May 19, 2024

Series: AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART   5-19-24   

DEALING WITH DECISION-MAKING

(1 Samuel 30)

1 Samuel 30:6 ⁶ But David found strength in the Lord his God. 

I.  DECISION-MAKING

1 Samuel 30:7-8 ⁷ Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him, ⁸ David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" 

Two Decisions When The Going Gets Rough:

Decision #1: Who Will You ____________ To? 

Proverbs 28:26 A man is foolish to trust himself.  But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.

Ephesians 2:5 You who used to be dead in your trespasses and sin, you God made alive in Christ.

Isaiah 55:6–7 ⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

DAVID’S DECISION: 

Turn to the Lord for _________________!

1 Samuel 30:8-10 ⁸ …"Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue."  ⁹ David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, ¹⁰ for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit. 

1 Samuel 30:11–15 ¹¹ They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat… ¹² He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. ¹³ David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?” He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. ¹⁴ We raided… And we burned Ziklag.” ¹⁵ David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” 

1 Samuel 30:16-24 ¹⁶ He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. ¹⁷ David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day… ¹⁸ David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken… ²⁰ He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." 

Decision #2: Whose ________ Will You Listen To?

1 Samuel 30:21-24 ²¹Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. ²² But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." ²³ David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. ²⁴ Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike."   

DAVID’S DECISION:

Do what’s __________, Regardless of the _________!

Charles Spurgeon, “If a thing be right, though you would lose by it, it must be done! If a thing be wrong, though you would gain by it, you must scorn that sin for your master’s sake.”

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice, have their senses trained to discern between good and evil.

Psalm 1:1 NCV God blesses those people who refuse evil advice... 

1 John 4:1, 6 ¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God… ⁶ This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 

WHERE TO FIND DISCERNMENT:

1. GO TO YOUR _______________!

James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

2. GO TO THE _______________!

Psalm 119:98-100 NLT ⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide. ⁹⁹ Yes, I have more insight than my teachers... ¹⁰⁰ I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. 

3. GO TO THE _______________!

Proverbs 12:15 ¹⁵ A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise.

4. GO _______________!

Proverbs 6:4 (NLT) ⁴ Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.