Choosing Christ: Reclaiming Control and Living Courageously

 

Summary

In this message, I emphasize the importance of making conscious choices that align with our faith and values. As we navigate through life, we are often faced with decisions that can either draw us closer to God or pull us away. The story of Barabbas and Jesus serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of our choices. The people chose Barabbas, a known criminal, over Jesus, the Savior, because they were swayed by the crowd and their past preferences. This decision reflects how we sometimes choose our past, people, or even our own desires over Christ.

I encourage everyone to take control of their thoughts and words, especially during challenging times. By focusing on positive thinking and speaking life into our situations, we can drive away negativity and align ourselves with God's purpose. This month, I urge you to take control of areas in your life that have been holding you back. Whether it's your finances, relationships, or personal growth, this is your season to reclaim control and live courageously.

The enemy often attacks us when we are at our weakest, but we must remember that God's grace and mercy are always with us. Even when we make wrong decisions, God can turn them around for our good. It's crucial to be mindful of the influences around us and to choose Christ over the familiar or comfortable. Our past does not define us, and we must be willing to let go of old ways to embrace the new opportunities God has for us.

As we reflect on our choices, let us strive to choose Christ above all else. He is our true King and Savior, and by aligning our hearts with His, we can experience the fullness of life He promises. Let us live courageously, choosing faith over fear, and Christ over Barabbas.

Key Takeaways:

1. Control Your Thoughts and Words: Our thoughts and words have power. By focusing on positivity and speaking life, we can align ourselves with God's purpose and drive away negativity. This is a crucial step in reclaiming control over our lives. [00:00]

2. Reclaim Control in Your Life: This is your season to take control of areas that have been holding you back. Whether it's finances, relationships, or personal growth, God calls us to live courageously and reclaim what is rightfully ours. [00:00]

3. Beware of the Enemy's Attacks: The enemy often attacks us at our weakest moments. However, God's grace and mercy are always with us, turning our wrong decisions into opportunities for growth and blessing. [00:00]

4. Choose Christ Over the Familiar: Our past does not define us. We must be willing to let go of old ways and embrace the new opportunities God has for us. Choosing Christ means choosing a future filled with hope and promise. [00:00]

5. Align Your Heart with God's: By choosing Christ above all else, we align our hearts with His. This alignment allows us to experience the fullness of life He promises and empowers us to live courageously. [00:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:00] - Controlling Thoughts and Words
- [00:03:00] - Taking Control of Your Life
- [00:05:00] - The Enemy's Attacks
- [00:07:00] - Choosing Christ Over Barabbas
- [00:09:00] - The Power of Positive Thinking
- [00:11:00] - Embracing New Opportunities
- [00:13:00] - The Importance of Community
- [00:15:00] - Reflecting on Our Choices
- [00:17:00] - Aligning with God's Purpose
- [00:19:00] - Living Courageously
- [00:21:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 15:6-16

Observation Questions:
1. What was the choice presented to the people by Pilate during the feast, and what decision did they make? ([59:39])
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of controlling our thoughts and words? ([01:03:29])
3. What does the pastor say about the enemy's attacks and when they are most likely to occur? ([01:03:29])
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of choosing Christ over familiar or comfortable choices? ([01:13:29])

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the people have chosen Barabbas over Jesus, according to the sermon? What does this reveal about human nature? ([01:10:12])
2. How does the pastor relate the story of Barabbas and Jesus to our personal choices and past decisions? ([01:06:07])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our past does not define us, and how can we embrace new opportunities? ([01:13:29])
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to align their hearts with God's purpose, and what does this alignment entail? ([01:29:38])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you choose based on comfort or familiarity, or did you choose what aligned with your faith? How can you ensure future decisions align with your faith? ([01:13:29])
2. The sermon emphasizes controlling thoughts and words. Identify a situation where you struggled with negative thinking or speaking. What steps can you take to focus on positivity in similar situations? ([01:03:29])
3. Consider an area in your life where you feel the enemy is attacking you at your weakest. How can you rely on God's grace and mercy to overcome these challenges? ([01:03:29])
4. Think about a past decision that you regret. How can you let go of this past and embrace the new opportunities God has for you? ([01:06:07])
5. The sermon encourages living courageously. What is one area of your life where you need to reclaim control and live courageously? How will you start this process? ([01:03:29])
6. Identify a person or influence in your life that may be leading you away from Christ. How can you address this influence and choose Christ over it? ([01:16:36])
7. How can you align your heart with God's purpose this week? What specific actions will you take to ensure your choices reflect this alignment? ([01:29:38])

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Words and Thoughts
Our thoughts and words shape our reality and influence our spiritual journey. By focusing on positivity and speaking life into our situations, we align ourselves with God's purpose and drive away negativity. This practice is not just about optimism but about actively choosing to see and speak God's truth over our lives. In challenging times, it is crucial to guard our minds and tongues, ensuring that what we think and say reflects our faith and trust in God. This conscious effort helps us reclaim control over our lives and live in accordance with God's will. [00:00]

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psalm 141:3, ESV)

Reflection: What negative thoughts or words have you been entertaining lately? How can you replace them with God's truth today?


Day 2: Courageously Reclaiming Control
This is a season to take control of areas in your life that have been holding you back. Whether it's your finances, relationships, or personal growth, God calls you to live courageously and reclaim what is rightfully yours. This involves stepping out in faith, trusting that God will guide and provide as you make decisions that align with His will. By taking proactive steps, you can break free from past limitations and embrace the abundant life God has planned for you. [00:00]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you feel stuck. What is one step you can take today to begin reclaiming control in that area?


Day 3: Recognizing and Resisting the Enemy's Attacks
The enemy often attacks us at our weakest moments, but God's grace and mercy are always with us. Even when we make wrong decisions, God can turn them into opportunities for growth and blessing. It's important to be vigilant and aware of the enemy's tactics, recognizing that his goal is to distract and discourage us. By staying rooted in God's word and prayer, we can resist these attacks and remain steadfast in our faith. [00:00]

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: When do you feel most vulnerable to the enemy's attacks? How can you prepare yourself spiritually to resist these attacks?


Day 4: Choosing Christ Over Comfort
Our past does not define us, and we must be willing to let go of old ways to embrace the new opportunities God has for us. Choosing Christ means choosing a future filled with hope and promise, even when it requires stepping out of our comfort zones. This decision involves prioritizing our relationship with Christ over familiar or comfortable patterns that may not align with His will. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative work God wants to do in our lives. [00:00]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What familiar or comfortable habits are holding you back from fully embracing Christ's call? What steps can you take to choose Christ over these habits today?


Day 5: Aligning Your Heart with God's Purpose
By choosing Christ above all else, we align our hearts with His, allowing us to experience the fullness of life He promises. This alignment empowers us to live courageously, trusting that God's plans for us are good and filled with hope. It requires a daily commitment to seek God's will and to let His love and truth guide our decisions. As we align our hearts with God's, we become more attuned to His voice and more willing to follow His lead, no matter where it takes us. [00:00]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you better align your heart with God's purpose today? How can you ensure that your decisions reflect this alignment?

Quotes

"How do you do that? Number one, you do that by controlling your thoughts. That's right. You sit there and say, you know what? The things that I think about, the things that I study, the things that come into my spirit during this month is something that will be celebration and not anything that will be negative. So number one, you control your thoughts. Number two, you control your tongue during the month of March. That's right. Control your tongue. I want you to watch what you say during the month of March. Come on. The Bible says death and life is in the power of the tongue. That's right. Come on. I want you to say nothing but positive words. So not only are you thinking positive, but you're also, watch this, talking positive. That's how you drive the devil crazy, by how you think and then also by how you talk." [00:00:00]

"He knows that there's something going on on the inside of your spirit that you don't like, so he recognized that I must attack now or I won't be successful. Come on. He's not attacking you when you have faith. And, dear brothers and sisters, as a community, dear brothers and sisters, the devil and people who don't mean us any good is attacking us when we are at our weakest moments. He is attacking us when the divorce rate is high. He is attacking us when kids are fighting in school more than they are learning. He is attacking us by having Democrats no longer like Republicans. Uh -oh. He is attacking us by getting us to fight with our parents. He is attacking us by having us worried about our next paycheck. He is attacking us by making us ashamed of our skin color. The enemy is attacking us by allowing us as churches to fight each other over stupid and ignorant stuff." [00:02:00] (68 seconds)


"And, dear brothers and sisters, he is waiting when your faith is at its lowest. And it's just February, dear brothers and sisters. But for some of us, we felt like January was a trying month. Come on. We felt like we went through a lot. And it's just the beginning of the year. So now, all of a sudden, before the year gets good, our faith is already being tested. And watch this. The devil is attacking us when we are at the weakest. And it's just at the top of the year. Oh, the greatness of" [00:03:21] (39 seconds)


"This text is a reminder. This text is a reminder, dear brothers and sisters, to be mindful of the things that you are considering. Because if we be honest, dear brothers and sisters, when it comes to life, when it comes to dealing, there are many of us, dear brothers and sisters, have things in our lives that we have to deal with. Many of us, dear brothers and sisters, have decisions in our lives that we have to make. Come on. Because this passage of scripture brings us one step closer to the death of Jesus Christ. And not just the death, but the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary." [00:59:26] (46 seconds)


"Our Savior has been arrested by his enemies. Our Savior has been tried by the religious authorities, and they have condemned him. And his condemnation was based on the testimony of false witnesses and erroneous accusations. Come on. The Jews have sentenced our Savior to death, and that, dear brothers and sisters, is a pity. Why? Because this text, dear brothers and sisters, is a mirror of our own souls. Come on. This text is a mirror of how we, dear brothers and sisters, in our own spirit, in our own souls, sometimes choose the wrong thing. Come on. I know it, right? Because some of us chose wrong relationships. Some of us chose wrong jobs. Some of us chose wrong friends. And it is a mirror that, watch this. Sometimes we just make bad decisions." [01:00:24] (63 seconds)


"Sometimes we just choose the wrong direction to go. Come on. And here, dear brothers and sisters, we have to understand when we look at Jesus and what the people did to our Savior that day, sometimes we can see ourselves. Because here we have, dear brothers and sisters, this man named Pilate, who asked them, are you sure you want Barabbas? This man asked them, are we... sure this is the route, come on, you want to go? And dear brothers and sisters, why is that important? Because for some of you, your parents ask you, are you sure you want to go this route?" [01:01:49] (53 seconds)


"And here we have to where sometimes we've been asked and seen indications that we don't need to go this route, but yet we desire it so much, watch this, that we go anyway. Dear brothers and sisters, and we have to understand that even though this thing is taking place, there is still hope. Because one of the things, dear brothers and sisters, just to help drive this illustration even more, is one of the things that's taking place, which is a very unique thing, for some strange reason, is taking them for doggone a long time." [01:02:41] (40 seconds)


"And what God has done for some of us is that even though you're going the wrong way, even though there's signs sitting there and saying, don't go this way, He will make sure you get to your destination safely and ensure nobody gets in your way. And for some of you, that's grace and that's mercy because you know you've gone the wrong way. But grace and mercy have pulled people aside so that you can get to your destination safely. And the weird part about this, and I hate to use this, you know, in this type of math fashion, is that even though they chose wrong, it still worked out." [01:05:52] (40 seconds)


"And please understand this, dear brothers and sisters, these individuals made a bad decision. But yeah, they worked out. Boy, they're good. Come on, we are reminded in the scriptures in Genesis to where there was a man named Joseph. Who sat there and said, you meant it for evil. But God, come on, turned it around for my good. And please understand, there are people who meant it for your evil. But God turned it around for your good. And guess what? Some of you meant it for your own evil. But God still used it, come on, for your good." [01:07:31] (38 seconds)


"Because watch this, Barabbas committed an insurrection, meaning he was out there rioting. And while he was rioting, he committed murder. But yet, we have Jesus, an innocent man who ain't did nothing wrong. But yet, he found himself in the same situation. Isn't that weird that you do everything right? But yet, sometimes you find yourself dealing with the same problems, the same issues that every other folks that's doing wicked, evil stuff. You trying to go to church, you trying to tithe, you trying to read your work, them folks ain't, and it seems like you still in the same situation as them? Oh, y 'all trying to act brand new, like you ain't never questioning, what's the use of me doing this? Come on. And it seems like everybody else that ain't doing this is getting ahead." [01:11:02] (56 seconds)


"Come on. So, please understand this, dear brothers and sisters. Thank you. during this trial, the Roman leader named Pilate has examined Jesus and is convinced that he is innocent. So, Pilate takes a gamble, dear brothers and sisters, to try and free Jesus without any political backlash. We walk in the text. He is sitting there saying, all right, you all choose. Come on. So, it was Pilate's custom to release to the crowd a prisoner of their own choosing. But this happened during the feast. Y 'all got to pay attention. I hope you're taking notes." [01:11:42] (45 seconds)


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Transcript
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