Point Harbor Community Church

What will your life look like when the year 2020 rolls around?

2020 Vision: Direction for me! The four lights for making Godly decisions.

Back in the days before sonar there was a Scandinavian fjord that was especially treacherous.
Because of the number of ships lost because they had their bottoms ripped out by the underwater mountains… the locals had devised a system of navigation that was pretty ingenious.
They placed a series of buoys with lights in the safe channel… so that ships entering that narrow and treacherous harbor could simply find that first light and then line up the other lights on those buoys… and have safe passage.

In the same way—God has a series of lights that we can line up… to navigate our lives…

God’s Word– Search His Word
God’s Heart – Seek His face thru prayer
God’s Doors– Seek opportunities
God’s People – Seek affirmation

It requires Work … requires Obedience…

And … most Christians know nothing of it

Many start out wonderfully…
End up as shipwrecks…
Because they have not learned to navigate the treacherous sea lanes of their lives…
They’ve not learned to line up the navigational lights God has provided…

Ephesians 5:17 NIV
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

So how do you determine
God’s specific will for YOUR life???

Light #1: God’s Word—What does the Bible say?

Psalm 119:133 NIV
Direct my footsteps according to your word…

This is the most important step!
God will never violate His own word …!

Light #2: God’s Heart—What does God’s Spirit say as I spend time with Him in prayer?

Psalm 37:4 NIV
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Have I spent time (much time) with Him on this decision as I walk with Him in my prayer life?

Light #3: God’s Open Doors— What do current circumstances show?

Rev. 3:7-8 NIV
..what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut…

Is there an “open door” that I ought to check out?
OR - Has a door slammed in my face?
Has an opportunity opened up in front of me?
Has one closed?

1 Corinthians 16:7-9 NKJV
… great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Light #4: God’s People— What do other godly believers counsel?

Acts 13:1-3 NIV In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: ... While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

After they have spent time in prayer…

Do they “affirm” that I ought to go in one direction or another?

Have they warned me not to proceed in a certain area?

Principle:
Listen to people who love you and who love God more than they love you!

God’s 4 Lights to Godly Decision Making:

God’s Word – Search His Word
God’s Heart – Seek His face thru prayer
God’s Doors – Seek opportunities
God’s People – Seek affirmation

If you see these lights lining up… then you can be reasonably sure of God’s direction in your life.

If you don’t, then God is probably saying “no”, or leading you in a different direction than you at first thought.

Here’s my guarantee to you à It will always – if God is leading – be blessing His Local Church!

Speaking of blessing God thru His Local Church!