—consequences.

Please, listen to me closely. I challenge you to commit both Genesis 4:7 and Matthew 6:24 (about not being able to serve two masters at the same time – commit both Genesis 4:7 and Matthew 6:24) to memory and then, every time you are struggling in your battle against temptation, every time you believe you have no choice but to give up and in to temptation yet again, CHOOSE to quote both Genesis 4:7 and Matthew 6:24. Let the Holy Spirit remind you that you always have a choice. It is a matter of right worship.

You can choose to do what is right. You can choose daily to deny yourself, worship God and be blessed. Or you can refuse to do what is right, choosing instead to deny God, worship yourself, and suffer the consequences. The choice is yours. You are free to choose.

In the Old Testament book of Joshua, we see that Joshua instructed the children of Israel to “choose this day whom you will serve ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). That instruction is just as much for you and me today as it was for Israel the day Joshua spoke it. Every moment of every day you are free to choose whom you will serve: King Me or God.

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13) Listen closely as I repeat this verse. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13)

Do you see the choice? As a born-again believer in Christ, you have been set free. Jesus said, “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36). Listen my friend, you have been called to freedom. This is not a freedom to do whatever you want, tossing the potential consequences out the window. Rather, it is a freedom to choose to live for Christ without the bondage to the flesh and your sinful habits. It is a freedom only Christ can give.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:10-11, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:10-11)

Think long and hard about those verses I just quoted to you. If you know Christ as your Savior, if you are truly a born-again believer, then you are God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9). You have been blessed by God’s magnificent mercy. This world is not your home. You are a traveler, an alien in a foreign and unfriendly world. So right along with Peter I urge you, I beg of you, I plead with you—realizing God has given you the freedom to make your own choices, choose daily, choose every moment, to turn your back on King Me. Choose to allow God to reign on the throne of your heart. Choose every moment of every day for the rest of your life to abstain, reject, turn away from the sinful, destructive passions of your flesh. Those passions are waging war against your soul. Don’t feed them. Destroy them! Don’t give the enemy ammunition.

The freedom God has given is a freedom to serve, not your flesh, but the One who gives you victory over your flesh. You cannot serve both. “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24). What are the “great things God has done for you”? Seriously. I want you to give purposeful thought to that question: what are the “great things” God has done and is doing for you? Furthermore, in response to those great things, what should you be doing?

Consider this: We serve God because we are free to, not because we are forced to. The Apostle Paul writes, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6) And in Hebrews 13:15 we are commanded, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

I wonder if the primary problem so many of us struggle with is believing God’s promise of freedom to be true for me personally. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1 that “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

The fact is, we do not experience that kind of freedom in a practical and purposeful way simply because we are under the false impression that we are still in bondage to our sinful habits. Oh, we want that freedom. We long for it. We even pray for it. But it seems to elude us. As a result, we have a hard time trusting God in this area of our life.

Ultimately, we look at these promises of freedom in Scripture as something “for the other person, but not for me.” We feel somehow excluded. Maybe our sin is too great. Maybe we’re not repentant enough. Maybe God has given up on us because we have failed one too many times. Whatever the reason, we tend to shift the blame over to God, or others, or our environment—even all the above. For reasons unknown to us, God refuses to wave His magic wand and make our problem go away.

Could it be that we have the wrong idea about this “freedom” God has promised us? Could it be that we are expecting the wrong thing from God, something He never intended? Many of us equate the idea of “freedom” with no longer having to battle with temptation; no longer giving up and giving in. This is not the freedom Jesus promises you.

Let me remind you that Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24a) Jesus did not set you free so you could live however you want and do whatever you desire. He did not set you free so you could enjoy an easy life, without struggle, without battle, without temptation, without sinful desires. He freed you so you could do what He created you to do—to serve and glorify Him in the midst of a rough and wicked world.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17)

The freedom God promises is not the complete dethroning and elimination of King Me once and for all. No. We won’t enjoy that freedom until we get to Heaven. The freedom He offers here and now is the freedom of not having to give in to your temptations, choosing instead to deny the flesh and live for His name, His praise, and His glory. It is a freedom to serve God instead of King Me.

Listen to what Paul writes in Romans 6:18-22. “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” (Romans 6:18-22)

You are not a robot programmed to obey and glorify God. He has given you the freedom to make that choice all on your own. Yes, you have been called to freedom, but God warns us to “not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh” (Galatians 5:13). Don’t listen to the lie of the enemy as he tries to convince you that since you are saved, secure, and set for heaven you can go ahead and do whatever your flesh wants—"after all, God understands, and God will forgive.” That is not the freedom Christ has given you.

Listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12. “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”

OK. So, how does all of this apply to our spiritual battle? Matthew 6:24 is all about perspective and the choices you are free to make every moment of every day for the rest of your life. Through God’s gracious and merciful gift of salvation, He has already set you free from bondage to the fleshly, sinful passions and desires of King Me. You do not have to sin. You do not have to give in to your sinful temptations anymore. You are now free to die to self and live for God.

Colossians 1:21 reminds us that before salvation, we “were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.” You did not have a choice. You were in captivity to the sinful desires of the flesh, stuck doing whatever the flesh wanted. But through the death of Christ, “there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do” (Acts 13:38-39). In other words, through the gift of salvation, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)

1 Peter 2:16 declares that God has set you free, so “live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”

Okay, so I am “to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2)—but how? It starts with this: “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17) Colossians 1:9 says we are to “be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Acts 22:14 tells us that “the God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will.” How, then, do we know what God’s will is?

Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:9 that God has “made known to us the mystery of his will.” And He has done so within the pages of Scripture. David writes in Psalm 119:45, “I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” He is saying he will go through life confident he is walking in God’s will, because he is in God’s Word daily.

It begins with the daily choice to intentionally dig into the Word of God, choosing to fill your mind and your heart with His truth, which in turn enables you to counter the enemies’ lies. “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:11, 105)

Now, before we wrap up this week’s episode, let me share one other thought with you about the passage I just quoted to you from Psalm 119. You see, as men, we often find ourselves navigating the complexities of life while striving to build careers, lead our families, and uphold our integrity. In the midst of all the pressures and expectations placed upon us, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, even lost at times. But here in Psalm 119 David provides us with a profound yet simple solution: intentionally ground your life in God's Word.

This begins by daily choosing to hide God's word in your heart. This isn't merely about memorizing Scripture, but engraving God's truths so deeply within you that they become an integral part of who you are. By internalizing His Word, we arm ourselves against the temptations and distractions that seek to derail our walk with Christ. This is why I repeatedly challenge you throughout this podcast to choose daily to let God’s Word be your shield, reminding you of His wisdom and strength when you're faced with life's challenges.

Furthermore, Psalm 119:105 speaks of God’s Word as a lamp and light. In moments of uncertainty or doubt, God's Word guides us, illuminating the path we must take. Imagine embarking on a journey in the darkness; without a light, every step is uncertain, full of potential dangers. But with the light, your path is revealed, safe and sure. So it is with God's Word—it provides clarity and direction in our decisions, big and small.

This is why I encourage you to choose here and now to fully commit to making God's Word a cornerstone of your daily life. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and let it transform you from the inside out. Whether you're making critical decisions or dealing with everyday stresses, let God’s promises and principles guide you. In doing so, you’ll not only find your path well-lit but also your heart well-guarded and soul strengthened.

OK, I’m going to hit the pause button here until next week’s episode. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about today’s study, or if you’re interested in learning more about The Pure Man Ministry (what we do to help men across the globe find freedom and victory over sexual sin), be sure to visit our website to see the multitude of resources we’ve made available to you – you can find our website at ThePurityCoach.com     

One of those resources I would like to highlight for you here is the recently updated, 2nd edition of my book entitled “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to transform sinful thoughts and habits into patterns of life pleasing to God.” This newly released 2nd edition is rich with hundreds of Scripture references, scores of practical illustrations, and each chapter now ends with a study guide full of questions and discussion points.

“Extreme Mind Makeover” takes you on a journey through the Bible to examine what God has to say about how your thoughts, words, and actions influence and impact your heart.

If you’ve followed this Point of Purity Podcast for any length of time, then you’ve heard me emphasize the fact that what you think becomes what you do. When you train your mind to think godly thoughts, the things you say and do day in and day out will be godly. On the flip side, when you allow your mind to think sinful, fleshly, ungodly, King Me centered thoughts, the result (your daily attitudes and actions) will be ungodly. So, how do I change the way I think? How do I change the things I do? How do I successfully and effectively guard my heart? This book, “Extreme Mind Makeover” takes you into God’s Word to help you answer those questions.

So, head on over to Amazon.com and purchase your copy of “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to transform sinful thoughts and habits into patterns of life pleasing to God.” today.

And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes! So, until next time this is Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry – reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.