WHAT SHALL I DO?

 

Scripture:  Acts 22:10  “And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.”

 

God has a purpose for life.  It is not just whatever.  And, weekends are not made for Michelob.

We are not random acts of chemicals with no divine direction.  But were are fearfully and wonderfully

made, created in His likeness and in His image.  Men were created to worship and enjoy the Creator.

 

I.  WHAT TO DO (In General)

            A.  What shall we do?  Acts 2:37 -38 

                        (v. 37)  “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto

                                    Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

                        (v. 38)  “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the                            

name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of                               the Holy Ghost.”

 

                              1.   Repent for Remission of sins

                              2.   Be baptized in the authority of Christ.

                              3.   Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

 

            B.  What shall I do?  Luke 10:25 -28

                        (v. 25)  “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master,                               

what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

                        (v. 26)  “He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?”

                        (v. 27)   “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,                            

and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy                                neighbor as thyself.”

                        (v. 28)  “And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

 

                              1.   Read what is written  v. 26

                              2.   Do what is written and live  v. 28  "this do"

 

II.  WHAT TO DO (Specific)

            A.  Paul --> Acts 9:5 -6 

                        (v. 5)  “What wilt thou have me to do?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the                                                                    Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against                                                              the pricks.”

                        (v. 6)  “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?                                                                    And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee                                                              what thou must do.”

                        1.   Arise

                              a.   Christ's way brings us up.

                              b.   Satan's way drives you down violently.

                                    Matt 8:32 “And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they                                                                              went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently                                                               down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.”

 

                        2.  Go --> A commissioned life

                                    a.  Elijah Go!!

                                    b.  Children of Israel Go Forward!!

                                    c.  Go into the highways and byways!!!

                        3.   Listen --> "it shall be told thee"

                        4.   "What thou must do?"

                                    I Cor 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for                                                                                              necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

 

            B.  The Rich Young Ruler  --> Mark 10:17 - 22 (Read)   What shall I do?

                        1.   Sell

                        2.   Give

                        3.   Come

                        4.   Take the cross

                        5.   Follow

                        He went away grieved . . . never again the same.

 

III.  WHAT YOU DO WILL AFFECT OTHERS

            A.  Achan -->A Bad Choice  Joshua 7:1 --> Read

                        1.   Tempted --> What must I do (with God's Word)?

                        2.   v. 19 "tell me now, what thou hast done?"

                        3.   Consequences

                              a.  Achan perished v. 24 -25

                              b.   Achan's family perished

 

            B.  Pilate  --> "What shall I do with Jesus?"  Matt. 27:22  “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I                                                               do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

 

                        1.   He is innocent.

                        2.   Crucify Him!!!!!!

                        3.   Pilate's wife suffered many things in a dream.

                        4.   Pilate decided and the suffering went from a dream to a nightmare for him.

                        5.   v. 24 Pilate declared himself to be innocent of the blood of this innocent man.

                              Oh no!!!!!!!!!  Once you encounter Christ, and you reject Him, you are

                              guilty of the blood of Christ and there remaineth no other sacrifice for you to

                              be saved.

 

IV.  WHY DO WE DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO?

            A.  Pride

                        a.   External --> Outward expressions

                        b.   Internal --> Private carnal desires.  "I must out do my neighbor."

 

            B.  Peer Pressure

            C.  Political Power   John 19:12 “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the                                                                               Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever                                                   maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”

 

            D.  Purses --> Achan desired , Young Ruler was rich and yet sorrowful

            E.  Parental Influences

                        1.   Evil --> Herodias and her daughter  Mark 6:24 -25   "What shall I ask?"

2.      Holy --> II Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy  

                        scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which                                       is in Christ Jesus.”

 

            F.  Pure Desires

                        1.   Out of a Pure Heart           

                                    II Timothy 2:22  “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith,                                                                  charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

 

2.      Out of a Pure Mind II Peter 3:1  “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto                             

you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:”

 

                        3.   Create in me a clean heart

 

V.  THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD   Luke 20:9-19   "What shall I do?"

            A.  The Son

                        1.   Sent  -->(Past) Send my beloved Son   John 3:16

                        2.   Rejected -->(Past)

                               "He came unto His own, and his own received Him not." John 1:11

                        3.   Seated/Standing -->(Present)

                                    Matt. 26:64 “Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,

                                                Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of                                                                                     power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

 

                                    Matt 22:44  “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I

                                                make thine enemies thy footstool?”       

 

                                    Acts 7:56  “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man

                                                standing on the right hand of God.”

 

                        4.   Exalted -->(Future)  Phil 2:9 -11 Read

                                    (v. 9)  “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name

                                                which is above every name:”

                                    (v. 10)  “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in

                                                heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

                                    (v. 11)  “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to

                                                the glory of God the Father.”

 

B.     Fall on the Stone Luke 20:18  “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but                 

on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”