THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDING Dr. Jobe Martin Biblical Discipleship Ministries

PRE-DECIDING Grandfather to grandson: “I have a battle going on inside myself. It is between two wolves. One wolf is evil: Anger, envy, lies, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, jealousy, false pride, lust, hate, and impatience. The other wolf is good: Love, joy, peace, hope, patience, kindness, humility, self-control.” The grandson asks: “Which wolf will win?” The Grandfather replies: “The one I feed!”

WE MUST PRE- DECIDE, BY OUR LORD’S INFINITE GRACE, THAT WE WILL NOT FEED THE BIG BAD WOLF!

HERE’S THE IDEA: 1) You have a recurring problem such as: laziness, cheating, stealing, swearing, anger, lust, pride, lying, immorality, lack of self control, pornography, drugs, selfishness, etc. OR 2) You have a potential problem, a problem that might pop up some day in the future such as: (see above )

HERE’S WHAT TO DO: Find a Scripture that deals with the problem. Memorize this Scripture. Meditate on this Scripture. Personalize the Scripture (put your name in it wherever possible). Pray the Scripture back to God.

THEN WHAT? Ask the Lord to use this Scripture in your life the next time (or first time) you are confronted with the problem, test or temptation!

FOR EXAMPLE: If you have an anger problem you might memorize Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.” This can be uncomfortably convicting! God calls eagerly angry people fools!

ARE YOU SELFISH? Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and pray back to God Philippians 2:3: “Let nothing be done through strife [selfishness, NASB ] or vainglory [pride, NASB ]; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves.”

IS YOUR TONGUE OUT OF CONTROL? Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and pray back to God Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Pre-decide to let God use this Scripture the next time your tongue needs taming.

LUST OF THE EYES “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I John 2:16 “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” Psalm 101:3a

LUST OF THE FLESH But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14 Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

PRIDE OF LIFE Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. Proverbs 16:18 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12 “... Do not be wise in your own estimation. Romans 12:16b

YOU ARE TEMPTED TOWARD IMMORALITY Memorize I Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” For example, what are the ways of escape?

You are tempted to enter your girlfriend’s apartment... Has God provided a way of escape? Yes, you don’t have to go into the apartment. But, you DO go into the apartment. Has God provided a way of escape now? Yes, you can say “goodnight” and leave. But, you do not leave...

Has God provided a way of escape now? Yes, you could sit on separate chairs instead of the same couch. But, you find yourselves on the couch. Has God provided a way of escape now? Yes, you can get up off the couch and go home! Etc., etc., etc. GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY OF ESCAPE!

ROMANS 8:5,6 & 13:14 “For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into tempta- tion. The spirit truly is ready (willing), but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38

THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDING Find a Scripture that deals with the problem. Memorize this Scripture. Meditate on this Scripture. Personalize the Scripture (put your name in it wherever possible). Pray the Scripture back to God.

THEN WHAT? Ask the Lord to use this Scripture in your life the next time (or first time) you are confronted with the problem, test or temptation!