Today

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Todays Decisions Affecting Tomorrow
Trevor Bowen
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Sunrise? Or, Sunset?
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Sunrise!
30 Minutes Later
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Introduction Choose Wisdom
But the path of the just is like the shining
sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect
day. The way of the wicked is like darkness They
do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs
418-19)

• The impact of many decisions is far-reaching and
  is often unapparent at the moment.
• Time reveals the wisdom or folly of our decisions.

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Introduction Choose Wisdom

• Foresight must be applied so that preparations
  can be made for tomorrow.
• Remember the Unjust Steward He planned for
  his retirement (Luke 161-9).
• Remember, even the foolish reach out for wisdom
  but too late (Proverbs 120-32 511-14, 21-23).

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Introduction Choose Wisdom
Because I have called and you refused, I have
stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
Because you disdained all my counsel, And would
have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your
calamity I will mock when your terror comes,
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer
They will seek me diligently, but they will not
find me. Because they hated knowledge And did
not choose the fear of the LORD, Therefore they
shall eat the fruit of their own way,
(Proverbs 123-31)
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Introduction Choose Wisdom

• Foresight must be applied so that preparations
  can be made for tomorrow.
• Remember the Unjust Steward (Luke 161-9)
• Remember, even the foolish reach out for wisdom
  but too late (Proverbs 120-32 511-14, 21-23)
• Receive wisdom and instruction today!(Proverbs
  21-11 31-26 41-13 20-27 51-2).
• It brings glory, honor, peace, joy, life, and
  salvation.
• It enables you to bring the same to others
  (Proverbs 1522-23 Psalm 3730).

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Introduction Choose Wisdom
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget,
nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not
forsake her, and she will preserve you Love her,
and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal
thing Therefore get wisdom. And in all your
getting, get understanding. When you walk, your
steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you
will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction,
do not let go Keep her, for she is your life.
(Proverbs 45-13)
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Outline

• Introduction Choose Wisdom
• Foundation The Ultimate Decision
• Godly Companions and Spouse
• Leaving Home (School and Career)
• Conclusion

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Foundation The Ultimate Decision

• Putting God First Choose To Be aCommitted
  Christian
• Wisdom begins with God

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and
instruction. (Proverbs 17) Unless the LORD
builds the house, They labor in vain who build
it Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman
stays awake in vain. (Psalm 1271)
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Foundation The Ultimate Decision

• Application How does wisdom begin with God?
• Convert now to become a young, devoted Christian
  (Ecclesiastes 119-127).
• Continue in daily Bible study (Psalm 11997-105).
• Pray and meditate upon Gods Word (James 15-8
  Matthew 2641).
• Consider relevant Bible examples (I Corinthians
  106, 11-13 Romans 154 Ecclesiastes 19-10).
• Eliminate anti-wisdom character flaws (Proverbs
  1416).

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Foundation The Ultimate Decision

• We must be decisive Early!
• Love God first (Matthew 633 I John 215-17).
• Decide absolutely (James 15-8 41-8).
• Count the cost (Luke 957-62 1425-33).
• Form specific plans (Daniel 18-13).
• Avoid laying traps for yourself (Romans 1314).
• Jettison weights that hinder (Hebrews 121-2).
• Safeguard your influence (before saint and
  sinner)(I Corinthians 8, 10 Romans 224 Titus
  27-8).

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Self-Examination Checklist

1. List your priorities in order.
2. Praying, studying, and meditating? Seeking Gods
   wisdom?
3. Considered Bible examples?
4. Sought godly counselors?
5. Gods approval? Seeking to please God or men?
6. Resolved? Double-minded?

1. Estimated possible sacrifices?
2. Made detailed plans?
3. Avoiding temptation?
4. Encouraging influences?
5. Diminish your influence?
6. Entangling yourself? Best use of time?
7. Honest with yourself?

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Outline

• Introduction Choose Wisdom
• Foundation The Ultimate Decision
• Godly Companions and Spouse
• Leaving Home (School and Career)
• Conclusion

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Choose Godly Companions

• Checklist? Remember Joshuas mistake with the
  Gibeonites (Joshua 91-19).
• Our friends have tremendous influence
• Evil companions will corrupt us (I Corinthians
  1533 Proverbs 1226).

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Choose Godly Companions
Do not be deceived Evil company corrupts good
habits. (I Corinthians 1533)The righteous
should choose his friends carefully, For the way
of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs
1426) He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
(Proverbs 1320)
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Choose Godly Companions

• Checklist? Remember Joshuas mistake with the
  Gibeonites (Joshua 91-19).
• Our friends have tremendous influence
• Evil companions will corrupt us (I Corinthians
  1533 Proverbs 1226).
• Wise friends will strengthen us (Proverbs 1320
  Psalm 11963).
• We cannot isolate ourselves from the world (I
  Corinthians 59-13).

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Choose Godly Companions

• Conclusion
• Frequent or intimate relationships must be godly
  for our sake (II Corinthians 614-18).

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Choose Godly Companions
Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship has
righteousness with lawlessness? And what
communion has light with darkness? And what
accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
has the temple of God with idols? For you are the
temple of the living God. As God has said I
will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be
their God, And they shall be My people.
Therefore Come out from among them And be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is
unclean, And I will receive you. (II Corinthians
614-18)
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Choose Godly Companions

• Conclusion
• Frequent or intimate relationships must be godly
  for our sake (II Corinthians 614-18).
• Occasional contact with others should be welcomed
  as opportunity to influence them.
• Examples Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, etc.
• Application? Are your friends like these?
• Virtual Friends? Videos, Internet, Chat, etc?

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Choose a True Leader or Helper

• Who to marry?
• 2nd most important decision of your life
• Why?
• Irreversible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  !!!
• Life-long Friend and Influence (II Corinthians
  68-14 Amos 33)
• Checklist? Remember

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Who Do You Love?
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he
cannot be My disciple. (Luke 1426)
Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that
you love the LORD your God. Or else, if indeed
you do go back, and make marriages with them,
and go in to them and they to you, know for
certain they shall be snares and traps to you,
and scourges on your sides and thorns in your
eyes (Joshua 2311-13)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you. (Matthew 633)
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Recall Bible Examples
But Ruth said Entreat me not to leave you, Or
to turn back from following after you For
wherever you go, I will go And wherever you
lodge, I will lodge Your people shall be my
people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I
will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do
so to me, and more also, If anything but death
parts you and me. (Ruth 116-17)
But King Solomon loved many foreign women, and
his wives turned away his heart. For it was so,
when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his
heart after other gods and his heart was not
loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of
his father David. (I Kings 111-8)
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Consider Roles, Children, more
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children
to wrath, but bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 64)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the
Lord. For the husband is head of the wife,
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also
loved the church and gave Himself for her,
(Ephesians 522-25)
admonish the young women to love their
husbands, to love their children, to be
discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to
their own husbands, (Titus 24-5)
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Compare to Gods Ideal

• Fears God
• Chaste
• Honest
• Integrity
• Pure
• Just
• Generous
• Not Greedy
• Not Superstitious
• Loves Enemies
• Admits Error
• Job 311-40

• Fears God
• Trustworthy
• Does good always
• Hard working
• Prepared
• Strong
• Generous
• Honorable
• Wise
• Kind
• Praiseworthy
• Proverbs 3110-31

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Choose a True Leader or Helper

• Some issues are less critical than others, but
  are still important
• Modesty and other moral concerns (I Timothy
  28-9 I Peter 33-4)?
• Discipline for children (Proverbs 1324)?
• Do not marry a sluggard or a slob (Proverbs
  66-11 1026 189 Titus 24-5).
• Do not be desperate to marry (Proverbs 219
  1026 I Corinthians 725-40).

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Choose a True Leader or Helper

• Decide early on expressed affection.
• flee youthful lusts Dont get as close as
  possible (II Timothy 222 Proverbs 623-28).
• Some things are reserved for marriage
• Some expression is innocent and permissible
  before marriage (Song of Solomon 11-3)
• Compare Solomons description of wife before and
  after marriage (Song of Solomon 34-11 41-16
  510-16 71-10)
• Do not awaken love before its time (27 35)

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Outline

• Introduction Choose Wisdom
• Foundation The Ultimate Decision
• Godly Companions and Spouse
• Leaving Home (School and Career)
• Conclusion

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Choose a Pure Career College

• Checklist? What kind of city do you seek?
• Abraham seeking spiritual city?
• Lot seeking best carnal environment?
• Is the environment anti-Christian?
• Most schools and jobs are amoral.
• Some attract more godly, or ungodly, people.
• Some offer more encouragement, while others offer
  more temptation.

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Choose a Pure Career College

• Will the local congregation be helpful? Or
  discouraging?
• Visited the local church?
• Assessed the teaching they will offer you?
• Checked for godly companions, who are true
  Christians not just in name only?
• Consulted others about this congregation?
• Observed brotherly love toward you?
• Envisioned opportunities for your growth?

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Choose a Pure Career College
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as
men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing
God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.
(Colossians 322-24)
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Choose a Pure Career College

• Zealous work ethic in this field?
• Long Hours? Frequent Travel? (Ephesians 64
  Deuteronomy 66-9)
• Adequate Income (Ecclesiastes 712)? Balance
  with I Timothy 66-10 Luke 1215.
• Benefactor (Ephesians 428)?
• You may have to move again

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Outline

• Introduction Choose Wisdom
• Foundation The Ultimate Decision
• Godly Companions and Spouse
• Leaving Home (School and Career)
• Conclusion

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Conclusion

• Are you seeking to make wise decisions?
• Really? Prove it to yourself and God. Consider
  the checklist.
• What is your reaction to this study?
• Wise decisions are more difficult for the short
  term.
• However, the wisdom of godly decisions shines
  ever brighter unto that perfect day.

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Conclusion

• On many future days, still yet to come, you will
  thank the Lord for the wisdom He has made
  available to you, if you have chosen to follow
  Gods counsel.
• Get wisdom! Get understanding! . Wisdom is the
  principal thing Therefore get wisdom. And in all
  your getting, get understanding. Keep her, for
  she is your life!

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Conclusion

• Seek God and His Wisdom First!
• Choose a spouse and friends that will help you to
  heaven.
• Find a job and career that will help you and your
  family grow in God.

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Todays Decisions Affecting Tomorrow

• Questions?
• http//www.insearchoftruth.org
• http//www.wordsfitlyspoken.org