Principle of Decision Making

God Promise to Abram

•I will make you into a great nation

•I will bless you

•I will make your name great and you will be a blessing

•I will bless those who bless you and who ever curses you I will curse

•All people on earth will be bless through you

Genesis 16:1-15

Part 1 : Abram and Sarai

Solution:

Verse 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Results:

Sarai was despised by Hagar

Verse 4 When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress

Good relationship was affected

Solution:

Mistreated Hagar To regain her rights to her servant. Verse 6c

Hagar (Egyptian) Servant

- No right of her own

- To be the wife of God’s servant is a great privilege.

- A blessing/opportunity for her

Yet, She abused her privileges

Result: She was mistreated by Sarai

•Solution: She fled from her

Verse 6d

Part 2 :

God’s Intervention: Truth, that in every difficulties happening to man, God intervenes

Verse 9 “Go back to your mistress and submit to her”

Make things right:

As a servant, she was not on her own but Sarai her mistress owns her. That’s why she needs to go back to her mistress.

We are not on our own we are bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

(1 Corinthians 6:19b)

Application:

A. Therefore do not make a rush decisions. Most especially when you are at the heights of your emotion

Mark 6:14 – 29 (The Case of King Herod)

B. Never make a move without assurance from God (Peace of mind and heart is the indication that comes from God)

C. Do not make a decision alone. (Listen to the advice of others. Consult those whom you know you can trust)

The Case of the Pilot and the owner of the ship

Acts 27:1-44 Consequence of not listening to advice of Paul, lost of cargo and shipwrecked

D. Know the advantages and disadvantages of your plan.

( You have to consider carefully making decision)

E. Pray and Wait for the right timing of God.

(Since God is in control of everything, He makes all thing right in his time.)

Hebrews 4:14-16New International Version (NIV)

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.