Weekly Sermon Recap - 10.26.25
The Power of Choice: Standing at History's Crossroads
There are moments in history when everything hangs in the balance. When nations, communities, and individuals stand at a crossroads, and the decisions made in those moments ripple through generations. We're living in one of those moments right now—not just in one country, but across the globe.
A Parliament Transformed by Prayer
Imagine a building that once forbade all religious expression, where faith was suppressed and spiritual gatherings were illegal. Now picture that same building filled with over 2,000 believers, gathered for three hours of uninterrupted prayer. This isn't a hypothetical scenario—it happened recently in Hungary's parliament building, a nation still bearing the scars of communist oppression.
For decades, religion was essentially outlawed in Hungary. The very idea of a worship service in the seat of government would have been unthinkable. Yet three years ago, the first religious service in the parliament's history took place. This year marked another milestone: complete freedom to gather, pray, and even celebrate communion in that historic space—the first communion service ever held within those walls.
This remarkable shift didn't happen by accident. It emerged from faithful people making courageous choices over many years, even when the outcome seemed impossible.
Positioned for Purpose
Sometimes God places us in specific moments not because we'll do something spectacular, but simply because we need to witness what He's doing. It's like being asked: "If you could have been present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, sitting quietly in the corner just watching, would you have wanted to be there?"
The answer is obvious. Some moments are so historically and spiritually significant that simply being present carries weight.
Hungary finds itself at precisely such a moment—a crossroads of decision. While believers gathered to pray in the parliament building, two major political parties organized rallies on opposite sides of the city. Between these competing voices, the people of God stood in the gap, interceding for their nation.
Both major parties in Hungary claim conservative values. Both oppose abortion, support traditional marriage, and advocate for controlled immigration. So how does a nation choose between two options that appear similar on the surface? How do believers discern God's direction when the path isn't immediately clear?
This dilemma isn't unique to Hungary. It reflects a universal challenge we all face: making choices when the right answer isn't obvious.
The Choice That Defines Everything
In Joshua 24:14-15, we find one of Scripture's most powerful declarations about human choice:
*"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."*
Notice the structure of Joshua's statement. He doesn't hide the reality that choices exist. He acknowledges multiple options—the gods of their ancestors, the gods of the surrounding culture, or the one true God. He even tells them which choice is right. But ultimately, he places the decision squarely in their hands: "Choose this day whom you will serve."
This is the foundation of our relationship with God: genuine choice.
The Dangerous Doctrine of No Choice
A troubling theological perspective has gained traction in recent months—one that fundamentally denies human choice and free will. This teaching, rooted in certain interpretations of Reformed theology, suggests that God has predetermined who will be saved and who will be lost, and nothing we do can change that outcome.
This doctrine is often summarized by the acronym TULIP:
T - Total Depravity: Humans are so corrupted by sin that they cannot even choose God.
U - Unconditional Election: God chooses who will be saved, regardless of their response.
L - Limited Atonement: Jesus died only for those God predetermined to save, not for everyone.
I - Irresistible Grace: If God chooses you, you cannot resist salvation.
P - Preservation of the Saints: Once saved, you cannot lose your salvation under any circumstances.
While these points may sound theologically sophisticated, they lead to a devastating conclusion: your choices don't ultimately matter because God has already decided your eternal destiny.
If this were true, why would Joshua say "choose this day"? Why would Jesus command us to "repent and believe"? Why would Scripture be filled with invitations, warnings, and calls to decision if our response is irrelevant?
The Truth About God's Sovereignty
God is absolutely sovereign—the highest authority, the name above all names, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. But in His sovereignty, He made a remarkable choice: to give us genuine free will.
This is the mystery of divine love. God didn't create robots programmed to worship Him. He created beings with the capacity to choose, knowing that real love requires real choice. A forced relationship isn't love—it's coercion.
From the very beginning, God gave Adam and Eve a choice. He placed the tree in the garden and gave them clear instructions, along with the freedom to obey or disobey. The entire biblical narrative is built on this foundation of human choice and divine response.
Yes, we are fallen. Yes, apart from Christ we are spiritually dead. But God, in His grace and mercy, reaches out to every person, providing the opportunity to respond. Romans 10:9 makes it clear: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Notice the conditions: "if you confess" and "if you believe." These are actions we take in response to God's grace.
The Third Great Awakening
Something extraordinary is happening across the world right now. From America to England to Hungary and beyond, God is moving in unprecedented ways. Believers are experiencing what many are calling the Third Great Awakening—a global outpouring of God's Spirit that transcends national boundaries and cultural barriers.
This awakening isn't coming because God arbitrarily decided it was time. It's emerging because people are making choices—choices to pray, to gather, to stand for truth, to intercede for their nations, and to believe God for the impossible.
The gypsies of Eastern Europe, long marginalized and overlooked, are becoming a light to the continent. Ordinary believers are seeing extraordinary moves of God because they're choosing to position themselves in faith.
Your Choice Matters
Every choice you make creates ripples that extend far beyond your immediate circumstances. Your decisions affect your family, your community, your workplace, and even future generations you'll never meet.
When disease strikes, you have a choice: believe that God sent it to teach you something, or recognize that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus came to bring abundant life. Your theology in that moment will determine whether you fight or surrender.
When faced with moral decisions, you have a choice: follow the crowd or stand for truth, even when it's costly.
When considering your eternal destiny, you have a choice: accept God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ or reject it.
God hasn't locked you into a predetermined path. He's given you the map, the compass, the provisions, and even the grace to make the right choices. But the choice itself? That's yours.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. What will you choose?
There are moments in history when everything hangs in the balance. When nations, communities, and individuals stand at a crossroads, and the decisions made in those moments ripple through generations. We're living in one of those moments right now—not just in one country, but across the globe.
A Parliament Transformed by Prayer
Imagine a building that once forbade all religious expression, where faith was suppressed and spiritual gatherings were illegal. Now picture that same building filled with over 2,000 believers, gathered for three hours of uninterrupted prayer. This isn't a hypothetical scenario—it happened recently in Hungary's parliament building, a nation still bearing the scars of communist oppression.
For decades, religion was essentially outlawed in Hungary. The very idea of a worship service in the seat of government would have been unthinkable. Yet three years ago, the first religious service in the parliament's history took place. This year marked another milestone: complete freedom to gather, pray, and even celebrate communion in that historic space—the first communion service ever held within those walls.
This remarkable shift didn't happen by accident. It emerged from faithful people making courageous choices over many years, even when the outcome seemed impossible.
Positioned for Purpose
Sometimes God places us in specific moments not because we'll do something spectacular, but simply because we need to witness what He's doing. It's like being asked: "If you could have been present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, sitting quietly in the corner just watching, would you have wanted to be there?"
The answer is obvious. Some moments are so historically and spiritually significant that simply being present carries weight.
Hungary finds itself at precisely such a moment—a crossroads of decision. While believers gathered to pray in the parliament building, two major political parties organized rallies on opposite sides of the city. Between these competing voices, the people of God stood in the gap, interceding for their nation.
Both major parties in Hungary claim conservative values. Both oppose abortion, support traditional marriage, and advocate for controlled immigration. So how does a nation choose between two options that appear similar on the surface? How do believers discern God's direction when the path isn't immediately clear?
This dilemma isn't unique to Hungary. It reflects a universal challenge we all face: making choices when the right answer isn't obvious.
The Choice That Defines Everything
In Joshua 24:14-15, we find one of Scripture's most powerful declarations about human choice:
*"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."*
Notice the structure of Joshua's statement. He doesn't hide the reality that choices exist. He acknowledges multiple options—the gods of their ancestors, the gods of the surrounding culture, or the one true God. He even tells them which choice is right. But ultimately, he places the decision squarely in their hands: "Choose this day whom you will serve."
This is the foundation of our relationship with God: genuine choice.
The Dangerous Doctrine of No Choice
A troubling theological perspective has gained traction in recent months—one that fundamentally denies human choice and free will. This teaching, rooted in certain interpretations of Reformed theology, suggests that God has predetermined who will be saved and who will be lost, and nothing we do can change that outcome.
This doctrine is often summarized by the acronym TULIP:
T - Total Depravity: Humans are so corrupted by sin that they cannot even choose God.
U - Unconditional Election: God chooses who will be saved, regardless of their response.
L - Limited Atonement: Jesus died only for those God predetermined to save, not for everyone.
I - Irresistible Grace: If God chooses you, you cannot resist salvation.
P - Preservation of the Saints: Once saved, you cannot lose your salvation under any circumstances.
While these points may sound theologically sophisticated, they lead to a devastating conclusion: your choices don't ultimately matter because God has already decided your eternal destiny.
If this were true, why would Joshua say "choose this day"? Why would Jesus command us to "repent and believe"? Why would Scripture be filled with invitations, warnings, and calls to decision if our response is irrelevant?
The Truth About God's Sovereignty
God is absolutely sovereign—the highest authority, the name above all names, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. But in His sovereignty, He made a remarkable choice: to give us genuine free will.
This is the mystery of divine love. God didn't create robots programmed to worship Him. He created beings with the capacity to choose, knowing that real love requires real choice. A forced relationship isn't love—it's coercion.
From the very beginning, God gave Adam and Eve a choice. He placed the tree in the garden and gave them clear instructions, along with the freedom to obey or disobey. The entire biblical narrative is built on this foundation of human choice and divine response.
Yes, we are fallen. Yes, apart from Christ we are spiritually dead. But God, in His grace and mercy, reaches out to every person, providing the opportunity to respond. Romans 10:9 makes it clear: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Notice the conditions: "if you confess" and "if you believe." These are actions we take in response to God's grace.
The Third Great Awakening
Something extraordinary is happening across the world right now. From America to England to Hungary and beyond, God is moving in unprecedented ways. Believers are experiencing what many are calling the Third Great Awakening—a global outpouring of God's Spirit that transcends national boundaries and cultural barriers.
This awakening isn't coming because God arbitrarily decided it was time. It's emerging because people are making choices—choices to pray, to gather, to stand for truth, to intercede for their nations, and to believe God for the impossible.
The gypsies of Eastern Europe, long marginalized and overlooked, are becoming a light to the continent. Ordinary believers are seeing extraordinary moves of God because they're choosing to position themselves in faith.
Your Choice Matters
Every choice you make creates ripples that extend far beyond your immediate circumstances. Your decisions affect your family, your community, your workplace, and even future generations you'll never meet.
When disease strikes, you have a choice: believe that God sent it to teach you something, or recognize that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus came to bring abundant life. Your theology in that moment will determine whether you fight or surrender.
When faced with moral decisions, you have a choice: follow the crowd or stand for truth, even when it's costly.
When considering your eternal destiny, you have a choice: accept God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ or reject it.
God hasn't locked you into a predetermined path. He's given you the map, the compass, the provisions, and even the grace to make the right choices. But the choice itself? That's yours.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. What will you choose?
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