MAKING DECISIONS

INTRO:

Over the years in ministry, we have consistently heard of people seeking prayer for Divine Direction…Wanting to ensure that they are making the right decisions in life.

Decisions will do one of two things…

Put you in God’s Will

Take you out of God’s Will

I have heard and said more than once…I wish the answer was written on the wall…Like a map.

ILLUSTRATION: This Is A Road Map!

STORY:

In the 1990’s My dad and I were almost trampled by Buffalo in the Badlands out west coming back from a promise keepers event in Boulder Colorado.

In 2003 I was in the Upper Peninsula with Dave we got lost and one machine ran out of gas. That’s when I bought a GPS

ILLUSTRATION: This is a GPS

Global Positioning System......The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world.

Most of us have used one of these when we are lost, or to keep from getting lost.

ILLUSTRATION:

iPhone - Now we have them on our phones and in our cars dash board

It becomes extremely appealing to seek “GPS turn by turn” answers from God. Providing us with…

Turn by turn answers

Current Speed Limit

Direction of Travel

Hazard ahead

Speed check

and Recalculating us when a turn is missed

Acronym

GOD

PEOPLE

SELF

Ask yourself in each area: Do I have a red light, yellow light or green light in these 3 areas?

Red Light - you know it’s wrong

Yellow Light - gray area…

I believe the Bible is vague in some “yellow light” aspects, to drive us to a place where we seek God in prayer and dive into God’s Word seeking understanding. Those are growing pain moments of Christianity.

Proverbs 14:12 NLT

12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Fast - kill your flesh

Pray

Luke 6:12–13 NLT

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

James 1:5 NLT

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Review Scripture

Green Light - you know it’s right

1. God

In God’s Perspective do we have a red, yellow, or green light?

Questions:

Will this glorify God?

Does it line up scripturally?

Turning to God as our spiritual GPS will lead us through life's twists and turns towards a path of righteousness and fulfillment.

Matthew 26:39 NLT

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

POEM: Guidance

Psalm 37:5 NLT

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

2. People

How will this effect the people around you?

Philippians 2:3–4 NLT

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

ILLUSTRATION:

A 30 year Harvard study of successful CEO’s, Found the most common trait among them was ALTRUISM…meaning “I give before I receive.”

Acts 20:35 NLT

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Questions:

Have you consulted with a mentor or someone you trust?

Do you have all the details?

Amongst the people we trust do we have a red, yellow, or green light?

3. Self

Do you know deep in your knower whether you have a red, yellow, or green light?

How will this affect your relationship with God?

Will this draw me closer to God or away from God?

James 4:8 NLT

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

1 John 3:20–21 NLT

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

Lamentations 3:40 NLT

40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT

5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

QUESTIONS:

Have you calculated the risk versus the reward?

What if nothing goes my way?

What is my exposure?

What do I risk loosing?

ILLUSTRATION:

A successful man once said, “It takes 50% more money and 200% more time than you project to put a business plan together.

Is the timing right?

CONCLUSION:

You can be right, yet be wrong…

This “GPS” tool can be used for Divine Direction in life.

Decisions, Determining Right From Wrong: Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Friendships.

Following God's direction is the best route to a fulfilling and purposeful life.

Trust in God's eternal wisdom and to continually seek His guidance every day.

Are you facing a Major decision?

Come up during worship

Seek prayer from one of our prayer partners

It is certainly important to plan and prepare and be intentional but sometimes we don't have enough details . We are just strictly operating in Faith and that’s enough

Next week we will continue with Divine Direction: “Hearing the Voice of God”