1 Samuel 26: Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul’s arrival. 5 David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors. 6 “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 7 So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” 9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? 10 Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.

IF WE BASE OUR LIFE ON “LUCK”, LIFE WE TAKE US PLACES WE DON’T WANT TO GO!

LIFE FOR A CHRISTIAN IS DETERMINED BOTH BY THE LORD’S DIRECTION, AND THEN OUR FAITH AND GODLY CHARACTER.

CHARISMA WITHOUT GODLY CHARACTER IS A DISASTER.

WHAT MADE DAVID TICK? WE DON’T HAVE TO GUESS

PSALM 63: A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. 9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. 10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. 11 But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.

OUR PURPOSEFUL DETERMINATION ALWAYS ESTABLISHES OUR GODLY CHARACTER.

Determination- firmness of purpose; resoluteness.

1. B.LEARNING AND REINFORCING DETERMINATION COMES FROM CONVICTION, SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND REDUNDANT REPETITION.

DEUTERONOMY 1: 37 Because of you the LORD also became angry with me and said, ‘Not even you, Moses, will enter the land. 38But strengthen the determination of your helper, Joshua son of Nun. He will lead Israel to occupy the land.

The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation

DEUTERONOMY 3: 28 Give Joshua his instructions. Strengthen his determination, because he will lead the people across to occupy the land that you see.

The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation

GREAT LEADERS NEVER ALLOW LUCK TO DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY!

GREAT LEADERS ALLOW THEIR CONVICTIONS AND CHARACTER TO DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY!

IT’S NEVER EASY! BUT, BEING THE BEST IS DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN!

ACCEPTANCE BY OTHERS DOESN’T MAKE ANYONE A GREAT LEADER!

1. A.PREPARE YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF!

1.CHOOSE TO FIND THE HEART OF GOD.

2.ESTABLISH DAILY GODLY HABITS.

3.DON’T CHOOSE TO BE DIFFERENT, BE DETERMINED TO BE GODLY!