What shall I choose? Have you ever been faced with choices? None of us have any choice about being born, the family we have, or the era in which we live. The choosing begins with how we will use the circumstances we inherit.

Paul had a hard choice in front of him. He was languishing in a Roman prison – His circumstance was appalling. He certainly prayed for release.

But he had a choice that took priority – should he just sit back, give up and wait to die (at least he’d be with Jesus – that was preferable in Paul’s eyes.)

Or pray for his release because much more work needed to done for Christ? This was a trying decision.

You and I, we face many decisions about family, job, relationships and our participation in the ministry of Christ.

We, like Paul, want to make sound decisions, Christ-like decisions – choices that will be good, and pleasing in God’s sight.

The question before our church family today is this, HOW CAN I MAKE SOUND, CHRIST-LIKE DECISIONS? HOW DO I CHOOSE JOY?

The answer to that question is found in Paul’s self reflection, as in a brief question and answer session.

Paul uncovers for us three factors that influence Christian decision-making. The decision that you make is determined by:

1.  WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT. Philippians 1.22-25. Paul knew what he wanted. Whether in prison or free, he wanted to please God. He chose Jesus in everything. The question becomes, “Do you want to follow Jesus’ teachings, and the life he offers?”

C.S. Lewis, in “Mere Christianity,” wrote: “…every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, you are slowly turning this central thing either into a Heavenly creature or into a hellish creature…”

Here is the lesson about choosing – When you choose Christ first, you begin to know Christ-likeness firsthand. Begin by patterning your prayers after Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, “Lord, I want to be more like you when I make choices – NOT MY WILL, FATHER, YOURS!”

When you begin to want Christ-like, you will begin to want to BE like Christ-like, and decisions will be more Christ-like!

2. THE SECOND FACTOR IN MAKING CHRIST-LIKE DECISIONS IS THIS–WHO YOU DEPEND UPON

Jesus depended upon the Father. Paul would later write (2.7) that Jesus “…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” You say, “Of course I depend on God – Who else do you think I’m praying to?”

The point of prayer is not the issue – it is the person of your prayer. Do you leave room in your petition for God possibilities?

When Jesus prayed, He expected an answer – BUT HE ALWAYS LEFT THE KIND OF ANSWER IN GOD’S HAND.

It is appropriate to make our requests known, and even our wants… But it is so much smarter to leave the way God answers up to God.

God has been known to come up with better answers than what we usually come up with!

God possibilities— Janzen’s on the grace of God in our choices… Cyprian’s plague…

THE THIRD FACTOR IN MAKING CHRIST LIKE DECISIONS IS: YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE BODY OF CHRIST. Paul knew that there was a chance he wouldn’t ever see daylight as a free man.

So… What is his most important heartfelt request?

So he said, “Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel.” If not, the church will not survive. SO…What is the Manner of life that the body chooses?

a.  UNITY – “One spirit.” “One body.” The church of Christ Jesus is to be a united church. An attitude of selfishness, or carelessness does not belong.

It is like my hand deciding to go on vacation. If the hand decides the mouth doesn’t need to be fed, the entire body will suffer.

Unity is only a reality when the whole body is working together. Reformed and reforming to bear witness to the Gospel.

The church also chooses to honor Jesus… b. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST JESUS– Christ never intended the church to limp along on short rations. Every member can make a contribution to the body of Christ.

If you really want to help you can find a way. If you have trouble finding a way to help – ASK!

Nothing gives a pastor or church leaders more joy than a willing member who says, “I’d like to fill in one of your blanks.”

c. So the manner we live together as Christ’s body is in

Our Unity, Participating, and… COURAGE

Paul says that the body of Christ, standing as unified participants in Christ’s ministry will be courageous – not intimidated by the fierce opposition. This word is found nowhere else in NT and is rare even in Classical Greek. When used, it is used of horses that shy upon being startled at some unexpected object.

Paul is using this as a figure of speech that the church should not “break loose in disarray or lose control of themselves as a result of attacks of their adversaries. We should not break into panic even in the face of terror.

The application is simple; whatever happens in this life, the Christian that is standing united with the church, working diligently in the kingdom of God will not be unduly frightened by ANYTHING!

Now that is a freedom that’s worth having.

Now, put it all together. Paul was speaking to the church of CHRIST-LIKE JOY.

He shows us that all this, WHAT YOU WANT, WHO YOU DEPEND ON, YOUR ATTITUDE …is all working together to produce joy in your life.

The question is, “Do you want it?”

Life is just that simplified when it comes to making decisions. Love him… Depend on him… Love and work for his church… To serve.

It will produce genuine joy no matter what the circumstances!

Closing Prayer

We have come to this church this morning because we know we need the inspiration and love we find here to empower us to jump into our next week.

While we so often pray for our immediate needs, when we come together as a community of faith, we remember to pray for others. We remember others who have needs, who are facing an illness, or struggling with family issues.

We are grateful that your continued care guides and comforts us. Even Jesus sometimes felt overwhelmed and needed to call on his heavenly Father for strength.

We too can turn to you for strength. Jesus was no stranger to fear, loneliness, pain, and anguish. He felt it all. Those are the shared experiences of all of us human beings, but with his help we can find peace and comfort.

Many of us face troubles that can leave us puzzled, worried, angry or sad. We may feel like the pieces of a puzzle before they are assembled into a complete picture. But God is always there. The Holy Spirit can take our burdens of life… the pain, the grief, the worry and make it into something beautiful and whole. God we lay before you our burdens of life, the worry, the pain and ask you to make it into something beautiful and whole. For this is our prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.