The Path: Direct Destination

The Path – Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

Direct Destination July 28, 2024

We will win or lose in life by the paths we choose.

• Maybe you don’t have problems to fix; but directions that need to change.
• We sell ourselves on what we want to do rather than what we ought to do.
• Self-deception is easy when emotions run high.
• Our problem is rarely a lack of information or insight. It’s a lack of honesty.
• We have a hard time leveling with ourselves. We deceive ourselves about why we choose the things we choose.

Proverbs 3:5-6. (NKJV)

1. The best path will become unmistakably clear.

Divine direction begins with unconditional submission.

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Story: Solomon

• Third and last king of the United Kingdom of Israel, following Saul and David
• He sought after God, and God allowed him to ask for whatever he wanted.
• Solomon acknowledged his inability to rule and asked God for the wisdom he would need to rule God’s people justly.
• God gave him wisdom and wealth besides.
• God gave Solomon peace on all sides during most of his reign
• But Solomon wanted more…

1 Kings 11:1-4 (NIV)

One never accomplishes the will of God by breaking the law of God.

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Solomon didn’t submit to God’s path

Submission—not talent, information, or insight—is the key to good decision-making.

• We need to live with a posture of dependency.

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Solomon’s Attention was on other things

If you’ve made progress this year…but you’re not quite where you want to be…perhaps you need to put your focus more on where it belongs… on Christ. 

Proverbs 1:33 (MSG)

Jeremiah 16:10-13 (MSG)

What captures our attention influences our direction.

Principle of the Path in three words: Attention, Direction, Destination.

• As your attention goes, so goes your life.

If attention influences direction, and we can choose what or who gets our attention, whatever we pay attention to will have significant leverage in our future direction.

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Solomon paid more attention to women than to the path God laid out for him!

Pay careful attention to what you are paying attention to. Evaluate the things that are competing for your attention.

Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

Proverbs 4:20 (NIV)

Q) Who or What has your attention?

Your attention is a direct path to your Destination

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Three important things to pay attention to!

1. Pay attention to wisdom

1 Kings 11 (NIV) Solomon rejects God’s wisdom.

“You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.

Jeremiah 17:23 (TLB)

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2.  Pay attention to the Word economy instead of the World economy.

This time of year, many people are paying attention to Republicans and Democrats.

1 John 4:5-6 (NIV)

If we look to the world system for answers to our problems. . .to help us through every adversity. . .we are removing God from the equation. God will not bless where He’s not invited.

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3.  Pay attention to correction.

Proverbs 19:20 (CEV)

Thought: Anyone who refuses to hear and act on correction. . .condemns themselves to a life of ignorance and failure.

Psalm 81:8-9 (CEV)