08/18/2026
8/16/26 Message - "Choose" by Pastor Annette Garr
Scripture: Joshua 24:14-18 and verse 24
We make many choices in life : what we want to eat, wear, what to say, do, buy, date, marry, who we hurt, who we love, who we serve, etc.
Guess what, God choose as well. His choice was us! In Christ: All Believers' identity is rooted "in him". God actively works out all things according to His purpose, providing assurance for believers
• Ephesians 1:4:
• Ephesians 1:11 NIV
• John 15:16
• John 6:44:
As humans, when we go about making these decisions or choices, we don’t always make good ones, right?
Should we define ourselves by our failures, bad medical reports, bad financial decisions, bad decisions in general? What do you identify yourself as and with, in this world?
What consequences are we willing to pay for bad and good decisions?
Circumstances and things will not change unless you initiate (start) the change. Change happens when your first action is to speak to the Father first before making new decisions. It is not easy or comfortable but it is inevitable as nothing stays exactly the same forever. Make sure our life is governed by the Holy Spirit as we allow ourselves to be compromised daily by the enemy. In every decision we make, we will have a choice of good or evil.
--The world’s standards, we will only reap the rewards or failures that is set by men. When we Speak Jesus over our decisions and seek his guidance before we make them, we will reap both a physical and a spiritual reward set forth by our Savior.
--Decisions made with Jesus comes with wisdom, discernment, love, peace, grace, mercy reconciliation, tenderness, trust, forgiven, healing, just to name a few. (Fruits of the Spirit)
--Decisions made with worldly thoughts bring about judgement, fear, discouragement, anger, anxiety, depression, conflict, separation, misunderstanding, division, just to name a few.
Do you want spiritual healing or just a physical one? Do you want to be truly free or just have surface freedom (fairy tale, and they lived happily ever after)?
Unity:
Colossians 3:5-11 the Apostle Paul urges believers to abandon sinful earthly habits, put off their old self, and put on a new spiritual nature where Christ unites all people.
Why do we continue to make choices that break unity. God wants his people to be in unity with him and each other!
The devil does not want unity saints as division is one of his strongest weapons. The Bible tells for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them" (Matthew 18:19-20)
Relationships in this earthly plane will be strained. Friendships will be challenged. Parent/Child relationship will have breakage.
**The bible tells us that “Truth bring clarity to all situations.
--Prayer should never be a last resort Saints. It should be the first thing, the starting point in everything.
Seek to bring release from resentments, to bring clarity in confusion
***Saints choose who you will serve. You cannot serve both God and Man. You cannot serve your own selfish desires that constantly hurt you and the ones you love. Examine yourself, Is this of God?
• Joshua 24:15: "Choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" — Joshua places the decision directly on the people.
Choosing God means making a daily, active decision to him first. To put faith, love, and spiritual values first. This shows in how we treat others, how we handle hard times, and how we spend our time, is it on the things of God or our own selfish desires. You notice that I did not say our needs.
Joel 2:13 – Come back to God. God wants a real change inside the heart, not just a show on the outside.
***We claim that we want a relationship with the Father but we are not willing to put in the work it takes to maintain that relationship, to build it, to feed it.
--In Relationships: Luke 6:36 tells us to “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”.
--The world says, protect yourself and 3 strikes, you are out. Whose plan are you following?
Give God the hurt you are carrying!!! God commands us as he did Israel to actively choose to obey and love Him.
Scripture: Joshua 24:14-18 and verse 24We make many choices in li...