THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDING Dr. Jobe Martin Biblical Discipleship Ministries .

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDINGPREDECIDING

Dr. Jobe MartinDr. Jobe Martin

Biblical Discipleship MinistriesBiblical Discipleship Ministries

www.biblicaldiscipleship.orgwww.biblicaldiscipleship.org

HERE’S THE IDEA:HERE’S THE IDEA:

1) You have a recurring problem such 1) You have a recurring problem such as: laziness, cheating, stealing, as: laziness, cheating, stealing, swearing, anger, lust, pride, lying, swearing, anger, lust, pride, lying, immorality, lack of self control, immorality, lack of self control, pornography, drugs, selfishness, etc.pornography, drugs, selfishness, etc.

OROR

2) You have a potential problem, a 2) You have a potential problem, a problem that might pop up some day in problem that might pop up some day in the future such as: (see above )the future such as: (see above )

HERE’S WHAT TO DO:HERE’S WHAT TO DO:

Find a Scripture that deals with the Find a Scripture that deals with the problem.problem.

Memorize this Scripture.Memorize this Scripture.

Meditate on this Scripture.Meditate on this Scripture.

Personalize the Scripture (put your Personalize the Scripture (put your name in it wherever possible).name in it wherever possible).

Pray the Scripture back to God.Pray the Scripture back to God.

THEN WHAT?THEN WHAT?

Ask the Lord to use this Ask the Lord to use this Scripture in your life the Scripture in your life the next time (or first time) next time (or first time) you are confronted with you are confronted with

the problem, test or the problem, test or temptation!temptation!

FOR EXAMPLE:FOR EXAMPLE:

If you have an anger problem you might If you have an anger problem you might memorize Ecclesiastes 7:9, memorize Ecclesiastes 7:9,

““Do not be eager in your heart to Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the be angry, for anger resides in the

bosom of fools.”bosom of fools.”This can be uncomfortably convicting!This can be uncomfortably convicting!

God calls eagerly angry people God calls eagerly angry people fools!fools!

ARE YOU SELFISH?ARE YOU SELFISH?

Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and pray back to God Philippians 2:3:pray back to God Philippians 2:3:

““Let nothing be done through strife Let nothing be done through strife [[selfishnessselfishness, , NASBNASB] or vainglory ] or vainglory [[pridepride, , NASBNASB]; but in lowliness of ]; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other mind let each esteem the other

better than themselves.”better than themselves.”

IS YOUR TONGUE OUT OF IS YOUR TONGUE OUT OF CONTROL?CONTROL?

Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and Memorize, Meditate, Personalize and pray back to God Ephesians 4:29: pray back to God Ephesians 4:29:

““Let no corrupt communication proceed Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is out of your mouth, but that which is

good to the use of edifying, that it may good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” minister grace unto the hearers.”

Pre-decide to let God use this Scripture Pre-decide to let God use this Scripture the next time your tongue needs taming.the next time your tongue needs taming.

LUST OF THE EYESLUST OF THE EYES

““For all that is in the world, the lust For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” the Father, but is of the world.” I John 2:16I John 2:16

““I will set no wicked thing before I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” mine eyes.” Psalm 101:3aPsalm 101:3a

LUST OF THE FLESHLUST OF THE FLESH

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14Romans 13:14

Keep watching and praying, that you Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark Mark 14:3814:38

PRIDE OF LIFEPRIDE OF LIFEPride goes before destruction, and a Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. haughty spirit before stumbling.

Proverbs 16:18Proverbs 16:18

Therefore let him who thinks he stands Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12I Corinthians 10:12

“ “ . . . Do not be wise in your own . . . Do not be wise in your own estimation. estimation. Romans 12:16bRomans 12:16b

YOU ARE TEMPTED TOWARD YOU ARE TEMPTED TOWARD IMMORALITYIMMORALITY

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

For example, what are the ways of For example, what are the ways of escape?escape?

You are tempted to enter your You are tempted to enter your girlfriend’s apartment. . .girlfriend’s apartment. . .

Has God provided a way of escape?Has God provided a way of escape?

Yes, you don’t have to go into the Yes, you don’t have to go into the apartment.apartment.

But, you DO go into the apartment.But, you DO go into the apartment.

Has God provided a way of escape now?Has God provided a way of escape now?

Yes, you can say “goodnight” and leave.Yes, you can say “goodnight” and leave.

But, you do not leave . . .But, you do not leave . . .


Yes, you could sit on separate chairs Yes, you could sit on separate chairs instead of the same couch.instead of the same couch.

But, you find yourselves on the couch.But, you find yourselves on the couch.


Yes, you can get up off the couch and go Yes, you can get up off the couch and go home! Etc., etc., etc.home! Etc., etc., etc.

GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY OF ESCAPE!WAY OF ESCAPE!

ROMANS 8:5,6 & 13:14ROMANS 8:5,6 & 13:14““For they that are after the flesh, do mind the For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”minded is life and peace.”

““But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts

thereof.”thereof.”

““Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into tempta- Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready (willing), but the flesh tion. The spirit truly is ready (willing), but the flesh is weak.” is weak.” Mark 14:38Mark 14:38

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDINGPREDECIDING

Find a Scripture that deals with the Find a Scripture that deals with the problem.problem.

Memorize this Scripture.Memorize this Scripture.

Meditate on this Scripture.Meditate on this Scripture.

Personalize the Scripture (put your Personalize the Scripture (put your name in it wherever possible).name in it wherever possible).

Pray the Scripture back to God.Pray the Scripture back to God.

THEN WHAT?THEN WHAT?

Ask the Lord to use this Ask the Lord to use this Scripture in your life the Scripture in your life the next time (or first time) next time (or first time) you are confronted with you are confronted with

the problem, test or the problem, test or temptation!temptation!

THE PRINCIPLE OF PREDECIDING Dr. Jobe Martin Biblical Discipleship Ministries .

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