Feb 12, 2020 | Avoiding Unwise Decisions

These are notes from a sermon message heard at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. To hear the message, please visit their website here. My notes are only meant to be a guide to assist in your Bible study. Enjoy! :)

Date: February 12, 2020

Preacher: Dr. Anthony George

Title: Avoiding Unwise Decisions | Last of Wisdom Series 2020

Base Verse: Proverbs 4:5-9

Just because it’s not wise, it doesn’t mean that it’s sinful. This requires discernment.

1. It is unwise to focus on this life while ignoring the next.
1. Don’t get so caught up with the day to day demands of your life and forget to spend time with God.
2. Mark 8:35-36 NKJV
3. Luke 12:20 NKJV
4. Matthew 6:19-20 NLT
5. Being unwise might not mean to sin, but simply making bad decisions financially, with time, etc.
2. It is unwise to interpret Scripture through personal circumstances.
1. This is the worst possible. To avoid the truth altogether is one thing, but to force-fit scripture to your circumstance is another.
2. Infallable = impossible to lead astray
3. The Bible, when rightly interpreted, is infallable. 
4. The Bible, when wrongly interpreted, has led many people astray and is the basis of many cults.
5. Risks we face when interpreting the Bible through your circumstance:
1. changing our theology in a time of crisis. 
2. twisting Scripture to accommodate our desires
3. fastening Scripture to the trends of culture: using Scripture to conform to culture → we’re allowing culture to drive Scripture rather than the other way around. God never intendend Scripture to be subserviant to today’s culture. 
4. assuming that our happiness is always God’s will → well I know the Bible says this, but it feels too good for God to be against it. Is your ultimate goal to seek truth, or to seek meaningful, pleasurable experiences?
3. It is unwise to keep rescuing someone who hasn’t learned their lesson.
1. How much should I keep investing?
2. Consquences are a form of rebuke, like a slap 
3. Proverbs 29:1 NKJV → “HARDENS HIS NECK” there will be a point of no return
4. Proverbs 23:9 NLT 
5. CHALLENGE: PROVERB A DAY & HIGHLIGHT EVERYTIME “FOOL” IS SAID.
6. Proof of ingraditute? Refusal to change.
7. A wise response: Where will my limit be? Where’s the line? I know they’re not appreciating this.
8. 1 Corinthians 13  How do you reconcile this love yet draw the line? Love is inexhaustable, but it does not mean to continue contributing to dishonoring behavior.
4. It is unwise not to recognize the controlling forces in your life.
1. What is most on your mind other than CHRIST?
2. What are you still praying to be broken free from?
3. 1 Corinthians 6:12 → unless it’s explicitly stated, I’m free to do it. But just ‘cause I’m free to do it, doesn’t mean I should do it. Don’t let our freedoms become our bondage/vice. 
4. This does not relate to voluntary submission or yielding. 
5. This does include addictions. Coping mechanisms. Emotional manipulation. 
6. We can get accustomed to abormality.

Truths to breaking free:

1. Sinful desires will not be denied as long as they are justified.
2. Addictions will never be conquered until they are acknowledged.
3. Unhealthy relationships will never be corrected until they are identified.
4. Boundaries will never be established until there is courage enough to define them. 
1. If the lines are blurred, the line has been crossed. Take out a sharpie and draw the line where it should be. Do it for them, do it for a God, do it for yourself to become better.