https://youtu.be/z3eTOXFvO8I

1 Samuel 23:1-13

Do you make good decisions? One time we bought a van and traded in a car $50 less spiral

One of the worst financial decisions of my life

Philistines fight against Keilah, robbing the threshing floors. David asks God- Should I attack? God says yes. Davids men come- hey- we’re afraid, and we’re not even in the fight. David asks God again- God says yes. You will win. They fight. They win. Keilah is saved. There is one surviving priest from the massacre- and he has an Ephod. Saul finds out David went to Keilah. Saul says “he has delivered him into my hand” Calls people for war against David. David realizes Saul is coming for him- Tells the priest to bring the ephod. Asks if Saul is coming and going to destroy him. God says “he’s coming” David asks “ Will the men deliver me into his hands” God says yes. David takes his band of brothers and leaves Keilah, Saul finds out and stops the assault against David.

David made good decisions- we can see how we can make good decisions- they affect your life

TITLE of Sermon- How to Make Good decisions

1. Always Ask God FirstDavid finds out about what is happening in Keilah and wants to get involved- so David inquires of God: 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord once again.What David knew and what you should know- is if you’re going to move you should be going to God before you go to anyone else. If God isn’t in it- it aint worth doingThere’s a reason he could write- Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.David Called upon God because he knew that with his few hundred men he couldn’t win on his own- he needed God’s help and provision to make it happen- what happens?Victory- 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.Jeremiah 33:3  ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’The only times that Israel was able to beat the philistines was with GODS HELP. God- If you’re not in this- I’m not going- I’m not moving forward I NEED YOUR HELP.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermoreWhat does it mean to you? In your decision making- what is your first step- prayer or planning? Is God the first?Your desires? Comfort? Plan? Wants? Vindication? Alleviate pain? Or are you asking What does God want? Require? Line up with the word? Witness?1 thes 5:17 Pray without ceasingWe have Good kids- They are obedient- We taught them to ask as children to LEARNWe wanted our kids to learn right and depend on us. Safety breeds confidence. 1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. As adults- we need to be completely dependent on God in everything- the decisions that go wrong in your life are because you aren’t going to God- buying houseColossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Never step out on your ownDavid asks God- should I go and Fight- asks twice in fact. Here we see Saul Doesn’t inquire of God- he just decides to go to Keilah to fight DavidSo Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.He lie to his troops and say “God has delivered him” but never inquired to the Lord what he should do and how he should do it.  (ROE-came from higher- guard duty-cant just shoot farmer)Obviously- IF Saul had asked IF Saul had inquired he w...