Being Firm in Your Decision
POST-ENCOUNTER 1
DECISION: “The act of deciding or making up one’s mind; the result or conclusion arrived at by deciding; quality of being
positive and firm; determination”
FIRM - not yielding readily to touch or pressure; solidly composed; enduring; steadfast; constant; having or showing
strength; not fluctuating; immovable; solid.
Why is it important to be firm in the decisions you make?
SATAN WILL USE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DESIRED IN THE PAST BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTAIN.
• Rewarding but dishonest business deals.
• A sudden meeting with a man or woman who was previously uninterested in you.
• A raise in salary at work which demands more of the time that you were dedicating to serving God.
AFTER THE ENCOUNTER…
• The devil plans a heavy and immediate attack on you after you have had a deep and intimate experience with God
• He wants to rob you of everything you’ve received from God .
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE THE ENEMY TRYING TO DESTROY YOU?.......Go forward!
Exodus 14:13-15 (NKJV)
13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish
for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
15 And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
HOW DO I GO FORWARD?
• Do not get involved with the past again.
• Understand that within you exists a nature that tries to rebel against God in order to make you a slave to our own
desires and passion.
• We must have firm determination when we make our decisions
8 PRACTICAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO LIVE IN TOTAL VICTORY
Ephesians 4:22-32 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something
useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk
come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those
who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of
all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1. PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF AND PUT ON THE NEW SELF
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
2. SPEAK TRUTHFULLY
Ephesians 4:25 (NIV) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor...
3. MANAGE YOUR ANGER
Ephesians 4:26 (NIV) "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry...”
4. DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD
Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.
5. THOU SHALL NOT STEAL
Ephesians 4:28 (NIV) He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his
own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
6. GUARD YOUR TONGUE
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
7. BE SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
8. BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO OTHERS
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Rebellion is when we live and do what we want to do and not what God has told us. You resist Him and make your desires
your ultimate choice.
• The spirit of rebellion has been taken away through the Cross at Calvary.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NLT)
“Yet is was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a
punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have
peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!”
We must decide to make an effort DAILY to free ourselves from those habits that would keep us bound to the past.
